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ESC Heart Failure Oct 2020The presence of chronic heart failure (CHF) results in a significant risk of leg oedema. Medical compression (MC) treatment is one of the basic methods of leg oedema... (Review)
Review
The presence of chronic heart failure (CHF) results in a significant risk of leg oedema. Medical compression (MC) treatment is one of the basic methods of leg oedema elimination in patients with chronic venous disease and lymphedema, but it is not routinely considered in subjects with CHF-related swelling. In the study, an overview of the current knowledge related to the benefits and risk of using MC in the supportive treatment of leg oedema in CHF patients is presented. The available studies dedicated the comprehensive management of leg swelling using MC in CHF patients published in the English language literature till December 2019 were evaluated in term of the treatment efficacy and safety. In studies performed on CHF populations, manual lymphatic drainage, MC stocking, multilayer bandaged, as well as intermittent pneumatic compression or electric calf stimulations were used. The current evidence is based on non-randomized studies, small study cohorts, as well as very heterogenous populations. The use of the intermittent pneumatic compression in CHF patients significantly increases the right auricular pressure and mean pulmonary artery pressures as well as decreases systemic vascular resistance in most patients without the clinical worsening. The transient and rapid increase in the human atrial natriuretic peptide, after an application of the MC stocking in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II patients was observed without clinical exacerbation. An application of the multilayer bandages in NYHA classes III and IV patients lead a significant increase in the right arterial pressure and lead to transient deterioration of the right and the left ventricular functions. In the manual lymphatic drainage study, aside from expected leg circumference reduction, no clinical worsening was observed. In a pilot study performed in a small cohort of CHF patients, electrical calf stimulation use resulted in a reduction in the lean mass of the legs without cardiac function worsening. The use of local leg compression can be considered stable CHF patients without decompensated heart function for both CHF-related oedema treatment and for treatment of the concomitant diseases leading to leg swelling occurrence. The use of MC in more severe classes of CHF (NYHA III and IV) should be the subject of future clinical studies to select the safest and most efficient compression method as well as to select the patients who benefit most from this kind of treatment.
Topics: Edema; Heart Failure; Humans; Leg; Pilot Projects; Pressure
PubMed: 32710511
DOI: 10.1002/ehf2.12848 -
Autonomic Neuroscience : Basic &... Jan 2022Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability globally. A significant proportion of stroke survivors are left with long term neurological deficits that... (Review)
Review
Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability globally. A significant proportion of stroke survivors are left with long term neurological deficits that have a detrimental effect on personal wellbeing and wider socioeconomic impacts. As such, there is an unmet need for novel therapies that improve neurological recovery after stroke. Invasive vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) paired with rehabilitation has been shown to improve upper limb motor function in chronic stroke. However, invasive VNS requires a surgical procedure and therefore may not be suitable for all stroke patients. Non-invasive, transcutaneous VNS (tVNS) via auricular vagus nerve stimulation in the ear (taVNS) and cervical vagus nerve stimulation in the neck (tcVNS) have been shown to activate similar vagal nerve projections in the central nervous system to invasive VNS. A number of pre-clinical studies indicate that tVNS delivered in acute middle cerebral artery occlusion reduces infarct size through anti-inflammatory effects, reduced excitotoxicity and increased blood-brain barrier integrity. Longer term effects of tVNS in stroke that may mediate neuroplasticity include microglial polarisation, angiogenesis and neurogenesis. Pilot clinical trials of taVNS indicate that taVNS paired with rehabilitation may improve upper limb motor and sensory function in patients with chronic stroke. In this review, we summarise and critically appraise the current pre-clinical and clinical evidence, outline the major ongoing clinical trials and detail the challenges and future directions regarding tVNS in acute and chronic stroke.
Topics: Humans; Sensation; Stroke; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation; Vagus Nerve; Vagus Nerve Stimulation
PubMed: 34861612
DOI: 10.1016/j.autneu.2021.102909 -
European Journal of Rheumatology Dec 2015Relapsing polychondritis (RPC) is a unique and rarely observed autoimmune condition regarded as recurrent extensive chondritis of the auricular, nasal, and tracheal... (Review)
Review
Relapsing polychondritis (RPC) is a unique and rarely observed autoimmune condition regarded as recurrent extensive chondritis of the auricular, nasal, and tracheal cartilages. Moreover, heart, main arteries, skin, and eyes may be involved. Several forms of clinical manifestations may be seen, and the pathogenesis still remains anonymous. A concomitant disease, particularly myelodysplasia or other systemic autoimmune disease can be detected in one-third of the patients with RPC. The treatment of RPC should be considered on personal basis and classified according to disease activity and severity. This study reviews the available data on clinical manifestations, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and therapeutics of the RPC.
