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Use of drug combinations is recommended by hypertension guidelines for most patients because of the greater blood pressure (BP)-lowering effect compared with monotherapy. However, no evidence is available on outcome benefits of treatment strategies based on drug combinations vs. simpler treatment regimens, using data from randomized clinical trials (RCTs). We evaluated drug combination therapies of different complexity.

Electronic databases were searched for BP-lowering RCTs that compared combination treatment or monotherapy vs. placebo, no-treatment or less-complex treatment. Combination treatment was considered as follows background treatment continued during follow-up on top of the trial drug(s) of interest and drug(s) were added to the initial drug(s) of interest in the majority of the patients. Monotherapy was considered whenever pre-randomization treatment was withdrawn or absent and a single drug was administered at randomization. Complexity of treatment indicates the higher averaged number of dailtenuated when side effects are considered.

Short-term blood pressure variability derived from 24-h ambulatory monitoring is associated with poor cardiovascular prognosis. However, previous analyses of this have clearly been influenced by clinical cofounders, particularly blood pressure (BP) level. Arterial stiffness is a powerful marker of cardiovascular risk, which may influence BP variability. In this study, we assessed the prognostic value of BP variability based on 24-h ambulatory measurements and adjusted for arterial stiffness.

Population Bordeaux cohort of hypertensive patients. Inclusion criteria were 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring at baseline with measurements every 15′ day and night, determination of wake-up time and bedtime, and assessment of arterial stiffness with monitoring of Korotkoff sound arrival time. A total of 969 patients (age 54 ± 14 years) with an average follow up of 120 ± 78 months and 178 cardiovascular recorded events were included.

In univariate survival analyses, the standard deviations of day, night, and 24-h SBP were associated with the occurrence of cardiovascular events. The standard deviation of night-time SBP showed the strongest association with the outcome variable and was entered into multivariate analyses. In multivariate analyses, night-time SBP variability remained significantly associated with the occurrence of cardiovascular events after adjusting for major cardiovascular risk factors, 24-h SBP, and arterial stiffness. BP variability and arterial stiffness showed no significant association.

Our results suggest that variability of night-time SBP is an important marker of the risk of cardiovascular events in hypertensive patients, independently of average 24-h BP and arterial stiffness.

Our results suggest that variability of night-time SBP is an important marker of the risk of cardiovascular events in hypertensive patients, independently of average 24-h BP and arterial stiffness.

Conventional operations correcting chin deviations mainly rely on the observation and experience of the surgeons during the operation. We have created a new surgical method, one-half wedge osteotomy genioplasty (1/2WOG), that combines three-dimensional computed tomography measurements and simulation. This study evaluated the clinical effect of chin deviation correction with the 1/2WOG method. A total of 38 patients (15 men and 23 women) who underwent 1/2WOG between October 2019 and October 2014 were evaluated. The chin deviation angle and distance, and partial chin deformity were measured preoperatively using three-dimensional computed tomography data. Precise calculations and osteotomy lines were achieved by preoperative simulation. All patients underwent the same surgery by the same surgical team. The clinical effect of 1/2WOG was evaluated according to the preoperative and postoperative data and patient satisfaction. All 38 patients achieved satisfactory aesthetic results without major complications suche significantly reduced postoperatively. During the 12-month follow-up, the patient satisfaction rate reached 90%. We conclude that chin deviation can be improved by 1/2WOG. The combination of digital technology measurements and simulation can increase the accuracy of the osteotomy line design, thus reducing surgical trauma and increasing patient satisfaction, which is worthy of clinical promotion.

Fibula free flaps are standard in facial reconstructions after head and neck cancer resection and typically have short flap ischemia times, often under 2 hours. Methods for short-term flap ischemia are characterized, but methods for extremely prolonged flap ischemia have not been well-described. We describe a 72-year-old patient who underwent composite floor of mouth and mandible resection with fibula free flap reconstruction. Patient intraoperative instability forced flap ischemia of over 10 hours with arterial insufficiency and venous thrombosis. Despite complicated and extremely prolonged ischemia, aggressive local and systemic anticoagulants with intraoperative leach therapy were still effective in flap salvage. The flap ultimately survived without necrosis. This case describes a method to guide surgeons faced with situations of forced, prolonged flap ischemia. Traditionally indicated in short-term ischemia, anticoagulation and leach methods can be effective for intraoperative treatment of extremely prohods can be effective for intraoperative treatment of extremely prolonged flap ischemia, arterial insufficiency, and venous thrombosis.

Vessel depletion in the head and neck from radiation or previous surgical intervention adds to the operative complexity by limiting reconstructive options. Arteriovenous (AV) loop vascular grafts provide a conduit to bypass these nonviable local vessels to provide adequate blood flow. In certain situations, autologous donor vascular options are deficient or not readily available for creation of the AV loop. Cadaveric vein grafts provide an alternative option in these circumstances, but the efficacy and safety has not yet been delineated. In this study we discuss our experience utilizing cryopreserved cadaveric vein grafts for AV loop creation in head and neck reconstruction. ABT199 In our initial cohort we aim to elucidate potential challenges and complications associated with the use of cadaveric vein grafts.

Vessel depletion in the head and neck from radiation or previous surgical intervention adds to the operative complexity by limiting reconstructive options. Arteriovenous (AV) loop vascular grafts provide a conduit to bypass these nonviable local vessels to provide adequate blood flow.