Pioglitazone inhibits oxidative stress, MMP-mediated inflammation and vascular dysfunction in high glucose-induced human saphenous vein grafts.

Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of pioglitazone on reactive oxygen species (ROS), expressions/activities of MMPs and TIMP-2, and VSMC proliferation and vascular reactivity in high glucose (HG)-induced human saphenous vein (HSV) grafts.

Methods: HSV grafts (n = 10) obtained from patients undergoing CABG were incubated with 30 mM glucose and/or 10 μM pioglitazone or 0.1 % DMSO for 24 h after endothelium removal.

Low-dose doxycycline inhibits hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress, MMP-2 up-regulation and contractile dysfunction in human saphenous vein grafts.

Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) applied during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), promotes inflammation, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and up-regulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). All these complications may lead to contractile dysfunction, restenosis and early graft failure, restricting long-term efficacy of bypass grafts. Low-dose doxycycline is a potent MMP inhibitor and ROS scavenger.

Bedside surgery to treat patent ductus arteriosus in low-birth-weight premature infants.

Background: Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is commonly seen in premature infants with low birth weights (LBW). It is a condition that has high mortality and morbidity rates. Early closure of the ductus arteriosus may require surgery or medical treatment.

Pulsatile versus non-pulsatile flow to reduce cognitive decline after coronary artery bypass surgery: A randomized prospective clinical trial.

Background: In this prospective study, we aimed to compare the effect of pulsatile and non-pulsatile flow on the cognitive functions in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery.

Methods: Patients scheduled for their first coronary artery bypass surgery (n = 148) were randomly assigned to the pulsatile flow group (Group A, n = 75) or non-pulsatil group (Group B, n = 73). Cognitive performance was assessed with (MoCA) montreal cognitive assessment test performed by psychologists before coronary artery bypass surgery and 1 month after the operation.

Preoperative mild cognitive dysfunction predicts pulmonary complications after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Objectives: In elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment, noncompliance with respiratory exercises, ineffective expectoration, reluctance in mobilization, and difficulty in learning the use of drugs such as inhalers were observed in the early postoperative period after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. It was hypothesized that respiratory complications may be more frequent in these patients, and so the postoperative respiratory complications in patients with preoperative mild cognitive impairment were compared with the postoperative respiratory complications of a control group.

Design: A prospective cohort control.

Advanced treatment of acute femoropopliteal bypass graft occlusion with Fogarty catheter guidance.

Purpose: The guiding role of the Fogarty catheter was investigated among patients suffering from limb ischemia due to acute femoropopliteal bypass graft occlusion.

Methods: A total of 27 patients with a history of femoropopliteal bypass operation who was admitted with acute limb ischemia were enrolled in this retrospective study. In cases in which the Fogarty catheter could not be passed through the popliteal anastomosis, the popliteal region was explored and a new bypass or patch plasty was performed for the distal anastomosis.

Effect of tadalafil on neointimal hyperplasia in a rabbit carotid artery anastomosis model.

Purpose: Intimal thickening, which results from the response to arterial damage caused by therapeutic interventions or other reasons, is usually called as neointima. Neointimal hyperplasia is a main step in the pathogenesis of late-term restenosis, which is developed after vascular interventions. Reduction in nitric oxide (NO)/cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) signaling plays a substantial role in the pathogenesis of neointima formation.

The effects of PPAR-γ agonist pioglitazone on renal ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats.

Background: Acute renal failure due to renal ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury is a significant clinical problem in cardiovascular surgery. Reactive oxygen species and inflammation play essential roles in the pathophysiology of IR injury. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are enzymes that play important roles in inflammation and mediate extracellular matrix degradation.

The effects of PPARγ agonist rosiglitazone on neointimal hyperplasia in rabbit carotid anastomosis model.

Background: Neointimal hyperplasia involving smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation, migration and extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation is an important component of atherosclerosis. It develops as a response to vascular injury after balloon angioplasty and vascular graft placement. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) induce SMC proliferation, migration and contribute to intimal hyperplasia by degrading ECM.

Intrapericardial teratoma in a newborn: a case report.

We report a successfully surgically intervened case of intrapericardial teratoma, which was diagnosed prenatally. Intrapericardial teratomas are rare cases, and surgical management of those tumors are challenging in this age group. The compression effect of the mass led to misdiagnosis of the anomaly as a transposition of the great vessels.

A congenital arteriovenous malformation originating from the aorta locating in the posterior mediastinum.

Vascular malformations located in the posterior mediastinum are extremely rare. Most of them are found coincidentally during routine examinations. Only a small percentage of these posterior mediastinal arteriovenous malformation cases may cause symptoms such as dyspnea due to compression of surrounding tissues.

The effects of zoledronic acid on neointimal hyperplasia: a rabbit carotid anastomosis model.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of zoledronic acid (ZA), as a matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor, on neointimal hyperplasia in rabbit carotid anastomosis model.

Methods: New Zealand male rabbits were divided into two groups as placebo and treatment groups in this experimental study. After anesthesia, the right carotid artery of each rabbit was end-to-end anastomosed with an 8/0 polypropylene suture.

The beneficial effects of tadalafil on renal ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.

Acute renal failure due to ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is a common complication in cardiovascular surgery. We determined the influence of tadalafil on renal injury in a renal I/R model in rats. For this purpose, 21 male Wistar albino rats were separated into 3 groups: sham, placebo and tadalafil.

Repair of isolated mitral papillary muscle rupture consequent to blunt trauma in a small child.

Blunt thoracoabdominal trauma is most often caused by high-velocity motor-vehicle accidents or by falls from a height. The clinical spectrum of cardiac injuries arising from this type of trauma varies from myocardial contusion to valvular rupture. Intracardiac valvular rupture is rarely observed, and few cases have been reported.

Behçet's disease: treatment of popliteal pseudoaneurysm by an endovascular stent graft implantation.

Behçet's disease is a multisystemic chronic autoimmune process that can be responsible for some vascular lesions, in addition to its typical dermatologic lesions. Arterial pseudoaneurysm formation can be diagnosed in this group of patients and generally surgery is indicated. In this report, we discuss an alternative endovascular intervention and its advantages.