In 2019, the EPMA celebrated its 10th anniversary at the 5th World Congress in Pilsen, Czech Republic. The history of the International Professional Network dedicated to Predictive, Preventive and Personalised Medicine (PPPM / 3PM) is rich in achievements. Facing the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic it is getting evident globally that the predictive approach, targeted prevention and personalisation of medical services is the optimal paradigm in healthcare demonstrating the high potential to save lives and to benefit the society as a whole. The EPMA World Congress Supplement 2020 highlights advances in 3P medicine.

IntroductionMany studies have highlighted the important role of PCSK9 in the development of cardiometabolic changes and its possible function as a biomarker of myocardial infarction or ischemic heart disease. This study aimed to determine the relationship between circulating PCSK9 levels and subclinical vascular changes in the group of low risk patients without manifest cardiovascular diseases.MethodsIn this study, 120 healthy patients, free of manifest cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, and without lipid-lowering therapy, were divided into three groups based on BMI: normal weight (N = 50), overweight (N = 30), and obese (N = 40). Biochemical parameters, including basic lipid and non-lipid ones, were analyzed. PCSK9 levels were measured by ELISA, vascular changes were quantified by carotid ultrasound (carotid artery intima-media thickness, cIMT), and arterial stiffness parameters (pulse wave velocity, PWV; augmentation index, AI; stiffness parameter, β) were measured by an echo-tracking method.ResultsPlasma levels of PCSK9 significantly increased in obese (172.78 ± 51.67 ng/mL) in comparison with overweight (120.14 ± 37.64, p < 0.001) and normal weight groups (114.92 ± 35.87, p < 0.001). Differences between the overweight and normal weight groups were not significant (p = 0.85). The level of PCSK9 significantly correlated with values of BMI (p < 0.001, r = 0.38). In addition to increase in laboratory parameters associated with moderate metabolic changes, significant increase in cIMT and parameters of vascular changes (β, AI, PWV) were detected in groups with elevated BMI. Significant positive linear correlation of PCSK9 concentrations and cIMT (p < 0.001, r = 0.39), PWV (p < 0.001, r = 0.31), and β (p < 0.001, r = 0.3) were found. In multivariable regression analysis after adjusting for gender, age, BMI, and LDL, the impact of PCSK9 on cIMT, β, and PWV remained significant (p = 0.006, 0.03, and 0.002, respectively).ConclusionPCSK9 plasma levels significantly correlated with subclinical vascular changes and their values were significantly elevated in obese subjects. We assume that PCSK9 could be used as a predictor of early vascular involvement, prior to the existence of manifest atherosclerosis. These results also highlight the role of anti-PCSK9 treatment in primary prevention.

The paper presents the results of treating 14 patients, namely eight patients with visceral artery aneurysms and six patients with visceral artery pseudoaneurysms. In 64.3% of the patients, the initial diagnosis was made based on the ultrasound examination. All the patients (100%) underwent CT angiography, while angiography was performed in 71.4% of the cases. Five (35.7%) patients with visceral artery pseudoaneurysms were emergently hospitalized; among them, the signs of bleeding were observed in 2 patients. In 9 patients, pathology was detected during tests for other conditions. Five (35.7%) patients underwent endovascular treatment, while 9 (64.3%) patients received surgical treatment. Endovascular interventions and open surgery demonstrated a nil mortality rate. After endovascular treatment, stent thrombosis was found in 1 patient. In the case of surgical treatment, visceral artery aneurysm was observed in 1 patient who underwent the resection of superior mesenteric artery pseudoaneurysm. Conclusions. The choice of the method of treating visceral artery aneurysms and visceral artery pseudoaneurysms depends on the location, size, anatomic features of the visceral arteries and the clinical course of the disease. Both endovascular and surgical treatment demonstrate good postoperative outcomes. Visceral ischemia is one of the most serious complications in the postoperative period, which can complicate both the diagnosis and the choice of treatment tactics.

Úvod: Popisujeme prípad úspešnej náhrady protézy descendentnej aorty a implantovaného hrudného stentgraftu humánnym aortálnym allograftom. Kazuistika: Jednalo sa o 47 ročného muža, ktorý bol v šestnástich rokoch operovaný pre koarktáciu aorty. Mal vykonaný dakronový bypass z descendentnej aorty nad koarktáciou na infrarenálnu aortu. Po tridsiatich rokoch sa u neho vytvorila pseudoaneuryzma v proximálnej anastomóze, ktorá bola prvotne riešená implantáciou hrudného stentgraftu. Avšak osem mesiacov po implantácii hrudného stentgraftu dochádza k rozvoju infekcie. Vykonali sme explantáciu hrudného stentgraftu a pôvodnej dakronovej protézy. Infi kovanú descendentnú aortu sme nahradili in situ čerstvým aortálnym allograftom. Pooperačný priebeh bol bez komplikácií a pacient je aktuálne bez známok sepsy, viscerálnej ischémie alebo klaudikácií. Záver: Metódou voľby liečby infi kovaného stentgraftu je jeho odstránenie. Problémom ostáva náhrada infi kovanej aorty po explantácii stentgraftu. Extraanatomický bypass "aorta ventrale" už v súčasnosti nie je metódou voľby. Náhrada infi kovanej oblasti aortálnym allograftom zostáva jednou z najviac používaných možností. Medzi komplikácie tohto postupu môže byť aneuryzmatická dilatácia náhrady, jej stenóza alebo uzáver. Tieto komplikácie sa vyskytujú do 20 % prípadov. Ďalšou z moderných možností liečby je in situ náhrada xenoperikardiálnym graftom. Operačná mortalita týchto operácii je vysoká, do 30 %. No aj napriek vysokej mortalite týchto operácií je chirurgická liečba nutná, lebo takmer všetci neliečení pacienti umierajú.