Beethoven y su sobrino: El peligro que es el otro

1). La vida de Ludwig van Beethoven experimentó un cambio existencial al morir su hermano y dejar a su hijo Karl en tutoría compartida con su madre Johanna. 2). Casi sin haber tenido relación con su sobrino, se desencadena una necesidad emocional intensa e inesperada de convertirse en su único tutor, objetivo que consigue derrotando legalmente a su madre. 3). La relación Beethoven-Karl se desarrolla plagada de disputas, vigilancia, exigencias, control, como si el compositor viviera por vez primera lo que siempre se había negado, llegar a ser padre. 4). El intento de suicidio del sobrino le señala a Beethoven que convertirse en padre significa permitir que el hijo llegue a ser diferente a las arrogantes y desmesuradas ambiciones y expectativas personales, pero esta señal extrema fue insuficiente para hacerle entender que el otro siempre es un peligro porque muestra una verdad oculta intolerable y dolorosa del propio sí-mismo.

Ludwig van Beethoven's life underwent an existential change when his brother died and left his son Karl in shared tutorship with his mother Johanna. 2. Almost without having had any relationship with his nephew, an intense and unexpected emotional need to become his sole guardian is triggered, an objective that he achieves by legally defeating his mother. 3. The Beethoven-Karl relationship develops plagued by disputes, surveillance, demands, control, as if the composer were experiencing for the first time what he had always denied himself, becoming a father.4. The nephew's suicide attempt points out to Beethoven that becoming a father means allowing the son to become different from the arrogant and inordinate personal ambitions and expectations, but this extreme signal was insufficient to make him understand that the other is always a danger because it shows a hidden and painful truth of one´s own self.

Fibro-odontoma Ameloblástico: Revisión de la Literatura a Propósito de un Caso

El fibro-odontoma ameloblástico (FOA) es una neoplasia odontogénica benigna poco frecuente que afecta a los huesos maxilares. Posee un componente de tejido epitelial y ectomesénquima, por lo que hasta hace un tiempo era incluido dentro de la clasificación de tumores odontogénicos de origen mixto. Actualmente estas lesiones no están incorporadas en la última clasificación de los tumores odontogénicos y huesos maxilofaciales de la organización mundial de la salud y son consideradas como un odontoma en desarrollo. Clínicamente se presenta con mayor frecuencia en mandíbula y asociado a la falta de erupción de un diente. Presentamos el caso clínico de un niño de 6 años de edad que acudió a nuestro servicio maxilofacial por la no erupción de un diente temporal mandibular. El cuadro clínico y las investigaciones confirmaron la hipótesis diagnóstica de FOA con una impactación del segundo molar temporal inferior izquierdo hacia el margen basilar mandibular y el germen dentario del premolar por sobre la corona del diente retenido.

Ameloblastic fibro-odontoma (AFO) is a rare benign odontogenic neoplasm that affects the maxillary bones. It possesses both an epithelial and ectomesenchymal component, for which it was previously included in the classification of mixed odontogenic tumors. The AFO is currently not included in the latest classification of odontogenic and maxillofacial bone tumors, and is considered a developing odontoma. Clinically, it predominantly manifests in the mandible, in frequent association with the lack of eruption of a tooth. In this article, the authors present a case of a 6 year old boy with the query of an unerupted primary mandibular tooth. Both the clinical examination and the subsequent investigation confirmed the diagnostic hypothesis of an AFO with subsequent impaction of the primary left mandibular second molar, which was displaced against the base of the mandible, and the tooth germ for the left mandibular second premolar positionedover the crown of the retained tooth.

