Residual Aneurysmal Sac Shrinkage Post-Endovascular Aneurysm Repair: The Role of Preoperative Inflammatory Markers.

INTRODUCTION: In this study, we evaluated the role of preoperative inflammatory markers as Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte (NLR) and Platelet-to-Lymphocyte (PLR) ratios in relation to post-endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) sac shrinkage, which is known to be an important factor for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) healing. METHODS: This was a single-center retrospective observational study. All patients who underwent the EVAR procedure from January 2017 to December 2020 were eligible for this study. Pre-operative blood samples of all patients admitted were used to calculate NLR and PLR. Sac shrinkage was defined as a decrease of ≥5 mm in the maximal sac diameter. The optimal NLR and PLR cut-offs for aneurysmal sac shrinkage were obtained from ROC curves. Stepwise multivariate analysis was performed in order to identify independent risk and protective factors for the absence of AAA shrinkage. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to evaluate survival rates with respect to the AAA shrinkage. RESULTS: A total of 184 patients were finally enrolled. The mean age was 75.8 ± 8.3 years, and 85.9% were male (158/184). At a mean follow-up of 43 ± 18 months, sac shrinkage was registered in 107 patients (58.1%). No-shrinking AAA patients were more likely to be older, to have a higher level of NLR and PLR, and be an active smoker. Kaplan-Meier curves highlighted a higher rate of survival for shrinking AAA patients with respect to their counterparts (p < 0.03). Multivariate analysis outlined active smoking and NLR as independent risk factors for no-shrinking AAA. CONCLUSIONS: Inflammation emerged as a possible causative factor for no-shrinking AAA, playing a role in aneurysmal sac remodeling. This study revealed that inflammatory biomarkers, such as NLR and PLR, can be used as a preoperative index of AAA sac behavior after EVAR procedures.

The Combination of Vacuum-Assisted Thromboaspiration and Covered Stent Graft for Acute Limb Ischemia due to Thromboembolic Complications of Popliteal Aneurysm.

BACKGROUND: We present a standardized protocol of endovascular revascularization for patients with acute limb ischemia due to popliteal artery aneurysm (PAA) thromboembolic complication, based on the combination of vacuum-assisted thromboaspiration to improve tibiopedal outflow and covered stent graft to exclude the PAA. METHODS: All patients with a diagnosis of PAA complicated by thromboembolic events undergoing total endovascular rescue were prospectively enrolled in a dedicated database from November 2018 to November 2021. To assess vessel patency, the TIPI (Thromboaspiration In Peripheral Ischemia) classification was used. The primary end point was the primary technical success (at least one tibial vessel with a TIPI flow of 2 or 3). The 30-day overall mortality and amputation rates were considered as secondary end points. Patients' overall survival, limb salvage, freedom from reocclusion and reinterventions were reported as secondary late outcomes using Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Seventeen male patients were enrolled with a mean age of 75.7 ± 9 years. Rutherford grading score was IIa in 52.9% (9/17) and IIb in 47.1% (8/17). PAA mean diameter was 37.4 ± 11.2 mm. All patients had tibial arteries involvement, and in 9 cases (52.9%) there was also the occlusion of the PAA. Mechanical thrombectomy with Indigo/Penumbra thromboaspiration system was used in all patients. PAAs were excluded using one or more VIABAHN covered endografts (range 1-3 pieces). Technical success was achieved in 94.1%. Fasciotomy was performed in 1 case (5.9%). Mortality and amputation rates at 30-day follow-up were respectively 0% and 5.9%. Survival rates at 6, 12, and 24 months were respectively 94.1%, 86.3%, and 67.9%. Secondary patency was achieved in all cases (100%). Freedom from reintervention was 80.4%, 65.8%, and 54.8% at 6-, 12-, and 24-month follow-up. Limb salvage was 88.2% at 6-, 12-, and 24-month follow-up, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Although preliminary, our experience of total endovascular rescue for complicated PAA with thromboembolic events highlighted promising rates of limb salvage at 30 days after intervention. The total endovascular approach seems able to maximize tibiopedal outflow offering an interesting strategy in limb salvage.

