A novel view to varicose veins pathogenesis: Proteomic profiling suggests a pivotal role of extracellular matrix degradation.

Introduction: Although morphological and anatomical studies indicate that venous wall weakening and subendothelial fibrosis characterize varicose veins (VV), the pathogenesis of VV remains poorly understood. The aim of this study is to obtain protein expression profiles in patients with VV and thereby get a step closer to understanding the pathogenesis of VV.

Methods: Specimens were obtained from total of 10 patients, that is, from 5 patients undergoing VV surgical stripping and from 5 non-VV patients undergoing bypass surgery.

Measurement of Revascularization Effect Using Near Infrared Spectroscopy in Below the Knee Arteries.

Background: Current methods evaluating tissue ischemia are based mainly on evaluating blood flow and not tissue perfusion. However, diabetes mainly affects small vessels and blood flow evaluation is insufficient. The aim of the trial was to evaluate the feasibility of NIRS in measuring perfusion changes during chronic total occlusion (CTO) revascularization in below the knee (BTK) arteries.

Value of Routine Flexible Sigmoidoscopy and Potential Predictive Factors for Colonic Ischemia after Open Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair.

: colonic ischemia (CI) after ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA) repair is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. CI may be detected by using flexible sigmoidoscopy, but routine use of flexible sigmoidoscopy after rAAA is not clearly proven. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of routine flexible sigmoidoscopy in detecting CI after rAAA repair, and to identify potential hemodynamic, biochemical, and clinical variables that can predict the development of CI in the patients who underwent rAAA surgery.

Peripheral artery disease patients are poorly aware of their disease.

. We hypothesized, that patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) are less aware of risk factors and possible outcomes of the disease compared to patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), which are similar. Hence, the aim of this study was to evaluate awareness of and attitudes towards PAD and CAD among patients, who are already diagnosed with either disease.

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms Growth Is Associated With High Concentrations of Plasma Proteins in the Intraluminal Thrombus and Diseased Arterial Tissue.

Objective- Porosity of the intraluminal thrombus (ILT) is believed to convey biologically active components from the bloodstream toward the aneurismal wall. Accumulation of molecules in the abdominal aortic aneurysmatic tissue may influence vascular protein turnover and regulate abdominal aortic aneurysm growth. We sought to identify proteins with concentrations in the ILT and the abdominal aortic aneurysm wall which associate with aneurysmal expansion rate.

JNK, p38, ERK, and SGK1 Inhibitors in Cancer.

Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAP kinases) are a family of kinases that regulates a range of biological processes implicated in the response to growth factors like latelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and stress, such as ultraviolet irradiation, heat shock, and osmotic shock. The MAP kinase family consists of four major subfamilies of related proteins (extracellular regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p38, and extracellular regulated kinase 5 (ERK5)) and regulates numerous cellular activities, such as apoptosis, gene expression, mitosis, differentiation, and immune responses. The deregulation of these kinases is shown to be involved in human diseases, such as cancer, immune diseases, inflammation, and neurodegenerative disorders.

The water channel AQP1 is expressed in human atherosclerotic vascular lesions and AQP1 deficiency augments angiotensin II-induced atherosclerosis in mice.

Aim: The water channel aquaporin 1 (AQP1) promotes endothelial cell migration. It was hypothesized that AQP1 promotes neovascularization and growth of atherosclerotic plaques.

Methods: AQP1 immunoreactivity and protein abundance was examined in human and murine atherosclerotic lesions and aortic aneurysms.

Coronary computed tomography angiography and calcium scoring in routine clinical practice for identification of patients who require revascularization.

Background: The predictive value of CCTA to predict coronary artery disease is high in particular in the absence of coronary calcification. However, the consideration of both CCTA and the calcium score, in addition to the risk factors to determine the indication for coronary revascularization, has not been yet studied.

Materials And Methods: This study included 2302 patients (mean age: 60±9.

IGF-I and IGFBP2 in peripheral artery disease: results of a prospective study.

Background And Objectives: The search for novel risk factors of cardiovascular disease (CVD) has provided valuable clinical data concerning underlying mechanism of disease. Increasing evidence indicates a possible involvement of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and its binding protein 2 (IGFBP-2) in the pathogenesis of CVD disorders. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between levels of IGF-I and IGFBP-2 with all-cause and CVD mortality in a prospective study of patients with lower-extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD).

Impact of soluble TWEAK and CD163/TWEAK ratio on long-term cardiovascular mortality in patients with peripheral arterial disease.

Aim: Soluble tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (sTWEAK) has recently been introduced as a potential mediator of cardiovascular disease. We examined the associations between sTWEAK, its scavenger receptor sCD163, sCD163/sTWEAK ratio and risk for long-term all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients with lower-extremity peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

Methods: sTWEAK and sCD163 serum levels were measured retrospectively in a cohort of 295 patients with symptomatic PAD followed for 6.

Insulin-like growth factor I - a novel biomarker of abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Objective: The study aimed to test the potential role of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and IGF-II as biomarkers for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).

Methods And Results: IGF-I and II levels were analysed in 115 patients with screening diagnosed AAA kept under annual surveillance for 10 years. Serum IGF-I correlated positively with AAA size and growth rate (r = 0.

