Gender-Related Disparities Among Vascular Surgeons in Italy: Results from a Cross-Sectional Survey.

BACKGROUND: To assess the presence, quality and impact of gender-related discrepancies in academic vascular surgery at a national level. METHODS: This was an anonymous national structured nonvalidated cross-sectional survey on gender disparity perceptions, named "I love it when you call me Señorita", distributed to 645 participants from academic Italian vascular centers. Endpoints were related to job-related characteristics, satisfaction, and sexual harassment. RESULTS: The survey yielded a 27% response rate (n = 174, 78 males and 96 females). Significant differences between male and female responders were found in terms of job satisfaction (83.3% vs. 53.1%, P < 0.001), perception of career opportunities (91.7% vs. 67.9%, P < 0.001), surgical activity in the operating theater (34.6% vs. 7.3%, P < 0.001), involvement in scientific activities (contribution in peer-reviewed articles: 37.2% vs. 9.4%, P < 0.001; scientific meeting attendance/year: 42.3% vs. 20.8%, P = 0.002), and perception of lower peer support at work (2.6% vs. 22.9%, P < 0.001). In addition, female physicians more frequently suffered sexual harassment from male peers/colleagues (10% vs. 34%, P < 0.001), male health-care workers (7% vs. 26%, P = 0.001), or patients/caregivers independently from their sex (6% vs. 38.5%, P < 0.001 for males and 5% vs. 22%, P = 0.001 for females). CONCLUSIONS: A significant number of the female vascular surgeons in Italian academic vascular centers responding to the survey have experienced workplace inequality and sexual harassment. Substantial efforts and ongoing initiatives are still required to address gender disparities, emphasizing the need for the promotion of specific guidelines within scientific societies.

Perceptions, awareness, and implementation surrounding the assessment of frailty amongst vascular surgeons in Italy: Results from a nationwide cross-sectional survey.

OBJECTIVES: We conducted this survey to gain insight into the real-life application and perceptions regarding the importance of peri-operative frailty assessment amongst vascular surgeons in Italy. METHODS: Italian vascular surgeons were invited to participate in the survey using the list provided by the Italian Society for Vascular and Endovascular Surgery (1050 invited participants). A dedicated link to the survey was emailed through Google Forms, and reminders were automatically sent on a bi-weekly basis for a total of 8 weeks before stopping data collection. RESULTS: The survey was completed by 225 respondents, thereby yielding an overall 21.5% response rate. While the vast majority of respondents stated they were aware of the meaning of frailty (93%) and agreed that its assessment was clinically relevant for patients undergoing vascular surgery (99%), only 44% of surveyed surgeons reported that they used a specific tool for peri-operative frailty assessment. However, most respondents indicated that routine evaluation of frailty was not performed at their institution (87%). The main limitations were identified as being the lack of confidence in choosing the best tool, followed by lack of awareness, lack of skilled operators, and lack of time. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that whilst most vascular surgeons in Italy are aware of the importance of frailty in affecting surgical outcomes across various interventions in the elective and non-elective settings, there is poor implementation of formal frailty assessment.

Results of current endovascular treatments for visceral artery aneurysms.

OBJECTIVE: This single-center retrospective cohort study aimed to analyze the early and long-term results of endovascular treatment for true visceral artery aneurysms (VAAs). Moreover, a comparison with the results of our previously published historical series of open surgical procedures was performed. METHODS: From January 2008 to December 2021, 78 consecutive patients were treated at our institution for true VAAs. All demographic data, procedural details, perioperative outcomes, and follow-up data were collected prospectively from a dedicated database. A retrospective analysis identified 72 patients who underwent endovascular surgery. Early results were analyzed in terms of technical success, conversion to open surgery, mortality, and local and systemic morbidities. Follow-up results were analyzed in terms of survival, need for open or endovascular reintervention, and freedom from complications at the level of the treated visceral artery. These results were then compared with those of our historical open surgical group (1982-2007), which included 54 interventions. RESULTS: In four cases, the planned endovascular procedure could not be completed, and the overall technical success rate was 94.5%. No deaths occurred during the hospital stay or within 30 days after surgery. Overall, the 30-day perioperative complication rate was 5.8%, with an early reintervention rate of 2.9%. The median follow-up time was 29 months (range, 1-132 months). The estimated 7-year survival rate was 88% (standard error [SE]. 0.05). The estimated 7-year aneurysm-related complication-free rate was 85.5% (SE, 0.06), with reintervention-free and aneurysm-related complication-free survival rates of 93.3% (SE, 0.04) and 75.6% (SE, 0.07), respectively. At the 7-year follow-up, the survival rate was similar between the endovascular and open groups. There was a trend toward a higher aneurysm-related complication rate in the endovascular group than in the open group (14.5% vs 6.4%; P = .07). However, no significant differences in reintervention-free and overall estimated aneurysm-related complication-free survival rates were found between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular repair is safe and effective in patients with VAAs, with low perioperative complication rates. The long-term outcomes were satisfactory and comparable with those of the historical series of open surgical repairs. Even if there is a trend toward a higher risk of late aneurysm-related complications among endovascular patients, it does not imply an increased need for late reinterventions.

