Pulse pressure-induced transmural fluid flux increases bovine aortic smooth muscle cell apoptosis in a mitogen activated protein kinase dependent manner.

Background: Mechanical forces associated with blood flow are critical in the regulation of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) growth, migration, differentiation, and apoptosis as fundamental features in the pathogenesis of vascular disease. We investigated the effect of pulse pressure on VSMC apoptosis.

Methods: Using a perfused transcapillary co-culture system, bovine thoracic aortic SMC (BASMC) were exposed to increases in pulsatile flow (0.

Cryoablation of unresectable pancreatic cancer.

Background: Most patients with pancreatic cancer are not candidates for curative resection. The goal of this study was to evaluate the safety of an intraoperative ultrasound-guided cryosurgical procedure in a phase I study of unresectable pancreatic cancer.

Methods: From March 1995 to March 1999, 10 cryosurgeries using intraoperative ultrasound were performed on 9 patients with unresectable cancers at laparotomy.