High levels of eicosanoids and docosanoids in the lungs of intubated COVID-19 patients.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is responsible for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). While COVID-19 is often benign, a subset of patients develops severe multilobar pneumonia that can progress to an acute respiratory distress syndrome. There is no cure for severe COVID-19 and few treatments significantly improved clinical outcome. Dexamethasone and possibly aspirin, which directly/indirectly target the biosynthesis/effects of numerous lipid mediators are among those options. Our objective was to define if severe COVID-19 patients were characterized by increased bioactive lipids modulating lung inflammation. A targeted lipidomic analysis of bronchoalveolar lavages (BALs) by tandem mass spectrometry was done on 25 healthy controls and 33 COVID-19 patients requiring mechanical ventilation. BALs from severe COVID-19 patients were characterized by increased fatty acids and inflammatory lipid mediators. There was a predominance of thromboxane and prostaglandins. Leukotrienes were also increased, notably LTB4 , LTE4 , and eoxin E4 . Monohydroxylated 15-lipoxygenase metabolites derived from linoleate, arachidonate, eicosapentaenoate, and docosahexaenoate were also increased. Finally yet importantly, specialized pro-resolving mediators, notably lipoxin A4 and the D-series resolvins, were also increased, underscoring that the lipid mediator storm occurring in severe COVID-19 involves pro- and anti-inflammatory lipids. Our data unmask the lipid mediator storm occurring in the lungs of patients afflicted with severe COVID-19. We discuss which clinically available drugs could be helpful at modulating the lipidome we observed in the hope of minimizing the deleterious effects of pro-inflammatory lipids and enhancing the effects of anti-inflammatory and/or pro-resolving lipid mediators.

The Common Femoral Artery Is a Fixed Arterial Segment.

BACKGROUND: The risk of stent fracture caused by the movements of the hip joint is one of the limitations of the endovascular treatment of the common femoral artery (CFA). The aim of this study was to describe and analyze the deformations of the iliofemoral axis during flexion and extension of the hip, and to evaluate the impact of stents implanted in the CFA on the deformations observed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This monocentric descriptive study was carried out on the pelvis obtained from three fresh cadavers (two men aged 72 and 71 years, respectively, and one 94-year-old woman). Arteriography was carried out to appreciate the deformations of the external iliac and common femoral arteries, and to analyze the femoral junctions. A first arteriography was carried out on native arteries, and a second one was carried out after the implantation of a stent in the CFA (Zilver PTX, Cook Medical, Bloomington, IN, USA). In all the cases, anterior and lateral images were obtained, with the hip maintained in extension (0°) or flexion (45°, 90°). RESULTS: In a neutral position (extension), four points of deformation of the iliofemoral axis were identified in the frontal (A, B, C, and D) and sagittal (A', B', C', D') planes. These points were the vertices of the angles formed by the arterial deformation in the frontal and sagittal planes. These four points of deformation observed in the two planes appeared overlapping (A/A', B/B', C/C', and D/D') and were located on the external iliac artery, the origin of the CFA, the femoral bifurcation and the superficial femoral artery, respectively. In the frontal plane, all the angles closed during flexion, and the closure of the angle increased with the degree of flexion. In the sagittal plane, we observed that the angles with the A', C', and D' vertices closed during the flexion of the hip, and that the angle with the B' vertex opened during flexion. The higher was the degree of flexion, the more the angles were accentuated. The implantation of one stent in the CFA modified neither the localization of the points of deformation nor the modifications of angles previously observed on the frontal and the sagittal sections. CONCLUSIONS: As seen from the front and side, the CFA is a fixed segment during the movements of extension and flexion of the hip. The implantation of a stent does not modify this observation.

Pseudoaneurysm of the Posterior Tibial Artery After Posterior Tibial Tendon Transfer.

Pseudoaneurysm of the posterior tibial artery is an uncommon condition that, left untreated, can lead to hemorrhage, thrombosis, or emboli. We present the case of a 54-year-old male who developed pseudoaneurysm of the posterior tibial artery 4 months after undergoing tibialis posterior tendon transfer for management of peroneal nerve palsy, which had developed as a complication of hip arthroplasty.

Device's design and clinical perspectives for resistant hypertension therapy.

