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Several studies showed the association between non-traditional risk factors [proteinuria and estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR)] and cardiovascular (CV) and renal outcomes. Nevertheless, the etiologic role of traditional CV risk factors in referred CKD patients is less defined. Herein, we examined the association between smoking habit and CV events, mortality and CKD progression. We undertook an observational analysis of 1306 stage III–V CKD patients. Smoking habit was modeled as a categorical (never, current or former smokers) and continuous (number of cigarettes/day) variable. Mean eGFR was 35.8 ± 12.5 mL/min/1.73 m2. Never, current and former smokers were 61.1%, 10.8% and 28.1%. During a median follow-up of 2.87 years, current and former smokers were at significant risk for CV events (HRs of 1.93 [95% CI, 1.18–3.16] and 1.44 [95% CI, 1.01–2.05]) versus never smokers. Current smokers were at increased mortality risk (HR 2.13 [95% CI, 1.10–4.11]). Interactions were found between former smokers and proteinuria (p = 0.007) and diabetes (p = 0.041) for renal risk, and between current smokers and male gender (p = 0.044) and CKD stage V (p = 0.039) for renal and mortality risk. In referred CKD patients, smoking habit is independently associated with CV events and mortality. It acts as a risk “amplifier” for the association between other risk factors and renal outcomes.

Key Points Question What are the early outcomes of surgical treatment of postinfarction ventricular septal rupture? Findings In this cohort study of 475 patients from 26 different centers worldwide, the early mortality rate for surgically treated ventricular septal rupture was 40.4%, mostly due to low cardiac output, and it did not improve in the last 2 decades. Meaning The findings of this study suggest that patient-tailored preoperative and perioperative management of postinfarction ventricular septal rupture should be addressed to improve the current suboptimal survival rates., This cohort study assesses the clinical characteristics and early outcomes for patients who received surgery for postinfarction ventricular septal rupture and identifies factors independently associated with mortality., Importance Ventricular septal rupture (VSR) is a rare but life-threatening mechanical complication of acute myocardial infarction associated with high mortality despite prompt treatment. Surgery represents the standard of care; however, only small single-center series or national registries are usually available in literature, whereas international multicenter investigations have been poorly carried out, therefore limiting the evidence on this topic. Objectives To assess the clinical characteristics and early outcomes for patients who received surgery for postinfarction VSR and to identify factors independently associated with mortality. Design, Setting, and Participants The Mechanical Complications of Acute Myocardial Infarction: an International Multicenter Cohort (CAUTION) Study is a retrospective multicenter international cohort study that includes patients who were treated surgically for mechanical complications of acute myocardial infarction. The study was conducted from January 2001 to December 2019 at 26 different centers worldwide among 475 consecutive patients who underwent surgery for postinfarction VSR. Exposures Surgical treatment of postinfarction VSR, independent of the technique, alone or combined with other procedures (eg, coronary artery bypass grafting). Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was early mortality; secondary outcomes were postoperative complications. Results Of the 475 patients included in the study, 290 (61.1%) were men, with a mean (SD) age of 68.5 (10.1) years. Cardiogenic shock was present in 213 patients (44.8%). Emergent or salvage surgery was performed in 212 cases (44.6%). The early mortality rate was 40.4% (192 patients), and it did not improve during the nearly 20 years considered for the study (median [IQR] yearly mortality, 41.7% [32.6%-50.0%]). Low cardiac output syndrome and multiorgan failure were the most common causes of death (low cardiac output syndrome, 70 [36.5%]; multiorgan failure, 53 [27.6%]). Recurrent VSR occurred in 59 participants (12.4%) but was not associated with mortality. Cardiogenic shock (survived: 95 [33.6%]; died, 118 [61.5%]; P

Background Shaggy aorta (SA) depicts the severe aortic surface degeneration, extremely friable and likely to cause spontaneous peripheral and visceral embolization or during catheterization, aortic manipulation, surgery or minimally invasive procedures. This study aims to provide the most accurate and up-to-date information on this disease. Methods Potentially eligible studies to be included were identified by searching the following databases: CENTRAL Library, ClinicalTrials.gov , MEDLINE, CINAHL, using a combination of subject headings and text words to identify relevant studies: (Shaggy aorta) OR (aortic embolization) OR (aortic embolism) OR (aortic thrombus) OR (aortic plaque). From a total of 29111 abstracts, and after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, we considered 60 studies for inclusion in this review. Results Appropriate measurement and assessment of the aortic wall are pivotal in the modern era, in particular when percutaneous procedures are performed, as SA has been identified as an independent risk factor for spinal cord injury, mesenteric embolization, and cerebral infarction after endovascular aortic repair. Furthermore, SA increases the rate of cerebral complications during trans-catheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Conclusions In conclusion, prompt diagnosis of SA syndrome and appropriate guidelines on the management of this conditions may help physicians to better assess the patient risk and to minimize the dreadful related complications

Metalloproteinases (MPs) are proteolytic enzymes involved in extracellular matrix deposition, regulation of cellular signals of inflammation, proliferation, and apoptosis. Metalloproteinases are classified into three families: Matrix-MPs (MMPs), A-Disintegrin-and-Metalloprotease (ADAMs), and the A-Disintegrin-and-Metalloproteinase-with-Thrombospondin-1-like-Domains (ADAMTS). Previous studies showed that MPs are involved in the development of aortic aneurysms (AA) and, concomitantly, in the onset of chronic kidney disease (CKD). CKD has been, per se, associated with an increased risk for AA. The aim of this review is to examine the pathways that may associate MPs with CKD and AA. Several MMPs, such as MMP-2, -8, -9, and TIMP-1 have been shown to damage the AA wall and to have a toxic effect on renal tubular cells, leading to fibrosis. Similarly, ADAM10 and 17 have been shown to degrade collagen in the AA wall and to worsen kidney function via pro-inflammatory stimuli, the impairment of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System, and the degradation of structural proteins. Moreover, MMP-2 and -9 inhibitors reduced aneurysm growth and albuminuria in experimental and human studies. It would be important, in the future, to expand research on MPs from both a prognostic, namely, to refine risk stratification in CKD patients, and a predictive perspective, likely to improve prognosis in response to targeted treatments.

