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Context Male sex is a major risk factor for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) but few studies have addressed associations between sex hormone levels and AAA. Objective We aimed to describe the associations between serum sex steroids and early, screening-detected AAA in men. Methods We validated a high-sensitivity liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry assay for comprehensive serum sex hormone profiling. This assay was then employed in a case-control study including 147 men with AAA (infrarenal aorta ≥ 30 mm) and 251 AAA-free controls recruited at the general population-based ultrasound screening for AAA in 65-year-old Swedish men. Outcomes included associations between dehydroepiandrosterone, progesterone, 17α-hydroxyprogesterone, androstenedione, estrone, testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, and estradiol and AAA presence. Results Dehydroepiandrosterone, progesterone, 17α-hydroxyprogesterone, testosterone, and estradiol, but not the other hormones, were lower in men with AAA. In models with adjustments for known AAA risk factors and comorbidity, only progesterone (odds ratio per SD decrease 1.62 [95% CI, 1.18-2.22]) and estradiol (1.40 [95% CI, 1.04-1.87]) remained inversely associated with the presence of AAA. Progesterone and estradiol contributed with independent additive information for prediction of AAA presence; compared with men with high (above median) levels, men with low (below median) levels of both hormones had a 4-fold increased odds ratio for AAA (4.06 [95% CI, 2.25-7.31]). Conclusion Measured by a high-performance sex steroid assay, progesterone and estradiol are inversely associated with AAA in men, independent of known risk factors. Future studies should explore whether progesterone and estradiol, which are important reproductive hormones in women, are protective in human AAA.

Background Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) surveillance programs are currently based solely on AAA diameter. The diameter criterion alone, however, seems inadequate as small AAAs comprise 5–10 % of ruptured AAAs as well as some large AAAs never rupture. Aneurysm wall stiffness has been suggested to predict rupture and growth; this study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of AAA vessel wall stiffness for growth on prospectively collected data. Methods Analysis was based on data from a randomised, placebo-controlled, multicentre trial investigating mast-cell-inhibitors to halt aneurysm growth (the AORTA trial). Systolic and diastolic AAA diameter was determined in 326 patients using electrocardiogram-gated ultrasound (US). Stiffness was calculated at baseline and after 1 year. Results Maximum AAA diameter increased from 44.1 mm to 46.5 mm during the study period. Aneurysm growth after 1 year was not predicted by baseline stiffness (-0.003 mm/U; 95 % CI: -0.007 to 0.001 mm/U; P = 0.15). Throughout the study period, stiffness remained unchanged (8.3 U; 95 % CI: -2.5 to 19.1 U; P = 0.13) and without significant correlation to aneurysm growth (R: 0.053; P = 0.38). Conclusions Following a rigorous US protocol, this study could not confirm AAA vessel wall stiffness as a predictor of aneurysm growth in a 1-year follow-up design. The need for new and subtle methods to complement diameter for improved AAA risk assessment is warranted.

Acute tissue ischaemia may arise due to arterial emergencies or during more complex vascular procedures and may be mitigated by temporary shunting techniques. Endovascular shunting (ES) techniques enable percutaneous access and shunting from the donor artery without the need to completely interrupt the arterial flow in the donor artery. An endoshunt system may also cover longer distances than most conventional shunts. The aim was to investigate and optimise the flow rates in different endovascular shunt systems.Step 1: The flow capacity of different ES configurations was compared with the flow capacity of a 9 Fr Pruitt-Inahara shunt (PIS). An intravenous bag with 0.9% NaCl, pressurised to 90 mmHg, was connected simultaneously to a PIS and to one of the tested ES configurations. The two shunt systems were then opened at the same time. The delivered fluid volumes from the shunt systems were collected and measured. The volume flow rate was subsequently calculated. Steps 2 and 3: Within a heart lung machine circuit, pressure-flow charts were constructed for the individual ES components and for the fully connected optimised endoshunt systems. The flow rate was increased in steps of 40-50 mL/min while monitoring the driving pressure, enabling the creation and comparison of the pressure-flow charts for the individually tested components. In total, seven individual inflow and outflow potential ES components were investigated with inflow and outflow diameters ranging from 6 to 15 Fr.ES systems based on standard donor introducers led to substantially lower volume flow than the corresponding PIS volume flow, whereas ES systems based on dedicated 6 or 8 Fr dialysis access introducers (Prelude Short Sheet, Merit Medical) matched PIS flow rates. The introduction of 30 cm long ¼'' perfusion tubing within the ES system did not affect volume flow for any of the tested ES configurations.Endoshunting techniques can match PIS volume flow rates over short and long distances. The achieved ES flow rate is highly dependent on the components used within the ES system.

