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The effects of peripheral cold exposure on myocardial perfusion and function were studied in 13 patients with scleroderma without clinically evident myocardial disease. Ten patients had at least one transient, cold-induced, myocardial perfusion defect visualized by thallium-201 scintigraphy, and 12 had reversible, cold-induced, segmental left ventricular hypokinesis by two-dimensional echocardiography. The 10 patients with transient perfusion defects all had anatomically corresponding ventricular wall motion abnormalities. No one in either of two control groups (9 normal volunteers and 7 patients with chest pain and normal coronary arteriograms) had cold-induced abnormalities. This study is the first to show the simultaneous occurrence of cold-induced abnormalities in myocardial perfusion and function in patients with scleroderma. The results suggest that cold exposure in such patients may elicit transient reflex coronary vasoconstriction resulting in reversible myocardial ischemia and dysfunction. Chronic recurrent episodes of coronary spasm may lead to focal myocardial fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Safe-Cross radiofrequency guidewire (IntraLuminal Therapeutics, Carlsbad, California) combines 3 capabilities: (1) steerability of a conventional 0.014-in intermediate-stiffness guidewire, (2) optical coherence reflectometry to warn the operator when the wire tip approaches within 1 mm of the vessel wall, and (3) delivery of radiofrequency energy pulses to the wire tip to facilitate passage through an occluded segment. The Guided Radio Frequency Energy Ablation of Total Occlusions Registry was a prospective, nonrandomized, multicenter registry that enrolled 116 patients who had long-term coronary total occlusions and in whom a >10-minute good-faith attempt to cross the occlusion using conventional guidewires had failed. The median known duration of occlusion was 22 months (32%; >1 year), and the median length of the occluded segment was 25 mm (25%; >30 mm). Device success was achieved in 63 of 116 of patients (54.3%), and major adverse events occurred in 6.9%, consisting predominantly of isolated increases in cardiac enzymes with no procedure-related deaths, Q-wave myocardial infarctions, or emergency bypass operations. Clinical perforation occurred in 2.6% of patients; of these, perforation in only 1 patient (0.9%) was adjudicated to be directly related to the Safe-Cross radiofrequency wire rather than to the stiff and/or hydrophilic wires used after an inability to advance with the Safe-Cross. Based on these data, the device has been approved in Europe and was recently (January 2004) granted 510K clearance by the Food and Drug Administration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Percutaneous transmyocardial laser revascularisation (PTMR) is a proposed catheter-based therapy for refractory angina pectoris when bypass surgery or angioplasty is not possible. We undertook a randomised trial to assess the safety and efficacy of this technique.Methods: 221 patients with reversible ischaemia of Canadian Cardiovascular Society angina class III (61%) or IV (39%) and incomplete response to other therapies were recruited from 13 centres. Patients were randomly assigned PTMR with a holmium:YAG laser plus continued medical treatment (n=110) or continued medical treatment only (n=111). The primary endpoint was the exercise tolerance at 12 months. Analyses were by intention to treat.Findings: 11 patients died and 19 withdrew; 92 PTMR-group and 99 medical-treatment-group patients completed the study. Exercise tolerance at 12 months had increased by a median of 89.0 s (IQR -15 to 183) with PTMR compared with 12.5 s (-67 to 125) with medical treatment only (p=0.008). On masked assessment, angina class was II or lower in 34.1% of PTMR patients compared with 13.0% of those medically treated. All indices of the Seattle angina questionnaire improved more with PTMR than with medical care only. By 12 months there had been eight deaths in the PTMR group and three in the medical treatment group, with similar survival in the two groups.Interpretation: PTMR was associated with increased exercise tolerance time, low morbidity, lower angina scores assessed by masked reviewers, and improved quality of life. Although there is controversy about the mechanism of action, and the contribution of the placebo effect cannot be quantified, this unmasked study suggests that this palliative procedure provides some clinical benefits in the defined population of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recanalization of a totally occluded saphenous vein graft (SVG) using commercially available urokinase from human