Better together-Salmonella biofilm-associated antibiotic resistance.

Salmonella poses a serious threat to public health and socioeconomic development worldwide because of its foodborne pathogenicity and antimicrobial resistance. This biofilm-planktonic lifestyle enables Salmonella to interfere with the host and become resistant to drugs, conferring inherent tolerance to antibiotics. The complex biofilm structure makes bacteria tolerant to harsh conditions due to the diversity of physiological, biochemical, environmental, and molecular factors constituting resistance mechanisms. Here, we provide an overview of the mechanisms of Salmonella biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance, with an emphasis on less-studied molecular factors and in-depth analysis of the latest knowledge about upregulated drug-resistance-associated genes in bacterial aggregates. We classified and extensively discussed each group of these genes encoding transporters, outer membrane proteins, enzymes, multiple resistance, metabolism, and stress response-associated proteins. Finally, we highlighted the missing information and studies that need to be undertaken to understand biofilm features and contribute to eliminating antibiotic-resistant and health-threatening biofilms.

Summary of the European Society of Cardiology guidelines on dual antiplatelet therapy in patients after percutaneous coronary interventions.

This review is a summary of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines focused on dual antiplatelet therapy in patients after percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). Given a large number of recommendations concerning antiplatelet therapy published in various ESC guidelines, the main goal of this paper was to compile these separate recommendations into one document. In addition, we set out to present the current state of knowledge and create an algorithm that would be based on all of these guidelines in hope that it would allow quick navigation when selecting the type and duration of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) depending on the clinical scenario with a special emphasis on evaluating both ischemic and bleeding risks. The review is based on the ESC guidelines on the diagnosis and management of chronic coronary syndromes (2019), revascularization (2018), acute myocardial infarction in patients presenting with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) (2017), DAPT (2017), and acute coronary syndromes in patients presenting without persistent ST-segment elevation (NSTE-ACS) (2020). The review also provides brief information on the most important studies and meta-analyses in this area, as well as practical pointers for management in the case of bleeding complications and before urgent surgery in patients on DAPT.

Temporary Trends Concerning the Extent and Efficacy of Atrial Fibrillation Ablation Using Radiofrequency Energy in a Polish Single-Center Experience.

Background and Objectives: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common supraventricular arrhythmia. Currently, catheter ablation is a preferred treatment strategy. The main objective of our study was a temporary trends analysis of patients' data undergoing a single AF ablation procedure using radiofrequency energy (RF). The efficacy of the procedure underwent assessment during a 12-month follow-up. Materials and Methods: We analyzed 585 consecutive patients with symptomatic, recurrent, and drug-refractory AF hospitalized in our department between 2013 and 2018 who underwent RF ablation supported by a 3D electroanatomical system. The baseline characteristics, periprocedural parameters, and efficacy of the procedure at 6-, 9- and 12-month follow-ups were analyzed over the years. Results: The number of patients undergoing ablation increased. Patients with paroxysmal AF predominated (71.5%). However, the number of patients with the persistent type of arrhythmia increased over the years. The percentage of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) increased to 27.5% in 2018, and patients presented with increasingly larger left atria (LA). In all patients, circumferential pulmonary vein isolation was performed. The percentage of patients who underwent arrhythmogenic substrate modification and cavotricuspid isthmus ablation increased. Over the years, the efficacy of a single procedure at the 12-month follow-up remained without significant differences between the years (72.0%, 69.6%, 75.5%, 74.8%, 71.7%, 71.7%). Conclusions: The rate of patients with CHF and advanced LA disease undergoing more extensive ablation increased over the years. The efficacy of a single procedure remained without significant differences between the years.

Nanospheres encapsulated everolimus delivery into arterial wall-the tissue pharmacokinetics and vascular response experimental study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the pharmacokinetic profile and tissue effects of everolimus delivered into arterial wall using biodegradable nanospheres. BACKGROUND: Delivery of everolimus into the arterial wall is challenging due to its low-lipophilic profile. METHODS: A pharmacokinetic study included 28 porcine coronary arterial segments initially injured with balloon angioplasty followed by the local delivery of everolimus encapsulated in nanospheres (EEN) via injection through a microporous delivery catheter. The animals were sacrificed at 1 hour, 1,7,28, and 90-day follow-up. In the tissue effects study 16 coronary bare metal stent (BMS) were implanted following EEN delivery, 15 BMS following nanospheres delivery without the drug (reference group) and 16 implanted BMS served as a control. Angiographic and histology follow-up was scheduled at 28 and 90-day. RESULTS: The study showed high-everolimus concentrations in arterial tissue early after nanoparticles delivery followed by its gradual decrease to 1.15 ± 0.40 ng/mg at 90 days. Histology analysis showed favorable biocompatibility and healing profile with comparable area stenosis between groups at both time-points. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrates for the first time the safety, biocompatibility, and long-term retention of everolimus in arterial tissue after single local delivery of biodegradable nanospheres.

