Immunohistochemical analysis of MMP-9 and COX-2 expression in carotid atherosclerotic plaques among patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy: A prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Matrix metalloproteinase-9 protein (MMP-9) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) proteins may have a role in remodelling of atherosclerotic plaques. We analysed and compared the radiological, histological and immunohistochemical characteristics of carotid atherosclerotic plaques between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy (CEA). METHODS: This prospective single-blinded study included 31 patients (70 [64-75] years, 58% males, 42% symptomatic) who underwent CEA and a total of 155 carotid plaque sections that were analysed. Preoperative assessment and multimodality diagnostic imaging with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography angiography (CTA), histological and immunohistochemical analyses of carotid plaques including the expression of MMP-9 and COX-2 proteins were performed. RESULTS: Symptomatic and asymptomatic patients did not significantly differ in respect to preoperative characteristics. Unstable plaques were detected in 12/13 (92.3%, p = 0.020) symptomatic patients using MRI or CTA. There was no perioperative mortality and perioperative outcomes were comparable in both groups. A significantly higher expression of MMP-9 in macrophages was observed among symptomatic patients (p = 0.020). ROC curve analysis showed statistically significant associations of both the higher intensity of COX-2 staining in CD68 PG-M1 positive macrophages (area under the curve [AUC]=0.701, p = 0.014) and higher MVD (AUC=0.821, p < 0.001) within the plaque with cerebrovascular symptoms. The expression of COX-2 and the intensity of COX-2 staining in macrophages within the unstable carotid plaques detected by preoperative MRI or CTA were significantly higher (76.1% vs. 40.0%, p = 0.038; 76.2% vs. 30.0%, p = 0.01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Advanced non-invasive multimodality diagnostic imaging including MRI or CTA is reliable in differentiating unstable from stable carotid plaques. High expression of MMP-9 and COX-2 in macrophages within the symptomatic plaque is associated with increased risk of cerebrovascular complications. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study has been registered at the ISRCTN registry (ID ISRCTN46536832), isrctn.org Identifier: https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN46536832.

Low-dose Computed Tomography in a Pregnant Woman with a Ruptured Pseudoaneurysm of the Abdominal Aorta.

Imaging the pregnant patient presents a unique challenge to radiologist due to the risk of radiation to the conceptus (embryo/fetus). A rare case of a successfully recognized and treated pseudoaneurysm (PA) of the abdominal aorta is to be presented. The pseudoaneurysm occurred in the third trimester and had a favorable outcome for the mother and the baby. Emergent abdominal ultrasound (US) is the first modality in diagnostic algorithm for the rupture of aortic aneurysm in a pregnant woman. It provides the most rapid diagnostic information, although intestinal gas and abdominal tenderness may limit its accuracy. To confirm the findings, magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) or CT angiography (CTA) can be used. In our case, the diagnosis was established using a color Doppler ultrasonography of the abdomen and was later confirmed by a low dose CT scan of the abdominal aorta. MRA in such cases have some disadvantages. At many health centers, the monitoring of patients with acute ruptures is more difficult in the MR suite than at the CT scanner. MRA angiographic images are also subject to degradation by multiple artifacts and the visualization of the distal vasculature is suboptimal and inferior to the one done by CTA. Due to fetal movements, a small quantity of fresh blood can be overlooked by MR. MRA is often not available on a 24-hours basis, and the time required for making a diagnosis can preclude the use of MRA in an unstable patient. For this reason, we used a low dose CTA protocol to confirm the diagnosis. Low dose scanning protocols in CT can obtain sufficient diagnostic information while reducing the risk of radiation. A particular focus is put on the outline of new concepts for dose management and optimization. We used new approaches based on tube current modulation. The birth was induced by an urgent Caesarean section followed by a resection of a pseudoaneurysm and a reconstruction of the aorta with an end-to-end vascular prosthesis.

Percutaneous Endovascular Treatment for Hepatic Artery Stenosis after Liver Transplantation: The Role of Percutaneous Endovascular Treatment.

