Viabahn stent graft compared with prosthetic surgical above-knee bypass in treatment of superficial femoral artery disease: Long-term results of a retrospective analysis.

The prosthetic surgical above-knee bypass (pAKB) is a standard therapy in superficial femoral artery (SFA) occlusive disease in absence of suitable vein. Viabahn graft has been established as a promising alternative. Since limited comparative data are available, we conducted a retrospective study to compare long-term outcomes of these 2 therapies in a real-world setting.

Risk and Outcome after Simultaneous Carotid Surgery and Cardiac Surgery: Single Centre Experience.

Objective: Carotid artery stenosis in patients undergoing open-heart surgery may increase risk and deteriorate outcome. The aim of the study was the analysis of risks and outcome after simultaneous carotid and cardiac surgery.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 100 consecutive patients who underwent simultaneous carotid surgery and open-heart surgery during a 5-year period (from 2006 to 2010).

Cold Storage Injury to Rat Small-bowel Transplants-Beneficial Effect of a Modified HTK Solution.

Background: The small bowel is prone to ischemic injury during transport before transplantation, an injury that endangers the recipient patient. The small-bowel mucosal microcirculation in particular appears to be highly sensitive to injury. Current preservation solutions such as histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate (HTK) solution provide some protection to the graft.

Apigenin Reduces NF-κB and Subsequent Cytokine Production as Protective Effect in a Rodent Animal Model of Lung Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury.

Purpose: Lung ischemia-reperfusion injury (LIRI) can complicate lung transplantation or cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass, increasing morbidity and mortality. In LIRI, pro-inflammatory cytokines are activated, reactive oxygen species are generated and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) is up-regulated, altering lung mechanics. We tested the effect of the flavonoid apigenin on a rodent model of LIRI.

Is there an alternative to the surgical above-knee bypass in treatment of superficial femoral artery disease? Experiences with Viabahn stent graft.

Objective: We conducted a retrospective study to compare short- and mid-term patencies of Viabahn with surgical above-knee prosthetic bypass (pAKB).

Methods: The records of 52 patients with either pAKB (n = 25) or Viabahn (n = 27) were reviewed. The majority had Rutherford clinical grade 3.

Inhibitory role of monovalent ions on rat brain cortex adenylyl cyclase activity.

Adenylyl cyclases, comprise of a large family of enzymes that catalyze synthesis of the cyclic AMP from ATP. The aim of our study was to determine the effect of monovalent ions on both basal, stimulated adenylate cyclase EC 4.6.

Toxicokinetics and correlation of carbamazepine salivary and serum concentrations in acute poisonings.

Background/aim: Saliva is a body fluid which, like serum, can be used for determination of concentrations of certain drugs, both in pharmacotherapy as well as in acute poisonings. The aim of this study was to determine carbamazepine concentrations in both saliva and serum in acute poisoning in order to show if there is a correlation between the obtained values, as well as to monitor toxicokinetics of carbamazepine in body fluides.

Methods: Saliva and serum samples were obtained from 26 patients treated with carbamazepine and 20 patients acutely poisoned by the drug immediately after their admission in the Emergency Toxicology Unit.

Age-dependent effects of carotid endarterectomy or stenting on cognitive performance.

Although evidence is accumulating that age modifies the risk of carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS) versus endarterectomy (CEA) for patients with significant carotid stenosis, the impact of age on cognition after either CEA or CAS remains unclear. In this study, we analyzed the effects of age on cognitive performance after either CEA or CAS using a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery with parallel test forms and a control group to exclude a learning effect. The neuropsychological outcomes after revascularization were determined in 19 CAS and 27 CEA patients with severe carotid stenosis.

New brain lesions after carotid revascularization are not associated with cognitive performance.

Purpose: Carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS) is increasingly being used as a treatment alternative to endarterectomy (CEA) for patients with significant carotid stenosis. However, diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) has indicated that CAS is associated with a significantly higher burden of microemboli. This study evaluated the potential effect on intellectual functions of new DWI lesions after CEA or CAS.

Long-term survival is linked to serum LDH and partly to tumour LDH-5 in NSCLC.

Background: Lactate formation is up-regulated in tumorous cells by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). High serum LDH level is linked to many malignancies with poorer survival, but tumour LDH-5 has not been well investigated in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Patients And Methods: In 89 patients operated on for NSCLC stage I-III, the serum LDH level was assayed and immunohistochemistry for tumour LDH-5 was performed.

Viral macrophage inflammatory protein-II improves acute rejection in allogeneic rat kidney transplants.

