Venous Wall of Patients with Chronic Venous Disease Exhibits a Glycolytic Phenotype.

Chronic venous disease (CVeD) is a rising medical condition characterized by a broad spectrum of disorders in the venous system. Varicose veins (VVs) represent a frequent clinical manifestation of CVeD, particularly in the lower limbs. Prior histopathological studies have defined a set of alterations observed in the venous wall of patients with VVs, affecting their structure and behavior. Metabolic changes in the veins appear to be a critical biological mechanism aiding our understanding of the pathogenesis of CVeD. In this sense, previous studies have identified a potential role of a glycolytic phenotype in the development of different vascular disorders; however, its precise role in CVeD remains to be fully explored. Thus, the aim of the present study was to analyze the gene and protein expression of glucose transporter 1 (GLUT-1) and the glycolytic enzymes PGK-1, ALD, GA3PDH and LDH in the VVs of patients with CVeD (n = 35) in comparison to those expressed in healthy subjects. Our results display enhanced gene and protein expression of GLUT-1, PGK-1, ALD, GA3PDH and LDH in patients with CVeD, suggesting a glycolytic switch of the venous tissue. Greater understanding of the impact of this glycolytic switch in patients with CVeD is required to define a possible pathophysiological role or therapeutic implications of these changes.

Association of Age and Surgical Technique with the Quality of Life of Male Patients Treated for Abdominal Aorta Aneurysms: A Cross-Sectional Study.

OBJECTIVES: The achievement of a good health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has become one of the primary objectives of medical-surgical interventions. The objective of this study is to determine the HRQoL of patients who underwent abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) surgery and to analyse the influence of age on HRQoL. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is an observational cross-sectional study with 151 male patients who underwent an operation for AAAs between January 2013 and December 2020 in two hospital centres. HRQoL was assessed with the Spanish version of the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36), starting in the month following the surgical intervention. Statistical analyses were performed using hypothesis tests and multivariate linear regression. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 73 years (SD: 7), and the mean interval between surgery and the interview was 37 months (SD: 27). The scores of the Physical Function (p = 0.001), Vitality (p = 0.016), Social Function (p = 0.014), and Mental Health (p = 0.007) dimensions of the SF-36 were significantly lower in the older age groups. In addition, the scores on the Physical Summary Component (p = 0.003) and the Mental Summary Component (p = 0.026) were significantly lower among individuals older than 70 years of age. The HRQoL in patients who underwent operations for AAAs was similar to that reported in the general population of Spain. Patients with an aorto-aortic shunt had better scores on the Physical Function (Beta: 10; p = 0.014) and Mental Health (Beta: 8.12; p = 0.040) dimensions than those who had an aorto-bi-iliac or bifemoral shunt, regardless of the age of the patients at operation. CONCLUSION: Among patients who underwent an operation for an AAA, there was a negative association between the age at operation and scores on the Physical Function, Vitality, Social Function, and Mental Health dimensions of the SF-36. The type of surgical technique influences the evolution of Physical Function and Mental Health scores, regardless of age.

Quality of Life for Patients Receiving Elective Interventions for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms.

Objectives: Information on the quality of life of patients operated on for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is scarce. The objective of this study was to analyse these patients' health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional observational study. Patients undergoing elective AAA surgery from January 2013 to December 2020 were included. The Spanish version of the SF-36 questionnaire was administered to participants one to sixty months after surgery. Results: During the study period, 178 patients underwent surgery for AAA, 109 (61.23%) had open abdominal aortic repair (AAR) and 69 (38.54%) had endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). Mortality before the month of surgery was higher among those treated by AAR than EVAR (2.7% and 1.45%, respectively), while late mortality was higher in the EVAR group than in the AAR group (11.5% and 2.7%, respectively). In the late postoperative period, 12.5% of patients who underwent AAR presented complications compared to 25% of those treated with EVAR. The questionnaire was administered to 151 patients (91 AAR and 60 EVAR patients). The AAR patients compared to the EVAR patients had significantly higher mean scores on the health scales of the SF-36 questionnaire in Physical Function (p = 0.001), Vitality (p = 0.003), General Health (p = 0.37), Social Function (p = 0.023) and Mental Health (p = 0.006). Scores on the Mental Summary Component were significantly higher in the AAR group (p = 0.026). Conclusions: The group of patients treated with AAR showed the highest average scores on the scales of the SF-36 questionnaire in Physical Function, Vitality, General Health and Mental Health. The worst result was found in the Social Function scale for EVAR patients and was related to a higher rate of late complications.

