Drug-Coated Balloons in Autologous Vein Peripheral-Distal Bypass Graft Maintenance: Advancements and Potential Impact.

Introduction: Initial surgical revascularization has a recognized primary role in patients with critical limb-threatening ischemia with a high-quality great saphenous vein for conduit. However, approximately one-third of lower extremity vein grafts develop lesions threatening graft patency. Traditional treatments have limitations, highlighting the need for innovative solutions.

Physiological Performance of Drug-Coated Balloons in Small Coronary Arteries PICCOLETO II μFR.

Background: Drug-coated balloons (DCB) are emerging as an alternative to permanent implants for managing de novo coronary artery disease, particularly in small vessels (SVD). This sub-analysis of the PICCOLETO II study aimed to compare the performance of DCB and DES in terms of Murray's law-based quantitative flow ratio (μFR) changes between baseline, post-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and follow-up.

Methods: Patients with a clinical indication for PCI were assigned to receive either Xience DES or Elutax SV/Emperor DCB.

Macro-vacuolar steatosis in a cirrhotic liver mimicking metastatic disease.

Multinodular steatosis represents a relatively uncommon manifestation of fatty liver disease (FLD). Co-morbidities such as metabolic syndrome or cirrhosis are often associated. Despite typical features of imaging (ultrasound, CT, and MRI), core biopsy sometimes remains the gold standard for diagnosis.

Anti-IL-17/23 Drugs for the Treatment of Moderate-to-Severe Hidradenitis Suppurativa in Patients With Concomitant Psoriasis: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

Introduction: Psoriasis and hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) are chronic inflammatory diseases with significant overlap in their immunologic pathways, which involve cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alfa, interleukin (IL)-17, and IL-23. Current treatment options for HS are limited, as only adalimumab and secukinumab are approved for severe cases. Given the overlapping pathogenetic features between HS and psoriasis, anti-IL-17 and anti-IL-23 drugs could represent valuable treatments for the management of HS.

Impact of diabetes on epicardial reperfusion and mortality in a contemporary STEMI population undergoing mechanical reperfusion: Insights from the ISACS STEMI COVID 19 registry.

Background And Aim: Diabetes has been shown in last decades to be associated with a significantly higher mortality among patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with primary PCI (PPCI). Therefore, the aim of current study was to evaluate the impact of diabetes on times delays, reperfusion and mortality in a contemporary STEMI population undergoing PPCI, including treatment during the COVID pandemic.

Methods And Results: The ISACS-STEMI COVID-19 is a large-scale retrospective multicenter registry involving PPCI centers from Europe, Latin America, South-East Asia and North-Africa, including patients treated from 1st of March until June 30, 2019 and 2020.

Spectral CT for non-invasive evaluation of bladder cancer grade.

Objective: To investigate the potential role of dual-energy spectral computer tomography (CT) quantitative parameters in the definition of bladder cancer (BCa) pathological grading.

Methods: This retrospective study evaluated the use of spectral CT imaging features for BCa. From 2021 to 2023, 63 patients with histologically-confirmed BCa diagnosis were examined at our Institution.

Renal Function Is Associated with Changes in Bone Mineral Density in Postmenopausal Osteoporotic Women Treated with Denosumab: Data From a Retrospective Cohort Study.

: Renal function influences bone metabolism, as kidney failure can increase the risk of fractures. Denosumab is an approved osteoporosis treatment, but its efficacy in relation to renal function has not yet been studied in real-life scenarios. This study aimed to investigate the denosumab-induced change in bone mineral density (BMD) according to kidney function.

Impact of hypertension on mortality in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary angioplasty: insights from the international multicenter ISACS-STEMI registry.

Background: Hypertension is the most prevalent cardiovascular risk factor, with several detrimental effects on the cardiovascular system. Contrasting results have been reported so far on its prognostic role in patients admitted for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Therefore, we investigated the impact of hypertension on short-term mortality in a large multicenter contemporary registry of STEMI patients, including patients treated during COVID-19 pandemic.

Infrarenal Aortic Treatment With AFX2 Endograft: Results From a Multicentric, International, Non-Randomized, Prospective Registry-the AFX2-LIVE Study.