Objective Aortic prosthesis infection is a devastating complication of aortic surgery. In situ reconstruction with the neo-aorto-iliac system (NAIS) bypass technique has become increasingly used and is recommended in recent treatment guidelines. The main aim was to evaluate NAIS procedural outcomes when undertaken after previous open or endovascular aortic repair in Sweden. Methods In this retrospective study, The National Quality Registry for Vascular Surgery (Swedvasc) was used to identify Swedish centres that offered the NAIS bypass procedure for aortic prosthesis infection between 2008 and 2018. Variables of special interest were procedural details, short and long term survival, renal and other complications, and the durtion of antimicrobial treatment. Results Forty patients (36 males, four females [mean age 69 years], 32 open repairs, seven endovascular aortic repairs [EVAR] and one fenestrated EVAR; 21 presented with aorto-enteric fistula) operated on with NAIS bypass were reviewed. The median time from the primary aortic intervention to the NAIS bypass procedure was 32 months (range 0 – 252 months). Mean ± standard deviation operating time was 645 ± 160 minutes, mean blood loss was 6 277 ± 6 525 mL, mean length of intensive care unit stay was 5.3 ± 3.7 days, and mean length of overall hospital stay was 21.2 ± 11.4 days. Thirty-five patients (88%) had a positive microbial culture; the most commonly isolated pathogen was Candida spp. The majority of patients survived for 30 days (n = 35 [88%]), and 33 (83%) and 32 (80%) patients survived for 90 days and one year, respectively. The number of surviving patients free from antimicrobial treatment at 90 days, six months, and one year was 19 (58%), 29 (88%), and 30 (94%). After a mean long term follow up of 69.9 ± 44.7 months, 20 patients were still alive. Conclusion The NAIS bypass procedure offered reasonable survival and functional outcomes, and was associated with a high cure rate, defined as freedom from any antimicrobial treatment.

Acute lower limb ischaemia (ALLI) is a potentially fatal, limb threatening medical emergency. Early treatment is essential for a good outcome. The aim was to describe the early chain of care in ALLI focusing on lead times and emergency management in order to identify weak links for improvement.This was a retrospective, descriptive case study. This study analysed the medical records of all patients with a main discharge diagnosis of ALLI between January 2009 and December 2014. Predetermined emergency care data on lead times, diagnosis recognition, presenting symptoms, emergency care treatment and outcome were collected for patients who were transported by the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) and those who were not.In total, 552 medical records were audited of which 195 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were analysed. Among them were 117 (60%) transported by the EMS. The median time from symptom onset to revascularisation was 23 (interquartile range [IQR] 10-55; EMS transported) and 93 (IQR 42-152, not EMS transported) hours (p .01). The time from symptom onset to arrival in hospital was 5 (IQR 2-26; EMS transported) and 48 (IQR 6-108; not EMS transported) hours. After arrival in hospital, the median time to first doctor evaluation was 51 (IQR 28-90; EMS transported) and 80 (IQR 44-169; not EMS transported) minutes, p = .01. Low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) was given to 72% of patients in the emergency department (ED) and a multivariate analysis showed that the use of LMWH was associated with a more favourable outcome.Both the time spent in the ED and the time from the onset of symptoms to revascularisation were considerably longer than optimal. Time delays in the early treatment chain can mainly be attributed to "patient delay" and a considerable time spent in hospital before revascularisation. The use of LMWH as an integral part of ED management was associated with a better outcome.

Objective: In the present case–control study, we describe the associations between leukocyte subsets in blood and early, screening-detected AAA in men. An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) may result in a life-threatening rupture of the aortic wall. The trigger for AAA formation remains unknown, but the vascular adventitia of advanced AAAs is infiltrated by various leukocytes, indicating that the pathogenesis may involve inflammation. Methods: In Sweden, all 65-year-old men are invited to an ultrasound examination for detection of AAA. At the Gothenburg screening site, 16 256 men were examined in 2013–2017, 1.2% of whom had an AAA (diameter of the infrarenal aorta ≥30 mm). All men with AAA at screening as well as a randomized selection of AAA-free screened men were invited to participate in a case–control study. Results: The median diameter of AAAs was 33 mm. Men with an AAA (n = 151) had a higher frequency of smoking, hypertension and statin use than controls (n = 224). Blood levels of neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes and basophils were higher in individuals with an AAA, but eosinophil count did not differ from controls. Odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for AAA were 8.6 (4.2–17.4), 3.5 (1.9–6.6) and 3.3 (1.8–6.3) for the highest versus lowest quartile of neutrophils, lymphocytes and monocytes, respectively. For neutrophils and lymphocytes, the association with AAA remained significant after adjustment for smoking and other known risk factors/markers. Conclusion: Several, but not all, subsets of circulating leukocytes are associated with screening-detected AAA in men, which is insufficiently explained by associations with smoking and other confounders. © 2020 The Authors. Journal of Internal Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Association for Publication of The Journal of Internal Medicine

