Targeting Both Autophagy and Immunotherapy in Breast Cancer Treatment.

As clinical efforts towards breast-conserving therapy and prolonging survival of those with metastatic breast cancer increase, innovative approaches with the use of biologics are on the rise. Two areas of current focus are cancer immunotherapy and autophagy, both of which have been well-studied independently but have recently been shown to have intertwining roles in cancer. An increased understanding of their interactions could provide new insights that result in novel diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic strategies.

Alterations of the 70 kDa heat shock protein (HSP70) and sequestosome-1 (p62) in women with breast cancer.

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) respond to altered physiological conditions to alleviate the threat. Production of the 70 kDa heat shock protein (HSP70) is up-regulated to protect proteins from degradation. Sequestosome-1 (p62) binds to altered proteins and the p62-protein complex is degraded by autophagy.

Concept of the aortic aneurysm repair-related surgical stress: a review of the literature.

Objective: Abdominal aorta aneurysm (AAA) is a serious threat for human life. AAA repair is a high-risk procedure which results in a severe surgical stress response. We aim to give a conceptual description of the underlying pathophysiology of stress after surgical repair of AAA.

An overview of laparoscopic techniques in abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

Background: Since 1993, various laparoscopic techniques have been developed to make laparoscopic treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) a possible therapeutic alternative. We aim to review all published clinical studies on laparoscopic surgery of AAAs and juxtarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms (JAAAs).

Methods: A thorough search of English-language literature published between January 1966 and December 2012 was performed.

Manual high-dose regional intraoperative thrombolysis of lower extremity emboli after open repair of a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm.

We describe a case of high-dose regional intraoperative thrombolysis subsequent to mechanical thrombectomy for the treatment of postoperative distal extremity embolization of the right lower limb owing to open repair of a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. Mechanical thrombectomy was performed from the popliteal artery but residual embolic occlusion of all three tibial arteries remained. The limb was elevated, exsanguinated, and a blood cuff was placed below the knee and inflated to suprasystolic pressure to isolate the limb from systemic circulation.

Fenestrated and branched endografts for the treatment of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms: a systematic review.

Purpose: To offer a critical review of the current literature on the use of fenestrated and branched stent-grafts in patients with thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAA).

Methods: A thorough search of the English-language literature published between January 2000 and September 2009 identified reports of endovascular procedures using fenestrated and/or branched endografts as the intended repair strategy in patients with TAAA. Studies were selected based on specific inclusion criteria: (1) >3 high-risk patients with preoperative diagnosis of TAAA, (2) the intended treatment strategy was an endovascular repair using a fenestrated or branched endograft or both, and (3) patient demographics and outcome data (technical success rate, 30-day mortality, and follow-up length) were clearly stated.

Minilaparotomy abdominal aortic aneurysm repair in the era of minimally invasive vascular surgery: preliminary results.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the early post-operative clinical impact of minimal incision aortic surgery (MIAS) for infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair in comparison with the standard open repair.

Methods: A case-control study was conducted. Patients of groups A (19 patients) and B (18 patients) were treated with the MIAS technique and the standard open method, respectively.

A hybrid approach using a composite endovascular and open graft procedure for a symptomatic common femoral aneurysm extending well above the inguinal ligament.

We report the use of a unique hybrid technique to treat a patient with a painful aneurysm extending both above and below the inguinal ligament. The patient was at high surgical risk, and endovascular treatment was not possible due to the absence of an appropriate vascular access site. Under local anesthesia, this aneurysm was treated using both a stent graft and a traditional Dacron graft for the iliac and femoral portions, respectively.

Hybrid treatment of common carotid artery occlusion with ring-stripper endarterectomy plus stenting.

Symptomatic occlusion of the common carotid artery with preserved circulation in the internal carotid artery is an uncommon occurrence. We describe a hybrid technique whereby a patient was treated with eversion carotid bifurcation endarterectomy, fluoroscopically guided retrograde ring-stripper common carotid endarterectomy, and stenting of residual stenosis in the disobliterated artery. Successful recanalization was achieved without adverse anatomic or neurologic sequelae.

Laparoscopy-assisted hybrid technique for renal revascularization using an endovascular graft: report of three cases.

Atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (RAS) is relatively common and often associated with hypertension and progressive renal insufficiency. Technical improvements of interventional endovascular tools have led to a more widespread use of endoluminal renal artery revascularization. Sometimes an endovascular procedure for (RAS) may fail.

Fungal infection of aortoiliac endograft: a case report and review of the literature.

Infection of aortoiliac endografts is, to date, a rare complication of endovascular surgery. Staphylococcus species are the most common responsible pathogens, just as in cases with infected grafts after open aortic surgery. We report a case of a 65-year-old man with a history of diabetes mellitus and bladder cancer who developed stent-graft infection 3 years after endovascular treatment for a 5.

Surgical management of extracranial internal carotid aneurysms by cervical approach.

Background: Extracranial internal carotid artery aneurysms (EICAA) are rare vascular problems with a great potential for lethal thromboembolic episodes.

Methods: From 1994 to 2004, nine patients with EICAA, seven men and two women, were surgically treated for 10 aneurysms in our department. Aneurysm led to hemispheric symptoms in six cases (two hemispheric strokes and four hemispheric transient ischaemic attacks).