Regulation of nitric oxide production in hypothyroidism.

Hypothyroidism is a common endocrine disorder that predominantly occurs in females. It is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), but the molecular mechanism is not known. Disturbance in lipid metabolism, the regulation of oxidative stress, and inflammation characterize the progression of subclinical hypothyroidism.

The prevalence of polyvascular disease in patients with carotid artery disease and peripheral artery disease.

Background: Cardiovascular disease remains the major cause of mortality in the Western World.

Aims: We aimed to assess the prevalence of polyvascular disease in patients with carotid artery disease and peripheral artery disease (PAD), and to determine the risk profile of patients with polyvascular disease.

Methods: The study included 1045 consecutive patients presenting to our department with carotid disease or PAD.

Hypothesis related to the regulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase during carotid endarterectomy.

Sudden occlusion of an artery caused by a thrombus or emboli is the most frequent cause of acute brain ischemia (ABI). Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) represents the gold standard for preventing strokes of carotid origin. However, neuronal damage caused by ischemia and/or reperfusion may contribute to a poor clinical outcome after CEA.

Awareness and knowledge of cardiovascular disease risk factors among medical students.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and attitude of medical students in relation to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors as well as to assess the impact of medical education on their knowledge and recognition of the importance of implementation of preventive measures.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 514 students in the second year of studying at the Faculty of Medicine in Belgrade, Serbia (younger students response rate 79.57%) and 511 students in the last year of education (older students response rate 90.

Relationship Between Pain and CEAP C Categories of Chronic Venous Disease.

In this study, we investigated whether the occurrence and intensity of leg pain are related to C class of the clinical, etiological, anatomical, and pathophysiological (CEAP) classification for chronic venous disease (CVeD). This cross-sectional study, conducted in Serbia, included 2841 patients: 2027 (71.3%) women and 814 (28.

Chronic Venous Disease and Comorbidities.

We report the relations between comorbidities and chronic venous disease. In this cross-sectional study, information was gathered from 1679 Serbian patients. The majority (65.

In situ revascularisation for femoropopliteal graft infection: ten years of experience with silver grafts.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze clinical outcome of patients for femoropopliteal graft infection who were treated by in situ reconstruction with a silver-coated prosthesis.

Basic Methods: From December 2001 to December 2011, 27 patients were treated for femoropopliteal graft infection. Twenty patients (74%) were male and seven (26%) were female.

Chronic venous disease: Correlation between ultrasound findings and the clinical, etiologic, anatomic and pathophysiologic classification.

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate association between clinical manifestation of chronic venous disease and the presence and severity of functional venous disease.

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 14 towns in Serbia. All men and women aged >18 years, consecutively coming to venous specialists (47 specialists) were included in the study.

Urgent carotid endarterectomy in patients with acute neurological ischemic events within six hours after symptoms onset.

To analyze the outcome of urgent carotid endarterectomy (CEA) performed within less than six hours in patients with crescendo transient ischemic attack (TIA) and stroke in progression. From January 1998 to December 2008, 58 urgent CEAs were done for acute neurological ischemic events--46 patients with crescendo TIA and 12 patients with stroke in progression. Brain computed tomography (CT) was done prior and after the surgery.

Copeptin level after carotid endarterectomy and perioperative stroke.

We evaluated the prognostic value of copeptin levels in a cohort of surgical patients after elective carotid endarterectomy (CEA). Twenty-one patients with perioperative stroke were prospectively recruited. The diagnosis of cerebrovascular event (CVE) was confirmed by computed tomography.

Body mass index and primary chronic venous disease--a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: This study aims to investigate whether overweight and obesity are related to the clinical (C) category of clinical, etiologic, anatomic and pathophysiologic (CEAP) classification of chronic venous disease (CVD).

Design: A cross-sectional study.

Materials And Methods: The study was conducted in Serbia, in the year 2011.

Technical strategy in a patient with symptomatic thoracic aneurysm near the origin of the left subclavian artery and left internal thoracic artery coronary graft.

Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) is a safe and reliable technique utilized in the treatment for aortic aneurysms. However, in up to 40% of patients, devices are typically placed over the left subclavian artery (LSA) origin. In this report, we present a case of a successful TEVAR procedure following the transposition of the LSA with protective carotico-axillary/carotid bypass in a patient with a patent left internal thoracic artery (LITA)-left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery bypass graft and right internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion.

Compressive syndrome of internal jugular veins in multiple sclerosis: does it matter?

Objectives: Condition known as chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) is characterized by insufficient cerebral vein drainage in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and internal jugular vein (IJV), vertebral and/or azygos veins stenoses. However, external compression on the IJV was not clearly described as a potential cause of CCSVI. We aim to present a case of CCSVI in a patient with MS caused by bilateral IJV inverted valves combined with IJV external compression by carotid bulb.

Risk factors for chronic venous disease.

