This study evaluated Staphylococcus aureus adhesion and biofilm formation on vascular grafts, which has seldom been investigated.
Adhesion and biofilm formation capabilities of three methicillin ...susceptible S. aureus strains (one biofilm forming reference strain and two clinical isolates) on five different vascular biomaterials were evaluated in vitro, including polyester (P), P + gelatin (PG), P + collagen (PC), PC + silver (PCS), and PCS + triclosan (PCST). Staphylococcus aureus adhesion on grafts was evaluated after one hour of culture and biofilm formation after 24 hours of culture by four different methods: spectrophotometry after crystal violet staining; sonicate fluid culture; metabolic assay; and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Optical density was compared using Mann–Whitney pairwise test, and bacterial counts using Wilcoxon pairwise test.
PCST grafts were most efficient in preventing S. aureus adhesion and biofilm formation, regardless of the method used. Bacterial counts and metabolic activity were significantly lower on PCST grafts after 24 hours (5.65 vs. 9.24 PCS, 8.99 PC, 8.82 PG, and 10.44 log10 CFU/mL P; p < .015), and only PCST grafts were bactericidal. Biofilm formation was significantly diminished on PCST grafts compared with all other grafts (p < .001). Bacterial viability and metabolic activity after 24 hours were more impaired on PG compared with PC graft, and were surprisingly higher on PCS compared with PC grafts. Biofilm biomass formed after exposure to P, PG, PC, and PCS grafts was also reduced after 24 hours of incubation with PCST grafts (p < .001). After 24 hours, few bacteria were visible by SEM on PCST grafts, whereas bacterial biofilm colonies were clearly identified on other graft surfaces.
Triclosan impregnated PCST grafts appeared to interfere with S. aureus adhesion from early stages of biofilm formation in vitro. Silver impregnation was not efficient in preventing biofilm formation, and collagen coating promoted S. aureus biofilm formation more than gelatin coating.
We report 5 cases of vascular Q fever complicated by polymicrobial superinfection in patients who had no risk factors for acute Q fever. Q fever was diagnosed by serologic and molecular assays for ...Coxiella burnetii. We confirmed additional infections using conventional graft cultures.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, ODKLJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysms (InflAAAs) account for 5 – 10% of aortic aneurysms and are characterised by retroperitoneal fibrosis. Diagnosis is often delayed, and doubts remain about the ...optimal management strategy. This scoping review describes the current state of knowledge on InflAAAs.
Medline, PubMed, EMBASE, and Scopus were searched for relevant studies that evaluated the diagnosis and treatment of InflAAAs. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol was followed.
Fifty-seven papers were selected (low level of evidence), which included 1 554 patients, who were mostly male and heavy smokers. A triad of chronic abdominal or back pain, weight loss, and elevated inflammatory markers was highly suggestive of the diagnosis but rarely present, and fever was noted only randomly. A mantle sign was seen on computed tomography angiography (CTA) in 73 – 100% of patients. Open surgical repair (OSR) and endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) was reported in 1 376 and 178 patients, respectively. OSR was associated with significant iatrogenic bowel (n = 22), urinary tract system (n = 7), venous (n = 30), pancreatic (n = 6), and splenic (n = 5) injuries, while EVAR was associated with lower 30 day mortality (0 – 5% vs. 0 – 32%). One and two year mortality rates were similar between the two treatment modalities (0 – 20% and 0 – 36%, respectively). EVAR was more often associated with post-operative progression of inflammation (17% vs. 0.4%), and a higher frequency of persistent hydronephrosis (> 50%) and limb occlusion (20%). Used in < 10% of patients, corticosteroids led to complete pain relief and a reduction in peri-aortic inflammation within 6 – 18 months.
InflAAAs are characterised by non-specific symptoms, with the mantle sign on CTA being pathognomonic. Corticosteroids may be considered a basic treatment that all patients should receive initially. Low quality data indicate that EVAR (vs. OSR) is associated with fewer intra-operative complications and lower peri-operative mortality but more late fibrosis related adverse events. International multicentre registries are required to gather more insights into this challenging pathology.
The incidence of campylobacteriosis has substantially increased over the past decade, notably in France. Secondary localizations complicating invasive infections are poorly described. We aimed to ...describe vascular infection or endocarditis caused by Campylobacter spp. We included 57 patients from a nationwide 5-year retrospective study on Campylobacter spp. bacteremia conducted in France; 44 patients had vascular infections, 12 had endocarditis, and 1 had both conditions. Campylobacter fetus was the most frequently involved species (83%). Antibiotic treatment involved a β-lactam monotherapy (54%) or was combined with a fluoroquinolone or an aminoglycoside (44%). The mortality rate was 25%. Relapse occurred in 8% of cases and was associated with delayed initiation of an efficient antimicrobial therapy after the first symptoms, diabetes, and coexistence of an osteoarticular location. Cardiovascular Campylobacter spp. infections are associated with a high mortality rate. Systematically searching for those localizations in cases of C. fetus bacteremia may be warranted.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, ODKLJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Of the 5,946 subjects who presented with incident aortoiliac ruptured aneurysm or dissection during the study period, 86 (median age 70 years; interquartile range: 62 to 80 years; 36% women) had been ...exposed to fluoroquinolones during the prior 180 days, of which 36 had been exposed during the 30-day risk window preceding the event. Aside from this internal and external consistency, the study we herein report has several strengths, some relating to the data source (drug reimbursements and hospitalization diagnoses and procedures exhaustive recording), and others to the design used, which, to mitigate the risk of confounding or indication biases, combines the advantages of a self-controlled design (self-adjustment for all time-unvarying confounders) with those of time-depending adjustment and use of an active comparator. ...our results confirm the existence of an increased risk of aortoiliac aneurysms or dissections in the month following fluoroquinolone initiation, which appears to be independent from the potential role of underlying infections.
