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Endovascular treatment established itself last years as the first choice to treat femoropopliteal arterial occlusive disease. It is less invasive than the surgical approach. Endovascular techniques and devices evolution made it efficient. Use of retrograde puncture or re-entry catheters allows to recanalize more complex lesions. Vessel preparation of stenotic or occluded target lesion becomes an integral part of the therapy. Thanks to a lot of multicenter randomized controlled trials, drug eluting balloons took major place in the armamentarium we have, despite strong controversies last months about their safety. Conventional self-expandable stents with or without eluting drug, and vasculo-mimetic stents allow to treat very calcified lesions or dissected lesions through the recanalization procedure. This paper aims to review endovascular technical developments achieved last years to treat femoropopliteal arterial occlusive disease.Le traitement endovasculaire s’est imposé, ces dernières années, comme le traitement de premier choix des lésions artérielles occlusives fémoro-poplitées. Il est moins invasif que l’approche chirurgicale. L’évolution des techniques endovasculaires et du matériel l’ont rendu efficace. L’utilisation de la ponction rétrograde ou de cathéters de ré-entrée permet de recanaliser des occlusions plus complexes. La préparation du segment artériel sténosé ou occlus fait partie intégrante de la thérapie. Grâce à de nombreuses études prospectives, multicentriques et randomisées, les ballons à élution de drogue ont pris une place importante dans l’arsenal thérapeutique mis à notre disposition, même si leur innocuité a été fort débattue ces derniers mois. Des stents auto-expansibles conventionnels, avec ou sans élution de drogue, et des stents vasculo-mimétiques permettent de traiter des lésions très calcifiées ou disséquées par le processus de recanalisation. Cet article a pour but de revoir les progrès techniques endovasculaires, réalisés ces dernières années, dans le traitement des lésions artérielles occlusives fémoro-poplitées.

There is a continuous growth in the incidence of cardiovascular and thoracic diseases, especially related to the increased life expectancy. Moreover, the quality and efficacy of care for these pathologies are progressing constantly. The evolution of surgery prompts us to develop less aggressive (minimally invasive), although technically more complex, treatment or diagnostic techniques. Pathologies, which until now required heavy surgeries, are managed today in a less invasive way and become therefore accessible to patients even if they are older or in a poor general condition. In this article, we present our experience in the development of the minimal invasive procedures in cardiovascular and thoracic surgery.Les pathologies cardiovasculaires et thoraciques, au sens large, sont de plus en plus fréquentes, vu l’augmentation de l’espérance de vie, mais elles sont aussi de mieux en mieux prises en charge. En effet, l’évolution de la chirurgie nous incite à développer des techniques de traitement ou de diagnostic moins agressives (mini-invasives) quoique techniquement plus complexes. Des pathologies qui nécessitaient, jusqu’à présent, des chirurgies lourdes se prennent en charge, aujourd’hui, de manière moins invasive et deviennent donc accessibles à des patients en moins bon état général ou de plus en plus âgés. Nous présentons ici notre expérience dans le développement de l’approche mini-invasive en chirurgie cardiovasculaire et thoracique.

The current study utilized a natural experiment, an oil boom in North Dakota, to examine changes in offender reentry and recidivism outcomes. The quantitative study compared a sample of male offenders released from prisons within one state prior to the oil boom to a sample of male offenders released during the highest peak of the boom. Comparisons were made on variables known in the literature to be predictive of recidivism during the reentry process; these include risk, education, employment, housing, substance abuse, and treatment. Findings show the oil boom had a negative impact on offender reentry. Offenders released from prison during the height of the oil boom were more likely to recidivate than offenders released prior to the oil boom.

Produktionsausfall durch zu viele Alarme: Die Software PROTOS 2.0 hilft beim Analysieren und sorgt für Entlastung beim Personal in der Leitstelle. Alarmanalyse sowie Datendarstellung ist an ISA 18.2 und EEMUA 191 angelehnt.