Autologous saphenous vein and heparin-bonded expanded polytetrafluoroethylene as graft materials for below-the-knee femoro-popliteal bypass in patients with critical limb ischemia: A propensity score-matched analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the outcomes of heparin bonded expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (HePTFE) and autologous saphenous vein (ASV) in patients undergoing below-knee (BK) femoro-popliteal bypass for critical limb ischemia (CLI). DESIGN: Retrospective single-centre matched case-control study. METHODS: From 2003 to 2019, 275 consecutive BK bypasses for CLI were performed, 109 with the ASV and 166 with a HePTFE graft. All the baseline characteristics that were reliably measured and were potentially relevant in the decision-making process were included as confounders in a logistic regression model and the factors that were significantly different between the two groups then used to perform a propensity matching analysis. Propensity score-based matching was performed in a 1:1 ratio to compare outcomes. Arterial hypertension, hyperlipemia, the need for tibial anastomosis at the distal level and the run-off status were the covariates included in the matching. Follow-up outcomes were estimated by Kaplan-Meier methods and compared with log rank test. RESULTS: After propensity matching, 101 HePTFE bypasses were matched with 101 ASV bypasses. The median duration of follow-up was 37 months (range 1-192). The 5-year survival rate was 67.5% (standard error (SE) 0.05) in the HePTFe group and 64.5% (SE 0.06) in the ASV group (p = 0.8, log rank 0.04). Primary patency rates were 38% (SE 0.06) in the HePTFE group and 41% (SE 0.06) in the ASV group (p = 0.7, log rank 0.3). Also assisted primary patency and secondary patency rates did not differ in the two groups. Amputation-free survival was 53% (SE 0.05) in the HePTFE group and 58% (SE 0.06) in the ASF group (p = 0.6, log rank 0.2). CONCLUSIONS: HePTFE provided 5-year similar results to those obtained with use of the ASV in equivalent patients with CLI undergoing below-knee or tibial bypass.

A pilot study of the enhanced recovery after surgery protocol in aortic surgery.

OBJECTIVE: We tested the outcomes with the use of the enhanced recovery after surgery protocol in patients who had undergone open abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair (enhanced recovery after vascular surgery [ERAVS] protocol). We compared them with those obtained for patients who had undergone endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) and for a historical control group of standard open AAA repair in a prospective, single-center pilot study. METHODS: From June to December 2019, all patients who were candidates for open AAA repair at our department were enrolled in the ERAVS protocol (ERAVS group; 17 patients). During the same period, 18 patients had undergone EVAR (EVAR group). The historical control group of standard open AAA repair included 32 patients who had undergone surgery during the 6 months before the study period (standard protocol open repair [OR] group). The three groups were compared on an "on-treatment" basis (prospectively for the ERAVS and EVAR groups and retrospectively for the OR group) in terms of the time to discharge (TTD), interval to the resumption of oral intake, time to ambulation, resumption of bowel function, and postoperative pain. Comparisons were performed using the one-way analysis of variance test, Tukey post hoc test for quantitative data, and χ2 test for qualitative data. RESULTS: The ERAVS protocol was successfully applied for all but one patient (feasibility rate, 94%). The mean TTD was 5.1 days in the ERAVS group, 3.5 days in the EVAR group, and 8.4 days in the OR group [P < .001; F(2,64) = 11.3], with a significant difference between the OR and ERAVS and EVAR groups (P = .1 and P < .001, respectively) but not between the EVAR and ERAVS groups (P = .4). The ERAVS group had intervals to the resumption of oral intake and ambulation similar to those of the EVAR group. In contrast, these were significantly longer for the OR group. The mean time to the resumption of bowel function was similar in the ERAVS and OR groups (2.6 and 2.9 days, respectively; P = .6). In the ERAVS group, the mean value of the maximum referred pain using the numeric rating scale was 3.75 (range, 1-6). The corresponding values for the EVAR and OR groups were 2.6 (range, 0-6) and 4.9 [range, 1-8; F(2,62) = 15.4; P < .001]. The post hoc test showed a significant difference between the OR group and the ERAVS and EVAR group (P = .01 and P < .001, respectively) but not between the ERAVS and EVAR groups (P = .07). CONCLUSIONS: In our early experience, the ERAVS protocol appeared to be effective in reducing the TTD and improving the postoperative outcomes compared with the OR group, without significant differences compared with the EVAR group.