Objective To investigate the rate of misdiagnosis in the emergency department in patients with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (rAAAs), and to investigate how misdiagnosis affects rAAA mortality. Methods Data were extracted from the Swedish Cause of Death Registry and the Swedish National Registry for Vascular Surgery from 2010 to 2015. All rAAA patients registered in the health care system in the west of Sweden were identified. Medical charts for rAAA patients were reviewed, and patients who were correctly diagnosed at the first assessment in the emergency department were compared with patients who were misdiagnosed. Results Altogether, 455 patients with rAAA were identified, including both patients who underwent surgery and those who did not. One hundred seventy-seven (38.9%) were initially misdiagnosed. The mortality rate was 74.6% in patients who were misdiagnosed, as compared with 62.9% in correctly diagnosed patients (P = .01). The adjusted odds ratio for mortality in misdiagnosed patients relative to correctly diagnosed patients was 1.83 (95% confidence interval, 1.13-2.96) (P = .01). When excluding patients offered palliative care (n = 134) after detection of the rAAA, the mortality in initially misdiagnosed patients was 65.1% as compared with 46.4% in correctly diagnosed patients (P = .001). In patients reaching surgical intervention, 37 (45.1%) of the primarily misdiagnosed patients died (30-day or in-hospital mortality) as compared with 63 (38.0%) of the correctly diagnosed (P = .34). Conclusions Misdiagnosis is common in patients with rAAA, and it is associated with a substantially higher risk of dying from the ruptured aneurysm.

AIMS: To evaluate if ticagrelor, an effective platelet inhibitor without known non-responders, could inhibit growth of small abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). METHODS AND RESULTS: In this multi-centre randomized controlled trial, double-blinded for ticagrelor and placebo, acetylic salicylic acid naive patients with AAA and with a maximum aortic diameter 35-49 mm were included. The primary outcome was mean reduction in log-transformed AAA volume growth rate (%) measured with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 12 months compared with baseline. Secondary outcomes include AAA-diameter growth rate and intraluminal thrombus (ILT) volume enlargement rate. A total of 144 patients from eight Swedish centres were randomized (72 in each group). MRI AAA volume increase was 9.1% for the ticagrelor group and 7.5% for the placebo group (P = 0.205) based on intention-to-treat analysis, and 8.5% vs. 7.4% in a per-protocol analysis (P = 0.372). MRI diameter change was 2.5 mm vs. 1.8 mm (P = 0.113), US diameter change 2.3 mm vs. 2.2 mm (P = 0.778), and ILT volume change 12.9% vs. 10.4% (P = 0.590). CONCLUSION: In this RCT, platelet inhibition with ticagrelor did not reduce growth of small AAAs. Whether the ILT has an important pathophysiological role for AAA growth cannot be determined based on this study due to the observed lack of thrombus modulating effect of ticagrelor. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The TicAAA trial is registered at the US National Institutes of Health (ClinicalTrials.gov) #NCT02070653. (Less)

Objective: To investigate whether a strategy of treatment with a primarily open abdomen improves outcome in terms of mortality and major complications in patients treated with open repair for a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm compared to a strategy of primary closure of the abdomen. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: Patients treated with a primarily open abdomen at a centre where this strategy was routine in most ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm patients were compared to a propensity score–matched control group of patients who had the abdomen closed at the end of the primary operation in a majority of the cases. Results: In total, 79 patients treated with a primarily open abdomen after open repair for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm at Sahlgrenska University Hospital were compared to a propensity score–matched control group of 148 patients. The abdomen was closed at the end of the procedure in 108 (73%) of the control patients. There was no difference in 30-day mortality between patients treated with a primarily open abdomen at Sahlgrenska University Hospital and the controls, 21 (26.6%) versus 49 (33.1%), p = 0.37. The adjusted odds ratio for mortality at 30 days was 0.66 (95% confidence interval: 0.35–1.25) in patients treated with a primarily open abdomen at Sahlgrenska University Hospital compared to the controls. No difference was observed between the groups regarding 90-day mortality, postoperative renal failure requiring renal replacement therapy, postoperative intestinal ischaemia necessitating bowel resection or postoperative bleeding requiring reoperation. Conclusions: The study did not show any survival advantage or difference in major complications between patients treated with a primarily open abdomen after open repair for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm and propensity-matched controls where the abdomen was primarily closed in a majority of the cases.

