Arterial Site Research Articles

Uniform tube models with single reflection site do not explain aortic wave travel and pressure wave shape

Objective: In hypertension research aortic pressure wave travel and wave shape play a central role. Presently the explanation of aortic pressure is mainly based on wave travel and reflection in tube models with a single distal reflection. Increased pulse pressure with age is assumed to result from increased magnitude of distal reflection (higher SVR), and earlier return of the reflected wave (higher PWV). However, recent in vivo data show that the reflected wave runs towards the periphery rather than towards the heart as tube models predict. Approach: We analyzed wave travel and reflections in tube models in comparison with in vivo data. Main results: In the arterial system many reflection sites exist while tube models only have a single site. At all arterial locations, reflection is determined by the global reflection coefficient, given by local characteristic impedance and loading input impedance. The input impedance phase at low frequencies is negative causing delay between reflected and forward waves. Normalized impedances in the aorta depend much less on location than found in tube models. Therefore, the reflected pressure wave is delayed with respect to the forward wave and does not run towards the heart as predicted by tube models. Reflection mainly results from arterial stiffness and geometry, and arrival time of the reflected wave at the heart depends little on PWV. Increased SVR plays an indirect role: higher (transmural) pressure means stiffer vessels thereby affecting reflection. Significance: Tube models should not be used for interpretation of wave-phenomena and explanation of pressure wave shape.

A new Percutaneous technique for effective vascular Access Site closure in patients undergoing Transfemoral aortic valve implantation and thoraco-abdominal aortic aneurysm rEpair: the PASTE study.

The success of transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and thoraco-abdominal aneurysm repair (TAAR) depends on haemostatic control of the access site, which is usually obtained with suture-based closure devices (Prostar or two ProGlide). A single ProGlide/Glubran technique, involving a suture placement on the vessel wall followed by tissue glue injection around the vessel wall, has not been previously investigated in this clinical setting. Our aim was to study the feasibility and safety of a single ProGlide/Glubran technique for vascular access-site closure after transfemoral TAVI and TAAR. This technique was used in 250 patients from 2012 to 2017. The primary endpoint was the success of the technique, defined as access-site haemostasis without complications and not requiring any additional intervention within 30 days of the index procedure. Patients had a mean age of 82.4±1.93 years, with a logistic EuroSCORE of 20.2±2.32. A total of 218 TAVI and 32 TAAR procedures were performed with a mean sheath size of 18.09±1.55 Fr. The mean sheath to femoral artery ratio was 1.04±0.16, with mean femoral artery minimal lumen diameter 6.65±0.64 mm. The overall success rate of this technique was 98.4%. Four patients (1.6%) developed critical stenosis of the femoral artery requiring balloon dilatation. No major VARC-2 vascular complications were observed. Thirty-day mortality was 0.4% (non-cardiovascular). The results of this study suggest that the single ProGlide/Glubran technique is a safe and effective method of closing the arterial access site after transfemoral TAVI and TAAR. The results of our study need to be confirmed in a randomised controlled trial before being adopted in routine clinical practice.

Associations between reservoir pressure parameters and kidney function are dependent on the arterial measurement site

IntroductionReservoir pressure parameters derived from pressure waveforms captured at various arterial sites predict adverse kidney function independently of conventional cuff blood pressure (BP). However, there has never been an analysis directly comparing if associations with kidney function may differ depending on arterial site of measurement, which was the aim of this study.MethodsIntra-arterial BP waveforms were measured via fluid filled catheter at the ascending aorta, brachial and radial arteries in 172 people undergoing coronary angiography (aged 60 ± 13 years, 67% male). Customised Matlab software was used to derive reservoir pressure and associated parameters of excess pressure, diastolic and systolic rate constants at each arterial site. Kidney function was determined by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).ResultsReservoir and excess pressure derived from BP waveforms measured at the aorta were associated with eGFR (r = −0.26, and r = −0.24, p < 0.01, respectively), but not from brachial or radial BP waveforms (r < −0.14, p > 0.07 all). However, diastolic rate constants from BP waveforms at all arterial sites were significantly associated with eGFR. These associations remained following adjustment for aortic systolic BP, heart rate, sex, and body mass index (β = −0.37, p = 0.001; β = −0.37, p = 0.003; β = −0.25, p = 0.02 respectively). Systolic rate constants were not significantly associated with eGFR at any arterial site.ConclusionAssociations between reservoir pressure parameters and kidney function are dependent on site of waveform measurement, with exception of the diastolic rate constant, which independently relates to kidney function irrespective of location. This is of clinical relevance since this variable can be derived from non-invasively recorded peripheral BP waveforms.

