A randomized trial comparing conventional and endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Background: Although the initial results of endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms were promising, current evidence from controlled studies does not convincingly show a reduction in 30-day mortality relative to that achieved with open repair.

Methods: We conducted a multicenter, randomized trial comparing open repair with endovascular repair in 345 patients who had received a diagnosis of abdominal aortic aneurysm of at least 5 cm in diameter and who were considered suitable candidates for both techniques. The outcome events analyzed were operative (30-day) mortality and two composite end points of operative mortality and severe complications and operative mortality and moderate or severe complications.

Randomized clinical trial of continuous sutures or non-penetrating clips for radiocephalic arteriovenous fistula.

Background: Despite several modifications to the original design, patency rates of radiocephalic arteriovenous fistulas have changed little since the first report in 1966. The use of non-penetrating clips for vascular anastomosis on the outcome of such fistulas was studied.

Methods: Between January 2000 and August 2003, 107 primary radiocephalic fistulas were constructed in 98 patients.

Frequency and outcome of re-interventions after endovascular repair for abdominal aortic aneurysm: a prospective cohort study.

Purpose: To describe frequency, type, and outcome of re-intervention after endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR).

Methods: Between September 1996 and December 2003, 308 patients were treated, with data collected prospectively. No patient was lost to follow up, but two were excluded (one primary conversion, and one post-operative death).

Selection of reversed-phase liquid chromatographic columns with diverse selectivity towards the potential separation of impurities in drugs.

To select appropriate stationary phases from the continuously expanding supply of potentially suitable HPLC columns, the properties of 28 frequently applied stationary phases were determined by measuring several chromatographic parameters. From these results, based on chromatographic expertise, eight stationary phases with different properties and selectivities were selected. The aim of this study is to apply chemometric tools to evaluate the initially selected set of columns, i.

Mice deficient for all PIM kinases display reduced body size and impaired responses to hematopoietic growth factors.

The Pim family of proto-oncogenes encodes a distinct class of serine/threonine kinases consisting of PIM1, PIM2, and PIM3. Although the Pim genes are evolutionarily highly conserved, the contribution of PIM proteins to mammalian development is unclear. PIM1-deficient mice were previously described but showed only minor phenotypic aberrations.

Striatal dopamine and learning strategy-an (123)I-FP-CIT SPECT study.

Unlabelled: Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) have difficulty in processing learning tasks that lack external guidelines and, consequently, necessitate the subjects to generate their own problem-solving strategy. While the contribution of striatal dopaminergic deficiency to PD-specific motor symptoms is well established, its role in the PD-characteristic deviant learning style remains unclear. The aim of this study was to assess the relation between striatal dopamine activity as revealed by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with (123)I-FP-CIT, a ligand for the dopamine transporter (DaT), and type of learning strategy, as identified by the California Verbal Learning Task (CVLT) in 19 patients with probable PD.

Treatment of short-necked infrarenal aortic aneurysms with fenestrated stent-grafts: short-term results.

Introduction: A proximal neck of 15 mm length is usually required to allow endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms (EVAR). Many patients have been refused EVAR due to a short neck. By customising fenestrated grafts to the patients' anatomy, we can offer an endovascular solution, especially for patients who are unsuitable for open repair.

Decision-making in follow-up after endovascular aneurysm repair based on diameter and volume measurements: a blinded comparison.

Objective: to assess whether volume, in addition to diameter, measurements facilitate decision-making after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR).

Material/methods: patients (n = 82) with an immediately post-EVAR, and at least one follow-up (3-60 months), computed tomographic angiogram (CTA) were studied. The actual and all preceding proportional sac size changes were recorded.

Treatment of popliteal artery aneurysms with the Hemobahn stent-graft.

Purpose: To report a prospective study to ascertain the results of popliteal aneurysm treatment with a self-expanding stent-graft.

Methods: In a recent 3-year period, 21 patients (18 men; median age 67 years, range 52-82) with 23 popliteal aneurysms were treated with Hemobahn stent-grafts. Follow-up evaluation included duplex scanning, ankle-brachial index (ABI) measurements, and radiographic examination of the knee.

Rnf2 (Ring1b) deficiency causes gastrulation arrest and cell cycle inhibition.

The highly homologous Rnf2 (Ring1b) and Ring1 (Ring1a) proteins were identified as in vivo interactors of the Polycomb Group (PcG) protein Bmi1. Functional ablation of Rnf2 results in gastrulation arrest, in contrast to relatively mild phenotypes in most other PcG gene null mutants belonging to the same functional group, among which is Ring1. Developmental defects occur in both embryonic and extraembryonic tissues during gastrulation.

Endovascular repair of acute AAAs under local anesthesia with bifurcated endografts: a feasibility study.

Purpose: To evaluate endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) under local anesthesia in the acute setting.

