Ultrasound-guided percutaneous aspiration of adventitial cysts in the occluded popliteal artery – clinical results and MR findings at 5-year follow-up

Cystic adventitial disease is a rare disorder that occurs in peripheral arteries. Calf claudica­tion caused by compression of the popliteal artery is a typical presentation of this disease. This is a report of two cases of occluded popliteal artery decompression by percutaneous ultrasound-guided cyst aspiration. In both cases, decompression of the artery was achieved with a significant decrease in the size of adventitial cysts and restoration of flow. Both pa­tients reported complete resolution of symptoms and no calf pain 5 years after the proce­dure. MR findings and resolution of symptoms in these two patients show the efficacy of percutaneous adventitial cyst aspiration in a 5-year follow-up

An X-ray lead screen may be used to reduce an interventional radiologist's radiation exposure during CT-guided procedures

Purpose: The exposure of both patient and operator to radiation is one of the limitations of computed tomography (CT)-guided interventions, and it should be kept as low as reasonably possible. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of a lead screen in reducing the radiation dose to an operator in the course of CT-guided interventions. Material and methods: This prospective study analysed data collected from 72 consecutive CT-guided procedures, all of which were performed with an X-ray protective lead screen placed between the scanner and the operator. Five dosimeters were placed in the CT scanning room, and accumulated radiation doses were measured for each dosimeter. Results: The dosimeter placed on the gantry side of the lead screen revealed highest levels of radiation (11.33 ± 1.93 mSv), which were significantly higher than those at all other dosimeters. The radiation dose behind the lead screen was almost the same when measured by dosimeters on the CT scanner gantry side and 3 metres away from it. The presence of the screen caused no discomfort for operators. Conclusions: A lead screen reduces an operator's radiation exposure significantly, while not posing any obstacles or causing any discomfort while CT-guided procedures are carried out

A note on Blasius type boundary value problems

The existence and uniqueness of a solution to a generalized Blasius equation with asymptotic boundary conditions is proved. A new numerical approximation method is proposed

MRI-guided fiducial marker implantation as a method of tagging an ultrasound- and non-enhanced CT-invisible liver tumor before thermal ablation

Some liver tumors are not visible on ultrasound or non-enhanced CT (NECT) which are main modalities used in image-guided ablations. This is a report of MR-guided implantation of fiducial marker to tag a neuroendocrine tumor metastasis in a patient with renal insufficiency precluding the use of contrast – enhanced CT during ablation. The marker was well visible on NECT which allowed for precise needle placement and complete ablation which was confirmed in 12-months follow-up

Microwave ablation of colorectal cancer lung metastases — the first experience in Poland

Introduction. This study aimed to present the results of the first experiences in thermal ablation of colorectal cancer lung metastases in Poland.  Material and methods. Seven patients with colorectal cancer lung metastases were treated with CT-guided microwave ablation. One of them was lost to follow-up, so 6 patients with 7 metastatic foci were included in this study. The mean diameter of lesions was 15 mm (10–20 mm). The patients were disqualified from surgical treatment due to comorbidities.  Results. The mean duration of follow-up was 15 months (range: 6–29). No mortality was noted during that period. Local progression was not reported, while distant progression was found in two patients. Two patients presented with pneumothorax just after the ablation, and one of them required chest tube drainage. No complications were noted.  Conclusions. Patients with a few small colorectal cancer lung metastases can benefit from thermal ablation. The method is safe and should be available for medically inoperable patients with pulmonary oligometastatic disease

Effect of ASA dose doubling versus switching to clopidogrel on plasma inflammatory markers concentration in patients with type 2 diabetes and high platelet reactivity: The AVOCADO study

Background: The aim of the study was to compare the effects of 2 strategies of antiplatelet treatment (i.e., 150 mg ASA vs. 75 mg clpoidogrel) on plasma level of inflammatory markers in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with high platelet reactivity (HPR).Methods: Study cohort consisted of 304 T2DM patients on chronic ASA therapy (75 mg per day) participating in the Aspirin Versus/Or Clopidogrel in Aspirin-resistant Diabetics inflammation Outcomes (AVOCADO) study. Patients with HPR defined as Platelet Function Analyzer (PFA)-100 collagene/epinephrine closure time (CEPI-CT) < 193 s (n = 80) were randomized to 150 mg of ASA or 75 mg of clopidogrel in 2:3 ratio, respectively. Concentrations of the selected inflammatory markers, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, solubleCD40 ligand (sCD40L), and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), were measured and compared in both treatment groups before and after 8 weeks of treatment in both groups.Results: Out of 234 patients included into final analysis, the total of 34.2% (n = 80) patients displayed HPR, of which 14.1% (n = 33) were randomized into 150 mg of ASA group and 20.1% (n = 47) into 75 mg of clopidogrel group. Treatment with clopidogrel was a positive predictor (stepwise multiple regression analysis) of reduction of sCD40L concentration (odds ratio [OR] 4.15; p = 0.013), while treatment with 150 mg ASA was a positive predictor of reduction of IL-6 concentration (OR 4.38; p = 0.033). There was no statistically significant differences between clopidogrel and ASA 150 mg treatment in respect to predictive value for decreased hsCRP concentrations or increased TNF-α concentrations.Conclusions: Increasing the dose of ASA from 75 mg to 150 mg daily or switching ASA 75 mg to clopidogrel 75 mg daily may reduce concentrations of some inflammatory markers (in particular hsCRP, IL-6 and CD40L) in T2DM patients with HPR treated previously with 75 mg of ASA