kidney cells has been shown to be effective, but the duration of infusion and complications such as allergic reactions, bleeding events, and non-Q-wave myocardial infarction have limited its acceptance. Recently, genetic engineering has allowed the synthesis of recombinant urokinase (r-UK). Patients with an occluded SVG from 37 centers were randomized to receive a 6-hour infusion of either low-dose (125,000 IU/hour) or high-dose (350,000 IU/hour) r-UK followed by up to a maximum of 18 hours of r-UK (125,000 IU/hour) via a subselective catheter directly into the occluded vein graft. The primary study end point was final preintervention achievement of Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow > or = 2 using core angiographic analysis. One hundred seven patients were randomized and 98 received the study drug (low dose 52 patients, high dose 46 patients). TIMI flow > or = 2 after completion of the study drug was higher in the high-dose group (51% vs 24%, p = 0.019). This difference narrowed, but a trend was still evident on the final angiogram after adjunctive mechanical intervention (72% vs 58%, p = 0.254). Bleeding complications were frequent; severe or life-threatening bleeding occurred in 12% of patients on the low dose and 11% of patients on the high dose (p = NS), including 2 intracerebral bleeds, both of which were fatal with 1 in each group. Thus, in patients with an occluded SVG, a randomized trial of direct low-dose versus high-dose r-UK infusion demonstrated increased recanalization rates (TIMI flow > or = 2) in the high-dose arm. Percutaneous revascularization of SVG with r-UK can be accomplished with acceptable success rates, but complications are frequent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: We previously completed a trial of renal pelvic denervation for treating hypertension that reduced blood pressure by the 2-month primary endpoint. However, information on the durability of effectiveness is a critical requirement for device therapy and we now report data up to 12 months., Methods: This was an open-label, single-arm feasibility study in patients with increased blood pressure despite taking an average of 2.7 medications. The key endpoint reported here was ambulatory blood pressure at 12 months following renal pelvic denervation., Results: In the 17 patients (mean age: 56) studied, there was a reduction from the baseline of 148 + 8.7 mm Hg in the primary endpoint of mean daytime systolic blood pressure at 12 months of 19.1 (26.7, 11.6) mm Hg, p < 0.001, as compared with the 2-month result of 19.4 (24.9, 14.0) mm Hg. The 24-h systolic blood pressure fell by 19.3 (26.7, 11.9), p < 0.001, and nighttime systolic fell by 18.7 (27.5, 9.8), p < 0.001, mm Hg at 12 months. Diastolic pressures also fell significantly from baseline at 12 months. As well, automated office systolic blood pressure was reduced from the baseline of 156.5 ± 12.3 by 24.8 (33.2, 16.8) mm Hg, p < 0.001, at 12 months as compared with 22.4 (31.5, 13.3) at 2 months. All blood pressure changes at 12 months were not different from those at 2 months, thus confirming the durability of the procedure. There were no serious procedural, clinical, or laboratory adverse events related to the intervention. Serum creatinine fell from 1.03 ± 0.22 to 0.82 ± 0.16 mg/dL, and estimated glomerular filtration rate rose from 79.6 ± 17.8 to 96.3 ± 16.4 mL/min/1.73 m2 by 12 months, again sustaining effects seen at 2 months., Conclusion: These findings provide evidence that the significant blood pressure-lowering effects of renal pelvic denervation are durable and safe for at least 1 year and provide the basis for a pivotal randomized blinded trial to further define the safety and effectiveness of this procedure., (© 2023 The Author(s). Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Introduction: It has been proposed that primary care diagnose and treat hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. However, a care circuit between primary and specialized care based on electronic consultation (EC) can be just as efficient in the micro-elimination of HCV. It is proposed to study characteristics and predictive factors of continuity of care in a circuit between primary and specialized care., Methods: From February/2018 to December/2019, all EC between primary and specialized care were evaluated and those due to HCV were identified. Variables for regression analysis and to identify predictors of completing the care cascade were recorded., Results: From 8098 EC, 138 were performed by 89 (29%) general practitioners over 118 patients (median 50.8 years; 74.6% men) and were related to HCV (1.9%). Ninety-two patients (78%) were diagnosed>6 months ago, and 26.3% met criteria for late