European journal of vascular and endovascular surgery : the official journal of the European Society for Vascular Surgery
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Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg · May 2015
The Influence of Simvastatin on NGAL, Matrix Metalloproteinases and Their Tissue Inhibitors in Human Intraluminal Thrombus and Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Tissue.
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play a pivotal role in the development and progression of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). The action of MMPs depends on a balance between tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMPs) and compounds that may prolong protease activity, such as neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL). ⋯ Simvastatin treatment in patients with AAAs may influence the concentration of proteases and their inhibitors (TIMPs) in aneurysmal wall tissue and ILTs. Thus, further studies should be undertaken to understand the different influence of statin therapy on the components of the MMP/TIMP system in AAAs and ILTs.
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Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg · May 2015
Editor's Choice - Ten-year Experience with Endovascular Repair of Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysms: Results from 166 Consecutive Patients.
To present a 10 year experience with endovascular thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) repair using fenestrated and branched stent grafts. ⋯ Endovascular repair of TAAA with fenestrated and branched stent grafts in high volume centers appears safe and effective in the mid-term in a high risk patient cohort. A considerable reintervention rate should be acknowledged, however.
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Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg · Apr 2015
Editor's choice--Angulation of the C-arm during complex endovascular aortic procedures increases radiation exposure to the head.
The increased complexity of endovascular aortic repair necessitates longer procedural time and higher radiation exposure to the operator, particularly to exposed body parts. The aims were to measure directly exposure to radiation of the bodies and heads of the operating team during endovascular repair of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAA), and to identify factors that may increase exposure. ⋯ The head is an unprotected area receiving a significant radiation dose during complex endovascular aortic repair. The deleterious effects of exposure to this area are not fully understood. Vascular interventionalists should be cognisant of head exposure increasing with C-arm angulation, and limit this manoeuvre.
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Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg · Apr 2015
Diagnostic performance of 18F-FDG-PET/CT in vascular graft infections.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of positron emission tomography/computed tomography with (18)F-fludeoxyglucose (FDG-PET/CT) in a population with suspected graft infection and to validate a new diagnostic imaging score for FDG-PET/CT. ⋯ The diagnostic accuracy of FDG-PET/CT in the detection of aortic graft infection is high. A newly introduced five point visual grading score and early imaging prior to antimicrobial treatment may further improve the diagnostic accuracy.
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Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg · Mar 2015
ReviewAssessing the quality of available patient reported outcome measures for intermittent claudication: a systematic review using the COSMIN checklist.
The aim was to critically appraise, compare, and summarize the quality of the measurement properties of all available disease specific patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) on health related quality of life and functional status validated in patients with intermittent claudication (IC). ⋯ The quality of the validation of most disease specific PROMs for IC is alarming, hampering all conclusion based on these PROMs. Considering the results, the PAD quality of life questionnaire (PADQOL), Intermittent claudication questionnaire (ICQ) and the Vascular quality of life questionnaire (VascuQol) might be appropriate PROMs for health related quality of life, while the Walking impairment questionnaire (WIQ) and Estimate ambulation capacity by history questionnaire (EACH-Q) appear suitable PROMs for functional status. However, all PROMs require further validation studies to fill the gaps in their measurement properties. The shortcomings highlighted in this review should be taken into account when interpreting PROM results.