An ultrasound imaging and computational fluid dynamics protocol to assess hemodynamics in iliac vein compression syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Elevated shear rates are known to play a role in arterial thrombosis; however, shear rates have not been thoroughly investigated in patients with iliac vein compression syndrome (IVCS) owing to imaging limitations and assumptions on the low shear nature of venous flows. This study was undertaken to develop a standardized protocol that quantifies IVCS shear rates and can aid in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with moderate yet symptomatic compression. METHODS: Study patients with and without IVCS had their iliac vein hemodynamics measured via duplex ultrasound (US) at two of the following three vessel locations: infrarenal inferior vena cava (IVC), right common iliac vein, and left common iliac vein, in addition to acquiring data at the right and left external iliac veins. US velocity spectra were multiplied by a weighted cross-sectional area calculated from US and computed tomography (CT) data to create flow waveforms. Flow waveforms were then scaled to enforce conservation of flow across the IVC and common iliac veins. A three-dimensional (3D), patient-specific model of the iliac vein anatomy was constructed from CT and US examination. Flow waveforms and the 3D model were used as a basis to run a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation. Owing to collateral vessel flow and discrepancies between CT and US area measurements, flows in internal iliac veins and cross-sectional areas of the common iliac veins were calibrated iteratively against target common iliac flow. Simulation results on mean velocity were validated against US data at measurement locations. Simulation results were postprocessed to derive spatial and temporal values of quantities such as velocity and shear rate. RESULTS: Using our modeling protocol, we were able to build CFD models of the iliac veins that matched common iliac flow splits within 2% and measured US velocities within 10%. Proof-of-concept analyses (1 subject, 1 control) have revealed that patients with IVCS may experience elevated shear rates in the compressed left common iliac vein, more typical of the arterial rather than the venous circulation. These results encourage us to extend this protocol to a larger group of patients with IVCS and controls. CONCLUSIONS: We developed a protocol that obtains hemodynamic measurements of the IVC and iliac veins from US, creates patient-specific 3D reconstructions of the venous anatomy using CT and US examinations, and computes shear rates using calibrated CFD methods. Proof-of-concept results have indicated that patients with IVCS may experience elevated shear rates in the compressed left common iliac vein. Larger cohorts are needed to assess the relationship between venous compression and shear rates in patients with IVCS as compared with controls with noncompressed iliac veins. Further studies using this protocol may also give promising insights into whether or not to treat patients with moderate, yet symptomatic compression.

Cerebrovascular super-resolution 4D Flow MRI - Sequential combination of resolution enhancement by deep learning and physics-informed image processing to non-invasively quantify intracranial velocity, flow, and relative pressure.

The development of cerebrovascular disease is tightly coupled to regional changes in intracranial flow and relative pressure. Image-based assessment using phase contrast magnetic resonance imaging has particular promise for non-invasive full-field mapping of cerebrovascular hemodynamics. However, estimations are complicated by the narrow and tortuous intracranial vasculature, with accurate image-based quantification directly dependent on sufficient spatial resolution. Further, extended scan times are required for high-resolution acquisitions, and most clinical acquisitions are performed at comparably low resolution (>1 mm) where biases have been observed with regard to the quantification of both flow and relative pressure. The aim of our study was to develop an approach for quantitative intracranial super-resolution 4D Flow MRI, with effective resolution enhancement achieved by a dedicated deep residual network, and with accurate quantification of functional relative pressures achieved by subsequent physics-informed image processing. To achieve this, our two-step approach was trained and validated in a patient-specific in-silico cohort, showing good accuracy in estimating velocity (relative error: 15.0 ± 0.1%, mean absolute error (MAE): 0.07 ± 0.06 m/s, and cosine similarity: 0.99 ± 0.06 at peak velocity) and flow (relative error: 6.6 ± 4.7%, root mean square error (RMSE): 0.56 mL/s at peak flow), and with the coupled physics-informed image analysis allowing for maintained recovery of functional relative pressure throughout the circle of Willis (relative error: 11.0 ± 7.3%, RMSE: 0.3 ± 0.2 mmHg). Furthermore, the quantitative super-resolution approach is applied to an in-vivo volunteer cohort, effectively generating intracranial flow images at <0.5 mm resolution and showing reduced low-resolution bias in relative pressure estimation. Our work thus presents a promising two-step approach to non-invasively quantify cerebrovascular hemodynamics, being applicable to dedicated clinical cohorts in the future.

