Quantitative Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Detects Retinal Perfusion Changes in Carotid Artery Stenosis.

Background: Carotid artery stenosis (CAS) is a multifaceted disease characterized by possible ocular involvement. Treatment with carotid endarterectomy helps to restore cerebral perfusion, which may prevent ocular and cerebral complications. The main aim was to assess retinal and choroidal vascular perfusion changes before and after endarterectomy in patients affected by CAS.

Doppler Ultrasound Monitoring of Echogenicity in Asymptomatic Subcritical Carotid Stenosis and Assessment of Response to Oral Supplementation of Vitamin K2 (PLAK2 Randomized Controlled Trial).

Background: Plaque composition may predict the evolution of carotid artery stenosis rather than its sole extent. The grey scale median (GSM) value is a reproducible and standardized value to report plaque echogenicity as an indirect measure of its composition. We monitored plaque composition in asymptomatic subcritical carotid stenosis and evaluated the effect of an oral modulating calcification factor (vitamin K2).

IL-1β/MMP9 activation in primary human vascular smooth muscle-like cells: Exploring the role of TNFα and P2X7.

Background: Vascular smooth muscle cells exhibit phenotypic plasticity in response to microenvironmental stimuli and contribute to vascular remodelling through mechanisms only partially understood. In atherosclerosis, P2X-purinoceptor7 (P2X7) has been related to interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9). The hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF1α) was associated to remodelling.

P2X7 receptor antagonism modulates IL-1β and MMP9 in human atherosclerotic vessels.

In atherosclerosis, matrix metallopeptidases (MMPs) contribute to plaque rupture through weakening of the fibrous cap. Pleiotropic P2X purinoceptor 7 (P2X7), expressed in the carotid plaque (PL), is involved in interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β) release that may influence MMP9 generation, thus their possible modulation through acting on P2X7 was investigated. P2X7-related machinery was characterized and the effects of P2X7 antagonists (A740003, KN62) and MMPs inhibitors (Batimastat, Ro28-2653) were studied in ex-vivo tissue cultures of human PL's vs.

Endovascular Treatment of Visceral Artery Aneurysms and Pseudoaneurysms in 100 Patients: Covered Stenting vs Transcatheter Embolization.

Purpose: To retrospectively report a large single-center experience of visceral artery aneurysms (VAAs) and pseudoaneurysms (VAPAs) treated with covered stenting (CS) as the first therapeutic option vs transcatheter embolization (TE).

Methods: One hundred patients (mean age 59±14 years; 58 men) underwent 59 elective and 41 emergent endovascular procedures to treat 51 VAAs and 49 VAPAs. Seventy patients had TE and 30 received CS (27 Viabahn and 3 coronary stent grafts).

Current results of a combined endovascular and open approach for the treatment of aortoesophageal and aortobronchial fistulae.

Background: Aortoesophageal (AEF) and aortobronchial (ABF) fistulae are uncommon but invariably fatal if left untreated. Mortality rates of open surgery remain prohibitive. Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) was shown to be a valid alternative to control bleeding in emergency, allowing a reduction of perioperative mortality.

Aortobifemoral bypass grafting using expanded polytetrafluoroethylene stretch grafts in patients with occlusive atherosclerotic disease.

The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the performance of bifurcated, longitudinally extensible (stretch), expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) grafts implanted in patients with aortoiliac or aortofemoral occlusive atherosclerotic disease. Between October 1991 and December 2005, 822 consecutive patients (708 men, 114 women; mean age 63.8 years) underwent aortoiliac or aortofemoral reconstruction using a bifurcated ePTFE stretch graft.

Endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair in a patient with severe hemophilia B.

Purpose: To report a case of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) in a patient with severe hemophilia B.

Case Report: A 63-year-old man with severe hemophilia B was referred for the treatment of a symptomatic infrarenal aortic aneurysm that had enlarged from 3.1 to 4.

Carotid artery stenosis: intraindividual correlations of 3D time-of-flight MR angiography, contrast-enhanced MR angiography, conventional DSA, and rotational angiography for detection and grading.

Purpose: To compare three-dimensional (3D) time-of-flight (TOF) MR angiography, contrast-enhanced MR angiography, digital subtraction angiography (DSA), and rotational angiography for depiction of stenosis.

Materials And Methods: The study had Ethics Committee approval, and each patient gave written informed consent. Forty-nine patients (18 women, mean age, 67.

Carotid endarterectomy: experience in 5425 cases.

From 1992 to December 2002, 3967 patients (2619 males; 1348 females) with a mean age of 68.4A years (range 32-92) underwent 5425 carotid endarterectomy (CE) procedures at our institute. Neurological history was positive for stroke in 1130 cases (21%) and for transient ischemic attack (TIA) in 2121 cases (39%).