A Retrospective Comparison Between Hybrid Treatment and Prosthetic Above-the-Knee Femoro-Popliteal Bypass in the Management of the Obstructive Disease of the Superficial Femoral Artery.

OBJECTIVE: We assessed early and late outcomes following hybrid intervention (common femoral artery endarterectomy and superficial femoral artery (SFA) stenting) versus above-the-knee (AK) femoro-popliteal bypass performed for peripheral artery occlusive disease (PAOD) in a double-center retrospective comparative cohort study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2006 to December 2017, 82 hybrid revascularizations with femoral endarterectomy and SFA stenting (HY Group) and 98 AK femoro-popliteal bypasses with femoral endarterectomy (BP Group) were performed at two academic vascular centers. The two groups were compared in terms of preoperative and intraoperative details and of perioperative (<30 days) outcomes with χ2 test. Long-term results were compared using Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank test. RESULTS: No differences were found in demographics variables, risk factors, comorbidities and clinical presentation between the two groups. Also perioperative outcomes were similar between the two groups. Median duration of follow-up was 38 months. At five years, the estimated survival rate was 60% in HY Group and 77.5% in BP Group (p = 0.002) Five-year primary patency rates were 46% in HY Group and 64% in BP Group (p = 0.005). Overall, 13 patients in HY Group required conversion to open surgery and 6 patients in BP Group underwent below-knee (n = 4) or distal (n = 2) bypass. The 5-year rate of limb maintenance was 85% in HY Group and 94% in BP Group (p = 0.1) and was not significantly different regardless of presentation, claudication or critical limb ischemia. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with PAOD due to complex long lesions of the infrainguinal arteries, open-surgical treatment with AK bypass provided better long-term survival and patency rates compared to a hybrid approach.

Acute Thrombosis of an Aortic Prosthetic Graft in a Patient with Severe COVID-19-Related Pneumonia.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 infection has been reported to be related with an increased risk of thrombotic complications because of the hypercoagulability state and inflammation. At the moment, no reports are available regarding thrombosis of prosthetic vascular grafts. We present the case of a patient with COVID-19-related pneumonia, who suffered from the acute thrombosis of a previously implanted aortic graft. METHODS AND RESULTS: A 67-year-old male patient, who had undergone open repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm with a bifurcated graft 6 years before, was admitted to the emergency department with high fever for a week without cough or dyspnea. Thoracic ultrasound showed signs of bilateral interstitial pneumonia, and the Sars-Cov-2 swab was positive. Antiretroviral therapy and prophylactic low molecular weight heparin treatment were initiated. Owing to the progressive impairment of the respiratory function, the patient was intubated after eight days from the admission, the day after he showed signs of bilateral acute limb ischemia. A duplex ultrasound demonstrated the complete thrombosis of the aortic graft without flow at the femoral level. An urgent angio-computed tomography scan for revascularization purpose was requested, but the patient died on the arrival in the radiological suite. CONCLUSIONS: Acute thrombosis of vascular prosthetic grafts is a possible, catastrophic complication of COVID-19 infection. In COVID-19 patients with prosthetic graft, an aggressive antithrombotic treatment could be considered to prevent such an event.

A Propensity Matched Comparison for Open and Endovascular Treatment of Post-carotid Endarterectomy Restenosis.