Background: A general abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening program, targeting 65-year-old men, has gradually been introduced in Sweden since 2006 and reached nationwide coverage in 2015. The aim of this study was to determine the outcome of this program. Methods: Data on the number of invited and examined men, screening-detected AAAs, AAAs operated on, and surgical outcome were retrieved from all 21 Swedish counties for the years 2006 through 2014. AAA-specific mortality data were retrieved from the Swedish Cause of Death Registry. A linear regression analysis was used to estimate the effect on AAA-specific mortality among all men ≥65 years of age for the observed time period. The long-term effects were projected by using a validated Markov model. Results: Of 302 957 men aged 65 years invited, 84% attended. The prevalence of screening-detected AAA was 1.5%. After a mean of 4.5 years, 29% of patients with AAA had been operated on, with a 30-day mortality rate of 0.9% (1.3% after open repair and 0.3% after endovascular repair, P P =0.020). The number needed to screen and the number needed to operate on to prevent 1 premature death were 667 and 1.5, respectively. With a total population of 9.5 million, the Swedish national AAA-screening program was predicted to annually prevent 90 premature deaths from AAA and to gain 577 quality-adjusted life-years. The incremental cost-efficiency ratio was estimated to be €7770 per quality-adjusted life-years. Conclusions: Screening 65-year-old men for AAA is an effective preventive health measure and is highly cost-effective in a contemporary setting. These findings confirm the results from earlier randomized controlled trials and model studies in a large population-based setting of the importance for future healthcare decision making.

Background: Primary infection of the abdominal aorta is a rare pathology that may threaten the integrity of the aortic wall, while secondary aortic prosthesis infection represents a devastating complication to open surgical and endovascular aortic surgery. Curative treatment is achievable by removal of all infected prosthetic material followed by a vascular reconstruction. Design and Methods: Twelve consecutive patients treated with the neo-aortoiliac system bypass (NAIS) procedure were reviewed. Nine were treated for a secondary aortic prosthesis infection (tube graft n = 3, bifurcated graft n = 4, endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) stent graft n = 1, and fenestrated EVAR [FEVAR] stent graft n = 1), while 3 patients underwent NAIS repair due to an emergent primary mycotic aortoiliac aneurysm. Primary Results: Ten of 12 patients survived 30 days. Three patients were operated on acutely, and 9 patients had elective or subacute NAIS surgery. Two of 3 patients operated acutely died within 30 days, whereas no 30-day or 1-year mortality was observed in patients undergoing elective or subacute surgery. The median time from primary reconstruction to the NAIS procedure was 11 months (range: 0-201 months). Stent grafts (n = 5 of 12) were in 4 cases explanted using endovascular balloon clamping. Of the explanted endografts, 2 patients presented with a secondary graft infection after EVAR/FEVAR, while 3 patients had been emergently treated with endovascular cuffs as a “bridge-to-surgery” procedure due to aortoenteric fistula (AEF). Patients who received a “bridge-to-surgery” regimen were treated with the NAIS procedure within 8 weeks (median 27 days, range: 27-60) after receiving emergency stent grafting. Principal Conclusions: Aortic balloon-clamping during explantation of infected aortic prosthetic endografts is feasible and facilitates complete endograft removal. Endovascular bridging procedures could be beneficiary in the treatment of AEF or anastomotic dehiscence due to graft infection, offering a possibility to convert the acute setting to an elective definitive reconstructive procedure with a higher overall success rate.

In a recent publication in The Lancet Johansson and colleagues claim no effect on aneurysm mortality among men participating in the Swedish AAA screening program, and question its justification. The study is, however, limited by a corrupt study design and incorrect data, making the publication misleading. On the contrary, several RCTs and contemporary nationwide data with sufficient follow-up clearly show that AAA screening saves lives and is highly cost-effective. The program has so far identified about 6000 men with an AAA, of whom 1500 have been operated on to prevent rupture. Thus, more than 750 men have experienced a longer life (by a mean of 8 years) as a result of the program. Continuous evaluation of the program is important but requires a scientifically sound methodology.

