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A coordinated multi-year ocean exploration campaign on the Blake Plateau offshore of the southeastern U.S. has mapped what appears to be the most expansive cold-water coral (CWC) mound province thus far discovered. Nearly continuous CWC mound features span an area up to 500 km long and 110 km wide, with a core area of high-density mounds up to 254 km long by 42 km wide. This study synthesized bathymetric data from 31 multibeam sonar mapping surveys and generated a standardized geomorphic classification of the region in order to delineate and quantify CWC mound habitats and compare mound morphologies among subregions of the coral province. Based on the multibeam bathymetry, a total of 83,908 individual peak features were delineated, providing the first estimate of the overall number of potential CWC mounds mapped in the region to date. Five geomorphic landform classes were mapped and quantified: peaks (411 km2), valleys (3598 km2), ridges (3642 km2), slopes (23,082 km2), and flats (102,848 km2). The complex geomorphology of eight subregions was described qualitatively with geomorphic "fingerprints" (spatial patterns) and quantitatively by measurements of mound density and vertical relief. This study demonstrated the value of applying an objective automated terrain segmentation and classification approach to geomorphic characterization of a highly complex CWC mound province. Manual delineation of these features in a consistent repeatable way with a comparable level of detail would not have been possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Complex atherosclerotic femoro-popliteal lesions have traditionally been treated with bypass surgery. A prosthetic graft is used to save the vein graft for more distal revascularisations or when a vein graft is unavailable. The endovascular approach has gained popularity and is offered as a first-line strategy for complex lesions. This study aimed to evaluate whether endovascular procedures can be used as a first-line treatment strategy for complex native femoro-popliteal lesions over open surgery with prosthetic bypass in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Methods: This single-centre retrospective observational study was conducted between 2013 and 2021; it included patients with symptomatic PAD who required limb revascularisation at the femoro-popliteal segment and who had complex lesions. The primary endpoints analysed were technical success, primary patency, freedom from clinically driven target lesion revascularisation (cdTLR), freedom from major adverse limb and cardiovascular events (MALE and MACE, respectively), freedom from limb loss, and survival. The secondary endpoints were length of in-hospital stay, and duration and costs of the procedure. Results: We identified 185 limbs among 174 suitable candidates for comparison, wherein 105 were treated with an endovascular procedure and 80 with a femoro-popliteal prosthetic bypass. Most patients in both groups presented with chronic limb-threatening ischaemia, and >90% of them had an American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classification of >3. The endovascular group had more octogenarians (p = 0.02) and patients with coronary disease (p = 0.004). The median follow-up was 30 months. The technical failure rate for endovascular procedures was 4.7%, versus 0% in the open group (p = 0.047). Freedom from MACE was similar in both groups. The endovascular group showed superior primary patency (p < 0.0001), cdTLR (p < 0.0001), MALE (p < 0.0001), and freedom from limb loss (p = 0.0018) at 24 and 48 months. Further analysis performed for the open above-the-knee sub-group showed that the aforementioned endpoints were similar between the groups at 12 months and were better in the endovascular group at 24 and 48 months. Procedural time and in-hospital stay were longer in the open group than in the endovascular group (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.001, respectively). The procedural cost in the endovascular group was 10-fold lower than that in the prosthetic bypass group. Conclusions: Endovascular procedures are safe for treating complex femoro-popliteal lesions in patients at a high risk for surgery and show better outcomes at 24 months than prosthetic bypasses do. The latter may be considered as an alternative should endovascular treatment fail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decreased arterial perfusion is a typical condition of patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD), with the microvascular picture particularly present among women. This observational study aimed to detect foot perfusion changes by infrared thermography (IRT) after a home-based exercise program in both sexes. A total of 76 PAD patients with claudication (72 ± 4 