Objective: To prepare hollow mesoporous silicon nanoparticles ( HMSNs) loaded with allicin—diallyl trisulfide (DATS) , and to study their feasibility as a therapeutic agent for ischemic injury of lower limbs . Methods: HMSNs were synthesized by selective etching , and their microstructure was observed by scanning and transmis- sion electron microscopy. Their physical and chemical properties were analyzed by X-ray diffraction and dynamic light scattering (DLS) . Their biological safety was tested by erythrocyte hemolysis and cytotoxicity experiments . DATS was loaded into HMSNs by adsorption to obtain DATS sustained release nanoparticles (DATS-HMSNs) , and the cumulative release curve of DATS was calculated and produced by ultraviolet spectrophotometry. C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into four groups (sham operation group , normal saline group , DATS group , and DATS-HM- SNs group) . Lower limb ischemia models were made by femoral artery ligation and resection . The exercise ability and the contents of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α ) , interleukin-6 (IL-6) , monocyte chemoattractant protein- 1 (MCP-1) , reactive oxygen species (ROS) , platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule (CD31) , alpha smooth muscle actin ( α-SMA) , basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in muscles of mice in each group before and after limb ischemia were tested . Results : Scanning and transmission e- lectron microscope observation showed that the prepared HMSNs were hollow , spherical and uniform in particle size . DLS results showed that the particle size was (226. 5 ± 11 . 8) nm. The results of red blood cell hemolysis test and cytotoxicity test showed that HMSNs had good biocompatibility. The maximum drug loading rate of HMSNs on DATS was 27. 89% , the cumulative release rate of DATS in 7 days was about 80. 12% , and could reach 97. 27% in 21 days . Compared with the control group , after DATS-HMSNs were applied to mice with lower limb ischemia , immunohistochemical staining showed that the levels of CD31 , α-SMA , bFGF and VEGF increased ( P < 0. 05) . Elisa test showed that the levels of TNF-α , IL-6 , MCP-1 and ROS decreased (P < 0. 05) , and the exercise ability of mice recovered satisfactorily after ischemia. Conclusion DATS-HMSNs can release DATS slowly and continu- ously , providing protection against ischemic injury of lower limbs .

Background and Aims:Rupture is the most serious complication of abdominal aortic aneurysm,requiring rapid diagnosis,emergency surgery,and posing significant surgical challenges,with high mortality rates. Currently,there is very limited reporting on ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA) in our country,which presents numerous difficulties for the prevention and treatment of rAAA. This study collected the data of epidemiological characteristics,treatment outcomes,and prognosis of rAAA patients from multiple centers with a large sample size,analyzing the current status and trends of rAAA surgery in China over the past decade,aiming to provide reference for clinical practice.Methods:The clinical and follow-up data of 161 rAAA patients treated at five major vascular surgery centers (50 from Drum Tower Hospital Affiliated to the Medical School,Nanjing University;19 from the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University;33 from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University;31 from Qilu Hospital,Shandong University;and 28 from the First Affiliated Hospital of the University of Science and Technology of China) were retrospectively analyzed.Results:Among the 161 patients,124 (77.02％) were male and 37 (22.98％) were female,with an average age of 68.27 years. The median age at diagnosis was 70 years for males and 71 years for females. The overall mean aneurysm diameter was 7.11 cm,with males at 7.72 cm and females at 6.82 cm,showing a statistically significant difference (P<0.05). The main comorbidities were hypertension and coronary artery disease. Over 80％ of patients presented with abdominal pain as the initial symptom,while 15％ presented with low back pain,and 8 patients sought medical attention for dizziness or visual disturbances. Among the 161 patients,86 underwent open surgical repair (OSR),and 75 received endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). The proportion of EVAR has increased annually,reaching nearly 70％ in the past five years,and up to 90％ in patients aged over 70 years. All OSR procedures were performed under general anesthesia,while 20 EVAR cases used local anesthesia and 55 used general anesthesia. Compared to the OSR group,the EVAR group showed significant differences in operative time (231.77 min vs. 162.49 min),intraoperative blood transfusion volume (1578.56 mL vs. 843.87 mL),length of hospital stay (21.21 d vs. 15.34 d),ICU stay duration (8.28 d vs. 5.49 d),and hospitalization costs (108500 CNY vs. 132800 CNY) (all P<0.05). No significant differences were found between the EVAR and OSR groups in total complications or perioperative mortality rates (both P>0.05). The main causes of perioperative death included respiratory and circulatory failure,acute myocardial infarction,and severe infections. Postoperative follow-up was effectively conducted for 92 patients,with follow-up durations ranging from 10 to 142 months. Survival analysis revealed no significant difference in survival rate between the OSR and EVAR groups (P=0.3182).Conclusion:rAAA is a rare and high-risk disease,with certain clinical differences between male and female patients. The number of EVAR procedures has increased rapidly;however,EVAR has not shown a significant advantage over OSR in improving long-term survival rates.