Mycotic aortic aneurysms are rare, life threatening, and complex. This nationwide study aimed to assess outcome after repair of mycotic thoracic aortic aneurysms (MTAAs).Patients treated in Sweden for MTAAs between 2000 and 2016 were identified in the Swedish vascular registry (2010-16) and local patient registries (2000-09). Primary outcome was survival, and secondary outcomes included surgical strategy, rate of infection related complications (IRC), and re-operations.Fifty-two patients (median age 71 ± 8.1 years; 28 [54%] men, 13 [25%] ruptured) were identified (3.6% of all thoracic aortic aneurysm repairs in Sweden). Aneurysm location was aortic arch (n = 6; 11%), descending aorta (n = 42; 81%), and multiple locations (n = 4; 8%). Twenty-nine (56%) patients had positive cultures; the most prevalent agent was Staphylococcus aureus (n = 16; 31%). Operative techniques included thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR; n = 35 [67%]), fenestrated/branched TEVAR (n = 8; 15%), hybrid repair (n = 7; 14%), and open patch repair (n = 2; 4%). Survival was 92% (95% confidence interval [CI] 88-96) at 30 days, 88% (95% CI 84-93) at three months, 78% (73-84) at one year, and 71% (64-77) at five years. The mean follow up among survivors (90 days) was 45 months (range 4-216 months). Antibiotics were administered for a median of 15 weeks (range 0-220 weeks). IRCs occurred in nine patients (17%): sepsis (n = 3), graft infection (n = 3), recurrent mycotic aneurysm (n = 1), aorto-oesophageal/bronchial fistula (n = 2). Six (67%) IRCs were fatal; 80% occurred within the first year. Re-operations were performed in nine patients (17%).TEVAR was often used as treatment for MTAAs, with acceptable short- and long-term survival when compared with open cohorts in the literature. IRCs are of concern and warrant follow up and long-term antibiotic treatment.

Background: In interview studies, men under surveillance for screening-detected abdominal aortic aneurysms have reported ambivalence towards this diagnosis: the knowledge was welcomed together with worries, feelings of anxiety and existential thoughts about life's fragility and mortality due to the diagnosis. Previous surveys about health-related quality of life aspects among men under surveillance for screening-detected aneurysm have all used generic patient-reported outcomes. Therefore, the aim of this study was to extend the core-questionnaire Consequences of Screening for use in abdominal aortic aneurysm screening by testing for comprehension, content coverage, dimensionality, and reliability.Methods: In interviews, the suitability, content coverage, and relevance of the core-questionnaire Consequences of Screening were tested on men under surveillance for a screeningdetected abdominal aortic aneurysm. The results were thematically analysed to identify the key consequences of abnormal screening results. Item Response Theory and Classical Test Theory were used to analyse data. Dimensionality, differential item functioning, local response dependency and reliability were established by item analysis, examining the fit between item responses and Rasch models.Results: The core-questionnaire Consequences of Screening was found to be relevant for men offered regular follow-up of an asymptomatic screening-detected abdominal aortic aneurysm.Fourteen themes especially relevant for men diagnosed with a screening-detected abdominal aortic aneurysm were extracted from the interviews: 'Uncertainty about the result of the ultra sound examination', 'Change in body perception', 'Guilt', 'Fear and powerlessness', 'Negative experiences from the examination', 'Emotional reactions', 'Change in lifestyle', 'Better not knowing', 'Fear of rupture', 'Sexuality', 'Information', 'Stigmatised', 'Self-blame for smoking', 'Still regretful smoking'. Altogether, 55 new items were generated: 3 were single items and 13 were only relevant for former or current smokers. 51 of the 52 items belonging to a theme were confirmed to fit Rasch models measuring fourteen different constructs. No differential item functioning and only minor local dependency was revealed between some of the 51 items.Conclusions: The reliability and the dimensionality of a condition-specific measure with high content validity for men under surveillance for a screening-detected abdominal aortic aneurysm have been demonstrated. This new questionnaire called COS-AAA covers in two parts the psychosocial experience in abdominal aortic aneurysm screening.

