Uterine contractility decreases at the time of blastocyst transfers

High-frequency uterine contractions at the time of non-cavitating embryo transfer influence adversely IVF-embryo transfer outcome. This prompted us to quantify prospectively the possible decline in uterine contraction frequency occurring during later stages of the luteal phase of ovarian stimulation, up to the time of blastocyst transfers, in 43 IVF-embryo transfer candidates. Contractility was assessed on the day of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) administration, 4 days after HCG (non-cavitating embryo transfer; HCG + 4), and 7 days after HCG (blastocyst transfers; HCG + 7). For this, 2 min sagittal uterine scans were obtained by ultrasound and digitized with a computerized system for the assessment of uterine contraction frequency. Our results indicated that a slight, yet significant, decrease in uterine contraction frequency, observed from the day of HCG (4.4 +/- 0.2 contractions/min) to HCG + 4 (3.5 + 0.2 contractions/min), was followed by a more pronounced, additional decrease between HCG + 4 and HCG + 7 (1.5 +/- 0.2 contractions/min; P < 0.001). In conclusion, during the luteal phase of ovarian stimulation, uterine contractility decreases progressively, and reaches a nearly quiescent status 7 days after HCG administration, at the time of blastocyst transfers. It is possible that such a uterine relaxation assists blastocyst implantation.     

Use of steerable catheters for endovascular procedures: Report of a CASE and literature review

We report a case of a celiac trunk stenting using a steerable guiding catheter, to fix a residual endoleak following fenestrated endovascular repair (FEVAR) of a thoraco‐abdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA). A systematic search of the literature about the use of steerable catheters was also performed on Pubmed according to the PRISMA Guidelines, including all papers in which the device was used for in vivo endovascular procedures. In our case report, the patient had undergone a failed attempt of cannulation due to the presence of a severely angulated and stenosed ostium of the vessel. A steerable catheter was then used to fix the residual endoleak. The search of the Literature retrieved 544 papers. Of them, 13 met the inclusion criteria and were therefore assessed. The use of steerable sheaths and catheters was reported as effective and safe for the cannulation of 157 target vessels in 131 endovascular procedures, with a success rate of 95.5% and no complications. The use of a steerable guiding catheter in our experience was safe and effective for the selective cannulation of a severely stenosed and angulated celiac trunk, to correct a residual endoleak after FEVAR for TAAA. Steerable catheters could be useful tools for the selective cannulation of target vessels with a challenging ostium.     

Prognostic value of the Geneva prediction rule in patients with pulmonary embolism

Background

Assessment of pre-test probability of pulmonary embolism (PE) and prognostic stratification are two widely recommended steps in the management of patients with suspected PE. Some items of the Geneva prediction rule may have a prognostic value.We analyzed whether the initial probability assessed by the Geneva rule was associated with the outcome of patients with PE.

Methods

In a post-hoc analysis of a multicenter trial including 1,693 patients with suspected PE, the all-cause death or readmission rates during the 3-month follow-up of patients with confirmed PE were analyzed. PE probability group was prospectively assessed by the revised Geneva score (RGS). Similar analyses were made with the a posteriori-calculated simplified Geneva score (SGS).

Results

PE was confirmed in 357 patients and 21 (5.9%) died during the 3-month follow-up. The mortality rate differed significantly with the initial RGS group, as with the SGS group. For the RGS, the mortality increased from 0% (95% Confidence Interval: [0–5.4%]) in the low-probability group to 14.3% (95% CI: [6.3-28.2%]) in the high-probability group, and for the SGS, from 0% (95% CI: [0–5.4%] to 17.9% (95% CI: [7.4-36%]). Readmission occurred in 58 out of the 352 patients with complete information on readmission (16.5%). No significant change of readmission rate was found among the RGS or SGS groups.

Conclusions

Returning to the initial PE probability evaluation may help clinicians predict 3-month mortality in patients with confirmed PE.(ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00117169)     

Mapping air pollutants at municipality level in Italy and Spain in support to health impact evaluations

A growing health concern, due to poor air quality, recently led to an increased number of studies regarding air pollution effects on public health. Consequently, close attention is paid to estimation methods of exposure to atmospheric pollutants. This paper aims to meet a specific requirement of epidemiological researchers, that is providing annual air pollution maps at municipality scale for health impact assessment purposes on national basis. Firstly, data fusion through kriging with external drift is implemented, combining pollution data from two different sources, models and measurements, in order to improve the spatial distribution of surface concentrations at grid level. Then, the assimilated data of air pollution are upscaled, so as to obtain concentrations at municipality level. This methodology was applied to Italy and Spain (in Spain, only the second step was carried out since the modeled concentration already included an assimilation procedure). In both countries, for each municipality, an estimate of the concentration value for atmospheric pollutants of major concern for human health (PM₁₀ and NO₂) was provided, offering more relevant information from a surveillance point of view.     

Treatment of postcatheterization femoral false aneurysms

The incidence of iatrogenic femoral false aneurysms has risen dramatically in recent years and is estimated at 0,5% for diagnostic procedures and may rise to 9% or more for therapeutic procedures. This increased incidence is related to the increased number of arterial punctures performed for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes and their major complexity and duration. Risk factors for the development of iatrogenic false aneurysms include operator inexperience, age greater than 60, female gender, catheter size greater than 8F and concurrent anticoagulation. Prevention of false aneurysms is based upon an atraumatic arterial puncture, good compression therapy after sheath removal and use of percutaneous arterial closure devices. Contrarily to the arterial lesions following severe injuries, the natural course of false aneurysms is quite benign with spontaneous occlusion in the majority of cases. Therefore, a mandatory surgical approach is no longer advocated and alternative therapeutic options have been proposed. These include sonographic surveillance, compression ultrasonography, percutaneous thrombin or coil embolization. Surgery is still clearly indicated in presence of local nervous or venous compression, associated homolateral lower limb ischemia, great size of the aneurysm, and unsuccessful non-invasive treatment. Sonographic surveillance has shown to be safe in hospitalized or ambulatory patients. However, fear of aneurysm rupture and cost of repeated ultrasonographic exams preclude widespread utilisation. Compression ultrasonography is safe and effectiveness varies between 70 and 100%, according to studies. Compression ultrasonography may be painful, has often to be associated with mild analgesia, is time consuming and less effective in presence of concurrent anticoagulation. Thrombin injection seems particularly effective, is painless and has a limited rate of complications in expert hands. Severe anaphylactic reactions and severe coagulopathy in reexposed patients have been described and represent clear contra-indications to thrombin injection. Coil embolization of the false aneurysm is as effective as thrombin injection and is reported in a limited number of patients. There is no formal consensus about treatment of the vast majority of non-surgical false aneurysms. In an absence of stringent indication to surgical approach, compression ultrasonography may be used first as it is widely available, and does not require highly specialized skills. Compression therapy should be done after a transient interruption of anticoagulant treatment, if allowed by clinical context. If compression therapy fails, percutaneous injection of thrombin or coil embolization are effective and associated with a low complication rate. However, these techniques are less widely available and necessitate an experienced operator. As recurrences have been described with each of these techniques, every non-surgically-treated false aneurysm should be monitored for 24 hour with ultrasonography control to ensure effective thrombosis.