Percutaneous injection of thrombin for the treatment of pseudoaneurysms: the German multicentre registry.

Aims: False aneurysms can be treated surgically or by ultrasound guided manual compression. Another method is to inject thrombin into the aneurysm under ultrasound guidance. We evaluated safety and efficacy of this approach in a multicentre registry.

Closure of a patent arterial duct in a septuagenarian with atrial fibrillation.

We occluded a large arterial duct in a patient with atrial fibrillation, using an Amplatzer duct occluder, with no residual shunt at the end of the procedure. Follow-up revealed recanalization, which was successfully treated with a 4 mm Amplatzer ASD occluder. It is speculated the reopening of the initially occluded duct was the consequence of anticoagulation needed because of the atrial fibrillation.

Nitric oxide-sensitive soluble guanylyl cyclase activity is preserved in internal mammary artery of type 2 diabetic patients.

Vascular reactivity to nitric oxide (NO) is mediated by NO-sensitive soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC). Since a diminished activity of vascular sGC has been reported in an animal model of type 2 diabetes, the sGC activity was assayed in vitro in internal mammary artery specimens obtained during bypass surgery from patients with and without type 2 diabetes. The sensitivity of sGC to NO, which is dependent on Fe(2+)-containing heme, was measured in vitro using stimulation with diethylamine NONOate (DEA/NO).

The cytotoxicity of iodinated radiocontrast agents on renal cells in vitro.

A deterioration of renal function is one preoccupying complication of iodinated radiocontrast agents in clinical practice. These compounds have direct toxic effects on renal cells, which are only in part related to their physicochemical properties. The hyperosmolal monomeric ionic radiocontrast agents, like diatrizoate, have the highest toxicity, whereas renal cells are less affected by (nonionic) compounds with reduced osmolality.

Characterization of a highly polymorphic marker adjacent to the SLC4A1 gene and of kidney immunostaining in a family with distal renal tubular acidosis.

Background: Mutations in the human SLC4A1 (AE1/band 3) gene are associated with hereditary spherocytic anaemia and with distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA). The molecular diagnosis of AE1 mutations has been complicated by the absence of highly polymorphic genetic markers, and the pathogenic mechanisms of some dRTA-associated AE1 mutations remain unclear. Here, we characterized a polymorphic dinucleotide repeat close to the human AE1 gene and performed an immunocytochemical study of kidney tissue from a patient with inherited dRTA with a defined AE1 mutation.

Current issues in the diagnosis and management of patients with renal artery stenosis: a cardiologic perspective.

Renal artery stenosis most often is caused by atherosclerosis. Although patients with renal artery stenosis can be managed conservatively, renal revascularization may be indicated, particularly in patients with refractory hypertension on a multidrug regimen and patients with declining renal function. Duplex ultrasonography of the renal arteries and magnetic resonance angiography are currently the most efficient noninvasive methods for the evaluation of renal artery stenosis.

Heterologous expression of human VEGF165 in rat brain: dose-dependent, heterogeneous effects on CBF in relation to vascular density and cross-sectional area.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) induces increased vessel permeability and formation of abnormal vessels. To investigate cerebral blood flow (CBF) during local overexpression of VEGF recombinant adenoviruses carrying the human VEGF165 complementary DNA (2.3 to 23.

Radiocontrast-induced renal tubular cell apoptosis: hypertonic versus oxidative stress.

Rationale And Objectives: Radiocontrast-induced nephropathy (RCIN) is a major complication of intravascular radiocontrast administration. Renal tubular cell apoptosis is a feature of RCIN, which is related to hypertonicity of contrast agents. Because a hyperosmolal extracellular environment induces oxidative stress via reactive oxygen species, we tested the hypothesis that antioxidants decrease hypertonicity-induced apoptosis of renal epithelial cells.

Ionic radiocontrast media disrupt intercellular contacts via an extracellular calcium-independent mechanism.

Direct cytotoxic effects of radiocontrast (RC) agents have been implicated in radiocontrast nephropathy (RCIN). The interaction between extracellular calcium, which plays a central role in intercellular contacts, and the in vitro toxicity of RC was tested in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cell monolayers grown on permeable supports. Cell viability was determined by trypan blue exclusion.