OBJECTIVES: To compare results of open and endovascular management of post-carotid endarterectomy (CEA) restenosis. METHODS: This was a retrospective single centre matched case control study. From 2005 to 2015, 148 consecutive interventions for post-CEA restenosis were performed: 80 cases received carotid artery stenting (CAS) and 68 cases received redo CEA. Propensity score based matching was performed in a 1:1 ratio to compare outcomes. Coronary artery disease, degree of the carotid restenosis, timing of the re-intervention with respect to the primary intervention (greater or less than 24 months) and the presence of ipsilateral brain lesions were the covariates included in the matching. Peri-operative outcomes were analysed with χ2 tests, while late results were estimated by Kaplan-Meier methods. RESULTS: After propensity matching, 32 CAS interventions were matched with 32 redo CEAs. There were no peri-operative deaths or strokes. Cranial nerve palsy occurred in seven patients in the redo CEA group. Median duration of follow-up was 36 months (interquartile range 24-60; range 6-120). The estimated 5 year survival rate was 94% in the CAS group and 72% in the redo CEA group (p=.1, log rank 2.4). There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of stroke free survival. In the CAS group, no severe restenosis were found, while in the redo CEA group eight patients had severe restenosis or occlusion of the operated carotid artery. Freedom from secondary restenosis at 4 years was 100% in the CAS group and 72.5% in the redo CEA group (p=.005, log rank 7.9). The corresponding figures in terms of freedom from secondary re-intervention were 100% and 83%, respectively (p=.02, log rank 4.8). CONCLUSIONS: CAS and redo CEA in patients with post-CEA restenosis provided similar peri-operative results in a sample of equivalent patients. CAS patients had better follow-up results in terms of secondary restenosis and re-interventions. Further analysis is required with a larger number of patients and a longer follow-up time.

A Matched Case-Control Study on Early and Late Results of Carotid Endarterectomy Performed in Young Patients.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to describe the perioperative and long-term results of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in patients aged 60 or less and compare them to patients of more advanced age in a retrospective single-centre case-control study. METHODS: From January 1996 to December 2014, 5893 consecutive CEAs were performed in our institution. Data concerning these interventions were prospectively inserted in a dedicated database. A retrospective analysis of that database was performed and 457 interventions performed in patients aged 60 or less were found (group 1). The control group was represented by 457 interventions selected from the remaining 5436 by a one-to-one coarsened exact matching on the basis of all the baseline demographic and clinical covariates significantly different in the two groups (group 2). The two groups were compared in terms of intraoperative technical features and perioperative (<30 days) results of interventions (transient ischaemic attack-TIA, stroke and death rates) with χ 2 test. Follow-up data were analysed by life-table analysis (Kaplan-Meier test) in terms of survival, stroke-free and neurological symptom-free survival, freedom from severe restenosis and occlusion and freedom from reintervention, and the results in the two groups were compared by means of log rank test. RESULTS: There were no differences between the two groups in terms of clinical presentation and of degree of carotid stenosis on operated side. Anaesthesiological and surgical details were also similar between the two groups. Thirty-day stroke and death rate was 0.6% in both groups (p = 0.9). Follow-up was available for 877 patients (96% of the study group) with a mean duration of 50 months. Estimated 10-year survival rates were 85% in group 1 (SE 0.03) and 76% in group 2 (SE 0.04, p = 0.003, log rank 8.9). At the same time interval, stroke-free survival was also significantly better in group 1 (85%, SE 0.035) than in group 2 (72.5%, SE 0.03; p = 0.002, log rank 10.1). The corresponding figures in terms of any neurological symptom-free survival were 82.8% in group 1 (SE 0.04) and 70.3% in group 2 (SE 0.04, p = 0.002, log rank 9.7). Estimated freedom from severe restenosis and occlusion was 76.5% in group 1 (SE 0.04) and 88.5% in group 2 (SE 0.035, p = 0.001, log rank 11.9). Disease recurrence was symptomatic in six cases, three in each group. Estimated freedom from reintervention rates at 10 years was 87% in group 1 (SE 0.035) and 91.5% in group 2 (SE 0.03; p = 0.2, log rank 1.1). CONCLUSIONS: CEA in patents aged 60 or less is safe and provides significantly better long-term results than those obtained in patients over 60 in terms of survival and stroke-free survival. Younger patients appear to have higher rates of recurrent carotid stenosis compared to the older cohort; however, these rarely require a secondary intervention.

Endovascular Treatment with Primary Stenting of Acutely Thrombosed Popliteal Artery Aneurysms.

