Novel TEVAR technique for thoracic aortic aneurysm repair: A case report.

Introduction And Importance: A thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) is a life-threatening condition affecting 5-10 per 100,000 people per year. If not repaired, mortality rates are reported as high as 11.8 %, increasing to 97 %-100 % following a TAA rupture.

Enantiodivergent Cyclization by Inversion of the Reactivity in Ambiphilic Molecules.

Inverting the reactivity of the functional groups in ambiphilic molecules provides a new synthetic strategy to perform late-stage enantiodivergence. Both enantiomers of the final compound can be obtained from a common chiral precursor. As a proof of concept, the synthesis of substituted five- and six-membered oxacycles is described.

Identification of relevant hub genes for early intervention at gene coexpression modules with altered predicted expression in schizophrenia.

Genetic risk for schizophrenia is due to the joint effect of multiple genes acting mainly at two different processes, prenatal/perinatal neurodevelopment and adolescence/early adulthood synapse maturation. Identification of important genes at the second process is of relevance for early intervention. The aim of this work was to identify gene co-expression modules with altered expression in schizophrenia during adolescence/early adulthood.

5-(1-1,2,3-Triazol-5-yl)isophthalic Acid: A Versatile Ligand for the Synthesis of New Supramolecular Metallogels.

The gelation ability of 5-(1-1,2,3-triazol-5-yl)isophthalic acid () in the presence of different metal acetates has been studied in different solvents and ligand/metal ratios. This manuscript is focused on the metallogel obtained from the combination of and copper(II) acetate, which has been used as a model system in terms of characterization and gelation studies. Sonication treatment of the initial mixture of compounds and the nature of the counter anion were found to be critical factors for the supramolecular assembly of the metal/ complexes and, hence, for the formation of stable and homogeneous metallogels.

Relationships between substance abuse/dependence and psychiatric disorders based on polygenic scores.

Genetic susceptibility to substance use disorders (SUDs) is partially shared between substances. Heritability of any substance dependence, estimated as 54%, is partly explained by additive effects of common variants. Comorbidity between SUDs and other psychiatric disorders is frequent.

Genome wide analysis of rare copy number variations in alcohol abuse or dependence.

Genetics plays an important role in alcohol abuse/dependence. Its heritability has been estimated as 45-65%. Rare copy number variations (CNVs) have been confirmed as relevant genetic factors in other neuropsychiatric disorders, such as autism spectrum disorders, schizophrenia, epilepsy, or Tourette syndrome.

Isosteric Substitution of 4 H-1,2,4-Triazole by 1 H-1,2,3-Triazole in Isophthalic Derivative Enabled Hydrogel Formation for Controlled Drug Delivery.

In this work, we demonstrated that the simple substitution of the 1,2,4-triazole moiety in 5-( 4H-1,2,4-triazol-4-yl)isophthalic acid (5-TIA) by the 1 H-1,2,3-triazol-5-yl unit enables the preparation of a hydrogelator (click-TIA). In sharp contrast to 5-TIA, its isostere click-TIA undergoes self-assembly in water upon sonication, leading to the formation of stable supramolecular viscoelastic hydrogels with a critical gelation concentration of 6 g/L. Hydrogels made of click-TIA as well as hybrid hydrogels made of the mixture click-TIA + 5-TIA (molar ratio 1:0.

Identification of putative second genetic hits in schizophrenia carriers of high-risk copy number variants and resequencing in additional samples.

Copy number variants (CNVs) conferring risk of schizophrenia present incomplete penetrance, suggesting the existence of second genetic hits. Identification of second hits may help to find genes with rare variants of susceptibility to schizophrenia. The aim of this work was to search for second hits of moderate/high risk in schizophrenia carriers of risk CNVs and resequencing of the relevant genes in additional samples.

Infected Groin (Graft/Patch): Managed with Sartorious Muscle Flap.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to review the natural history, clinical outcome and safety in patients undergoing sartorius muscle flap (SMF) for groin infection, including lymphocele.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients who underwent SMF in a single center between 2000 and 2009.

Results: Thirty patients (17 male, 13 female) underwent SMF for groin infection, which included infections of 22 artificial femoral bypass grafts (including 2 cryoveins) and 5 common femoral patch grafts, and 3 lymphocele infections (2 cardiac catheterizations and 1 penile cancer lymph node dissection).

An efficient screening method for simultaneous detection of recurrent copy number variants associated with psychiatric disorders.

Several recurrent copy number variants (CNVs) increasing risk to neuropsychiatric diseases have been identified in recent years. They show variable clinical expressivity, being associated with different disorders, and incomplete penetrance. However, due to its very low frequency, the full variety of clinical outcomes associated with each one of these CNVs is unknown.

β-Hydroxy-γ-lactones as nucleophiles in the Nicholas reaction for the synthesis of oxepene rings. Enantioselective formal synthesis of (-)-isolaurepinnacin and (+)-rogioloxepane A.

