Acute limb ischemia in cancer patients: should we surgically intervene?

Background: Cancer patients have an increased risk of venous thromboembolic events. Certain chemotherapeutic agents have also been associated with the development of thrombosis. Reported cases of acute arterial ischemic episodes in cancer patients are rare.

Osteoprotegerin is higher in peripheral arterial disease regardless of glycaemic status.

Introduction: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) are both associated with excessive vascular calcification and elevated levels of inflammatory markers IL-6 and hsCRP. The recently identified Osteoprotegerin(OPG)/RANKL/TRAIL pathway has been implicated in vascular calcification, but data on levels in PAD and effect of co-existent DM are lacking.

Materials And Methods: 4 groups of patients were recruited - 26 with PAD and DM, 35 with DM alone, 22 with PAD alone, and 21 healthy individuals.

Down syndrome: a risk factor for mycotic aneurysm?

Down syndrome, or trisomy 21, has a characteristic constellation of clinical findings, including various congenital heart defects. We report a case of an adult male with Down syndrome who presented with a 3-week history of lower limb pain and swelling, attributed to cellulitis. Clinical and angiographic evaluation identified a below-knee mycotic pseudoaneurysm secondary to infective endocarditis.

Endovascular repair of para-anastomotic aortoiliac aneurysms.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the use of endovascular stent grafts in the treatment of para-anastomotic aneurysms (PAAs) as an alternative to high-risk open surgical repair. We identified all patients with previous open aortic aneurysm repair who underwent infrarenal endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) at our institution from June 1998 to April 2007. Patient demographics, previous surgery, and operative complications were recorded.

Screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms in cardiovascular patients.

Background: The objective of the study was to determine the incidence of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms (AAA) in a population of symptomatic cardiac patients. A retrospective cohort study of investigations was done at the cardiology clinic, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin.

Materials And Methods: There were 415 men and women recruited by referral to the cardiology clinic.

Clinically applicable thermal preconditioning attenuates leukocyte-endothelial interactions.

Background: We have previously demonstrated that clinically applicable thermal preconditioning induces heat shock protein 72 (HSP72) and protects against a subsequent ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in an animal model. A core component of I/R injuries is the interaction between activated leukocytes and endothelial cells. We hypothesized that the effects of clinically applicable thermal preconditioning are mediated through attenuation of this leukocyte-endothelial (L-E) interaction.

Taurolidine attenuates the hemodynamic and respiratory changes associated with endotoxemia.

The purpose of this study was to determine if prereatment with taurolidine, a known anti-endotoxin agent, would attenuate the hemodynamic and respiratory responses associated with endotoxin induced lung injury in a large animal model in a randomized controlled study under license from the Department of Health. All animals underwent a general anesthetic. Vascular catheters were placed in the femoral artery and in the femoral vein.