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Background: The severity of systemic congestion is associated with increased portal vein flow pulsatility (PVP)., Aim: To determine the usefulness of PVP as a marker of decongestion and prognosis in acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) patients., Methods: 105 patients, 60% of whom were men, were hospitalized with ADHF, and their PVP index (PVPI) was calculated (maximum velocity-minimum velocity/maximum velocity) × 100 on admission and before discharge, along with their EVEREST score, inferior vena cava diameter (IVC), NT-proBNP, serum sodium, and glomerular filtration rate. A PVPI ≥ 50% was defined as a marker of systemic congestion. After treatment with loop diuretics, a decrease in PVPI of >50% before discharge was considered a marker of decongestion The patients were classified into two groups (G): G1-PVPI decrease ≥ 50% (54 patients) and G2-PVPI decrease < 50% (51 patients)., Results: At discharge, compared to G2, G1 patients had lower mean PVPI (14.2 vs. 38.9; p < 0.001), higher serum Na (138 vs. 132 mmol/L, p = 0.03), and a higher number of patients with a significant (>30%) NT-proBNP decrease (42 vs. 27, p = 0.007). PVPI correlated with IVC (r = 0.55, p < 0.001), NT-proBNP (r = 0.21, p = 0.04), and serum Na (r = -0.202, p = 0.04). A total of 55% of patients had worsening renal failure (G1 63% vs. G2 48%, p = 0.17). After 90 days, G2 patients had higher mortality (27.45% vs. 3.7 p = 0.001) and rehospitalization (49.01% vs. 33.33%, p < 0.001). In multivariate regression analysis, PVPI was an independent predictor of rehospitalization (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.00-1.10, p = 0.048)., Conclusions: Portal vein flow pulsatility, a meaningful marker of persistent subclinical congestion, is related to short-term prognosis in ADHF patients.

A hydatidiform mole (HM) or molar pregnancy is the most common benign form of gestational trophoblastic disease characterized by a proliferation of the trophoblastic epithelium and villous edema. Hydatidiform moles are classified into two forms: complete and partial hydatidiform moles. These two types of HM present morphologic, histopathologic and cytogenetic differences. Usually, hydatidiform moles are a unique event, but some women present a recurrent form of complete hydatidiform moles that can be sporadic or familial. The appearance of hydatidiform moles is correlated with some genetic events (like uniparental disomy, triploidy or diandry) specific to meiosis and is the first step of embryo development. The familial forms are determined by variants in some genes, with NLRP7 and KHDC3L being the most important ones. The identification of different types of hydatidiform moles and their subsequent mechanisms is important to calculate the recurrence risk and estimate the method of progression to a malign form. This review synthesizes the heterogeneous mechanisms and their implications in genetic counseling.

Cancer predisposition syndromes are entities determined especially by germinal pathogenic variants, with most of them autosomal dominantly inherited. The risk of a form of cancer is variable throughout life and affects various organs, including the thyroid. Knowing the heterogeneous clinical picture and the existing genotype-phenotype correlations in some forms of thyroid cancer associated with these syndromes is important for adequate and early management of patients and families. This review synthesizes the current knowledge on genes and proteins involved in cancer predisposition syndromes with thyroid cancer and the phenomena of heterogeneity (locus, allelic, mutational, and clinical).

Cervical cancer represents a major health problem among females due to its increased mortality rate. The conventional therapies are very aggressive and unsatisfactory when it comes to survival rate, especially in terminal stages, which requires the development of new treatment alternatives. With the use of nanotechnology, various chemotherapeutic drugs can be transported via nanocarriers directly to cervical cancerous cells, thus skipping the hepatic first-pass effect and decreasing the rate of chemotherapy side effects. This review comprises various drug delivery systems that were applied in cervical cancer, such as lipid-based nanocarriers, polymeric and dendrimeric nanoparticles, carbon-based nanoparticles, metallic nanoparticles, inorganic nanoparticles, micellar nanocarriers, and protein and polysaccharide nanoparticles. Nanoparticles have a great therapeutic potential by increasing the pharmacological activity, drug solubility, and bioavailability. Through their mechanisms, they highly increase the toxicity in the targeted cervical tumor cells or tissues by linking to specific ligands. In addition, a nondifferentiable model is proposed through holographic implementation in the dynamics of drug delivery dynamics. As any hologram functions as a deep learning process, the artificial intelligence can be proposed as a new analyzing method in cervical cancer., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interests., (Copyright © 2022 Loredana Maria Himiniuc et al.)

