Angioplasty versus stenting for infrapopliteal arterial lesions in chronic limb-threatening ischaemia.

Background: Chronic limb-threatening ischaemia (CLTI) is a manifestation of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) that includes chronic ischaemic rest pain or ischaemic skin lesions, ulcers, or gangrene for longer than two weeks. The severity of the disease depends on the extent of arterial stenosis and the availability of collateral circulation. Treatment for CLTI aims to relieve ischaemic pain, heal ischaemic ulcers, prevent limb loss, improve quality of life, and prolong survival.

Venous cutdown versus the Seldinger technique for placement of totally implantable venous access ports.

Background: Totally implantable venous access ports (TIVAPs) provide patients with a safe and permanent venous access, for instance in the administration of chemotherapy for oncology patients. There are several methods for TIVAP placement, and the optimal evidence-based method is unclear.

Objectives: To compare the efficacy and safety of three commonly used techniques for implanting TIVAPs: the venous cutdown technique, the Seldinger technique, and the modified Seldinger technique.

Duplication of the superficial femoral artery: comprehensive review of imaging literature and insight into embryology.

An extremely rare case of duplicated superficial femoral artery (SFA) was incidentally observed on computed tomography angiogram (CTA) of the lower limbs for presurgical planning for an osteomyocutaneous fibula flap in a patient with T4a oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). To our knowledge, this is the sixth reported case in the imaging literature. We performed a comprehensive review of the English literature and discuss the underlying embryological origin underpinning this rare anatomical variant.

Distal aortic perfusion during thoracoabdominal aneurysm repair for prevention of paraplegia.

Background: During thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) surgery, decreased spinal cord perfusion can result in neurological deficits such as paraplegia and paraparesis. Distal aortic perfusion, alone or in combination with other adjuncts, may counter the decrease in spinal cord perfusion and hence reduce the risk of spinal cord injury.

Objectives: To determine the effectiveness of distal aortic perfusion with or without other adjuncts against other adjuncts without use of distal perfusion during TAAA surgery in reducing the risk of developing paraplegia and paraparesis.

Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and nitric oxide promote adipogenesis in a model that mimics obesity.

Objective: An increasing body of evidence is emerging linking adipogenesis and inflammation. Obesity, alone or as a part of the metabolic syndrome, is characterized by a state of chronic low-level inflammation as revealed by raised plasma levels of inflammatory cytokines and acute-phase proteins. If inflammation can, in turn, increase adipose tissue growth, this may be the basis for a positive feedback loop in obesity.

Angiogenic growth factor synergism in a murine tissue engineering model of angiogenesis and adipogenesis.

De novo tissue generation stimulated by three angiogenic growth factors administered in a factorial design was studied in an in vivo murine tissue engineering chamber. A silicone chamber was implanted around the epigastric pedicle and filled with Matrigel with 100 ng/ml of recombinant mouse vascular endothelial growth factor-120 (VEGF120), recombinant human basic fibroblastic growth factor (FGF-2), or recombinant rat platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) added as single, double, or triple combinations. Angiogenesis, supporting tissue ingrowth, and adipogenesis were assessed at 2 and 6 weeks by immunohistochemistry and morphometry.

Unusual case of skull metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma with a skull metastasis is a rare clinical entity especially in Western countries. The authors of the present article report a case of solitary skull metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma in a 75-year-old lady who had no prior history of the primary disease or liver dysfunction. The clinicopathological and radiological features are reviewed and discussed.