Can birth weight predict offspring's lung function in adult age? Evidence from two Swedish birth cohorts.

Background: Associations between birth weight (BW) and adult lung function have been inconsistent and limited to early adulthood. We aimed to study this association in two population-based cohorts and explore if BW, adjusted for gestational age, predicts adult lung function. We also tested adult lung function impairment according to the mis-match hypothesis-small babies growing big as adults.

A new way to use transit-time flow measurement for coronary artery bypass grafting.

Objectives: Transit-time flow measurement is a recognized method for graft evaluation in coronary surgery. However, single flow measurement has been associated with a low specificity for detecting graft dysfunction. The goal of this study was to assess the value of transit-time flow measurement for assessing in situ internal mammary artery grafts during non-existent native coronary circulation and the relevance of collateral blood flow in target vessels.

Extra-anatomic carotid bypass in acute aortic dissection type A with carotid artery malperfusion.

Acute aortic dissection type A with subtotal or total occlusion of one carotid artery is a complex situation. An additional extra-anatomic carotid artery bypass can restore carotid artery perfusion after standard emergency surgery with aortic replacement.

Neutralization of S100A4 induces stabilization of atherosclerotic plaques: role of smooth muscle cells.

Aims: During atherosclerosis, smooth muscle cells (SMCs) accumulate in the intima where they switch from a contractile to a synthetic phenotype. From porcine coronary artery, we isolated spindle-shaped (S) SMCs exhibiting features of the contractile phenotype and rhomboid (R) SMCs typical of the synthetic phenotype. S100A4 was identified as a marker of R-SMCs in vitro and intimal SMCs, in pig and man.