BACKGROUND: Only anecdotal cases concerning primary stenting of thrombosed popliteal artery aneurysm (PAA) without a preoperative intra-arterial thrombolysis are reported. We report our series of 6 patients treated with this technique. METHODS: Six male patients, aged between 63 and 88, came to our attention in the last 10 years for acute limb ischemia due to thrombosis of a PAA. In all the cases, immediate digital subtraction angiography was performed, the occlusion was crossed with an angiographic guidewire, and once an adequate distal landing zone was identified in the distal popliteal artery, a primary stenting was performed. RESULTS: Technical success was achieved in all the cases. One perioperative thrombosis leading to major amputation occurred, and the patient died 4 days later. The mean follow-up of the remaining 5 patients was 28.6 months, with a primary patency rate of 60% and a secondary patency rate of 80%. CONCLUSIONS: Urgent primary stenting of acutely thrombosed PAAs is feasible and can represent an alternative solution to classical surgical approaches.

Early and long-term results of surgical treatment of popliteal artery aneurysms using a heparin-bonded expanded polytetrafluorethilene graft.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to assess early and long-term results of open surgical interventions for popliteal artery aneurysms (PAAs) with the use of heparin-bonded expanded polytetrafluorethylene (HePTFE) in a single center, retrospective, non-comparative cohort study. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained dataset, including 207 open interventions for PAAs between 2002 and 2022, was performed and 170 procedures carried on with the use of a HePTFE graft were found. Perioperative results were analyzed in terms of mortality, graft thrombosis and amputation rates. Follow-up results were analyzed in terms of survival, primary and secondary patency, freedom from amputation, freedom from reintervention with life-table analysis and Kaplan Meier curves. Follow-up results were considered as primary outcomes, whereas perioperative results were considered as secondary outcomes. RESULTS: In 82 interventions (48%) the PAA was asymptomatic. In 140 cases a medial approach was used, while in 30 cases a posterior approach was preferred. The level of the distal anastomosis was the p3 tract of the popliteal artery in 89% of the cases. One perioperative death occurred; early thromboses occurred in eight cases and the overall perioperative amputation rate was 2.8%. The median duration of follow-up was 48 months (range 1-251). Estimated survival rate at 10 years was 55% (standard error, SE, 0.065). The 10-year rates of primary and secondary patency and freedom from amputation were 40.8% (SE 0.06), 47.6% (SE 0.065) and 93.4% (SE 0.04), respectively. The estimated freedom from reintervention rate at 10 years was 57% (SE 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this large monocentric experience showed that open surgical repair of PAAs with HePTFE is a safe procedure, with low rates of perioperative complications, and excellent results in the long-term setting.

Riluzole blocks human muscle acetylcholine receptors.

Riluzole, the only drug available against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), has recently been shown to block muscle ACh receptors (AChRs), raising concerns about possible negative side-effects on neuromuscular transmission in treated patients. In this work we studied riluzole's impact on the function of muscle AChRs in vitro and on neuromuscular transmission in ALS patients, using electrophysiological techniques. Human recombinant AChRs composed of α(1)ß(1)δ subunits plus the γ or ε subunit (γ- or ε-AChR) were expressed in HEK cells or Xenopus oocytes. In both preparations, riluzole at 0.5 µm, a clinically relevant concentration, reversibly reduced the amplitude and accelerated the decay of ACh-evoked current if applied before coapplication with ACh. The action on γ-AChRs was more potent and faster than on ε-AChRs. In HEK outside-out patches, riluzole-induced block of macroscopic ACh-evoked current gradually developed during the initial milliseconds of ACh presence. Single channel recordings in HEK cells and in human myotubes from ALS patients showed that riluzole prolongs channel closed time, but has no effect on channel conductance and open duration. Finally, compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs) evoked by nerve stimulation in ALS patients remained unaltered after a 1 week suspension of riluzole treatment. These data indicate that riluzole, while apparently safe with regard to synaptic transmission, may affect the function of AChRs expressed in denervated muscle fibres of ALS patients, with biological consequences that remain to be investigated.