A magnetic resonance imaging-based computational analysis of cerebral hemodynamics in patients with carotid artery stenosis.

Management of asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis (CAS) relies on measuring the percentage of stenosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of CAS on cerebral hemodynamics using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-informed computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and to provide novel hemodynamic metrics that may improve the understanding of stroke risk. CFD analysis was performed in two patients with similar degrees of asymptomatic high-grade CAS. Three-dimensional anatomical-based computational models of cervical and cerebral blood flow were constructed and calibrated patient-specifically using phase-contrast MRI flow and arterial spin labeling perfusion data. Differences in cerebral hemodynamics were assessed in preoperative and postoperative models. Preoperatively, patient 1 demonstrated large flow and pressure reductions in the stenosed internal carotid artery, while patient 2 demonstrated only minor reductions. Patient 1 exhibited a large amount of flow compensation between hemispheres (80.31%), whereas patient 2 exhibited only a small amount of collateral flow (20.05%). There were significant differences in the mean pressure gradient over the stenosis between patients preoperatively (26.3 vs. 1.8 mmHg). Carotid endarterectomy resulted in only minor hemodynamic changes in patient 2. MRI-informed CFD analysis of two patients with similar clinical classifications of stenosis revealed significant differences in hemodynamics which were not apparent from anatomical assessment alone. Moreover, revascularization of CAS might not always result in hemodynamic improvements. Further studies are needed to investigate the clinical impact of hemodynamic differences and how they pertain to stroke risk and clinical management.

Experience in colorectal surgery at a quaternary care hospital in Bogotá, Colombia.

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: Colorectal cancer is among the three most common cancers worldwide. Knowledge and identification of suboptimal outcome-associated factors enable comprehensive patient management. The aim of the present study was to present the results of the surgical management of colorectal cancer at a quaternary care university hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An observational, analytic, cross-sectional study was conducted. Information was collected on a retrospective cohort of patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer from 2013 to 2017 at the Hospital Universitario Mayor Méderi, Bogotá, Colombia. RESULTS: Data on 452 patients, within the study period, were collected. A total of 48.5% of the patients were men, the overall complication rate was 24%, the surgical site infection (SSI) rate was 15.38%, anastomotic dehiscence occurred in 4.18% of the patients, bleeding required reoperation in 1.32%, and the intrahospital mortality rate was 7.47%. CONCLUSION: Colorectal cancer management at a university hospital was as beneficial as that provided by other types of hospitals, showing a direct association with complete R0 dissections; low complication rates, according to international reports; and reduced overall morbidity.

Left ventricular remodeling following aortic root and ascending aneurysm repair.

Objective: Adverse left ventricular remodeling due to a mismatch between stiffness of native aortic tissue and current polyester grafts may be under-recognized. This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of proximal aortic replacement on adverse remodeling of the left ventricle. Materials and methods: All aortic root and ascending aortic aneurysm patients were identified (n = 2,001, 2006-2019). The study cohort consisted of a subset of patients (n = 98) with two or more electrocardiogram (ECG)-gated CT angiograms, but without concomitant aortic valve disease or bicuspid aortic valve, connective tissue disease, acute aortic syndrome or prior history of aortic repair or mitral valve surgery. LV myocardial mass was measured from CT data and indexed to body surface area (LVMI). The study cohort was divided into a surgery group (n = 47) and a control group; optimal medical therapy group (OMT, n = 51). Results: The mean age was 60 ± 11 years (80% male). Beta-blocker use was significantly more frequent in the surgery group (89 vs. 57%, p < 0.001), whereas, all other antihypertensive drugs were more frequent in the OMT group. The average follow-up was 9.1 ± 4.0 months for the surgery group and 13.7 ± 6.3 months for the OMT group. Average LVMI at baseline was similar in both groups (p = 0.934). LVMI increased significantly in the surgery group compared to the OMT group (3.7 ± 4.1 vs. 0.6 ± 4.4 g/m2, p = 0.001). Surgery, baseline LVMI, age, and sex were found to be independent predictors of LVMI increased on multivariable analysis. Conclusion: Proximal aortic repair with stiff polyester grafts was associated with increased LV mass in the first-year post-operative and may promote long-term adverse cardiac remodeling. Further studies should be considered to evaluate the competing effects of aortic aneurysm related mortality against risks of long-term graft induced aortic stiffening and the potential implications on current size thresholds for intervention.

