Elemental surface analysis at ambient pressure by electron-induced x-ray fluorescence

The development of a portable surface elemental analysis tool, based on the excitation of characteristic x rays from samples at ambient pressure with a focused electron beam is described. This instrument relies on the use of a thin electron transmissive membrane to isolate the vacuum of the electron source from the ambient atmosphere. The major attributes of this instrument include rapid (several minutes) spectrum acquisition, nondestructive evaluation of elemental composition, no sample preparation, and high-to-medium (several hundreds µm) spatial resolution. The instrument proof-of-principle has been demonstrated in a laboratory setup by obtaining energy dispersive x-ray spectra from metal and mineral samples

Atmospheric electron X-ray spectrometer development

The development of a portable surface elemental analysis tool based on the excitation of characteristic X-rays at ambient pressure with an electron beam is described. This instrument relies on the use of a thin electron transmissive membrane to isolate the vacuum of the electron source from the ambient atmosphere. The major advantages offered by this instrument include rapid spectrum acquisition, nondestructive evaluation of elemental composition, and high spatial resolution in comparison to similar portable instruments. The instrument proof-of-principle has been demonstrated by obtaining energy dispersive X-ray spectra from metal and mineral samples. SEM experiments have been carried out to determine beam spot size and quantitative analysis limits. Modeling has been performed to study performance limits and to understand the influence of membrane and atmosphere interactions on the focused electron beam

Atmospheric electron X-ray spectrometer development

The development of a portable surface elemental analysis tool based on the excitation of characteristic X-rays at ambient pressure with an electron beam is described. This instrument relies on the use of a thin electron transmissive membrane to isolate the vacuum of the electron source from the ambient atmosphere. The major advantages offered by this instrument include rapid spectrum acquisition, nondestructive evaluation of elemental composition, and high spatial resolution in comparison to similar portable instruments. The instrument proof-of-principle has been demonstrated by obtaining energy dispersive X-ray spectra from metal and mineral samples. SEM experiments have been carried out to determine beam spot size and quantitative analysis limits. Modeling has been performed to study performance limits and to understand the influence of membrane and atmosphere interactions on the focused electron beam

Socio-Economic Variations Determine the Clinical Presentation, Aetiology and Outcome of Infective Endocarditis: a Prospective Cohort Study from the ESC-EORP EURO-ENDO (European Infective Endocarditis) Registry

Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) is a life-threatening disease associated with high mortality and morbidity worldwide. We sought to determine how socio-economic factors might influence its epidemiology, clinical presentation, investigation and management, and outcome, in a large international multi-centre registry. Methods: The EurObservationalProgramme (EORP) of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) EURO-ENDO registry comprises a prospective cohort of 3113 adult patients admitted for IE in 156 hospitals in 40 countries between January 2016 and March 2018. Patients were separated in 3 groups, according to World Bank economic stratification (Group 1 - high income [75.6%]; Group 2 - upper-middle income [15.4%]; Group 3 - lower-middle income [9.1%]). Results: Group 3 patients were younger (median age [IQR]: Group 1 - 66 [53-75] years; Group 2 - 57 [41-68] years; Group 3 - 33 [26-43] years; p<0.001) with a higher frequency of smokers, intravenous drug use and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection (all p<0.001) and presented later (median [IQR) days since symptom onset: Group 1 - 12 [3-35]; Group 2 - 19 [6-54]; Group 3 - 31 [12-62]; p<0.001) with a higher likelihood of developing congestive heart failure (13.6%; 11.1%; and 22.6%, respectively; p<0.001) and persistent fever (9.8%; 14.2%; 27.9%; p<0.001). Among 2157 (69.3%) patients with theoretical indication for cardiac surgery, surgery was performed less frequently in Group 3 patients (75.5%, 76.8% and 51.3%, respectively p<0.001) who also demonstrated the highest mortality (15.0%, 23.0% and 23.7%, respectively; p<0.001). Conclusions: Socio-economic factors influence the clinical profile of patients presenting with IE across the world. Despite younger age, patients from the poorest countries presented with more frequent complications and higher mortality associated with delayed diagnosis and lower use of surgery

Surgery and outcome of infective endocarditis in octogenarians: prospective data from the ESC EORP EURO-ENDO registry