Introduction: To confirm real-world clinical practice results reported with anatomically fixed bifurcated endograft, a physician-initiated study was designed-AFX2-LIVE registry.

Materials And Methods: From November 2019 to August 2021, investigators enrolled all consecutive patients treated with AFX2 (Endologix Inc., Irvine, CA, USA) endograft.

EPS T14 from Prevents Infection of Human Nasal Epithelial Cells by Respiratory Viruses.

Background: Respiratory viral infections are a leading cause of severe diseases and mortality; therefore, novel treatments effective for their prevention are highly requested. Here, we identified a broad-spectrum antiviral activity of a natural exopolysaccharide, EPS T14, purified from a marine thermotolerant strain of strain T14.

Methods: The effects on human normal nasal epithelial cells (HNEpCs) following treatment with EPS T14 was evaluated at different time points and with increasing concentration of compound.

Oxidative stress-induced fibrinogen modifications in liver transplant recipients: unraveling a novel potential mechanism for cardiovascular risk.

Background: Cardiovascular events represent a major cause of non-graft-related death after liver transplant. Evidence suggest that chronic inflammation associated with a remarkable oxidative stress in the presence of endothelial dysfunction and procoagulant environment plays a major role in the promotion of thrombosis. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are not completely understood.

Carotid artery assessment in dual-source photon-counting CT: impact of low-energy virtual monoenergetic imaging on image quality, vascular contrast and diagnostic assessability.

Purpose: Preliminary dual-energy CT studies have shown that low-energy virtual monoenergetic (VMI) + reconstructions can provide superior image quality compared to standard 120 kV CTA series. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of low-energy VMI reconstructions on quantitative and qualitative image quality, vascular contrast, and diagnostic assessability of the carotid artery in patients undergoing photon-counting CTA examinations.

Materials And Methods: A total of 122 patients (67 male) who had undergone dual-source photon-counting CTA scans of the carotid artery were retrospectively analyzed in this study.

Correction: Green endoscopy, one step toward a sustainable future: Literature review.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1055/a-2303-8621.].

Long-Term Clinical and Sustained REMIssion in Severe Eosinophilic Asthma Treated With Mepolizumab: The REMI-M Study.

Background: Biological therapies, such as mepolizumab, have transformed the treatment of severe eosinophilic asthma. Although mepolizumab's short-term effectiveness is established, there is limited evidence on its ability to achieve long-term clinical remission.

Objective: To evaluate the long-term effectiveness and safety of mepolizumab, explore its potential to induce clinical and sustained remission, and identify baseline factors associated with the likelihood of achieving remission over 24 months.

Green endoscopy, one step toward a sustainable future: Literature review.

Rapid climate change or climate crisis is one of the most serious emergencies of the 21st century, accounting for highly impactful and irreversible changes worldwide. Climate crisis can also affect the epidemiology and disease burden of gastrointestinal diseases because they have a connection with environmental factors and nutrition. Gastrointestinal endoscopy is a highly intensive procedure with a significant contribution to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Profiling severe asthma: Any relevance for age? An analysis from Severe Asthma Network Italy (SANI) cohort.

Background: Aging implies changes in terms of lung function, immune system, and respiratory and extra-respiratory comorbidities. Few studies have specifically addressed the relevance of age on severe asthma burden and control. We aimed to evaluate whether age acts as an independent determinant of asthma severity, in terms of clinical, functional, and inflammatory profile, and to explore potential cofactors that contribute to a more difficult disease control in different age groups.

Ergonomics in the operating room and surgical training: a survey on the Italian scenario.

Introduction: Surgical-related injuries are frequent, in fact the reported percentage of musculoskeletal disorders in surgeons is between 47% and 87%. These conditions are caused by long periods of standing, incorrect postures, repeated movements, little rest between operations, the lack of integrated operator rooms, the correct number and arrangement of monitors and the use of non-ergonomic instruments. This survey aims to assess the Italian overview both highlighting how prevalent surgical-related injury is in our surgeons and whether there is an operating room ergonomics education program in Italian surgical specialty schools.