To investigate the frequency of initial misdiagnosis and the clinical consequences of an initial misdiagnosis of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (rAAA).This was a retrospective cohort study. Data from the Swedish National Registry for Vascular Surgery (Swedvasc) and medical charts were extracted for patients treated for rAAA in the West of Sweden in the period 2008-14. Initially misdiagnosed patients were compared with correctly diagnosed patients.In all, 261 patients were included in the study. Patients with rAAA were initially misdiagnosed in 33% (n = 86) of the cases and this caused a 4.8 hour (median time) additional delay to surgical intervention. There were no differences in 30 day mortality between initially misdiagnosed patients and correctly diagnosed patients (27.9% vs. 28.0%; p = 1.00). The adjusted odds ratio for mortality in initially misdiagnosed patients compared with correctly diagnosed patients was 0.78 (95% confidence interval 0.38-1.60). No difference was observed between the groups regarding 90 day mortality, length of intensive care, need for post-operative ventilator support, need of haemodialysis support, and length of hospital stay.Misdiagnosis is common in patients with rAAA, and treatment is significantly delayed in misdiagnosed patients. The study did not show any survival disadvantage or increased frequency of post-operative complications in misdiagnosed patients despite the delayed treatment. However, only patients who reached surgical intervention were included in the analysis.

There is evidence that transforming growth factor-β₁ (TGF-β₁) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play an important role in tumor invasion and progression in colorectal cancer. The aim of this study was to assess their utility in prediction of cancer-specific survival (CSS).136 patients undergoing curative surgery for colorectal carcinoma were prospectively included. Samples were taken from tumor and tumor-free intestinal mucosa and ELISA was used to assess protein levels in the tissues. Patients were followed for CSS. The median follow-up time for all included patients was 65 months (range: 45-92). The main outcome measure was CSS.T stage, lymph node involvement and high levels of MMP-1 as well as MMP-9 in tumor-free mucosa tissue were significantly associated with CSS in colon cancer in univariate analysis. This prognostic strength was maintained for MMP-1 and N-status in multivariate analysis.The results indicate that MMP-1 is independently associated with CSS in patients with colon cancer. Furthermore, a possible clinical implication is that MMP-1 protein expression in tumor-free mucosa could identify colon cancer patients with poor CSS in need of more intensified adjuvant treatment.

Background: No reliable comparative data exist between open repair (OR) and endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) for mycotic abdominal aortic aneurysms (MAAAs). This nationwide study assessed outcomes after OR and EVAR for MAAA in a population-based cohort. Methods: All patients treated for MAAAs in Sweden between 1994 and 2014 were identified in the Swedish vascular registry. The primary aim was to assess survival after MAAA with OR and EVAR. Secondary aims were analyses of the rate of recurrent infections and reoperations, and time trends in surgical treatment. Survival was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier and log-rank tests. A propensity score–weighted correction for risk factor differences in the 2 groups was performed, including the operation year to account for differences in treatment and outcomes over time. Results: We identified 132 patients (0.6% of all operated abdominal aortic aneurysms in Sweden). Mean age was 70 years (standard deviation, 9.2), and 50 presented with rupture. Survival at 3 months was 86% (95% confidence interval, 80%–92%), at 1 year 79% (72%–86%), and at 5 years 59% (50%–68%). The preferred operative technique shifted from OR to EVAR after 2001 (proportion EVAR 1994–2000 0%, 2001–2007 58%, 2008–2014 60%). Open repair was performed in 62 patients (47%): aortic resection and extra-anatomic bypass (n=7), in situ reconstruction (n=50), and patch plasty (n=3); 2 patients died intraoperatively. EVAR was performed in 70 patients (53%): standard EVAR (n=55), fenestrated/branched EVAR (n=8), and visceral deviation with stent grafting (n=7); no deaths occurred intraoperatively. Survival at 3 months was lower for OR than for EVAR (74% versus 96%, P P =0.054). A propensity score–weighted risk-adjusted analysis confirmed the early better survival associated with EVAR. During median follow-up of 36 and 41 months for OR and EVAR, respectively, there was no difference in long-term survival (5 years 60% versus 58%, P =0.771), infection-related complications (18% versus 24%, P =0.439), or reoperation (21% versus 24%, P =0.650). Conclusion: This study demonstrates a paradigm shift in treatment of MAAA in Sweden, with EVAR being the preferred treatment modality. EVAR was associated with improved short-term survival in comparison with OR, without higher associated incidence of serious infection-related complications or reoperations.

Degradation of extracellular matrix is important for tumour growth and invasion, which in part is regulated by the plasminogen activation system. The aim of the study was to evaluate the protein expression of urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) and plasminogen-activating inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) in plasma, tumour-free mucosa and tumour tissue regarding their prognostic value in colon and rectal cancer.Patients (n = 221) undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer were prospectively included. Samples were assayed by ELISA technique.PAI-1 in tumour tissue (p = 0.006), plasma (0.0001) and uPA in tumour-free mucosa (p = 0.006) were associated with survival in rectal cancer in univariate analysis. An uPA expression level below 1.1 ng/mg (log rank test, p0.0001) in tumour-free mucosa was associated with poor survival in rectal cancer. This was true also for patients without disseminated disease (M(0), p = 0.02). PAI-1 in plasma correlated with metastatic disease (p0.0001). uPA and PAI-1 were not associated with survival in either tumour tissue, mucosa or plasma in patients with colon cancer.uPA and PAI-1 have a differential prognostic impact in colon and rectal cancer. Preoperative mucosal uPA and plasma PAI-1 protein expression could possibly be used as prognostic factors in rectal cancer.

