Simultaneous Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) and Endovascular Aneurysm Repair (EVAR): A Preliminary Report.

Background: Performing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) at the same time represents a groundbreaking development in the multidisciplinary treatment of cardiovascular disease. This combined PCI-EVAR approach bridges a critical gap by offering treatment for patients who have both coronary artery disease and aortic aneurysms. This innovative strategy exemplifies the evolving landscape of cardiovascular care, providing a new solution for complex clinical situations that previously required separate procedures. Methods: Six patients with critical coronary artery lesions and asymptomatic infrarenal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) ≥ 6 cm diameter, as well as one patient with critical coronary artery lesions and endoleak type 1A with aneurysms ≥ 6 cm, underwent simultaneous coronary artery revascularization through percutaneous intervention (PCI) and endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). The occurrence of any intraoperative or postoperative complication was considered to be the primary endpoint of the study, including the abortion or failure of either PCI or EVAR, bleeding requiring a conversion to open surgical procedures, the failure of local anesthesia, postoperative myocardial or lower limb ischemia, and a postoperative serum creatinine level of >125 mmol/L or of >180 mmol/L in patients affected by chronic renal failure. The overall length of the procedure, X-ray exposure, the quantity of iodine contrast medium administered, and the length of recovery were considered to be secondary endpoints. Results: Postoperative complications included two episodes of acute renal failure in the two patients already affected by chronic renal failure, which were easily resolved with adequate daily hydration and the elimination of nephrotoxic drugs. In no cases did cardiac ischemia or lower limb ischemia occur. The average procedure duration was 198 min (range: 180-240 min), the average fluoroscopy duration was 41.7 min (range: 35-50 min), the average amount of iodinated contrast medium was 34.8 mL (range: 30-40 mL), and the mean length of hospitalization was 2.7 days (range: 2-5 days). Conclusions: In selected patients, this surgical approach has demonstrated safety, reduced hospitalization times, minimized risks associated with complications from the untreated condition if procedures were performed at different times, and facilitated the effective management of intraoperative complications due to the presence of a multidisciplinary team. However, the limited number of patients necessitates further research.

Clinical Evaluation of Adrenal Incidentaloma: The Experience of a Referral Center.

The number of adrenal incidentaloma (AI) cases has increased in the last few years due to the widespread use of imaging diagnostics. Management requires evaluation of the malignant nature and hormonal activity. The aim of the present study is to assess possible clinical abnormalities in 132 AI patients both at baseline and during follow-up (mean 48.6 ± 12.5 months). In all patients, demographic, anthropometric data, biochemical, metabolic and hormonal data, and 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring were assessed. Mild autonomous cortisol secretions (MACS) were diagnosed in patients without signs and symptoms of overt Cushing's syndrome and post dexamethasone (DXM) plasma cortisol concentration > 50 nmol/L (>1.8 µg/dL). Patients with overnight DXM-1 mg test positive showed higher values of diastolic blood pressure, glycemia and uric acid levels compared to patients with negative DXM test at baseline. During follow-up, the potential development of MACS in patients with nonfunctional AI showed a prevalence of 29%, though the cardiovascular and metabolic alterations were less pronounced compared to those diagnosed with MACS at baseline. Therefore, follow-ups with AI patients are useful for observing changes in clinical features.

Breast cancer patients' postoperative outcomes in nipple-sparing mastectomy and reconstruction with subpectoral implant placement: a single center experience.

Background: The continuous increase in the rate of nipple sparing mastectomy (NSM), the development of several reconstructive techniques and the following introduction of acellular derma matrix (ADM) has revolutionized implant-based breast reconstruction. This study aimed to investigate postoperative complications, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and patients' satisfaction in patients undergoing NSM and breast reconstruction with or without ADM. Methods: Enrolled patients were divided into three groups: immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) with definitive implant and ADM (Group A), IBR only with definitive prosthesis (Group B), and two-stage breast reconstruction (Group C). The postoperative complications, BREAST-Q outcomes and reoperations were compared. Results: A total of 105 BC patients were enrolled and a total of 139 post-mastectomy breast reconstructions were performed. Seroma was the most prevalent complication observed: 8.3% in Group A, 2.9% in Group B and 5.7% in Group C. Postoperative infection occurred in two patients of Group A (5.6%), one patient of Group B (2.9%) and one of Group C (2.9%). Group A reported larger drain volume (1,125±243.5 cc), longer drain period (13.2±2.8 days), and the lowest incidence of capsular contracture (5.6%). The BREAST-Q patient-reported outcome measures document that all patients aged ≥50 years presented a higher score in "Satisfaction with breast" (P<0.001) and "Satisfaction with outcome" domains (P<0.05). Performing a bilateral breast reconstruction was associated to higher scores in "Physical wellbeing chest domain" (P<0.05). In addition, patients in Group A and Group B reported higher score in "Satisfaction with the breast" domain (P<0.001) but only in Group B we reported a higher score in "Satisfaction with outcome" (P<0.001). Conclusions: Subpectoral IBR results in manageable complications and greater personal satisfaction. The ADM could improve breast reconstruction reducing the rate of capsular contracture. The prepectoral placement of ADM could minimize complications and optimize aesthetic results.