years; 52 males) were enrolled in a structured in-home exercise program composed of two daily 8 min interval walking sessions (1:1 walk:rest ratio) with progressively increasing speed. Outcome measures collected at baseline (T0) and at each hospital visit after 5 weeks, 12 weeks and 20 weeks included foot temperature measured by IRT (anterior tibial, posterior tibial, dorsalis pedis and arcuate artery regions), ankle brachial index and the 6 min walking test. After 20 weeks, foot temperature in both limbs showed a significant increasing trend, with a mean variation of 1.3 °C for the more impaired limb and 0.9 °C for the contralateral limb (t = 8.88, p < 0.001 and t = 5.36; p < 0.001, respectively), with significant changes occurring after 5 weeks of training. The sex-oriented analysis did not highlight any significant difference, with an improvement of mean foot temperature of 1.5 ± 0.6 °C in females versus 1.2 ± 0.5 °C in males (p = 0.42). Ankle brachial index and performance also significantly improved over time (p < 0.001) without gender differences. In patients with PAD, a structured low-intensity exercise program significantly improved foot temperature and exercise capacity without any sex-related difference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evaluated the sex-specific difference in response upon participation in an exercise program with respect to the risk of adverse clinical outcomes among patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) and claudication. The records of 400 PAD patients were assessed between 2012 and 2015. Two hundred of them were addressed to a walking program prescribed at the hospital and executed at home at symptom-free walking speed (Ex), while the remaining 200 acted as a control group (Co). The number and date of deaths, all-cause hospitalizations, and amputations for a 7-year period were collected from the regional registry. At baseline, no differences were observed (MEXn = 138; FEXn = 62; MCOn = 149; FCOn = 51). The 7-year survival rate was significantly higher in FEX (90%) than in MEX (82% hazard ratio, HR: 0.542 95% CI 0.331–0.885), FCO (45%, HR: 0.164 95% CI 0.088–0.305), and MCO (44%; HR: 0.157 95% CI 0.096–0.256). A significantly lower rate of hospitalization (p < 0.001) and amputations (p = 0.016) was observed for the Ex group compared to the Co group, without differences by sex. In conclusion, in PAD patients, active participation in a home-based pain-free exercise program was associated with a lower rate of death and better long-term clinical outcomes, particularly among women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This observational study aimed to monitor the 5-year trends of kidney function in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) and concomitant chronic kidney disease (CKD) enrolled or not enrolled into a rehabilitative exercise program. Sixty-six patients (aged 72 ± 10, males n = 52) at KDOQI stages III-IV and PAD at Rutherford's stage I-III were included in the study, with a group (Exercise, EX; n = 32) receiving a 6-month structured pain-free home-based walking program and a group (Control, CO; n = 34) receiving walking advice and optimal nephrological care. Outcomes included kidney function measured through serum creatinine (sCr) and clinical outcomes, including the rate of advance of CKD stages and admission to dialysis, revascularizations, and hospitalizations. At baseline, the two groups were comparable for age, nephropathy, medications, comorbidities, and PAD severity. Patients in the EX group safely completed the exercise program. SCr values were slightly increased in EX (baseline: 2.35 ± 0.32; 5-year: 2.71 ± 0.39 mg/dL) and progressively worsened in CO (baseline: 2.30 ± 0.31; 5-year 4.22 ± 0.42 mg/dL), with a significant between-group difference (p = 0.002). The control group also showed a higher number of dialysis admissions (5 vs. 0, p = 0.025) and advancing CKD stage as well a higher risks for lower limb revascularization (hazard ratio: 2.59; 95%CI: 1.11–6.02; p = 0.027) and for all-cause hospitalization (hazard ratio: 1.77; 95%CI: 1.05–2.97; p = 0.031). PAD-CKD patients enrolled in a low-moderate intensity home-exercise program showed more favorable long-term trends in kidney function and clinical outcomes than patients with usual care. These preliminary observations need to be confirmed in randomized trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infrared thermography (IRT) is a promising imaging method in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD). This systematic review aims to provide an up-to-date overview of the employment of IRT as both a diagnostic method and an outcome measure in PAD patients in relation to any kind of intervention. On September 2022, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and gray literature were