A Randomised, Single Blind, Controlled Trial Comparing Flush Endovenous Laser Ablation with Standard Endovenous Laser Ablation of the Great Saphenous Vein.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare anterior accessory saphenous vein (AASV) reflux after standard endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) vs. flush EVLA (fEVLA) of the great saphenous vein (GSV).

Methods: This was as randomised, single blind, controlled trial (Dutch Trial Register, NL5283).

Medium with blood-analog mechanical properties for cardiovascular tissue culturing.

Physiological wall shear rates and stresses in vessel culture or tissue engineering are relevant for maintaining endothelial cell (EC) integrity. To this end, the culture medium should have an appropriate viscosity. The viscosity of a standard culture medium was increased using xanthan gum (XG) and compared with literature data on whole blood, resulting in a medium with blood-analog shear-thinning behavior (XG-medium).

The influence of endothelial cells on the ECM composition of 3D engineered cardiovascular constructs.

Tissue engineering of small diameter (<5 mm) blood vessels is a promising approach to develop viable alternatives for autologous vascular grafts. Development of a functional, adherent, shear resisting endothelial cell (EC) layer is one of the major issues limiting the successful application of these tissue engineered grafts. The goal of the present study was to create a confluent EC layer on a rectangular 3D cardiovascular construct using human venous cells and to determine the influence of this layer on the extracellular matrix composition and mechanical properties of the constructs.

Expression of a colorectal antigen defined by a new monoclonal antibody, CO-TL1.

A murine monoclonal antibody (MoAb CO-TL1, IgG1) has been raised by differential screening of hybridoma supernatants on sections of human large and small intestines, followed by screening on colon adenomas as well as on colorectal carcinomas. In both paraffin sections and cryostat sections, the antibody stained strongly all cell types in adult, neonatal and fetal human colorectal epithelium, that is, the goblet cells, the columnar cells and the endocrine cells. No staining was observed in the remaining parts of the normal gastrointestinal tract and other tissues.

Is major liver surgery associated with an increased systemic inflammatory response? A prospective comparison of hemihepatectomy and other major abdominal surgery.

Aims/background: Extensive liver resection is associated with a higher morbidity and mortality than other major abdominal surgery. Because the liver is responsible for the clearance of pathogenic particles as well as the clearance and degradation of several inflammatory mediators, the high rate of complications after liver surgery may be due to an enhanced or prolonged inflammatory response. The objective of this prospective study was to investigate whether major liver resection is associated with an enhanced systemic inflammatory response.