BACKGROUND: To retrospectively analyze the outcomes of interventional radiology treatment of patients with hepatic artery stenosis (HAS) after liver transplantation at our Institution. MATERIAL/METHODS: Hepatic artery stenosis was diagnosed and treated by endovascular technique in 8 (2.8%) patients, who underwent liver transplantation between July 2007 and July 2011. Patients entered the follow-up period, during which we analyzed hepatic artery patency with Doppler ultrasound at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after percutaneous endovascular treatment (PTA), and every six months thereafter. RESULTS: During the 12-month follow-up period, 6 out of 8 patients (75%) were asymptomatic with patent hepatic artery, which was confirmed by multislice computed tomography (MSCT) angiography, or color Doppler (CD) ultrasound. One patient had a fatal outcome of unknown cause, and one patient underwent orthotopic liver retransplantation (re-OLT) procedure due to graft failure. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that HAS angioplasty and stenting are minimally invasive and safe endovascular procedures that represent a good alternative to open surgery, with good 12-month follow-up patency results comparable to surgery.

[Stenting of dissected carotid arteries as a minimally invasive treatment modality]. / Stentiranje diseciranih karotidnih arterija kao minimalno invazivna metoda lijecenja.

AIM: The purpose of this paper is to present our experiences with carotid artery stenting in the treatment of dissected carotid arteries, by means of self-expandable stents and selective employment of cerebral protection devices. METHODS: In the period from June 1, 2006 to April 31, 2009, 6 patients with 6 dissected carotid arteries were treated with self-expandable stents (4 internal carotid artery dissections and 2 common carotid artery dissections). Two dissections were of spontaneous origin, 2 were traumatic, and 2 were iatrogenic. We applied cerebral protection filters selectively in 3 patients, based on morphological appearance of lesions. The criterion for the usage of protection devices was caudally oriented opening of the false lumen in order to prevent the possible migration of a thrombus from the false lumen during cranio-caudal deployment of self-expandable stents. We followed-up patients clinically and by means of duplex scanning throughout 12 months. RESULTS: Primary technical success was 100%. During the 12-month follow-up period no clinical or morphological signs of treatment failure were recorded. None of the patients suffered any complication (cerebral vascular insult, transitory ischemic attack, in-stent stenosis or occlusion). CONCLUSION: Carotid stenting, with selective employment of cerebral protection devices, is a successful, minimally invasive, and low risk procedure in the treatment of carotid dissections in cases when conservative treatment does not bring improvement to local finding or patients' general condition.

Rett syndrome: from the gene to the disease.

Rett syndrome (RTT, MIM No. 312750) is a progressive neurodevelopmental disorder and one of the most common causes of mental retardation. It is transmitted as an X-linked dominant trait, therefore almost exclusively affecting females. About 80% of RTT cases are sporadic caused by mutations in the MECP2 gene located on Xq28. The gene codes for two isoforms of the methyl-CpG-binding protein (MeCP2, MeCP2B) which are involved in transcriptional silencing through DNA methylation. The gene has 4 exons. The fourth one is the largest. Almost all mutations in MECP2 occur de novo. Although mutations are dispersed throughout the gene, about 67% of all MECP2 mutations, caused by C>T transitions at 8 CpG dinucleotides, are located in the third and fourth exon. The most common mutation is R168X. So far, there is no clear evidence on genotype-phenotype correlations. There are also reports claiming that the same mutation can provoke different phenotypes. It was shown that MeCP2 can silence certain genes. One of them, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, is essential for neural plasticity, learning and memory. This discovery revealed the role of MeCP2 in the control of neuronal activity-dependent gene regulation and suggested that the pathology of RTT may result from deregulation of this process.

Embolisation of posttraumatic superior mesenteric artery pseudoaneurysm in a patient with short bowel syndrome preceding bowel transplantation.

Penetrating abdominal trauma often causes bowel injuries which may lead to "short bowel syndrome" which is a potential indication for bowel transplantation. Posttraumatic pseudoaneurysms of abdominal arteries are often a result of penetrating abdominal trauma. We report a successful embolisation of posttraumatic superior mesenteric artery (SMA) branch pseudoaneurysm using microcoil, in a patient with short bowel syndrome who was successfully transplanted three months after embolisation.