Long-Term Health-Related Quality of Life following Acute Type A Aortic Dissection with a Focus on Male-Female Differences: A Cross Sectional Study.

: Acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) is a life-threatening cardiovascular emergency, of which the long-term impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and male-female-specific insights remain inadequately clarified. : Consecutive adult ATAAD patients who underwent surgery were retrospectively included between 2007 and 2017 in four referral centers in the Netherlands, and baseline data were collected. The 36-Item Short-Form (SF-36) Health Survey was sent to all survivors between 2019 and 2021 and compared to validated SF-36 scores of the Dutch general population stratified by age group and sex.

Male-Female Differences in Acute Type B Aortic Dissection.

Background: Acute type B aortic dissection is a cardiovascular emergency with considerable mortality and morbidity risk. Male-female differences have been observed in cardiovascular disease; however, literature on type B aortic dissection is scarce.

Methods And Results: A retrospective cohort study was conducted including all consecutive patients with acute type B aortic dissection between 2007 and 2017 in 4 tertiary hospitals using patient files and questionnaires for late morbidity.

Male-female differences in thoracic aortic diameters at presentation of acute type A aortic dissection.

Background: Acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) is a highly lethal event, associated with aortic dilatation. It is not well known if patient height, weight or sex impact the thoracic aortic diameter (TAA) at ATAAD. The study aim was to identify male-female differences in TAA at ATAAD presentation.

Circulating biomarkers associated with aortic diameter in male and female patients with thoracic aortic disease: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: As thoracic aortic disease (TAD) is generally asymptomatic, biomarkers are needed to provide insight into early progression. We aimed to examine the association between circulating blood biomarkers and the maximal thoracic aortic diameter (TADmax).

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, consecutive adult patients with a thoracic aortic diameter ≥40 mm and/or genetically proven hereditary TAD (HTAD) visiting our specialised outpatient clinic between 2017 and 2020 were prospectively included.

Long Term Health Related Quality of Life After Acute Type B Aortic Dissection: a Cross Sectional Survey Study.

Objective: Acute type B aortic dissection (ATBD) is a rare yet serious cardiovascular event that potentially has an impact on health related quality of life (HRQoL). However, long term follow up data on this topic are scarce. This study aimed to review the long term HRQoL among patients treated for ATBD.

Novel biomarkers associated with thoracic aortic disease.

Background: Biomarkers might help to improve diagnosis, surveillance and risk stratification of thoracic aortic disease (TAD). We explored the association between a broad spectrum of cardiovascular biomarkers with clinical characteristics and thoracic aortic diameter in TAD patients.

Methods: Venous blood-samples were obtained in 158 clinically stable TAD patients visiting our outpatient clinic (2017-2020).

Longitudinal changes of thoracic aortic diameters in the general population aged 55 years or older.

Objective: Longitudinal data on age-related changes in the diameters of the thoracic aorta are scarce. To better understand normal variation and to identify factors influencing this process, we aimed to report male-female-specific and age-specific aortic growth rate in the ageing general population and identify factors associated with growth rate.

Methods: From the prospective population-based Rotterdam Study, 943 participants (52.

Neurovascular abnormalities in patients with Loeys-Dietz syndrome type III.

The aim of this article is to describe neurovascular findings in patients with Loeys Dietz syndrome type III and their possible clinical impact. Loeys Dietz syndrome type III, caused by pathogenic SMAD3 variants, is an autosomal dominant syndrome characterized by aneurysms and arterial tortuosity in combination with osteoarthritis. Neurovascular abnormalities have been described in other heritable aortic syndromes, however, reliable data in Loeys Dietz syndrome type III is missing.

Male-female differences in acute thoracic aortic dissection: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: This study aims to systematically review published literature on male-female differences in presentation, management and outcomes in patients diagnosed with acute thoracic aortic dissection (AD).

Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted for studies published between 1 January 1999 and 19 October 2020 investigating mortality and morbidity in adult patients diagnosed with AD. Patient and treatment characteristics were compared with odds ratios (ORs) and standardized mean differences and a meta-analysis using a random-effects model was performed for early mortality.

Health-related quality of life and lived experiences in males and females with thoracic aortic disease and their partners.

Objective: Thoracic aortic disease (TAD) may have substantial impact on health-related quality of life (HRQOL). We described HRQOL in patients with TAD, cardiovascular screening participants and their partners; identified factors associated with HRQOL; and explored lived experiences and feelings of anxiety or depression using a mixed methods design.

Methods: For this cross-sectional study, all consecutive patients visiting the TAD outpatient clinic (2017-2019) at our centre were asked to complete three questionnaires: the Short Form 36 (SF-36), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Rotterdam Disease Specific Questionnaire (RDSQ).