Background and Aims:Rupture is the most serious complication of abdominal aortic aneurysm,requiring rapid diagnosis,emergency surgery,and posing significant surgical challenges,with high mortality rates. Currently,there is very limited reporting on ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA) in our country,which presents numerous difficulties for the prevention and treatment of rAAA. This study collected the data of epidemiological characteristics,treatment outcomes,and prognosis of rAAA patients from multiple centers with a large sample size,analyzing the current status and trends of rAAA surgery in China over the past decade,aiming to provide reference for clinical practice.Methods:The clinical and follow-up data of 161 rAAA patients treated at five major vascular surgery centers (50 from Drum Tower Hospital Affiliated to the Medical School,Nanjing University;19 from the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University;33 from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University;31 from Qilu Hospital,Shandong University;and 28 from the First Affiliated Hospital of the University of Science and Technology of China) were retrospectively analyzed.Results:Among the 161 patients,124 (77.02％) were male and 37 (22.98％) were female,with an average age of 68.27 years. The median age at diagnosis was 70 years for males and 71 years for females. The overall mean aneurysm diameter was 7.11 cm,with males at 7.72 cm and females at 6.82 cm,showing a statistically significant difference (P<0.05). The main comorbidities were hypertension and coronary artery disease. Over 80％ of patients presented with abdominal pain as the initial symptom,while 15％ presented with low back pain,and 8 patients sought medical attention for dizziness or visual disturbances. Among the 161 patients,86 underwent open surgical repair (OSR),and 75 received endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). The proportion of EVAR has increased annually,reaching nearly 70％ in the past five years,and up to 90％ in patients aged over 70 years. All OSR procedures were performed under general anesthesia,while 20 EVAR cases used local anesthesia and 55 used general anesthesia. Compared to the OSR group,the EVAR group showed significant differences in operative time (231.77 min vs. 162.49 min),intraoperative blood transfusion volume (1578.56 mL vs. 843.87 mL),length of hospital stay (21.21 d vs. 15.34 d),ICU stay duration (8.28 d vs. 5.49 d),and hospitalization costs (108500 CNY vs. 132800 CNY) (all P<0.05). No significant differences were found between the EVAR and OSR groups in total complications or perioperative mortality rates (both P>0.05). The main causes of perioperative death included respiratory and circulatory failure,acute myocardial infarction,and severe infections. Postoperative follow-up was effectively conducted for 92 patients,with follow-up durations ranging from 10 to 142 months. Survival analysis revealed no significant difference in survival rate between the OSR and EVAR groups (P=0.3182).Conclusion:rAAA is a rare and high-risk disease,with certain clinical differences between male and female patients. The number of EVAR procedures has increased rapidly;however,EVAR has not shown a significant advantage over OSR in improving long-term survival rates.

