Distal Lesions Research Articles

Abstract 4118338: Predictors and 3-Year Outcomes of Compromised Left Circumflex Coronary Artery After Left Main Crossover Stenting

Background : Predictors of decreased fractional flow reserve at left circumflex coronary artery after left main (LM) crossover stenting are still lacking. The objectives of the present study were to provide the predictors for low FFR at LCx and the possible treatment strategies for the compromised LCx-together with their long term outcomes. Methods: Total of 563 included patients out of 1974 patients admitted to our hospital from February 2015 to November 2020 with significant distal LM-bifurcation lesion. The enrolled patients underwent single-stent cross-over PCI under IVUS-guidance with further LCx-intervention as indicated by measured FFR. Results: The included patients showed angiographic significant LCx ostial affection after LM-stenting, but only 116 (20.6%) patients had FFR <0.8. The 3-year composite MACE rates were comparable between the high and low FFR groups (16.8% vs. 15.5%, respectively; P =0.744). In a multivariable analysis, a low FFR in the LCx was associated with post-stenting MLA of the LCx (OR: 0.032, P <0.001), post-stenting LCx-plaque burden (OR: 1.166, P <0.001), post-stenting LM-MLA (OR: 0.821, P =0.038) and and pre-stenting LCx-MLA (OR: 0.371, P =0.044). In patients with low FFR, management of compromised LCx with DEB had the lowest 3-year MACE rate (8.1%) as compared to either KBI (17.5%) or stenting group (20.5%), P =0.299. Conclusion: FFR-guided LCx intervention can avoid unnecessary LCx intervention. The post-stenting predictors of low FFR include post-stenting MLA and plaque burden of the LCx and MV stent length. The 3-year MACE rates were comparable between high FFR patients and patients who had low FFR and adequately managed.

Relationship between Myocardial Performance Index (Tei Index) and angiographic severity of coronary artery disease in patients with Acute ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Background: Tei index is a Doppler derived measure of combined systolic and diastolic myocardial function and a better predictor of global LV function and outcome in patients with acute STEMI. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between the myocardial performance index of LV (Tei index) and angiographic severity of coronary artery disease as assessed by SYNTAX score in patients with acute STEMI. Methods: This was a prospective, observational single centered study conducted from March 2022 to November 2022 at Manmohan Cardiothoracic Vascular and Transplant Centre, Institute of Medicine. (MCVTC, IOM). 160 patients with acute STEMI were enrolled. LV Tei index was calculated with the help of 2D and Tissue Doppler imaging, and the lesion severity was categorized with the help of SYNTAX score after the patients underwent coronary angiography. Results: The mean age was 61.23±12.33 years with a male preponderance. 107 (67%) were male with male to female ratio of 2:1. Tei index was significantly higher among the hypertensive (0.74±0.17) and diabetic (0.78±0.18) patients. 64 (40%), 51(31.9%) and 45(28.1%) had Single vessel disease (SVD), Double vessel disease (DVD) and Triple vessel disease (TVD) respectively with the Mean Tei index values 0.57 ± 0.10, 0.76 ± 0.11, and 0.88±0.11 (p<0.05). The Tei index increased when patients were divided into low, mid, and high SYNTAX score groups as 0.58±0.11, 0.61±0.73, 0.88±0.13 respectively, p-value < 0.05). Moreover, the study showed a positive correlation between Tei index and SYNTAX score with increasing severity of coronary artery stenosis. (r=0.654, p-value<0.001). Proximal LAD, LCx and RCA lesions had greater Tei index than the distal lesions. Conclusion: More proximally located LAD, LCx, RCA lesions had higher value of Tei index, as assessed with the SYNTAX score.

