Circulating Midregional Proadrenomedullin and Risk of Incident Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: A Prospective Longitudinal Cohort Study.

Prospective clinical plasma biomarker studies in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) pathogenesis have been hampered by the need for very large cohorts and long follow-up time. The main aim of the present study was to evaluate the association of adrenomedullin, a cardiovascular (CV) stress marker, and incident AAA risk. Prospective longitudinal cohort of middle-aged individuals from the CV cohort of the Malmö Diet and Cancer Study (n = 5551; 1991-1994) was assessed.

Stem cell therapy for abrogating stroke-induced neuroinflammation and relevant secondary cell death mechanisms.

Ischemic stroke is a leading cause of death worldwide. A key secondary cell death mechanism mediating neurological damage following the initial episode of ischemic stroke is the upregulation of endogenous neuroinflammatory processes to levels that destroy hypoxic tissue local to the area of insult, induce apoptosis, and initiate a feedback loop of inflammatory cascades that can expand the region of damage. Stem cell therapy has emerged as an experimental treatment for stroke, and accumulating evidence supports the therapeutic efficacy of stem cells to abrogate stroke-induced inflammation.

Cardiovascular mechanics in the early stages of pulmonary hypertension: a computational study.

We formulate and study a new mathematical model of pulmonary hypertension. Based on principles of fluid and elastic dynamics, we introduce a model that quantifies the stiffening of pulmonary vasculature (arteries and arterioles) to reproduce the hemodynamics of the pulmonary system, including physiologically consistent dependence between compliance and resistance. This pulmonary model is embedded in a closed-loop network of the major vessels in the body, approximated as one-dimensional elastic tubes, and zero-dimensional models for the heart and other organs.

Effects of an Inhibitor of Monocyte Recruitment on Recovery from Traumatic Brain Injury in Mice Treated with Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor.

Unlabelled: Administration of the hematopoietic growth factor granulocyte-colony stimulating Factor (G-CSF) has been reported to enhance recovery from controlled cortical impact (CCI) in rodent models. G-CSF exerts actions in both the periphery (stimulation of hematopoiesis) and in the brain, where it serves as a neurotrophic factor, promoting neuronal survival and stimulating neural stem/progenitor cell proliferation in the hippocampus. In order to distinguish the direct CNS actions of G-CSF from its peripheral actions, experiments were designed to block the recruitment of peripheral monocytes to the site of the lesion produced by CCI.

Neuroinflammation in traumatic brain injury: A chronic response to an acute injury.

Every year, approximately 1.4 million US citizens visit emergency rooms for traumatic brain injuries. Formerly known as an acute injury, chronic neurodegenerative symptoms such as compromised motor skills, decreased cognitive abilities, and emotional and behavioral changes have caused the scientific community to consider chronic aspects of the disorder.

Machine or Human? Evaluating the Quality of a Language Translation Mobile App for Diabetes Education Material.

Background: Diabetes is a major health crisis for Hispanics and Asian Americans. Moreover, Spanish and Chinese speakers are more likely to have limited English proficiency in the United States. One potential tool for facilitating language communication between diabetes patients and health care providers is technology, specifically mobile phones.

CLOVES Syndrome: Severe Neonatal Presentation.

Congenital Lipomatous Overgrowth, Vascular Malformations, Epidermal Nevi and Spinal Abnormalities (CLOVES syndrome) is a newly described and rare overgrowth disorder with serious morbidity. The course of this disease is not well understood and few cases have been reported among neonates. Moreover, not all of the signs of this syndrome are present at birth, making a high index of suspicion necessary.

Stem Cell-Induced Biobridges as Possible Tools to Aid Neuroreconstruction after CNS Injury.

Notch-induced mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) mediate a distinct mechanism of repair after brain injury by forming a biobridge that facilitates biodistribution of host cells from a neurogenic niche to the area of injury. We have observed the biobridge in an area between the subventricular zone and the injured cortex using immunohistochemistry and laser capture. Cells in the biobridge express high levels of extracellular matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), specifically MMP-9, which co-localized with a trail of MSCs graft.

Vacuum-assisted wound closure and mesh-mediated fascial traction for open abdomen therapy - a systematic review.

Background: The aim of this paper was to review the literature on vacuum-assisted wound closure and mesh-mediated fascial traction (VAWCM) in open abdomen therapy. It was designed as systematic review of observational studies.

Methods: A Pub Med, EMBASE and Cochrane search from 2007/01-2016/07 was performed combining the Medical Subject Headings "vacuum", "mesh-mediated fascial traction", "temporary abdominal closure", "delayed abdominal closure", "open abdomen", "abdominal compartment syndrome", "negative pressure wound therapy" or "vacuum assisted wound closure".

Causes and consequences of mesenteric embolization after endovascular aorto-iliac intervention - a nested case control study.

Background: Causes and consequences of mesenteric embolization after endovascular aorto-iliac procedures have not been studied adequately.

Methods: Consecutive patients with mesenteric embolization after endovascular aorto-iliac intervention between 2011 and 2015 (case-group, n = 9) were investigated and compared with age, gender and procedure-matched random controls (n = 36).

Results: Compared to the control group, a higher proportion of patients with mesenteric embolization were current smokers (89% vs.

Lp-PLA activity and mass for prediction of incident abdominal aortic aneurysms: A prospective longitudinal cohort study.