screened. Eligible articles employing IRT in PAD were screened for possible inclusion. The RoB 2.0 tool was used to assess the risk of bias. Twenty-one eligible articles were finally included, recruiting a total of 1078 patients. The IRT was used for PAD diagnosis/monitoring in 11 studies or to assess the effect of interventions (revascularization, pharmacological therapy, or exercise rehabilitation) in 10 studies. The analysis of the included papers raised high concerns about the overall quality of the studies. In conclusion, IRT as a noninvasive technique showed promising results in detecting foot perfusion in PAD patients. However, limits related to devices, points of reference, and measurement conditions need to be overcome by properly designed trials before recommending its implementation in current vascular practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In recent years, the therapeutic options for COVID have significantly improved; however, the therapies are expensive with restricted access to drugs, and expeditious and difficult to manage at home. We investigated the effect of pidotimod in preventing hospitalization in patients with mild-moderate COVID-19. Methods: A total of 1231 patients between January and June 2021 were screened. A total of 184 patients with mild-moderate COVID-19 were enrolled and divided into two groups: group-A (97) had undergone therapy with pidotimod 800 mg bid for 7–10 days and group-B (87) had other therapies. We excluded those who had undergone complete vaccination course, monoclonal anti-spike/antivirals or the co-administration of pidotimod-steroid. The primary outcome chosen was the emergency room, hospitalization, and deaths for COVID-related causes; the secondary outcome chosen was the duration of COVID-19 illness. Results: A total of 34 patients (18.5%) required hospital treatment, 11 in group-A and 23 in group-B (11.3% vs. 26.4%, p = 0.008). The median disease duration in group-A was 21 days (IQR 17–27) vs. 23 (IQR 20–31) in group-B (p = 0.005). Patients in the pidotimod group had higher SpO2 in the walking test (IQR 96–99% vs. IQR 93–98%, p = 0.01) and a lower need for steroid rescue therapy (11.5% vs. 60.9%, p < 0.001). Conclusions: In the first phase of disease, pidotimod can represent an effective, low-cost, weapon, without restrictions of use, that is able to prevent a second aggressive phase and promote faster virological recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nowadays, infective endocarditis (IE) is still burdened by a high mortality. In the absence of an adequate prognostic stratification system, it is important to assess new predictors of poor outcomes. The aim of our study is to evaluate which factors were associated with higher mortality in IE patients. Methods: A retrospective cohort study enrolled patients with an IE diagnosis at the Infectious Diseases Clinic of the University 'G. D'Annunzio', Chieti, Italy from January 2013 to December 2019. For each patient, demographic, anamnestic and clinical information, embolic phenomena, laboratory and microbiologic data, treatment, and outcomes were collected and analyzed. A correlation analysis was performed. Results: Sixty-eight patients with EI were studied; among them, the mortality was 17.6%, 20.6%, and 23.5%, intra-hospital, at 1 month from discharge and at 6 months from discharge, respectively. Mortality was significantly correlated with age, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and procalcitonin values when considering either basal values (r = 0.266, p = 0.029), or values at 48–72 h from the start of an antibiotic therapy (r = 0.222; p < 0.05), cerebral embolization for 6-month mortality (r = 0.284; p = 0.019), and inadequate antibiotic therapy (r = 0.232, p < 0.05). Conclusions: Procalcitonin values, at EI diagnosis and at 48–72 h after starting antibiotics, are prognostic factors useful for stratifying patient risk, and for setting up a personalized treatment. Of note, cerebral embolization and an inappropriate empirical treatment were associated with a higher mortality in the short- and long-term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among patients with peripheral artery disease, an altered estimation of walking ability reported to the physician may influence the choice of treatment. We compared claudication distance (CD) values reported by patients or assessed by validated protocols to elaborate a formula capable of estimating more reliable values. Three hundred fifty-nine patients with claudication were measured at the time of entry into a rehabilitation program. Walking performance was obtained by patients' reports (self-reported claudication distance, SR-CD) and was directly assessed to determine the claudication and maximal walking distance by the 6-min test (6-CD and 6-MWD) and an incremental