Safety and feasibility of same-day early discharge after endovascular revascularization of lower extremities in elderly. SENIOR-ER registry.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to assess safety and feasibility of one-day early discharge (ODD) after endovascular revascularization (ER) of lower extremities in elderly. BACKGROUND: Safety and feasibility of ODD after ER have never been investigated in the elderly, despite the PAD rate has been rising in well-developed countries as their populations are getting older. METHODS: The consecutive data of 477 patients after ER who were intended to ODD were reviewed. The ER procedure (balloon angioplasty, atherectomy, stenting) was performed due to significant, angiographically confirmed arterial stenosis with at least Rutheford III claudication. The population was divided into two groups: ≥70 years old (y. o.) in which were 235 patients and 220 patients <70 y. o., the younger control cohort. The follow-up was performed 24 hr after (24FU) the procedure and 30 days (30FU) after discharge. RESULTS: There were no differences between the groups in the ratio of same-day discharge (99% vs 99.5%, P = 0.6) and the mean time to ambulation was 287.4 ± 43.4 min versus 285.8 ± 45.7 min (P = 0.603). The ODD was not applied in 2 patients ≥70 y. o. due to two pseudoaneurysms requiring surgical repairs and in one from the control group due to retroperitoneal bleeding. There was no MACE or creatinine increase at 24 hr in both groups. At 30 days, there was no incidence of MACE in the ≥70 y. o. group while 3 MACE occurred in the control. The ratio of access site complications was comparable between the groups. CONCLUSION: The study allows for a hypothesis that the advantages of ODD could be safely extended to the patients ≥70 y. o.

Long-Term Outcomes After Percutaneous Lower Extremity Arterial Interventions With Atherectomy vs. Balloon Angioplasty　- Propensity Score-Matched Registry.

BACKGROUND: The impact of endovascular revascularization of the lower extremity arteries with atherectomy (AT) compared with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) is still unclear. Therefore, the aim of the study was to compare long-term outcomes after percutaneous PTA and AT in patients requiring endovascular revascularization.Methods and Results:This was a single-center, retrospective registry of obstructive and symptomatic PAD patients who underwent endovascular revascularization. PTA was performed in 215 patients, and AT in 204 (Silver Hawk, EV3, n=125; CSI 360°, n=66; Pathway Medical Technologies, n=13). There were no significant between-group differences in baseline characteristics except for increased CAD, dialysis and CLI prevalence in the PTA group. Following propensity score analysis 131 well-matched pairs were included in analysis. Bail-out stenting was more frequent in the reference group (PTA, 6.1% vs. AT, 0%; P=0.004). At 6- and 12-month follow-up there were no differences in TLR between the groups (PTA, 8.3% vs. AT, 5.3%; P=0.47; and PTA, 16.7% vs. AT, 13.7%; P=0.73, respectively). The difference was in favor of AT at 24-month follow-up (PTA, 29.0% vs. AT, 16.7%; P=0.05). No difference was observed in amputation rate (PTA, 0.7% vs AT, 1.5%; P=0.62). On Kaplan-Meier analysis there were no significant differences between groups in time to TLR, amputation or death. CONCLUSIONS: AT was associated with lower risk of TLR, and this should be confirmed in randomized controlled trials.

MynxGrip for Closure of Antegrade Puncture After Peripheral Interventions With Same-Day Discharge.

BACKGROUND: This was the first prospective study to assess the safety and efficiency of MynxGrip vascular closure device (VCD) in peripheral interventions with antegrade access. METHODS AND RESULTS: We enrolled 66 consecutive patients from 1 center. All patients were discharged home on the day of procedure and were observed for adverse events at 1 and 30 days of follow-up. No major complications were observed. The rate of minor complications (conversion to manual or mechanical compression) was 7.6%. Postdischarge, 3% of patients experienced minor complications-small abscess, ipsilateral deep vein thrombosis. In 1 patient, a second VCD was deployed after device failure. The derived device failure rate was 5.9%. No patients required hospitalization. No late bleeding and no hematomas >6 cm were noted. The mean time to discharge was 4 hours and 5 minutes. CONCLUSION: The MynxGrip was safe and effective in sealing access sites after antegrade femoral artery puncture with same-day discharge.

Evaluation of safety and efficacy of NexGen - an ultrathin strut and hybrid cell design cobalt-chromium bare metal stent implanted in a real life patient population - the Polish NexGen Registry.

INTRODUCTION: Despite the dominance of drug-eluting stents in modern interventional cardiology, there is still a niche for bare metal stents. AIM: The aim of the Polish NexGen registry was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a new generation cobalt-chromium NexGen stent in a real life patient population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective multi-center registry was conducted in five clinical sites of American Heart of Poland. Three hundred and eighty-three patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with NexGen stent implantation were included. Clinical follow-up was performed at 1, 6 and 12 months. Additionally, a group of 42 randomly selected patients underwent control angiography at 6 months (10.96% of study population). The primary endpoint was occurrence of target vessel revascularization (TVR) at 6-month follow-up. Angiographic endpoints included rates of binary restenosis and late lumen loss at 6-month follow-up based on QCA analysis. Multivessel disease was present in more than 70% of patients, and 52.4% of lesions were complex. The main indications for angiography were non-ST elevation acute coronary syndromes (54.8%) and ST elevation myocardial infarction (34.99%). RESULTS: At 6-month follow-up 47 (12.7%) patients reached the primary endpoint of TVR. The composite of major acute cardiac event rates at 30-day and 6- and 12-month follow-up was 6.01% (n = 23), 18.5% (n = 69) and 25.21% (n = 92) respectively. Control angiography performed after 6 months showed in-stent late loss of 0.66 ±0.71 mm and a binary restenosis rate of 16.7%. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that PCI with the NexGen stent is safe and effective at 6- and 12-month follow-up. Angiographic results showed a satisfactory restenosis rate and low late lumen loss.