Objective: Chronic venous disease (CVD) is a common problem in developing and developed countries.

Methods: A cross-sectional study, conducted in two major towns in Serbia, comprised 3225 subjects over 18 years old, enrolled in the survey consecutively by general practitioners (GPs) within their normal framework. Diagnosis of CVD was made by GPs on the basis of symptoms and visual examination.

Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in patients with carotid disease according to NHLBI/AHA and IDF criteria: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) has been related to type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Different criteria for diagnosis of MetS have been recommended, but there is no agreement about which criteria are best to use. The aim of the present study was to investigate agreement between the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, American Heart Association (NHLBI/AHA) and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) definitions of MetS in patients with symptomatic carotid disease and to compare the frequency of cardiovascular risk factor in patients with MetS diagnosed by these two sets of criteria.

Quality of life in chronic venous disease patients measured by short Chronic Venous Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire (CIVIQ-14) in Serbia.

Background: This was a psychometric validation of the short Chronic Venous Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire (CIVIQ-14) as quality of life (QOL) instrument for chronic venous disease (CVD) patients.

Methods: Patients aged >18 years who had CVD in CEAP C stages C0s to C6 were included in the study. Diagnosis was made by general practitioners according to CVD symptoms and visual examination of the lower extremities.

Regulation of Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase (iNOS) and its Potential Role in Insulin Resistance, Diabetes and Heart Failure.

Nitric oxide synthases (NOS) are the enzymes responsible for nitric oxide (NO) generation. NO is a reactive oxygen species as well as a reactive nitrogen species. It is a free radical which mediates several biological effects.

Eversion carotid endarterectomy versus best medical treatment in symptomatic patients with near total internal carotid occlusion: a prospective nonrandomized trial.

Background: We sought to prospectively evaluate clinical effects of eversion carotid endarterectomy (ECEA) versus best medical treatment of symptomatic patients with near total internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion.

Methods: From January 2003 to December 2006, a total of 309 recently (within 12 months) symptomatic patients with near total ICA occlusion who were eligible for surgery were identified in our institution. Patients were nonrandomly divided into group A (259 patients), who underwent ECEA surgery, and group B (50 patients), who refused surgery.

[Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of radiotherapy induced carotid stenosis--case report].

Frequent delayed effect of radiation therapy in the region of neck is stenosis of carotid arteries. We report the case of 32 years old man with history of radiation therapy due to Hodgkin lymphoma, and severe stenosis of the right common carotid artery. Stenosis was succesfuly treated by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty with implantation of two bare-metal stents.

Association of socioeconomic status measured by education and risk factors for carotid atherosclerosis: cross-sectional study.

Aim: To investigate the association between socioeconomic status and metabolic syndrome, lifestyle, clinical and biochemical characteristics, and inflammatory markers as risk factors for carotid atherosclerotic disease.

Methods: This cross-sectional study, involving 657 consecutive patients with verified carotid atherosclerotic disease, was performed in Belgrade, Serbia, during the period 2006-2007. Formal education level was used as a proxy for socioeconomic status.

[ Air embolism during carotid dilatation with a stent].

We presented the case of endovascular treatment of the restenosis of the carotid artery occuring after carotid endarterectomy. We have shown the need of applying the protection systems during the endovascular procedure, in order to prevent the distal embolisation cused by ahterosclerotic debris and/or air.

[Endovascular and surgical management of carotid artery restenosis].

Background: The incidence of recurrent carotid stenosis after primary endarterectomy ranges from 10-34%. We presented our four year experience and comparing reoperation versus endovascular treatment.

Methods: In period from 2001 to 2005, 50 patients, 37 men and 13 women, were treated surgically and endovascular due to restenosis.

Temporal trends in eversion carotid endarterectomy for carotid atherosclerosis: single-center experience with 5,034 patients.

The aim of this article is to review our experience in surgical treatment of carotid atherosclerosis using eversion carotid endarterectomy (ECEA) in 5,034 patients, with particular attention to temporal changes in patients' characteristics, diagnostic approach, surgical technique, medical therapy, and outcome in the early (group A, 1991-1997) versus late (group B 1998-2004) period of ECEA. From January 1991 to December 2004, 5,034 primary ECEAs were performed for high-grade carotid stenosis. Patients treated for restenosis after previous carotid surgery were excluded from the analysis.

[Partial resection of the spleen and spleno-renal shunt in the treatment of portal hypertension with splenomegaly and hypersplenism].

Some of serious hepatic diseases with cirrhosis may be complicated by portal hypertension, splenomegaly and hypersplenism. Splenomegaly inhibits regenerative processes of the liver, and also intensifies sequestration of the cellular components of blood up to hypersplenism. Cytopenia caused by hypersplenism is aggravated by negative hepatic influence on bone marrow activity-hemathopoesis, and also by recurrent bleeding from oesophageal varices, and from the other site of gastrointestinal tract.