Treatment with aromatase inhibitors and markers of cardiovascular disease.

Purpose: The cardiovascular effects of estrogen deprivation induced by aromatase inhibitors are unknown. We carried out a cross-sectional study to evaluate the effect of estrogen deprivation induced by aromatase inhibitors on markers of cardiovascular risk.

Methods: We enrolled 410 postmenopausal women: 200 consecutive breast cancer patients treated with aromatase inhibitors for a median of 53 months (range 23-122) and 210 volunteer controls.

In Vitro Evaluation of Upstream and Downstream Influences on Blood Pressure of the Hybrid Treatment of Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysms.

Background: The aim of our study was to assess, by means of an experimental model, whether different geometries in retrograde bypass and stent-graft deployment may affect upstream and downstream blood pressure in hybrid treatment.

Methods: An in vitro model of the arterial circulation has been prepared, which consists of a peristaltic pump, silicon tubes with geometrical and mechanical properties close to realistic arteries, a terminal reservoir kept at constant pressure, and a sequence of pressure transducers. The system allows us to study the pressure wave propagation in physiological conditions and simulate the patient's conditions as a result of debranching in 2 different configurations.

Early evaluation of precise deployment with the new low-profile Zenith Alpha Thoracic Endoprosthesis in thoracic aortic disease.

Background: Endovascular treatment of thoracic aortic disease currently allows to treat high-risk patients with better results than open repair. It represents the first option for treatment according to the most recent guidelines. The aim of the study is to evaluate the early results of the low-profile Zenith Alpha Thoracic Endoprosthesis (ZATE).

Spontaneous iliac artery dissection treated with a combination of covered and self-expandable stents to preserve hypogastric patency.

A 56-year-old man presented with abdominal pain in the left lower quadrant. Computed tomography angiography showed the presence of an iliac axis dissection. Two Viabahn (W.

A true giant aneurysm of the anterior tibial artery.

Aneurysms of the anterior tibial artery are rare. We will describe a case of a woman with an asymptomatic true aneurysm of the anterior tibial artery. The patient presented with a pulsatile mass in the lateral face of the distal portion of the left leg, and both ultrasound examination and computed tomography angiography scan showed a giant aneurysm of the anterior tibial artery.

Early and long-term outcomes after open or endovascular repair for abdominal aortic aneurysms in high-risk patients.

Aim: The aim of our study was to evaluate the earlier and long term survival as well the postoperative complications in high-risk patients who received endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) as first choice, or open repair when anatomical requirements for EVAR were not met.

Methods: Between January 2005 and January 2010, 593 patients underwent procedures for elective abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair; 172 of these were considered at high risk according to the American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) score (ASA III and IV): 150 high-risk patients were males (mean age 72.7, range 53-93 years) and 22 females (mean age 72.

The degree of serological sensitization to cat allergen in patients with or without cat at home.

Background: The relationship between exposure to cat/dog in domestic environments and development of allergic sensitization to pet allergens is still controversial.

Objective: To test the role of indirect exposure to cat, we aimed to evaluate the amounts of cat specific IgE in sensitized subjects with or without cat at home.

Methods: Three hundred six adult patients with a previous diagnosis of allergic sensitization to cat allergens (by skin prick test) were enrolled for this study.

Long-term follow-up of a patient with mild tetrahydrobiopterin-responsive phenylketonuria.

We report on the long-term follow-up of the first Italian patient with the tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4)-responsive type of phenylalanine hydroxylase deficiency (R243X/Y414C genotype). The patient was diagnosed by the newborn screening for phenylketonuria (PKU) and with a positive BH4 loading test. Introduction of BH4 (initially 10 and later 20 mg/kg/day) in addition to reduced low-phenylalanine diet resulted in therapeutic plasma phenylalanine concentrations (<340 micromol/L).