A broad-spectrum LC-MS/MS method for screening and quantification of 100 analytes in clinical and autopsy blood samples.

Liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS) has been tremendously used for screening purposes in forensic toxicology, because of their great adaptability and reasonable time/resource consumption. Herein, a fully validated method based on liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) in human whole blood, by a multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) analysis through LC-MS/MS, is described. The proposed method simultaneously detects 100 analytes (plus three deuterated internal standard compounds) belonging to many different classes, including drugs of abuse, prescription and over-the-counter drugs commonly involved in poisoning and medical malpractice cases in our territory, as well as certain new psychoactive substances (NPS) and toxic substances potentially associated with adverse effects.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy in heart failure based on Strauss criteria for left bundle branch block.

Aims: The left bundle branch block (LBBB) is a strong predictor of response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). However, a significant number of patients do not respond to the treatment. The study sought to evaluate the impact of the stricter Strauss criteria for left bundle branch block (St-LBBB) on CRT response, hospitalizations, ventricular arrhythmia (VA) events and mortality.

Evaluation of the attributable fraction and burden of HPV-related oropharyngeal cancers in Greece-the ORPHEAS study.

Background: Herein, we evaluated the attributable fraction (AF) of human papillomavirus (HPV)-mediated (HPV+) oropharyngeal carcinomas (OPCs) in Greece over a recent calendar period.

Patients And Methods: ORPHEAS, a retrospective, observational, multicenter, cross-sectional study with prospective recruitment, included adult patients with OPC in 2017-2022, each of them with a high-quality, treatment-naïve tumor specimen. The primary endpoint was the HPV-AF, defined as combined positivity for p16 (p16) overexpression and HPV DNA presence by central laboratory testing, among included patients.

Selective fetal reduction of uncomplicated dichorionic twins on parental request vs ongoing twins and pregnancy outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the effect of elective fetal reduction on maternal-fetal outcomes in uncomplicated twin pregnancies compared with ongoing twin pregnancies.

Data Sources: The data sources included PubMed, Scopus (until December 2023), and references of retrieved articles.

Study Eligibility Criteria: We included clinical studies examining the association between selective fetal reduction of uncomplicated dichorionic twins on pregnancy outcomes.

Identification of Novel Independent Correlations between Cellular Components of the Immune System and Strain-Related Indices of Myocardial Dysfunction in CKD Patients and Kidney Transplant Recipients without Established Cardiovascular Disease.

The role of immune system components in the development of myocardial remodeling in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and kidney transplantation remains an open question. Our aim was to investigate the associations between immune cell subpopulations in the circulation of CKD patients and kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) with subclinical indices of myocardial performance. We enrolled 44 CKD patients and 38 KTRs without established cardiovascular disease.

The use of minimum common data set in the development of the Greek Fragility Hip Fracture Registry in the Greek health care setting: the first year of its pilot implementation.

Unlabelled: The first Fragility Hip Fracture Registry has been established in Greece. The in-hospital length of stay was 10.8 days and was significantly influenced by the delayed surgical fixation.

ESR Essentials: arterial vascular access and closure devices-practice recommendations by the Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe.

Vascular access is the initial, very important, step of endovascular procedures. Various access sites include the common femoral artery, brachial artery, radial artery, popliteal artery, and distal tibial vessels (pedal arteries). Successful arterial access requires advanced knowledge of anatomy, as well as proper training and experience.

Could Flow Cytometry Provide New Prognostic Markers in Colorectal Cancer?

: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is still accompanied by significant mortality, which poses the necessity of novel markers to predict treatment success and patient survival. This study aims to evaluate the prognostic and survival impact of flowytometry (FC) in CRC patients. : In this prospective study, 106 surgically resectable CRC patients were included.

Pleomorphic Adenoma of Minor Salivary Glands: a Rare Case Report.

Pleomorphic adenoma is a non-cancerous neoplasm that develops in the salivary glands. Originating from minor salivary glands, it is extremely uncommon and primarily affects females. The peak incidence is observed between 40 and 60 years of age.

Effect of Ondansetron on Maternal Hypotension During Spinal Anesthesia With Ropivacaine for Cesarean Sections: A Randomized, Double-Blind Trial.

Introduction: Ondansetron, a selective 5-hydroxytryptamine 3 (5-HT3) receptor antagonist, has been proven to be effective in the prevention of spinal-induced hypotension for elective cesarean section.

Methods: A total of 138 primigravida parturients scheduled for elective cesarean section were randomly assigned to three groups. Groups ONDA4 and ONDA8, respectively, received 4 and 8 mg of ondansetron in 100 mL normal saline, before spinal anesthesia with 1.

Global burden of metabolic diseases, 1990-2021.

Background: Common metabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), hypertension, obesity, hypercholesterolemia, and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), have become a global health burden in the last three decades. The Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) data enables the first insights into the trends and burdens of these metabolic diseases from 1990 to 2021, highlighting regional, temporal and differences by sex.

Methods: Global estimates of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and deaths from GBD 2021 were analyzed for common metabolic diseases (T2DM, hypertension, obesity, hypercholesterolemia, and MASLD).

Endovascular repair of pararenal and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms with inner and outer off-the-shelf multibranched endografts: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: During the last years a great progress has been noted in device technology and operator experience in treating complex aortic aneurysms. Fenestrated and branched custom-made devices require detailed preoperative planning and production time that can take ≤12 weeks. During this awaiting period, aortic-related mortality is increased.

Clinical characteristics and prognostic importance of anticoagulant use in ischemic left ventricular aneurysm: a retrospective cohort study.

There is insufficient data on systemic embolic events (SSEs) in patients with ischemic left ventricular aneurysm (LVA) concerning the impact of anticoagulation therapy. In this retrospective cohort study with 1043 patients with ischemic LVA, SSEs occurred in 7.2% over 2.

The Mitochondrial-Derived Peptide MOTS-c May Refine Mortality and Cardiovascular Risk Prediction in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients: A Multicenter Cohort Study.

Introduction: Uremic patients exhibit remarkably increased rates of mortality and cardiovascular (CV) events, but risk prediction in this setting remains difficult. Systemic mitochondrial dysfunction is pervasive in end-stage kidney disease and may contribute to CV complications. We tested the clinical significance of circulating MOTS-c, a small mitochondrial-derived peptide, as a biomarker for improving mortality and CV risk prediction in hemodialysis (HD) patients.

Unbalanced circulating Humanin levels and cardiovascular risk in chronic hemodialysis patients: a pilot, prospective study.

Background: Mortality and cardiovascular (CV) risk prediction in individuals with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) on chronic hemodialysis (HD) remains challenging due to the multitude of implicated factors. In a multicenter ESKD-HD cohort, we tested the prognostic yield of the assessment of circulating Humanin, a small mitochondrial-derived peptide involved in CV protection, on CV events and mortality.

Methods: We conducted a prospective, observational, pilot study on 94 prevalent HD patients.

Genomics in Diabetic Kidney Disease: A 2024 Update.

Diabetic Kidney Disease (DKD) remains the leading cause of Chronic and End Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD) worldwide, with an increasing epidemiological burden. However, still, the disease awareness remains low, early diagnosis is difficult, and therapeutic management is ineffective. These might be attributed to the fact that DKD is a highly heterogeneous disease, with disparities and variability in clinical presentation and progression patterns.