Arterial identity of hemogenic endothelium: a key to unlock definitive hematopoietic commitment in human pluripotent stem cell cultures

Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) have been suggested as a potential source for the de novo production of blood cells for transfusion, immunotherapies, and transplantation. However, even with advanced hematopoietic differentiation methods, the primitive and myeloid-restricted waves of hematopoiesis dominate in hPSC differentiation cultures, whereas cell surface markers to distinguish these waves of hematopoiesis from lympho-myeloid hematopoiesis remain unknown. In the embryo, hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) arise from hemogenic endothelium (HE) lining arteries, but not veins. This observation led to a long-standing hypothesis that arterial specification is an essential prerequisite to initiate the HSC program. It has also been established that lymphoid potential in the yolk sac and extraembryonic vasculature is mostly confined to arteries, whereas myeloid-restricted hematopoiesis is not specific to arterial vessels. Here, we review how the link between arterialization and the subsequent definitive multilineage hematopoietic program can be exploited to identify HE enriched in lymphoid progenitors and aid in in vitro approaches to enhance the production of lymphoid cells and potentially HSCs from hPSCs. We also discuss alternative models of hematopoietic specification at arterial sites and recent advances in our understanding of hematopoietic development and the production of engraftable hematopoietic cells from hPSCs.

Genetic variant at coronary artery disease and ischemic stroke locus 1p32.2 regulates endothelial responses to hemodynamics

Biomechanical cues dynamically control major cellular processes, but whether genetic variants actively participate in mechanosensing mechanisms remains unexplored. Vascular homeostasis is tightly regulated by hemodynamics. Exposure to disturbed blood flow at arterial sites of branching and bifurcation causes constitutive activation of vascular endothelium contributing to atherosclerosis, the major cause of coronary artery disease (CAD) and ischemic stroke (IS). Conversely, unidirectional flow promotes quiescent endothelium. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified chromosome 1p32.2 as strongly associated with CAD/IS; however, the causal mechanism related to this locus remains unknown. Using statistical analyses, assay of transposase accessible chromatin with whole-genome sequencing (ATAC-seq), H3K27ac/H3K4me2 ChIP with whole-genome sequencing (ChIP-seq), and CRISPR interference in human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs), our results demonstrate that rs17114036, a common noncoding polymorphism at 1p32.2, is located in an endothelial enhancer dynamically regulated by hemodynamics. CRISPR-Cas9-based genome editing shows that rs17114036-containing region promotes endothelial quiescence under unidirectional shear stress by regulating phospholipid phosphatase 3 (PLPP3). Chromatin accessibility quantitative trait locus (caQTL) mapping using HAECs from 56 donors, allelic imbalance assay from 7 donors, and luciferase assays demonstrate that CAD/IS-protective allele at rs17114036 in PLPP3 intron 5 confers increased endothelial enhancer activity. ChIP-PCR and luciferase assays show that CAD/IS-protective allele at rs17114036 creates a binding site for transcription factor Krüppel-like factor 2 (KLF2), which increases the enhancer activity under unidirectional flow. These results demonstrate that a human SNP contributes to critical endothelial mechanotransduction mechanisms and suggest that human haplotypes and related cis-regulatory elements provide a previously unappreciated layer of regulatory control in cellular mechanosensing mechanisms.