The rapid development achieved over the last decades in volume rendering of ultrasound data, known as three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound technique, leads to new opportunities for refining the diagnosis in many gynaecologic conditions. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the advantages of 3D ultrasound over two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound in uterine pathology and to establish the optimal time point during the menstrual cycle to perform 3D ultrasound examination in order to achieve the maximum of useful information. A cross-sectional study on 200 patients who underwent gynaecologic 2D and 3D ultrasound examinations was performed. The addition of 3D examination to 2D ultrasound in uterine pathology provided the most useful information concerning: Congenital uterine anomalies, intrauterine devices (IUDs), adenomyosis, and submucous myomas. The findings showed that the 3D ultrasound scan is a useful tool in gynaecology, especially in cases with congenital uterine anomalies, myoma, and IUD. Although initially it was used for research purposes only, recent findings suggest its usefulness in routine ultrasound scan and the possibility of witnessing its introduction as a recommended examination procedure in the foreseeable future. Further research should be conducted in order to establish the sensitivity of 3D ultrasound in the detection of minor endometrial conditions, by correlating the imaging findings with the hysteroscopic results., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there are no competing interests., (Copyright © 2020, Spandidos Publications.)

Background and Objectives: The most utilized approach for the embolization of uterine arteries is the transfemoral path. However, the transradial approach (TRA) has been gaining popularity among cardiologic interventions in the last years but only few studies have shown its applicability in uterine myoma treatment. The objective of this paper is to assess the feasibility, safety and efficacy of TRA when compared with the transbrachial, transulnar or transfemoral approach (TFA) for uterine arteries embolization (UAE). Materials and methods: A systematic review of the literature that analyzes the TRA for UAE it was carried out, in order to assess its safety and effectiveness. It was systematically searched the literature (Google Scholar, PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library and Embase) using the words ''uterine artery embolization''/''uterine embolization'' and ''transradial''/''radial''. All the relevant papers published until March 2020 were retrieved and analyzed. Results: Ten studies were considered eligible for this topic. TRA is a comparable method with TFA for uterine artery embolization. Conclusions: These studies allowed us to conclude that TRA is as safe and efficient as TFA. Its advantages include few complications, shorter hospitalization period, and rapid mobilization but a steeper learning curve has the disadvantage of a longer learning curve compared to TFA. Yet, these findings are built on few reports and more research is needed., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Background: In 2012 the National Screening Program for all women between 25 and 64 years of age was launched in Romania. Public awareness is an important factor in the success of a screening program. For this reason, we intended to assess the perception and the level of awareness of Romanian women regarding the Pap test in the prevention of cervical cancer., Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 454 women from rural and urban areas. For our study, we used a questionnaire covering general characteristics, awareness, knowledge and practices regarding cervical cancer and Pap smear., Results: 431 participants (95%) had heard of cervical cancer and Pap smear but only 71.8% knew the exact role of it. Bivariate analysis showed that knowledge about the importance of the Pap smear, early detection and treatment of early-stage cervical cancer was reduced among women with low socio-economic status, mainly living in rural area. The most frequent reasons for avoiding Pap smear screening were: lack of money, embarrassment or fear of gynaecological consultation and pain, the feeling that they don't need it, misconceptions about cervical cancer, fatalistic attitude, perceived low susceptibility to cervical cancer., Conclusions: Because the uptake and the success of cervical cancer screening are determined by women's knowledge and awareness of Pap smear, it is critical to improve these perceptions in the near future especially in rural area characterized by a low socio-economic status., (© The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Public Health Association. All rights reserved.)

