Cognitive behavioral therapy reduces illness perceptions and anxiety symptoms in patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysm

The main purpose of this study was to assess the relation between cognitive behavioral therapy and possible changes in illness perceptions and anxiety in patients diagnosed with unruptured intracranial aneurysm. An observational study of an intervention with 67 patients with an unruptured intracranial aneurysm from two medical centers in a Colombian city (n = 35 on the intervention group) was carried out. To assess changes, measurements were taken at baseline and at one-year follow-up with the Beck Anxiety Inventory and the Illness Perception Questionnaire, brief version, taking into account the importance of perceptions in the process of adjusting to illness and acquiring healthy life habits. Hypotheses were tested by a structural model. The results obtained from this study showed that illness perceptions were related to anxiety levels at both time points; however, the relations were stronger before cognitive behavioral therapy (βt0 = 0.61, p < 0.01; βt1 = 0.37, p < 0.01). Cognitive behavioral therapy was found to be a moderator of changes in both illness perceptions and anxiety at the time of follow-up (β = −0.31, p < 0.01; β = −0.26, p < 0.01). The structural model suggests that cognitive behavioral therapy is associated with less anxiety (β = −0.17, p < 0.05) and better illness perceptions (β = −0.35, p < 0.01) in patients diagnosed with unruptured intracranial aneurysms.     

Multiple intra-aneurysmal WEB devices: Case discussions and operative technique

The Woven Endobridge (WEB, Sequent Medical, Aliso Viejo, California) device has emerged as an FDA approved endosaccular flow diverting alternative for patients with complex aneurysm morphology. We describe for the first time, in patients with dual anti platelet therapy (DAPT) non compliance, two cases during which multiple WEB devices were deployed within the aneurysm sac to achieve flow disruption. Two ophthalmic segment internal carotid artery aneurysms are treated by the deployment of an additional WEB device within the sac. We subsequently discuss the techniques utilized to ensure parent vessel patency. We demonstrate that patients with contraindications to endovascular modalities requiring DAPT may be candidates for a multi WEB intra-aneurysmal construct.     

Non-myxoma neoplastic cerebral aneurysms: A systematic review

Neoplastic cerebral aneurysms (NCAs) are highly rare lesions characterized by invasion of cancerous cells within the wall of an artery leading to aneurysm formation. While NCAs caused by myxomas are well characterized in the clinical literature, rarer etiologies have also been reported and are typically associated worse clinical outcomes. We performed the first PRISMA-compliant systematic literature review of true, non-myxoma neoplastic cerebral aneurysms using the PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases. Data of interest included age, sex, aneurysm size, number of aneurysms, aneurysm location, neoplasm type, aneurysm treatments, cancer treatments, risk of rupture, intracerebral hemorrhage prevalence, subarachnoid hemorrhage prevalence, and survival at 90 and 180 days. A total of 50 studies met our inclusion criteria. The mean age of the patient population was 37.4 years (SD: ±16.8) and had an overall female preponderance (39/50, 78%). Of these NCA cases, 29/50 (58.0%) were choriocarcinomas, 10/50 (20.0%) were related to lung cancer, and 11/50 (22.0%) had other origins of variable pathologies. 90-day survival rates were 60.0% (15/25) for choriocarcinomas, 28.6% (2/7) for the lung cancer group, and 14.3% (1/7) for the other origins group. 180-day survival rates were 52.0% (13/25) for the choriocarcinoma group, 14.3% (1/7) for the lung cancer group, and 0% (0/7) for the other origins group. Prognosis of NCA patients ultimately depends on the course of disease progression and cancer management. Further research is needed to better understand optimal treatment modalities for patients with NCAs.     

Natural history of descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms

ObjectivesElucidating critical aortic diameters at which natural complications (rupture, dissection, and death) occur is of paramount importance to guide timely surgical intervention. Natural history knowledge for descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms is sparse. Our small early studies recommended repairing descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms before a critical diameter of 7.0 cm. We focus exclusively on a large number of descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms followed over time, enabling a more detailed analysis with greater granularity across aortic sizes.MethodsAortic diameters and long-term complications of 907 patients with descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms were reviewed. Growth rates (instrumental variables approach), yearly complication rates, 5-year event-free survival (Kaplan–Meier), and risk of complications as a function of aortic height index (aortic diameter [centimeters]/height [meters]) (competing-risks regression) were calculated.ResultsEstimated mean growth rate of descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms was 0.19 cm/year, increasing with increasing aortic size. Median size at acute type B dissection was 4.1 cm. Some 80% of dissections occurred below 5 cm, whereas 93% of ruptures occurred above 5 cm. Descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm diameter 6 cm or greater was associated with a 19% yearly rate of rupture, dissection, or death. Five-year complication-free survival progressively decreased with increasing aortic height index. Hazard of complications showed a 6-fold increase at an aortic height index of 4.2 or greater compared with an aortic height index of 3.0 to 3.5 (P < .05). The probability of fatal complications (aortic rupture or death) increased sharply at 2 hinge points: 6.0 and 6.5 cm.ConclusionsAcute type B dissections occur frequently at small aortic sizes; thus, prophylactic size-based surgery may not afford a means for dissection protection. However, fatal complications increase dramatically at 6.0 cm, suggesting that preemptive intervention before that criterion can save lives.     