RF70 RESULTS FROM AN IN VIVO COMPARISON OF THE OPTIFLOW AND EZ GLIDE AORTIC DISPERSION CANNULAE

Background: Morbidity associated with embolization during cannulation in coronary artery bypass grafts (CABG) is strongly related to patient characteristics/comorbidities, the arterial cannulation site and the shape of the arterial cannula tip.. The desired features of an arterial cannula should be to prevent those morbid effects and focus on achieving higher flows with lower cannula pressures. Methods: To evaluate the in vivo performance of two aortic dispersion flow cannulas: Optiflow (Sorin Group, Italy) and EZ Glide (Edwards Lifesciences, USA) in relation to cannula pressures, pump flow rates and plasma free hemoglobin. Over a 12 month period we collected data on a prospective, randomized (1:1), non-blinded, monocentric study with a cohort of 30 patients (Optiflow group N = 15; EZ Glide group N = 15). Results: The Optiflow cannula was found to have decreasing cannula pressures as pump flow rates increased (112.3 ± 10.9 mmHg vs 131.1 ± 11.4 mmHg, p &lt; 0.0001). Results also indicated no significant differences between groups in plasma free hemoglobin increases (p = 0.41) or total microembolic signals counts during cardiac surgery (p = 0.63). Conclusions: Both Optiflow and EZ Glide dispersion flow arterial cannulas performed well, but the Optiflow cannula demonstrated an ability to increase pump flow rates with lower arterial line and cannula pressures than the EZ Glide cannula. This implies an ability to improve peripheral perfusion while reducing cannula shear stress and reducing the risk of endothelial damage in an area where the cannula jet hits the intraluminal aortic wall, thereby having the potential to reduce the risk of atherosclerotic plaque dislodgement.

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells inhibit vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and neointimal hyperplasia after arterial injury in rats

We investigated whether mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based treatment could inhibit neointimal hyperplasia in a rat model of carotid arterial injury and explored potential mechanisms underlying the positive effects of MSC therapy on vascular remodeling/repair. Sprague-Dawley rats underwent balloon injury to their right carotid arteries. After 2 days, we administered cultured MSCs from bone marrow of GFP-transgenic rats (0.8 × 106 cells, n = 10) or vehicle (controls, n = 10) to adventitial sites of the injured arteries. As an additional control, some rats received a higher dose of MSCs by systemic infusion (3 × 106 cells, tail vein; n = 4). Local vascular MSC administration significantly prevented neointimal hyperplasia (intima/media ratio) and reduced the percentage of Ki67 + proliferating cells in arterial walls by 14 days after treatment, despite little evidence of long-term MSC engraftment. Notably, systemic MSC infusion did not alter neointimal formation. By immunohistochemistry, compared with neointimal cells of controls, cells in MSC-treated arteries expressed reduced levels of embryonic myosin heavy chain and RM-4, an inflammatory cell marker. In the presence of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF-BB), conditioned medium from MSCs increased p27 protein levels and significantly attenuated VSMC proliferation in culture. Furthermore, MSC-conditioned medium suppressed the expression of inflammatory cytokines and RM-4 in PDGF-BB-treated VSMCs. Thus, perivascular administration of MSCs may improve restenosis after vascular injury through paracrine effects that modulate VSMC inflammatory phenotype.

Prevalence, Incidence, and Contributors of Subclinical Atheromatosis, Arteriosclerosis, and Arterial Hypertrophy in HIV-Infected Individuals: A Single-Center, 3-Year Prospective Study.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is an important comorbidity for people living with HIV infection (PLWH) in the combined antiretroviral therapy era. We prospectively examined the presence of subclinical arterial disease in 138 consecutive CVD-free, HIV-infected individuals compared to 664 HIV-negative individuals. We studied 10 arterial sites in 4 beds using 5 distinct biomarkers of subclinical atheromatosis, arteriosclerosis, and hypertrophy and evaluated the association of subclinical arterial damage with CVD-related and HIV-related factors at baseline and at 3-year follow-up. Atheromatosis, arteriosclerosis, and arterial hypertrophy were present in 36.1%, 59.7%, and 34.3% of HIV-infected individuals, respectively, at baseline. HIV infection was independently associated with carotid atheromatosis and hypertrophy. The presence of carotid atheromatosis was independently associated with age, years of smoking, and exposure to nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs). The annual incidence of atheromatosis, arteriosclerosis, and arterial hypertrophy was 5.5, 18.6, and 12.5 cases/100 patients, respectively. Carotid atheromatosis progression was significantly associated with NNRTI exposure. People living with HIV infection exhibited high prevalence and incidence of subclinical arterial damage and site-specific predilection for the carotids. These investigations may help optimize HIV-specific CVD prediction models. The NNRTIs may contribute to atheromatosis, emphasizing the need to consider the atherogenic potential of antiretroviral drugs in management strategies.

