In vivo regeneration of small-diameter (2 mm) arteries using a polymer scaffold.

The difficulty of obtaining significant long-term patency and good wall mechanical strength in vivo has been a significant obstacle in achieving small-diameter vascular prostheses. The aim of the present study was to develop a prosthetic graft that could perform as a small-diameter vascular conduit. Tubular structures of hyaluronan (HYAFF-11 tubules, 2 mm diameter, 1 cm length) were grafted in the abdominal aorta of 30 rats as temporary absorbable guides to promote regeneration of vascular structures.

Common hepatic lipase gene promoter variant predicts the degree of neointima formation after carotid endarterectomy: impact of plaque composition and lipoprotein phenotype.

Background: The common -514 C-T promoter polymorphism of the hepatic lipase gene (LIPC) and the cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) gene TaqIB polymorphism affect atherogenesis. We investigated the potential relationship between these polymorphisms and the maximum-intima-media thickness (M-IMT) after carotid endarterectomy.

Methods: The LIPC and CETP genotypes were determined by PCR in 68 patients undergoing endarterectomy.