Comparative analysis of post-PCI fractional flow reserve and quantitative flow ratio in predicting long-term Target Vessel Failure and hard endpoints

Abstract Background The role of functional assessment after angiographically acceptable post-PCI result is debatable. Purpose We sought to investigate the correlation between Fractional Flow Reserve measured directly after drug eluting stent (DES) implantation (post-PCI FFR) and post-PCI Quantitative Flow Ratio (post-PCI QFR), clarify their relationship with clinical parameters, and long-term target vessel failure (TVF: cardiac death (CD), non-fatal target vessel myocardial infarction (MI) and target vessel revascularisation (TVR)), and a composite of CD and MI (CD/MI). Method Coronary arteries that underwent post-PCI FFR measurement at our centre between 2012 and January 2021 were consecutively included in this registry. Post-PCI QFR was calculated blinded to the post-PCI FFR value. We analysed the influence of LAD vs. (non-LAD) location, gender, age, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, indication (acute (ACS) vs. chronic coronary syndrome), stent diameter, in-stent restenosis (ISR) vs. de novo lesion category, estimated glomerular filtration rate, proximal vs. distal lesions, severe aortic stenosis, atrial fibrillation during the procedure (AF), and prior myocardial infarction in the supply area (prior MI) on post-PCI FFR and QFR. Optimal cut-off was determined by ROC curves. Results A total of 400 coronary arteries were analysed. LAD location (p<0.001), male gender (p=0.0029) and smaller stent diameter (p=0.0073) proved to be predictors of a lower post-PCI FFR. LAD location (p=0.001), ISR (p=0.02), distal location (p=0.0019), AF (p=0.042) and prior MI (p=0.029) were predictors of a lower post-PCI QFR. There was a systematic bias in post-PCI QFR compared to post-PCI FFR (bias 0.0614, 95% CI, 0.053 - 0.069). During a median follow-up of 45 months, 31 CD, 20 MI and 35 TVR occurred. Follow-up was complete in 100%. There was a significant inverse correlation between post-PCI FFR and TVF (p<0.001) as well as between post-PCI QFR and TVF (p=0.045). In-stent restenosis (p=0.014) and prior MI (p=0.002) were also predictors of higher TVF rate. The predictors of CD/MI were lower post-PCI FFR (p<0.001), smaller stent diameter (p=0.03), higher age (p=0.031) and ACS indication (p=0.048), whereas post-PCI QFR was not. The best post-PCI FFR cut-off to predict TVF was 0.87 (p<0.0001). There was no single optimal post-PCI QFR cut-off to predict TVF. Conclusion Post-PCI QFR shows a systematic bias compared to post-PCI FFR. Post-PCI FFR is a significant predictor of TVF as well as CD/MI, whereas post-PCI QFR predicts TVF. No significant correlation between post-PCI QFR and CD/MI could be demonstrated. Our findings underscore the importance of considering multiple clinical parameters in predicting long-term outcomes. The best post-PCI FFR cut-off to predict TVF was 0.87. However, there was no single, universally applicable post-PCI QFR threshold to predict TVF.

The feasibility of double stent strategy in left main true bifurcation with small and large angle change between diastole and systole: The Milan and New-Tokyo (MITO) registry.

Provisional single stenting strategy (PSS) is a default strategy for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of unprotected left main distal bifurcation lesions (ULMD). Previous study reported that a bifurcation angle change (BAC) between end diastole and systole was associated with outcomes after PCI with double stent strategy (DSS) for ULMD. However, there are no data comparing outcomes after PCI with PSS versus DSS according the degree of BAC. We evaluated outcomes after PCI with PSS versus DSS for true ULMD with small and large BAC. We identified 566 patients with true ULMD underwent PCI in three high-volume centers. We calculated the BAC in ULMD between end-diastole and systole before stenting with 2-dimensional quantitative coronary angiographic assessment. We defined small (BAC < 7.0°) and large BAC (≥7.0°) group. We compared clinical outcomes after PCI with PSS versus DSS in each cohort after propensity score adjustment. The primary endpoint was target-lesion failure (TLF), which was defined as a composite of cardiac death, target lesion revascularization, and myocardial infarction. In small BAC cohort, TLF rate was significantly lower in DSS group than in PSS group (12.5% vs. 20.1%, adjusted HR 0.45; 95% CI, 0.26-0.79; p = 0.006). In contrast, in large BAC cohort, TLF rate was significantly higher in DSS group than in PSS group (54.9% vs. 29.0%, adjusted HR 2.25; 95% CI, 1.50-3.38; p < 0.001). The TLF rate after PCI with DSS was significantly lower in true ULMD with small BAC compared to PSS even after propensity score adjustment. In contrast, it was significantly higher in those with large BAC.

