Impact of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) Inhibitors on Arterial Stiffness and Vascular Aging-What Do We Know So Far? (A Narrative Review).

Vascular aging, early vascular aging or supernormal vascular aging are concepts used for estimating the cardiovascular risk at a certain age. From the famous line of Thomas Sydenham that "a man is as old as his arteries" to the present day, clinical studies in the field of molecular biology of the vasculature have demonstrated the active role of vascular endothelium in the onset of cardiovascular diseases. Arterial stiffness is an important cardiovascular risk factor associated with the occurrence of cardiovascular events and a high risk of morbidity and mortality, especially in the presence of diabetes.

Cardiac Rehabilitation and Mortality Risk Reduction in Peripheral Artery Disease at 6-Month Outcome.

The management of patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) is integrative and multidisciplinary, in which cardiac rehabilitation (CR) plays a prognostic role in terms of functional status, quality of life, and long-term impact on morbidity and mortality. We conducted a prospective cohort study on 97 patients with PAD admitted to a single tertiary referral center. Based on a prognostic index developed to stratify long-term mortality risk in PAD patients, we divided the cohort into two groups: low and low-intermediate risk group (45 cases) and high-intermediate and high risk group (52 cases).

Inflammatory and Cardiac Biomarkers in Relation with Post-Acute COVID-19 and Mortality: What We Know after Successive Pandemic Waves.

Background: Biomarkers were correlated with mortality in critically ill COVID-19 patients. No prediction tools exist for noncritically ill COVID-19 patients. We aimed to compare the independent prognostic value of inflammation and cardiac biomarkers for post-acute COVID-19 patients and the 30-day mortality rate in noncritically ill COVID-19 patients, as well as the relation with the virus variant involved.

Schwannoma of the Upper Limb: Retrospective Study of a Rare Tumor with Uncommon Locations.

Background: Although schwannoma (neurilemmoma) is the most common tumor of the peripheral nerve, its low incidence, slow growth and vague symptoms often lead to misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis. The aim of the study is to present a series with a large number of schwannomas in the upper limbs, some with very rare occurrence.

Methods: We report 17 patients with a mean age of 58.

Reconstructive challenges of sinonasal tumors: A case report.

Sinonasal tumors are an uncommon pathological entity and applying the optimal treatment may represent a challenge, even for experienced physicians. A various number of techniques and materials may be used in the reconstruction of craniofacial defects following surgery for extensive sinonasal cancer. The aim of the present study was to present the case of a 33-year-old male patient diagnosed with a large sinonasal tumor and discuss the challenges faced while selecting the most suitable rehabilitation technique.

Magnesium-A Potential Key Player in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases?

The altered magnesium status in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients may have a significant clinical imprint considering its role in cell signaling and genomic stability, as well as its involvement in IBD patients' fatigue. Our study pioneers the investigation of magnesium hair concentration patterns in an adult population of IBD patients. The hair magnesium concentration in IBD patients is compared to healthy controls in order to identify correlations between the magnesium status and relevant parameters related to disease activity, psychological status, and sleep quality.

Successful outcome using Tocilizumab in COVID-19 pneumonia with respiratory failure on a ward level.

We describe the case of a 40-year-old man of Asian ethnicity, who presented with one week history of shortness of breath, productive cough, intermittent hemoptysis, temperature, and systemic symptoms. He had a positive nasopharyngeal swab for SARS-CoV-2, standard COVID panel admission blood tests, a chest X-ray and a CT Pulmonary Angiogram. Significant bilateral infiltrates and no pulmonary embolism were identified.

Cardiac Rehabilitation in Peripheral Artery Disease in a Tertiary Center-Impact on Arterial Stiffness and Functional Status after 6 Months.

Background and Objectives: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) plays an essential role in peripheral artery disease (PAD), leading to improved functional status, increased quality of life, and reduced arterial stiffness. We aimed to assess factors associated with clinical improvement 6 months after enrolment in a rehabilitation program at an academic medical center in north-eastern Europe. Materials and Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study on 97 patients with PAD admitted to a single tertiary referral center.

Beyond the Cardiorenal Syndrome: Pathophysiological Approaches and Biomarkers for Renal and Cardiac Crosstalk.

Cardiorenal syndrome encompasses complex multifactorial facets and carries significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. The bi-directional relationship between the heart and kidneys, where dysfunction in one organ worsens the function of the other, has been the leading motor for research in the last few years. In the pathophysiological process, small noncoding RNAs, epigenetics, vascular growth factors, oxidative stress, hemodynamic factors, and biomarkers play a pivotal role in the development of cardiorenal syndrome.

Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator in Primary and Secondary Prevention of SCD-What We Still Don't Know.

Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) are the cornerstone of primary and secondary prevention of sudden cardiac death (SCD) all around the globe. In almost 40 years of technological advances and multiple clinical trials, there has been a continuous increase in the implantation rate. The purpose of this review is to highlight the grey areas related to actual ICD recommendations, focusing specifically on the primary prevention of SCD.

Optimal Timing of Cardioverter-Defibrillator Implantation in Patients with Left Ventricular Dysfunction after Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Background: Prevention of sudden cardiac death (SCD) early after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is still a challenge, without clear recommendations in spite of the high incidence of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias, as implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) placement is not indicated in the first 40 days after an AMI; this timing is aleatory and it is owed to fact that the two pivotal studies for evaluation of ICDs in primary prevention, MADIT and MADIT II, excluded the patients within three, respectively four weeks after AMI.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective, single-center study that included 77 patients with AMI. All patients were monitored by continuous ECG in the first week after the event.