Sequestration of Alkyltin(IV) compounds in aqueous solution: formation, stability, and empirical relationships for the binding of dimethyltin(IV) cation by N- and O-donor ligands.

The sequestering ability of polyamines and aminoacids of biological and environmental relevance (namely, ethylenediamine, putrescine, spermine, a polyallylamine, a branched polyethyleneimine, aspartate, glycinate, lysinate) toward dimethyltin(IV) cation was evaluated. The stability of various dimethyltin(IV) / ligand species was determined in NaCl(aq) at t = 25 degrees C and at different ionic strengths (0.1

Vitamin D status in female patients with primary hyperparathyroidism: does it play a role in skeletal damage?

OBJECTIVE: Vitamin D deficiency, even subclinical, has been considered to worsen the skeletal damage in primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). Our study aimed to investigate the impact of vitamin D status on skeletal involvement in PHPT. DESIGN AND MEASUREMENTS: A cross-sectional study was designed involving 62 female patients with PHPT. Serum total calcium (tCa), phosphate (P), creatinine (Cr) and total alkaline phosphatase activity (AP), together with 24-h (uCa 24 h) and spot fasting (uCa/Cr) urinary calcium, were measured by autoanalyser; ionized calcium (iCa) was assessed by an ion-specific electrode; intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) was measured by immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at lumbar spine in 58 patients, and at femoral neck, Ward's triangle, greater trochanter, intertrochanteric line and total hip in 56 patients. The associations of all variables with age, 25-OHD, body mass index (BMI) and PTH were studied by linear multiple regression analysis, using progressively restricted models. RESULTS: The model including age, 25-OHD, PTH and BMI showed significant regression with BMD values. PTH, age and BMI exerted a leading role in determining such a significance, while no significant regression was found between the parameters studied and 25-OHD; this was confirmed by Pearson's linear correlation analysis. The progressively restricted models showed significant regression of BMD at femoral neck, femoral intertrochanteric line and total hip with age, BMI and PTH. BMD measured at the Ward's triangle and greater trochanter showed significant regression with age and BMI, and that measured at lumbar spine with age. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that in primary hyperparathyroidism patients the influence of 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels on bone mineral density, if any, was overwhelmed by the effects of parathyroid hormone excess, age and body mass index. The latter unequally affected bone mineral density of various measured sites with different composition.

Impact of fractures on health care in a major university hospital in Rome.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of fractures (i.e., hip, Colles, humeral and vertebral fractures), compared with that of other common diseases requiring hospitalization, on health care in the main hospital in Rome (Italy). METHODS: Hospital discharge forms, filled in according to the 9th International Classification of Diseases, were examined from 1996 to 1999. Data on fractures were compared with those related to other diseases which occupy a considerable proportion of hospital operating time in Italy: coronary heart disease (CHD), cerebrovascular disorders (CVD), diabetes mellitus (DM), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and breast cancer (BC). RESULTS: In all groups of patients, the mean age of females was significantly higher (p<0.0001) than that of males. Male patients with hip fractures had hospital stays significantly longer than females (p<0.0001), whereas women with Colles fractures had significantly (p<0.02) longer stays. When patients were divided according to age (i.e., over or under 60 years), mean hospital stays did not differ between younger and older patients in all groups except Colles fractures (p<0.001). Hip fractures in older patients showed striking in-hospital mortality. Throughout the study period, hip fractures accounted for the highest overall and per-patient costs. The number of female patients with fractures (and, obviously, breast cancer) was higher, while the opposite applied to the other disorders. Male patients with fractures, CHD and CVD were significantly younger than females (p<0.0001). When the percentage of deaths was added to that of patients discharged to other institutions, fractures showed the poorest outcome of any hospitalization event. Per-patient costs were remarkably higher for CHD, followed by fractures. CONCLUSIONS: Fractures represent a growing but often underestimated burden for hospital care in Italy; further studies are needed on this issue.