Purpose: High mortality and a limited performance of valvular surgery are typical features of infective endocarditis (IE) in octogenarians, even though surgical treatment is a major determinant of a successful outcome in IE. Methods: Data from the prospective multicentre ESC EORP EURO-ENDO registry were used to assess the prognostic role of valvular surgery depending on age. Results: As compared to < 80 yo patients, ≥ 80 yo had lower rates of theoretical indication for valvular surgery (49.1% vs. 60.3%, p < 0.001), of surgery performed (37.0% vs. 75.5%, p < 0.001), and a higher in-hospital (25.9% vs. 15.8%, p < 0.001) and 1-year mortality (41.3% vs. 22.2%, p < 0.001). By multivariable analysis, age per se was not predictive of 1-year mortality, but lack of surgical procedures when indicated was strongly predictive (HR 2.98 [2.43–3.66]). By propensity analysis, 304 ≥ 80 yo were matched to 608 < 80 yo patients. Propensity analysis confirmed the lower rate of indication for valvular surgery (51.3% vs. 57.2%, p = 0.031) and of surgery performed (35.3% vs. 68.4%, p < 0.0001) in ≥ 80 yo. Overall mortality remained higher in ≥ 80 yo (in-hospital: HR 1.50[1.06–2.13], p = 0.0210; 1-yr: HR 1.58[1.21–2.05], p = 0.0006), but was not different from that of < 80 yo among those who had surgery (in-hospital: 19.7% vs. 20.0%, p = 0.4236; 1-year: 27.3% vs. 25.5%, p = 0.7176). Conclusion: Although mortality rates are consistently higher in ≥ 80 yo patients than in < 80 yo patients in the general population, mortality of surgery in ≥ 80 yo is similar to < 80 yo after matching patients. These results confirm the importance of a better recognition of surgical indication and of an increased performance of surgery in ≥ 80 yo patients

Correction to: Surgery and outcome of infective endocarditis in octogenarians: prospective data from the ESC EORP EURO-ENDO registry (Infection, (2022), 50, 5, (1191-1202), 10.1007/s15010-022-01792-0)

In this article the “EURO-ENDO Investigators group” member U. Y. Sinan was incorrectly written as U.S. Yasar. The original article has been corrected

Socio-Economic Variations Determine the Clinical Presentation, Aetiology and Outcome of Infective Endocarditis: a Prospective Cohort Study from the ESC-EORP EURO-ENDO (European Infective Endocarditis) Registry

International audienceAbstract Background Infective endocarditis (IE) is a life-threatening disease associated with high mortality and morbidity worldwide. We sought to determine how socio-economic factors might influence its epidemiology, clinical presentation, investigation and management, and outcome, in a large international multi-centre registry. Methods The EurObservationalProgramme (EORP) of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) EURO-ENDO registry comprises a prospective cohort of 3113 adult patients admitted for IE in 156 hospitals in 40 countries between January 2016 and March 2018. Patients were separated in 3 groups, according to World Bank economic stratification (Group 1 - high income [75.6%]; Group 2 - upper-middle income [15.4%]; Group 3 - lower-middle income [9.1%]). Results Group 3 patients were younger (median age [IQR]: Group 1 - 66 [53-75] years; Group 2 - 57 [41-68] years; Group 3 - 33 [26-43] years; p<0.001) with a higher frequency of smokers, intravenous drug use and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection (all p<0.001) and presented later (median [IQR) days since symptom onset: Group 1 - 12 [3-35]; Group 2 - 19 [6-54]; Group 3 - 31 [12-62]; p<0.001) with a higher likelihood of developing congestive heart failure (13.6%; 11.1%; and 22.6%, respectively; p<0.001) and persistent fever (9.8%; 14.2%; 27.9%; p<0.001). Among 2157 (69.3%) patients with theoretical indication for cardiac surgery, surgery was performed less frequently in Group 3 patients (75.5%, 76.8% and 51.3%, respectively p<0.001) who also demonstrated the highest mortality (15.0%, 23.0% and 23.7%, respectively; p<0.001). Conclusions Socio-economic factors influence the clinical profile of patients presenting with IE across the world. Despite younger age, patients from the poorest countries presented with more frequent complications and higher mortality associated with delayed diagnosis and lower use of surgery

The ESC-EORP EURO-ENDO (European Infective Endocarditis) registry

Aims: The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) EURObservational Research Programme (EORP) European Endocarditis (EURO-ENDO) registry aims to study the care and outcomes of patients diagnosed with infective endocarditis (IE) and compare findings with recommendations from the 2015 ESC Clinical Practice Guidelines for the management of IE and data from the 2001 Euro Heart Survey. Methods and results: Patients (n = 3116) aged over 18 years with a diagnosis of IE based on the ESC 2015 IE diagnostic criteria were prospectively identified between 1 January 2016 and 31 March 2018. Individual patient data were collected across 156 centres and 40 countries. The primary endpoint is all-cause mortality in hospital and at 1 year. Secondary endpoints are 1-year morbidity (all-cause hospitalization, any cardiac surgery, and IE relapse), the clinical, epidemiological, microbiological, and therapeutic characteristics of patients, the number and timing of non-invasive imaging techniques, and adherence to recommendations as stated in the 2015 ESC Clinical Practice Guidelines for the management of IE. Conclusion: EURO-ENDO is an international registry of care and outcomes of patients hospitalized with IE which will provide insights into the contemporary profile and management of patients with this challenging disease