NetADD: Network Flow-Based Distributed Topology Control on Addressing Asymmetric Data Delivery in Nanonetworks.

Architecting nanonetwork-based coronary heart disease monitoring requires a set of nanodevice-embedded drug-eluting stents (nanoDESs) inserted inside the affected sites of coronary arteries of the heart to cooperatively collect medical information therein and transmit the information via the nano-macro (NM) interface, which is inserted into the intercostal space of the rib cage. These nanonetworks, which operate in the terahertz band (0.1-10 THz), face increased complexity in delivering the data of underlying nanonetworks to the NM, due to the limited energy content of nanoDESs. In this paper, we propose a distributed topology control algorithm based on the solution of the well-known network flow problem for addressing asymmetric data delivery. The generated topology is dynamic in the sense that it changes according to the energy levels of the nanoDESs. The proposed algorithm helps establish the topology and balance the load on nanoDESs. The proposed approach changes the topology if there arises a need to balance the energy content of the nanoDESs. We study the problem of asymmetric data delivery in various types of network topologies as well. The proposed solution is shown via extensive simulation to yield improved performance over the existing topology control solutions with respect to data delivery ratio, energy consumption, delay, and the events of shutdown.

Percutaneous ultrasound-guided balloon-assisted embolization of iatrogenic femoral artery pseudoaneurysms with Glubran®2 cyanoacrylate glue: safety, efficacy and outcomes.

Femoral pseudoaneurysm (PA) is a frequent complication of arterial access for endovascular procedures. Surgery has traditionally been considered as the gold standard of therapy. We aimed to report our experience of percutaneous ultrasound (US)-guided balloon-assisted embolization with cyanoacrylate glue for the treatment of iatrogenic femoral PAs. Retrospective two-center study of patients with femoral iatrogenic PAs treated by N-butyl cyanoacrylate-methacryloxy sulfolane (NBCA-MS) Glubran®2 glue embolization between July 2013 and November 2017. All patients underwent contralateral arterial access with balloon placement of an appropriate size in front of the PA neck before glue/lipiodol embolization in a 1:1 ratio by percutaneous US-guided puncture of the aneurysmal sac under fluoroscopy control. Twenty-three patients (12 females, 11 males; median age, 79 years; range, 18-93 years) were included. Median PA size was 34 mm (range, 17-60 mm). The median time to treatment was 5 days (range, 1-30 days). Twenty patients (86.9%) were successfully treated by glue injection alone. The three remaining patients (13.1%) with persistent PA or associated arterial-venous fistula were immediately treated during the same procedure by additional stent-graft. Then, overall immediate and 1-month clinical success rates were 100%. No surgical conversion was necessary. No recurrence was reported during the median follow-up of 11 months (range, 2-73 months). Two (8.7%) puncture-related complications occurred at the contralateral arterial access site, which spontaneously resolved. No non-target glue embolization occurred. US-guided balloon-assisted glue embolization is safe and effective to treat iatrogenic femoral PAs in most cases, offering complete exclusion of the PA and avoiding the morbidity of open surgery.

Monitoring of the central blood pressure waveform via a conformal ultrasonic device.

Continuous monitoring of the central-blood-pressure waveform from deeply embedded vessels, such as the carotid artery and jugular vein, has clinical value for the prediction of all-cause cardiovascular mortality. However, existing non-invasive approaches, including photoplethysmography and tonometry, only enable access to the superficial peripheral vasculature. Although current ultrasonic technologies allow non-invasive deep-tissue observation, unstable coupling with the tissue surface resulting from the bulkiness and rigidity of conventional ultrasound probes introduces usability constraints. Here, we describe the design and operation of an ultrasonic device that is conformal to the skin and capable of capturing blood-pressure waveforms at deeply embedded arterial and venous sites. The wearable device is ultrathin (240 μm) and stretchable (with strains up to 60%), and enables the non-invasive, continuous and accurate monitoring of cardiovascular events from multiple body locations, which should facilitate its use in a variety of clinical environments.