Objective:To compare the efficacy of intraluminal microwave ablation with radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of varicose veins of the lower extremities.Methods:The clinical data of 520 patients (522 affected limbs) who underwent lower extremity varicose vein surgery at the Department of Vascular Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from Jun 2021 to Sep 2022 were collected. Patients were divided into endovenous microwave ablation group (EMWA group, n = 201) and radiofrequency ablation group (RFA group, n = 321). Follow-up was performed at 1 week, 1 , 6 and 12 months after surgery. The primary efficacy endpoint was the occlusion rate of the treated segment vein, the primary safety endpoint was the incidence of surgery-related and/or device-related complications, and the secondary endpoints were the venous clinical severity score (VCSS) and chronic venous insufficiency quality of life questionnaire (CIVIQ) scores at follow-up. Results:The technique success rate and the occlusion rate of the affected segment vein was 100% in both groups evaluated one week after surgery; Six and 12 months after surgery, the occlusion rate in the RFA group was 98.9%, and that in the EMWA group was 99.3% and respectively 97.8%, 97.2% ,without statically significant difference.During the follow-up period, there were no cases of reoperation due to vein recanalization. no serious events such as deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism or death occurred in either group. The incidence of adverse events (induration, ecchymosis, skin burn, incision infection, limb numbness, hematoma, thrombotic superficial phlebitis, endovenous heat induced thrombosis, etc.) in both groups was compared, and the difference was not statistically significant. VCSS and CIVIQ scores improved significantly in both groups at 1 ,6 and 12 months after treatment, and the difference was statistically significant(all P < 0.01). Conclusion:EMWA and RFA have the advantages of simple operation, good clinical efficacy and high degree of improvement in quality of life.

Objective To explore clinical implications of pleural effusion in thoracic endovascular aorta repair (TEVAR) of type B aortic dissection.Methods Clinical data of 28 patients (23 males,5 females) hospitalized from Jan 2015 to Dec 2016 were analyzed retrospectively.There were ruptured aortic dissection (RAD) (n =7) and the contained aortic dissection (CAD) (n =21).26 patients underwent TEVAR,and two patients received conservative treatment.Results 26 patients received TEVAR and operations were successful.2 patients treated conservatively died.Six patients had bilateral pleural effusion,while 20 had left pleural effusion and two had right pleural effusion.The distribution of pleural effusion was significantly different between CAD and RAD group (x2 =10.4,P ＜ 0.05),and the rupture risk was the highest in right sided pleural effusion.The median volume of pleural effusion on right side in RAD group are higher than that in CAD group (Z =-3.293,P =0.001).One patient died of sudden death on post-op 9th day.Pleural effusion disappeared in all 24 patients who were followed-up for more than 3 months.There were no ensuing pleural thickening,pulmonary atelectasis,and lung consolidation.Conclusious Pleural effusion on left side are common in type B aortic dissection,while bulk right pleural effusion may indicate impending rupture.Endovascular therapy is a feasible,safe and effective therapy for aortic dissection with pleural effusion.

Standard endovascular repair of iliac/aortoiliac pathologies can lead to complications, such as buttock claudication, colon ischemia and erectile dysfunction. Branch grafts have been developed but require at least 6 weeks for customization and are not currently available in China; they are also quite expensive. To our knowledge, modified fenestrated stent grafts (MFSGs) are a safe and effective alternative for treating patients with juxtarenal aneurysms. Most MFSGs are used for the preservation of renal and left subclavian arteries. Few cases of MFSGs have been reported in the treatment of iliac pathologies. The use of an MFSG is decided on a case-by-case basis. This report presents our first clinical use of an MFSG for preservation of the internal iliac artery.
Aneurysm ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis* ; Buttocks ; China ; Colon ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Humans ; Iliac Artery* ; Ischemia ; Male ; Pathology ; Stents* ; Subclavian Artery ; Transplants

Objective To study the correlation between male primary varicose vein of the lower extremity and varicocele.Methods 100 male patients with varicose vein of the lower extremity were compared with 100 male adults without varicose vein of the lower extremity for the prevalence of varicocele by using ultrasonography.Results There is no difference of demographic data between the two groups (t =1.78,P ＞ 0.05).There were 49 (49.0％) patients found with varicoele in study group compared with 19 (19.0％) patients with varicoele in control group (x2 =20.05,P ＜ 0.01).We compared the rate of varicoele and the mean diameter of spermatic vein between the patients having reflux in the saphenofemoral junction or not,and found there was no statistical difference between themn (rate of varicose P ＞ 0.05,diameter P ＞ 0.05).In patients with both lower extremity varicose vein and varicocele there was a linear correlation between spermatic vein diameter and that of varicose vein (rs =0.407 2,P ＜ 0.01).When patients in study group were classified into six grades by Clinical-Etiology-Anatomy-Pathophysiology (CEAP) trend chi-square found no difference in the incidence of varicoele (x2 =0.879 8,P ＞ 0.05),nor the mean diameter of spermatic vein in different grades (F =1.59,P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion There is a correlation between varicose vein of the lower extremity and the pathogcnesis of varicocele.