The Neck-Crossing Technique Using the Low-Profile Distal Access Catheter in Flow Diverter Placement for Dissecting Posterior Cerebral Artery Aneurysm: A Case Report

AbstractWe report a case in which a novel distal access catheter proved successful in the placement of a flow diverter for a challenging distal cerebral artery lesion. We discuss the advantages and pitfalls of this technique and considerations for its use. A 74-year-old female presented with intermittent headaches, and was diagnosed with a dissecting aneurysm at the proximal right posterior cerebral artery with a sharp bleb, measuring 9.8 mm in diameter. Given the complex vascular anatomy, stent-assisted coil embolization was initially considered but deemed high risk for dual catheter for jailing technique with 6-Fr size guiding catheter due to the tortuosity and stenosis of the parent vessel. Therefore, we opted for flow diverter treatment, which presented its challenges during delivery. By employing a low-profile distal access catheter, Phenom Plus (outer diameter: 4.2-Fr. inner diameter: 1.13 mm; Medtronic, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States), with a minimal ledge between it and the delivery catheter, Phenom 27 (outer diameter: 2.8-Fr, 0.91 mm; Medtronic), we successfully crossed the neck of the aneurysm with Phenom Plus and placed the flow diverter. While acknowledging potential risks, this case demonstrates the value of the neck-crossing technique using a low-profile distal access catheter as an alternative option for treating challenging peripheral artery aneurysms with flow diverters. This technique offers promise in specific situations where conventional methods pose challenges.

Suppurative Granulomatous Osteomyelitis with Microcystic Changes Due to Mycobacterium chelonae- abscessus Complex

Abstract Introduction/Objective Mycobacterium chelonae and Mycobacterium abscessus are rapidly growing non-tuberculous mycobacterium found in soil and water, and represent rare causes of skin and soft tissue infection. Treatment typically involves an extended course of antimicrobial therapy and occasionally surgical debridement. Previous reports have described a distinctive pattern of suppurative granulomatous inflammation with microcystic changes in skin biopsies; however, the morphologic changes of M. chelonae-abscessus complex as a cause of osteomyelitis have not been well-documented in the literature. Methods/Case Report We searched our database from 2013 to 2024 for bone samples diagnosed as granulomatous inflammation in which M. chelonae or M. abscessus were identified on concurrent microbiology studies. Patient demographics, risk factors for infection, and treatment data were collected. Results (if a Case Study enter NA) Three patients with culture- or PCR-confirmed M. chelonae (2) or M. abscessus (1) were identified. All infections involved bones of the distal extremities. Patients were 57 years and older with risk factors for infection that included: diabetes (1), intravenous drug use (1), and long-term immunosuppressive therapy (1). All patients presented with osteomyelitis refractory to antibiotic therapy for which bone biopsy, bone resection, or amputation was performed. All cases showed suppurative granulomatous inflammation with microcystic changes. Cystic spaces were markedly enriched for acid-fast bacilli on Fite and/or Ziehl-Neelsen stains. In two patients, the antimicrobial regimen was changed as a result of the pathologic findings and microbiologic testing that provided additional information about speciation and susceptibilities. Conclusion Suppurative granulomatous inflammation has a broad differential that includes blastomycosis, sporotrichosis, cat scratch disease, non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection, and granulomatosis with polyangiitis, for which there are substantial treatment differences. When this pattern of microcystic suppurative granulomatous inflammation is encountered, it is important to perform special stains for acid-fast bacilli, particularly when seen in distal extremity lesions from patients with infections that are refractory to empiric antibiotic therapy.

Multi-Modal Investigation of Metabolism in Murine Breast Cancer Cell Lines Using Fluorescence Lifetime Microscopy and Hyperpolarized 13C-Pyruvate Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy.

Background/Objectives: Despite the role of metabolism in breast cancer metastasis, we still cannot predict which breast tumors will progress to distal metastatic lesions or remain dormant. This work uses metabolic imaging to study breast cancer cell lines (4T1, 4T07, and 67NR) with differing metastatic potential in a 3D collagen gel bioreactor system. Methods: Within the bioreactor, hyperpolarized magnetic resonance spectroscopy (HP-MRS) is used to image lactate/pyruvate ratios, while fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) of endogenous metabolites measures metabolism at the cellular scale. Results: HP-MRS results showed no lactate peak for 67NR and a comparatively large lactate/pyruvate ratio for both 4T1 and 4T07 cell lines, suggestive of greater pyruvate utilization with greater metastatic potential. Similar patterns were observed using FLIM with significant increases in FAD intensity, redox ratio, and NAD(P)H lifetime. The lactate/pyruvate ratio was strongly correlated to NAD(P)H lifetime, consistent with the role of NADH as an electron donor for the glycolytic pathway, suggestive of an overall upregulation of metabolism (both glycolytic and oxidative), for the 4T07 and 4T1 cell lines compared to the non-metastatic 67NR cell line. Conclusions: These findings support a complementary role for HP-MRS and FLIM enabled by a novel collagen gel bioreactor system to investigate metastatic potential and cancer metabolism.

