The more the better: on the formation of single-phase high entropy alloy nanoparticles as catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction.

High entropy alloys (HEAs) are an important new material class with significant application potential in catalysis and electrocatalysis. The entropy-driven formation of HEA materials requires high temperatures and controlled cooling rates. However, catalysts in general also require highly dispersed materials, , nanoparticles.

Editor's Choice - Nationwide Analysis of Patients Undergoing Iliac Artery Aneurysm Repair in the Netherlands.

Objective: The new 2019 guideline of the European Society for Vascular Surgery (ESVS) recommends consideration for elective iliac artery aneurysm (eIAA) repair when the iliac diameter exceeds 3.5 cm, as opposed to 3.0 cm previously.

Genomic Scars Generated by Polymerase Theta Reveal the Versatile Mechanism of Alternative End-Joining.

For more than half a century, genotoxic agents have been used to induce mutations in the genome of model organisms to establish genotype-phenotype relationships. While inaccurate replication across damaged bases can explain the formation of single nucleotide variants, it remained unknown how DNA damage induces more severe genomic alterations. Here, we demonstrate for two of the most widely used mutagens, i.

Primary aortoduodenal fistula and Q-fever.

Patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) are prone to vascular infection with chronic Q-fever. There is a rising incidence of up to 8% of chronic Q-fever in The Netherlands. Increased vascular aortic aneurysm infection with chronic Q-fever is reported.

Duplex-guided percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in iliac arterial occlusive disease.

Background: Chronic renal insufficiency (CRI) is a growing global problem. PTA can be performed without nephrotoxic contrast, utilizing Doppler-ultrasound (Duplex) guidance. Duplex-guided infra-inguinal interventions and access-related interventions have been reported.

Minimally invasive vein harvesting in femoropopliteal bypass surgery: does using an old technique give new perspectives? Short report of five patients.

Background: Femoropopliteal bypass surgery is the most commonly performed type of peripheral bypass in vascular surgery. The great saphenous vein (GSV) is the preferred bypass conduit. Commonly used methods of GVS harvesting are related to morbidity, such as wound infection, skin necrosis, hematoma, and edema.

Anterior tibial artery aneurysm: Case report and literature review.

Introduction: We present a patient with a true anterior tibial artery aneurysm without any causative history.

Presentation Of Case: A 59 year old male was referred with a swelling on his left lateral ankle which he noticed 2 months ago, with symptoms of soaring pain. Additional radiological research showed a true arterial tibialis anterior aneurysm.

Dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging of carotid atherosclerotic plaque: model selection, reproducibility, and validation.

Purpose: To compare four known pharmacokinetic models for their ability to describe dynamic contrast material-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of carotid atherosclerotic plaques, to determine reproducibility, and to validate the results with histologic findings.

Materials And Methods: The study was approved by the institutional medical ethics committee. Written informed consent was obtained from all patients.

Plasma levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9: a possible diagnostic marker of successful endovascular aneurysm repair.

Objective: The aim of the study was evaluating the diagnostic value of plasma matrix metalloproteinase- (MMP)-2 and -9 and tissue inhibitor of MMP-1 (TIMP-1) for endoleak detection after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR).

Report: Consecutive EVAR patients (n = 17) with endoleak and matched controls without endoleak (n = 20) were prospectively enrolled. Increased levels of MMP-9 were observed in patients with endoleak (P < 0.

Circulating biomarkers and abdominal aortic aneurysm size.

Background: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a degenerative disease of the abdominal aorta leading to progressive dilatation, intra-luminal thrombus (ILT) formation, and rupture. Understanding the natural history of AAA is essential, because different processes and, therefore, different biomarkers, could be involved at each stage of disease progression. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between systemic expression of biomarkers of inflammation and extracellular matrix remodeling and aneurysm size in AAA patients.

Gadofosveset-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of human carotid atherosclerotic plaques: a proof-of-concept study.

Objective: To investigate the potential of gadofosveset-enhanced MR imaging for the characterization of human carotid atherosclerotic plaques.

Materials And Methods: Sixteen (9 symptomatic, 7 asymptomatic) patients with 70% to 99% carotid stenosis (according to NASCET criteria) were included (13 men, 3 women, mean age 67.6 years).

To wear or not to wear compression stockings after varicose vein stripping: a randomised controlled trial.

Objectives: To assess the need to wear compression stockings for 4 weeks after inversion stripping of the great saphenous vein (GSV) from the groin to the level of the knee.

Design: Randomised controlled trial.

Patients: A total of 104 consecutive patients with primary complete incompetence of the GSV treated by inversion stripping of the GSV.

Validation of the Dutch version of the Walking Impairment Questionnaire.

Objectives: The Walking Impairment Questionnaire (WIQ) is a frequently used questionnaire to evaluate patients with intermittent claudication (IC). The aim of this study is to validate the Dutch WIQ for the European situation using the metric system.

Design: Validation study.

Comparison of lipid-rich necrotic core size in symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid atherosclerotic plaque: Initial results.