Objective To evaluate outcomes of endovascular procedures for atherosclerosis obliterans (ASO) patients with diabetes mellitus (DM).Methods Data of patients undergoing endovascular procedures for atherosclerosis obliterans at the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from January 2012 to December 2014 were retrospectively analyzed,disease characteristics,technical success rate,perioperative complications,ankle brachial index (ABI) improvement,clinical success rate,rest pain alleviating rate,limb salvage rate and survival rate were compared between the two groups.Results There were 144 patients (153 limbs) who received endovascular procedures,including 52 patients (56 limbs) with DM and 92 patients (97 limbs) without DM.Mean follow-up was 15 months.All patients experienced significant ABI improvement (P ＜ 0.05).There was no significant difference in technical success rate (80.4％ vs 90.7％),perioperative complications rate(19.6％ vs 24.7％),1 year rest pain alleviating rate (75.0％ vs 85.6％),1 year limb salvage rate (91.1％ vs 95.6％) and 1 year survival rate (92.3％ vs 90.2％) between diabetic and non-diabetic groups (P ＞ 0.05),but there was less 1 year clinical success rate in diabetic group (78.6％ vs 88.6％,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Compared to nondiabetic paitents,endovascular procedures for patients with DM has similar efficacy,when the procedures are properly undertaken and postoperative correct medication are given.

Objective To explore the effect and technical consideration of placement of inferior vena cava filter (IVCF) in the treatment of low extremity deep venous thrombosis (DVT).Methods From Jun 2011 to Jun 2013,73 consecutive DVT cases were for IVCF placement.There were 47 males and 26 females with a mean age of (51 ± 23) years (ranging from 36 to 80 years).Results Procedures were successful in 70 out of 73 cases.There were 18 permanent and 52 temporary IVCFs deployed.The indications for filter insertion were pulmonary embolism (PE) (25 cases,34％),perioperative prophylactic implantation (18 cases,24％),contraindication to anticoagulation therapy (15 cases,20％) and iliofemoral vein thrombosis(10 cases,13％).17 filters were successfully removed with a successful rate of 33％.After the follow-up of mean 24 months (4 to 36 months) of 68 patients,no pulmonary embolism occurred,but symptomatic DVT recurred in 5 patients,and the conditions were improved after anticoagulation treatment.No serious complication of post thrombotic syndrome occurred.Conclusions IVCF placement is effective for prevention of PE,when the therapeutic indications and contraindications are properly controlled.

Objective To investigate the seasonal variability of the onset of acute deep vein thrombosis(DVT).Methods The clinical manifestations in 774 DVT patients during January 2008 to December 2012 were collected and circular distribution statistics was used to identify seasonal variability.Results The total sample had the significant seasonal variability (P ＜ 0.01):DVT was most frequent in winter while less frequent in summer and the peak day was January 1.Female subgroup has significant seasonal variability (P ＜0.01):on peak in winter and at trough in summer while male subgroup has no significant seasonal variability (P ＜ 0.01).Different age subgroups (＜ 40 years,40-69 years,＜70 years)have significant seasonal variability(P ＜ 0.05,P ＜ 0.01,P ＜ 0.01).DVT was most common in December and less frequent in August.Left lower limb subgroup and both lower limb subgroup has significant seasonal variability (P ＜ 0.01,P ＜ 0.01),on peak in December-January.Immobilization subgroup also has significant seasonal variability (P ＜ 0.001):frequent in winter,January 1 is on the peak.Conclusions DVT has significant seasonal variability in onset:it is most frequently seen in winter while less frequent in summer.Some subgroups (female,＜70 years and immobilization) have the most significant seasonal variability in onset.