A novel self-expanding shape memory polymer coil for intracranial aneurysm embolization: 1 year follow-up in Chile.

BACKGROUND: Aneurysm recurrence remains a challenge when coiling cerebral aneurysms. Development of next generation coils has focused on accelerating thrombus maturation and increasing coil packing density. Ultra low density shape memory polymer is a novel embolic material designed for this purpose. The polymer is crimped over a platinum-tungsten coil for catheter delivery and self-expands to a predefined volume on contact with blood. METHODS: This prospective study in humans evaluated aneurysms 5-16 mm (inclusive) in diameter that were indicated for endovascular coil embolization. At least 70% coil volume was required to be shape memory polymer coils. Patients were followed-up according to standard of care for 12 months. RESULTS: Nine patients (89% women, mean age 55.8±11.7 years) were treated with shape memory polymer coils and completed 12 months of follow-up. Aneurysms were all unruptured and were in the ophthalmic segment of the internal carotid artery (n=7), posterior communicating artery, and anterior cerebral artery A1-A2 segment. Aneurysms were a mean of 7.8±2.9 mm in diameter (range 5.2-14.9 mm). The mean packing density based on unexpanded polymer was 17±6%. Packing density based on expanded polymer was 43±13%. At 12 months, no recurrence had occurred, and a Raymond-Roy occlusion classification of 1 (n=5) or 2 (n=4) was observed. No serious adverse events related to the study device occurred over the 12 months after the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Shape memory polymer coils were safe and effective in treating intracranial aneurysms over 12 months in this first study in human subjects.

First multicenter experience using the Silk Vista flow diverter in 60 consecutive intracranial aneurysms: technical aspects.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the technical success and procedural safety of the new Silk Vista device (SV) by evaluating the intraprocedural and periprocedural complication rate after its use in several institutions worldwide. METHODS: The study involved a retrospective review of multicenter data regarding a consecutive series of patients with intracranial aneurysms, treated with the SV between September 2020 and January 2021. Clinical, intra/periprocedural and angiographic data, including approach, materials used, aneurysm size and location, device/s, technical details and initial angiographic aneurysm occlusion, were analyzed. RESULTS: 60 aneurysms were treated with SV in 57 procedures. 66 devices were used, 3 removed and 63 implanted. The devices opened instantaneously in 60 out of 66 (91%) cases and complete wall apposition was achieved in 58 out of 63 (92%) devices implanted. In 4 out of 66 (6%) devices a partial opening of the distal end occurred, and in 5 (8%) devices incomplete apposition was reported. There were 3 (5%) intraprocedural thromboembolic events managed successfully with no permanent neurological morbidity, and 4 (7%) postprocedural events. There was no mortality in this study. The initial occlusion rates in the 60 aneurysms were as follows: O'Kelly-Marotta (OKM) A in 34 (57%) cases, OKM B in 15 (25%) cases, OKM C in 6 (10%) cases, and OKM D in 5 (8%) cases. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that the use of the new flow diverter Silk Vista for the treatment of intracranial aneurysms is feasible and technically safe.

Análisis cuantitativo, uso de Escala Braden por enfermería en el servicio de Medicina Interna del Hospital Santo Domingo / Quantitative analysis of the use of Braden Scale by nursing in the Internal Medicine service of the Hospital Santo Domingo

Resumen El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar, mediante un análisis cuantitativo, el uso y aplicación de la Escala de Braden por el personal de enfermería en pacientes de medicina interna del Hospital Santo Domingo, año 2018. Es un estudio cuantitativo, transversal y descriptivo; la población total fue de 1017 pacientes con una muestra de 30 (12 masculinos y 18 feminas), ingresados al área de medicina interna del Hospital General Santo Domingo, provincia Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, de julio a agosto del 2018. Se les realizó una revisión de su historia clínica para conocer el puntaje que determinaba el riesgo de desarrollar úlceras por presión (UPP), según la valoración que recibieron mediante la escala. Durante la aplicación de la Escala de Braden, se pronosticó riesgo bajo a 15 pacientes, riesgo medio a 10 y riesgo alto a 5, quienes presentaron alteraciones neurológicas o enfermedades crónicas como: accidente cerebrovascular, diabetes mellitus, cirrosis hepática. Se concluye que el personal de enfermería no realiza una aplicación adecuada de la Escala de Braden ni desde el ingreso del paciente ni durante su reevaluación en el servicio de medicina interna, lo que trae consigo que la atención no se realice con la calidad requerida. Factor favorable para complicaciones como las UPP.

