A novel assessment, diagnostic and treatment system for diabetic foot.

BACKGROUND: This report aims to present a novel system for the management of foot lesions in patients with diabetes. It was developed in the diabetic foot unit (DFU) of the Mutua de Terrassa University Hospital (HUMT) by primary care professionals, the Diabetic Foot Clinic (DFC), and during emergency cases treated by our group based on daily activities in patients with neuropathy or neuroischemia. BODY: This system considers five degrees of action based on two fixed variables: presence of infection and lesion depth. These two variables allowed the user to investigate aspects of the system until the overall action required by the pathology is made clear. These variables establish pathology stages of various severities that require different actions in aspects of care, management and treatment. CONCLUSION: This tool facilitates diagnosis, treatment, and coordination among different members of a multidisciplinary team working in specialized hospital units, primary care centers, and emergency settings.

Novel pharmacological approaches in abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a severe vascular disease and a major public health issue with an unmet medical need for therapy. This disease is featured by a progressive dilation of the abdominal aorta, boosted by atherosclerosis, ageing, and smoking as major risk factors. Aneurysm growth increases the risk of aortic rupture, a life-threatening emergency with high mortality rates. Despite the increasing progress in our knowledge about the etiopathology of AAA, an effective pharmacological treatment against this disorder remains elusive and surgical repair is still the unique available therapeutic approach for high-risk patients. Meanwhile, there is no medical alternative for patients with small aneurysms but close surveillance. Clinical trials assessing the efficacy of antihypertensive agents, statins, doxycycline, or anti-platelet drugs, among others, failed to demonstrate a clear benefit limiting AAA growth, while data from ongoing clinical trials addressing the benefit of metformin on aneurysm progression are eagerly awaited. Recent preclinical studies have postulated new therapeutic targets and pharmacological strategies paving the way for the implementation of future clinical studies exploring these novel therapeutic strategies. This review summarises some of the most relevant clinical and preclinical studies in search of new therapeutic approaches for AAA.

Rolipram Prevents the Formation of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) in Mice: PDE4B as a Target in AAA.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a common life-threatening condition characterized by exacerbated inflammation and the generation of reactive oxygen species. Pharmacological treatments to slow AAA progression or to prevent its rupture remain a challenge. Targeting phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) has been verified as an effective therapeutic strategy for an array of inflammatory conditions; however, no studies have assessed yet PDE4 in AAA. Here, we used angiotensin II (AngII)-infused apolipoprotein E deficient mice to study the involvement of the PDE4 subfamily in aneurysmal disease. PDE4B but not PDE4D was upregulated in inflammatory cells from both experimental and human AAA. The administration of the PDE4 selective inhibitor rolipram (3 mg/kg/day) to AngII-challenged mice (1000 ng/kg bodyweight/min) protected against AAA formation, limiting the progressive increase in the aortic diameter without affecting the blood pressure. The drug strongly attenuated the rise in vascular oxidative stress (superoxide anion) induced by AngII, and decreased the expression of inflammatory markers, as well as the recruitment of macrophages (MAC3+), lymphocytes (CD3+), and neutrophils (ELANE+) into the vessel wall. Rolipram also normalized the vascular MMP2 expression and MMP activity, preserving the elastin integrity and improving the vascular remodelling. These results point to PDE4B as a new therapeutic target for AAA.

Fisiopatología del aneurisma de aorta abdominal: biomarcadores y nuevas dianas terapéuticas / Pathophisiology of abdominal aortic aneurysm: biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets

El aneurisma de aorta abdominal (AAA) es una patología vascular con una elevada tasa de morbimortalidad y una prevalencia que, en varones de más de 65 años, puede alcanzar el 8%. En esta enfermedad, habitualmente asintomática, se produce una dilatación progresiva de la pared vascular que puede llevar a su rotura, un fenómeno mortal en más de un 80% de los casos. El tratamiento de los pacientes con aneurismas asintomáticos se limita al seguimiento periódico con pruebas de imagen, el control de los factores de riesgo cardiovascular y un tratamiento con terapia antiagregante y estatinas, si bien actualmente no existe ningún tratamiento farmacológico efectivo capaz de limitar su progresión o evitar su rotura. En la actualidad el diámetro aórtico es el único marcador de riesgo de rotura y determina la necesidad de reparación quirúrgica cuando alcanza valores superiores a 5,5 cm. En esta revisión se tratan los principales aspectos relacionados con la epidemiología, los factores de riesgo, el diagnóstico y el manejo terapéutico del AAA, se exponen las dificultades para disponer de buenos biomarcadores de esta enfermedad y se describen las estrategias para la identificación de nuevas dianas terapéuticas y biomarcadores en el AAA