Abdominal wall endometriosis (AWE) is a rare condition defined by the presence of endometrial tissue in the subcutaneous fatty layer and the muscles of the abdominal wall. It is usually caused by the dissemination of endometrial tissue in the wound at the time of obstetrical and gynecological surgeries. AWE is rare and difficult to diagnose. The most frequent clinical presentation is that of a palpable subcutaneous mass near surgical scars associated with cyclic pain and swelling during menses. AWE may be an underreported pathology partly because it has scarcely received attention in the radiologic literature. Its frequency is expected to rise along with the increasing rate of cesarean deliveries; thus, it is important that physicians or sonographers are familiar with this pathology. The purpose of our review is to present the latest data regarding risk factors, clinical and imagisticfindings, and management of AWE.

Objectives: Diffuse isolated liver metastases are the dominant mode of tumor progression in a number of cancers and present a major treatment challenge for oncologists. An experimental treatment, percutaneous hepatic perfusion (PHP), utilizes partial venovenous cardiopulmonary bypass to allow administration of high-dose chemotherapy directly and solely to the liver with filtration of chemotherapeutic agents from the blood prior to its return to the systemic circulation, thereby minimizing toxic systemic effects. The following case series describes the management of 5 patients with metastatic melanoma undergoing serial PHPs., Design: A single-center experience from a national multi-center random-assignment trial comparing PHP to best alternative care (BAC) in patients with diffuse melanoma liver metastases., Setting: A tertiary care hospital., Participants: Five patients with metastatic melanoma to the liver., Intervention: Five patients underwent a total of fifteen PHPs using a venovenous bypass circuit with hemofiltration, receiving hepatic intra-arterial melphalan, 3 mg/kg of ideal body weight, for 30 minutes with a total of 60 minutes of hemofiltration., Measurements and Main Results: Five patients tolerated the procedure well with transient hemodynamic and metabolic changes., Conclusions: In patients with diffuse isolated liver metastases, PHP is a safe and well-tolerated procedure that can be performed more than once and is associated with marked anti-tumor activity in some patients., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Extracellular glutamate is elevated following brain ischemia or trauma and contributes to neuronal injury. We tested the hypothesis that magnesium sulfate (MgSO4, 3 mM) protects against metabolic failure caused by excitotoxic glutamate exposure. Rat cortical neuron preparations treated in medium already containing a physiological concentration of Mg(2+) (1 mM) could be segregated based on their response to glutamate (100 µM). Type I preparations responded with a decrease or small transient increase in oxygen consumption rate (OCR). Type II neurons responded with >50% stimulation in OCR, indicating a robust response to increased energy demand without immediate toxicity. Pre-treatment with MgSO4 improved the initial bioenergetic response to glutamate and ameliorated subsequent loss of spare respiratory capacity, measured following addition of the uncoupler FCCP, in Type I but not Type II neurons. Spare respiratory capacity in Type I neurons was also improved by incubation with MgSO4 or NMDA receptor antagonist MK801 in the absence of glutamate treatment. This finding indicates that the major difference between Type I and Type II preparations is the amount of endogenous glutamate receptor activity. Incubation of Type II neurons with 5 µM glutamate prior to excitotoxic (100 µM) glutamate exposure recapitulated a Type I phenotype. MgSO4 protected against an excitotoxic glutamate-induced drop in neuronal ATP both with and without prior 5 µM glutamate exposure. Results indicate that MgSO4 protects against chronic moderate glutamate receptor stimulation and preserves cellular ATP following treatment with excitotoxic glutamate.

Ischemic heart disease (IHD) occurs when myocardial oxygen supply is not adequate for myocardial oxygen demand. Patients with IHD who are undergoing surgery are at risk for development of perioperative cardiac events (PCEs), and this risk depends on the type of surgery, the presence of clinical risk factors, and functional status of the patients. Appropriate perioperative management of medications such as dual antiplatelet therapy and β-blockers has a significant impact on outcomes. Perioperative management decisions should be communicated clearly between the surgeon, cardiologist, and anesthesiologist in charge of the patient. Appropriate perioperative management reduces the incidence of PCEs., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Over the last decade, TECAB has matured into a reproducible technique associated with low incidence of both mortality and morbidity, as well as superior quality of life, when compared with open CABG surgery. However, TECAB also is associated with important and specific challenges for the anesthesiology team, particularly with regard to the physiologic stresses of OLV, placement of special catheters, and induced capnothorax. As the technology supporting robotic surgery evolves and familiarity with, and confidence in, TECAB increases, the authors anticipate increasingly widespread use of these procedures in an increasingly fragile and problematic patient population who will require the support of a skilled and vigilant anesthesiology team.