Quality of Life of Patients Treated for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: Open Surgery and Endoprosthesis.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the degree of long-term health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients undergoing surgery for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and to analyze the results according to the type of treatment, namely, open abdominal repair (OAR) or endoprosthesis (EVAR). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a prospective cross-sectional observational study. Patients receiving intervention for AAA between January 2013 and December 2020 were included. The Spanish version of the SF-36 questionnaire was used. A single survey was performed on all patients, and the time elapsed since the intervention was recorded. RESULTS: On all health scales and in the two groups of patients, the highest scores were recorded at six months postoperatively. At that time, the EVAR and OAR groups had similar values. Between 13 and 16 months postoperatively, EVAR patients presented a transient but significant decrease in their scores for physical function (p = 0.016), vitality (p = 0.035) and social function (p = 0.041). From that moment, there were progressive decreases in the scores of the two groups of patients on all the scales of the SF-36 questionnaire, although this trend was less pronounced in the OAR group. At 60 months after the intervention, the latter group showed significantly higher values than EVAR for physical function (p = 0.01), vitality (p = 0.032) and mental health (p = 0.029). Additionally, at 60 months after the intervention, the Sum of the psychological component (MCS) and Sum of the physical component (PCS) scores were significantly higher in the OAR group (p = 0.040 and p = 0.039, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In the short term, patients treated for AAA by EVAR or OAR showed similar results on the SF-36 questionnaire. In the long term, patients treated by EVAR had lower scores on the physical function, vitality and mental health scales.

Contribution of the Elastic Component and Venous Wall Arterialization in Patients with Venous Reflux.

Chronic venous disease (CVeD) is defined as a set of disorders affecting the venous system mainly manifested in the form of varicose veins. CVeD is characterized by a sustained venous hypertension, leading to a plethora of functional and structural changes in the vein that may cause valve incompetence and pathologic reflux. In turn, venous reflux aggravates the venous hypertension and enhances the progression of CVeD into the most advanced stages. Previous studies have proposed that there are several alterations in the venous wall preceding the valve dysfunction and venous reflux. Besides, it has also been identified that young patients with CVeD present premature aging and changes in the venous wall composition that may be related to the presence of venous reflux. In this context, the aim of the present study is to examine the possible pathophysiological role of elastic fibers and their precursors in the venous wall of patients with reflux in comparison to those without reflux, considering the variable age in both groups (<50 years and ≥50 years). We performed immunohistochemical and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in order to assess the protein and gene expression of tropoelastin, fibrillin-1, fibulins 4 and 5, lysyl oxidase and lysyl oxidase like 1, respectively. In parallel, we assessed the elastin content through histological techniques (orcein stain) in this group of patients. Our results show significant changes in elastic fibers and their precursors in young patients with pathologic reflux when compared with elder patients with reflux and young patients without reflux. These variations suggest that the venous system of young patients with venous reflux appears to present an enhanced dynamism and arterialization of the venous wall, which may be associated with a premature aging and pathological environment of the tissue.

Chronic venous disease patients show increased IRS-4 expression in the great saphenous vein wall.

OBJECTIVES: Chronic venous disease (CVeD) is a multifactorial and debilitating condition that has a high prevalence in Western countries and an important associated socioeconomic burden. Varicose veins (VVs) are the most common manifestations of CVeD. Pathologically, many morphological and functional changes have been described in VVs, which most notably affect venous wall integrity. Previous studies have found several molecular alterations that negatively affect normal cell signaling pathways. Insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-4 is a central adaptor protein that is closely related to insulin/insulin-like growth factor-1 signaling upstream, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt or mitogen-activated protein kinases downstream, and other proteins. These molecular pathways have been implicated in CVeD pathogenesis. Thus, the aim of our study was to identify the role of IRS-4 in VV tissue. METHODS: We conducted a histopathological study to analyze IRS-4 protein expression in CVeD patients compared with healthy controls. RESULTS: Our results demonstrate a significant increase in IRS-4 expression in VV tissue. CONCLUSIONS: IRS-4 may be implicated in CVeD development and progression. Therefore, IRS-4 could be a potential diagnostic or therapeutic target for patients with this condition.

Understanding Chronic Venous Disease: A Critical Overview of Its Pathophysiology and Medical Management.

Chronic venous disease (CVD) is a multifactorial condition affecting an important percentage of the global population. It ranges from mild clinical signs, such as telangiectasias or reticular veins, to severe manifestations, such as venous ulcerations. However, varicose veins (VVs) are the most common manifestation of CVD. The explicit mechanisms of the disease are not well-understood. It seems that genetics and a plethora of environmental agents play an important role in the development and progression of CVD. The exposure to these factors leads to altered hemodynamics of the venous system, described as ambulatory venous hypertension, therefore promoting microcirculatory changes, inflammatory responses, hypoxia, venous wall remodeling, and epigenetic variations, even with important systemic implications. Thus, a proper clinical management of patients with CVD is essential to prevent potential harms of the disease, which also entails a significant loss of the quality of life in these individuals. Hence, the aim of the present review is to collect the current knowledge of CVD, including its epidemiology, etiology, and risk factors, but emphasizing the pathophysiology and medical care of these patients, including clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatments. Furthermore, future directions will also be covered in this work in order to provide potential fields to explore in the context of CVD.