presentation. Overall, 105 patients required assessment by the hepatologist, 82% (n=86) presented for the appointment, of which 67.6% (n=71) were viraemic, 98.6% of known. Finally, 61.9% (n=65) started treatment. Late-presenting status was identified as an independent predictor to complete the care cascade (OR 1.93, CI 1.71-1.99, p<0.001)., Conclusion: Communication pathway between Primary and Specialized Care based on EC is effective in avoiding significant losses of viraemic patients. However, the referral rate is very low, high in late-stage diagnoses, heterogeneous, and low in new diagnoses. Therefore, early detection strategies for HCV infection in primary care are urgently needed., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Background: Large esophageal perforations are challenging and often treated with exclusion or resection. This case demonstrates the feasibility of definitive surgical repair of a large esophageal perforation using large bovine pericardial patch., Case: A patient with missed Boerhaave Syndrome underwent transesophageal echocardiography causing worsening perforation and sepsis. At thoracotomy and faced with a large esophageal defect, a large Bovine pericardial patch was used for repair with omentopexy. The patient recovered promptly and at 8 months was asymptomatic with satisfactory studies., Conclusion: Xenograft pericardium is available and widely used for vascular reconstructions. It's use for primary repair of large esophageal perforations should be considered., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Background: Malnutrition in hospitalised patients is an important and underestimated problem, with a negative impact on outcome and survival - not only in surgical patients. There is a discrepancy between optimal treatment as defined in relevant guidelines on clinical nutrition and the clinical reality. The Main reason for this discrepancy is the lack of established structures for nutrition medicine as an integral part of clinical routines. The necessary structural development is impaired mainly by the lack of resources, but in isolated cases also by the lack of appreciation of the problem. Therefore, practicability and feasibility with regard to local conditions are pivotal for sustainable improvement in a nutrition strategy in hospitalised patients., Methods: We describe the institutional and procedural measures taken at a tertiary referral centre to implement a nutrition medicine strategy. The underlying nutrition medicine methodology and definitions are introduced and practical implementation at our centre is illustrated by four examples of ongoing projects., Results: Using the described systematics, structural changes were implemented at our centre within one year that allowed malnutrition screening, the treatment of patients with complex nutritional care and improvements in the nutritive status of hospitalised patients by ongoing and future project initiatives., Summary: The successfully implemented structural change at the University Hospital of Bonn described here may serve as a modular example for other hospitals striving to improve clinical nutrition and outcome in hospitalised patients., Competing Interests: Die Autorinnen/Autoren geben an, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Background: Recent evidence suggests that the number of low residue diet (LRD) days does not influence the bowel cleansing quality in non-selected patients. However, there are not data in the subgroup of patients with risk factors of inadequate bowel cleansing., Objective: The aim of this study was to assess whether a 3-day LRD improved the bowel cleansing quality in patients with risk factors of poor bowel cleansing., Patients and Methods: Post hoc analysis of a randomized controlled trial carried out between December 2017 and March 2018 in a tertiary care hospital. Patients with high risk of poor bowel cleansing were selected following a validated score. The patients were randomized to the 1-day LRD or 3-day LRD groups. All patients received a 2-L split-dose of polyethylene glycol plus ascorbic acid. Intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) analyses were conducted for the main outcome., Results: 135 patients (1-day LRD group=67, 3-day LRD=68) were included. The rate of adequate cleansing quality was not significantly different between the groups in the ITT analysis: 76.1%, 95% CI: [64.6-84.8] vs. 79.4%, 95% CI: [68.2-87.4]; odds ratio (OR) 1.2, 95% CI [0.54-2.73]) or in the PP analysis: 77.3%, 95% CI: [65.7-85.8] vs. 80.3%, 95% CI: [69.0-88.3]; OR 1.2, 95% CI [0.52-2.77]). Compliance with the diet or cleansing solution, satisfaction or difficulties with the LRD and the polyp/adenoma detection rates were not significantly