Purpose of Review: Tracheobronchial lesions requiring significant resection of the airway have limited surgical options and present significant obstacles to the anesthesiologist and surgeon. This article will review recent advancements in anesthetic and surgical management., Recent Findings: Technological advances have introduced novel approaches to the patient with large airway lesions. The use of pump-driven and pumpless extracorporeal life support has rapidly expanded and allow for prolonged periods of apneic airway surgery. Tracheal transplantation has advanced from the cadaveric decellularized scaffolds initially used to true synthetic based structures with autologous stem cell derived epithelium., Summary: Significant leaps in tissue engineered airway transplantation have created curative options for patients previously considered inoperable. These patients pose significant challenges to the anesthesiologist during the entire perioperative period. Close collaboration with surgeons and intensivists and the use of recently developed systems for extracorporeal life support are required.

Despite a half century of research and the implementation of various risk-reduction strategies among clinicians and basic scientists, patients continue to experience strokes and cognitive dysfunction related to the use of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) for cardiac surgery. One strategy to reduce these detrimental effects has been the use of hypothermia. Although numerous studies have addressed the issue, the question of whether the use of hypothermia during CPB attenuates the impact of central nervous system consequences remains unresolved. However, data clearly demonstrate that hyperthermia is to be avoided in the perioperative period, necessitating careful rewarming strategies if hypothermia is used during CPB. Selecting and understanding the impact of the temperature-monitoring site is important to accurately estimate cerebral temperature and to avoid inadvertent surges in brain temperature. In this article, we review the literature regarding the impact of hypothermia and rewarming rates during cardiac surgery.

Objective: Ethyl pyruvate (EP) is an investigational drug that has been shown to protect animals in several models of critical illness including myocardial or mesenteric ischemia/reperfusion injury, sepsis, and hemorrhagic shock. The purpose of this study was to assess the safety of EP administration to patients undergoing higher-risk cardiac surgery and to obtain preliminary efficacy data for the prevention of single and multisystem organ dysfunction., Design: Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study., Setting: Thirteen US hospitals., Participants: High-risk (Parsonnet risk score >15) patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft and/or cardiac valvular surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass., Interventions: Subjects were randomized to placebo or EP (7,500 mg administered intravenously starting after the induction of general anesthesia followed by 5 more doses of 7,500 mg administered every 6 hours). The mean body weight (83 kg), corresponding to a dose of 90 mg/kg at each of the 6 dosing intervals, exceeds the dose of 40 mg/kg shown to be effective in many animal models., Measurements and Main Results: The primary composite endpoint consisted of any of the following occurring within 28 days postoperatively: death, mechanical ventilation >48 hours postoperatively, acute renal injury/failure using the established RIFLE criteria, or need for vasoconstrictors >48 hours postoperatively. One hundred two patients were studied (placebo n = 53 and EP n = 49). No statistically significant differences were observed between groups with regard to clinical parameters or markers of systemic inflammation., Conclusion: Despite positive results in numerous animal models, the administration of EP does not appear to confer any benefit to cardiac surgical patients undergoing CPB.

Transesophageal echocardiography can incidentally detect cardiac masses. A right atrial mass has many possible causes, including metastatic extension from various solid organs, malignant melanoma, mediastinal cysts, hematoma, myxoma, lipoma, and artifact.Herein, we report our discovery of a right atrial mass during the initial intraoperative transesophageal echocardiographic examination of a patient who was undergoing repair of an ascending aortic aneurysm. The mass, with a smooth border and homogenous grayscale density, showed no flow during color-flow Doppler echocardiography. Further examination revealed tricuspid annular dilation and severe tricuspid insufficiency. When the mediastinum was opened, we found a large extracardiac hematoma along the right atrium within the pericardial space. These findings suggested an acute, contained rupture of the ascending aorta. After the hematoma was evacuated, imaging revealed complete resolution of the mass and reduction of tricuspid insufficiency. The patient underwent the scheduled aortic repair and was discharged from the hospital in good condition. In order to ensure an accurate diagnosis and to gain appropriate clinical guidance that can lead to a successful outcome, we suggest performing a thorough echocardiographic investigation to identify any such mass before planned surgery proceeds.