Effects of intermittent theta burst stimulation on cerebral blood flow and cerebral vasomotor reactivity.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether intermittent theta burst stimulation influences cerebral hemodynamics, we investigated changes induced by intermittent theta burst stimulation on the middle cerebral artery cerebral blood flow velocity and vasomotor reactivity to carbon dioxide (CO(2)) in healthy participants. The middle cerebral artery flow velocity and vasomotor reactivity were monitored by continuous transcranial Doppler sonography. Changes in cortical excitability were tested by transcranial magnetic stimulation. METHODS: In 11 healthy participants, before and immediately after delivering intermittent theta burst stimulation, we tested cortical excitability measured by the resting motor threshold and motor evoked potential amplitude over the stimulated hemisphere and vasomotor reactivity to CO(2) bilaterally. The blood flow velocity was monitored in both middle cerebral arteries throughout the experimental session. In a separate session, we tested the effects of sham stimulation under the same experimental conditions. RESULTS: Whereas the resting motor threshold remained unchanged before and after stimulation, motor evoked potential amplitudes increased significantly (P = .04). During and after stimulation, middle cerebral artery blood flow velocities also remained bilaterally unchanged, whereas vasomotor reactivity to CO(2) increased bilaterally (P = .04). The sham stimulation left all variables unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: The expected intermittent theta burst stimulation-induced changes in cortical excitability were not accompanied by changes in cerebral blood flow velocities; however, the bilateral increased vasomotor reactivity suggests that intermittent theta burst stimulation influences the cerebral microcirculation, possibly involving subcortical structures. These findings provide useful information on hemodynamic phenomena accompanying intermittent theta burst stimulation, which should be considered in research aimed at developing this noninvasive, low-intensity stimulation technique for safe therapeutic applications.

Outcome analysis of synchronous carotid endarterectomy and cardiac surgery. Comparison of two anesthetic techniques after propensity score-matching.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the outcome of patients undergoing synchronous carotid endarterectomy and coronary and/or other cardiac surgery. The impact of anesthesia on the outcome was examined. METHODS: A retrospective single-center observational study was performed, to investigate the outcome of 127 consecutive adult patients submitted to synchronous surgery from 2011 to 2019. Cooperative patient general anesthesia for carotid endarterectomy followed by standard general anesthesia for cardiac surgery and standard general anesthesia for the whole surgery were compared after a propensity score analysis. RESULTS: Primary outcomes were 30-day mortality (3.1%), incidence of stroke (3.1%), and myocardial infarction (0.8%). Agitation upon awakening, postoperative cardiac troponin I release, the increase of serum creatinine, the occurrence of acute kidney injury and the need for continuous renal replacement therapy were the secondary outcomes. A binary logistic regression revealed that cardiopulmonary bypass use, standard general anesthesia for the whole surgery and the European risk score II, were the strongest predictors of any severe postoperative complications. After propensity score matching, general anesthesia for the whole surgery was significantly correlated with the occurrence of any severe postoperative complication (P=0.038). CONCLUSIONS: Synchronous surgery was performed with acceptable mortality and complication rate even in combination with other than isolated coronary surgery. Cooperative patient general anesthesia during carotid endarterectomy, was not inferior to general anesthesia in this setting.

Bladder symptoms assessed with overactive bladder questionnaire in Parkinson's disease.

In Parkinson's disease (PD) the urinary dysfunction manifests primarily with symptoms of overactive bladder (OAB). The OAB questionnaire (OAB-q) is a measure designed to assess the impact of OAB symptoms on health-related quality of life. In this study, we quantified the urinary symptoms in a large cohort of PD patients by using the OAB-q short form. Possible correlations between the OAB-q and clinical features were tested. Three hundred and two PD patients were enrolled in the study. Correlations between the OAB-q and sex, age, Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale part III (UPDRS-III), Hoehn-Yahr (H-Y) staging, disease duration, and treatment were analyzed. Data were compared with a large cohort of 303 age-matched healthy subjects. The OAB-q yielded significantly higher scores in PD patients than in healthy subjects. In the group of PD patients, all the variables tested were similar between men and women. Pearson's coefficient showed a significant correlation between mean age, disease duration, mean OAB-q scores, UPDRS-III scores, and H-Y staging. A multiple linear regression analysis showed that OAB-q values were significantly influenced by age and UPDRS-III. No statistical correlations were found between OAB-q scores and drug therapy or the equivalent levodopa dose, whilst the items relating to the nocturia symptoms were significantly associated with the equivalent levodopa dose. Our findings suggest that bladder dysfunction assessed by OAB-q mainly correlates with UPDRS-III scores for severity of motor impairment, possibly reflecting the known role of the decline in nigrostriatal dopaminergic function in bladder dysfunction associated with PD and patients' age. Our study also suggests that the OAB-q is a simple, easily administered test that can objectively evaluate bladder function in patients with PD.

Botulinum toxin type A for the treatment of sialorrhoea in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a clinical and neurophysiological study.

