Interventions in chronic total occlusions with bifurcation lesions: incidence, treatment, and in-hospital outcome.

Introduction And Objectives: Coronary chronic total occlusions (CTO) involving bifurcation lesions are a challenging lesion subset that is understudied in the literature. This study analyzed the incidence, procedural strategy, in-hospital outcomes and complications of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) for bifurcation-CTO (BIF-CTO).

Methods: We assessed data from 607 consecutive CTO patients treated at the Institut Cardiovasculaire Paris Sud (ICPS), Massy, France between January 2015 and February 2020.

Outcomes of discontinuing renin-angiotensin system inhibitors: a study protocol for conducting systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays a key role in various types of cardiovascular disease and many kinds of RAS inhibitors have been developed. The effect of discontinuation of RAS inhibitors on clinical outcomes is still controversial. This study aims to evaluate the effects of discontinuing RAS inhibitor medication on the clinical outcomes of patients continuously taking these agents.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Diagnosis and Treatment.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that affects the cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, hematologic, integumentary, musculoskeletal, neuropsychiatric, pulmonary, renal, and reproductive systems. It is a chronic disease and may cause recurrent flare-ups without adequate treatment. The newest clinical criteria proposed by the European League Against Rheumatism/American College of Rheumatology in 2019 include an obligatory entry criterion of a positive antinuclear antibody titer of 1: 80 or greater.

Transcatheter Arterialization of Deep Veins in Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia.

Background: Approximately 20% of patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia have no revascularization options, leading to above-ankle amputation. Transcatheter arterialization of the deep veins is a percutaneous approach that creates an artery-to-vein connection for delivery of oxygenated blood by means of the venous system to the ischemic foot to prevent amputation.

Methods: We conducted a prospective, single-group, multicenter study to evaluate the effect of transcatheter arterialization of the deep veins in patients with nonhealing ulcers and no surgical or endovascular revascularization treatment options.

The burden of gastrointestinal diseases in Japan, 1990-2019, and projections for 2035.

Background And Aim: Disease burden estimation allows clinicians and policymakers to plan for future healthcare needs. Although advances have been made in gastroenterology, as Japan has an aging population, disease burden assessment is important. We aimed to report gastrointestinal disease burden in Japan since 1990 and project changes through to 2035.

A nationwide study of liver disease hospitalizations during the coronavirus pandemic in the United States.

Background And Aim: The impact of the Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on patients with liver disease is not well described at the population level in the United States. We used the largest, nationwide inpatient dataset to describe inpatient liver disease outcomes in the United States during the first year of the pandemic (2020) using 2018 and 2019 as comparator years.

Methods: Using the National Inpatient Sample (2018-2020), we explored year-to-year and 2020 month-to-month trends in hospitalizations, length of stay, and inpatient mortality for liver-related complications including cirrhosis, alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) and alcoholic hepatitis using regression modeling.

HIV-Associated Nephropathy in 2022.

Background: HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN) is a renal parenchymal disease that occurs exclusively in people living with HIV. It is a serious kidney condition that may possibly lead to end-stage kidney disease, particularly in the HIV-1 seropositive patients.

Summary: The African-American population has increased susceptibility to this comorbidity due to a strong association found in the gene, specifically two missense mutations in the G1 allele and a frameshift deletion in the G2 allele, although a "second-hit" event is postulated to have a role in the development of HIVAN.

Lower-extremity pressure, staging, and grading thresholds to identify chronic limb-threatening ischemia.

Introduction: The Society for Vascular Surgery Threatened Limb Classification System ('WIfI') is used to predict risk of limb loss and identify peripheral artery disease in patients with foot ulcers or gangrene. We estimated the diagnostic sensitivity of multiple clinical and noninvasive arterial parameters to identify chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI).

Methods: We performed a single-center review of 100 consecutive patients who underwent angiography for foot gangrene or ulcers.

Clinical outcomes in COVID-19 among patients with hypertension in the Philippine CORONA Study.

Objective: To describe the association between hypertension and clinical outcomes in a cohort of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Thirty-seven (37) hospitals in the Philippines.

Chronic Total Occlusion Interventions in Patients with Reduced Ejection Fraction.

Purpose Of The Review: The goal of this paper is to review the current evidence surrounding CTO PCI in patients with low EF, the most high-risk population to treat. We also present pertinent case examples and offer practical tips to increase success and lower complications when performing CTO PCI in patients with low EF.

Recent Findings: In a prospective randomized control study, greater improvement in angina frequency and quality of life, assessed by the Seattle Angina Questionnaire, was achieved by CTO PCI compared to optimal medical therapy.

Impact of COVID-19 on Patients Hospitalized With Deep Vein Thrombosis and/or Pulmonary Embolism: A Nationwide Analysis.