Prior Direct Oral Anticoagulant Therapy is Related to Small Infarct Volume and No Major Artery Occlusion in Patients With Stroke and Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation.

BackgroundThe aims of the present study were to investigate the relationships between prior direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) therapy and infarct volume and the site of arterial occlusion in patients with acute ischemic stroke and non‐valvular atrial fibrillation.Methods and ResultsFrom March 2011 through November 2016, consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke in the middle cerebral artery territory and non‐valvular atrial fibrillation were recruited. The infarct volume was assessed semi‐automatically using initial diffusion‐weighted imaging, and the arterial occlusion site was evaluated on magnetic resonance angiography. The effect of prior DOAC treatment on the site of arterial occlusion was assessed by multivariate ordinal logistic regression analysis. A total of 330 patients (149 women; median age 79 [quartiles 71–86] years; median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score 11 [4–21]) were enrolled. Of these, 239 were on no anticoagulant, 40 were undertreated with a vitamin K antagonist (VKA), 22 were sufficiently treated with VKA (PT‐INR ≥1.6), and 29 were on a DOAC before the acute ischemic stroke. The infarct volume on admission differed among the groups (median 14.5 [2.0–59.8] cm3 in patients with no anticoagulation, 24.8 [2.1–63.0] in undertreated VKA, 1.3 [0.3–13.5] in sufficient VKA, and 2.3 [0.5–21.0] in DOAC, P=0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that prior DOAC treatment was independently and negatively associated with more proximal artery occlusion (odds ratio [OR] 0.34, P=0.015), compared with no anticoagulant.Conclusions DOAC treatment before the event was associated with smaller infarct volume and decreased risk of greater proximal artery occlusion in acute ischemic stroke patients with non‐valvular atrial fibrillation, compared with no anticoagulation.

Bi-Modal Arterial Compliance Probe for Calibration-Free Cuffless Blood Pressure Estimation.

We propose a calibration-free method and system for cuffless blood pressure (BP) measurement from superficial arteries. A prototype device with bi-modal probe arrangement was designed and developed to estimate carotid BP - an indicator of central aortic pressure. Mathematical models relating BP parameters of an arterial segment to its dimensions and local pulse wave velocity (PWV) are introduced. A bi-modal probe utilizing ultrasound and photoplethysmograph sensors was developed and used to measure diameter values and local PWV from the carotid artery. Carotid BP was estimated using the measured physiological parameters without any subject- or population-specific calibration procedures. The proposed cuffless BP estimation method and system were tested for accuracy, usability, and for potential utility in hypertension screening, on a total of 83 subjects. The prototype device demonstrated its capability of detecting beat-by-beat arterial dimensions and local PWV simultaneously. Carotid diastolic BP (DBP) and systolic BP (SBP) were estimated over multiple cardiac cycles in real-time. The absolute error in carotid DBP was <10mmHg in 82% cases, and root-mean-square-error = 8.3mmHg. Consistent with the theory, estimated SBP at the carotid site was lower than the reference brachial SBP. ROC curves obtained for hypertension screening analysis revealed an area under the curve ≥0.8 for both carotid SBP and DBP values, illustrating the potential for using the developed method in hypertension screening. The feasibility of calibration-free, cuffless BP measurement at an arterial site of interest was demonstrated with a level of acceptable accuracy. The study also demonstrated the potential utility of the proposed method and system in hypertension screening and local evaluation of arterial stiffness indices. Novel approach for calibration-free cuffless BP estimation; a potential tool for local BP measurement and hypertension screening.

Vascular wall components in thrombi obtained by acute stroke thrombectomy: clinical significance and related factors

Background and purposeVascular wall components (VWCs) are sometimes identified as collagen fibers in specimens retrieved by thrombectomy from acute stroke patients. However, their clinical significance and associated factors remain unclear....

