Feasibility and Clinical Outcomes of Vasa Vasorum Embolization for Atypical Type 2 or Type 5 Endoleaks after Endovascular Aneurysm Repair.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and clinical outcomes of vasa vasorum embolization for preventing continuous aneurysmal expansion after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent vasa vasorum embolization between August 2018 and May 2022. Vasa vasorum embolization was attempted in cases of continuous aneurysmal expansion after EVAR, where the vasa vasorum was identified through catheter angiography.

Apolipoprotein E-containing lipoproteins and their extracellular interactions with LRP1 affect LPS-induced inflammation.

The linkage between low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP)1-mediated metabolism of apolipoprotein (apo) E-containing lipoproteins (apoE-LP) and the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory response contributes to the pathogenesis of sepsis; however, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Therefore, in this study, the effects of apoE-LP and their constituents on the mRNA expression of interleukin (IL)-6 and LRP1 were evaluated using a culture system of human fibroblasts supplemented with LPS and apoE-containing emulsion particles (apoE-EP). The affinity of apoE-LP for LPS was examined using the interaction between fluorescence-labeled LPS and serum lipoprotein fractions.

Thyrolinguofacial trunk arising from the common carotid artery and diagnosed by computed tomography angiography.

Purpose: Various variations in the head and neck vasculature have been reported. The purpose of this report is to describe an extremely rare case of thyrolinguofacial trunk (TLFT) arising from the common carotid artery (CCA).

Methods: A 66-year-old woman with vertigo, dizziness, and heaviness in the head underwent computed tomography (CT) angiography of the neck and head region for evaluation of cerebrovascular diseases.

Characterization of novel truncated apolipoprotein A-I in human high-density lipoprotein generated by sequential treatment with myeloperoxidase and chymase.

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is a well-known biomarker, which has been associated with reduction in the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). However, some HDL anti-atherosclerotic functions may be impaired without altered HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) level via its dysfunctional proteins or other physiological reactions in vivo. We previously showed that activated mast cell-derived chymase could modestly cleave apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) in HDL and further easily cleave lipid-free apoA-I.

Basophil activation test for allergic and febrile non-haemolytic transfusion reactions among paediatric patients with haematological or oncological disease.

Background And Objectives: Allergic transfusion reactions (ATRs) and febrile non-haemolytic transfusion reactions (FNHTRs) are common, although their mechanisms remain unclear. Immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated type I hypersensitivity may be involved in the pathogenesis of ATR. A basophil activation test (BAT) may help elucidate this process.

Stiff coils enhance shape retention and pressure resistance in an aneurysm model even at low volume.

Purpose: To elucidate the characteristics of 3 D frame coils and identify the optimal coil for visceral aneurysms.

Material And Methods: Using a vascular model, we compared the postembolization coil distribution and repulsive force of three coils: Guglielmi detachable coil (GDC; stock wire diameter, 0.004 in; primary diameter, 0.

Quantitative and qualitative lipid improvement with chronic hepatitis C virus eradication using direct-acting antivirals.

Aim: Direct-acting antivirals have revolutionized hepatitis C virus (HCV) therapy by providing a high sustained virological response (SVR) rate and subsequent favorable lipid increases. Proprotein convertase subtilisin-kexin like-9 (PCSK9) plays an important role in regulating quantitative lipid levels. This study examined the interactions between quantitative PCSK9 and lipid changes, as well as qualitative lipid changes in terms of lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor-1 ligand containing apolipoprotein B (LAB) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol uptake capacity (HDL-CUC).

Cut-off values of serum IgG4 among three reagents, including a novel IgG4 reagent: a multicenter study.

Elevated serum IgG4 is a useful marker of IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) activity. However, there is no uniformity in the cut-off values of IgG4 among the various reagents. The aim of this study was to compare the measured and cut-off values of IgG4 assessed using three different reagents.

Changes in serum citrullinated fibrinogen concentration associated with the phase of bacteremia patients.

Background: Citrullinated fibrinogen (C-Fbg) has been detected in rheumatoid arthritis; however, few studies have reported the role of C-Fbg in other inflammatory diseases. This study aimed to clarify the changes in serum C-Fbg associated with the bacteremia phase.

Methods: We measured serum C-Fbg concentration in bacteremia patients.

Highly oxidized low-density lipoprotein does not facilitate platelet aggregation.

Objective: This study aimed to examine whether oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) facilitates platelet aggregation, which is one cause for development of cardiovascular disease.

