Aneurysm shrinkage after endovascular repair of aortic diseases.

Background: There are two graft materials for endovascular repair of aortic diseases, i.e., polyester and expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE).

Endovascular stent-graft treatment for thoracic aortic aneurysms: short- to midterm results.

Purpose: To evaluate short- and midterm results of the endovascular repair of thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) with the use of custom-made stent-grafts.

Materials And Methods: Between May 1997 and May 2003, 40 patients with TAA (26 degenerative/atherosclerotic, seven dissection-related, three traumatic, two mycotic, one anastomotic, and one penetrating ulcer) underwent endovascular stent-graft placement. The mean age of the patients (29 male and 11 female) was 67.

[Expression of SCL gene in bone marrow stromal cells from patients with leukemia].

In order to investigate expression of SCL (stem cell leukemia) gene in bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC) and bone marrow cells from patients with leukemia and normal individuals, bone marrow mononuclear cells from AML (18 cases), CML (17 cases), ALL (7 cases) and normal individuals (33 cases) were cultured long-term in vitro. Nonadherent cells (hematopoietic cells) and amplified adherent cells (BMSC) were collected respectively. RT-PCR-ELISA assay was then performed to detect expression of SCL gene.

Acute and contained rupture of the descending thoracic aorta: treatment with endovascular stent grafts.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate feasibility and safety of endovascular stent grafting for the treatment of patients with rupture of the descending thoracic aorta.

Methods: Thirteen patients with rupture of the descending thoracic aorta were treated with endovascular stent grafting. Six patients were treated on the day of diagnosis because their vital signs were unstable, and the other seven patients were treated electively.