Microvascular changes of the retina in ankylosing spondylitis, and the association with cardiovascular disease - the eye for a heart study.

OBJECTIVE: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Microvasculature changes can precede overt CVD, but have been studied poorly in AS. The retinal vasculature is easily accessible and changes are associated with CVD (e.g. arteriolar narrowing, venular widening, loss of tortuosity). This proof of concept study compared the retinal microvasculature of AS patients with healthy controls, and the influence of gender. METHODS: Cross-sectional case-control study comparing AS patients with healthy controls. Main inclusion criteria were: age 50-75 years, no diabetes mellitus and, for AS, fulfillment of the modified New York criteria. All subjects underwent fundus photography, analyzed with Singapore I Vessel Assessment software, and Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCTA). Subjects were compared with generalized estimating equations (GEE). Multivariable analyses were adjusted for demographics and cardiovascular risk, and stratified for gender. RESULTS: Fifty-nine AS patients and 105 controls were included (50% women). Controls were significantly older than patients (68 versus 60, p<0.01), but did not differ in cardiovascular profile. Patients had a lower retinal arteriolar tortuosity (ß Ì¶-0.1, 95%CI [-0.2; -0.01], p = 0.02), and higher vessel density (ß 0.5, 95% CI [0.1; 0.9], p = 0.02). In addition, male AS patients showed a lower arteriovenular ratio compared to male controls (ß -0.03, p = 0.04, 95%CI [-0.05; -0.001]). There were no differences found between women with and without AS. CONCLUSION: This study detected several retinal microvascular changes, in AS patients compared to controls, which have been associated with CVD. Retinal imaging might be an interesting tool for future CVD screening.

The evaluation of nasal mucociliary clearance in patients with Helicobacter pylori infection.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine nasal mucociliary clearance time in patients with Helicobacter pylori infection. METHODS: Fifty patients who were newly diagnosed with H pylori infection using gastric biopsy in the gastroenterology out-patient clinic, and 50 age- and gender-matched healthy adults who were admitted to the otorhinolaryngology out-patient clinic, were included in this study. After an otorhinolaryngological examination (anterior rhinoscopy and nasal endoscopic examination), the nasal mucociliary clearance time of each subject was calculated using the saccharine test. RESULTS: The mean mucociliary clearance time was 06:29 ± 3:31 minutes (range, 00:55-15:19 minutes) in the control group and 10:12 ± 06:09 minutes (range, 01:28-32:00 minutes) in the study group. Comparisons of the two groups revealed a statistically significant difference (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Nasal mucociliary clearance time was significantly increased in patients with H pylori infection. The results suggest that H pylori infection may have an unfavourable effect on nasal mucociliary clearance.

Emergent endovascular repair of ruptured abdominal and thoracic aortic aneurysms in a single center: midterm outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: Endovascular therapies may offer distinct advantages in acute aortic syndromes. In this paper, we present our experience with emergent endovascular repair of both abdominal and thoracic aortic ruptures and report early and midterm out comes. METHODS: Data from all patients (n=96) who were treated by endovascular procedures between 2004 to 2012 were prospectively collected and early-midterm outcomes of the emergency (e) interventions for both abdominal (EVAR) and thoracic (TEVAR) aortic ruptures (n=20) were retrospectively analysed. RESULTS: The mean age was 65 +- 11 years (range: 27-77 years)and 18 patients (90%) were male. Mean follow-up duration was 28 ± 21.2 months (range=1-57). Thirteen patients were treated by eEVAR (65%) and 7 by eTEVAR (35%). One patient who had a rupture of the aneurysm at arcus aorta level was treated by hybrid procedure (eTEVAR+ debranching).The hospital mortality rate was 20% (n=4) for all cases, 23.0% (n=3) for eEVAR and 14.2% (n=1) for eTEVAR. In the follow-up period, 3 patients (15.0%) had reinterventions. DISCUSSION: Reinterventions and the necessity of close follow-up are the disadvantages of endovascular procedures.Even if that is the case, we believe that eEVAR eTEVAR in the acute setting of ruptured aorta in patients with suitable anatomy is a lifesaving option.