A Modular Microfluidic Organoid Platform Using LEGO-Like Bricks.

The convergence of organoid and organ-on-a-chip (OoC) technologies is urgently needed to overcome limitations of current 3D in vitro models. However, integrating organoids in standard OoCs faces several technical challenges, as it is typically laborious, lacks flexibility, and often results in even more complex and less-efficient cell culture protocols. Therefore, specifically adapted and more flexible microfluidic platforms need to be developed to facilitate the incorporation of complex 3D in vitro models.

The Dutch chronic lower limb-threatening ischemia registry (THRILLER): A study protocol for popliteal and infrapopliteal endovascular interventions.

Introduction: Chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) is the end stage of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and is associated with high amputation rates, mortality and disease-related health care costs. In infrapopliteal arterial disease (IPAD), endovascular revascularization should be considered for the majority of anatomical and clinical subgroups of CLTI. However, a gap of high-quality evidence exists in this field.

Feasibility of Photo-Optical Transcutaneous Oxygen Tension Measurement During Revascularization of the Lower Extremity.

Objectives: A novel approach in the evaluation of peripheral arterial disease is the photo-optical oxygen tension measurement (pTCpO2). This modality is suggested to be more practical in use in comparison to standard electro-chemical oxygen tension measurement. Hence, pTCpO2 might be of added value to evaluate revascularization of the lower extremities peri-procedural.

Comparison of Photo-optical Transcutaneous Oxygen Tension Measurement with Electro-chemical Transcutaneous Oxygen Tension Measurement in Patients with Arterial Claudication.

Purpose: Photo-optical TCpO2 (pTCpO2) has been proposed as a new method to determine the partial oxygen pressure of the lower extremity in patients with peripheral arterial disease. It is aimed to determine the level of agreement between pTCpO2 and the traditional electro-chemical transcutaneous oxygen tension measurement (eTCpO2).

Methods: Eighteen patients with intermittent claudication underwent simultaneous ankle-brachial index measurement, toe-pressure, pTCpO2 and eTCpO2 tests.

Photo-Optical Transcutaneous Oxygen Tension Measurement Is of Added Value to Predict Diabetic Foot Ulcer Healing: An Observational Study.

Currently, transcutaneous oxygen tension measurement (TCpO2) is the most favorable non-invasive test for diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) healing prognosis. Photo-optical TCpO2 is novel, less time-consuming and more practical in use compared to regular electro-chemical TCpO2. We prospectively investigated the clinical value of photo-optical TCpO2 to predict DFU healing.

Midterm Outcomes of Drug-Coated Balloon Angioplasty in Femoropopliteal Lesions in a Daily Practice Cohort.

Background: Most previous drug-coated balloon (DCB) angioplasty studies used strict inclusion and exclusion criteria and therefore might not be representative for daily practice. This study was performed to evaluate the midterm outcomes of DCB angioplasty in femoropopliteal artery disease and to identify risk factors for restenosis.

Materials And Methods: All patients treated with DCB angioplasty between January 2015 and September 2016 were included.

Applicability of Transcutaneous Oxygen Tension Measurement in the Assessment of Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia.

Transcutaneous oxygen tension measurement (TcPO) is widely applied for the evaluation of chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI). Nevertheless, studies that focused on the clinical value of TcPO have shown varying results. We identified factors that potentially play a role in TcPO measurement variation such as probe placement, probe temperature, and the use of a reference probe.

Short-term outcome and mid-term access site complications of the percutaneous approach to endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (PEVAR) after introduction in a vascular teaching hospital.

The objective is to evaluate our center's experience with the safety and efficacy of the percutaneous approach to endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (PEVAR) with use of the Perclose Proglide device, in the first period after introduction in our center in 2014. We retrospectively identified all patients that underwent PEVAR or endograft extension with percutaneous approach in our center in the urgent and elective setting. Included were all procedures performed between the introduction of the technique in January 2014 and February 2016 when PEVAR had become the predominant technique in our center.

Inadequate Health Literacy in Patients with Arterial Vascular Disease.

Objective: The aim was to identify the prevalence of inadequate health literacy in patients with arterial vascular disease. This was a cross sectional study.

Methods: Patients with arterial vascular disease visiting the outpatient clinic between January 5, 2015 and December 28, 2016, were randomly included and screened for inadequate health literacy with the Newest Vital Sign-Dutch (NVS-D), a validated health literacy assessment measure.

Endovenous laser ablation of insufficient perforating veins: Energy is key to success.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and anatomical success of endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) of incompetent perforating veins (IPV).