Methods: Between 1998 and 2001, 47 patients with an acute AAA were evaluated for endovascular repair after informed consent, provided they were in a stable, albeit hypotensive condition. The patients underwent urgent computed tomography to assess suitability for endovascular repair; 16 were eligible for stent-graft repair: 9 were frank ruptures and 7 were symptomatic aneurysms.

Genome-wide retroviral insertional tagging of genes involved in cancer in Cdkn2a-deficient mice.

We have used large-scale insertional mutagenesis to identify functional landmarks relevant to cancer in the recently completed mouse genome sequence. We infected Cdkn2a(-/-) mice with Moloney murine leukemia virus (MoMuLV) to screen for loci that can participate in tumorigenesis in collaboration with loss of the Cdkn2a-encoded tumor suppressors p16INK4a and p19ARF. Insertional mutagenesis by the latent retrovirus was synergistic with loss of Cdkn2a expression, as indicated by a marked acceleration in the development of both myeloid and lymphoid tumors.

The presence of two UvrB subunits in the UvrAB complex ensures damage detection in both DNA strands.

It is generally accepted that the damage recognition complex of nucleotide excision repair in Escherichia coli consists of two UvrA and one UvrB molecule, and that in the preincision complex UvrB binds to the damage as a monomer. Using scanning force microscopy, we show here that the damage recognition complex consists of two UvrA and two UvrB subunits, with the DNA wrapped around one of the UvrB monomers. Upon binding the damage and release of the UvrA subunits, UvrB remains a dimer in the preincision complex.

Stent-graft repair of a recurrent popliteal arteriovenous fistula.

Purpose: To describe the successful endovascular treatment of a popliteal arteriovenous fistula with a stent-graft.

Case Report: A 54-year-old man was referred to our hospital with a distal popliteal arteriovenous fistula following an arthroscopic meniscectomy 6 years earlier. Three surgical attempts to close the fistula were undertaken, but the fistula recurred.

The C-terminal region of Escherichia coli UvrC contributes to the flexibility of the UvrABC nucleotide excision repair system.

Nucleotide excision repair in Escherichia coli involves formation of the UvrB-DNA complex and subsequent DNA incisions on either site of the damage by UvrC. In this paper, we studied the incision of substrates with different damages in varying sequence contexts. We show that there is not always a correlation between the incision efficiency and the stability of the UvrB-DNA complex.

Factors predictive of failure of Brescia-Cimino arteriovenous fistulas.

Objective: To evaluate patency rates of Brescia-Cimino fistulas and to find out which independent factors were predictors of failure.

Design: Retrospective clinical study.

Setting: University hospital, The Netherlands.

Architecture of nucleotide excision repair complexes: DNA is wrapped by UvrB before and after damage recognition.

Nucleotide excision repair (NER) is a major DNA repair mechanism that recognizes a broad range of DNA damages. In Escherichia coli, damage recognition in NER is accomplished by the UvrA and UvrB proteins. We have analysed the structural properties of the different protein-DNA complexes formed by UvrA, UvrB and (damaged) DNA using atomic force microscopy.

Need for secondary interventions after endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms. Intermediate-term follow-up results of a European collaborative registry (EUROSTAR).

Background: The frequency of secondary interventions after endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) was assessed and correlated with findings at clinical and imaging examination during follow-up.

Methods: Data were studied from 1023 patients with a follow-up of 12 months or longer, collected by 56 institutions in a multicentre data registry (EUROSTAR). Surveillance data were provided by the centres between September 1996 and November 1999.

Catalytic sites for 3' and 5' incision of Escherichia coli nucleotide excision repair are both located in UvrC.

Nucleotide excision repair in Escherichia coli is a multistep process in which DNA damage is removed by incision of the DNA on both sides of the damage, followed by removal of the oligonucleotide containing the lesion. The two incision reactions take place in a complex of damaged DNA with UvrB and UvrC. It has been shown (Lin, J.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of modified DNA fragments for the study of nucleotide excision repair in E. coli.

Three new cholesterol-containing phosphoramidites where synthesized and used in automated synthesis of modified DNA fragments. These cholesterol lesions are good substrates for the E. coli UvrABC endonuclease.

Characterization of the EMS1 gene and its product, human Cortactin.

We have identified a novel gene, EMS1, that is consistently amplified and overexpressed in human carcinomas with an amplification of the chromosome 11q13 region. Comparisons of the EMS1 sequences with those present in the GenBank databases revealed a high identity with chicken cortactin. Southern and western blot analyses confirm the high sequence conservation during evolution.

The use of the gastroepiploic artery for peripheral revascularisation. A study in pigs.

Objectives: To use the autologous gastroepiploic artery (GEA) as arterial bypass graft for peripheral revascularisation. We compared the development of intimal hyperplasia and nitric oxide (NO) capacity in GEA and internal jugular vein (IJV) implanted as peripheral grafts.

Materials And Methods: In pigs the GEA was implanted into the right peripheral circulation as a femoropopliteal bypass graft.