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a vascular pathology with a high rate of morbidity and mortality and a prevalence that, in men over 65 years, can reach around 8%. In this disease, usually asymptomatic, there is a progressive dilatation of the vascular wall that can lead to its rupture, a fatal phenomenon in more than 80% of cases. The treatment of patients with asymptomatic aneurysms is limited to periodic monitoring with imaging tests, control of cardiovascular risk factors and treatment with statins and antiplatelet therapy. There is no effective pharmacological treatment capable of limiting AAA progression or avoiding their rupture. At present, the aortic diameter is the only marker of risk of rupture and determines the need for surgical repair when it reaches values greater than 5.5 cm. This review addresses the main aspects related to epidemiology, risk factors, diagnosis and clinical management of AAA, exposes the difficulties to have good biomarkers of this pathology and describes the strategies for the identification of new therapeutic targets and biomarkers in AAA

Pathophisiology of abdominal aortic aneurysm: biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets. / Fisiopatología del aneurisma de aorta abdominal: biomarcadores y nuevas dianas terapéuticas.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a vascular pathology with a high rate of morbidity and mortality and a prevalence that, in men over 65 years, can reach around 8%. In this disease, usually asymptomatic, there is a progressive dilatation of the vascular wall that can lead to its rupture, a fatal phenomenon in more than 80% of cases. The treatment of patients with asymptomatic aneurysms is limited to periodic monitoring with imaging tests, control of cardiovascular risk factors and treatment with statins and antiplatelet therapy. There is no effective pharmacological treatment capable of limiting AAA progression or avoiding their rupture. At present, the aortic diameter is the only marker of risk of rupture and determines the need for surgical repair when it reaches values greater than 5.5cm. This review addresses the main aspects related to epidemiology, risk factors, diagnosis and clinical management of AAA, exposes the difficulties to have good biomarkers of this pathology and describes the strategies for the identification of new therapeutic targets and biomarkers in AAA.

Lysyl oxidase (LOX) limits VSMC proliferation and neointimal thickening through its extracellular enzymatic activity.

Lysyl oxidase (LOX) plays a critical role in extracellular matrix maturation and limits VSMC proliferation and vascular remodeling. We have investigated whether this anti-proliferative effect relies on the extracellular catalytically active LOX or on its biologically active propeptide (LOX-PP). High expression levels of both LOX and LOX-PP were detected in the vascular wall from transgenic mice over-expressing the full-length human LOX cDNA under the control of SM22α promoter (TgLOX), which targets the transgene to VSMC without affecting the expression of mouse LOX isoenzymes. TgLOX VSMC also secrete high amounts of both mature LOX and LOX-PP. Wild-type (WT) mouse VSMC exposed to VSMC supernatants from transgenic animals showed reduced proliferative rates (low [3H]-thymidine uptake and expression of PCNA) than those incubated with conditioned media from WT cells, effect that was abrogated by ß-aminopropionitrile (BAPN), an inhibitor of LOX activity. Lentiviral over-expression of LOX, but not LOX-PP, decreased human VSMC proliferation, effect that was also prevented by BAPN. LOX transgenesis neither impacted local nor systemic inflammatory response induced by carotid artery ligation. Interestingly, in this model, BAPN normalized the reduced neointimal thickening observed in TgLOX mice. Therefore, extracellular enzymatically active LOX is required to limit both VSMC proliferation and vascular remodeling.

