The CROCO (CROhn's Disease COhort Study) - study design and protocol.

Background: Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic, relapsing and remitting inflammatory bowel disease that can be associated with significant bowel damage and disability. The Lémann Index (LI) is a validated tool for measuring cumulative bowel damage in CD patients through a comprehensive assessment of stricturing, penetrating and surgical lesions. However, prospective studies evaluating bowel damage progression in recently diagnosed CD patients remain limited.

Exploring non-invasive diagnostic tools for deep gluteal syndrome: a multimodal approach integrating clinical and imaging techniques.

Background: Deep gluteal syndrome (DGS) involves extrapelvic entrapment or irritation of the sciatic nerve (SN) within the deep gluteal space, often mimicking S1 radicular syndrome. Accurate differentiation between DGS and true nerve root pathology is essential for effective treatment. This study aimed to distinguish DGS from nerve root affections and identify the causes of symptoms in individuals with suspected DGS using a comprehensive multi-modal evaluation, including advanced diagnostic techniques.

Angiotensin-Neprilysin Inhibition and Left Ventricular Assist Device Therapy -Primary results of the multicENter, randomized, open-label, parallel group, study to evaluate the use of sacubitril/valsartan in HeartMate 3 LVAD recipients (ENVAD-HF).

Background: The role of heart failure specific therapies in LVAD recipients is unclear and observational data suggest improved outcomes with neurohormonal blockers. ENVAD-HF evaluated safety and tolerability of the Angiotensin-Neprilysin Inhibitor sacubitril/valsartan, for managing blood pressure (BP) in HeartMate 3 (HM3) LVAD recipients versus standard of care (SOC).

Methods: ENVAD-HF was a prospective multicenter, randomized, open-label study of sacubitril/valsartan or SOC for managing BP (MAP goal 75-90 mmHg) in stable LVAD recipients with 12-month follow-up.

Annexin A2 interferes with complement regulation within the glomerulus.

The alternative pathway of complement is an important pathogenic driver of a variety of glomerular diseases. Factor H is a soluble complement regulatory protein, and it is known to play a critical role in protecting the kidney from alternative pathway-mediated injury. Other proteins, however, can interfere with complement regulation by Factor H, thereby predisposing the kidney to injury.

Effects of anticoagulation in patients with device-detected atrial fibrillation and multiple stroke risk factors: a win ratio analysis of the NOAH-AFNET 6 trial.

Aims: Patients with device-detected atrial fibrillation (DDAF) have a lower stroke risk than those with ECG-diagnosed AF, requiring careful evaluation of oral anticoagulation benefits vs. its inherent bleeding risk.

Methods And Results: An unmatched win ratio analysis was performed of the NOAH-AFNET 6 trial dataset, using components of the primary efficacy and safety outcomes of the trial.

Cost-effectiveness of Apixaban vs Aspirin for the Reduction of Thrombo-Embolism in High-Risk Patients with Device-Detected Atrial Fibrillation: Insights from the ARTESiA trial.

Background And Aims: Apixaban was superior to aspirin for the prevention of stroke or systemic embolism in participants with subclinical atrial fibrillation (SCAF) in the Apixaban for the Reduction of Thrombo-Embolism in Patients with Subclinical Atrial Fibrillation (ARTESiA) trial. This was especially true for those with CHA2DS2-VASc score >4. Understanding the cost-effectiveness of treating SCAF is important for decision makers.

Trade-Off Between Bleeding and Ischemic Events From Left Ventricular Assist Devices: A EUROMACS Registry Analysis.

Background: A fully magnetically levitated centrifugal-flow pump (HeartMate 3 [HM3]) has significantly reduced thromboembolic events in left ventricular assist device (LVAD) patients, potentially modifying the trade-off of ischemic and bleeding events with current management strategies.

Objectives: The authors sought to characterize the opposing risk of ischemic and bleeding hemocompatibility-related adverse events (HRAEs) in LVAD carriers with contemporary practice.

Methods: We included 4,320 patients undergoing centrifugal-flow LVAD implantation (HeartWare [HVAD] cohort: 2,088, HM3 cohort: 2,232) in EUROMACS (European Registry for Patients with Mechanical Circulatory Support).