Abstract 229: Non-invasive, Patient-specific Assessment of LVAD Modeled With Consideration of LV Ejection and Function

The use of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is a proven therapy for end-stage heart failure either as bridge-to-transplant or destination therapy. The improvement of LVADs with greater reliability, durability, and miniaturization require corresponding innovations in surgical techniques to fully realize the better clinical outcomes, shorter length of stay, and lower cost to the health care system. One key direction in surgical advancement is the minimally invasive implantation techniques. Traditional LVAD implantation is most often performed with full sternotomy and anastomosis of the outflow graft (OG) to ascending aorta. Minimally invasive techniques will require the option of potential OG anastomosis to other arterial sites such as axillary artery or descending aorta. The consideration of a patient’s initial native cardiac function and subsequent evolution on LVAD support becomes more critical. This research objective of this work is to fill in a GAP between a critical need for clinical guidelines of optimal LVAD implant and a reliable pre-surgical assessment that is patient-specific and noninvasive. We present a parametric study using image-based computational modeling and analysis, Fig 1 (a), to non-invasively assess the blood supply to upper/low body through 15 combinations between LVAD pumping and native LV ejection (b). The flow and kinetic energy distribution from ascending aorta to upper/low body are shown in (c) and (d) respectively. It is found that more LV ejection results in more flow and kinetic energy going to the upper body. The variability of LVAD flow and delivery of kinetic energy has impact on end-organ perfusion and should be addressed in future optimization of LVAD implantation.

P5636Machine and sonographer dependence for detecting coronary flow at the site of the proximal left coronary artery using transthoracic Doppler echocardiography

P5636Machine and sonographer dependence for detecting coronary flow at the site of the proximal left coronary artery using transthoracic Doppler echocardiography

Systolic time intervals assessed from analysis of the carotid pressure waveform

Objective: The timing of mechanical cardiac events is usually evaluated by conventional echocardiography as an index of cardiac systolic function and predictor of cardiovascular outcomes. We aimed to measure the systolic time intervals, namely the isovolumetric contraction time (ICT) and pre-ejection period (PEP), by arterial tonometry. Approach: Sixty-two healthy volunteers (age 47 ± 17 years) and 42 patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction were enrolled (age 66 ± 14 years). Pulse waves were recorded at the carotid artery by arterial tonometry together with simultaneous aortic transvalvular flow by Doppler-echocardiography, synchronized by electrocardiographic gating. The ICT was determined from the time delay between the electrical R wave and the carotid pressure waveform, after adjustment for the pulse transit time from the aortic valve to the carotid artery site, estimated by an algorithm based on the carotid–femoral pulse wave velocity. The PEP was evaluated by adding the electrical QR duration to the ICT. Main results: The ICT derived from carotid pulse wave analysis was closely related to that measured by echocardiography (r = 0.90, p < 0.0001), with homogeneous distribution in Bland–Altman analysis (mean difference and 95% confidence interval = 0.2 from −14.2 to 14.5 ms). ICT and PEP were higher in cardiac patients than in healthy volunteers (p < 0.0001). The ratio between PEP and left ventricular ejection time was related to the ejection fraction measured with echocardiography (r = 0.555, p < 0.0001). Significance: The timing of electro-mechanical cardiac events can be reliably obtained from the carotid pulse waveform and carotid-femoral PWV, evaluated using arterial tonometry. Systolic time intervals assessed with this approach showed good agreement with measurements performed with conventional echocardiography and may represent a promising additional application of arterial tonometry.

The different relations of PCSK9 and Lp(a) to the presence and severity of atherosclerotic lesions in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia

Background and aimsThe relation of lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] and proprotein convertase substilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) levels to coronary artery disease (CAD) has been well established in the general population, while little is known about the association between Lp(a) or PCSK9 and atherosclerotic lesions of different artery sites in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). MethodsOne hundred and fifty-one patients with verified genotyped heterozygous FH (HeFH) were enrolled. There were available data regarding coronary angiography and carotid ultrasonography in 151 patients and femoral ultrasonography in 55 patients. Coronary and carotid severity was evaluated by Gensini score and Crouse score. PCSK9 and Lp(a) concentrations were determined by ELISA and immunoturbidimetry, respectively. Finally, the correlation of PCSK9 and Lp(a) with the presence and severity of CAD and peripheral artery disease (PAD) was assessed. ResultsThe distributions of PCSK9 and Lp(a) were skewed and a close correlation between them in HeFH patients was found. PCSK9 levels were significantly higher in patients with coronary and carotid atherosclerotic lesions compared to their non-atherosclerotic groups, while no difference was found in femoral atherosclerotic lesions groups. Lp(a) levels only differed between patients with or without coronary atherosclerotic lesions. Patients with highest PCSK9 and Lp(a) concentrations had the highest prevalence and severity of atherosclerotic lesions. Multivariate regression analysis showed that PCSK9 was independently associated with CAD and PAD, while Lp(a) was only associated with CAD. ConclusionsCirculating PCSK9 concentrations were associated with an increased risk of CAD and PAD, while Lp(a) was only a marker for CAD in HeFH patients.