Electrodiagnostic Findings of Median Nerve Motor and Sensory Conduction in Neurological Asymptomatic Newly Diagnosed Patients with Hypothyroidism

BACKGROUND: The influence/impact of thyroid hormones on peripheral nervous system has still not been thoroughly/substantially studied/examined. Neurographic studies, which measure motor and sensory nerve conduction along with F-wave, have an important role in diagnosing diseases of the peripheral nerves since electrophysiological sings of neuropathy can be detected even in subclinical state/cases. AIM: The aims of this study were to assess the neurophysiological parameters of the median nerve by electrodiagnostic measurements using electromyoneurogaphy (EMNG) in the region of radiocarpal joint in patients with newly diagnosed and medically untreated primary hypothyroidism who had no symptoms and signs of peripheral nerve damage/injury/lesion. Furthermore, it was our aim to make an insight of the possible early detection of the latent damage of peripheral nervous system in untreated hypothyroidism. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a prospective clinical study that comprised 78 subjects/patients according to inclusion criteria, divided into two groups: one with primary hypothyroidism and the other group involving euthyroid subjects. Thyroid status was examined in each subject; anthropometric parameters were analyzed, and electromyoneurographic imaging (EMNG) of hand median nerve was realized. RESULTS: Of the total number of 78 subjects included in the study, 58 (74.36%) had hypothyroidism and 20 were euthyroid subjects (25.64%). The calculated mean levels of thyroid status parameters in hypothyroid patients, TSH, aTPO and FT4, were 6.19±1.85 mIU/L, 872.22±296.66 U/mL and 0.78±0.11 ng/dL, respectively. In euthyroid patients, the mean levels of TSH, aTPO and FT4 were 0.27±0.08 mIU/L, 31.2071±5.65 U/mL and 1.31±0.25 ng/dL, respectively. Statistically significant differences were obtained between hypothyroid and euthyroid subjects regarding: age (p=0.0147, r=0.3239), body weight (p=0.0441, r= -0.531), body mass index (p=0.0050, r= -0.301), WHO classification for BMI (p=0.0032, r= -0.250), TSH (p&lt;0.0001, r=-0.309), aTPO (p&lt;0.0001, r=0.5554) and FT4 (p&lt;0.0001, r= -0.317). In the group of 58 hypothyroid subjects, 38 (65.52%) were women and 20 (34.48%) were men. A strong correlation and significant statistical difference were registered in EMNG pathological findings in patients with pathologic BMI and with mild predilection for the sensory part of the median nerve. Of the 58 hypothyroid patients, EMNG pathologic findings were present in 18 that, in terms of their features, indicated a distal lesion of the median nerve. These 18 subjects had an increased body mass index (30.83±5.65 kg/m2). CONCLUSIONS: Discovery, definition and explanation of etiopathogenic nodes in peripheral nervous system diseases will require extensive and multidisciplinary strategies in the next decades. These complex conditions, in our opinion, will claim a steady/a step-by-step/ approach to the problems, as well as consistency and symmetry in the design and methodology of the research procedures.