Markers of inflammation in relation to long-term cardiovascular mortality in patients with lower-extremity peripheral arterial disease.

Background: Elevated levels of inflammatory mediators reflect vascular inflammation, and play a significant role in the genesis of atherosclerosis, plaque instability and rupture.

Methods And Material: Plasma α-defensin and serum high sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels were examined in 463 patients with lower-extremity peripheral arterial disease (PAD). The relationships between inflammatory markers and lethal outcome were examined by Cox regression, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.

Higher cystatin C level predicts long-term mortality in patients with peripheral arterial disease.

Aims: Cystatin C and cathepsins could play a role in different processes and stages of the atherosclerotic disease. We aimed to investigate the relationship of cystatin C, and cathepsins L, and S, to lethal outcome in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

Methods And Results: We studied 378 patients with established PAD.

Proteins associated with the size and expansion rate of the abdominal aortic aneurysm wall as identified by proteomic analysis.

Objectives: Identification of biomarkers for the natural history of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) holds the key to non-surgical intervention and improved selection for AAA repair. We aimed to associate the basic proteomic composition of AAA wall tissue with the expansion rate and size in patients with AAA.

Methods: A proteomic approach was used, consisting of two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE) and mass spectrometry (MS) to identify differentially expressed proteins in AAA tissue.

Genome-wide association study identifies a sequence variant within the DAB2IP gene conferring susceptibility to abdominal aortic aneurysm.

We performed a genome-wide association study on 1,292 individuals with abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) and 30,503 controls from Iceland and The Netherlands, with a follow-up of top markers in up to 3,267 individuals with AAAs and 7,451 controls. The A allele of rs7025486 on 9q33 was found to associate with AAA, with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.21 and P = 4.

Proteomic analysis identifies mitochondrial metabolic enzymes as major discriminators between different stages of the failing human myocardium.

Objectives: Our aim was to identify patterns in differentially regulated proteins associated with the progression of chronic heart failure. We specifically studied proteomics in chronic reversibly (RDM) and irreversibly dysfunctional myocardium (IRDM), as well as end-stage failing myocardium (ESFM).

Methods: We studied biopsies from 9 patients with stable chronic heart failure undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) (EF 34% +/- 3%) and from 4 patients with ESFM undergoing heart transplantation (EF 17% +/- 5%).

Proteomic identification of differentially expressed proteins in aortic wall of patients with ruptured and nonruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Objective: To compare the basic proteomic composition of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) wall tissue in patients with nonruptured and ruptured aneurysms.

Methods: A proteomic approach with two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE) and mass spectrometry (MS) was used to identify differentially expressed proteins in AAA tissue from nine patients with nonruptured and eight patients with ruptured AAA. Computerized image analysis was used to detect protein spots.

Evaluation of prognostic clinical and ECG parameters in patients after myocardial infarction by applying logistic regression method.

Noninvasive risk stratification of patients who have suffered myocardial infarction (MI) is one of the greatest challenges in today's cardiology. No single test has sufficient predictive ability. Therefore, a combination of the tests must be applied for better post-MI risk stratification.

Potential circulating biomarkers for abdominal aortic aneurysm expansion and rupture--a systematic review.

Background: The maximal diameter of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) is the dominating indication for repair. However half of the AAAs repaired would never have ruptured if left unrepaired, although small AAAs occasionally rupture. Earlier surgery may be associated with a lower mortality.

Expression of matrix metalloproteinases, their tissue inhibitors, and osteopontin in the wall of thoracic and abdominal aortas with dilatative pathology.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) degrade extracellular matrix and may play a central role in the pathogenesis of aortic aneurysms. We studied 2 groups of patients: 15 with dilatative pathology of the ascending thoracic aorta and 17 with aneurysm of the abdominal aortic wall (AAA). We compared the expression of MMPs, tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs), and osteopontin in the wall of thoracic and abdominal aneurysms.

Predictors of post-operative mortality following treatment for non-ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm.

The aim of this prospective study of patients undergoing repair of non-ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm between 1999 and 2003 was to evaluate and compare risk factors for mortality after surgery, to determine a complex of informative factors for lethal outcome, and to define patient risk groups. Logistic regression analysis revealed a complex of informative factors, including female gender, previous myocardial infarction, age greater than 75 years, and clinical course of abdominal aortic aneurysm as important indicators for lethal outcome. A risk score model identified low-, moderate- and high-risk groups with mortality rates of 2.

Serum antibodies against Chlamydia pneumoniae outer membrane protein cross-react with the heavy chain of immunoglobulin in the wall of abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Background: Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cp) has been demonstrated in arteries and abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). However, the validity of the methods used is questioned, and antibiotic treatment trials have thus far shown disappointing results. Nevertheless, antibodies against the Cp outer membrane proteins (OMPs) have been associated with progression of atherosclerosis and AAAs.

[Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm].

Rupture of the abdominal aortic aneurysm is a high lethal risk pathology, which requires precise diagnosis and urgent and efficient surgical treatment. Despite improved diagnostic capabilities (echoscopy, in specialized departments--angiography, computed tomography, magnetic nucleus resonance), mortality related to this pathology remains high in intensive care units. In the present article data concerning prevalence and clinical outcomes of the rupture of the abdominal aortic aneurysm for 1999-2001 is presented in detail.