Introduction: Hypertension is the leading cause of death in the cardiovascular system. Indeed, untreated hypertension can affect one's general health, but medicine can help hypertensive people reduce their chance of developing high blood pressure. However, secondary hypertension remains an unresolved illness. Areas covered: This review will go through the typical and unusual device-based therapies for resistant hypertension that have arisen in recent years. Further to that, the innovations developed in device-based RH treatment will be covered, as well as the research and studies assessing these novel technologies. Expert opinion: The innovative device-based techniques that target resistant hypertension provide a potential therapy that has been backed by a number of studies and clinical trials, whereas pharmacological non-adherence and increased sympathetic activity are recognized to be the primary causes of resistant hypertension. Nevertheless, some limitations will be critical for the future of these RH systems, with the device's design and larger RCTs playing a significant role in determining whether a position in routine treatment could be warranted.

[In situ arterial allografting for aortoiliac infection]. / Traitement des infections aorto-iliaques par allogreffe artérielle in situ.

From January 2009 to January 2013, we treated 83 patients for aortoiliac infection by resection of all infected material and in situ revascularization with an arterial allograft. Thirteen patients (15.7 %) died during the first month or before discharge. Perioperative mortality was associated with the presence of a visceral fistula: five deaths (27.8%) occurred among the 18 patients with a visceral fistula, and8 (12.3 %) among the 65 without a visceral fistula (p = 0.11). These results confirm those of our previous studies regarding the severity of aortoiliac infection, especially in patients with a visceral fistula, and endorse our in situ allografting strategy.

Device-Based Therapy for Resistant Hypertension: An Up-to-Date Review.

Hypertension is the major risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Matter of fact, untreated hypertension can worsen the overall health, whereas pharmacotherapy can play an important role in lowering the risk of high blood pressure in hypertensive patients. However, persistent uncontrolled hypertension remains an unsolved condition characterized by non-adherence to medication and increased sympathetic activity. This paper will review the non-pharmacological treatments for resistant hypertension (RH) that have emerged in recent years. In addition, the technologies developed in device-based RH therapy, as well as the clinical trials that support their use, will be discussed. Indeed, the novel device-based approaches that target RH present a promising therapy which has been supported by several studies and clinical trials, whereas drug non-adherence and high sympathetic activity are known to be the main causes of RH. Nevertheless, some additional aspects of these RH systems need to be tested in the near future, with a particular focus on the device's design and availability of randomized controlled trials.

SARS-CoV-2, recurrent ischemic strokes and carotid macrothrombosis: the other face of the cytokine storm (a case report).

Since December 2019, the world has experienced the emergence in China of a new infection called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This infection quickly has progressed to a global pandemic since March 2020, with very high human-to-human transmission rate. Besides lung injury, COVID-19 is also associated with cardio and neurovascular complications. Herein, we report the case of a 77-year-old female who presented with non-severe COVID-19 and multiple ischemic strokes secondary to an extensive carotid thrombosis. The ischemic stroke was supposed to have been caused by the cytokine storm related to COVID-19. The possibility of hemorrhagic transformation, based on the assessment of bleeding score, limited the use of anticoagulation, and probably explained the stroke recurrence and poor outcome in our patient. The pathogenic mechanism and the management of this complex situation are still lacking and further studies are needed.

IL-1 and CD40/CD40L platelet complex: elements of induction of Crohn's disease and new therapeutic targets.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) are chronic and multifactorial diseases that affect the intestinal tract, both characterized by recurrent inflammation of the intestinal mucosa, resulting in abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting and, rectal bleeding. Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) regroup these two disorders. The exact pathological mechanism of IBD remains ambiguous and poorly known. In genetically predisposed patients, defects in intestinal mucosal barrier are due to an uncontrolled inflammatory response to normal flora. In addition to the genetic predisposition, these defects could be triggered by environmental factors or by a specific lifestyle which is widely accepted as etiological hypothesis. The involvement of the CD40/CD40L platelet complex in the development of IBD has been overwhelmingly demonstrated. CD40L is climacteric in cell signalling in innate and adaptive immunity, the CD40L expression on the platelet cell surface gives them an immunological competence. The IL-1, a major inflammation mediator could be involved in different ways in the development of IBD. Here, we provide a comprehensive review regarding the role of platelet CD40/CD40L in the pathophysiological effect of IL-1 in the development of Crohn's disease (CD). This review could potentially help future approaches aiming to target these two pathways for therapeutic purposes and elucidate the immunological mechanisms driving gut inflammation.

Pseudoaneurysm of the subclavian artery following clavicle fracture due to blunt traumatism: a case report.