Association of plasma concentrations of salicylic acid and high on ASA platelet reactivity in type 2 diabetes patients

Background: The objective of this study was to investigate the association between plasmaconcentrations of salicylic acid (SA) and other minor acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) metabolitesand high on ASA platelet reactivity assessed with different methods in type 2 diabetic patients(T2DM).Methods: Study cohort consisted of 293 T2DM patients on chronic ASA therapy. Plateletfunction inhibition was analyzed using measurements of serum thromboxane B2 (S-TxB2),VerifyNow Aspirin and Platelet Function Analyzer (PFA)-100 assays. The concentration of ASAmetabolites in plasma was measured with a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).Results: In logistic regression analysis both ASA dose/kg of body weight and plasma SAconcentration were found to be predictive of S-TxB2 concentrations above 0.72 ng/mL cut-offpoint (OR 16.9, 95% CI 2.29–125.8, p = 0.006 and OR 5.34, 95% CI 2.67–10.68, p < 0.001,respectively). When using the VerifyNow Aspirin Assay, the concentrations of SA were signifi -cantly lower (p = 0.007) in the group with high on ASA platelet reactivity when compared withthe group with normal on ASA platelet reactivity. In logistic regression analysis plasma SAconcentration was found to be predictive of VerifyNow Aspirin Reaction Units (ARU) ≥ 550(OR 3.86, 95% CI 1.86–8.00, p < 0.001).Conclusions: Our study suggests that disturbances of pharmacokinetic mechanisms mightcontribute to lower plasma SA levels, and subsequently incomplete inhibition of thromboxane A2synthesis as measured with S-TxB2 concentrations and increased platelet reactivity measuredwith VerifyNow in T2DM patients

Are adipokines associated with atrial fibrillation in type 2 diabetes?

Introduction: The potential effect of adipokines on the development of AF is yet to be established. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of baseline serum adipokines with 1) the presence of AF at baseline and 2) future risk of AF development. Material and methods: The current study is a sub-analysis of the prospective, randomised AVOCADO (Aspirin Vs./Or Clopidogrel in Aspirin-resistant Diabetics inflammation Outcomes) trial. The AVOCADO study included patients with type 2 DM burdened with at least two additional cardiovascular risk factors and receiving acetylsalicylic acid. In patients included in the current analysis adipokines and inflammatory biomarker levels were measured. Information on the subsequent AF diagnosis was collected after a median of 5.4 years of follow-up. Results: A total of 273 patients with type 2 DM (median age 68 years; 52% male) were included in the initial analysis comparing patients with and without AF at baseline. Patients with diagnosed AF (12%) had higher levels of serum resistin [8.5 (5.8–10.5) vs. 6.9 (5.6–8.7) ng/mL; p = 0.034], adiponectin [6.9 (5.6–8.7) vs. 2.7 (1.8–4.2) ng/mL; p = 0.032], and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide [336 (148–473) vs. 108 [45–217]; p < 0.001) than non-AF patients. There were no significant differences in serum leptin, IL-6, and TNF-alpha concentrations between the two groups. From subjects without known AF at study entry, 19% developed AF at follow-up. In logistic regression analysis, baseline adipokine levels did not predict AF development. Conclusion: In type 2 DM, patients with AF have higher resistin and adiponectin concentrations than patients with no AF. None of the studied adipokines proved a predictor of future AF development.

