Role of Cardiac CT in Infective Endocarditis: Current Evidence, Opportunities, and Challenges

: Carotid atherosclerosis is responsible for a great proportion of ischemic strokes. Early identification of unstable or vulnerable carotid plaques and therefore of patients at high risk for stroke is of significant medical and socioeconomical value. We reviewed the current literature and discuss the potential role of the most important serum biomarkers in identifying patients with carotid atherosclerosis who are at high risk for atheroembolic stroke.

Download Full-text

The Role of the Coagulase-negative Staphylococci (CoNS) in Infective Endocarditis; A Narrative Review from 2000 to 2020

Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology ◽

10.2174/1389201021666200423110359 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 21 (12) ◽

pp. 1140-1153 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Mohammad A. Noshak ◽

Mohammad A. Rezaee ◽

Alka Hasani ◽

Mehdi Mirzaii

Keyword(s):

Foreign Body ◽

Infective Endocarditis ◽

Prosthetic Valve ◽

Human Life ◽

Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis ◽

Surgical Site Infections ◽

Coagulase Negative Staphylococci ◽

Native Valve ◽

Native Valve Endocarditis

Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) are part of the microbiota of human skin and rarely linked with soft tissue infections. In recent years, CoNS species considered as one of the major nosocomial pathogens and can cause several infections such as catheter-acquired sepsis, skin infection, urinary tract infection, endophthalmitis, central nervous system shunt infection, surgical site infections, and foreign body infection. These microorganisms have a significant impact on human life and health and, as typical opportunists, cause peritonitis in individuals undergoing peritoneal dialysis. Moreover, it is revealed that these potential pathogens are mainly related to the use of indwelling or implanted in a foreign body and cause infective endocarditis (both native valve endocarditis and prosthetic valve endocarditis) in patients. In general, approximately eight percent of all cases of native valve endocarditis is associated with CoNS species, and these organisms cause death in 25% of all native valve endocarditis cases. Moreover, it is revealed that methicillin-resistant CoNS species cause 60 % of all prosthetic valve endocarditis cases. In this review, we describe the role of the CoNS species in infective endocarditis, and we explicated the reported cases of CoNS infective endocarditis in the literature from 2000 to 2020 to determine the role of CoNS in the process of infective endocarditis.

Download Full-text

Patent Foramen Ovale, the Role of Antiplatelet Therapy Alone or Anticoagulant Therapy Alone Versus Device Closure for Cryptogenic Stroke: A Review of the Literature and Current Recommendations

Cardiovascular & Hematological Agents in Medicinal Chemistry ◽

10.2174/1871525718666200203111641 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 18 (2) ◽

pp. 135-150

Author(s):

Harsha S. Nagarajarao ◽

Chandra P. Ojha ◽

Archana Kedar ◽

Debabrata Mukherjee

Keyword(s):

Patent Foramen Ovale ◽

Cryptogenic Stroke ◽

Narrow Channel ◽

Paradoxical Embolism ◽

Current Evidence ◽

Foramen Ovale ◽

The Right ◽

The Relationship ◽

Current Guidelines

: Cryptogenic stroke and its relation to the Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) is a long-debated topic. Recent clinical trials have unequivocally established the relationship between cryptogenic strokes and paradoxical embolism across the PFO. This slit-like communication exists in everyone before birth, but most often closes shortly after birth. PFO may persist as a narrow channel of communication between the right and left atria in approximately 25-27% of adults. : In this review, we examine the clinical relevance of the PFO with analysis of the latest trials evaluating catheter-based closure of PFO’s for cryptogenic stroke. We also review the current evidence examining the use of antiplatelet medications versus anticoagulants for stroke prevention in those patients with PFO who do not qualify for closure per current guidelines.

Download Full-text

The application of virtual reality in health professions� digital education: a narrative review (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.12220 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Lorraine Tudor Car ◽

Bhone Myint Kyaw ◽

Josip Car

Keyword(s):

Virtual Reality ◽

Professional Education ◽

Health Professions ◽

Health Professions Education ◽

Narrative Review ◽

Current Evidence ◽

Future Research ◽

Educational Content ◽

Potential Applications

BACKGROUND Digital technology called Virtual Reality (VR) is increasingly employed in health professions’ education. Yet, based on the current evidence, its use is narrowed around a few most applications and disciplines. There is a lack of an overview that would capture the diversity of different VR applications in health professions’ education and inform its use and research. OBJECTIVE This narrative review aims to explore different potential applications of VR in health professions’ education. METHODS The narrative synthesis approach to literature review was used to analyse the existing evidence. RESULTS We outline the role of VR features such as immersion, interactivity and feedback and explain the role of VR devices. Based on the type and scope of educational content VR can represent space, individuals, objects, structures or their combination. Application of VR in medical education encompasses environmental, organ and micro level. Environmental VR focuses on training in relation to health professionals’ environment and human interactions. Organ VR educational content targets primarily human body anatomy; and micro VR microscopic structures at the level of cells, molecules and atoms. We examine how different VR features and health professional education areas match these three VR types. CONCLUSIONS We conclude by highlighting the gaps in the literature and providing suggestions for future research.

