Outcomes of elective peripheral endovascular interventions for peripheral arterial disease performed in hospital outpatient departments, ambulatory surgical centers and office-based labs.

Background: A recent shift in the location where peripheral endovascular interventions (PVI) are performed has occurred, from traditional settings such as hospital outpatient departments (HOPD), to ambulatory surgical centers (ASC) and outpatient-based laboratories (OBL). Different settings may influence the safety and efficacy of the PVI, as well as how it is done. This study aims to compare the postprocedural outcomes and intraprocedural details between the three settings.

Evaluating postoperative outcomes in patients with hostile neck anatomy undergoing transcarotid artery revascularization versus transfemoral carotid artery stenting.

Background: Carotid endarterectomy is relatively contraindicated in patients with a hostile neck anatomy who were historically revascularized with transfemoral carotid artery stenting (TFCAS). As transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR) has progressively replaced TFCAS, evidence pertaining to hostile neck anatomy and TCAR is necessary to establish its safety and feasibility in this subgroup of patients. Therefore, we analyzed the impact of a hostile neck anatomy on outcomes in patients undergoing TCAR and further compared them with those undergoing TFCAS to establish recommendations for standard of care.

Innominate Artery Ligation: A History From Mott to Matas.

Innominate artery ligation emerged in the 19th century as an early operation for right subclavian aneurysm. Clinical outcomes were often dire, but undeterred surgeons believed that ligation represented an opportunity that outweighed the risks of nonoperative aneurysm management. Valentine Mott of New York performed the procedure in 1818; his patient died 26 days later.

Outcomes of adjuvant endocrine therapy and hormone receptor status change following neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer patients.

Background: This retrospective study investigated the therapeutic benefit of adjuvant endocrine therapy (ET) in breast cancer patients with hormone receptor (HR) status change from positive to negative after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC).

Methods: From December 2000 to November 2010, 97 eligible patients with a positive-to-negative switch of HR status after NAC were identified. All patients were categorized into 2 groups on the basis of the administration of ET: 57 ET-administered patients and 40 ET-naïve patients.

Epigenetic changes of TIMP-3, GSTP-1 and 14-3-3 sigma genes as indication of status of chronic inflammation and cancer.

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the epigenetic changes via hypermethylation status of TIMP-3, GSTP-1 and 14-3-3σ genes, between healthy subjects and patients with reversible chronic inflammatory disease, and between healthy subjects and patients with irreversible malignant disease, to highlight the genetic changes that occur in the progression from an inflammatory condition to irreversible genetic changes commonly observed in cancer patients.

Methods: DNA was extracted from the blood of 680 healthy subjects, and tissues and blood of 110 patients with chronic inflammation disease of the gums, as well as neoplastic tissues of 108 breast cancer patients. Methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for TIMP-3, GSTP-1 and 14-3-3σ was performed, and hypermethylation status was analyzed and compared between the 3 groups.

New developments in breast cancer prognosis: molecular predictors of treatment response and survival.

Aim: This study aimed to assess the molecular subtypes of breast cancer for patients attending a dedicated breast care center and examine the association with clinicopathological features, treatment and survival outcomes.

Methods: Demographic, clinicopathological and treatment details were collected from women with primary breast cancer. Immunohistochemical subtypes were also collected.

Association of cytokines, high sensitive C-reactive protein, VEGF and beta-defensin-1 gene polymorphisms and their protein expressions with chronic periodontitis in the Chinese population.

Purposes: This study aimed at investigating the association between interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-12 (IL-12), C-reactive protein (CRP), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and β-defensin-1polymorphisms and the susceptibility to periodontitis in the Chinese population.

Methods: DNA was extracted from the blood samples of 532 healthy individuals and 122 chronic periodontitis (CP) patients enrolled in the study. The genes encoding IL-6, IL-12, CRP, VEGF and β-defensin-1 were amplified using PCR and digested with restriction enzymes.

Treatment of chronic nonhealing neurotrophic corneal epithelial defects with thymosin beta4.

Neurotrophic corneal defects are difficult to heal and all too often lead to scarring and vision loss. Medical management is often of limited success. We describe the results of nine patients (ages 37-84) with chronic nonhealing neurotrophic corneal epithelial defects who were treated with thymosin beta 4 (Tbeta4) sterile eye drops for 28 or 49 days with a follow-up period of 30 days.

Comparison of deep lamellar endothelial keratoplasty and penetrating keratoplasty in patients with Fuchs endothelial dystrophy.

Purpose: To evaluate and compare 1-year postoperative visual acuity, refractive results, endothelial cell density (ECD), and complications in a consecutive group of patients who underwent deep lamellar endothelial keratoplasty (DLEK) with those who underwent penetrating keratoplasty (PK) performed by 1 surgeon.

Methods: We prospectively analyzed results of 20 consecutive patients with Fuchs dystrophy and pseudophakia who underwent small-incision DLEK surgery and retrospectively compared these results with those of 23 consecutive patients with Fuchs dystrophy and pseudophakia who underwent standard PK surgery during the same period. Main outcome measurements were best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA); refractive, keratometric, and topographic astigmatism; topographic irregular astigmatism; absolute change in spherical equivalent; and ECD.