Botulinum toxin type A (BoNT/A) has been proposed as an alternative treatment for sialorrhoea in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In an open-label prospective study, BoNT/A was injected into the parotid glands bilaterally using anatomic landmarks in 26 ALS patients with bulbar symptoms. Two weeks after injection the severity of sialorrhoea and the related disability were evaluated subjectively and objectively. A group of healthy subjects acted as controls for saliva production. Patients also underwent electrophysiological tests to evaluate possible toxin effects in the nearby non-injected muscles by comparing the amplitude of compound motor action potentials (cMAPs) elicited by electrical stimulation and recorded from the orbicularis oculi and masseter muscles. After BoNT/A injections, of the 26 patients treated, 23 reported that the severity of sialorrhoea improved and the disabling symptoms diminished. Cotton roll weight also decreased after BoNT/A injection, suggesting a reduction in saliva production. Two patients complained of dry mouth. BoNT/A injection left the cMAP amplitude unchanged, suggesting that botulinum toxin does not significantly affect the non-injected facial and masticatory muscles. In conclusion, intraparotid anatomically-guided BoNT/A injection is an effective, easy, and safe treatment for sialorrhoea in patients with bulbar symptoms related to ALS.

Open surgical conversion for Type II endoleak following hybrid treatment of a giant aneurysm of aberrant right subclavian artery.

Type II endoleak following hybrid treatment of aneurysms of aberrant subclavian arteries (AARSA) and requiring reintervention is rare. A retroesophageal AARSA with a 70 mm diameter was treated with left and right carotid to subclavian bypasses and thoracic endografting to exclude its ostium. The distal neck was embolized with a vascular plug. At 22 months postoperatively, an angio-computed tomography (CT) scan performed for worsening of dysphagia showed the presence of a Type II endoleak from bronchial arteries with significant sac enlargement. An open surgical repair with thoracotomy, aneurysmorraphy and ligature of the feeding vessels was successfully performed.

Influence of the corticospinal tract on the cutaneous silent period: a study in patients with pyramidal syndrome.

The cutaneous silent period (CSP) is a brief transient suppression of the voluntary muscle contraction that follows a noxious cutaneous nerve stimulation. In this study we investigated the influence of the corticospinal tract on this spinal inhibitory reflex. In patients with pyramidal syndrome and in a group of healthy subjects we delivered painful electrical finger stimulation during sustained contraction of the ipsilateral abductor digiti minimi muscle. The CSP latency and duration and the background electromyographic (EMG) activity were measured and compared between-groups. The compound motor action potential amplitude and F-wave latency were also measured after electrical stimulation of the ulnar nerve at the wrist. The CSP latency was significantly longer in patients than in healthy subjects. None of the other variables differed in patients and healthy subjects. Our findings suggest that corticospinal projections influence the CSP latency probably by modulating the balance of excitability in the underlying circuits.

Asymmetric responses to repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over the left and right primary motor cortex in a patient with lateralized progressive limb-kinetic apraxia.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (5 Hz-rTMS, 10 stimuli, 120% resting motor threshold intensity, RMT) produces in healthy subjects a progressive facilitation of motor-evoked potential (MEP) amplitude probably through a short-term enhancement of cortical excitatory interneurones. We had the opportunity to investigate the effect of 5 Hz-rTMS delivered over the right and left primary motor cortex (M1) in a patient with limb-kinetic apraxia of the left hand and fingers and reduced cerebral perfusion in the fronto-parietal cortex of the right hemisphere documented by single-photon emission computed tomography scans. Changes in the MEP size during the trains and the RMT were measured and compared between the hemispheres. 5 Hz-rTMS was also delivered in a group of healthy subjects over both hemispheres in order to compare changes in the MEP size from the right and left M1. In the patient, 5 Hz-rTMS delivered over the left hemisphere elicited normal MEPs that progressively increased in size during the trains whereas 5 Hz-rTMS delivered over the right affected hemisphere failed to facilitate the MEP size. RMT was similar in both hemispheres. In healthy subjects, 5 Hz-rTMS delivered over either hemisphere elicited a similar, significant MEP size facilitation. Despite the limitations of a single case, our findings suggest an altered response to 5 Hz-rTMS over the M1 of the affected hemisphere. This asymmetric response correlated with the altered perfusion in the right hemisphere and the patient's lateralized clinical manifestations of apraxia.