treadmill test (T-CD and T-MWD). The degree of muscle deoxygenation was objectively determined at the calf by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) during the treadmill test. Among the 289 subjects analyzed, SR-CD exceeded both 6-CD and T-CD (+155 and +182 m, respectively). SR-CD was moderately correlated with T-CD (r = 0.30), 6-CD (r = 0.32), and 6-MWD (r = 0.29) but not with muscle deoxygenation per meter walked, unlike T-CD and 6-CD. A formula adjusted for the presence of diabetes reduced patient overestimation by 92%. The patient's reported claudication distance was generally overestimated compared to objective measures, and it was made more reliable through a corrective factor for easy use in a clinical setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility and reliability of temperature foot changes measured by infrared thermography (IRT) for the evaluation of patients with atherosclerotic peripheral arterial disease (PAD) before and after endovascular revascularisation. Methods: This is an observational prospective study carried out on symptomatic PAD patients. Evaluations consisted of a clinical examination, duplex scan with ankle–brachial index calculation (ABI) and IRT measurements with infrared camera FLIR-ONE connected to a smartphone with android technology. Locations on the foot sampled with IRT were the anterior tibial, pedal, posterior and arcuate arteries. Results obtained with IRT on the symptomatic foot were compared to the contralateral foot and with the ABI values obtained bilaterally before and 24 h after revascularisation. Results: Within one year, 40 patients were enrolled, among whom 87,5% suffered from critical limb ischaemia. In three patients, it was impossible to obtain ABI measurements because of ulcerations on the limb. Skin temperature changes obtained by IRT between the symptomatic limb and the contralateral limb had a mean difference of 1.7 °C (range: 1.1–2.2 °C), p < 0.001. There was a positive correlation between ABI and temperature values of the limb needed for treatment before revascularisation (p = 0.025; r = 0.36) and after revascularisation (p = 0.024, r = 0.31). The technical success rate was 100% in all cases, achieving a significant increase in temperature at all points of the foot analysed, with a median change of 2 °C (p < 0.001). Conclusion: IRT is a safe, reliable and simple application. It could be a valuable tool for the assessment of the clinical presentation and severity of foot blood perfusion in symptomatic PAD patients and the evaluation of the technical success of endovascular revascularisation. IRT might have a role in follow-up of revascularisation procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A challenge in contractile restoration of myocardial scars is one of the principal aims in cardiovascular surgery. Recently, a new potent biological tool used within healing processes is represented by exosomes derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). These cells are the well-known extracellular nanovesicles released from cells to facilitate cell function and communication. In this work, a combination of elastomeric membranes and exosomes was obtained and tested as a bioimplant. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and macrophages were seeded into the scaffold (polycaprolactone) and filled with exosomes derived from MSCs. Cells were tested for proliferation with an MTT test, and for wound healing properties and macrophage polarization by gene expression. Moreover, morphological analyses of their ability to colonize the scaffolds surfaces have been further evaluated. Results confirm that exosomes were easily entrapped onto the surface of the elastomeric scaffolds, increasing the wound healing properties and collagen type I and vitronectin of the MSC, and improving the M2 phenotype of the macrophages, mainly thanks to the increase in miRNA124 and decrease in miRNA 125. We can conclude that the enrichment of elastomeric scaffolds functionalized with exosomes is as an effective strategy to improve myocardial regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Electrospun fibers have attracted a lot of attention from researchers due to their several characteristics, such as a very thin diameter, three-dimensional topography, large surface area, flexible surface, good mechanical characteristics, suitable for widespread applications. Indeed, electro-spinning offers many benefits, such as great surface-to-volume ratio, adjustable porosity, and the ability of imitating the tissue extra-cellular matrix. Methods: we processed Poly ε-caprolactone (PCL) via electrospinning for the production of bilayered tubular scaffolds for vascular tissue engineering application. Endothelial cells and fibroblasts were seeded into the two side of the scaffolds: endothelial cells