Purpose: To investigate the potential difference in the size of the lipid-rich necrotic core (LRNC) in carotid plaques of symptomatic patients versus asymptomatic patients. Pathological studies established that a large LRNC is an important feature of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque. Previously, we have demonstrated a high correlation between semiquantitative analysis of the LRNC size in T1-weighted (w) turbo field echo (TFE) MR images and histology.

Comparison of single-sequence T1w TFE MRI with multisequence MRI for the quantification of lipid-rich necrotic core in atherosclerotic plaque.

Purpose: To prospectively determine the accuracy of semiquantitative analysis of the amount of lipid-rich necrotic core (LRNC) in atherosclerotic plaque using multi- as well as single-sequence T1-weighted (w) turbo field echo (TFE) MRI. Histology served as a reference standard.

Materials And Methods: Sixty-four symptomatic patients with carotid stenosis > or =70% were included and underwent endarterectomy after an MRI scan.

Supervised exercise therapy for intermittent claudication.

Purpose Of The Review: Although exercise therapy is considered to be of significant benefit to people with intermittent claudication, almost half of those affected do not undertake any exercise therapy. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the effects of supervised exercise therapy (SET) for people with intermittent claudication.

Materials And Methods: SET will be compared with non-supervised exercise therapy programs and the superiority of SET will be demonstrated.

A randomized multicenter study of the outcome of brachial-basilic arteriovenous fistula and prosthetic brachial-antecubital forearm loop as vascular access for hemodialysis.

Background: Vascular access is a necessity for patients with end-stage renal disease who need chronic intermittent hemodialysis. According to Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (KDOQI) guidelines, radial-cephalic (RC) and brachial-cephalic (BC) arteriovenous fistulas (AVF) are the first and second choice for vascular access, respectively. If these options are not possible, an autogenous brachial-basilic fistula in the upper arm (BBAVF) or a prosthetic brachial-antecubital forearm loop (PTFE loop) may be considered.

In situ preservation of kidneys from donors after cardiac death: results and complications.

Objectives: To describe the results and complications of in situ preservation (ISP) of kidneys from donors after cardiac death (DCD).

Background: DCD donors are increasingly being used to expand the pool of donor kidneys. ISP reduces warm ischemic injury which is associated with DCD donation.

Supervised exercise therapy for intermittent claudication in a community-based setting is as effective as clinic-based.

Objective: This cohort study was conducted to determine the effect on walking distances of supervised exercise therapy provided in a community-based setting.

Methods: The study included all consecutive patients presenting at the vascular outpatient clinic with intermittent claudication, diagnosed by a resting ankle brachial index<0.9, who had no previous peripheral vascular intervention for peripheral arterial disease, no major amputation, and sufficient command of the Dutch language.

Synergistic effect of Toll-like receptor 4 and CD14 polymorphisms on the total atherosclerosis burden in patients with peripheral arterial disease.

Background: Genes involved in the regulation of immune responses, such as Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and CD14, show genetic variations with potential functional implications. Because atherosclerosis is an inflammatory process apparently modulated by chronic infections, we studied the effect of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in TLR4 and CD14 on the extent of clinically relevant atherosclerosis in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

Methods: Using an in-house-developed polymerase chain reaction-based restriction length polymorphism assay, we determined the genotype, allele frequency, and carrier traits of the TLR4 +896 A>G and the CD14 -260 C>T SNPs in 607 white Dutch patients with PAD.

The effect of flow changes on the arterial system proximal to an arteriovenous fistula for hemodialysis.

Arterial remodeling in response to flow changes is controlled by the endothelium, sensing wall shear stress (SS) changes. The present study focuses on the remodeling capacities of the brachial (BA) and radial artery (RA) of 16 renal failure patients after arteriovenous fistula creation. Pre- and postoperatively at predetermined time-points, diameter, wall thickness and peak and mean SS were assessed.

C-reactive protein in peripheral arterial disease: relation to severity of the disease and to future cardiovascular events.

Background: Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) has proven to be an independent marker of the extent of atherosclerosis in patients with coronary, cerebrovascular, and peripheral arterial disease. In this prospective observational study, we wanted to assess the relationship between serum CRP and extent of disease transversely and longitudinally in time, as well as future cardiovascular complications in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Hypothesizing that CRP not only is a marker of but also actively participates in atherogenesis, we explored the possibility of CRP production by femoral atherosclerotic plaques.

The development and implementation of a regional network of physiotherapists for exercise therapy in patients with peripheral arterial disease, a preliminary report.

Background: Exercise therapy (ET) is the main conservative and proven effective treatment of patients with intermittent claudication. Currently, the most frequent exercise prescription is a single 'go home and walk' advise, without supervision or follow-up. There is no evidence to support the efficacy of this advise and compliance is known to be low.

Combined training of GPs and practice-assistants on peripheral arterial disease: positive effects after six months.

Objectives: To improve the use of the ankle-brachial index (ABI) measurement, and management of patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) a combined training, targeting GPs and practice assistants (PAs) was developed. To measure the effect of the combined training on the management of patients with PAD, a cross-sectional study was performed.

Methods: Fifty consecutive patients referred by GPs to a vascular surgery out-patient clinic were analysed.