Background— Mycotic aortic aneurysm (MAA) is a rare and life-threatening disease. The aim of this European multicenter collaboration was to study the durability of endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) of MAA, by assessing late infection–related complications and long-term survival. Methods and Results— All EVAR treated MAAs, between 1999 and 2013 at 16 European centers, were retrospectively reviewed. One hundred twenty-three patients with 130 MAAs were identified. Mean age was 69 years (range 39–86), 87 (71%) were men, 58 (47%) had immunodeficiency, and 47 (38%) presented with rupture. Anatomic locations were ascending/arch (n=4), descending (n=34), paravisceral (n=15), infrarenal aorta (n=63), and multiple (n=7). Treatments were thoracic EVAR (n=43), fenestrated/branched EVAR (n=9), and infrarenal EVAR (n=71). Antibiotic was administered for mean 30 weeks. Mean follow-up was 35 months (range 1 week to 149 months). Six patients (5%) were converted to open repair during follow-up. Survival was 91% (95% confidence interval, 86% to 96%), 75% (67% to 83%), 55% (44% to 66%), and 41% (28% to 54%) after 1, 12, 60, and 120 months, respectively. Infection-related death occurred in 23 patients (19%), 9 after discontinuation of antibiotic treatment. A Cox regression analysis demonstrated non-Salmonella–positive culture as predictors for late infection–related death. Conclusions— Endovascular treatment of MAA is feasible and for most patients a durable treatment option. Late infections do occur, are often lethal, and warrant long-term antibiotic treatment and follow-up. Patients with non-Salmonella–positive blood cultures were more likely to die from late infection.

Introduction There is evidence that TGF-β1 plays a role as a tumor suppressor in early disease and has pro-oncogenic effects in advanced tumor stage. The aim of the study was to correlate TGF-β1 in plasma and tissue to clinical and pathological parameters in patients with various stages of disease progression. Methods One hundred sixty-nine patients who underwent surgery for a colorectal carcinoma were prospectively included. Blood samples, tumor free mucosa and tumor biopsies were assayed. Results TGF-β1 protein expression in tumors increased with increasing T-stage regardless of whether patients with metastatic disease were included or not (P = 0.0006). Patients with metastatic disease showed elevated TGF-β1 protein expression in both tumor tissue (P = 0.004) and plasma (P = 0.001) compared to those without metastatic disease. TGF-β1 protein expression was higher in the colon compared with the rectum in both tumor tissue and tumor-free bowel (P = 0.03), regardless of whether patients with metastatic disease were included or not. This difference was mainly attributable to a higher TGF-β1 protein expression in non-metastatic patients with lymph node positivity (P = 0.005). Conclusions Higher TGF-β1 protein expression is associated with increasing T-stage and metastatic disease, indicating that TGF-β1 is of importance in tumor progression. The localization of the tumor seems to influence the TGF-β1 protein expression in patients with tumor cell-positive lymph nodes. J. Surg. Oncol. 2008;97:409–415. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

It is well known that the fibrinolytic system is of importance in inflammation, wound healing, and fibrosis development. However, it is also important in the process of tumor invasion and metastasis. We have investigated protein levels of urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) in rectal cancer and effects of radiotherapy, links to clinical outcome, and potential use as prognostic factors.Ninety-one patients with rectal cancer were studied. Blood samples and biopsies were taken during surgery and assayed with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for uPA and PAI-1, and patients were followed prospectively (0-96 mo).Higher levels of uPA (P0.0001) and PAI-1 (P0.0001) were found in tumor compared with mucosa. Mucosa exposed to radiotherapy had higher levels of uPA (P0.0001) and of PAI-1 (P0.0001). Irradiated tumor tissue had higher levels of PAI-1 (P0.001). PAI-1 in tumor was correlated with T stage (P0.001) and N stage (P0.01). PAI-1 in plasma was higher in patients with synchronous distant metastases (P0.001). Cox regression was used to identify high levels of PAI-1 in tumor as an independent factor related to short disease-free survival (P0.01) and the ratio of uPA/PAI-1 to development of metastases (P0.01).There is a relationship between PAI-1 in plasma and rectal cancer metastases. PAI-1 in tumor tissue is correlated to histopathological data and to outcome of rectal cancer. If these findings can be confirmed in larger trials, there will be a possibility to use PAI-1 as a prognostic factor.