Comparison of intravascular ultrasound-guided with optical coherence tomography-guided percutaneous coronary intervention for left main distal bifurcation lesions: Rationale and design of the ISOLEDS trial

BackgroundPercutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) can provide benefits for anatomically suitable left main coronary artery (LMCA) lesions. When compared to traditional coronary angiography (CAG) -guided PCI, the use of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) guidance has shown significant long-term prognostic improvements in LMCA PCI. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) offers a higher axial resolution than IVUS. However, there is currently a lack of relevant randomized controlled trials investigating the use of OCT specifically for left main distal bifurcation lesions. MethodsThe ISOLEDS trial is an ongoing multicenter study that aims to compare IVUS-guided PCI with OCT-guided PCI for patients with true LMCA distal bifurcation lesions. This prospective, randomized, controlled, non-inferiority trial will enroll a total of 664 patients with visually-defined Medina 1,1,1 or 0,1,1 classification of left main distal bifurcation lesions. The patients will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either IVUS-guided or OCT-guided PCI. The primary endpoint is to assess the occurrence of target lesion failure (TLF) within 12 months after the procedure. After undergoing PCI, patients are required to visit the hospital for a 12-month clinical follow-up. During this clinical assessment, CAG can be performed to evaluate the status of target lesions. DiscussionThe ISOLEDS trial represents the first attempt to compare two distinct intracoronary imaging techniques for guiding PCI in patients with true LMCA distal bifurcation lesions. By evaluating and comparing the outcomes of these two imaging techniques, the trial results will aid operators in selection of the most effective approach for guiding PCI in these patients.

A New Classification System for Forearm Deformities Caused by Hereditary Multiple Osteochondromas

The objective of this study was to evaluate the Masada and Jo classifications for clinical use in patients with forearm deformity caused by hereditary multiple osteochondroma and propose a new classification system that is all-inclusive and can guide clinical management. A retrospective review of 275 forearms was performed. A split-sample approach was used, where 138 forearms were analyzed to create a new classification, which was then validated on the remaining 137 forearms. Radiographs were reviewed to determine the number and location of osteochondromas and the presence of radial head dislocation (RHD) and to measure radiographic parameters. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify radiological parameters associated with RHD. According to the Masada and Jo classifications, 95 of 275 forearms (34.5%) were unclassifiable. Analyses of the split group (n= 138) revealed 42 forearms with RHD. All these had distal ulna lesions, qualifying as the greatest associated factor for RHD. Further subgroup multivariable logistic regression analysis of forearms with distal ulna lesions identified radiological parameter proportional ulna length as a statistically significant association of RHD, qualifying as "at-risk" criteria. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for proportional ulna length was 0.89, with a receiver operating characteristic-derived ideal value of ≤ 0.95 (sensitivity 0.86 and specificity 0.86). We proposed a new classification system stratified into three groups-high, moderate, and low-risk of RHD-based on the identified factors associated with RHD. Type 1 comprises forearms with distal ulna osteochondromas-subdivided into type 1A (high-risk), where forearms meet the at-risk criteria for RHD and type 1B (moderate-risk), where forearms do not meet the at-risk criteria. Type 2 (low-risk) comprises forearms without distal ulna osteochondromas. Our classification system addresses the limitations of existing classifications by risk stratifying forearms into three groups-high, moderate, and low-risk of RHD.

Local delivery of cell surface-targeted immunocytokines programs systemic antitumor immunity

Systemically administered cytokines are potent immunotherapeutics but can cause severe dose-limiting toxicities. To overcome this challenge, cytokines have been engineered for intratumoral retention after local delivery. However, despite inducing regression of treated lesions, tumor-localized cytokines often elicit only modest responses at distal untreated tumors. In the present study, we report a localized cytokine therapy that safely elicits systemic antitumor immunity by targeting the ubiquitous leukocyte receptor CD45. CD45-targeted immunocytokines have lower internalization rates relative to wild-type counterparts, leading to sustained downstream cis and trans signaling between lymphocytes. A single intratumoral dose of αCD45-interleukin (IL)-12 followed by a single dose of αCD45-IL-15 eradicated treated tumors and untreated distal lesions in multiple syngeneic mouse tumor models without toxicity. Mechanistically, CD45-targeted cytokines reprogrammed tumor-specific CD8+ T cells in the tumor-draining lymph nodes to have an antiviral transcriptional signature. CD45 anchoring represents a broad platform for protein retention by host immune cells for use in immunotherapy.

Percutaneous coronary intervention for unprotected left main distal bifurcation lesions in elderly people.