PubMed: 27708954
DOI: 10.5152/eurjrheum.2015.0036 -
Journal of Pediatric Hematology/oncology Apr 2018A 17 year old female presented with a progressive swelling on the left pinna for 2 years. On examination the left pinna was enlarged and a pulsatile swelling was felt...
A 17 year old female presented with a progressive swelling on the left pinna for 2 years. On examination the left pinna was enlarged and a pulsatile swelling was felt with an audible bruit. A diagnosis of arteriovenous malformation was confirmed by an angiography which revealed primary feeding vessel from the post auricular artery. The vessel was embolized and the mass excised.
Topics: Adolescent; Arteriovenous Malformations; Ear Auricle; Ear Diseases; Embolization, Therapeutic; Female; Humans
PubMed: 29176464
DOI: 10.1097/MPH.0000000000001023 -
The Journal of Craniofacial SurgeryThe temporoparietal fascial (TPF) and occipital cranial fascial (OCP) flaps are the mainstay of implant coverage in alloplastic auricular reconstruction. Their optimal...
INTRODUCTION
The temporoparietal fascial (TPF) and occipital cranial fascial (OCP) flaps are the mainstay of implant coverage in alloplastic auricular reconstruction. Their optimal design is critical for elevating a robust flap that ultimately leads to favorable outcomes.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Sixteen TPF and OCP dissections were performed on 8 cadaveric specimens. Vascular anatomy and key landmarks were documented. The minimum flap size that incorporated ideal vasculature and would appropriately cover a porous polyethylene implant was measured.
RESULTS
The minimum flap dimensions (length × width × base width) to cover a standard PPE auricular implants were on average 11×8.3×6.4 cm for TPF and 13.1×8.6×6.5 cm for OCP. The average axial length of the superficial temporal artery and occipital artery were 12.51 and 13.2 cm, respectively. An "occipital elbow" was located on average 8.2 cm posterior to the external acoustic canal. The postauricular fascia contained additional contributions from the occipital artery and mastoid emissary vein, which was located on average 5.9 cm posterior to the superficial temporal artery.
CONCLUSIONS
This study highlights the anatomic features behind optimal TPF and OCP flap design for auricular reconstruction. Contributions to axial length and anatomic relationships of their primary arterial supply, significance of the occipital elbow as a reliable landmark for fascial dissection, and importance of the postauricular fascia and its vascular supply for flap viability are emphasized. Ultimately, the authors provide minimal dimensions for both TPF and OCP flaps to obtain adequate alloplastic implant coverage.
Topics: Humans; Dental Implants; Surgical Flaps; Fascia; Temporal Arteries; Polyethylene
PubMed: 36217234
DOI: 10.1097/SCS.0000000000008698 -
Advanced Healthcare Materials Oct 2023Brachytherapy, including radioactive seed implantation (RSI) and transarterial radiation therapy embolization (TARE), is an important treatment modality for advanced...
Brachytherapy, including radioactive seed implantation (RSI) and transarterial radiation therapy embolization (TARE), is an important treatment modality for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the inability of RSI and TARE to treat tumor metastasis and recurrence limits their benefits for patients in the clinic. Herein, indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) inhibitors-loaded alginate microspheres (IMs) are developed as radionuclide carriers with immunomodulatory functions to achieve effective radio-immunotherapy. The size and swelling properties of IMs can be facilely tailored by adjusting the calcium source during emulsification. Small/large IMs(SIMs/LIMs) are biocompatible and available for RSI and TARE, respectively, after Lu labeling. Among them, Lu-SIMs completely eliminated subcutaneous HCC in mice after intratumoral RSI. Moreover, in combination with anti-PD-L1, Lu-SIMs not only eradicate primary tumors by RSI but also effectively inhibit the growth of distant tumors, wherein the potent abscopal effect can be ascribed to the immune stimulation of RSI and the modulation of the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) by IDO1 inhibitors. In parallel, LIMs demonstrate excellent embolization efficiency, resulting in visible necrotic lesions in the central auricular artery of rabbits, which are promising for TARE in future studies. Collectively, a versatile therapeutic agent is provided to synchronously modulate the TIME during brachytherapy for efficient radio-immunotherapy of advanced HCC.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Mice; Rabbits; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Liver Neoplasms; Microspheres; Radioisotopes; Immunotherapy; Tumor Microenvironment
PubMed: 37235739
DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202300944