different., Conclusion: Our results suggest that 1-day LRD is not inferior to 3-day LRD in patients with risk factors of inadequate bowel cleansing., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Background: The aim of this study was to assess whether a 3-day low-residue diet (LRD) improved bowel cleansing quality compared with a 1-day LRD regimen., Methods: Consecutive patients scheduled for outpatient colonoscopy were randomized to the 1-day LRD or 3-day LRD groups. All patients received a 2-L split-dose of polyethylene glycol plus ascorbic acid. The primary outcome was bowel cleansing quality as evaluated using the Boston Bowel Preparation Scale (BBPS) (adequate cleansing ≥ 2 points per segment). Secondary outcomes were adherence to and level of satisfaction with the LRD, difficulty following the dietary recommendations, and willingness to repeat the same LRD in the future. Intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) analyses were conducted for the primary outcome. A superiority analysis was performed to demonstrate that a 3-day LRD regimen was superior to a 1-day LRD regimen with a margin of 10 %., Results: 390 patients (1-day LRD group = 196, 3-day LRD = 194) were included. The cleansing quality was not significantly different between the groups: ITT analysis 82.7 % (95 % confidence interval [CI] 77.4 to 88.0) vs. 85.6 % (95 %CI 80.7 to 90.5), with odds ratio (OR) 1.2 (95 %CI 0.72 to 2.15); PP analysis 85.0 % (95 %CI 79.9 to 90.1) vs. 88.6 % (95 %CI 84.0 to 93.2), with OR 1.4 (95 %CI 0.88 to 2.52). No differences were found regarding adherence to the diet or cleansing solution, satisfaction or difficulty with the LRD, and the polyp/adenoma detection rates., Conclusion: 3-day LRD did not offer advantages over 1-day LRD in preparation for colonoscopy., Competing Interests: None, (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Rationale: Microbial communities have been implicated in a variety of disease processes and have been intermittently observed in arterial disease; however, no comprehensive unbiased community analysis has been performed. We hypothesize that complex microbial communities may be involved in chronic vascular diseases as well and may be effectively characterized by molecular assays., Objective: The main objective is to survey vascular debris, atheroma, and vascular filters for polymicrobial communities consisting of prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbes, specifically eukaryotic microbes., Methods and Results: We examined vascular aspirates of atheromatous debris or embolic protection filters in addition to matched peripheral blood samples, from fifteen patients, as well as three cadaveric coronary arteries from two separate patients, for microbial communities. General fluorescence microscopy by Höechst and ethidium bromide DNA stains, prokaryotic and eukaryotic community analysis by Next Generation DNA Sequencing (NGS), and a eukaryotic microbial 9 probe multiplexed quantitative PCR were used to detect and characterize the presence of putative polymicrobial communities. No prokaryotes were detected in peripheral blood; however, in 4 of 9 sequenced filters and in 2 of 7 sequenced atheroma debris samples, prokaryotic populations were identified. By DNA sequencing, eukaryotic microbes were detected in 4 of 15 blood samples, 5 of the 9 sequenced filters, and 3 of the 7 atheroma debris samples. The quantitative multiplex PCR detected sequences consistent with eukaryotic microbes in all 9 analyzed filter samples as well as 5 of the 7 atheroma debris samples. Microscopy reveals putative polymicrobial communities within filters and atheroma debris. The main contributing prokaryotic species in atheroma debris suggest a diverse and novel composition. Additionally, Funneliformis mosseae, an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus in the Glomeraceae family, was detected in the coronary hard plaque from two patients. Well studied biofilm forming bacteria were not detectable in circulating peripheral blood and were not universally present in atheroma or filters. Analyses of the sequenced eukaryotes are consistent with a diverse of array poorly studied environmental eukaryotes. In summary, out of 15 patients, 6 exhibited molecular evidence of prokaryotes and 14 had molecular evidence of eukaryotic and/or polymicrobial communities in vivo, while 2 post-mortem coronary plaque samples displayed evidence of fungi., Conclusion: Prokaryotes are not consistently observed in atheroma debris or filter samples; however, detection of protozoa and fungi in these samples suggests that they may play a role in arterial vascular disease or atheroma formation., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)