Cementoma Gigantiforme Mandibular en Paciente Pediátrico: Reporte de Caso y Revisión de la Literatura

RESUMEN: El cementoma gigantiforme (CG) es una lesión fibrocemento-ósea benigna de muy baja prevalencia y de etiología desconocida que se presenta con mayor frecuencia en pacientes jóvenes y que se caracteriza por generar movilidad de dientes y asimetrías faciales importantes. Radiográficamente se expresa como una lesión mixta, con presencia de áreas radiopacas y algunas radiolúcidas, bien circunscrita, que se observa principalmente en la mandíbula. El CG se comporta de manera similar a otras lesiones de los maxilares, tanto en su clínica como en la histopatología, lo que podría dificultar y confundir su diagnóstico. Debido a su comportamiento localmente agresivo y deformante, el tratamiento sugerido es la resección de la lesión con márgenes de seguridad.

ABSTRACT: The gigantiform cementoma (GC) is a benign bone-fibrocement lesion of very low prevalence and of unknown etiology that occurs more frequently in young patients and is characterized by generating mobility of teeth and significant facial asymmetries. Radiographically it is expressed as a mixed lesion, with the presence of radiopaque and some radiolucent areas, well circumscribed, which is observed mainly in the mandible. GC behaves in a similar way to other maxillary lesions, both clinically and in histopathology, which could make its diagnosis difficult and confusing. Due to its locally aggressive and deforming behavior, the suggested treatment is resection of the lesion with safety margins.

Imaging features of renal malperfusion in aortic dissection.

OBJECTIVES: Malperfusion syndrome accompanying aortic dissection is an independent predictor of death with in-hospital mortality rates >60%. Asymmetrically decreased renal enhancement on computed tomography angiography is often considered evidence of renal malperfusion. We investigated the associations between renal enhancement, baseline laboratory values and the diagnosis of renal malperfusion, as defined by invasive manometry, among patients with aortic dissection. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, we included all patients who were referred to our institution with acute dissection and suspected visceral malperfusion between 2010 and 2020. We determined asymmetric renal enhancement by visual assessment and quantitative density measurements of the renal cortex. We collected invasive renal artery pressures during invasive angiography at the aortic root and in the renal arteries. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate independent predictors of renal malperfusion. RESULTS: Among the 161 patients analysed, the majority of patients were male (78%) and had type A dissection (52%). Invasive angiography confirmed suspected renal malperfusion in 83% of patients. Global asymmetric renal enhancement was seen in 42% of patients who did not have renal malperfusion during invasive angiography. Asymmetrically decreased renal enhancement was 65% sensitive and 58% specific for renal malperfusion. Both global [odds ratio (OR) 4.43; 1.20-16.41, P = 0.03] and focal (OR 11.23; 1.12-112.90, P = 0.04) enhancement defects were independent predictors for renal malperfusion. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with aortic dissection, we found that differential enhancement of the kidney as seen on the computed tomography angiography is predictive, but not prescriptive for renal malperfusion. While detection of renal malperfusion is aided by computed tomography angiography, its diagnosis requires close monitoring and often invasive assessment.

Manejo Quirúrgico del Queratoquiste Odontogénico con Invasión al Seno Maxilar: Reporte de Serie Casos y Revisión de la Literatura

RESUMEN: El queratoquiste odontogénico (QQO) es una quiste intraóseo poco frecuente que varía entre un 3 a 11% de todos los quistes odontogénicos, su ubicación en el maxilar es rara y la invasión al seno maxilar lo es aún más. El QQO es una patología benigna, localmente agresiva que tiene una alta tasa de recidiva. Se han descrito diversas técnicas quirúrgicas para su tratamiento, las cuales van desde lo más conservador como la enucleación a lo más radical como una resección. El uso de agentes coadyuvantes químicos o cauterizantes han logrado disminuir la tasa de recidiva en conjunto con tratamientos más conservadores, disminuyendo la morbilidad y secuelas asociada a una resección. El objetivo de este trabajo es presentar una serie de casos clínicos de QQO que invaden el seno maxilar, su tratamiento de manera conservadora y una revisión de la literatura comparando los diversos tratamientos y su tasa de recidiva.