Download Full-text

Institutions and the Embedded Entrepreneur

The Oxford Handbook of Entrepreneurship and Collaboration ◽

10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190633899.013.6 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 115-134

Author(s):

Maryann Feldman ◽

Paige Clayton

Keyword(s):

Current Evidence ◽

Future Research ◽

Institutional Logic ◽

The Relationship ◽

Regional Resources

This chapter examines the relationship between entrepreneurs and the communities in which they are embedded. It argues that the actions of entrepreneurs and their firms are contextually situated in specific geographies that make their actions endogenous in the development of place and define a place-specific institutional logic. This argument is at odds with the view that industry clustering is due to the role of incumbent firms. This chapter reconciles these views by adopting a temporal view, allowing both incumbents and geography to co-occur and influence clustering. It then considers the current evidence of entrepreneurs’ effects on regional resources and capacity, and concludes with suggestions for future research.

Download Full-text

An Overview of Adipose Tissue ACE2 Modulation by Diet and Obesity. Potential Implications in COVID-19 Infection and Severity

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22157975 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (15) ◽

pp. 7975

Author(s):

Saioa Gómez-Zorita ◽

Iñaki Milton-Laskibar ◽

Laura García-Arellano ◽

Marcela González ◽

María P. Portillo

Keyword(s):

Adipose Tissue ◽

Protective Role ◽

Inflammatory Factors ◽

Current Evidence ◽

Disease Outcomes ◽

Lower Activation ◽

Two Factors ◽

Obese Subjects ◽

Ace2 Gene

The present review is aimed at analysing the current evidence concerning the potential modulation of obesity and/or diet in adipose tissue ACE2. Additionally, the potential implications of these effects on COVID-19 are also addressed. The results published show that diet and obesity are two factors that effectively influence the expression of Ace2 gene in adipose tissue. However, the shifts in this gene do not always occur in the same direction, nor with the same intensity. Additionally, there is no consensus regarding the implications of increased adipose tissue ACE2 expression in health. Thus, while in some studies a protective role is attributed to ACE2 overexpression, other studies suggest otherwise. Similarly, there is much debate regarding the role played by ACE2 in COVID-19 in terms of degree of infection and disease outcomes. The greater risk of infection that may hypothetically derive from enhanced ACE2 expression is not clear since the functionality of the enzyme seems to be as important as the abundance. Thus, the greater abundance of ACE2 in adipose tissue of obese subjects may be counterbalanced by its lower activation. In addition, a protective role of ACE2 overexpression has also been suggested, associated with the increase in anti-inflammatory factors that it may produce.

Download Full-text

Therapeutic Role of Tocilizumab in SARS-CoV-2-Induced Cytokine Storm: Rationale and Current Evidence

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22063059 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (6) ◽

pp. 3059

Author(s):

Corrado Pelaia ◽

Cecilia Calabrese ◽

Eugenio Garofalo ◽

Andrea Bruni ◽

Alessandro Vatrella ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Review Article ◽

Lung Damage ◽

Current Evidence ◽

Therapeutic Effects ◽

Cytokine Storm ◽

Future Perspectives ◽

Pathogenic Role ◽

Refractory Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽

Life Threatening

Among patients suffering from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) syndrome, one of the worst possible scenarios is represented by the critical lung damage caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2)-induced cytokine storm, responsible for a potentially very dangerous hyperinflammatory condition. Within such a context, interleukin-6 (IL-6) plays a key pathogenic role, thus being a suitable therapeutic target. Indeed, the IL-6-receptor antagonist tocilizumab, already approved for treatment of refractory rheumatoid arthritis, is often used to treat patients with severe COVID-19 symptoms and lung involvement. Therefore, the aim of this review article is to focus on the rationale of tocilizumab utilization in the SARS-CoV-2-triggered cytokine storm, as well as to discuss current evidence and future perspectives, especially with regard to ongoing trials referring to the evaluation of tocilizumab’s therapeutic effects in patients with life-threatening SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Download Full-text

Total pancreatectomy and pancreatic fistula: friend or foe?

Updates in Surgery ◽

10.1007/s13304-021-01130-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Roberto Salvia ◽

Gabriella Lionetto ◽

Giampaolo Perri ◽

Giuseppe Malleo ◽

Giovanni Marchegiani

Keyword(s):

High Risk ◽

Pancreatic Fistula ◽

Total Pancreatectomy ◽

Postoperative Pancreatic Fistula ◽

Current Evidence ◽

Perioperative Outcomes ◽

Surgical Morbidity ◽

Pancreatic Anastomosis ◽

Promising Tool

AbstractPostoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) still represents the major driver of surgical morbidity after pancreaticoduodenectomy. The purpose of this narrative review was to critically analyze current evidence supporting the use of total pancreatectomy (TP) to prevent the development of POPF in patients with high-risk pancreas, and to explore the role of completion total pancreatectomy (CP) in the management of severe POPF. Considering the encouraging perioperative outcomes, TP may represent a promising tool to avoid the morbidity related to an extremely high-risk pancreatic anastomosis in selected patients. Surgical management of severe POPF is only required in few critical scenarios. In this context, even if anecdotal, CP might play a role as last resort in expert hands.

Download Full-text