Highlights d The glycine/oxalate ratio is reduced in both patients and mice with atherosclerosis d Loss of AGXT and dietary oxalate overload increase atherosclerosis in Apoe À/À mice d In macrophages, oxalate induces mitochondrial dysfunction, enhancing CCL5 release d AAV-AGXT treatment to target dysregulated oxalate metabolism lowers atherosclerosis

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Aim For more than one year the health systems all over the world are combating the global Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, cased by a novel Corona virus (N-COV) which was first described in Wuhan city, China, presenting as an atypical infection of the lower respiratory tract. Methods COVID-19 is characterized by multisystemic involvement, and mortality is attributed mainly to the respiratory system involvement, which may lead to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome and respiratory failure. Several COVID-19 associated complications are being increasingly reported, among which arterial and venous thromboembolic events, that may lead to amputation of affected limbs. So far, a large number of reports have described hypercoagulability crises leading to amputation of lower limbs, while the National Library of Medicine (Medline) search revealed no cases of urgent upper limb amputation in COVID-19 patients. Results We here describe for the first time in literature, a case of upper limb ischemia in a COVID-19 patient, with rapid progression to hand necrosis, requiring urgent through-arm amputation of the upper limb. Conclusions Our case emphasizes the need for anticoagulant therapy in COVID-19 patients, and keeping in mind to stay aware for the possible thromboembolic COVID-19 related sequelae.

Background. Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) share common risk factors. Objectives. To assess the abdominal aortic diameter (AAD) among patients with ACS using transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). Methods. Patients with ACS admitted to our intensive cardiac care unit from December 2013 to June 2014 were screened prospectively for AAA via AAD measurement in the subcostal TTE view. AAA was defined as an aneurysm with a transverse diameter of ≥30 mm. Results. Sixty seven patients were included. The male-to-female sex ratio was 7 : 1. The vast majority of patients were admitted due to STEMI (73%), and the rest were equally divided as NSTEMI and unstable angina. The mean patient age was 58.4 ± 10.4 years. AAD measurements were feasible in 57 patients (85%); among them, AAA was diagnosed in six patients (10.5%). The average additional time required to measure the abdominal aorta was 4 ± 1 min. All patients with AAA were men and had a higher prevalence of smoking (83.3% vs. 60.6%, p<0.003) and a lower incidence of diabetes mellitus than those without aneurysm. The prevalence of AAA tended to be related to age (12.5% in those older than 60 years and 18.7% in those older than 65 years). Conclusions. The overall prevalence of AAA is significantly high among patients with ACS and increases with age. AAA screening as a part of routine cardiac TTE can be easily, rapidly, and feasibly performed and yield accurate findings. AAD measurement in the subcostal view should be implemented as a part of routine TTE in patients with ACS.