ABSTRACT: Odontogenic keratocyst (OC) is a rare intraosseous pathology that varies between 3 % and 11 % of all odontogenic cysts, its location in the maxilla is rare, and invasion of the maxillary sinus is even more so. OC is a benign, locally aggressive pathology that has a high recurrence rate. Various surgical techniques have been described for its treatment, ranging from the most conservative, such as enucleation, to the most radical, such as resection. The use of chemical or cauterizing adjuvant agents has managed to reduce the recurrence rate in conjunction with more conservative treatments, reducing the morbidity and sequelae associated with a resection. The objective of this work is to present a series of clinical cases of OC that invade the maxillary sinus, their treatment being carried out in a conservatively manner, and a review of the literature comparing the various treatments and their recurrence rate.

Anticoagulantes Orales de Acción Directa y sus Implicancias en la Exodoncia: Una Revisión Sistemática

RESUMEN: El uso de Anticoagulantes Orales de Acción Directa (ACOD) ha aumentado considerablemente en el último tiempo. En procedimientos odontológicos, como la exodoncia, es crucial un manejo óptimo de la hemostasia de pacientes bajo tratamiento con ACOD, para equilibrar el riesgo de hemorragia y tromboembolismo. Aun no existe consenso sobre el protocolo a aplicar en pacientes con ACOD sometidos a exodoncias. El objetivo fue evaluar la necesidad de suspender o continuar el tratamiento con ACOD en pacientes sometidos a exodoncia en relación con la incidencia de episodios hemorrágicos y protocolos utilizados. Se realizó una revisión sistemática en base a los estamentos PRISMA, en las bases de datos Pubmed, Wiley, Scopus. La búsqueda incluyó estudios publicados entre 2010 - 2020 en inglés, realizados en humanos, en pacientes bajo terapia con ACOD sometidos a exodoncia y que evalúan la incidencia de hemorragia en este procedimiento. Se excluyeron estudios que involucran pacientes que reciben otros tratamientos antitrombótico concomitante, o procedimientos distintos a la exodoncia. La calidad de los estudios seleccionados fue evaluada de acuerdo con la clasificación del Centro Oxford de Medicina Basada en la Evidencia. Luego de la búsqueda, en base a criterios de inclusión/exclusión, 34 artículos fueron analizados a texto completo. Trece artículos relevantes fueron seleccionados. Once participaron en la revisión final, contando con ocho estudios de cohorte, dos casos-controles y uno serie de casos. Los estudios evidencian que no es necesario suspender la terapia con ACOD en pacientes sometidos a exodoncia, se sugiere que el momento de baja concentración farmacológica puede ser utilizado a favor del tratante. Sin embargo, existe una gran diversidad de protocolos y medidas aplicadas entre estudios, por lo que es necesario realizar estudios clínicos aleatorizados controlados, para determinar un protocolo estándar en el manejo odontológico de estos pacientes.