The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in severe hypothermia associated with cardiac arrest has become a more frequent warming technique in specialized centers over the years with better survival outcomes compared to traditional rewarming methods. We show that a full recovery is possible, even after prolonged resuscitation. We report the case of a 36-year old male who survived approximately 4 hours of cardiopulmonary resuscitation following an unknown duration of asystole in the context of severe accidental hypothermia (24°C). Normal sinus rhythm was obtained using a single external electric shock during the rewarming of the patient by ECMO. After a hospital stay of 17 days, there were no neurological deficits and he achieved a full recovery. Although prolonged out-of-hospital cardiac arrest has low survival rates and asystole is not generally considered as an indication for extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECCPR), associated hypothermia can be a predictor of a possible positive outcome when ECMO is used as it reduces the metabolism and protects the brain, thus leading to "miraculous" recoveries with no neurological sequelae. This case demonstrates yet again the importance of advanced rewarming techniques such as ECMO in the outcome of patients with severe accidental hypothermia, even after prolonged and refractory out-of hospital cardiac arrest and when "no-flow" time is uncertain. It also highlights the need for accidental hypothermia treatment algorithms, especially in hospitals capable of ECMO rewarming, to enable more rapid decision-making.L’utilisation de la circulation extracorporelle avec oxygénateur à membranes (ECMO) en cas d’hypothermie sévère avec arrêt cardiaque affiche de meilleurs résultats par rapport aux méthodes traditionnelles. Nous montrons qu’un rétablissement complet est possible, même après une réanimation cardio-pulmonaire (RCP) prolongée. Nous rapportons le cas d’un homme de 36 ans ayant survécu à 4 heures de RCP après une durée indéterminée d’asystolie dans le contexte d’une hypothermie accidentelle grave (24°C). Un rythme sinusal a été obtenu par simple choc électrique externe lors du réchauffement du patient sous ECMO. Après 17 jours d’hospitalisation, le patient n’a présenté aucun déficit neurologique et s’est complètement rétabli. Bien que l’arrêt cardiaque (ARCA) extrahospitalier prolongé ait un faible taux de survie et que l’asystolie ne soit généralement pas considérée comme une indication de RCP, l’hypothermie associée peut être un facteur prédictif de résultat positif lorsque l’ECMO est utilisée, car elle permet de réduire le métabolisme et de protéger le cerveau, conduisant à une récupération neurologique ad integrum. Ce cas démontre l’importance de l’ECMO dans l’hypothermie accidentelle sévère, même après un arrêt cardiaque extra-hospitalier prolongé et réfractaire, même en cas de «no flow» incertain. Il souligne également la nécessité de créer un algorithme pour une prise en charge optimale et rapide de l’hypothermie accidentelle.

The widespread adoption of alternatively fueled vehicles will be important for both its global environmental impact and improving local air quality. This transition will require the prediction of the optimal location of alternative fueling stations to maximize the exposure of potential customers to alternatively fueled vehicles and ensure profitability for firms that initially provide the alternative fuel. The proliferation of shale drilling was instrumental in lowering the cost of natural gas making natural gas powered vehicles even more attractive. Here, we develop a model to forecast the optimal location of alternative vehicle fueling stations within a built environment with competing fueling options. First, on the supply side, we develop a new location model that both optimizes the locations and pricing of alternative vehicle fueling stations and simultaneously captures duopolistic market forces. Second, we develop a demand model considering five key factors that are expected to describe behavior of consumers in an urban environment based on available. The supply and demand side models are optimized to estimate expected profitability. We take into consideration both the local demand for fuel and the local willingness and capability to purchase alternatively fueled vehicles when determining the demand for alternative fueling stations. Our model is applied to Pittsburgh and the surrounding Allegheny County region. Markets where two firms simultaneously move into the area, and where a fast-follower firm subsequently enters after the first-mover firm are contrasted. We find that for a modest number of stations two firms can profitably compete for the market share. Additionally, our model anticipates the most desirable locations to situate the alternative vehicle fueling stations in the region and pricing of alternative fueling stations under both monopolistic and duopolistic market forces. This can serve to inform policy makers and business of the best locations to situate alternative fueling stations to maximize the chances of successfully transitioning our automotive infrastructure from polluting gasoline to a cleaner alternative.