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and muscle mass effects.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) have transformed the management of obesity, demonstrating significant efficacy in inducing weight loss and improving metabolic parameters. However, emerging clinical and paraclinical evidence suggests that these agents may also contribute to an unintended reduction in skeletal muscle mass, potentially exacerbating or precipitating sarcopenic obesity, particularly in older or frail individuals with limited muscular reserves. This review critically examines current data on the effects of GLP-1 RAs on body composition, explores the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of skeletal muscle wasting, and offers evidence-based strategies for attenuating these potential adverse outcomes.

Unlocking the resorption potential of cannabidiolic acid: A comprehensive in vitro and in vivo bioavailability study.

Phytocannabinoids, unique secondary metabolites of the plant Cannabis sativa L., are characterised by a wide spectrum of pharmacological activities and their use in medicine and food industry has increased exponentially in recent years. In this study, the bioavailability of 10 representatives of neutral cannabinoids and cannabinoid acids was evaluated using an in vitro model of Caco-2 cells, as well as in vivo using an inbred mouse model.

Composition of peripheral blood immune cell compartment in stage 5 chronic kidney disease is affected by smoking and other risk factors associated with systemic inflammatory response.

Background: Stage 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD5) is linked to complex yet not fully understood disturbances in immune system. This study aimed to investigate these disturbances by exploring the detailed composition of peripheral blood immune cell compartments in CKD5 patients and to provide integrative, multivariable dissection of how common inflammatory risk factors shape the immune landscape.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 107 patients with chronic kidney disease stage 5 (CKD5) and 29 healthy blood donors as controls.

Rationale, design, and baseline characteristics of the multicENter, randomized, open-label, parallel group, study to evaluate the use of sacubitril/valsartan in HeartMate 3 left ventricular assist device recipients (ENVAD-HF).

Background: With notable improvements in long-term survival and hemocompatibility-related events, heart failure (HF) is emerging as a leading cause of death in the contemporary left ventricular assist device (LVAD) population. Although prospective randomized controlled trials have not investigated the use of HF therapies in recipients of LVAD, observational data suggest benefits of neurohormonal blockers, especially in achieving blood pressure (BP) targets associated with improved outcomes.

Methods: The study "multicENter, randomized, open-label, parallel group, pilot study to evaluate the use of sacubitril/valsartan in HeartMate 3 LVAD recipients" (ENVAD-HF) is an investigator-initiated prospective multicenter, randomized, open-label, parallel group, pilot study of recipients of HeartMate 3 (HM3) LVADs to evaluate the safety and tolerability and insights on efficacy of sacubitril/valsartan compared to standard of care (SOC) for managing BP.

Liver transplantation indications and strategies in polycystic liver disease: A european survey.

Background Aims: Liver transplantation (LT) remains the only cure for severe polycystic liver disease (PLD). However, LT indications and strategies vary across Europe, resulting in (unwanted) practice variation and unequal access to care for patients with PLD. This study aimed to (1) identify existing PLD-specific LT criteria across European countries, (2) assess which criteria are considered relevant by specialist, and (3) map the variation in liver-kidney transplant strategies among patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD).

Charcot foot disease: A new approach.

Charcot neuropathic osteoarthropathy (CNO) is a condition that develops in the presence of neuropathy, most commonly diabetes-related neuropathy. Owing to the neuropathy, microtrauma to the bones occur without the individual feeling them. With continued walking, bone inflammation, resorption, microfractures and structural changes occur in the bones, which result in irreversible deformities.

Stereotactic radiosurgery targeting the stellate ganglion for refractory ventricular arrhythmias: A first-in-human case report with 18-month follow-up.

Introduction: We present the first-in-human application of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) targeting the left stellate ganglion (LSG) as a non-invasive neuromodulatory strategy for treating polymorphic ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation (VT/VF).

Materials And Methods: A 69-year-old man with mixed-etiology cardiomyopathy (LVEF 28 %) experienced 27 VT/VF episodes over three months. This resulted in 18 implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) shocks and nine anti-tachycardia pacing therapies, despite optimal pharmacotherapy, catheter ablation and two temporary LSG blocks.

Radiation burden from recurrent computed tomography examinations in patients treated with immunotherapy for malignant melanoma.

Background: Computed tomography (CT) examination is among the imaging modalities burdened with a relatively high dose of ionizing radiation. Nowadays, CT is an integral part of modern medicine. In the field of oncology care, patients undergo repeated CT examinations for initial diagnosis, staging, and follow-up.

Life Expectancy of Transplanted Livers - HOPE Against Aging?