ABSTRACT: The use of Direct Acting Oral Anticoagulants (ACOD) has increased considerably in recent times. In dental procedures, such as tooth extraction, optimal management of hemostasis in patients treated with ACOD is crucial to balance the risk of bleeding and thromboembolism. There is still no consensus on the protocol to be applied in patients with ACOD in dental extraction. The aim was to evaluate the need to suspend or continue treatment with ACOD in patients submitted to dental extraction in relation to the incidence of bleeding episodes and the protocols used. A systematic review was carried out based on the PRISMA estates, in the Pubmed, Wiley, Scopus databases. The search included studies published between 2010-2020 in English conducted in humans, in patients under therapy with ACOD submitted to dental extraction and that evaluate the incidence of bleeding in this procedure. Studies involving patients receiving other concomitant antithrombotic treatments or procedures other than dental extraction were excluded. The quality of the selected studies was evaluated according to the Oxford Center for Evidence-based Medicine classification. After the search, based on inclusion/ exclusion criteria, 34 articles were analyzed in full text. 13 relevant articles were selected. 11 participated in the final review, including 8 cohort studies, 2 case-controls and 1 case series. Studies show that it is not necessary to suspend therapy with ACOD in patients who have undergone dental extraction, it is suggested that the moment of low pharmacological concentration can be used in favor of the treatment. However, there is a great diversity of protocols and measures applied between studies, so it is necessary to carry out randomized controlled clinical studies to determine a standard protocol in the dental management of these patients.

CRIMSON: An open-source software framework for cardiovascular integrated modelling and simulation.

In this work, we describe the CRIMSON (CardiovasculaR Integrated Modelling and SimulatiON) software environment. CRIMSON provides a powerful, customizable and user-friendly system for performing three-dimensional and reduced-order computational haemodynamics studies via a pipeline which involves: 1) segmenting vascular structures from medical images; 2) constructing analytic arterial and venous geometric models; 3) performing finite element mesh generation; 4) designing, and 5) applying boundary conditions; 6) running incompressible Navier-Stokes simulations of blood flow with fluid-structure interaction capabilities; and 7) post-processing and visualizing the results, including velocity, pressure and wall shear stress fields. A key aim of CRIMSON is to create a software environment that makes powerful computational haemodynamics tools accessible to a wide audience, including clinicians and students, both within our research laboratories and throughout the community. The overall philosophy is to leverage best-in-class open source standards for medical image processing, parallel flow computation, geometric solid modelling, data assimilation, and mesh generation. It is actively used by researchers in Europe, North and South America, Asia, and Australia. It has been applied to numerous clinical problems; we illustrate applications of CRIMSON to real-world problems using examples ranging from pre-operative surgical planning to medical device design optimization.

Imaging surveillance after open aortic repair: a feasibility study of three-dimensional growth mapping.

OBJECTIVES: Confident growth assessment during imaging follow-up is often limited by substantial variability of diameter measurements and the fact that growth does not always occur at standard measurement locations. There is a need for imaging-based techniques to more accurately assess growth. In this study, we investigated the feasibility of a three-dimensional aortic growth assessment technique to quantify aortic growth in patients following open aortic repair. METHODS: Three-dimensional aortic growth was measured using vascular deformation mapping (VDM), a technique which quantifies the localized rate of volumetric growth at the aortic wall, expressed in units of Jacobian (J) per year. We included 16 patients and analysed 6 aortic segments per patient (96 total segments). Growth was assessed by 3 metrics: clinically reported diameters, Jacobian determinant and targeted diameter re-measurements. RESULTS: VDM was able to clearly depict the presence or absence of localized aortic growth and allows for an assessment of the distribution of growth and its relation to anatomic landmarks (e.g. anastomoses, branch arteries). Targeted diameter change showed a stronger and significant correlation with J (r = 0.20, P = 0.047) compared to clinical diameter change (r = 0.15, P = 0.141). Among 20/96 (21%) segments with growth identified by VDM, growth was confirmed by clinical measurements in 7 and targeted re-measurements in 11. Agreement of growth assessments between VDM and diameter measurements was slightly higher for targeted re-measurements (kappa = 0.38) compared to clinical measurements (kappa = 0.25). CONCLUSIONS: Aortic growth is often uncertain and underappreciated when assessed via standard diameter measurements. Three-dimensional growth assessment with VDM offers a more comprehensive assessment of growth, allows for targeted diameter measurements and could be an additional tool to determine which post-surgical patients at high and low risk for future complications.

Endovascular ascending aortic repair in type A dissection: A systematic review.

