Microindentation of fresh biological tissues is necessary for the creation of 3D biomimetic models that accurately represent the native extracellular matrix microenvironment. However, tissue must first be precisely sectioned into slices. Challenges exist in the preparation of fresh tissue slices, as they can tear easily and must be processed rapidly in order to mitigate tissue degradation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: Comparative effectiveness of fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair (FEVAR) and chimney graft endovascular aneurysm repair (ChEVAR) for juxtarenal aortic aneurysms (JAAs) remains unclear. Our objective was to identify and analyze the current body of evidence comparing the effectiveness of both techniques for JAA.
Methods: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing the effectiveness of FEVAR and ChEVAR for JAA repair.
Objective: The aim of the study is to evaluate the natural history of extracranial cervical artery dissection (CAD) including comorbidities, symptoms at presentation, recurrence of symptoms, and long-term outcome following different treatment approaches.
Methods: A retrospective review of patients treated for acute CAD was performed over a 5-year period from January 2017 to April 2022.
Results: Thirty-nine patients were included in the study, 25 (64.
Short-term probabilistic forecasts of the trajectory of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States have served as a visible and important communication channel between the scientific modeling community and both the general public and decision-makers. Forecasting models provide specific, quantitative, and evaluable predictions that inform short-term decisions such as healthcare staffing needs, school closures, and allocation of medical supplies. Starting in April 2020, the US COVID-19 Forecast Hub (https://covid19forecasthub.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA 47-year-old female presented to the emergency department with new episodes of hematemesis. She had a background of unresectable T4b + N1 + M0 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Contrast CT thoracic aorta diagnosed a ruptured mycotic aortic pseudoaneurysm of the descending aorta, forming a life threating aorto-esophageal fistula secondary to neoplasm.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Previous studies have demonstrated amputation and mortality rates to be 14.3% - 30% and 11.4% - 28.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Vasc Surg Cases Innov Tech
March 2021
Endoleaks are a frequent indication for reintervention after endovascular repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Here we present a method of open repair of a persistent type II endoleak involving graft component separation and reconstruction, in a patient with symptomatic interval aneurysmal sac enlargement despite endovascular coiling and embolization. This case report demonstrates an alternative open technique of endograft component separation and reconstruction that may be required in cases where open repair with sac exploration and vessel oversewing is hindered by the graft position.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe COVID-19 pandemic is disrupting the provision of acute vascular surgery across the globe. Limited evidence of the impact of nosocomial infection on patient outcomes as well as concerns about critical care capacity will likely have an impact on surgical decision-making. Endovascular therapy offers a way by which perioperative risk can be reduced for vascular patients while also reducing the impact of acute surgery on intensive care unit capacity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground And Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the ability of ex vivo derived Agatston, Volume, and Density-Volume calcium scores or calcium density measurements to differentiate between carotid plaques based on preoperative cerebrovascular symptomatology.
Methods: Thirty-eight carotid plaques were acquired from standard endarterectomy. Micro-computed tomography was performed on the ex vivo samples.
Introduction: Communication is key to any successful relationship with the patient-physician partnership being no different. Recent advances in technology have provided us with an array of new communication tools such as the mobile phone, computer, internet, and email. This new technology has revolutionized communications; however, limitations to their widespread use include access, literacy, and willingness for both the physician and patient to change.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The Agatston Calcium Score is a predictor of major adverse cardiovascular events but it is unable to identify high-risk lesions. Recent research suggests that examining calcification phenotype could be more indicative of plaque stability.
Objective: To examine the Agatston score's ability to determine atherosclerotic calcification phenotype.
Calcification morphology can determine atherosclerotic plaque stability and is associated with increased failures rates for endovascular interventions. Computational efforts have sought to elucidate the relationship between calcification and plaque rupture in addition to predicting tissue response during aggressive revascularisation techniques. However, calcified material properties are currently estimated and may not reflect real tissue conditions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCancer Chemother Pharmacol
November 2018
Purpose: 5-Fluorouracil (5FU) drug exposure correlates with treatment response and toxicity in cancer patients. Dosing is based upon body surface area which does not correlate with 5FU pharmacokinetics (PK)/pharmacodynamics. Therapeutic drug monitoring has enabled real-time 5FU dose adjustments: reducing toxicity with increased efficacy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Parameters other than maximum diameter that predict rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) may be helpful for risk-benefit analysis in individual patients. The aim of this study was to characterize the biomechanical-structural characteristics associated with AAA walls to better identify the related mechanistic variables required for an accurate prediction of rupture risk.
Methods: Anterior AAA wall (n = 40) and intraluminal thrombus (ILT; n = 114) samples were acquired from 18 patients undergoing open surgical repair.
Background: Ulnar artery aneurysms are rare with less than 150 previously reported. Previously ulnar aneurysms have been most commonly noted as occurring in the distal ulnar artery close to the palmar arch.
Methods: We present the case of a 47-year-old male with a background history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) who attended our outpatient clinic with symptoms of distal embolization from a proximal ulnar artery aneurysm.
The last two decades have seen increasing adoption of minimally invasive approaches to lumbar disc herniation management. As with many new advances in surgery, the risk profile of these contemporary approaches has yet to be well defined. We present the case of a 32-year-old man who presented with decreasing exercise tolerance over a 6-month period after microendoscopic lumbar discectomy and lamino-foraminotomy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn allergen challenged animal models, eosinophils localize to airway nerves leading to vagally-mediated hyperreactivity. We hypothesized that in allergic rhinitis eosinophils recruited to nasal nerves resulted in neural hyperreactivity. Patients with persistent allergic rhinitis (n=12), seasonal allergic rhinitis (n=7) and controls (n=10) were studied.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAcute aortic plaque rupture is an uncommon cause of acute lower limb ischemia. The authors report sequence computed tomographic imaging of a distal aortic plaque rupture in a young man with bilateral lower limb complications. Clinical awareness, prompt recognition and imaging, and appropriate treatment of this uncommon condition are necessary to improve patient outcomes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFType 1 diabetics have a well-recognised risk of accelerated cardiovascular disease. Even in the absence of clinical signs there are detectable abnormalities of conduit vessel function. Our group has previously reported reversal of endothelial dysfunction in diabetics with pravastatin.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Oxidative stress on the renal tubules has been implicated as a mechanism of injury in both stress hyperglycemia and contrast-induced nephrotoxicity. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the combination of these effects has a synergistic effect on accentuating renal tubular apoptosis and therefore increasing the risk of contrast-induced nephrotoxicity.
Materials And Methods: Dog kidney cells were incubated with 5- and 30-mmol/L glucose solutions and no glucose and then exposed for 2 hours to three types of contrast media-high osmolar (370 mg I/mL), low osmolar (300 mg I/mL), and isoosmolar (320 mg I/mL)-and a mannitol control solution.
Background: Hypertonic saline causes a transient elevation of blood osmolality and has been shown to alter cellular inflammatory responses in pro-inflammatory states. Intravascular administration of iodine contrast media also causes a transient elevation of blood osmolarity.
Purpose: To investigate the effect of iodine contrast media on leukocyte-endothelial interaction in vivo using intravital microscopy.