Fibrin-Platelet Clots in Acute Ischemic Stroke. Predictors and Clinical Significance in a Mechanical Thrombectomy Series.

The histological composition of the clot influences its mechanical properties, affects the efficacy of endovascular treatment (EVT), and could determine the clinical outcome of patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Insights into clot composition may guide therapeutic decision-making prior to EVT and facilitate revascularization therapies. Consecutive patients with AIS recorded in a prospective single-center reperfusion registry from December 2015 to December 2019 and treated with EVT were included.

Resistance to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Secondary to Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells: A New Therapeutic Targeting of Haematological Malignancies.

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are a set of immature myeloid lineage cells that include macrophages, granulocytes, and dendritic cell precursors. This subpopulation has been described in relation to the tumour processes at different levels, including resistance to immunotherapy, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Currently, multiple studies at the preclinical and clinical levels seek to use this cell population for the treatment of different haematological neoplasms, together with ICIs.

Impact of the Economic Crisis on Endocarditis Mortality in Spain: A Nationwide Study.

Economic recession has dire consequences on overall health. None have explored the impact of economic crisis (EC) on infective endocarditis (IE) mortality. We conducted a retrospective, nationwide, temporal trend study analyzing mortality trends by age, sex, and adverse outcomes in patients diagnosed with IE in Spain from 1997 to 2014.

Multimodal Imaging Features of Focal Scleral Nodule.

This article describes a 63-year-old woman with a yellow-white mass in the inferior juxtapapillary region discovered on routine ocular examination. She was diagnosed as solitary idiopathic choroiditis (SIC) after an extensive ocular examination. SIC is a rare condition of unknown aetiology that can sometimes be mistaken as inflammatory processes or intraocular tumors.

Prognostic Role of TAPSE to PASP Ratio in Patients Undergoing MitraClip Procedure.

Background: Transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVR) is an effective therapy for high-risk patients with severe mitral regurgitation (MR) but heart failure (HF) readmissions and death remain substantial on mid-term follow-up. Recently, right ventricular (RV) to pulmonary arterial (PA) coupling has emerged as a relevant prognostic predictor in HF. In this study, we aimed to assess the prognostic value of tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) to PA systolic pressure (PASP) ratio as a non-invasive measure of RV-to-PA coupling in patients undergoing TMVR with MitraClip (Abbott, CA, USA).

New TNM staging in lung cancer (8 edition) and future perspectives.

Background: Carrying out a correct anatomical classification of lung cancer is crucial to take clinical and therapeutic decisions in each patient.

Aim: TNM staging classification provides an accurate anatomical description about the extension of the disease; however, the anatomical burden of the disease is just one aspect that changes the prognosis.

Relevance For Patients: TNM staging classification is a tool that predicts survival, but we must consider that TNM is just one of the factors that concern the prognosis.

Development and validation of a delirium risk prediction preoperative model for cardiac surgery patients (DELIPRECAS): An observational multicentre study.

Study Objective: To develop and validate a delirium risk prediction preoperative model for patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Design: Observational prospective multicentre study.

Setting: Six intensive care units in Spain.

Predicting Atrial Fibrillation with High Risk of Embolization with Atrial Strain and NT-proBNP.

The aim of the study was to determine markers of atrial dysfunction in patients with cryptogenic stroke to predict episodes of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation with high risk of embolization (HpAF). We classified patients included in the Crypto-AF study, Cryptogenic Stroke registry, to detect paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (pAF) with wearable Holter, according to the longest episode of pAF in three groups: without pAF detection, episodes of pAF shorter than 5 h, and episodes of pAF longer than 5 h (HpAF). Atrial dysfunction surrogates were evaluated: EKG pattern, Holter record and echocardiography parameters (left atria volume (LAVI), and peak atrial longitudinal and contraction strain (PALS and PACS).

B-type natriuretic peptide over N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide to predict incident atrial fibrillation after cryptogenic stroke.

Background And Purpose: B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) are well-known surrogates of atrial fibrillation (AF) detection but studies usually present data on either BNP or NT-proBNP. The aim was to determine and directly compare the validity of the two biomarkers as a tool to predict AF and guide prolonged cardiac monitoring in cryptogenic stroke patients.

Methods: Non-lacunar acute ischaemic stroke (<72 h) patients over 55 years of age with cryptogenic stroke after standard evaluation were included in the Crypto-AF study and blood was collected.

Misaligned spinal rods can induce high internal forces consistent with those observed to cause screw pullout and disc degeneration.

Background Context: Manual contouring of spinal rods is often required intraoperatively for proper alignment of the rods within the pedicle screw heads. Residual misalignments are frequently reduced by using dedicated reduction devices. The forces exerted by these devices, however, are uncontrolled and may lead to excessive reaction forces.

Matrix Metalloproteinases in Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD).

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a complex, multifactorial and progressive retinal disease affecting millions of people worldwide. In developed countries, it is the leading cause of vision loss and legal blindness among the elderly. Although the pathogenesis of AMD is still barely understood, recent studies have reported that disorders in the regulation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) play an important role in its etiopathogenesis.

Surgical Options for Optic Disc Pit Maculopathy: Perspectives and Controversies.

Optic disc pit (ODP) is a rare congenital optic nerve head abnormality, which can be complicated by intraretinal and subretinal fluid at the macula (ODP-maculopathy) with progressive visual loss. The source of this fluid remains unclear and the most dominant hypotheses have pointed to vitreous cavity or cerebrospinal fluid. Although spontaneous resolution has been reported, the majority of untreated cases of ODP-maculopathy result in final visual acuity less than 20/200 or worse.

Autologous serum eye drops improve tear production, both lachrymal flow and stability tests and conjunctival impression cytology with transfer in dry eye disease.

Background: Autologous serum eye drops, produced by separation of liquid and cellular components of the patient's blood, contain biological nutrients present in natural tears. The aim of this study was to analyse changes in conjunctival impression cytology with transfer and both lachrymal stability and flow tests in patients with dry eye disease after treatment with autologous serum eye drops.

Materials And Methods: Conjunctival impression cytology and lachrymal flow and stability tests, namely Schirmer's and tear break-up time, were prospectively studied in patients with dry eye disease before and 1 month after treatment with autologous serum eye drops.

Exploring EEG Spectral Patterns in Episodic and Chronic Migraine During the Interictal State: Determining Frequencies of Interest in the Resting State.

Objective: The analysis of particular (electroencephalographic) EEG frequency bands has revealed new insights relative to the neural dynamics that, when studying the EEG spectrum as a whole, would have remained hidden. This study is aimed at characterizing spectral resting state EEG patterns for assessing possible differences of episodic and chronic migraine during the interictal period. For that purpose, a novel methodology for analyzing specific frequencies of interest was performed.

Large vessel occlusion is independently associated with atrial fibrillation detection.

Background And Purpose: Covert paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (pAF) is the most frequent cause of cardiac embolism. Our goal was to discover parameters associated with early pAF detection with intensive cardiac monitoring.

Method: Crypto-AF was a multicentre prospective study (four Comprehensive Stroke Centres) to detect pAF in non-lacunar cryptogenic stroke continuously monitored within the first 28 days.

Oncological safety of transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME) for rectal cancer: mid-term results of a prospective multicentre study.

Background: There is no consensus regarding the gold standard technique for rectal cancer as Total Mesorectal Excision (TME) may be safely performed either by open or minimally invasive surgery. The laparoscopic approach, however, may carry technical difficulties. For this reason, a novel technique has emerged in the last decade combining a dual laparoscopic dissection (abdominal and transanal) to perform the TME technique (TaTME).