Comparing polymer-filled versus self-expanding endografts in Chinese patients.

Introduction: We performed a single-center nonrandomized study on patients who underwent endovascular aneurysm repair using polymer-filled or other self-expanding endografts.

Methods: Consecutive patients with asymptomatic infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms who underwent endovascular repair were retrospectively reviewed. They were divided into a polymer-filled ( n = 20) or self-expanding group ( n = 42).

The Role of Three-Dimensional Printing in Contemporary Vascular and Endovascular Surgery: A Systematic Review.

Background: Three-dimensional (3D) printing, also known as rapid prototyping or additive manufacturing, is a novel adjunct in the medical field. The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate the role of 3D printing technology in the field of contemporary vascular surgery in terms of its technical aspect, practicability, and clinical outcome.

Methods: A systematic search of literatures published from January 1, 1980 to July 15, 2017 was identified from the EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Cochrane library database with reference to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guideline.

Epidemiology of abdominal aortic aneurysms in a Chinese population during introduction of endovascular repair, 1994 to 2013: A retrospective observational study.

The aim of this study was to examine changes in abdominal aortic aneurysm repair and mortality during a period when endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) was introduced.Open repair surgery was the mainstay of treatment for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), but EVAR is increasingly utilized. Studies in the Western population have reported improved short-term or postoperative mortality and shorter length of hospital stay with EVAR.

Emergency aortic stent-graft treatment for malignant aortoesophageal fistula.

Two patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the mid-esophagus, with esophageal stents in situ, suffered sudden onset of massive hematemesis and hemodynamic instability due to an aortoesophageal fistula. Although their esophageal neoplasms were deemed inoperable and treatment was palliative, the bleeding was successfully stopped with an endovascular aortic stent-graft. They both remained stable with no septic or hemorrhagic complications, and survived for 14 and 16 weeks after the operation.

Elevated homocysteine in human abdominal aortic aneurysmal tissues.

An abnormally high level of homocysteine (Hcy) has been consistently observed in the blood of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) patients. However, the expression of Hcy in human AAA tissues has not been investigated. In this study, the expression of Hcy in aneurysmal tissues from AAA patients ( n=30) was compared with non-aneurysmal tissues from organ donors ( n=31) by dot blotting and immunohistochemistry.

Impact of Ambient Temperature on Incidence of Acute Lower Limb Ischemia.

Background: This was a retrospective study to explore the possible association between atmospheric temperatures with the occurrence of acute leg ischemia (ALI).

Methods: A linear regression analysis was performed for a period of 10 years on the impact of ambient temperature on the incidence of ALI. Mean ambient temperature on a daily basis was retrieved electronically from our observatory, and the daily incidence of ALI was retrieved from the Clinical Data Analysis and Reporting (CDAR) system.

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm-Associated MicroRNA-516a-5p Regulates Expressions of Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase, Matrix Metalloproteinase-2, and Tissue Inhibitor of Matrix Metalloproteinase-1 in Human Abdominal Aortic Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells.

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) have been highlighted to be involved in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) with the emergence of recent miRNA microarray profiling studies. miR-516a-5p has been shown to be significantly overexpressed in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) from human AAA tissues from our previous microarray study, suggesting its crucial association with AAA. In addition, further bioinformatics analysis predicted methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), which regulates homocysteine (Hcy) metabolism and is proposed to be a risk gene for AAA formation and to be the downregulation target of miR-516a-5p.

Angioplasty of forearm arteries as a finger salvage procedure for patient with end-stage renal failure.

Due to the relatively low metabolic demand and extensive collaterals of the upper limb, peripheral arterial disease seldom leads to tissue loss, except in patients with end-stage renal failure (ESRF), rheumatologic diseases, Raynaud's disease, frostbites, or distal emboli. We report a case of a 51-year-old lady with ESRF who presented to our tertiary referral vascular center with infected gangrene of her right ring finger. Duplex ultrasound showed that her forearm arteries were severely diseased.

Clearance of matrix metalloproteinase-9 is dependent on low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-1 expression downregulated by microRNA-205 in human abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Objective: Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-1 (LRP1) has been suggested to be a crucial regulator in the pathogenesis of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) from previous genome association and animal studies. Our prior study using human aortic samples has further revealed a significant reduction of LRP1 protein expression associated with AAA. However, the downregulation of LRP1 in the pathophysiology of AAA remained unresolved.

Outcome and risk factor analysis of patients who underwent open infrarenal aortic aneurysm repair.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the short- and long-term outcomes in patients who underwent open infrarenal aortic aneurysm repair.

Methods: Consecutive patients who underwent open repair of infrarenal aortic aneurysms at our institution from July 1(st) 1990 to June 30(th) 2012 were reviewed from a prospective collected departmental database. Short-term outcomes included 30-day mortality and peri-operative complications.

Mid- and long-term outcome of patients with permanent inferior vena cava filters: a single center review.

Background: Inferior vena cava (IVC) filters are used to prevent pulmonary embolism (PE), especially in patients with active contraindication to systemic anticoagulation. The aim of this study is to examine the outcomes of patients who received permanent IVC filters at our institution.

Methods: This is a single-center retrospective observational study with review of a prospectively collected database for patients who had permanent IVC filters.

Management of mycotic femoral artery aneurysm with two resistant organisms.

We report the management of a case of thigh abscess with ruptured left superficial femoral artery mycotic aneurysm in a 91-year-old woman with significant comorbidity. The abscess culture grew Escherichia coli and Acinetobacter baumannii. Vascular reconstruction was not performed because the foot was viable with a heavily contaminated wound.

Identification and characterization of microRNAs in vascular smooth muscle cells from patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Background: The role of microRNAs (miRs) in the development of various cardiovascular diseases was recently highlighted in several studies. However, the biological role of miRs in the pathogenesis of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) is still not well defined. The present study aims to identify and characterize miR expression in the aortic explant cultures of AAA patients.

Mid- and long-term follow-up experience in patients with malignant superior vena cava obstruction.

Objectives: Superior vena cava obstruction (SVCO) due to mitotic diseases is a serious condition with significant morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to examine the follow-up data and demographics of patients with SVCO admitted to the Department of Surgery, Queen Mary Hospital, over a 14-year period.

Methods: The prospectively entered clinical data of patients with SVCO in Queen Mary Hospital from October 1997 to September 2011 were retrospectively analysed.

Multi-country study on the prevalence and clinical features of peripheral arterial disease in Asian type 2 diabetes patients at high risk of atherosclerosis.

Objective: PAD-SEARCH was the first international study to investigate the prevalence of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in Asian type 2 diabetic patients and to demonstrate the relationships between putative risk factors and PAD.

Subjects And Methods: In total 6625 type 2 diabetic patients aged 50 and older were enrolled and determined ankle-brachial index (ABI) and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) in Korea, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines.

Results: Mean patient age was 63.