Background: Clevidipine is an ultrashort-acting, third-generation IV dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker that exerts rapid and titratable arterial blood pressure reduction, with fast termination of effect due to metabolism by blood and tissue esterases. As an arterial-selective vasodilator, clevidipine reduces peripheral vascular resistance directly, without dilating the venous capacitance bed. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter trial we evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of clevidipine in treating preoperative hypertension., Methods: One-hundred-fifty-two patients scheduled for cardiac surgery with current or recent hypertension were randomized to receive clevidipine or placebo preoperatively. One-hundred-five patients met postrandomization entrance criteria (systolic blood pressure [SBP] > or =160 mm Hg after inserting an arterial catheter) for reduction by > or =15% from baseline in SBP. The patients thus received infusions of clevidipine (0.4-8.0 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1)) or 20% lipid emulsion (placebo) for at least 30 min. Treatment failure was defined as failure to reduce SBP by > or =15% from baseline or discontinuance of drug for any reason., Results: Patients treated with clevidipine demonstrated a 92.5% rate of treatment success and a significantly lower rate of treatment failure (7.5%, 4 of 53) than patients receiving placebo (82.7%, 43 of 52; P < 0.0001). Clevidipine achieved target blood pressures (SBP reduced by > or =15%) at a median of 6.0 min (95% confidence interval 6-8 min). A modest increase in heart rate from baseline occurred during clevidipine administration. Adverse events for each treatment group were similar., Conclusions: Clevidipine was effective in rapidly decreasing blood pressure preoperatively to targeted blood pressure levels and was well tolerated in patients scheduled for cardiac surgery.

Bleeding is a common complication of cardiac surgery, accounting for a significant portion of the total transfusions performed in the United States. This may be due in part to surgical factors and to the fibrinolysis and platelet activation induced by cardiopulmonary bypass. The increasing frequency with which antiplatelet medications are used to prevent thrombosis in cardiac surgical patients with cardiovascular disease also elevates the risk for postoperative bleeding. The resulting coagulopathy and need for transfusions may increase morbidity and mortality risk in cardiac surgical patients, depending on the specific antiplatelet agent used, as well as on patient factors. Empiric platelet transfusion, the frequency of which varies greatly among institutions, does not reliably prevent these complications and may even increase the risk for adverse outcomes. Platelet function testing, particularly with newer testing systems, may be a valuable tool for making decisions about stopping antiplatelet drug administration, surgical timing with respect to bleeding risk, and platelet transfusion in cardiac surgical patients.

Background: The use of left ventricular (LV) assist devices (LVADs) can improve performance and recovery of failing human hearts., Aim: Following our alpha-adrenergic receptor work, we hypothesized that mechanical unloading in patients with low output syndrome and LV failure would yield similar results with beta-adrenergic receptors ((beta)AR), that being increased numbers and intra-myocytic relocalization., Methods: (beta)AR density and localization were investigated by fluorescence deconvolution microscopy and compared at LVAD insertion and removal in 13 heart failure patients, the patients therefore acting as their own control. (beta)AR densities and distribution were determined in snap frozen sections of human core biopsy left ventricular apical tissue. Samples were probed with tagged CGP 12177 for visualization of (beta)AR and challenged with cold agonists and antagonists. (beta)AR density was measured by two independent methods. Localization of receptors was examined in reconstructed, deconvoluted, stacked section images., Results: There was an increase in (beta)AR density following ventricular unloading in most of the patients, and also significant normalization in the location of the receptors in the myocardium comparing pre- and post-LVAD tissue., Conclusions: These findings suggest that supporting an ailing heart via unloading initiates mechanisms and pathways responsible for myocardial recovery and repair. With appropriate pharmacological support, patients with LVAD might recover to the point where they no longer depend on eventual organ transplantation, and (beta)AR number, type, and distribution in pre-LVAD myocardial tissue, could predict outcome with regard to recovery, repair, and improvement in cardiac function.