Metabolic control of type 2 diabetes in cardiac patients — with respect to the changing Diabetes Poland guidelines

Wstęp. Cukrzyca istotnie zwiększa ryzyko wystąpienia zdarzeń sercowo-naczyniowych. Celem pracy była ocena wyrównania cukrzycy u pacjentów z cukrzycą typu 2, obciążonych kardiologicznie. Materiał i metody. Analizą objęto 293 pacjentów z cukrzycą typu 2, obciążonych dodatkowymi czynnikami ryzyka sercowo-naczyniowego, wyselekcjonowanych spośród uczestników prospektywnego badania AVO­CADO (2008–2011). Przeprowadzono ocenę wyrównania cukrzycy zgodnie z wytycznymi Polskiego Towarzystwa Diabetologicznego z 2008, 2011 i 2014 roku. Wyniki. Średnia wieku w badanej grupie wynosiła 67,4 roku, a mediana czasu trwania cukrzycy — 8 lat. Wyłącznie doustnymi lekami przeciwcukrzycowymi leczonych było 66,6% pacjentów, wyłącznie insuliną — 13,7%, a leczenie skojarzone otrzymywało 19,8% chorych. Nadciśnienie tętnicze występowało u 91,5%, choroba wieńcowa u 54,6%, przebyty zawał serca u 30,7%, a przebyty udar mózgu lub przejściowy epizod niedokrwienny ośrodkowego układu nerwowego u 9,9% chorych. Mediana odsetka hemoglobiny glikowanej (HbA1c) wynosiła 6,6%. Odsetek HbA1c mniejszy lub równy 7,0% stwierdzono u 74,4% pacjentów. Kryterium wyrównania gospodarki węglowodanowej zgodnie z wytycznymi PTD z 2008 roku spełniało 46,1% pacjentów, a z lat 2011 i 2014 — 57,3% chorych. Docelowe wartości stężenia cholesterolu całkowitego, LDL, HDL i triglicerydów osiągnięto odpowiednio u: 62,1%, 43,4%, 53,9% i 67,9% chorych. Kryterium wyrównania ciśnienia tętniczego zgodnie w wytycznymi PTD z 2008, 2011 i 2014 roku spełniało odpowiednio 13,7%, 39,6% i 34,5% pacjentów. Jedynie 2,1% (PTD 2008), 6,5% (PTD 2011) i 4,8% (PTD 2014) chorych spełniało jednocześnie wszystkie kryteria wyrównania cukrzycy. Prawidłowy wskaźnik masy ciała stwierdzono u 10,3% pacjentów. Wnioski. W porównaniu z innymi polskimi badaniami i rejestrami w analizowanej grupie pacjentów z cukrzycą typu 2 ze współistniejącymi chorobami układu krążenia stwierdzono stosunkowo dobre wyrównanie cukrzycy. Najrzadziej osiąganym kryterium wyrównania metabolicznego była redukcja stężenia cholesterolu LDL. Niezależnie od zastosowanych wytycznych, jedynie niewielki odsetek chorych spełniał jednocześnie wszystkie kryteria wyrównania cukrzycy.Introduction. Diabetes mellitus significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular events. The aim of the study was to assess diabetes control in type 2 diabetic patients with coexisting cardiovascular disease.   Material and methods. A total of 293 type 2 diabetic patients with coexisting additional cardiovascular risk factors, recruited from the prospective AVOCADO study (2008–2011), were included in the analysis. Evaluation of diabetes control was conducted in accordance with the 2008, 2011 and 2014 Diabetes Poland guidelines.   Results. Mean patient age was 67.4 years, and median duration of diabetes was 8 years. Two-thirds of patients were treated solely with oral antidiabetic drugs, 13.7% of patients were on insulin monotherapy and 19.8% of patients received a combination of oral antidiabetic drugs and insulin. Hypertension was present in 91.5%, coronary artery disease in 54.6%, previous myocardial infarction in 30.7% and previous stroke or transient ischemic attack in 9.9% of patients. Median glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was 6.6%. A proportion of HbA1c of ≤ 7% was achieved in 74.4% of patients. Glycemic compensation according to 2008 Polish Diabetes guidelines was achieved in 46.1% of patients, and according to 2011 and 2014 guidelines — in 57.3% of patients. Therapeutic goals in terms of total cholesterol concentration were achieved in 62.1%, LDL cholesterol concentration in 43.4%, HDL cholesterol concentration in 53.9%, triglyceride concentration in 67.9% of patients. Therapeutic goals in terms of blood pressure values were achieved in 13.7%, 39.6% and 34.5% of patients according to Polish Diabetes 2008, 2011 and 2014 guidelines, respectively. Only 2.1%, 6.5% and 4.8% of patients fulfilled all the compensation criteria according to Polish Diabetes 2008, 2011 and 2014 guidelines, respectively. Only 10.3% of patients had a normal body mass index. Conclusions. In comparison to other polish studies and registries, the study group of type 2 diabetic patients with coexisting cardiovascular diseases was characterized by a relatively good diabetes control. Out of all the metabolic therapeutic goals, reduction in LDL cholesterol concentration was the most difficult to achieve. Only a small proportion of patients fulfilled all the compensation criteria, irrespective of the guidelines used for diabetes control assessment