Presentation of a large jejunal artery aneurysm: Management and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: Jejunal artery aneurysms (JAAs) constitute less than 1% of all visceral artery aneurysms. They affect mostly men in their fifth decade. In the last years, the widespread of fine cut fine image techniques has increased the number of JAAs diagnosed incidentally. The first case was reported by Levine in 1944. Since then, only a half of hundred cases have been reported. There is a lack of consensus of management of intact JAAs because of the low number of cases published. We present the largest JAA reported in the English literature up to our knowledge. PRESENTATION: We report a 49 year-old woman with a 4 × 5 cm. intact jejunal artery aneurysm found incidentally in a CT. It rose from the first jejunal branch of superior mesenteric artery without signs of rupture. She underwent elective surgery and the aneurysm was completely excised. DISCUSSION: Causes of JAAs include congenital, atherosclerosis or degenerative process. Their rate of rupture depends on location, size and underlying disease and it reaches 10-20% for all visceral artery aneurysms. Risk factors of rupture include pregnancy, hyper-flow situations and connective diseases. Most of cases in the literature presented rupture at the time of diagnosis. JAAs are usually treated following the recommendations for visceral artery aneurysms, so intact JAAs greater than 2 cm. and those causing symptoms should be treated. Treatment includes surgery, embolisation or stent. Surgery is the preferred management for emergency settings. CONCLUSION: JAAs are extremely rare and constitute only 1% of all visceral aneurysms. They are a life-threatening condition.

Trends in the incidence of lower limb amputation after implementation of a Multidisciplinary Diabetic Foot Unit. / Tendencia de la incidencia de amputaciones de miembro inferior tras la implementación de una Unidad Multidisciplinar de Pie Diabético.

BACKGROUNDS AND OBJECTIVE: Incidence of lower extremity amputations (LEA) in the population with and without diabetes mellitus (DM) was assessed after implementation of a Multidisciplinary Diabetic Foot Unit (MDFU) during 2008. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Non-traumatic LEA were analyzed, and those performed before (2001-2007) and after (2008-2014) introduction of the MDFU were compared. LEA were grouped by age and sex. Their incidence was expressed as a rate per 100,000 population per year, adjusted to the standard European population. RESULTS: A total of 664 LEA were performed during the 2001-2014 period, 486 (73%) of them in patients with DM. Total LEA incidence was 11.2/105 population in DM versus 3.9/105 in the population without DM. Incidence of major LEA in patients with DM significantly decreased from 6.1/105 population in the 2001-2007 period to 4.5/105 in the 2008-2014 period (p=.03). Joinpoint regression analysis also showed a reduction in the trend of incidence of major LEA in patients with DM, with an annual percentage change of -3.3% [95% CI, -6.2-0.3] (p=.025). No significant differences were found for all other incidences and trends in the diabetic and non-diabetic populations. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of a MDFU has been shown to be associated with a significant reduction in major amputation rate in the diabetic population, although the results are not optimal yet. Both results and work at the MDFU should be improved.

Tendencia de la incidencia de amputaciones de miembro inferior tras la implementación de una Unidad Multidisciplinar de Pie Diabético / Trends in the incidence of lower limb amputation after implementation of a Multidisciplinary Diabetic Foot Unit

Antecedentes y objetivo: Evaluamos la incidencia de amputaciones de miembro inferior (AMI) en población con y sin diabetes mellitus (DM) tras la implementación en nuestro centro de una Unidad Multidisciplinar de Pie Diabético (UMPD) durante el año 2008. Material y métodos: Analizamos las AMI de causa no traumática y comparamos las realizadas antes del inicio de la UMPD, 2001-2007; vs. las realizadas después, 2008-2014. Las AMI se agruparon por edad y sexo. Su incidencia se expresó por 100.000 habitantes y año, ajustada a la población europea estándar. Resultados: Se realizaron 664 AMI, 486 (73%) en población con DM durante el período 2001-2014. La incidencia de todas las AMI en DM fue de 11,2/105 habitantes vs. 3,9/105 en población sin DM. La incidencia de AMI mayores en DM se redujo de manera significativa de 6,1/105habitantes en el período 2001-2007 a 4,5/105 en el período 2008-2014 (p=0,03). El análisis de regresión jointpoint, también demostró una reducción en la tendencia de la incidencia de AMI mayores en la población con DM, observándose un cambio porcentual anual del -3,3% [IC 95%, -6,2-0,3] (p=0,025). No encontramos diferencias significativas en el resto de incidencias y tendencias en población con y sin DM. Conclusiones: La puesta en funcionamiento de una UMPD en nuestro centro ha demostrado que se asoció a una reducción significativa en la tasa de amputaciones mayores en la población diabética, si bien estos resultados aún no son óptimos. Se precisa mejorar estos resultados y el funcionamiento de la UMPD (AU)

