Predictors of unfavorable outcome in stent-assisted coiling for symptomatic unruptured intracranial spontaneous vertebral artery dissecting aneurysms (uis-VADAs): results from a multicenter study.

Objective: To evaluate predictors of unfavorable outcome in stent-assisted coiling for symptomatic unruptured intracranial spontaneous vertebral artery dissecting aneurysms (uis-VADAs) based on 608 reconstructed lesions in 30 medical centres.

Methods: A total of 608 patients (male:female=479:129; mean age, 53.26±10.

Coronary Endothelium-Dependent Vasomotor Function After Drug-Eluting Stent and Bioresorbable Scaffold Implantation.

Background Early generation drug-eluting stents (DESs) showed a high grade of coronary endothelial dysfunction that was attributed to lack of stent reendothelialization. Endothelium-dependent vasomotor response of current DESs and bioresorbable scaffolds (BRSs) remains unknown. This study sought to assess the device-related endothelial function of current devices and to correlate neointima healing with endothelial function.

The Role of Four-Dimensional Automatic Right Ventricular Quantification Technology to Determine RV Function and Hemodynamics in Patients With Pulmonary Hypertension Compared With Right Heart Catheterization.

Four-dimensional automatic right ventricular quantification technology (4D auto-RVQ) is a new method that can simultaneously measure right ventricular (RV) structure and strain. The role of 4D auto-RVQ in determining RV function and hemodynamics is not clear. The role of 4D auto-RVQ in determining RV function and hemodynamics is not clear.

Pragmatic Use of Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis in Venous Thromboembolism and a Comparative Evaluation With Traditional Therapies in Submassive Pulmonary Embolism.

Background: Catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) is a novel treatment for venous thromboembolism (VTE). Limited data describe pragmatic use of CDT and compare CDT to other VTE therapies.

Objective: Assess the use of CDT and comparatively evaluate CDT, anticoagulation, and systemic thrombolysis in submassive pulmonary embolism (PE).

Identification of Potential Risk Genes and the Immune Landscape of Idiopathic Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension via Microarray Gene Expression Dataset Reanalysis.

Gene dysfunction and immune cell infiltration play an essential role in the pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH). We aimed to investigate the immune landscape and novel differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of IPAH. In addition, potential druggable molecular targets for IPAH were also explored.

Person-Centered Communication Between Health Care Professionals and COVID-19-Infected Older Adults in Acute Care Settings: Findings From Wuhan, China.

Objectives: The current study aims to explore person-centered communication between health care professionals and COVID-19-infected older patients in acute care settings.

Methods: The current qualitative study explored the communication between professionals and COVID-19-infected older adults in the acute care setting through 2 rounds of interviews with physicians and nurses who provided direct care and treatment for COVID-19-infected older patients in Wuhan, China. We explored the possibilities and significance of facilitating effective communication despite multiple challenges in the pandemic.

Small caliber heparin loaded ultrafine microfiber woven graft achieved high patency rate in a preliminary study of canine carotid artery implantation.

Objective: In the past five decades, many small caliber vascular grafts have been developed as bypasses for infrapopliteal or coronary arteries. However, reliable grafts have not been obtained owing to poor patency, mainly caused by early thrombosis or neointimal hyperplasia in the intermediate period after implantation. We developed a novel small caliber heparin-loaded polyethylene terephthalate ultrafine microfiber (HL-PET) graft and evaluated the feasibility to overcome those main causes of graft failure in canine carotid artery implantation.

Two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography detected interventricular dyssynchrony predicts exercise capacity and disease severity in pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension.

Background: Right ventricular (RV) intraventricular mechanical dyssynchrony detected by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) has been reported to be correlated with a decrease in RV contractile efficiency in pulmonary hypertension (PH) patients, while little attention has been paid to biventricular dysfunction. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the predictive value of 2D-STE detected interventricular dyssynchrony for exercise capacity and disease severity in patients with pre-capillary PH (PcPH).

Methods: Conventional transthoracic echocardiography, 2D-STE and cardiopulmonary exercise tests (CPETs) were performed in all participants.

The value of three-dimensional echocardiography in risk stratification in pulmonary arterial hypertension: a cross-sectional study.

To explore the value of right ventricular (RV) parameters detected by three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) in risk stratification in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) patients. We prospectively recruited 130 pulmonary hypertension patients from National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Fuwai Hospital. Each participant was performed a transthoracic echocardiography and 3DE parameters were measured using an off-line software (4D RV Function 2.

LOX-1+ PMN-MDSC enhances immune suppression which promotes glioblastoma multiforme progression.

Background/aims: Patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) that is the most common brain cancer in adults have a rather poor prognosis. The accumulation of immune suppressive myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC) is negatively associated with clinical outcomes in various cancers. A recent study identified that lectin-type oxidized LDL receptor 1 (LOX-1) may serve as a specific marker of human polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN)-MDSC.

Upper limb secondary lymphedema ultrasound mapping and characterization.