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate, through a quantitative analysis, the use and application of the Braden Scale by the nursing staff in internal medicine patients of the Santo Domingo Hospital, year 2018. It is a quantitative, cross-sectional and descriptive study; The total population was 1017 patients with a sample of 30 (12 males and 18 females), admitted to the internal medicine area of the Santo Domingo General Hospital, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas province, from July to August 2018. They underwent a review of their medical history to know the score that determined the risk of developing pressure ulcers (UPP), according to the assessment they received using the scale. During the application of the Braden Scale, low risk was predicted for 15 patients, medium risk for 10 and high risk for 5, who presented neurological disorders or chronic diseases such as: stroke, diabetes mellitus, liver cirrhosis. It is concluded that the nursing staff does not carry out an adequate application of the Braden Scale, neither since the patient's admission nor during his reevaluation in the internal medicine service, which means that the care is not performed with the required quality. Favorable factor for complications such as UPP.

Resumo O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar, por meio de uma análise quantitativa, o uso e a aplicação da Escala de Braden pela equipe de enfermagem em pacientes de medicina interna do Hospital Santo Domingo, ano de 2018. Trata-se de um estudo quantitativo, transversal e descritivo; A população total foi de 1017 pacientes, com uma amostra de 30 (12 homens e 18 mulheres), admitidos na área de medicina interna do Hospital Geral de Santo Domingo, província de Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, de julho a agosto de 2018. Eles foram submetidos a uma revisão do histórico médico para conhecer o escore que determinou o risco de desenvolver úlceras por pressão (UPP), de acordo com a avaliação que receberam usando a escala. Durante a aplicação da Escala de Braden, foram previstos baixo risco para 15 pacientes, risco médio para 10 e alto risco para 5, que apresentavam distúrbios neurológicos ou doenças crônicas como: acidente vascular cerebral, diabetes mellitus, cirrose hepática. Conclui-se que a equipe de enfermagem não realiza uma aplicação adequada da Escala de Braden, nem desde a admissão do paciente nem durante sua reavaliação no serviço de medicina interna, o que significa que o cuidado não é realizado com a qualidade exigida. Fator favorável a complicações como UPP.

Unusual origin of the left ophthalmic artery from the basilar trunk.

The formation of the ophthalmic artery (OA) is a complex process with two different proposed embryological steps for its development. Several anatomical variants have been described. We present a very unusual origin of the ophthalmic artery from the basilar trunk, in a 45-year-old male with a history of pontine hemorrhagic stroke. MRI and CTA showed evidence of previous hemorrhage in the pons and several intracranial arterial dysplastic dilatations. DSA confirmed several fusiform dilatations of the basilar trunk. In the left ICA, no ophthalmic artery was seen arising from the carotid siphon. The left ophthalmic artery arises from the basilar trunk and runs lateral to the cavernous sinus through the middle cranial fossa, entering the left orbit at the superior orbital fissure. The patient was treated conservatively. Two main theories for this anomaly are known, one from Lasjaunias and the other from Paget. To our knowledge, this basilar origin of the OA has only been described three times in the literature. For its origin, we propose a partial persistence of the trigeminal artery together with a dominance of the dorsal ophthalmic artery.

Conorfamide-Sr2, a gamma-carboxyglutamate-containing FMRFamide-related peptide from the venom of Conus spurius with activity in mice and mollusks.

A novel peptide, conorfamide-Sr2 (CNF-Sr2), was purified from the venom extract of Conus spurius, collected in the Caribbean Sea off the Yucatan Peninsula. Its primary structure was determined by automated Edman degradation and amino acid analysis, and confirmed by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Conorfamide-Sr2 contains 12 amino acids and no Cys residues, and it is only the second FMRFamide-related peptide isolated from a venom. Its primary structure GPM gammaDPLgammaIIRI-nh2, (gamma, gamma-carboxyglutamate; -nh2, amidated C-terminus; calculated monoisotopic mass, 1468.72Da; experimental monoisotopic mass, 1468.70Da) shows two features that are unusual among FMRFamide-related peptides (FaRPs, also known as RFamide peptides), namely the novel presence of gamma-carboxyglutamate, and a rather uncommon C-terminal residue, Ile. CNF-Sr2 exhibits paralytic activity in the limpet Patella opea and causes hyperactivity in the freshwater snail Pomacea paludosa and in the mouse. The sequence similarities of CNF-Sr2 with FaRPs from marine and freshwater mollusks and mice might explain its biological effects in these organisms. It also resembles FaRPs from polychaetes (the prey of C. spurius), which suggests a natural biological role. Based on these similarities, CNF-Sr2 might interact with receptors of these three distinct types of FaRPs, G-protein-coupled receptors, Na+ channels activated by FMRFamide (FaNaCs), and acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs). The biological activities of CNF-Sr2 in mollusks and mice make it a potential tool to study molecular targets in these and other organisms.