Changes in steady-state levels of mRNAs coding for type IV collagen, laminin and fibronectin following capillary basement membrane thickening in human adult onset diabetes.

The development of capillary basement membrane thickening has been linked to microvascular changes known to occur in tissues of patients with type II diabetes. Previous evidence has suggested that capillary basement membrane thickening is due to increased basement membrane synthesis. In this study, skin samples from 8 diabetic patients with confirmed capillary basement membrane thickening and 7 non-diabetic controls were used to assess steady state levels of mRNAs coding for several basement components including pro alpha 1(IV) collagen, laminin and fibronectin.

Peripheral vascular complications from percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty: a comparison with transfemoral cardiac catheterization.

The peripheral vascular complications associated with percutaneous transfemoral coronary angioplasty were compared with those that occurred during conventional transfemoral cardiac catheterization. Among 644 patients undergoing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), 6 patients (0.9%) suffered peripheral vascular complications, whereas 35 of 2904 patients having cardiac catheterizations (1.

Renal artery intimal flaps after blunt trauma: indications for nonoperative therapy.

After sustaining blunt abdominal trauma, two patients were found to have intimal flaps in extrahilar renal arteries without thrombosis. These renal artery injuries were observed without surgical repair because of severe concomitant multiple organ trauma. Continued patency of the renal arteries was confirmed by sequential renal scans or arteriograms.

Improved operative exposure of infrapopliteal vessels in combined vascular and orthopedic injuries.

In a series of six patients, a single-bar anterior external fixator was used to treat combined vascular and orthopedic injuries of the leg. This method of external fixation facilitated operative vascular exposure without sacrificing bony stability or alignment. It may be the preferred method of external fixation for these complex injuries.