In the elderly people with unprotected left main distal bifurcation lesions (ULMD), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is often selected as first choice treatment strategy because of perioperative high risk of coronary artery bypass graft surgery due to their large number of comorbidities. Also, some recent papers reported that geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) is also strongly associated with clinical outcomes after interventional procedures in elderly patients. We assessed clinical outcomes after PCI for ULMD and the impact of GNRI in elderly patients. We identified 669 non dialysis patients treated with current generation drug-eluting stent for ULMD from MITO registry. We divided the patients to the following 2 groups; elderly group (n = 240, age ≥75) and young group (n = 429, age <75). Additionally, we could calculate GNRI and divided elderly group into 2 group based on the median value of the GNRI. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality. All-cause mortality was significantly higher in elderly group [adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 2.37; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.40-4.02; p = 0.001]. All-cause mortality was significantly higher in low GNRI elderly group compared to other 2 groups (Adjusted HR of elderly with low GNRI: 3.56, 95%CI (1.77-7.14), p < 0.001). Cardiovascular mortality was comparable between two groups. TLR rate was significantly lower in elderly group (adjusted HR 0.57; 95% CI, 0.34-0.97; p = 0.035). The elderly had higher all-cause mortality after PCI for ULMD compared to young people. Especially, the elderly with low GNRI were extremely associated with poorer outcomes.

The Use of Ibrutinib in Extranodal Marginal Zone Lymphoma of the Ocular Adnexa with Multifocal Disease that is Refractory to Rituximab

Tumors of the ocular adnexa been well documented. The most common ocular adnexal lymphoma is extranodalmarginal zone B-cell lymphoma (EMZL), with about a quarter of those occurring in the conjunctiva. We present acase with a patient suspected ocular EMZL, confirmed with biopsy. Positron emission tomography (PET) scan wasperformed to evaluate for distal lesions and the patient was found to have multiple hypermetabolic lesionsthroughout the body. Treatment with rituximab was initiated, and after four weekly treatments, subsequent PETscan showed that the original hypermetabolic lesions remained and new lesions appeared. Rituximab was stoppedand ibrutinib started. After eight months of ibrutinib treatment, PET scan showed that the original hypermetaboliclesions had disappeared. 19 months from initiation of treatment, a new hilar lesion was found. This progressedinto bilateral hilar and mediastinal lymphadenopathy, which was seen on PET scan performed 29 months intotreatment. These findings remained stable 35 months post-initiation of treatment. The use of ibrutinib in thispatient that initially presented with a lesion in the conjunctiva resulted in an initial resolution of the originalsystemic hypermetabolic regions on PET scan. While more studies are needed on ibrutinib in the treatment ofocular EMZL, physicians should be aware of the presentation of this disease and the range of treatment modalities.

Pivotal Decision for Acute Coronary Syndrome Patient with Left Main Coronary Artery Disease, When to Choose PCI over CABG

Background: Surgery is acceptable as a standard treatment of Left Main Coronary Artery (LMCA) Disease in a stable angina condition. But, in Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) setting, LMCA intervention is a still clinical challenge in many cardiac centers. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has emerged as a suitable alternative to coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for high-risk complex coronary artery disease (CAD) scenario. This study aimed to outline the management of NSTEMI patient include LMCA disease. Case presentation: A 72-year-old male presented with persistent chest pain, with a confirmed NSTEMI. A coronary angiography was done and revealed Three Vessel Disease (TVD) and Left Main (LM) CAD with highly calcified stenosis in the distal LM and Left Anterior Descending (LAD). An early invasive procedure was successfully performed for severely calcified LAD artery and distal LM lesions, using proper selection of several bail-out pre-dilatation difficult attempts such as scoring ballon and rotational atherectomy (RA). We observed the aftercare period, which showed no subsequent ACS events. Conclusion: Managing ACS patients requires careful consideration and risk assessment before deciding on revascularization procedures, especially in high-risk case such as LMCA disease. PCI can be an effective treatment strategy for this population but require good consideration of patient’s anatomical factors, comorbidities, the availability of appropriate skill and equipment. Keyword: Acute Coronary Syndrome, Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery, Left Main Coronary Artery, Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Computed tomography identifies sex-specific differences in surgical chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension

