Enhanced abdominal aortic aneurysm in TIMP-1-deficient mice.

Background: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are known elastolytic mediators of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) degeneration, and their activity is tightly regulated by the presence of tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMPs). Imbalances in this system may be instrumental in compromising arterial wall integrity. The aim of this study was to show that, in an elastase-induced murine model of aneurysm formation, TIMP-1 has a protective effect.

Does carotid stenting measure up to endarterectomy? A vascular surgeon's experience.

Hypothesis: Carotid angioplasty and stenting seems to have equal or better outcomes in high-risk patients than carotid endarterectomy.

Design: Single-center case-control study.

Setting: University hospital tertiary referral center.

Carotid artery revascularization.

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States, and up to one third of patients have a stroke secondary to carotid occlusive disease. Surgical management has firmly established itself as an important modality in treating this disease. Several prospective randomized trials have defined the patients that would have the most benefit from carotid endarterectomy (CEA).

Management of biliary and duodenal complications of chronic pancreatitis.

Biliary stricture and duodenal obstruction have been increasingly recognized as complications of chronic pancreatitis. The anatomical relationship of the distal common bile duct and the duodenum with the head of the pancreas is the main factor for their involvement in chronic pancreatitis. In hospitalized patients with pancreatitis, the incidence of biliary stricture and duodenal obstruction is reported to be about 6% and 1.

Greater local recurrence occurs with "berry picking" than neck dissection in thyroid cancer.

Managing cervical lymph node metastases in well-differentiated thyroid cancer with either "berry picking" (BP) or anatomic neck dissection (AND) has not been shown to alter survival. Nevertheless local control of thyroid cancer is important. The purpose of this study is to determine whether the local recurrence rate of well-differentiated thyroid cancer is equivalent with BP versus AND.