The lack of innovation in Von Willebrand disease (VWD) originates from many factors including the complexity and heterogeneity of the disease but also from a lack of recognition of the impact of the ...bleeding symptoms experienced by VWD patients. Recently, a few research initiatives aiming to move past replacement therapies using plasma-derived or recombinant Von Willebrand factor (VWF) concentrates have started to emerge. Here we report an original approach using synthetic platelet (SP) nanoparticles for treatment of VWD type 2B (VWD-2B) and severe VWD (type 3 VWD). SP are liposomal nanoparticles decorated with peptides enabling them to concomitantly bind to collagen, VWF and activated platelets. In vitro, using various microfluidic assays, we show the efficacy of SP to improve thrombus formation in VWF-deficient condition (with human platelets) or using blood from VWD-2B mice and VWF-deficient mice (VWF-KO, i.e., type 3 VWD). In vivo, using a tail clip assay, SP treatment reduced blood loss by 35% in VWD-2B mice and 68% in VWF-KO mice. Additional studies using nanoparticles decorated with various combinations of peptides demonstrated that the collagen binding peptide, although not sufficient by itself, was absolutely crucial for SP efficacy in VWD-2B while all three peptides appeared necessary for VWF-KO mice. Clot imaging by immunofluorescence and scanning electron microscopy revealed that SP treatment of VWF-KO mice led to a strong clot, similar to those obtained in wild-type mice. Altogether, our results show that SP could represent an attractive therapeutic alternative for VWD, especially considering their long half-life and stability.
The lack of widespread availability of Fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair (F-EVAR) encouraged alternative strategies. Hence, Chimney graft (CG)-EVAR spread when costs, manufacturing delays, or ...anatomy preclude F-EVAR. Our objective is to evaluate CG- and F-EVAR outcomes depending on the angulation of target renal arteries and hostility of iliac accesses in order to determine the potential impact of a choice made between both techniques on the basis of preoperative anatomic criteria.
Consecutive patients treated by CG-EVAR or F-EVAR, from January 2010 to January 2015, were considered for inclusion. Anatomic parameters were defined by preoperative computed tomography angiography. A subgroup analysis was performed depending on renal arteries' angulation (cut-off: -30°) and iliac arteries' hostility (cut-off: diameter <6 mm, tortuosity index = 3).
Twenty-six patients were included the CG group (mean age 74.7 ± 6.9 years, 30 target vessels) and 66 in the F-EVAR group (71.7 ± 7.9 years, 133 target vessels). Infrarenal aortic neck length was significantly longer for CG-EVAR (3.3 ± 3.7 vs. 1.8 ± 3.2 mm, P = 0.04), while the distance between the superior mesenteric artery and highest renal artery was shorter in the CG group (11.7 ± 6.2 mm vs. 14.1 ± 5.9 mm, P = 0.06). Longitudinal angulation of the right renal artery was not statistically different between both groups, while the left renal artery presented with a significantly more downward angulation in the CG group (-32.0 ± 15.3 vs. -19.0 ± 19.6, P = 0.003). There were significantly more grade 3 iliac tortuosity indexes for CG-EVAR (P = 0.03) with significantly smaller external iliac diameters (7.8 ± 1.7 vs. 8.8 ± 1.6 mm, P = 0.0009). There was 1 renal artery early occlusion in the <-30° CG subgroup and 2 in the <-30° F-EVAR subgroup where severe downward angulation crushed the stents, with a tendency toward higher early occlusions compared with the ≥-30° F-EVAR subgroup (P = 0.054). Mean follow-up duration was 20 months in the CG group and 14 in the F-EVAR group. Kaplan-Meier estimates showed no significant difference in terms of overall survival, freedom from reintervention, freedom from type I or III endoleak, or patency. In the CG group, 14 patients (53.8%) presented with hostile iliac accesses without any significant difference in terms of limb events.
CG-EVAR is a complementary strategy to F-EVAR, and understanding which technique is applicable to which patient is important to improve outcomes. Our results suggest that considering renal artery angulation and diameter, iliac artery hostility, and aortic neck length among other parameters may help the surgeon make a decision toward the endovascular strategy that seems best suited for each specific patient.
To report the midterm experience with chimney-endovascular aneurysm repair (Ch-EVAR) with the use of open self-expending stents for branch vessel preservation.
From July 2010 to May 2017, 67 patients ...underwent open Ch-EVAR because their proximal landing zones were adjacent to, or covered, the renal or mesenteric arteries (Zones 7-9), and they were not suitable for standard or fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair. The proximal landing zone was relocated below the highest renal artery in 46 cases, the superior mesenteric artery in 17 cases, and the celiac artery in 4 cases, using 84 open chimneys (131 stents). A subgroup analysis was performed between an early (2010-2014) and a later (2015-2017) time period. Thirty-two patients were treated during the early period, and 35 were treated during the later period. In the later period, open chimneys were strengthened by a second self-expanding stent.
The primary technical success rate was 89.6%; the early mortality rate was 9.0%; and the median follow-up duration was 13 months (range, 1-76 months). The estimated actuarial survival rate was 85.7% in year 1 and 79.2% in year 2, and the estimated patency rate of open chimneys reached 95.2% at 2 years. Aneurysm sac regression >5 mm and sac stability rates were 39.0% and 57.6%, respectively. Freedom from aneurysm-related reintervention was lower in the later period (log-rank P = .04), while type Ia endoleaks tended to be twice as likely.
Midterm results of open Ch-EVAR show high technical success with acceptable midterm patency and lack of endoleak in appropriately selected patients. The advantages over covered stents are lower-profile delivery systems and maintenance of branch vessel patency in early bifurcations and overlying visceral vessels.