Purpose: During rejection, leukocytes are recruited from the peripheral circulation into the graft leading to the damage of endothelial cells, capillary perfusion failure and graft loss. Chemokines play a pivotal role in the recruitment of leukocytes to the endothelium. Viral macrophage inflammatory protein-II (vMIP-II), a human herpes virus-8 DNA-encoded protein, is a broad-spectrum chemokine antagonist.

A three-group model to predict mortality in emergent coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Background: Emergent coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) for acute myocardial infarction is associated with an increased operative risk. For estimation of mortality risk, the European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE) is appropriate up to a medium risk score (<6 points). To predict mortality risk more accurately in cases of higher EuroSCORE, additional cardiac data can be helpful.

Determination of carbamazepine in serum and saliva samples by high performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection.

Background/aim: Carbamazepine is antiepileptic drug widely used for the treatment of epilepsy. Due to low therapeutic index of carbamazepine there is a need for routine measuring its concentrations in biological fluids. The aim of the study was to describe a method for concomitant determination of carbamazepine in the serum and saliva.

STAT-1 decoy oligodeoxynucleotide inhibition of acute rejection in mouse heart transplants.

During acute rejection of cardiac transplants endothelial cell-leukocyte interaction fueled by co-stimulatory molecules like CD40/CD154 may ultimately lead to graft loss. One key player in up-regulating the expression of such pro-inflammatory gene products is the interferon-gamma-dependent transcription factor STAT-1. Hence down-regulating interferon-gamma-stimulated pro-inflammatory gene expression in the graft endothelial cells by employing a decoy oligodeoxynucleotide (dODN) neutralising STAT-1 may protect the graft.

Extravascular perivenous fibrin support leads to aneurysmal degeneration and intimal hyperplasia in arterialized vein grafts in the rat.

Background And Aims: External support of vein grafts by fibrin glue possibly prevents overdistension, vascular remodeling, and neointimal hyperplasia. Previous animal models of neointimal hyperplasia showed conflicting results. Here, long-term effects of external fibrin glue support were studied in a new rat model of jugular vein to abdominal aorta transposition.

Accelerated intimal hyperplasia in aortocoronary internal mammary vein grafts in minipigs.

Background: More than 50% of aortocoronary saphenous vein grafts are occluded 10 years after surgery. Intimal hyperplasia is the initial critical step in the progression toward occlusion. Internal mammary veins, which are physiologically prone to less hydrostatic pressure, may undergo an accelerated progression to intimal hyperplasia and thus be suitable for investigation of the mechanisms of aortocoronary vein graft disease.

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 decoy oligodeoxynucleotide suppression of contact hypersensitivity.

Background: Cytokines play a pivotal role in allergy development through activating signaling mechanisms, such as the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathway, which controls the expression of numerous proinflammatory genes.

Objective: In comparison with 2 different corticosteroids and a calcineurin inhibitor, the efficacy of a STAT1 decoy oligodeoxynucleotide (dODN)-containing ointment on hapten-induced contact hypersensitivity was examined in 3 different animal models.

Methods: After sensitization, the test compounds were administered before hapten challenge, after hapten challenge, or both to different sites of the animal skin.

Anti-inflammatory effects of alphav integrin antagonism in acute kidney allograft rejection.

Integrin-mediated cell adhesion and signaling is essential to vascular development and inflammatory processes. Elevated expression of integrin alpha(v)beta(3) has been detected in ischemia-reperfusion injury and rejecting heart allografts. We thus hypothesized that the inhibition of alpha(v)-associated integrins may have potent anti-inflammatory effects in acute kidney allograft rejection.

Role of xanthine oxidoreductase in experimental acute renal-allograft rejection.

Background: Increased oxygen radical production may not only contribute to posttransplant ischemia-reperfusion injury but also to acute rejection of renal allografts. Xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR) may constitute a relevant reactive oxygen species (ROS) source. The study was conducted (1).

Expression of A20 in the vessel wall of rat-kidney allografts correlates with protection from transplant arteriosclerosis.

Background: Chronic rejection with development of transplant arteriosclerosis is the major culprit involved in loss of kidney allografts. The allografts' fate was thought to depend on the intensity of the host immune responses and the potency of immunosuppressive regimens. Recent data suggests that grafts contribute to their own survival by way of up-regulation of "cytoprotective" genes.

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and gastrin-releasing peptide attenuate hepatic microvasculatory disturbances following intestinal ischemia and reperfusion.

Background/aims: In addition to the primarily affected small bowel, intestinal ischemia and reperfusion (IIR) also leads to a marked decrease in hepatic microcirculation. The aim was to determine the potentially protective effect of the vasoactive hormones vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) on hepatic microcirculation following IIR.

Methods: Using a rat model, three animal groups were subjected to 40 min of intestinal ischemia, two of which were infused with either VIP or GRP (n = 12 each).