Uterine artery embolization for the treatment of adenomyosis: a review.

During the past 10 years, uterine artery embolization (UAE) has been investigated as a possible therapy for adenomyosis. All publications available from 1999 through 2010 are included in this report. Levels of evidence and trial classifications were evaluated according to the guidelines developed by the United States Preventive Services Task Force.

The effects of endurance and recreational exercise on subclinical evidence of atherosclerosis in young adults.

Background: This study set out to identify the effects of recreational and endurance exercise on subclinical evidence of atherosclerosis in young adults.

Methods: Cardiovascular disease risk factors and intima-media thickness determination by B-mode ultrasonography of 150 subjects were correlated to endurance exercise, recreational exercise, and sedentary lifestyle. The subjects comprised 20- to 40-year-old men and women without cardiovascular disease.

Multidetector CTA in the quantification of internal carotid artery stenosis: value of different reformation techniques and axial source images compared with selective carotid arteriography.

Purpose: To evaluate the role of 4 different reformation techniques and axial images from multidetector computed tomographic angiography (MDCTA) versus selective carotid arteriography (SCA) in patients with internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis.

Methods: Imaging studies from 50 patients (43 men; mean age 70.3+/-8.

Long-term quality of life assessment among patients undergoing uterine fibroid embolization.

Objective: The purpose of this study was assessment of the long-term outcome of fibroid-associated quality of life among patients treated with uterine fibroid embolization.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective follow-up cohort study included all patients described in a 2006 publication. Analysis was performed with a questionnaire consisting of 49 questions about six topics.

Quality of life in patients with idiopathic subclavian vein thrombosis.

Introduction: Idiopathic subclavian vein thrombosis (SVT) is a rare disease but these otherwise healthy patients often suffer from prolonged clinical manifestations. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the range and severity of thrombosis-related disability of the upper extremity in patients after an episode of documented idiopathic SVT in the long-term follow-up.

Materials And Methods: The quality of life (QoL) of 37 patients with documented idiopathic SVT was assessed by two standardized questionnaires (DASH and SF 36).

Increasing carotid plaque echolucency is predictive of cardiovascular events in high-risk patients.

Purpose: Carotid plaque echolucency seen at ultrasonography (US) is a potential indicator of plaque instability and may help identify patients at risk for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs). The authors performed this study to determine whether decreasing gray-scale median (GSM) levels at repeat carotid US examinations are associated with future MACEs.

Materials And Methods: The study was approved by the institutional ethics committee and all patients provided informed consent.

Assessment of intima-media thickness of carotid arteries: evaluation of an automated computer software.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of commercially available software directly implemented on the ultrasound scanner for automated measurement of the intima-media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid artery on source images.

Materials And Methods: Measurements were performed on a GE Vivid 3 ultrasound scanner. First, inter- and intraobserver correlations were assessed for the automated and the manual measurements.

Multidetector CT angiography in the follow-up of patients treated with renal artery stents: value of different reformation techniques compared with axial source images.

Purpose: To evaluate the role of 4 different reformation techniques in comparison with axial images from multidetector computed tomographic angiography (MDCTA) in the follow-up of renal artery stents.

Methods: Data on 40 patients (20 men; mean age 65 years) who underwent MDCTA as part of their routine follow-up after successful primary stenting of a main renal artery were retrospectively analyzed. Multiplanar reformation (MPR), curved planar reformation (CPR), volume rendering threshold (VRT), and virtual angioscopy (VA) were reviewed by 2 independent observers who were blinded to the results of the axial source images, which served as the gold standard.

Skin tissue cholesterol is not related to vascular occlusive disease.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the role of skin tissue cholesterol (SkinTc) in predicting the presence of atherosclerosis. SkinTc concentrations were determined in 318 consecutive patients by using the non-invasive PREVU POC Skin Sterol Test. Additionally, a complete lipid status and cardiovascular risk profile according to the PROCAM and Framingham scores as well as an evaluation by carotid duplex sonography and ankle-brachial blood pressure index testing was obtained from all patients.

CTA quantification of internal carotid artery stenosis: application of luminal area vs. luminal diameter measurements and assessment of inter-observer variability.

Background And Purpose: In contrast to digital subtraction angiography (DSAdia), computed tomography angiography (CTA) provides exact delineation of the perfused lumen in the axial plane, thus allowing luminal (CTAdia) as well as cross-sectional area (CTAarea) internal carotid artery stenosis (ICAS) assessment. The purposes of the present study were to correlate CTAdia and CTAarea with DSAdia and to assess the inter-observer variabilities of both CTA techniques.

Methods: In a retrospective analysis, CTA images were reviewed by two observers and ICAS was assessed according to North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial applying CTAdia and CTAarea.

CTA in the detection and quantification of vertebral artery pathologies: a correlation with color Doppler sonography.

Introduction: We evaluated the feasibility of multidetector CT angiography (MDCTA) in the examination of vertebral artery (VA) pathologies and correlated the results with those of color Doppler sonography (CDS).

Methods: In this retrospective cohort analysis, we identified 65 patients with suspected cerebrovascular disease, who underwent MDCTA and CDS of the supraaortic vessels within a maximum period of 1 month. We evaluated the feasibility and image quality of MDCTA in this indication, compared the value of reformatted images and axial source images in the grading of stenoses and correlated these results with those of CDS.