The enantioselective formal synthesis of (-)-isolaurepinnacin and (+)-rogioloxepane A has been achieved. The key steps are an intermolecular Nicholas reaction with a β-hydroxy-γ-lactone as the nucleophile, to form branched linear ethers, and an olefin ring-closing metathesis to obtain the oxepene core.

Institutional differences in endovascular aneurysm repair and aneurysm morphology.

Background: Variability exists between institutions in the application of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). This study compares patient-specific variables from a high-volume North American institution with one from the UK.

Methods: One hundred consecutive patients from each institution were studied.

Hybrid repair of thoracic aortic lesions for zone 0 and 1 in high-risk patients.

Purpose: Some patients with aortic arch or descending thoracic aorta pathologies are not suited for open repair because of comorbidities that may increase their risk of procedural complications or death. Endovascular approaches may also be difficult when there are inadequate proximal landing zones in the aortic arch. We report our experience using rerouting techniques with bypass, stenting of the branches, or a combination of both to create a landing area in zones 0 and 1 of the aortic arch.

Endovascular management of recurrent adult coarctation of the aorta.

Traditional open surgical repair has proven to be an effective treatment for the management of primary and recurrent coarctation of the thoracic aorta. Potential complications at short-term and long-term follow-up have included recurrent coarctation, hypertension, premature coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, and anastomotic pseudoaneurysm. Endovascular repair of recurrent coarctation of the thoracic aorta offers a less invasive treatment approach in potential high-risk surgical patients.

Contemporary results of endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms: effect of anatomical fixation on outcomes.

Purpose: To report the contemporary controlled trial experience with the fully supported unibody Powerlink stent-graft for endovascular treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).

Methods: Between 2000 and 2008, 3 prospective multicenter trials of the Powerlink system evaluated 157 AAA patients (141 men; mean age 72.0+/-9.

Is endovascular repair the new gold standard for primary adult coarctation?

Objective: Primary adult aortic coarctation (PAAC) is an unusual cause of hypertension. The standard of care includes surgical repair, which can be associated with considerable morbidity and operative risk. Although balloon angioplasty has been successfully used in paediatric and adolescent patients with coarctation, little information exists regarding the endovascular repair of PAAC.

Identifying paraplegia risk associated with thoracic endografting.

Endografting, like open surgical repair of the thoracic aorta, can be complicated by paraplegia. We reviewed our thoracic endografting experience regarding the incidence and treatment of spinal cord neurologic events. Between February 2000 and July 2008, 346 patients underwent endoluminal grafting of the descending thoracic aorta.

Endovascular management of adult coarctation and its complications: intermediate results in a cohort of 22 patients.

Objective: To determine the safety and effectiveness of current endovascular treatment in adult patients with thoracic aortic coarctation and its complications.

Methods: A cohort of 22 patients was treated for late presenting primary or recurrent coarctation or aneurysmal formation at varying intervals following childhood intervention.

Results: Ten patients with recently discovered de novo coarctations were treated with balloon-expandable stents, and an endoluminal graft (ELG) was used in one additional patient.

Large-scale analysis of association between GDF5 and FRZB variants and osteoarthritis of the hip, knee, and hand.

Objective: GDF5 and FRZB have been proposed as genetic loci conferring susceptibility to osteoarthritis (OA); however, the results of several studies investigating the association of OA with the rs143383 polymorphism of the GDF5 gene or the rs7775 and rs288326 polymorphisms of the FRZB gene have been conflicting or inconclusive. To examine these associations, we performed a large-scale meta-analysis of individual-level data.

Methods: Fourteen teams contributed data on polymorphisms and knee, hip, and hand OA.

Endovascular repair in the thoracic and abdominal aorta: no increased risk of spinal cord ischemia when both territories are treated.

Purpose: To evaluate the morbidity associated with thoracic and abdominal aortic repair using endovascular exclusion alone or combined endovascular and open repair.

Methods: Between January 1998 and February 2007, 49 patients (36 men; mean age 70 years) underwent treatment for thoracic and abdominal aorta disease with descending thoracic aortic (DTA) stent-graft and abdominal aortic repair. Thirty-nine patients with coexisting thoracic and abdominal pathologies were classified with multilevel aortic disease (MLAD), whereas 10 patients presented with thoracoabdominal aneurysm.

"Cracking and paving": a novel technique to deliver a thoracic endograft despite ilio-femoral occlusive disease.

Background: The use of endoluminal grafts to treat thoracic aortic aneurysms has been associated with a decreased morbidity and mortality compared with open thoracic aortic aneurysm repair. High-risk surgical patients with ilio-femoral occlusive disease may not be amenable to general anesthesia and the construction of a retroperitoneal conduit.

Methods And Results: We report the use of a novel technique consisting of cracking and paving of the ilio-femoral vessels with balloon angioplasty, followed by deployment of an endoconduit to deliver an endoluminal graft under local sedation to treat a high-risk 80-year-old patient with a thoracic aneurysm.