Does infrapopliteal arterial runoff predict success for popliteal artery aneurysmorrhaphy?

Background: A 6-year experience with surgical management of popliteal artery aneurysms (PAAs) was examined to determine the influence of infrapopliteal outflow vessel patency on the long-term success of popliteal artery aneurysmorrhaphy.

Methods: Arteriograms were reviewed to characterize the anatomy of the infrapopliteal arterial runoff. Regular clinical evaluation and prospective serial duplex scan surveillance assessed graft patency.

Role of ceramide in mitogenesis induced by exogenous sphingoid bases.

Dihydrosphingosine, an intermediate in the de novo synthesis of ceramide, induced proliferation of Swiss 3T3 cells. The proliferative effects of this lipid were much more potent than those of sphingosine, a break-down product of ceramide. The maximal proliferative response to dihydrosphingosine occurred at relatively low concentrations (1 microM), while sphingosine produced its maximal effect at much higher concentrations (15 microM).

Descending thoracic aorta-to-iliofemoral artery bypass as an alternative to aortoiliac reconstruction.

During the last 3 decades subcutaneous extraanatomic bypass, despite its limited durability, has been the favored alternative to infrarenal aortofemoral bypass. Meanwhile, the descending thoracic aorta has been scarcely used as an inflow source for aortoiliac reconstruction. Over the past 8 years we performed 16 bypasses from the descending thoracic aorta to the iliofemoral vessels for occlusive disease.

Inhibition of sphingosine kinase in vitro and in platelets. Implications for signal transduction pathways.

Sphingosine kinase was partially purified and characterized from rat brain microsomes. A new assay, utilizing octyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside and sphingosine mixed micelles, was developed to quantitate formation of the sphingosine-1-phosphate product. The assay was proportional with respect to time and protein, displayed Michaelis-Menten kinetics, and was subject to surface dilution in regard to the sphingosine substrate.

A comparison of intensive care unit care of surgical patients in teaching and nonteaching hospitals.

Three hundred forty-eight teaching (TH) and 282 nonteaching (NTH) hospitals were surveyed to determine how intensive care unit (ICU) care is delivered to surgical patients and current views on surgical critical care. Teaching hospitals were more likely than NTHs to have a separate surgical ICU (92% versus 37%), a dedicated ICU service/physician (37% versus 7%), and a surgeon as director of the ICU (67% versus 29%). All THs and 33% of NTHs provided 24 hour in-house coverage for the ICU.

Wound infection rates after invasive procedures in HIV-1 seropositive versus HIV-1 seronegative hemophiliacs.

One-hundred and two patients with hemophilia A, hemophilia B, or acquired antibody to factor VIII who had undergone invasive procedures were cross referenced with patients participating in an ongoing prospective natural history study of HIV-1 infection in hemophiliacs. Matching revealed that HIV-1 status was known for 83 patients (83%) who had undergone 169 procedures between July 1979 and April 1988. Invasive procedures were classified as clean in 108 patients (63.