Rectal cancer patients are treated with surgery and sometimes radiotherapy. Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) acts both as an inhibitor of tumour growth and as a promoter of tumour progression. The aim of this study was to determine the levels of TGF-beta1 in tumour tissue, adjacent mucosa and plasma in rectal cancer patients and relate these to the effect of radiotherapy and clinical outcome.One hundred and ten patients scheduled for rectal cancer surgery were included, 49% received pre-operative radiotherapy three-field treatment 5 x 5 Gy. Blood samples and biopsies were taken during surgery and later assayed with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for total TGF-beta1 and active TGF-beta1. Patients were then followed for 3 years.Total and active TGF-beta1 was higher in tumour tissue compared with rectal mucosa (p0.0001). Active TGF-beta1 in tumour tissue and rectal mucosa was lower in the irradiated group (p = 0.007; p0.0001). Total TGF-beta1 was higher in patients with metastases at primary diagnosis (p = 0.005) compared to patients without. In patients who later developed metastases, the levels of active TGF-beta1 in plasma were lower (p = 0.004). Local recurrence was associated with lower levels of total TGF-beta1 in the rectal mucosa (p = 0.038).Higher levels of total TGF-beta1 in tumour tissue at surgery may be indicative of distant metastases, and low levels of active TGF-beta1 in plasma may indicate a risk of developing secondary metastases. Lower levels of total TGF-beta1 in rectal mucosa may influence risk of local recurrence. Measurement of TGF-beta1 in rectal cancer patients may be of clinical use in the future.

WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS This study adds up-to-date evidence that patients with population-based screening detected abdominal aortic aneurysms have a very low post-operative mortality.This provides further support for existing national screening programs and for countries that are setting up new programs.This is also important information for the vascular surgeon informing patients that are diagnosed with an aneurysm at population-based screening. Objectives: Screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) substantially reduces aneurysm-related mortality in men and is increasing worldwide. This cohort study compares post-operative mortality and complications in men with screening-detected vs. non-screening-detected AAAs. Methods: Data were extracted from the Swedish National Registry for Vascular Surgery (Swedvasc) for all screening-detected men treated for AAA (n ¼ 350) and age-matched controls treated for non-screening-detected AAA (n ¼ 350). Results: There were no differences in baseline characteristics besides age, which was lower in the screeningdetected group than in the non-screening-detected group (median 66 vs. 68, p < .001). Open repair was used more frequently than endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) in patients with screening-detected AAAs than in nonscreening-detected controls (56% vs. 45% p ¼ .005). No differences in major post-operative complications at 30 days were observed between the groups. In patients treated with open repair there were no differences in 30day, 90-day or 1-year mortality in screening-detected patients compared to non-screening-detected controls (1.0% vs. 3.2% p ¼ .25, 2.1% vs. 4.5% p ¼ .23, 4.1% vs. 5.8% p ¼ .61). None of the patients treated with EVAR in either group died within 30 days.The 90-day mortality after EVAR was lower in patients with screening-detected AAA than in those with non-screening-detected AAAs (0.0% vs. 3.1%, p ¼ .04). No difference in the 1-year mortality was detected in the EVAR-patients between the two groups (1.4% vs. 4.7%, p ¼ .12). Conclusions: The contemporary post-operative mortality after AAA surgery was low in this national audit of patients with screening-detected AAAs and age-matched controls. Patients with screening-detected AAAs have the same frequency of complications at 30 days as patients with non-screening-detected AAA. This study gives further support to national screening programs for the detection of AAA in men.

Degradation of the extracellular matrix plays an important part during the invasion of cancer cells into the surrounding tissue. The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have a central role in this process as demonstrated in different malignancies. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of several MMPs from tumour, adjacent tumour-free colon segment and from plasma, in order to evaluate how these factors might be used as predictors in colorectal malignancy. Seventy-two patients who underwent surgery because of a colorectal carcinoma were included. Biopsies from the tumour, macroscopically tumour-free bowel and plasma samples were analysed with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay tests (ELISAs) quantifying protein expression of several MMPs. We found highly elevated concentrations of MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3 and MMP-9 protein expression in tumour tissue compared with tumour-free tissue (p