We studied how consumption of vitamin C (VC) affects the oxidative stress regulation system. SMP30/GNL knockout mice (males, n = 33), which cannot synthesize VC, were randomly divided into three groups: the VC 100 Group consuming 1.5 g/L VC, the VC 2.5 Group consuming 0.0375 g/L VC, and the VC 0 Group consuming 0 g/L VC. To examine the oxidative stress regulation system, the reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROM test) and biological anti-oxidant potential (BAP test) values were measured, and the BAP/d-ROM ratio was calculated. We obtained measurements at the beginning of the study (5 weeks old: baseline) and after VC consumption for 9 weeks (14 weeks old: 9 wk). For the plasma VC concentration, plasma reduced (ascorbic acid (AA)) and plasma oxidized (dehydroascorbic acid (DHA)) were measured at 9 wk, and the total VC (AA + DHA: total) concentration was calculated. Compared to the other groups at 9 wk, the VC 100 Group showed a significantly lower value for the d-ROM test, a significantly higher value for the BAP/d-ROM ratio, no significant difference in the BAP test, and a significantly lower senescence grading score. The VC 100 Group showed a significantly higher total VC concentration compared with the other groups. Differences in consumption of VC caused a change in the d-ROM test, the BAP/d-ROM ratio, and the plasma VC concentration.

Hybrid techniques to enable endovascular treatment of complex aortic pathology have been previously described. A staged endograft repair of a complex, chronic Stanford type B aortic dissection with atherosclerotic occlusion of bilateral iliac arteries is reported in a 66-year-old man. The patient also had chronic obstructive lung disease as well as chronic renal dysfunction. The aneurysmal portion of the dissection extended from the distal arch to the entire thoracic aorta. Bilateral femoral arteries were bypassed from the abdominal aorta using open techniques. Then, total arch replacement with a frozen elephant trunk was performed through median sternotomy. Finally, the aneurysmal portion was completely covered with an endograft from the frozen elephant trunk to the upper abdominal aorta, just proximal to the celiac trunk. The patient had no neurologic complications. This case report illustrates the feasibility of the hybrid technique in selected high-risk patients when confronted with complex aortic pathology.