Methods: The susceptibility of platelets to aggregation was monitored by light transmittance aggregometry and a laser light scattering method using low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and oxLDL as agonists. β-thromboglobulin (β-TG) levels released from platelets were also measured after incubation with or without oxLDL.

The relationship between serum levels of LOX-1 ligand containing ApoAI as a novel marker of dysfunctional HDL and coronary artery calcification in middle-aged Japanese men.

Background And Aims: Dysfunctional high-density lipoprotein (HDL) is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) beyond HDL concentrations. Recently, a novel method has been introduced to measure LOX-1 ligand containing apolipoprotein AI (LAA), which is an indicator of various types of modified HDL with binding capacity to LOX-1 and related to impaired anti-atherogenic functions of HDL. This study aimed to examine the relationship between LAA as a novel marker of dysfunctional HDL and coronary artery calcification (CAC).

Clinical impact of normal alanine aminotransferase on direct-acting antiviral outcome in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

Background And Aims: This study aimed to clarify the clinical picture of hepatitis C virus (HCV) carriers with normal alanine aminotransferase (CNALT) and those with ALT elevation (non-CNALT) under direct-acting antivirals (DAAs).

Methods: We enrolled 1002 patients with HCV (427 men, median age: 69 years) who had received DAAs for comparisons between CNALT (ALT ≤33 U/L in males and ≤25 U/L in females; = 374) and non-CNALT ( = 628) groups.

Results: CNALT patients displayed a higher platelet count (PLT) (170 000 146 000/μL, < 0.

Correlation of Pancreatic T1 Values Using Modified Look-Locker Inversion Recovery Sequence (MOLLI) with Pancreatic Exocrine and Endocrine Function.

Unlabelled: Quantifying myocardial T1 values has been useful for detecting and characterizing fibrotic appearance in myocardial infarction, focal scars, and non-ischemic cardiomyopathies. Since pancreatic exocrine function decreases with chronic pancreatic fibrosis advancement, this study examined the correlation between pancreatic T1 values and pancreatic exocrine and endocrine insufficiency.

Methods: Thirty-two patients underwent abdominal contrast-enhanced MRI in our department between October 2017 and February 2019.

Cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers implicated in the pathogenesis of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-related hypertrophic pachymeningitis.

Objective: Hypertrophic pachymeningitis (HP) related to anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) is the most frequently seen immune-mediated HP. We investigated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers related to the pathogenesis of ANCA-related HP (ANCA-HP).

Methods: The levels of B cell activation factor of the tumor necrosis factor family (BAFF), a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL), and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) in the CSF were compared between patients with ANCA-HP (n = 12), other types of immune-mediated HP (other HP; n = 12), multiple sclerosis (MS; n = 14), and non-inflammatory neurological disorders (NIND; n = 10).

Evaluation of a novel serum IgG4 assay and determination of reference interval for the Japanese population.

Background: IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a new syndrome characterized by elevated serum IgG4 concentration and tissue infiltration of IgG4-positive plasma cells. Here, we evaluated the analytical performance of a new IgG4 assay reagent featuring a wide dynamic range, highly specific monoclonal antibody, and the reversed passive latex agglutination assay and determined the IgG4 reference interval (RI) for the Japanese population.

Methods: Performance evaluations were conducted on precision, linearity, sensitivity, interference, and method comparison with The Binding Site (TBS) and Siemens reagents.

Clinical utility of FibroScan as a non-invasive diagnostic test for primary biliary cholangitis.

Background And Aim: Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic, slowly progressive, autoimmune liver disease. Some PBC patients display disease progression regardless of medical treatment. Therefore, it is important to accurately diagnose the clinical stage of PBC.

A Novel Cell-Free, Non-Fluorescent Method to Measure LOX-1-Binding Activity Corresponding to The Functional Activity of HDL.

Aims: A functional abnormality in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles rather than a quantitative abnormality in HDL cholesterol levels has been suggested to promote atherosclerosis. The modification of HDL may underlie functional changes to HDL such as gaining the ability to bind and activate the lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor-1 (LOX-1). We aimed to develop a novel method for measuring modified HDL on the basis of its binding to LOX-1.

Histopathological differences of experimental aneurysms treated with bare platinum, fibered, and bioactive coils.

Purpose: To evaluate the histopathological features of experimental aneurysms embolized with bare platinum, fibered, and bioactive coils.

Material And Methods: Twelve experimental aneurysms were constructed in three swine. The aneurysms were divided into four groups and were embolized using a bare platinum coil alone (P group, n = 2), a bioactive coil alone (B group, n = 2), a combination of fibered and bare platinum coils (F/P group, n = 4) and a combination of fibered and bioactive coils (F/B group, n = 4).