Unlabelled: Neurocognitive dysfunction is a common complication after cardiac surgery. We evaluated in this prospective study the effect of rewarming rate on neurocognitive outcome after hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). After IRB approval and informed consent, 165 coronary artery bypass graft surgery patients were studied. Patients received similar surgical and anesthetic management until rewarming from hypothermic (28 degrees -32 degrees C) CPB. Group 1 (control; n = 100) was warmed in a conventional manner (4 degrees -6 degrees C gradient between nasopharyngeal and CPB perfusate temperature) whereas Group 2 (slow rewarm; n = 65) was warmed at a slower rate, maintaining no more than 2 degrees C difference between nasopharyngeal and CPB perfusate temperature. Neurocognitive function was assessed at baseline and 6 wk after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Univariable analysis revealed no significant differences between the Control and Slow Rewarming groups in the stroke rate. Multivariable linear regression analysis, examining treatment group, diabetes, baseline cognitive function, and cross-clamp time revealed a significant association between change in cognitive function and rate of rewarming (P = 0.05)., Implications: Slower rewarming during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) was associated with better cognitive performance at 6 wk. These results suggest that a slower rewarming rate with lower peak temperatures during CPB may be an important factor in the prevention of neurocognitive decline after hypothermic CPB.

Background: Despite significant advances in cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) technology, surgical techniques, and anesthetic management, central nervous system complications occur in a large percentage of patients undergoing surgery requiring CPB. Many centers are switching to normothermic CPB because of shorter CPB and operating room times and improved myocardial protection. The authors hypothesized that, compared with normothermia, hypothermic CPB would result in superior neurologic and neurocognitive function after coronary artery bypass graft surgery., Methods: Three hundred patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass graft surgery were prospectively enrolled and randomly assigned to either normothermic (35.5-36.5 degrees C) or hypothermic (28-30 degrees C) CPB. A battery of neurocognitive tests was performed preoperatively and at 6 weeks after surgery. Four distinct cognitive domains were identified and standardized using factor analysis and were then compared on a continuous scale., Results: Two hundred twenty-seven patients participated in 6-week follow-up testing. There were no differences in neurologic or neurocognitive outcomes between normothermic and hypothermic groups in multivariable models, adjusting for covariable effects of baseline cognitive function, age, and years of education, as well as interaction of these with temperature treatment., Conclusions: Hypothermic CPB does not provide additional central nervous system protection in adult cardiac surgical patients who were maintained at either 30 or 35 degrees C during CPB.

Objective: Atracurium is sometimes used for muscle relaxation in patients undergoing mechanical ventilation. Use of atracurium in high doses or for a long period of time has raised the possibility of the accumulation of laudanosine, a breakdown product known to cause seizure activity in animals. The objective of this report was to see if laudanosine accumulation and seizure activity had occurred in a patient who had received a long-term, relatively high-dose infusion of atracurium., Design: Case report. The patient received atracurium for 38 days, at rates ranging from 0.3 to 0.96 mg/kg/hr. An electroencephalogram (EEG) was done before the discontinuation of the infusion, and plasma concentrations of atracurium and laudanosine were measured at, and after, the termination of the atracurium infusion. The laudanosine elimination half-life was calculated., Setting: Intensive care unit., Patient: A 23-yr-old woman admitted with sickle cell crisis, complicated by acute chest syndrome, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and hepatic and renal failure., Interventions: None., Measurements and Main Results: As expected, laudanosine concentrations were increased but were below the level reported to cause seizure activity in animals. Laudanosine elimination half-life was prolonged to 617 mins, which was consistent with previously reported values. The patient's EEG was normal, with no ictal pattern., Conclusions: Despite long-term use of high doses of atracurium infusion and the increased elimination half-life of laudanosine, only moderate accumulation of laudanosine occurred, and the EEG was normal. Hence, it appears unlikely that toxic concentrations of laudanosine would be reached, even in a critically ill patient.