Circulating Biomarkers for the Prediction of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Growth

Background: Abdominal aortic aneurysm represents a distinct group of vascular lesions, in terms of surveillance and treatment. Screening and follow-up of patients via duplex ultrasound has been well established and proposed by current guidelines. However, serum circulating biomarkers could earn a position in individualized patient surveillance, especially in cases of aggressive AAA growth rates. A systematic review was conducted to assess the correlation of AAA expansion rates with serum circulating biomarkers. Methods: A data search of English medical literature was conducted, using PubMed, EMBASE, and CENTRAL, until 7 March 2021, in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis statement (PRISMA) guidelines. Studies reporting on humans, on abdominal aortic aneurysm growth rates and on serum circulating biomarkers were included. No statistical analysis was conducted. Results: A total of 25 studies with 4753 patients were included. Studies were divided in two broad categories: Those reporting on clinically applicable (8 studies) and those reporting on experimental (17 studies) biomarkers. Twenty-three out of 25 studies used duplex ultrasound (DUS) for following patients. Amongst clinically applicable biomarkers, D-dimers, LDL-C, HDL-C, TC, ApoB, and HbA1c were found to bear the most significant association with AAA growth rates. In terms of the experimental biomarkers, PIIINP, osteopontin, tPA, osteopontin, haptoglobin polymorphisms, insulin-like growth factor I, thioredoxin, neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), and genetic factors, as polymorphisms and microRNAs were positively correlated with increased AAA expansion rates. Conclusion: In the presence of future robust data, specific serum biomarkers could potentially form the basis of an individualized surveillance strategy of patients presenting with increased AAA growth rates

Functionalized magnetic nanomaterials in agricultural applications

The development of functional nanomaterials exhibiting cost-effectiveness, biocompatibil-ity and biodegradability in the form of nanoadditives, nanofertilizers, nanosensors, nanopesticides and herbicides, etc., has attracted considerable attention in the field of agriculture. Such nanoma-terials have demonstrated the ability to increase crop production, enable the efficient and targeted delivery of agrochemicals and nutrients, enhance plant resistance to various stress factors and act as nanosensors for the detection of various pollutants, plant diseases and insufficient plant nutri-tion. Among others, functional magnetic nanomaterials based on iron, iron oxide, cobalt, cobalt and nickel ferrite nanoparticles, etc., are currently being investigated in agricultural applications due to their unique and tunable magnetic properties, the existing versatility with regard to their (bio)functionalization, and in some cases, their inherent ability to increase crop yield. This review article provides an up-to-date appraisal of functionalized magnetic nanomaterials being explored in the agricultural sector

Scale-invariant quadratic gravity and inflation in the Palatini formalism

In the framework of classical scale invariance, we consider quadratic gravity in the Palatini formalism and investigate the inflationary predictions of the theory. Our model corresponds to a two-field scalar-tensor theory, which involves the Higgs field and an extra scalar field stemming from a gauge U(1)(X) extension of the Standard Model, which contains an extra gauge boson and three right-handed neutrinos. Both scalar fields couple nonminimally to gravity and induce the Planck scale dynamically, once they develop vacuum expectation values. By means of the Gildener-Weinberg approach, we describe the inflationary dynamics in terms of a single scalar degree of freedom along the flat direction of the tree-level potential. The one-loop effective potential in the Einstein frame exhibits plateaus on both sides of the minimum and thus the model can accommodate both small and large field inflation. The inflationary predictions of the model are found to comply with the latest bounds set by the Planck collaboration for a wide range of parameters and the effect of the quadratic in curvature terms is to reduce the value of the tensor-to-scalar ratio

Early Outcomes of Carotid Revascularization in Retrospective Case Series

Background: Most data in carotid stenosis treatment arise from randomized control trials (RCTs) and cohort studies. The aim of this meta-analysis was to compare 30-day outcomes in real-world practice from centers providing both modalities. Methods: A data search of the English literature was conducted, using PubMed, EMBASE and CENTRAL databases, until December 2019, using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis statement (PRISMA) guidelines. Only studies reporting on 30-day outcomes from centers, where both techniques were performed, were eligible for this analysis. Results: In total, 15 articles were included (16,043 patients). Of the patients, 68.1% were asymptomatic. Carotid artery stenting (CAS) did not differ from carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in terms of stroke (odds ratio (OR) 0.98; 0.77–1.25; I2 = 0%), myocardial ischemic events (OR 1.03; 0.72–1.48; I2 = 0%) and all events (OR 1.0; 0.82–1.21; I2 = 0%). Pooled stroke incidence in asymptomatic patients was 1% (95% CI: 0–2%) for CEA and 1% for CAS (95% CI: 0–2%). Pooled stroke rate in symptomatic patients was 3% (95% CI: 1–4%) for CEA and 3% (95% CI: 1–4%) for CAS. The two techniques did not differ in either outcome both in asymptomatic and symptomatic patients. Conclusion: Carotid revascularization, performed in centers providing both CAS and CEA, is safe and effective. Both techniques did not differ in terms of post-procedural neurological and cardiac events, both in asymptomatic and symptomatic patients. These findings reiterate the importance of a tailored therapeutic strategy and that “real-world” outcomes may only be valid from centers providing both treatments

Gilbert Syndrome as a Predisposing Factor for Cholelithiasis Risk in the Greek Adult Population

We investigated the hypothesis that coinheritance of the common A(TA)(n)TAA promoter mutation at the UGT1A1 locus associated with Gilbert syndrome is a risk factor for gallstone formation in a homogeneous adult population, by conducting a case-control study that included 198 adult patients with cholelithiasis and 152 healthy controls both of Greek origin. Three genotypes were found: 7/7 (17.8% in controls and 23.3% in patients), 6/7 (33.5% in controls and 46.5% in patients), and normal homozygous 6/6 (48.7% in controls and 30.3% in patients). The Gilbert UGT1A1 genotypes 6/7 and 7/7 show significant association (odds ratio 2.225, 95% confidence interval 1.373-3.605, p = 0.001, and odds ratio 2.101, 95% confidence interval 1.171-3.770, p = 0.013, respectively) with cholelithiasis risk. This association supports the theory that genetic factors are responsible for a fraction of symptomatic gallstone disease; however, further studies are required in different ethnic groups to fully elucidate the involvement of Gilbert syndrome in gallstone disease

sj-docx-2-jet-10.1177_15266028241233163 – Supplemental material for A Systematic Review on Thoracic Endovascular Repair Outcomes in Blunt Thoracic Aortic Injuries

Supplemental material, sj-docx-2-jet-10.1177_15266028241233163 for A Systematic Review on Thoracic Endovascular Repair Outcomes in Blunt Thoracic Aortic Injuries by Petroula Nana, Konstantinos Spanos, Christian-Alexander Behrendt, Alexandros Brodis, Stéphan Haulon and Tilo Kölbel in Journal of Endovascular Therapy</p