Connections between Orthopedic Conditions and Oxidative Stress: Current Perspective and the Possible Relevance of Other Factors, Such as Metabolic Implications, Antibiotic Resistance, and COVID-19.

The general opinion in the literature is that these topics remain clearly understudied and underrated, with many unknown aspects and with controversial results in the respective areas of research. Based on the previous experience of our groups regarding such matters investigated separately, here we attempt a short overview upon their links. Thus, we summarize here the current state of knowledge regarding the connections between oxidative stress and: (a) orthopedic conditions; (b) COVID-19.

New Perspectives on Diagnosing Psoriatic Arthritis by Imaging Techniques.

Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic inflammatory condition that can lead to severe functional impairment and irreversible damage. The diagnosis can be difficult in early cases where the clinical exam is often scarce. The lack of a serological biomarker can lead to a considerable delay in diagnosis.

Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura as a Hemorrhagic Versus Thrombotic Disease: An Updated Insight into Pathophysiological Mechanisms.

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a blood disorder characterized by a low platelet count of (less than 100 × 10/L). ITP is an organ-specific autoimmune disease in which the platelets and their precursors become targets of a dysfunctional immune system. This interaction leads to a decrease in platelet number and, subsequently, to a bleeding disorder that can become clinically significant with hemorrhages in skin, on the mucous membrane, or even intracranial hemorrhagic events.

An original method of simulating the articular cartilage in the context of biomechanical studies investigating the proximal femur.

Biomechanical testing is a necessity given the development of novel implants used in the osteosynthesis of hip fractures. The purpose of biomechanical testing is to recreate realistic conditions similar to the conditions. Although biomechanical testing of hip arthroplasty has been standardized since the 1970s, there is no consensus at present on testing methodology for osteosynthesis of hip fractures.

Update on the etiopathogenesis of psoriasis (Review).

Psoriasis is one of the most common immune-mediated chronic inflammatory skin disorders, involving hyperproliferative keratinocytes and infiltration of T cells, dendritic cells, macrophages, and neutrophils. Multiple factors appear to play important roles in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. These environmental (e.

From chronic pruritus to neuroendocrine tumor: A case report.

Chronic pruritus is a major and distressing symptom of many diseases of dermatological, neurological, psychogenic or systemic origin. This chronic itch could be a presenting sign of malignancy; therefore, paraneoplastic pruritus has also been associated with neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). This article focuses on a patient presenting with chronic pruritus for the past 12 months and who received numerous treatment schemes with very poor clinical improvement, that presented in the hospital for worsening of the chronic pruritus associated with skin rash and significant weight loss (approximately 6 kg over a 2-month period).

Metabolic comorbidities of psoriasis (Review).

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory and immune-mediated condition, which is no longer considered as being limited to the skin, but may affect the entire body. Epidemiological studies have shown that certain disorders, including obesity, diabetes, liver abnormalities, elevated lipid levels in the blood and metabolic syndrome, may occur more frequently in patients with psoriasis compared with the general population. As psoriasis is a chronic disease, the frequently associated comorbidities must be identified early to ensure timely treatment and, possibly, their prevention.

Cardiovascular comorbidities in psoriasis (Review).

Long considered a skin-limited condition, psoriasis is currently defined as a chronic, immune-mediated inflammatory disease, presenting, besides the skin changes, important systemic manifestations, the most common being: psoriatic arthritis, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. It is a disease with a strong psycho-emotional and social impact, both through skin changes such as pruritic, scaly erythematous plaques, and through the association of comorbidities that influence morbidity and mortality. It has been shown that psoriasis is an independent cardiovascular risk factor, with patients developing ischemic heart disease/acute coronary syndrome, hypertension, peripheral arterial disease, or stroke.

Cardiac Rehabilitation in Patients with Peripheral Artery Disease-A Literature Review in COVID-19 Era.

Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is an integral part of the management of various cardiovascular disease such as coronary artery disease (CAD), peripheral artery disease (PAD), or chronic heart failure (CHF), with proven morbidity and mortality benefits. This article aims to review and summarize the scientific literature related to cardiac rehabilitation programs for patients with PAD and how they were adapted during the COVID-19 pandemic. The implementation of CR programs has been problematic since the COVID-19 pandemic due to social distancing and work-related restrictions.

Primary solitary fibrous tumor of the thyroid gland: A review starting from a case report.

Primary solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) of the thyroid gland is a rare mesenchymal tumor with fibroblastic differentiation, ramified, thin-walled, enlarged (staghorn) vessels and specific NAB2-STAT6 gene fusion, which is more commonly found in pleura and peritoneum. This neoplasm can be located in a variety of anatomical sites outside pleura and peritoneum including bone, visceral organs and soft tissues, head and neck examples representing only 10-15% of the extra-pleural and extra-peritoneal tumors. Diagnosing this entity can be difficult, especially in thyroid gland, mainly because of the rarity of this neoplasm, but presence of characteristic microscopic features together with positivity for STAT6 and CD34 can confirm the diagnosis and exclude other differential diagnosis.