The clavicle fractures are frequent, vascular injuries associated with closed fractures of clavicle are rare. The pseudoaneurysms of the subclavian artery constitute an exceptional complication. We report a case of a 40-year-old who presented an expanding hematoma of the right side of the neck after a road traffic accident. Radiography of the right shoulder showed a midclavicular fracture. An arterial doppler of vessels showed a circulating hematoma in the contact of the right subclavian artery with a correct distality flow. Computed tomographic angiogram of the chest confirmed the diagnosis of a false aneurysm in the postvertebral portion of the right subclavian artery. The treatment was surgical and consisted of excision of the false aneurysm and a repair of the arterial injury by an arterial patch, the clavicle was fixed with a reconstruction plate and screws. Early intervention appears to be indicated due to the risk of thrombo-embolic complications. Endovascular repair appears to be the preferred treatment modalities, due to a lower rate of cardiopulmonary complications, but it is reserved for much selected cases.

[Case study of ruptured gastroduodenal artery aneurysm revealed by hematemesis]. / Anévrisme rompu de l'artère gastroduodénale révélé par des hématémèses: à propos d'un cas.

Gastroduodenal artery aneurysm is a rare vascular lesion, asymptomatic in the majority of cases. However, ruptured aneurysm is associated with poor prognosis and mortality can achieve a 40% rate. We here report the case of an 83-year-old patient with abrupt onset of non-specific abdominal pain associated with hematemesis. Endoscopy showed beating formation compressing the duodenal bulb with active bleeding. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan was performed which objectified gastro duodenal artery aneurysms involving the artery ostium and making endovascular treatment impossible to perform. Thus, the patient underwent open surgery based on flattening associated with aneurysm exclusion and then complemented by bulb plasty. Post-operative CT scan confirmed total exclusion of the aneurysm with preservation of hepatic circulation.

Hybrid open and endovascular treatment of an aortic arch pseudoaneurysm in a patient with human immunodeficiency virus infection.

We describe an hybrid approach for aortic pseudoaneurysm with open and endovascular treatment as an alternative treatment for a high-risk patient infected with human immunodeficiency virus. A 42-year-old man, serum positive for human immunodeficiency virus, presented, with a large pseudoaneurysm of the arch aorta measuring 61 × 70 mm. An aortic arch debranching was performed, completed by thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair. A control computed tomography scan performed 3 months later showed a complete thrombosis of the pseudoaneurysm. The outcome of this treatment, particularly regarding the rate of infection, is yet to be determined, Longer follow-up is needed with a greater of patients.

Double localization of a non-anastomotic pseudoaneurysm after an axillofemoral bypass: a case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: A traumatic non-anastomotic pseudoaneurysm is a rare complication of an axillofemoral bypass graft. Fewer than 20 cases have been reported in the literature. Our case is unusual in that we report a double localization of this complication. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a 60-year-old Arabic male patient who was diagnosed with two hematomas in the trajectory of his axillofemoral bypass secondary to a traumatism. The diagnosis of a non-anastomotic pseudoaneurysm was retained considering the results of a computed tomography angiography scan, which showed the double localization of the pseudoaneurysm. Surgical management consisted of flattening the pseudoaneurysm along with the interposition of a prosthetic segment. There were no postoperative complications and our patient was well 3 years after discharge. CONCLUSIONS: Non-anastomotic pseudoaneurysm is a rarely described complication of a axillofemoral bypass graft. To the best of our knowledge, a double localization has not been described in the literature before. Minimally invasive techniques as a treatment option are being widely used as an alternative to open repair.

Infectious aneurysm of the two primary iliac arteries: rare localization of Salmonella typhimurium infection.

Infectious aneurysm is a severe entity of the aneurysmal pathology, due essentially to a bacterial agent. The most frequently implicated organisms are salmonella and staphylococci. We report the case of an infectious aneurysm of the two primitive iliac arteries with Salmonella typhimurium in a 70-year-old man.

Small bowel schwannoma revealed during an inguinal hernia: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: The association of bowel tumor and inguinal hernia is rare. We report according to our research the first case of the migration of a small bowel schwannoma into an inguinal hernia. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a 51-year-old Moroccan malen admitted for a non-reducible right inguinal hernia in which surgical exploration showed the presence of a small bowel tumor that had migrated into his hernia sac. A histopathological examination of the tumor was in favor of a small bowel schwannoma. CONCLUSION: Small bowel schwannoma is an exceptional clinical entity for which the diagnosis is difficult; its confirmation needs histological and immunohistochemical studies.