[Comparing efficacy of recanalization with stenting of extended occlusions of superficial femoral artery and loop endarterectomy]. / Sravnenie éffektivnosti rekanalizatsii so stentirovaniem protiazhennykh okkliuzii poverkhnostnoi bedrennoi arterii i petlevoi éndarteréktomii.

OBJECTIVE: The study was aimed at comparing the outcomes of loop endarterectomy (LE) and endovascular revascularization (ER) with stenting in occlusive lesions (TASC II type D) of the superficial femoral artery (SFA), as well as revealing predictors of restenosis/reocclusion. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between May 2011 and December 2016, a total of 234 patients presetting with occlusions of the SFA (TASC II type D lesions) were operated on. Of these, 117 patients underwent ER with SFA stenting and 117 patients were subjected to loop endarterectomy from the SFA. The obtained findings were analysed with the help of statistical methods using the Statistica 10 software package (StatSoft, USA). The level of deviation of the null hypothesis of no between-group differences was assumed at p<0.05. RESULTS: Technical success in the ER group amounted to 94% (110 of 117 patients) and in the LE group to 90% (105 of 117 patients). The length of postoperative hospital stay in the ER group was 4 days and in the LE group - 7.5 days (p<0.05). There were significantly more complications in the LE group as compared with ER group (p=0.04). No significant difference was revealed for the number of reocclusions/restenosis between groups - 9 (8.1%) cases in the ER group vs 10 (9.1%) cases in the LE group (p=0.83). CONCLUSION: Loop endarterectomy is a safe, effective and feasible procedure in TASC II type D lesions of the SFA, being not inferior by patency to endovascular treatment during 12 months of follow up; however, it is associated with a high risk for the development of local complications and increased number of postoperative bed-days.

Endothelial and smooth muscle cells derived from human cardiac explants demonstrate angiogenic potential and suitable for design of cell-containing vascular grafts.

BACKGROUND: Endothelial and smooth muscle cells are considered promising resources for regenerative medicine and cell replacement therapy. It has been shown that both types of cells are heterogeneous depending on the type of vessels and organs in which they are located. Therefore, isolation of endothelial and smooth muscle cells from tissues relevant to the area of research is necessary for the adequate study of specific pathologies. However, sources of specialized human endothelial and smooth muscle cells are limited, and the search for new sources is still relevant. The main goal of our study is to demonstrate that functional endothelial and smooth muscle cells can be obtained from an available source-post-surgically discarded cardiac tissue from the right atrial appendage and right ventricular myocardium. METHODS: Heterogeneous primary cell cultures were enzymatically isolated from cardiac explants and then grown in specific endothelial and smooth muscle growth media on collagen IV-coated surfaces. The population of endothelial cells was further enriched by immunomagnetic sorting for CD31, and the culture thus obtained was characterized by immunocytochemistry, ultrastructural analysis and in vitro functional tests. The angiogenic potency of the cells was examined by injecting them, along with Matrigel, into immunodeficient mice. Cells were also seeded on characterized polycaprolactone/chitosan membranes with subsequent analysis of cell proliferation and function. RESULTS: Endothelial cells isolated from cardiac explants expressed CD31, VE-cadherin and VEGFR2 and showed typical properties, namely, cytoplasmic Weibel-Palade bodies, metabolism of acetylated low-density lipoproteins, formation of capillary-like structures in Matrigel, and production of extracellular matrix and angiogenic cytokines. Isolated smooth muscle cells expressed extracellular matrix components as well as α-actin and myosin heavy chain. Vascular cells derived from cardiac explants demonstrated the ability to stimulate angiogenesis in vivo. Endothelial cells proliferated most effectively on membranes made of polycaprolactone and chitosan blended in a 25:75 ratio, neutralized by a mixture of alkaline and ethanol. Endothelial and smooth muscle cells retained their functional properties when seeded on the blended membranes. CONCLUSIONS: We established endothelial and smooth muscle cell cultures from human right atrial appendage and right ventricle post-operative explants. The isolated cells revealed angiogenic potential and may be a promising source of patient-specific cells for regenerative medicine.