BackgroundRegistry data suggests women are less likely than men to undergo pulmonary thromboendarterectomy for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension despite a similar proportion of proximal versus distal disease. We hypothesized that sex-specific differences could be elicited with a computed tomography pulmonary angiography analysis beyond proximal versus distal. MethodsPreoperative computed tomography pulmonary angiography of patients who underwent pulmonary thromboendarterectomy for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension from January 2017 to September 2021 were analyzed. The pulmonary vascular tree was divided into 32 named vessels with chronic thromboembolism presence and lesion type recorded for each vessel. If no lesion was identified in a segmental vessel, subsegmental disease was recorded when present. Results144 patients (mean age 57 ± 15 years, 78 women) were included. There were no sex differences in baseline hemodynamics. Men had more vessels involved than women (mean 20.3 vs 17.1, p=0.004) and had fewer disease-free pulmonary segments (mean 4.9 ± 4.3 vs 7.6 ± 5.5, p=0.001). Men had a greater number of webs, eccentric thickening, and occlusions. The distribution of lesion type did not significantly differ between sexes at the main or lobar level but men had significantly more lesions in the segmental vasculature while women had a higher proportion of subsegmental lesions (p<0.001). ConclusionSex-specific differences in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension are demonstrated on computed tomography pulmonary angiography in overall distribution and lesion type at the segmental and subsegmental level with women having fewer and more distal lesions despite similar hemodynamics.

Balloon-expandable cobalt chromium stent versus self-expandable nitinol stent for the Atherosclerotic Iliac Arterial Disease (SENS-ILIAC Trial) Trial: a randomized controlled trial.

Iliac artery angioplasty with stenting is an effective alternative treatment modality for aortoiliac occlusive diseases. Few randomized controlled trials have compared the efficacy and safety between self-expandable stent (SES) and balloon-expandable stent (BES) in atherosclerotic iliac artery disease. In this randomized, multicenter study, patients with common or external iliac artery occlusive disease were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either BES or SES. The primary end point was the 1-year clinical patency, defined as freedom from any surgical or percutaneous intervention due to restenosis of the target lesion after the index procedure. The secondary end point was a composite event from major adverse clinical events at 1year. A total of 201 patients were enrolled from 17 major cardiovascular intervention centers in South Korea. The mean age of the enrolled patients was 66.8 ± 8.5years and 86.2% of the participants were male. The frequency of critical limb ischemia was 15.4%, and the most common target lesion was in the common iliac artery (75.1%). As the primary end point, the 1-year clinical patency as primary end point was 99% in the BES group and 99% in the SES group (p > 0.99). The rate of repeat revascularization at 1year was 7.8% in the BES group and 7.0% in the SES group (p = 0.985; confidence interval, 1.011 [0.341-2.995]). In our randomized study, the treatment of iliac artery occlusive disease with self-expandable versus balloon-expandable stent was comparable in 12-month clinical outcomes without differences in the procedural success or geographic miss rate regardless of the deployment method in the distal aortoiliac occlusive lesion (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01834495).

Deep generative model of the distal tibial classic metaphyseal lesion in infants: assessment of synthetic images.

The classic metaphyseal lesion (CML) is a distinctive fracture highly specific to infant abuse. To increase the size and diversity of the training CML database for automated deep-learning detection of this fracture, we developed a mask conditional diffusion model (MaC-DM) to generate synthetic images with and without CMLs. To objectively and subjectively assess the synthetic radiographic images with and without CMLs generated by MaC-DM. For retrospective testing, we randomly chose 100 real images (50 normals and 50 with CMLs; 39 infants, male = 22, female = 17; mean age = 4.1 months; SD = 3.1 months) from an existing distal tibia dataset (177 normal, 73 with CMLs), and generated 100 synthetic distal tibia images via MaC-DM (50 normals and 50 with CMLs). These test images were shown to 3 blinded radiologists. In the first session, radiologists determined if the images were normal or had CMLs. In the second session, they determined if the images were real or synthetic. We analyzed the radiologists' interpretations and employed t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding technique to analyze the data distribution of the test images. When presented with the 200 images (100 synthetic, 100 with CMLs), radiologists reliably and accurately diagnosed CMLs (kappa = 0.90, 95% CI = [0.88-0.92]; accuracy = 92%, 95% CI = [89-97]). However, they were inaccurate in differentiating between real and synthetic images (kappa = 0.05, 95% CI = [0.03-0.07]; accuracy = 53%, 95% CI = [49-59]). The t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding analysis showed substantial differences in the data distribution between normal images and those with CMLs (area under the curve = 0.996, 95% CI = [0.992-1.000], P < .01), but minor differences between real and synthetic images (area under the curve = 0.566, 95% CI = [0.486-0.647], P = .11). Radiologists accurately diagnosed images with distal tibial CMLs but were unable to distinguish real from synthetically generated ones, indicating that our generative model could synthesize realistic images. Thus, MaC-DM holds promise as an effective strategy for data augmentation in training machine-learning models for diagnosis of distal tibial CMLs.