Methods: All 135 consecutive patients with IPV treated with ELVA (intention-to-treat) from January 2008 to December 2013 were included. Up to the end of 2011, an 810-nm laserset (14 W) was used, and afterwards, a 1470-nm laserset (6 W) was introduced.

Persistent endoleak after endovascular aneurysm repair for acute Q-fever-infected aortocaval fistula.

We present a case of an endovascular aneurysm repair for a Q-fever-infected acute abdominal aortic aneurysm with aortocaval fistula. Type 2 endoleak persisted after successful endovascular repair.

Histological characteristics of the abdominal aortic wall in patients with vascular chronic Q fever.

The aim of this study was to describe specific histological findings of the Coxiella burnetii-infected aneurysmal abdominal aortic wall. Tissue samples of the aneurysmal abdominal aortic wall from seven patients with chronic Q fever and 15 patients without evidence of Q fever infection were analysed and compared. Chronic Q fever was diagnosed using serology and tissue PCR analysis.

Long-term results of Talent endografts for endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

Background: Since the introduction of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR), long-term follow-up studies reporting single-device results are scarce. In this study, we focus on EVAR repair with the Talent stent graft (Medtronic, Santa Rosa, Calif).

Methods: Between July 2000 and December 2007, 365 patients underwent elective EVAR with a Talent device.

Risk factors for surgical-site infection following common femoral artery endarterectomy.

Surgical-site infection is a major complication following endarterectomy of the common femoral artery. The aim of this single-center study was to determine risk factors for surgical-site infection after endarterectomy of the common femoral artery and especially the possible association between patch type (venous, bovine, or prosthetic) and the occurrence of groin infection. Retrospectively 140 patients who underwent an endarterectomy of the common femoral artery between 2003 and 2006 were reviewed.

Low levels of Nogo-B in human carotid atherosclerotic plaques are associated with an atheromatous phenotype, restenosis, and stenosis severity.

Objective: Reticulon-4/Nogo (Nogo-B) protects mouse arteries from lumen loss by reducing smooth muscle cell (SMC) migration and intimal thickening. Our goal was to determine plaque and circulating levels of Nogo-B in atherosclerotic and control subjects. Therefore, we studied the relationships between local Nogo-B, plaque characteristics, and clinical data in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy.

Gender-associated differences in plaque phenotype of patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy.

Background: Carotid endarterectomy to prevent a stroke is less beneficial for women compared with men. This benefit is lower in asymptomatic women compared with asymptomatic men or symptomatic patients. A possible explanation for this gender-associated difference in outcome could be found in the atherosclerotic carotid plaque phenotype.

Statin treatment is not associated with consistent alterations in inflammatory status of carotid atherosclerotic plaques: a retrospective study in 378 patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy.

Background And Purpose: Anti-inflammatory qualities are held partially responsible for the reduction of cardiovascular events after statin treatment. We examined the phenotype of carotid atherosclerotic plaques harvested during carotid endarterectomy in relation to the previous use of different statins prescribed in clinical practice.

Methods: Three hundred and seventy-eight patients were included.

Closure of the arteriotomy after carotid endarterectomy: patch type is related to intraoperative microemboli and restenosis rate.

Objective: Patch closure after carotid endarterectomy (CEA) improves clinical outcome compared with primary closure. Whether there are differences in outcome between various patch materials is still not clear. The objective of this retrospective study was to investigate whether a relationship exists between the patch type and the number of microemboli as registered during CEA by transcranial Doppler imaging, the clinical outcome (transient ischemic attack and cerebrovascular accident), and the occurrence of restenosis.

Carotid atherosclerotic plaques in patients with transient ischemic attacks and stroke have unstable characteristics compared with plaques in asymptomatic and amaurosis fugax patients.

Introduction: Atherosclerotic carotid artery disease is responsible for a variety of clinical presentations, ranging from asymptomatic to cerebral ischemic events. Considering the upcoming use of noninvasive imaging modalities, plaque characteristics could serve as a marker in the selection of patients eligible for carotid endarterectomy (CEA). This would be more likely if characteristics corresponded with clinical manifestations and were predictive of future events.

Athero-express: differential atherosclerotic plaque expression of mRNA and protein in relation to cardiovascular events and patient characteristics. Rationale and design.

In clinical practice, biological markers are not available to routinely assess the progression of atherosclerotic disease or the development of restenosis following endarterectomy or catheter based interventions. Endarterectomy procedures provide an opportunity to study mechanisms of restenosis and progression of atherosclerotic disease since atherosclerotic tissue is obtained. Athero-Express is an ongoing prospective study, initiated in 2002, with the objective to investigate the etiological value of plaque characteristics for long term outcome.