onto the inner side composed of PCL/Gelatin fibers able to mimic the inner surface of the vessels, and fibroblasts onto the outer side only exposing PCL fibers. Extracellular matrix production and organization has been performed by means of classical immunofluorescence against collagen type I fibers, Scanning Electron-Microscopy (SEM) has been performed in order to evaluated ultrastructural morphology, gene expression by means gene expression has been performed to evaluate the phenotype of endothelial cells and fibroblasts. Results and conclusion: results confirmed that both cells population are able to conserve their phenotype colonizing the surface supporting the hypothesis that PCL scaffolds based on electrospun fibers should be a good candidate for vascular surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calcific aortic stenosis is a disorder that impacts the physiology of heart valves. Fibrocalcific events progress in conjunction with thickening of the valve leaflets. Over the years, these events promote stenosis and obstruction of blood flow. Known and common risk factors are congenital defects, aging and metabolic syndromes linked to high plasma levels of lipoproteins. Inflammation and oxidative stress are the main molecular mediators of the evolution of aortic stenosis in patients and these mediators regulate both the degradation and remodeling processes. Mitochondrial dysfunction and dysregulation of autophagy also contribute to the disease. A better understanding of these cellular impairments might help to develop new ways to treat patients since, at the moment, there is no effective medical treatment to diminish neither the advancement of valve stenosis nor the left ventricular function impairments, and the current approaches are surgical treatment or transcatheter aortic valve replacement with prosthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We assessed whether muscle metabolism biomarkers (MMb) identified by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) are valid for determining adaptations following revascularization or exercise training in peripheral artery disease (PAD). Eighteen patients (males n = 13; 69 ± 7 years) were randomized to receive revascularization (Rev = 6) or pain-free home-based exercise (Ex = 12). MMb were safely collected via a NIRS-assisted treadmill test as area-under-curve for the spectra of oxygenated (-oxy), deoxygenated (-deoxy), differential (-diff) and total (-tot) hemoglobin traces. MMb, ankle–brachial index (ABI), pain-free (PFWD) and 6-min (6MWD) walking distances were assessed at baseline and after four months. MMb were correlated at baseline with ABI (MMb-oxy r = 0.46) and 6MWD (MMb-tot r = 0.51). After treatments, MMb-oxy showed an expected increase, which was more relevant for Rev group than the Ex (56% vs. 20%), with trends towards normalization for the other MMb. These changes were significantly correlated with variations in ABI (MMb-oxy r = 0.71; p = 0.002) and 6MWD (MMb-tot r = 0.58; p = 0.003). The MMb-diff in Rev group and MMb-deoxy in Ex group at baseline predicted clinical outcomes being correlated with PFWD improvements after 4-month (r = −0.94; p = 0.005 and r = −0.57; p = 0.05, respectively). A noninvasive NIRS-based test, feasible in a clinical setting, identified muscle metabolism biomarkers in PAD. The novel MMb were associated with validated outcome measures, selectively modified after different interventions and able to predict long-term functional improvements after surgery or exercise training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sepsis is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. It is defined as the presence of a Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome, and it represents a significant burden for the healthcare system. This is particularly true when it is diagnosed in the setting of nosocomial infections, which are usually a matter of concern with regard to medical liability being correlated with increasing economic costs and people's loss of trust in healthcare. Hence, the Italian governance promotes the clinical risk management with the aim of improving the quality and safety of healthcare services. In this context, the role of medico-legal experts working in a hospital setting is fundamental for performing autopsy to diagnose sepsis and link it with possible nosocomial infections. On the other hand, medico-legal experts are party to the clinical risk management assessment, and deal with malpractice cases and therefore contribute to formulating clinical guidelines and procedures for improving patient safety and healthcare providers' work practices. Due to this scenario, the authors here discuss the role of medico-legal experts in Italy, focusing on sepsis and nosocomial infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]