Background And Aims: The pathogenesis of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) shares several common pathways with atherosclerosis. Prospective clinical plasma biomarker studies in AAA have been hampered by the need for very large cohorts and long follow-up time.

Methods: We analyzed a prospective longitudinal cohort of middle-aged individuals from the cardiovascular cohort of the Malmö Diet and Cancer study (n = 5551; 1991-94).

Sak and Sak4 recombinases are required for bacteriophage replication in Staphylococcus aureus.

DNA-single strand annealing proteins (SSAPs) are recombinases frequently encoded in the genome of many bacteriophages. As SSAPs can promote homologous recombination among DNA substrates with an important degree of divergence, these enzymes are involved both in DNA repair and in the generation of phage mosaicisms. Here, analysing Sak and Sak4 as representatives of two different families of SSAPs present in phages infecting the clinically relevant bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, we demonstrate for the first time that these enzymes are absolutely required for phage reproduction.

Circulating cadmium concentration and risk of aortic aneurysms: A nested case-control study within the Malmö Diet and Cancer cohort.

Background And Aims: Diet and smoking expose the general population to cadmium (Cd), which is a toxic metal that accumulates in the arterial wall. In experimental studies, Cd causes reductions in proliferation of smooth muscle cells and cellular synthesis of procollagen. The aim of this study was to examine whether blood Cd levels, a valid measure of Cd exposure, are associated with increased risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).

Serological markers for human intestinal ischemia: A systematic review.

Early and accurate diagnosis of intestinal ischemia is important in order to provide rapid and correct treatment and reduce morbidity and mortality rates. Clinical signs and symptoms are often unspecific. This systemic review sums up literature regarding human plasma biomarkers for acute mesenteric ischemia reported during the last ten years.

Testing for thrombophilia in mesenteric venous thrombosis - Retrospective original study and systematic review.

The aim was to perform a local study of risk factors and thrombophilia in mesenteric venous thrombosis (MVT), and to review the literature concerning thrombophilia testing in MVT. Patients hospitalized for surgical or medical treatment of MVT at our center 2000-2015. A systematic review of observational studies was performed.

Acute mesenteric ischemia (Part II) - Vascular and endovascular surgical approaches.

The modern treatment of acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) requires seamless collaboration of gastrointestinal surgeons, vascular surgeons, and interventional radiologists. The treatment strategy is straightforward aiming at rapid restoration of blood flow to the intestine. Bowel resection is performed on demand.

Acute mesenteric ischemia (part I) - Incidence, etiologies, and how to improve early diagnosis.

Acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) is generally thought to be a rare disease, but in fact, it is more common cause of acute abdomen than appendicitis or ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm in patients over 75 years of age. In occlusive AMI, surgical treatment without revascularization is associated with as high as 80% overall mortality. It has been shown that early diagnosis with contrast-enhanced computed tomography and revascularization can reduce the overall mortality in AMI by up to 50%.

Long-term Outcome after Thrombolysis for Acute Lower Limb Ischaemia.

Objectives: The purpose was to study long-term outcome after thrombolysis for acute arterial lower limb ischaemia, and to evaluate the results depending on the underlying aetiology of arterial occlusion.

Methods: This was a retrospective study of patients entered into a prospective database. Patients were identified in prospective databases from two vascular centres, including a large number of variables.

The Impact of Intraclass Correlation on the Effectiveness of Level-Specific Fit Indices in Multilevel Structural Equation Modeling: A Monte Carlo Study.

Several researchers have recommended that level-specific fit indices should be applied to detect the lack of model fit at any level in multilevel structural equation models. Although we concur with their view, we note that these studies did not sufficiently consider the impact of intraclass correlation (ICC) on the performance of level-specific fit indices. Our study proposed to fill this gap in the methodological literature.

Patients experiences of negative pressure wound therapy at home for the treatment of deep perivascular groin infection after vascular surgery.

Aims And Objectives: To explore experiences of negative pressure wound therapy at home, in patients with deep perivascular groin infection after vascular surgery and management in daily life.

Background: Deep surgical site infection after vascular surgery with exposed vessels often requires long-term treatment with negative pressure wound therapy, and continued therapy at home has become routine.

Design: An explorative qualitative study.

Predictors of Poor Prognosis in Recurrent Hepatitis C After Liver Transplantation.

Background: Hepatitis C is a common indication for liver transplantation (LT). Hepatitis C virus (HCV) recurrence is universal in viremic patients. This recurrence is frequently very aggressive, with graft loss in less than 5 years.

Negative-pressure wound therapy for prevention and treatment of surgical-site infections after vascular surgery.

Background: Indications for negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) in vascular surgical patients are expanding. The aim of this review was to outline the evidence for NPWT on open and closed wounds.

Methods: A PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library search from 2007 to June 2016 was performed combining the medical subject headings terms 'wound infection', 'abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)', 'fasciotomy', 'vascular surgery' and 'NPWT' or 'VAC'.

Six3 dosage mediates the pathogenesis of holoprosencephaly.

Holoprosencephaly (HPE) is defined as the incomplete separation of the two cerebral hemispheres. The pathology of HPE is variable and, based on the severity of the defect, HPE is divided into alobar, semilobar, and lobar. Using a novel hypomorphic Six3 allele, we demonstrate in mice that variability in Six3 dosage results in different HPE phenotypes.