Objective: To investigate the impact of cumulative liver age on graft survival in liver transplant recipients.

Summary Of Background Data: Organ shortage has led to increased use of elderly donor livers for an ageing group of recipients, particularly in Europe. We hypothesized that hypothermic oxygenated perfusion (HOPE) enhances graft resilience against aging in livers from elderly donors.

AI-Guided Cardiac Computer Tomography in Type 1 Diabetes Patients with Low Coronary Artery Calcium Score.

Cardiovascular risk stratification based on traditional risk factors lacks precision at the individual level. While coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring enhances risk prediction by detecting calcified atherosclerotic plaques, it may underestimate risk in individuals with noncalcified plaques-a pattern common in younger type 1 diabetes (T1D) patients. Understanding the prevalence of noncalcified atherosclerosis in T1D is crucial for developing more effective screening strategies.

Soluble endoglin reflects endothelial dysfunction in myocardial infarction patients: a retrospective observational study.

Acute manifestations of ischemic heart disease are among the most serious and fatal consequences of atherosclerotic processes. In this study, we hypothesized that a soluble proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), soluble bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP-4), soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin), soluble endoglin (sENG) and soluble endocan (Endocan) would differ from healthy controls in myocardial infarction (MI) patients admitted to the hospital without any previous history of cardiovascular disease and with no cardioprotective drugs taken before admission. The study was conducted using a cross-sectional design.

Practical limitations of complex insulin therapies in type 2 diabetes: Focus on therapy simplification using fixed-ratio combinations of basal insulin and a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist.

Until recently, people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (PwT2DM) with poor glycaemic control on oral antidiabetic medication were initiated on insulin therapy. While insulin-based therapies have been efficient in reducing hyperglycaemia, they have also been linked with an increased risk of hypoglycaemia, increased treatment burden, and weight gain. The advent of novel classes of antidiabetic agents, such as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) or sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i) presents a significant shift in the T2DM treatment algorithms.

Serological Markers of Intestinal Barrier Function and Inflammation as Potential Predictors of Recurrent Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis.

The impairment of intestinal barrier function is implicated in primary sclerosing cholangitis, but the clinical evidence is scarce. Therefore, we performed a cross-sectional study to evaluate serological markers of inflammation and intestinal permeability (Reg3a, iFABP, Zonulin, Calprotectin) in patients after liver transplantation (LT) for PSC. The cohort included 26 subjects with PSC recurrence (rPSC), 87 subjects without PSC recurrence (non-rPSC), and a unique control group consisting of post-LT patients (n = 113) transplanted due to alcohol cirrhosis.

A homozygous TRIP13 pathogenic variant associated with familiar oocyte arrest and prematurely condensed sperm chromosomes.

We report on a consanguineous family with two infertile sisters with oocyte arrest and prematurely condensed sperm chromosomes. A genome-wide linkage scan and exome sequencing revealed a homozygous variant in the gene for the thyroid receptor interacting protein 13 (TRIP13), c.518G˃A (p.

14,15-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid analog augments hypotensive effect of an endothelin-A receptor blocker antrasentan and prevents oedema and organ hypertrophy in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) contributes to control of blood pressure (BP) and body fluid homeostasis. Blocking prohypertensive ET-1 receptors appeared promising treatment but the critical disturbing side-effect was oedema. Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) have natriuretic and vasodilatory activity, hence they could find some therapeutical potential for patients with hypertension and end organ damage.

Intraventricular spring expander attenuates cardiac atrophy of the failing heart after unloading caused by heterotopic heart transplantation: no sex-linked differences.

Cardiac atrophy is the most common complication of prolonged application of the left ventricle (LV) assist device (LVAD) in patients with advanced heart failure (HF), obviously, it is a consequence of LVAD-induced mechanical unloading. Previous studies employing heterotopic heart transplantation (HTx) as a model of heart unloading after LVAD implantation discovered sex-linked differences in the course of unloading-induced in the healthy hearts. It remains to be clarified if sex-related differences are present in the failing hearts after heterotopic HTx.

Novel in vivo porcine models of chronic ischemic tissue.

There is a lack of reliable in vivo models that replicate limb-threatening ischemia in humans. To fill this gap, we developed and validated two novel porcine ischemic models: ischemic limb and dorsal flap models, both with and without streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemia (N = 3 per group, 12 in total). Hind limb ischemia model was induced via different arterial ligations, with two ischemic and three control wounds per animal.