Outcomes of distal femoral replacement versus internal fixation for metastatic bone diseases of the distal femur

BackgroundIn clinical practice, internal fixation (IF) is a commonly utilized technique for metastatic bone disease (MBD) to the distal femur. Additionally, distal femoral reconstruction (DFR) has shown to be an effective surgical technique for primary tumors and MBD in the distal femur. The existing body of research comparing these methods has not focused on MBD or pathological fractures and thus does not guide surgical approach in the case of distal femoral MBD. MethodsA multi-institutional retrospective review of musculoskeletal oncology patients treated surgically with IF (n = 29) or DFR (n = 34) for distal femoral MBD between 2005 and 2023. Overall survival, revision risk, and functional status were assessed. Results5-year patient overall survival was 47.9 % (CI, 29.5–77.6 %) and 46.6 % (CI, 31.5–68.8 %), for DFR and IF, respectively (p = 0.91). After competing risk analysis, the 5-year risk of implant revision for DFR was 18 % (95 % CI: 5.1–37 %) and 11 % for IF (95 % CI: 2.4–28 %) (p = 0.3). DFR had longer operative times (p = 0.002), higher blood loss (p < 0.001), and greater postoperative (p = 0.006) complications than IF. In addition, patients undergoing DFR had more distal lesions than patients who received IF (p = 0.003). ConclusionDespite similar overall survival and revision rates, IF may be preferable for patients due to its shorter operative time and lower rates of complication than DFR. However, specific anatomic location in the distal femur must be considered prior to deciding which procedure is optimal.

The Use of Dermal Substitute in the Treatment of Burns as a Complication of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Diabetic Foot Syndrome.

Diabetic Foot Syndrome is a complex and challenging clinical condition associated with high risk of mortality and lower limb amputation. The distal lesions represent the epiphenomenon of this syndrome and request a multidisciplinary care and an appropriate therapeutic path to ensure their healing. This case report describes the management of burns in a patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus, end stage renal disease and Diabetic Foot Syndrome. The lesions were treated with autologous epidermal skin graft until healing. Products that stimulate or replace extracellular matrix, which has a central role in wound healing, can be consider in the treatment of burns and offer a simpler and less disabling reconstructive possibility for the patient.

Bile level of cytokeratin 7 as a diagnostic marker for cholangiocarcinoma: a case-control study in Egyptian patients

BackgroundCholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is an aggressive malignancy with a poor prognosis of less than 20% five-year survival rate. Early diagnosis is typically challenging due to asymptomatic characteristics at the earliest stages of the disease. This study aims to assess the potential utility of cytokeratin 7 (CK7) as a CCA diagnostic biomarker in bile. In total, 100 participants were included in this case-control study. Moreover, Group I had 30 CCA patients with malignant obstruction, and Group II had 20 patients with malignant biliary obstruction other than CCA formed. Group III included 20 patients with benign biliary obstruction, and 30 individuals undergoing cholecystectomy with no evidence of biliary obstruction made up the control group (Group IV). Bile samples were collected during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography or cholecystectomy for the control group. The CK7 levels in bile samples were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.ResultsThe bile level of CK7 was significantly higher in cholangiocarcinoma patients (1555.4 ± 302.7 pg/mL) than those of the patients with malignancies other than CCA (581.9 ± 227.5 pg/mL), patients with benign obstruction (439.5 ± 255.7 pg/mL), and the control group (53 ± 26.4 pg/mL) (p value < 0.001). Furthermore, CK7 was significantly higher in CCA patients than in those with other malignancies (p value < 0.001). Patients with CCA with hilar lesions had the highest values compared to those with distal lesions. ROC curve analysis revealed that bile CK7 at a cut point of >1030 pg/mL yielded an area under a curve of 1 (95% CI: 1.000–1.000) in differentiating CCA from other groups.ConclusionThe bile level of CK7 demonstrates outstanding performance that could help in diagnosing CCA.