Male-female differences in quality of life and coping style in patients with Marfan syndrome and hereditary thoracic aortic diseases.

Hereditary thoracic aortic diseases (HTAD) such as Marfan syndrome (MFS) affect multiple organ systems and provide a risk of acute aortic dissection, which causes lifelong uncertainties. Although health-related quality of life (HRQOL) was found to be reduced in HTAD patients, no studies have evaluated male-female-specific aspects of HRQOL and coping in this population. This study aims to evaluate HRQOL in HTAD patients compared to the general population; assess male-female differences in HRQOL and factors associated with HRQOL; evaluate coping styles in male and female HTAD patients and identify factors associated with acceptance.

The utility of the oxygen pulse recovery as a marker of the cardiac output response to exercise in patients with chronic heart failure.

Purpose: The cardiac output (CO) response to exercise is a useful marker to grade the prognosis and severity of chronic heart failure (CHF). The recovery of the oxygen pulse (OP) is a non-invasive parameter, which is related to exercise capacity in cardiac patients. However, the relation between OP recovery and the central haemodynamic response to exercise remains to be determined.

Growth of the thoracic aorta in the smoking population: The Danish Lung Cancer Screening Trial.

Background: Although the descending aortic diameter is larger in smokers, data about thoracic aortic growth is missing. Our aim is to present the distribution of thoracic aortic growth in smokers and to compare it with literature of the general population.

Methods: Current and ex-smokers aged 50-70 years from the longitudinal Danish Lung Cancer Screening Trial, were included.

Exercise and sports participation in patients with thoracic aortic disease: a review.

Current guidelines recommend patients with thoracic aortic disease (TAD) including inherited aortopathies to avoid heavy exercise. However, evidence supporting the negative advice on exercise is scarce. We aimed to provide an up-to-date systematic review of the available evidence on risks and benefits of exercise and sports participation in TAD patients.

Modulation of intra-epithelial expansion of human T24 bladder-carcinoma cells in murine urothelium by growth factors and extracellular-matrix components.

The high recurrence rate of bladder cancer is probably due to an efficient repopulation of the bladder by residual transformed cells after resection of the tumour. However, the regenerating capacity of the normal urothelial cells is very high. To study the balance between regenerating normal urothelium and out-growth of transformed urothelial cells, we recently developed an in vitro co-cultivation model.

E-cadherin expression determines the mode of replacement of normal urothelium by human bladder carcinoma cells.

The high recurrence rate of human bladder cancer can be attributed to intraepithelial expansion of tumor cells or shedding and subsequent implantation of tumor cells elsewhere in the bladder. E-Cadherin is a calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion molecule, and loss of E-cadherin by tumor cells is associated with increased tumor aggressiveness. Here we demonstrate that E-cadherin is also an important determinant of the mechanisms which are involved in the recurrence rate of bladder cancer.

An in vitro model of urothelial regeneration: effects of growth factors and extracellular matrix proteins.

Although the cellular turnover of resting urothelium is very low, its regenerative capacity is known to be outstanding. In organotypic mouse urothelial cultures closely mimicking the differentiation and multilayering of normal urothelium, we examined the cell biological mechanisms underlying urothelial regeneration and the specific role of growth factors and several extracellular matrix (ECM) components. Exposure to epidermal growth factor (EGF) and acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) and culture on laminin resulted in enhanced expansion of the urothelium.

[Low serum vitamin B 12 level and vitamin B 12 deficiency in the elderly. When should supplement be provided?].

Low serum vitamin B12 levels and vitamin B12 deficiencies are frequently found in the elderly. The full syndrome of a vitamin B12 deficiency is rather simple to diagnose. The large applicability of the vitamin B12 assay also gives rise to many probably incomplete features.

Multiparameter analysis of primary epithelial cultures grown on cyclopore membranes.

The use of porous membranes as culture support for epithelial cells has previously been shown to cause functional differentiation of these cells mimicking an in vivo condition, in contrast to culture on plastic. The different materials of which the membranes are made also have different properties, such as transparency, rigidity, and retention of molecules. Cyclopore membranes (polyethylene terephtalate) are permeable, transparent, rigid, and have low protein retention.

Hyperplasia of epithelium adjacent to transitional cell carcinoma can be induced by growth factors through paracrine pathways.

Hyperplasia of transitional cell epithelium adjacent to human transitional cell carcinomas (TCC) is a common finding in pathology. This hyperplasia may be a precancerous aberration. Alternatively, it has been suggested that the hyperplasia is due to paracrine action of tumour-derived growth factors.