PURPOSE: Up to 10% of acute type A aortic dissection (TAAD) patients are deemed unfit for open surgical repair, exposing these patients to high mortality rates. In recent years, thoracic endovascular aortic repair has proven to be a promising alternative treatment modality in specific cases. This study presents a comprehensive overview of the current state of catheter-based interventions in the setting of primary TAAD. METHODS: A literature search was conducted, using MEDLINE and PubMed databases according to PRISMA guidelines, updated until January 2020. Articles were selected if they reported on the endovascular repair of DeBakey Type I and II aortic dissections. The exclusion criteria were retrograde type A dissection, hybrid procedures, and combined outcome reporting of mixed aortic pathologies (e.g., pseudoaneurysm and intramural hematoma). RESULTS: A total of 31 articles, out of which 19 were case reports and 12 case series, describing a total of 92 patients, were included. The median follow-up was 6 months for case reports and the average follow-up was 14 months for case series. Overall technical success was 95.6% and 30-day mortality of 9%. Stroke and early endoleak rates were 6% and 18%, respectively. Reintervention was required in 14 patients (15%). CONCLUSION: This review not only demonstrates that endovascular repair in the setting of isolated TAAD is feasible with acceptable outcomes at short-term follow-up, but also underlines a lack of mid-late outcomes and reporting consistency. Studies with longer follow-up and careful consideration of patient selection are required before endovascular interventions can be widely introduced.

Kallikrein-related Peptidase 5 (KLK5) Expression and Distribution in Canine Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is one of the most common types of malignant skin cancer in dogs, representing 3.9-10.4% of all canine skin tumours. Although the metastatic potential of cSCC is debated, it appears to mimic that observed in man. In man, predictive histopathological features for metastasis include tumour depth, lesions >5-6 mm in depth, and invasion of muscle, cartilage or bone. In dogs, some reports have focused on the clinical features and long-term progression of cSCC, but a gold standard treatment has not yet been developed. We explored the protein expression of kallikrein-related peptidase 5 (KLK5), an important modulator of skin homeostasis, in normal canine skin and in examples of cSCC. KLK5 was highly expressed in the upper stratum granulosum, stratum corneum, hair follicles and sweat glands, skin sites where human KLK5 has been shown to be involved in physiological processes including keratinocyte desquamation, antimicrobial defence, lipid permeability and pigmentation. In cSCC, tumour cells at the deep margin, as well as those in the centre of keratin pearls, displayed cytoplasmic expression of KLK5. Some of the KLK5 immunoreactive cells also expressed vimentin, suggesting that they may be undergoing epithelial-mesenchymal transition and therefore have a more invasive behaviour than those expressing only KLK5. KLK5 may be a novel molecular biomarker useful for predicting prognosis of cSSC in dogs.

Mapping pre-dissection aortic wall abnormalities: a multiparametric assessment.

OBJECTIVES: Maximal aortic diameter is commonly used to assess aortic risk but poorly predicts the timing and location of dissection events in patients with connective tissue disease who undergo regular imaging surveillance. Hence, we aimed to use available surveillance computed tomography angiography (CTA) scans to investigate the correlation between 3-dimensional (3D) growth and cyclic transmural wall stress with the location of intimal tear formation. METHODS: Three type B aortic dissection patients with 2 available electrocardiogram (ECG)-gated pre-dissection CTA scans and without surgical repair during the pre-dissection interval were retrospectively identified at our institution. Vascular deformation mapping was used to measure 3D aortic growth between 2 pre-dissection clinical CTA studies. In addition, we performed a computational analysis to estimate cyclic transmural wall stress in patient-specific baseline CTA geometries. RESULTS: In all 3 connective tissue disease patients, the site of type B aortic intimal tear co-localized with areas of peak 3D aortic wall growth. Aortic growth was detected by clinical radiological assessment in only 1 case. Co-localization of peak transmural stress and the site of intimal tear formation were found in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: Focal areas of growth and transmural wall stress co-localized with the site of intimal tear formation. These hypothesis-generating results suggest a possible new analytic pathway for a more sophisticated assessment of the factors leading to the initiation of dissection in patients with connective tissue disease. These methods could improve on current risk-stratification techniques.