As the Worm Turns-A Rare Cause of Intestinal Obstruction.

BACKGROUND: Anisakiasis, a zoonotic disease caused by the nematode Anisakis, poses a significant concern for public health, particularly in regions with high consumption of raw or undercooked fish. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case report of a 41-year-old woman who developed severe abdominal symptoms, ultimately diagnosed with intestinal obstruction due to Anisakis infestation, requiring surgery. Despite the absence of prominent eosinophilia or specific radiological findings, the diagnosis was confirmed through histological examination, highlighting the importance of considering anisakiasis in patients with a history of raw seafood consumption. CONCLUSION: The case underscores the diagnostic challenges associated with anisakiasis, emphasizing the need for increased awareness among healthcare professionals and the public regarding the risks of consuming raw or undercooked seafood. Effective management requires a multidisciplinary approach, including clinical assessment, imaging studies, and histological evaluation, to ensure timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Evaluation of the Therapeutic Effects of Harmine on Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer Cells.

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is an extremely difficult disease to tackle, with an overall patient survival of only a few months. The currently used therapeutic drugs, such as kinase inhibitors or immune checkpoint inhibitors, can prolong patient survival but fail to eradicate the tumor. In addition, the onset of drug resistance and adverse side-effects over time drastically reduce the chances of treatment. We recently showed that Twist1, a transcription factor involved in the epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT), was strongly upregulated in ATC, and we wondered whether it might represent a therapeutic target in ATC patients. To investigate this hypothesis, the effects of harmine, a ß-carboline alkaloid shown to induce degradation of the Twist1 protein and to possess antitumoral activity in different cancer types, were evaluated on two ATC-derived cell lines, BHT-101 and CAL-62. The results obtained demonstrated that, in both cell lines, harmine reduced the level of Twist1 protein and reverted the EMT, as suggested by the augmentation of E-cadherin and decrease in fibronectin expression. The drug also inhibited cell proliferation and migration in a dose-dependent manner and significantly reduced the anchorage-independent growth of both ATC cell lines. Harmine was also capable of inducing apoptosis in BHT-101 cells, but not in CAL-62 ones. Finally, the activation of PI3K/Akt signaling, but not that of the MAPK, was drastically reduced in treated cells. Overall, these in vitro data suggest that harmine could represent a new therapeutic option for ATC treatment.

Nodular cutaneous metastasis of the leg in advanced urothelial bladder carcinoma: a case report and systematic literature review.

Cutaneous metastases from urothelial carcinoma (UC) are very rare and indicate advanced disease with a poor prognosis. A 63-year-old female patient with a history of urothelial bladder carcinoma, treated 2 months prior with radical cystectomy and adjuvant gemcitabine and cisplatin (GC) therapy, presented a skin lesion localized in the lower third of the right leg. Punch biopsy revealed carcinomatous metastasis whose urothelial origin was confirmed by immunohistochemical analysis. 18-FDG PET-CT showed the spread of metastases to the lung and left ischium. Our review focuses on the time between surgery and skin metastasis, localization, and prognosis after metastasis diagnosis. In many cases, skin metastases occur within one year of initial UC surgery and in most cases occur on the abdominal wall. Local wide excision of metastasis should be considered in selected cases; however, chemotherapy remains the main treatment.

Acute Cholecystitis from Biliary Lithiasis: Diagnosis, Management and Treatment.

Biliary lithiasis is a global disorder affecting nearly 20% of the world's population, although most cases occur without symptoms. Gallbladder stones could move into the common bile duct after gallbladder contraction, causing acute cholecystitis. The progression of the acute disease can take different forms, from mild inflammation, treatable with oral antibiotics, to the most severe forms with septic shock or biliary peritonitis, requiring specific treatment. Liver function tests and abdominal ultrasound are generally sufficient for diagnostic purposes. The most commonly used antibiotic is penicillin, with piperacillin achieving the best results; alternatively, fluoroquinolones could also be used, although there is no univocal consensus and surgery remains the only definitive treatment. A prolonged antibiotic therapy after cholecystectomy seems inadvisable, except in severe cases and/or in the immuno-compromised patient, where it should be periodically evaluated to avoid antibiotic resistance and unnecessary use. This review presents an evidence-based analysis to describe the advantages and disadvantages of the available options for the treatment of biliary lithiasis and cholecystitis, from the pathophysiological mechanisms behind lithiasis formation and also covering the main diagnostic findings for biliary stones, recommending an approach tailored to the patient's characteristics and to the team's expertise.

Poorly Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma: Single Centre Experience and Review of the Literature.

There is controversy in the literature regarding a distinct subset of thyroid carcinoma whose histologically classification falls between well-differentiated and anaplastic carcinomas, previously identified as 'poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma' (PDTC), or 'insular carcinoma', in view of the peculiar morphological characteristics of the cell groupings. The correct diagnosis and treatment of this entity have important prognostic and therapeutic significance. In this review, we describe the epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of PDTC and report our single centre experience to add to the limited evidence existing in the literature.