The Sandwich Technique with Body Flossing Wire to Revascularize Left Subclavian Artery in Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the sandwich technique with the body flossing wire to revascularize the left subclavian artery (LSA) in thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). METHODS: From April 2014 to April 2015, 20 consecutive patients with a variety of thoracic aortic pathologies who underwent LSA revascularization with the sandwich technique and body flossing wire during TEVAR were included. Outcomes including technical success, endoleaks, perioperative mortality and morbidity, and graft patency were analyzed. RESULTS: There were 13 patients (65.0%) who presented with aortic dissection, 3 (15.0%) with thoracic aortic aneurysm, 3 (15.0%) with penetrating aortic ulcer, and 1 (5.0%) with traumatic aortic disruption. Technical success rate was 100%. But one type Ia endoleak (5.0%) was noted and treated with extended endografting. One sandwiched gutter leak (5.0%) resolved spontaneously at 6 months. One sandwiched graft (5.0%) was occluded but not treated because no related complications were found. At a mean follow-up of 9.7 months (range 4-17), all the patients with aortic aneurysm, penetrating aortic ulcer, or traumatic aortic disruption had complete thrombosis of the aortic pathologies. Patients with aortic dissection had thrombosed false lumen down to the distal aortic endograft edge (12/13, 92.3%) or the celiac artery level (8/13, 61.5%). There was no neurological deficit but 2 non-procedure-related late deaths during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Our early experience showed that the sandwich technique with the body flossing wire to maintain blood flow to the LSA is a safe and effective method. This technique can be applied in various clinical situations with a high technique success rate. However, outcomes are preliminary and larger studies are required.

Does the guideline-based physical activity level for cardiovascular health also benefit periodontal health?

Abstract Background/purpose: It is unclear about whether the guideline-based physical activity (PA) level for cardiovascular health also benefits periodontal health. Therefore, this study aimed to clarify the association between guideline-based PA levels and periodontitis in young adults. Materials and methods: This was a cross-sectional study which included 334 military participants, aged 18-44 years in Taiwan. The PA level was assessed by total running time per week (wk) in the past 6 months from a self-reported questionnaire, and was classified as moderate intensity PA <150, 150-299, and ≥300 min/wk according to the American guideline for cardiovascular health. Periodontitis was defined based on the 2017 World Workshop. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine the association with adjustment for age, sex, educational level, tobacco smoking, alcohol intake, body mass index, waist circumference, blood pressure and teeth brushing frequency. Results: As compared to the PA: 150-299 min/wk, the PA <150 min/wk was associated with a greater possibility of periodontitis (odds ratio (OR): 2.45 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.24-4.82), whereas the PA ≥300 min/wk was not associated with periodontitis (OR: 0.98 (95% CI: 0.13-1.09)) in young adults. Conclusion: The guideline-based moderate intensity PA level ≥150 min/wk is found to have superior periodontal health in young adults. However, there is no additional benefit in more exercise time to obtain better periodontal health when the suggested PA level has been achieved.

Obesity Phenotypes and Dental Calculus in Young Adults: CHIEF Oral Health Study.

AIM: The study aimed to examine the association of obesity phenotypes with dental calculus. BACKGROUND: Obesity has been recognized as a risk factor for kidney and gallbladder stones formation and periodontitis. OBJECTIVE: We have investigated the association between obesity, metabolic risk factors, and dental calculus, which is a sequela following periodontitis. METHODS: This study included 5,281 military members, aged 19-45 years, without antihypertensive medications in Taiwan. Obesity was defined as body mass index ≥27.5 kg/m2, and metabolic syndrome (MetS) was defined according to the modified ATP III criteria. Supragingival calculus in any teeth, except for impacted teeth and the third molar, was the outcome of interest. Multiple linear regression analysis with adjustments for age, sex, toxic substance use, brushing teeth frequency, and blood leukocyte counts, was used to determine the association of obesity with dental calculus numbers. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between obesity with or without MetS and the presence of any dental calculus. RESULTS: BMI was positively correlated to dental calculus numbers [ß and confidence intervals (CI) = 0.023 (0.014, 0.032)]. Compared to the obesity(-)/MetS(-) group, there were dosedependent associations for the obesity(-)/MetS(+), obesity(+)/MetS(-), and obesity(+)/MetS(+) groups with the presence of any dental calculus [odds ratios (ORs): 1.08 (0.76, 1.53), 1.31 (1.08, 1.58), and 1.51 (1.20, 1.90), respectively]. Of the metabolic risk factors, abdominal obesity and hypertension were independently associated with dental calculus [ORs: 1.33 (1.13, 1.55) and 1.30 (1.11, 1.52), respectively]. CONCLUSION: This study suggests general obesity as an independent risk factor for dental calculus formation, and MetS, particularly the components of abdominal obesity, and hypertension may also increase the prevalence of dental calculus. Diet control and regular exercise might be preventive measures for the development of both obesity and dental calculus.

Isolated intestinal transplantation for megacystis microcolon intestinal hypoperistalsis syndrome: case report.

MMIHS is a rare congenital disease. It is characterized by distended urinary bladder, small colon and intestinal hypoperistalsis, or aperistalsis with normal morphology. There is no specific treatment for MMIHS, and most patients have to be maintained by TPN, which frequently causes TPN-related liver failure, loss of venous access, or catheter-related sepsis. The prognosis of patients with MMIHS is poor, and most patients die early. Multivisceral transplantation including stomach, duodenum, intestine, and liver has been used for the treatment of patients with MMIHS because these patients often have liver failure. We report an eight-yr-old patient with MMIHS who was treated with isolated intestinal transplantation. She had completely oral intake during the four yr of follow-up. The experience in this case suggests isolated intestinal transplantation may be indicated in selected cases with MMIHS.