Objectives: To determine the incidence of postoperative diaphragm dysfunction as diagnosed by ultrasonography. Design: Explorative prospective observational study. Setting: University intensive care unit. Participants: One hundred consecutive patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery. Interventions: Diaphragm ultrasound was performed the day before surgery during unassisted breath (D-1), at the first spontaneous breathing trial attempt (DSBT), 24 hours after surgery (D+1), and at intensive care unit (ICU) discharge (DICU). Diaphragm displacement, inspiratory and expiratory thickness, and the thickening fraction were measured at all timepoints. Measurements and Main Results: Primary outcome was assessing the rate of postoperative diaphragm dysfunction, defined as a thickening fraction

This paper describes for the first time the isolation of Streptococcus lutetiensis in a cat with intestinal lymphoma. The Streptococcus bovis group has undergone significant taxonomic changes over the past two decades and, in 2002, Poyart et al. described two distinct novel species within the genus Streptococcus: Streptococcus lutetiensis and Streptococcus pasteurianus. The bovis group streptococci include commensal species and subspecies or opportunistic pathogens of humans and animals. The cat was referred to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Bologna for chronic diarrhoea associated with fresh blood. A diagnosis of intestinal lymphoma was advanced. S. lutetiensis was accidentally isolated from the faeces of the cat and identified through MALDI-TOF and 16s rRNA sequencing. The Kirby-Bauer test revealed that the isolate was resistant to enrofloxacin, erythromycin, clindamycin, marbofloxacin and tetracycline. The detection of S. lutetiensis in cat faeces might suggest that it could be a normal inhabitant of cat intestinal tract or that it could be involved in the manifestation of intestinal diseases. Since bacteria belonging to the S. bovis group are considered emerging pathogens, additional research is required to evaluate the role of S. lutetiensis in cats and its role in the transmission of antimicrobial resistance. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: In this study the isolation of Streptococcus lutetiensis from a cat with intestinal lymphoma was described for the first time. An antimicrobial susceptibility test performed by means of the disc diffusion method revealed that the isolate was resistant to enrofloxacin, erythromycin, clindamycin, marbofloxacin and tetracycline. Nowadays the ecological or pathogenetic role of S. lutetiensis in the gut of animals remains unclear but, even if its role as commensal bacterium was confirmed, the presence of multi-resistant S. lutetiensis in cat gut could favour the transmission of antimicrobial resistance to other bacteria.

OBJECTIVES: We described clinical-epidemiological features of prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) and assessed the determinants of early surgical outcomes in multicentre design.METHODS: Data regarding 2823 patients undergoing surgery for endocarditis at 19 Italian Centers between 1979 and 2015 were collected in a database. Of them, 582 had PVE: in this group, the determinants of early mortality and complications were assessed, also taking into account the different chronological eras encompassed by the study.RESULTS: Overall hospital (30-day) mortality was 19.2% (112 patients). Postoperative complications of any type occurred in 256 patients (44%). Across 3 eras (1980-2000, 2001-08 and 2009-14), early mortality did not significantly change (20.4%, 17.1%, 20.5%, respectively, P = 0.60), whereas complication rate increased (18.5%, 38.2%, 52.8%, P -2 mg/dl, chronic pulmonary disease, low ejection fraction, non-streptococcal aetiology, active endocarditis, preoperative intubation, preoperative shock and triple valve surgery were significantly associated with mortality. In multivariable analysis, age (OR = 1.02; P = 0.03), renal insufficiency (OR = 2.1; P = 0.05), triple valve surgery (OR = 6.9; P = 0.004) and shock (OR = 4.5; P CONCLUSIONS: PVE surgery remains a high-risk one. The strongest predictors of early outcome of PVE surgery are related to patient's haemodynamic status and microbiological factors.

Otitis media (OM) affects the middle ear and is typically characterized by earache. OM may be classified as acute (AOM) or chronic (COM), based on symptom duration. OM may be clinically suspected, but the diagnosis is usually confirmed by the otoscopy. Antibiotic therapy is frequently used in clinical practice. However, antibiotics often induce intestinal and respiratory dysbiosis associated with some clinical problems. A one-month course of a probiotic mixture (Abincol® containing Lactobacillus plantarum LP01 (1 billion of living cells), Lactobacillus lactis subspecies cremoris LLC02 (800 million living cells), and Lactobacillus delbrueckii LDD01 (200 million living cells), was prescribed in the Group A, and was compared with no addon treatment, such as the Group B. Patients were evaluated at baseline (T0), at the end of antibiotic treatment (T1), at the end of probiotic course (T2), and at the end of 3-month follow-up (T3).