Highlights • Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) 2400 mg over 5 days was used in Belgium for COVID-19. • Impact of HCQ on mortality among 8075 patients with COVID-19 was assessed. • Lower mortality in HCQ-treated patients as compared to supportive care. • Lower mortality was irrespective of symptom duration., Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) has been largely used and investigated as therapy for COVID-19 across various settings at a total dose usually ranging from 2400 mg to 9600 mg. In Belgium, off-label use of low-dose HCQ (total 2400 mg over 5 days) was recommended for hospitalised patients with COVID-19. We conducted a retrospective analysis of in-hospital mortality in the Belgian national COVID-19 hospital surveillance data. Patients treated either with HCQ monotherapy and supportive care (HCQ group) were compared with patients treated with supportive care only (no-HCQ group) using a competing risks proportional hazards regression with discharge alive as competing risk, adjusted for demographic and clinical features with robust standard errors. Of 8075 patients with complete discharge data on 24 May 2020 and diagnosed before 1 May 2020, 4542 received HCQ in monotherapy and 3533 were in the no-HCQ group. Death was reported in 804/4542 (17.7%) and 957/3533 (27.1%), respectively. In the multivariable analysis, mortality was lower in the HCQ group compared with the no-HCQ group [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 0.684, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.617–0.758]. Compared with the no-HCQ group, mortality in the HCQ group was reduced both in patients diagnosed ≤5 days (n = 3975) and >5 days (n = 3487) after symptom onset [aHR = 0.701 (95% CI 0.617–0.796) and aHR = 0.647 (95% CI 0.525–0.797), respectively]. Compared with supportive care only, low-dose HCQ monotherapy was independently associated with lower mortality in hospitalised patients with COVID-19 diagnosed and treated early or later after symptom onset.

Acute mesenteric ischemia is a real life-threatening emergency. Mode of presentation is severe abdominal pain with sudden onset. The etiology is most of the time embolus coming from the heart or thrombosis of atherosclerotic vessel wall concerning the superior mesenteric artery. The best investigation is computed tomography with intravenous contrast media injection. Treatment consists of revascularization by open surgery or endovascular approach. Bowel resection may be necessary, as well as delayed second look surgery. This paper aims to review etiologies and therapeutics options for acute mesenteric ischemia.L’ischémie mésentérique aiguë est une réelle urgence vitale. Elle se manifeste par une douleur abdominale sévère d’apparition brutale. Elle est, le plus souvent, provoquée par une embolie d’origine cardiaque ou une thrombose sur terrain athéroscléreux au niveau de l’artère mésentérique supérieure. Le meilleur examen complémentaire est la tomodensitométrie avec injection intraveineuse de produit de contraste. Le traitement consiste en une revascularisation par chirurgie ouverte ou technique endovasculaire. Une résection intestinale est ensuite parfois nécessaire, ainsi qu’une chirurgie différée de second look. Cet article a pour but de revoir les causes et les possibilités thérapeutiques de l’ischémie mésentérique aiguë.

Introduction The aim of this single-center prospective study is to compare two commercially available S100ß kits (the Roche® Elecsys and the Diasorin® Liaison S100 kits) in terms of analytical and clinical performances in a population admitted in the emergency room for mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Material and method 110 patients were enrolled from September 2014 to May 2015. Blood sample draws were performed within 3 h after head trauma and the study population was split into pediatric and adult subpopulations (> 18 years of age). Results Although both kits correlated well, we observed a significant difference in terms of S100ßlevels (P value < 0.05) in both subpopulations. In the pediatric subpopulation, both kits showed elevated S100ß levels for the only patient (3.5%) who displayed abnormal findings on a CT-scan. However, we observed a poor agreement between both kits (Cohen's kappa = 0.345, P value = 0.077). In the adult subpopulation, a total of 10 patients (12.2%) had abnormal head computed tomography scans. Using the Roche® (cut off = 0.1 μg/L) and the Diasorin® (cut off = 0.15 μg/L) S100ß kits, brain injuries were detected with a sensitivity of 100% (95% CI: 65–100%) and 100% (95% CI: 63–100%) and a specificity of 15.28% (95% CI: 7.9–25.7%) and 24.64% (95% CI: 15–36.5) respectively. Finally, a moderate agreement was concluded between both kits (Cohen's kappa = 0.569, P value = 0.001). Conclusion Although a good correlation could be found between both kits, emergency physicians should be aware of discrepancies observed between both methods, making those immunoassays not interchangeable. Furthermore, more studies are still needed to validate cut off used according to technique and to age, especially in the population below the age of 2 years.