Backgrounds and objective: Incidence of lower extremity amputations (LEA) in the population with and without diabetes mellitus (DM) was assessed after implementation of a Multidisciplinary Diabetic Foot Unit (MDFU) during 2008. Material and methods: Non-traumatic LEA were analyzed, and those performed before (2001-2007) and after (2008-2014) introduction of the MDFU were compared. LEA were grouped by age and sex. Their incidence was expressed as a rate per 100,000 population per year, adjusted to the standard European population. Results: A total of 664 LEA were performed during the 2001-2014 period, 486 (73%) of them in patients with DM. Total LEA incidence was 11.2/105 population in DM versus 3.9/105 in the population without DM. Incidence of major LEA in patients with DM significantly decreased from 6.1/105population in the 2001-2007 period to 4.5/105 in the 2008-2014 period (p=.03). Joinpoint regression analysis also showed a reduction in the trend of incidence of major LEA in patients with DM, with an annual percentage change of -3.3% [95% CI, -6.2-0.3] (p=.025). No significant differences were found for all other incidences and trends in the diabetic and non-diabetic populations. Conclusions: Implementation of a MDFU has been shown to be associated with a significant reduction in major amputation rate in the diabetic population, although the results are not optimal yet. Both results and work at the MDFU should be improved (AU)

Reducing major lower extremity amputations after the introduction of a multidisciplinary team for the diabetic foot.

We analyzed the incidence of lower extremity amputations (LEAs) in the 3rd Health Care Area of Madrid before and after the March 2008 introduction of a multidisciplinary team for managing diabetic foot disease. We compared the amputation rates in people with and without diabetes during 2 periods: before (2001-2007) and after (2008-2011) the introduction of a Multidisciplinary Diabetic Foot Unit (MDFU). We also analyzed the trend of the amputation rates by joinpoint regression analysis and measured the annual percentage change (APC). During the study period, 514 nontraumatic LEAs were performed, 374 (73%) in people with diabetes and 140 (27%) in people without the disease. The incidence of LEAs showed a significant reduction in major amputations in people with diabetes, from 6.1 per 100 000 per year (95% confidence interval [CI] = 4.9 to 7.2), in the 2001 to 2007 period, to 4.0 per 100 000 per year (95% CI = 2.6 to 5.5) in the 2008 to 2011 period (P = .020). There were no changes in incidence of minor or total amputations in the diabetic population or in amputations in the nondiabetic population during the study period. Joinpoint regression analysis showed a significant reduction in the incidence of major LEAs in diabetic population with an APC of -6.6% (95% CI = -10.2 to -2.8; P = .003), but there were no other significant changes. This study demonstrates that the introduction of a multidisciplinary team, coordinated by an endocrinologist and a podiatrist, for managing diabetic foot disease is associated with a reduction in the incidence of major amputations in patients with diabetes.

[Upper digestive hemorrhage due to aortoesophageal fistula]. / Hemorragia digestiva alta por fístula aortoesofágica.

We describe the case of a 60-year-old woman who presented with thoracic pain followed by hematemesis. Aortoesophageal fistula was diagnosed. Double aortic and esophageal protheses were placed with good clinical outcome. After 15 days, the patient presented migration of the esophageal prothesis and a further endoscopic examination was performed. A fishbone was visualized in the fistula orifice.

Hemorragia digestiva alta por fístula aortoesofágica / Upper digestive hemorrhage due to aortoesophageal fistula

Se describe el caso clínico de una mujer de 60 años de edad, que comenzó con dolor torácico y un posterior episodio de hematemesis. Se diagnosticó una fístula aortoesofágica, por lo que se colocó una doble prótesis aórtica y esofágica, con buena evolución clínica. A los 15 días presentó migración de la prótesis esofágica y se realizó una nueva endoscopia, que permitió visualizar una espina de pescado enclavada en el esófago

We describe the case of a 60-year-old woman who presented with thoracic pain followed by hematemesis. Aortoesophageal fistula was diagnosed. Double aortic and esophageal protheses were placed with good clinical outcome. After 15 days, the patient presented migration of the esophageal prothesis and a further endoscopic examination was performed. A fishbone was visualized in the fistula orifice