Background: Ultrasound investigation potentials in lymphedema are still to be fully used in everyday practice. Aim of the present study was to report the sonographic characterization of the dermo-epidermal complex (DEC) and of the subcutaneous (SUBC) tissue, assessing the feasibility of a related mapping, in upper limb secondary lymphedema.

Methods: In this retrospective study 287 patients affected by monolateral upper limb post-mastectomy lymphedema (M5/F282; mean age 64±4.

Two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography assessed right ventricular function and exercise capacity in pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension.

Resting two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) identified right ventricular (RV) systolic function were reported to predict exercise capacity in pulmonary hypertension (PH) patients, but little attention had been payed to 2D-STE detected RV diastolic function. Therefore, we aim to elucidate and compare the relations between 2D-STE identified RV diastolic/systolic functions and peak oxygen consumption (PVO) determined by cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) in pre-capillary PH. 2D-STE was performed in 66 pre-capillary PH patients and 28 healthy controls.

Three-year outcome of everolimus-eluting bioresorbable vascular scaffold versus everolimus-eluting metallic stents: a comprehensive updated meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

In recent years, everolimus-eluting bioresorbable vascular scaffold stents (EE-BRS) were developed as alternative to everolimus-eluting metallic stents (EES) for coronary artery disease (CAD) treatments. Areas covered: Searches were conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, EBSCO, Springer, Ovid, TCTMD, Cardiosource, Clinical Trial Results and the Cochrane Library with combined key words such as bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS), everolimus-eluting metallic stents, EES, coronary artery disease, CAD and randomized-Controlled Trials.Finally, 5,474 patients were enrolled for comparison of device-induced thrombosis, ischemia-driven target lesion revascularization (ID-TLR), device-oriented composite endpoints (DOCE), patient-oriented composite endpoints (POCE), and target vessel failure (TVF) between EE-BRS and EES treatments.

Treatment of Blood Blister-like Aneurysms with Stent-Assisted Coiling: A Retrospective Multicenter Study.

Objective: To clarify safety and efficacy of stent-assisted coiling for treatment of blood blister-like aneurysm (BBA) in a multicenter experience.

Methods: A total of 212 consecutive cases (213 BBAs) treated with stent-assisted coiling were retrospectively reviewed and included in the final analysis. Outcomes including complete occlusion, recurrence, perioperative morbidity and mortality, and overall good neurologic outcome during follow-up were analyzed.

Prevalence and Predictors of Silent Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease in Patients with Hypertension.

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) without symptoms or silent GERD can be easily missed in patients with hypertension. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of GERD, specifically the prevalence of silent GERD in hypertensive patients, and to explore its possible predictors.

Methods: Consecutive patients with hypertension referred to the cardiovascular clinic of Suining Central Hospital in 2016 were screened for this study.

Endovascular thrombectomy can be beneficial to acute ischemic stroke patients with large infarcts.

Objective: This study aimed to assess whether patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and large infarct lesions benefit from reperfusion management. To determine the efficacy of different recanalization managements on AIS patients with Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) < 6, the authors retrospectively analyzed hospitalized patients with AIS.

Methods: Eighty-nine patients with AIS and ASPECTS < 6 were screened from 13,285 hospitalized patients treated by thrombolysis, thrombectomy, or conventional care in two stroke medical centers.

Novel Compliant Scaffold with Specific Design for Venous System: Results of a Porcine Model Study.

Background: Stenting has become the first-line treatment of obstructive venous disease because of poor results of balloon angioplasty. This preclinical study aimed to investigate the safety and efficacy profile of a novel compliant venous scaffold (CVS) denominated Petalo CVS, specifically designed for venous diseases.

Materials And Methods: Twelve healthy pigs weighing 90 kg were used to test Petalo CVS.

Altered velocity gradient in lower limb chronic venous disease.

Background: In physiology, velocity of the deep venous compartment is higher than the one in the saphenous compartment which is higher than the one in the tributaries. Considering that velocity variation is associated with changes in the pressure gradient, aim of the present study is to assess changes in venous kinetics in case of superficial chronic venous disease, so to provide further clues in venous drainage direction determination.

Methods: Venous ultrasound scanning was performed on 40 lower limbs of 28 chronic venous disease patients (C2-6Ep,As,Pr).

In vivo diabetic wound healing with nanofibrous scaffolds modified with gentamicin and recombinant human epidermal growth factor.

Diabetic wounds are susceptible to microbial infection. The treatment of these wounds requires a higher payload of growth factors. With this in mind, the strategy for this study was to utilize a novel payload comprising of Eudragit RL/RS 100 nanofibers carrying the bacterial inhibitor gentamicin sulfate (GS) in concert with recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF); an accelerator of wound healing.

Femoral vein valve incompetence as a risk factor for junctional recurrence.

Background Recurrent varicose veins occur up to 80% of procedures. The sapheno-femoral junction can be involved in more than 50% of cases. A detailed pathophysiological explanation of the phenomenon is still missing.