DVC1-0101 to treat peripheral arterial disease: a Phase I/IIa open-label dose-escalation clinical trial.

We here report the results of a Phase I/IIa open-label four dose-escalation clinical study assessing the safety, tolerability, and possible therapeutic efficacy of a single intramuscular administration of DVC1-0101, a new gene transfer vector based on a nontransmissible recombinant Sendai virus (rSeV) expressing the human fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) gene (rSeV/dF-hFGF2), in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Gene transfer was done in 12 limbs of 12 patients with rest pain, and three of them had ischemic ulcer(s). No cardiovascular or other serious adverse events (SAEs) caused by gene transfer were detected in the patients over a 6-month follow-up.

Surgical management of abdominal aortic aneurysm associated with polycystic kidney disease: report of two cases.

An abdominal aortic aneurysm associated with polycystic kidney disease is a comparatively rare but quite important condition because treating this disease is difficult, especially regarding the aortic approach. We herein present two such patients who underwent a left nephrectomy followed by an aneurysmectomy which was reconstructed with a bifurcated prosthetic graft. In both cases, the left nephrectomy enabled us to obtain an adequate operative field to expose the abdominal aorta and the surgical procedures could thus all be safely completed.

Treatment of solitary iliac aneurysms: clinical review of 28 cases.

Purpose: The clinical characteristics and long-term results of patients with solitary iliac aneurysms (SIAs) were investigated.

Methods: 28 consecutive patients who underwent repair of SIAs between 1985 and 2004 were reviewed retrospectively, and compared with those of 536 patients who underwent elective repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) during the same period.

Results: The incidence of SIAs among all aorto-iliac aneurysms was 5.

The effect of gradually graded shear stress on the morphological integrity of a huvec-seeded compliant small-diameter vascular graft.

The premature endothelialization of tissue-engineered grafts had often induced cellular detachment at an early period of implantation in arterial circulation, resulting in occlusion at an early period of implantation. This study was aimed to determine whether gradually increased shear stress applied ex vivo improves cell retention and tissue morphological integrity including cell shape and alignment, actin fiber alignment and expression of vascular endothelial (VE) cadherin. Tissue-engineered grafts used for this study were human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC)-seeded compliant small-diameter grafts made of poly(L-lactide-co-epsilon-caprolactone) fiber meshes fabricated by electrospinning.

Mechanical responses of a compliant electrospun poly(L-lactide-co-epsilon-caprolactone) small-diameter vascular graft.

To design a "mechano-active" small-diameter artificial vascular graft, a tubular scaffold made of elastomeric poly(L-lactide-co-epsilon-caprolactone) fabrics at different wall thicknesses was fabricated using an electrospinning (ELSP) technique. The wall thickness of the fabricated tube (inner diameter; approximately 2.3-2.

Mechano-active scaffold design of small-diameter artificial graft made of electrospun segmented polyurethane fabrics.

To fabricate a "mechano-active" tubular scaffold of nonwoven mesh-type small-diameter artificial graft made of the synthetic durable elastomer, segmented polyurethane, the fabrication technique of electrospinning on a mandrel under a high rotation speed and transverse movement was used. Emphasis was placed on how the rotation speed of the mandrel and the fusion or welding states of fibers at contact points affect the compliance (ease of intraluminal pressure-dependent circumferential inflation) and Young's modulus determined by uniaxial stretching in the longitudinal and circumferential directions. The results showed that a high rotation speed is attributed to exhibit isotropic mechanical properties in the entire range of applied strain but reduces the compliance, and a high fusion state, which is produced using a mixed solvent with a high content of high-boiling-point solvent, reduces the compliance but is expected to exhibit high durability in a continuously loaded pulsatile stress field in an arterial circulatory system.

Portal vein thrombosis complicated with disseminated intravascular coagulation due to acute cholecystitis.

We herein present the case of a 53-year-old man who suffered from portal vein thrombosis complicated with disseminated intravascular coagulation due to acute cholecystitis. Although gabexate mesilate and antibiotics were administered and endoscopic nasobiliary drainage was performed, only percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage performed on the sixth hospital day improved his systemic condition and a recanalization of the portal vein was achieved. Regarding the strategy for the treatment of patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation, both an early diagnosis and prompt treatment for the underlying diseases are considered to be extremely important.

Solitary fibrous tumor in the retroperitoneal space: report of a case.

Solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs) are spindle-cell neoplasms originally described in the pleura. It is now known that these tumors can develop in many sites. This report describes the case of a well-circumscribed tumor located around the superior mesenteric artery (SMA), which was initially thought to be either a superior SMA aneurysm, a lymphoma, or a neurogenic tumor.

Aortocaval fistula complicated with bacteremia due to Escherichia coli: report of a case.

We herein report a case of aortocaval fistula complicated with bacteremia due to Escherichia coli in a 78-year-old man who underwent an emergency operation. A surgical resection of the abdominal aortic aneurysm with a closure of the fistula, and reconstruction with an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene bifurcated graft and wrapping with an omental flap, were performed followed by a 9-week continuous administration of antibiotics. Thereafter, antifungal agents were administered and the results were good.

Comparison of the long-term results between surgical and conservative treatment in patients with intermittent claudication.

Background: The optional therapeutic strategy for patients with intermittent claudication remains controversial. In this study, we investigated the influence of surgical and conservative therapies on improving the quality of life in patients with intermittent claudication.

Methods: We analyzed 427 patients who were admitted to our hospital with intermittent claudication in their legs during a 15-year period from January 1984 to December 1999.

Local blood serotonin and soluble P-selectin levels during percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty and primary stenting of the iliac artery.

Background: The activation of platelets or leukocytes plays an important role in development of intimal hyperplasia. We investigated whether the local blood serotonin and soluble P-selectin levels changed during endovascular therapy of the iliac artery.

Methods: Blood samples were obtained from the iliac artery of 18 lower limbs undergoing percutaneous balloon angioplasty alone (8 limbs, group I) or percutaneous balloon angioplasty and primary stenting (10 limbs, group II).

Differences in endothelial function and morphologic modulation between canine autogenous venous and arterial grafts: endothelium and intimal thickening.

Background: Late graft failure is still a problem for vascular surgeons. A previous study showed superior patency of arterial grafts compared with venous grafts. In this review we discuss the differences in functional and morphologic modulation of experimental autogenous venous and arterial grafts.