Automated CTA quantification of internal carotid artery stenosis: a pilot trial.

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of automated analysis software for use with multidetector computed tomographic angiography (CTA) in the exact grading of internal carotid artery stenosis.

Methods: A retrospective pilot trial was performed using CTA datasets from 87 stenotic carotid arteries in 46 consecutive patients (34 men; median age 73.5 years) with known cerebrovascular disease.

Grading of internal carotid artery stenosis: can CTA overcome the confusion?

Purpose: To compare the measurements of internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis obtained from multidetector computed tomographic angiography (CTA) and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) based on the NASCET and ECST grading methods.

Methods: In a retrospective cohort analysis from data at a tertiary care university clinic, the CTA and DSA images from 69 consecutive patients (52 men; mean age 70.3+/-8.

Plaque echolucency is not associated with the risk of stroke in carotid stenting.

Background And Purpose: Plaque characteristics are suggested to play a potentially important role as risk factors for poor outcome after carotid artery stenting (CAS). We therefore correlated objectively and subjectively determined carotid plaque morphology with neurological complications after CAS.

Methods: We enrolled 698 consecutive patients undergoing elective CAS from a prospective single-center registry database and classified the preinterventional plaque status according to gray-scale median levels and the standardized Beletsky and Gray-Weale plaque scores.

The cardiovascular risk marker asymmetrical dimethylarginine is not affected by venous thromboembolism.

Asymmetrical dimethylarginine (ADMA) is an endogenous inhibitor of endothelial nitric oxide synthase, causes vasoconstriction, impairs cardiac function, and may predict cardiovascular risk. The prognostic value of plasma ADMA concentrations in acute vascular situations may be confounded by concomitant factors such as clot formation. In an effort to address the effect of hemostatic system activation, the authors have measured plasma concentrations of ADMA, its stereoisomer symmetrical dimethylarginine (SDMA), and L-arginine in 74 patients with suspected deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

ApoB-100 and ApoB/ApoA-1 ratio in children and adolescents from families with very early myocardial infarction.

Aim: The relationship between apolipoprotein B, LDL/ApoB, ApoB/ApoA-1, lipids and a family history of very early myocardial infarction (parent and/or grandparent <45 years) was studied in 46 children compared with 64 controls.

Methods: 19 children came out of families with a myocardial infarction (MI) of the father and 27 children with MI of a grandparent.

Results: In the whole risk group LDL-C, ApoB and ApoB/ApoA-1 ratio showed the most significant relationship, whereas in children from families with MI of the father ApoB level showed the strongest association with family history of MI.

Grading of internal carotid artery stenosis: comparative analysis of different flow velocity criteria and multidetector computed tomographic angiography.

Purpose: To evaluate multidetector computed tomographic angiography (CTA) versus published color Doppler sonography (CDS) velocity criteria in the grading of internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis.

Methods: Sixty-eight consecutive patients (50 men; mean age 70.2 +/- 8.

Endovascular repair of inflammatory aortic aneurysms: long-term results.

Objective: Our objective was to report the long-term follow-up results of endovascular aneurysm repair of inflammatory aortic aneurysms.

Conclusion: Endovascular aneurysm repair of inflammatory aortic aneurysms excludes the aneurysm and seems to reduce the size of the aneurysmal sac and the extent of periaortic fibrosis with acceptable periinterventional and long-term morbidity.

Mid- and long-term quality-of-life assessment in patients undergoing uterine fibroid embolization.

Objective: Our objective was to assess the mid- and long-term outcomes concerning fibroid-specific and fibroid-associated quality of life in patients treated by uterine fibroid embolization.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed, including consecutive patients with a minimum follow-up of 1 year. Analysis was performed by a questionnaire consisting of 49 questions about six topics: baseline characteristics, preinterventional status, diagnostic workup and treatment planning, periinterventional period and procedure-related quality of life, follow-up, and general satisfaction.

Simvastatin reduces serum level of vascular endothelial growth factor in hypercholesterolemic patients.

Vascular endothelial growth factor plays a pivotal role in the progression of atherosclerotic lesions and causes instability of atherosclerotic plaques by inducing neoangiogenesis inside the current plaque. The pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL-) 6 induces vascular endothelial growth factor in smooth muscle cells (SMC). HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins), display beside their lipid-lowering potency various pleiotropic effects.

Endovascular therapy of inflammatory aortic aneurysms: a meta-analysis.

Purpose: To report a meta-analysis of results from endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) of inflammatory aortic aneurysms (IAA).

Methods: A comprehensive literature review was performed to identify all studies reporting the results of EVAR in patients with IAA. To be included in the analysis, an article had to provide a minimum follow-up of 6 months, information about primary technical success, details of immediate and long-term complications, and evaluation of at least one of the basic outcome criteria: changes in aneurysm sac diameter, periaortic fibrosis (PAF), and/ or renal impairment.

PGE1 analog alprostadil induces VEGF and eNOS expression in endothelial cells.

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), VEGF, and hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1alpha) are important regulators of endothelial function, which plays a role in the pathophysiology of heart failure (HF). PGE1 analog treatment in patients with HF elicits beneficial hemodynamic effects, but the precise mechanisms have not been investigated. We have investigated the effects of the PGE1 analog alprostadil on eNOS, VEGF, and HIF-1alpha expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) using RT-PCR and immunoblotting under normoxic and hypoxic conditions.