The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection predisposes patients to develop deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). In this study, we compared the in-hospital outcomes of patients with DVT and/or PE with concurrent COVID-19 infection vs those with concurrent flu infection. The National Inpatient Sample from 2019 to 2020 was analyzed to identify all adult admissions diagnosed with DVT and PE.

The Evolution of Hypertension Guidelines Over the Last 20+ Years: A Comprehensive Review.

Hypertension is the most common modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. In the last two decades, the guidelines have evolved tremendously from areas with no recommendations for screening or treatment to targeted recommendations for some at-risk groups. We sought to go through the literature that provided guidelines for the management of hypertension at any point in time over the last 22 years from 2000 to 2022.

Acute pancreatitis precedes chronic pancreatitis in the majority of patients: Results from the NAPS2 consortium.

Introduction: The mechanistic definition of chronic pancreatitis (CP) identifies acute pancreatitis (AP) as a precursor stage. We hypothesized that clinical AP frequently precedes the diagnosis of CP and is associated with patient- and disease-related factors. We describe the prevalence, temporal relationship and associations of AP in a well-defined North American cohort.

24-Month results of the BRAVO study: A prospective, multi-center study evaluating the clinical outcomes of a ventral hernia cohort treated with OviTex® 1S permanent reinforced tissue matrix.

Background: This study evaluated the performance of OviTex® 1S (TELA Bio Inc., Malvern, PA, USA) over 24 months when used for ventral hernia repair.

Methods: This was a prospective, single-arm, multi-center clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.

Prediction of Long-Term Survival after Coronary Artery Bypass with Bilateral Internal Thoracic Artery Grafting: External Validation of A Contemporary Nomogram.

Background: This study aimed to verify the external validation of a contemporary nomogram in predicting long-term survival after an isolated coronary artery bypass with bilateral internal thoracic artery grafting (CABG-BITA). Methods: Consecutive patients who underwent CABG-BITA at a single center were included in the study. All the predictors of the original risk score (age, diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, chronic renal failure, old myocardial infarction, ejection fraction, intra-aortic balloon pump and peripheral arterial disease) were available for analysis.

Impact of Chronic Exposure to Endometriosis on Perinatal Outcomes: Establishment of a Mouse Model.

The purpose of this study was to establish a new mouse model of endometriosis that mimics real-world women's health problems, in which women continue to be affected by endometriosis long before they wish to become pregnant, and to evaluate the impact of "chronic exposure to endometriosis" on perinatal outcome. Endometriosis was established by the intraperitoneal injection of homologous minced mouse uteri. Vehicle was injected for the control.

Nationwide Analysis of the Outcomes and Mortality of Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients.

Introduction: The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected people worldwide with the United States (US) with the largest number of reported cases currently. Previous studies in hospitalized COVID-19 patients have been limited by sample size.

Methods: The National Inpatient Sample database which is the largest inpatient database in the US was queried in the year 2020 for the diagnosis of COVID-19 based on ICD-10-CM U07.

Impact of a continuous quality improvement program on contrast-induced nephropathy in outpatients with chronic kidney disease: an interrupted time-series study.

Background: Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) caused by exposure to radioactive contrast media can cause acute kidney injury in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We developed a multifaceted approach in a CIN-quality improvement (QI) program based on a shorter saline hydration protocol for the prevention of CIN in outpatients and assessed the effect of our CIN-QI program on decreasing both the incidence rate of CIN and overall use of contrast agents in patients undergoing contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT).

Methods: We conducted a multi-center prospective interrupted time-series study from 2006 to 2018 investigating the efficacy of a CIN-QI program in preventing CIN among outpatients with CKD.

Real-world outcomes of the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system for heavy menstrual bleeding or dysmenorrhea in Japanese patients: A prospective observational study (J-MIRAI).

Objectives: We collected real-world data on the safety and clinical outcomes of the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) for heavy menstrual bleeding and dysmenorrhea.

Study Design: This was a prospective, multicenter, single-cohort, open-label, post-authorization 12-month follow-up study of Japanese patients initiating the LNG-IUS for heavy menstrual bleeding and/or dysmenorrhea. The primary endpoint was the safety profile based on adverse events and adverse drug reactions (ADRs), including expulsions and abnormal bleeding, within 12 months of LNG-IUS insertion.

More Than Meets the Eye: Isolated Bilateral Abducens Nerve Palsy as the Initial Presentation of Multiple Sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MA) is a chronic demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. Although the initial presentation of MS is widely variable, only rarely does it present with isolated bilateral cranial nerve involvement. With this article, we report a case of MS initially presenting as a clinically isolated syndrome of bilateral abducens nerve palsy.