Fetal aortic arch and its branches anomalies: prenatal ultrasound, vascular cast and gene detection

Objective To explore the application values of prenatal ultrasound, vascular cast in the diagnosis of fetal aortic arch and its branches anomalies and to analyze the genetic characteristics by gene detection. Methods Twenty-two cases of the vascular cast specimens of the fetal aortic arch and its branches anomalies were analyzed and studied by comparing with their prenatal ultrasonography. Then the characteristics of each type of fetal aortic arch and its branches anomalies, the missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis were summarized and the results of their gene detection were also analyzed. Results The 22 cases of fetal aortic arch and its branches anomalies were as follows: 2 cases of double aortic arch showed the ascending aorta was divided into two branches after converging as the descending aorta. Three cases were left aortic arch with aberrant right subclavian artery. Twelve cases were right aortic arch: 8 cases were right aortic arch with mirror-image branching, 3 cases were right aortic arch with aberrant left subclavian artery, 1 case was right aortic arch with isolated left subclavian artery. Of the 8 right aortic arch with mirror-image branching, 3 cases of left arterial duct showed the vertical walking between the fusion site of the left innominate artery and the pulmonary artery. Right aortic arch with aberrant left subclavian artery with arterial duct showed U shaped vascular ring. Five cases were other types, including 2 cases of the coarctation of aortic arch, 1 case of interrupted aortic arch, 1 case of pulmonary artery sling, and 1 case of abnormal origin of right pulmonary artery. The ultrasonic missed diagnosis were the 6 deformities: 3 cases of arterial duct and 3 cases of aberrant subclavian artery. The ultrasonic misdiagnosis were the 5 deformities: 2 cases of arterial duct location, 1 case of aberrant subclavian artery, 1 case of isolated left subclavian artery, and 1 case of the coarctation of aortic arch. Genetic test results: In the 18 cases of the genetic detection, 2 cases were positive, 1 case was 22q11.2 microdeletion syndrome and 1 case was carrying KMT2D gene variant. Conclusions There are various kinds of fetal aortic arch and its branches anomalies, which are often associated with intracardiac malformations and venous branches variation. And prenatal ultrasound is of great value in diagnosing them.Vascular cast can visually display their characteristic changes, which is helpful to improve the differential diagnosis of the different aortic arch and its branches anomalies. The detailed genetic detection can improve the further understanding of its etiology. Key words: Ultrasonography, prenatal; Fetus; Aortic arch anomalies; Vascular cast; Gene detection

Reconstruction of full-thickness chick defects formed after tumor removal using a modified technique for submental flap dissection

Reconstruction of vast penetrating defects after radical resection of advanced tumors of the head and neck is a complex problem of recon structive oral and maxillofacial surgery . In case of a vast full-thickness defect of the chick, it is necessary to create isolated w alls both inside and outside the oral cavit y , i.e. to perform t w o-layer reconstruction. In most articles, use of 2 distant flaps or a double folded free revascular ized autologous transplant are described. Howeve r , performance of such large-scale and long surgical interventions can be limited by pa tient’s age or functional status, as well as other objective factors. In reconstruction of full-thickness chick defects, a submental flap is an adequate alternative to a free revascularized autologous transplant. This surgery is technically much easier and produces a better esthetic effect compared to the use of a combination of temporal myofacial and cervicofacial flaps, as well as a double cervicopectoral flap. The proposed modification of the method – sialoadenectomy at the stage prior to harvesting of the pedicle flap – not only makes dissection easier but allows to determine tumor advancement. Temporal ligation of the facial artery above the branching site of the submental artery reduces blood loss during removal of a primary tumor of the chick.