Síndrome de Stewar-Treves / Stewart-Treves syndrome

El síndrome de Stewart-Treves es uno de los tumores vasculares más agresivos, siendo su diagnóstico muchas veces tardío. Se define como un tumor maligno de origen lingfático (linfangiosarcoma) que se origina en la extremidad superior afecta de linfedema crónico secundario a mastectomía por neoplasia de mama. Su incidencia del 0,5% de los pacientes con linfedema postmastectomía, apareciendo en una media de 9 años después del inicio del linfedema. Se caracteriza por la presencia de una o múltiples máculas de color rojizo o rojo-púrpura en el miembro superior que tienden a crecer y multiplicarse convirtiéndose en nódulos duros, con tendencia a la ulceración y hemorragias espontáneas. Cursan con metástasis precoces a nivel torácico. Creemos importante que los cirujanos vasculares conozcan esta enfermedad, siendo el diagnóstico precoz y el tratamiento multidisciplinar la única esperanza para estos pacientes

Stewart-Treves Síndrome is one of the most aggresive vascular neoplasm. Sometimes the diagnosis is late. This neoplasm is a lymphatic tumor (lymphangiosarcoma) which appears in an upper limb with chronic lymphedema postmastectomy, arising 9 years after the appearance of lymphedema´s symptoms. The clinical features are one or multiple rose or red-purple macular lesions in the upper limb. The natural evolution of the lesions are growing and becoming a hard nodule with tendency of ulceration and spontaneous hemorrhage. The thoracic metastasis is early. We think is important that the vascular surgeons recognize this pathology, being the early diagnosis and the multidisciplinary treatment the unique opportunity for these patients

TVP ílio-femoral derecha en paciente con malformación de la vena cava inferior / No disponible

La agenesia infrarrenal de la vena cava inferior (VCI) es una malformación rara, con pocas publicaciones al respecto a nivel mundial. Es secundaria a una trombosis del segmento caudal de la vena supracardinal derecha en la fase embrionaria, debido en aproximadamente 60% de los casos según nuestra experiencia a un defecto genético de las proteínas C y/o S. La mayoría de los pacientes con esta patología observados son varones que debutan con clínica de trombosis venosa ílio-femoral. Presentamos un caso de agenesia de VCI infrarrenal en un joven de 22 años remitido desde medicina Interna (donde estaba en estudio desde hace más de 1 año por molestias abdominales y sudoración nocturna, así como febrícula ocasional)) con clínica de trombosis venosa profunda en extremidad inferior derecha. Se diagnosticó por eco-Doppler de trombosis venosa iliio-femora derecha y se practicó TC abdominal que objetivó agenesia de VCI infrarenal y trombosis veneosa ílio-femoral derecha. El estudio biológico de la enfermedad tromboembólica venosa (ETEV) evidenció un trastorno congénito de las proteínas C y S (AU)

The inferior vena cava agenesis is uncommon, with very few publications all over the world. Is secondary to thrombosis of caudal segment of right supracardinal vein in the embrionary development, as a result of genetic disturbances of C and/or S proteins in 60% of cases (in our experience). The majority of these patients are young men and initiate their symptomatology with signs of iliofemora thrombosis. We are presenting a patient of 22 years old with agenesia of inferior vena cava, remitted us by his internist (who examined him for abdominal discomfort, night sweat and fever occasionally) with symptoms of deep vein thrombosis of the right lower limb. The diagnosis was based in Doppler ecography study and CT images who showed the agenesia of infrarenal vena cava and iliofemora thrombosis. The biological study revealed congenital deficiencies of C and S proteins (AU)

Caso excepcional de thrombosis del Sistema venoso cava inferior / No disponible

Se trata de un caso excepcional de thrombosis que afectó todo el sistema venosos profundo de la extremidad y la vena cava inferior. Clínicamente se presentó como una flegmasía cerúlea dolens, manifestación grave de la enfermedad tromboembólica venosa (ETEV). Para l a valoración diagnóstica se realizó tomografía computerizada observándose trombosis de la vena cava inferior hasta su nivel hepático. El tratamiento fue contundente con fibirnolíticos y heparina de bajo peso molecular, presentando una buena evolución y ninguna complicación (AU)

This is an exceptional case of thrombosis that affected all extremity Deep venous system and inferior digging. Clinically appeared like a serious manifestation of the venous thrombosis-embolism disease (ETEV). For diagnosis evaluation was made a tomography being observed vein inferior digs until its liver level. Treatment was forceful with fibrionolitics and low molecular weight heparine, displaying a good evolution and no complication (AU)