单中心近10年腹主动脉瘤1246例流行病学研究

目的 回顾性分析近10年中国医科大学附属第一医院收治的腹主动脉瘤（AAA）病人的流行病学特点，为研究近10年AAA流行病学变化趋势，以及为AAA的进一步预防和诊治提供依据。方法 纳入自2011年1月至2020年12月中国医科大学附属第一医院诊治的1246例AAA病人的病案资料，回顾性分析包括病人年龄、性别、就诊时间、就诊科室、首发症状、住院时间、住院费用、术式选择等信息，分析近10年AAA流行病学变化特点。结果 入院病人平均年龄为（66.9±10.5）岁，男女占比约为4∶1。男性AAA病人以同型半胱氨酸升高为主，女性以血脂升高为主。AAA病人的主要合并症为3级高血压（41.9%）、冠心病（31.1%）和合并髂动脉瘤（25.8%）。男性AAA合并髂动脉瘤比率明显高于女性（27.8% vs.17.8%，P＜0.01）。72.7%的AAA病人首诊原因为体检发现，其次是AAA破裂（18.7%）。AAA病人急诊与门诊就诊例数呈逐年升高态势，急诊与门诊就诊占比约为2∶3。65~69岁为现阶段住院病人主要年龄段。各年份男性占比约为80%，年龄段65~69岁为男性占比可达近90%。各年份腔内修复术（EVAR）是AAA的主要治疗方式，行EVAR治疗病人的例数和比例总体趋势逐年增加，行EVAR治疗的占比随病人年龄增加而逐渐增大。近10年AAA病人的病死率呈降低趋势，2015年后病死率总体维持在2%～3%，以男性为主，年龄段70~74岁的病死率最高为5.8%。AAA病人平均住院（17.0±16.4）d，平均住院费用为（11.3±10.7）万元。结论 近10年AAA住院病人有逐年增高趋势，主要患病人群为年龄＞60岁男性，男女临床特点有较大差异。采用EVAR治疗的占比逐年增加。对于老年AAA人群，尤其是年龄段65~69岁男性AAA病人，在AAA的防治过程中应给予更多关注。     

血流导向装置治疗大脑中动脉M2段以及远部位动脉瘤的围术期重症护理

目的:探讨血流导向装置治疗大脑中动脉M2段以及远部位动脉瘤的围术期护理方法和价值。方法:选取2021年1月—2021年6月山西省某三级甲等医院神经外科16例大脑中动脉M2段以及远部位动脉瘤病人,均进行血流导向装置Pipeline治疗,总结围术期护理要点。结果:16例病人的手术成功率为100%,术后无相关并发症发生。结论:医务人员需高度关注围术期颅内动脉瘤病人,术前给予病人足够的心理支持和疏导,术中与医生、麻醉师、手术室护士紧密配合,术后密切监测并发症的发生,使病人能够安全度过围术期,顺利康复出院。     

腹主动脉瘤组织原纤维蛋白-1表达水平及其对患者生存结局的影响

目的 探讨腹主动脉瘤组织原纤维蛋白-1(FBN1)表达水平及其对患者生存结局的影响.方法 收集45例腹主动脉瘤(AAA)患者主动脉瘤组织和29例正常腹动脉血管壁组织,免疫组织化学染色检测组织基质金属蛋白酶(MMP9)、FBN1蛋白表达定位,蛋白质免疫印迹法检测组织FBN1、MMP9蛋白表达水平,实时荧光定量PCR检测组织FBN1、MMP9 mRNA表达水平.对45例AAA患者进行随访,分析FBN1表达与患者病理资料及生存结局的关系.结果 FBN1、MMP9主要表达于动脉瘤组织巨噬细胞或平滑肌细胞,主动脉瘤组织FBN1、MMP9蛋白阳性表达率86.7%、93.3%均高于正常动脉壁组织34.5%、48.3%(χ2=21.467,19.450,P<0.001).主动脉瘤组织FBN1、MMP9 mRNA相对表达量分别为(1.89 ±0.19)和(2.29 ± 0.31),正常动脉壁组织分别为(0.79 ±0.15)和(1.32 ±0.12),主动脉瘤组织FBN1、MMP9 mRNA相对表达量高于正常动脉壁组织(t=26.317,t=16.061,P<0.001),差异有统计学意义;主动脉瘤组织FBN1、MMP9蛋白表达量分别为(1.08 ±0.11)和(1.02 ±0.10),正常动脉壁组织分别为(0.29 ±0.06)和(0.39 ±0.07),主动脉瘤组织FBN1、MMP9蛋白表达量高于正常动脉壁组织(t=35.376,t=19.548,P<0.001).对照组FBN1与MMP9表达无相关性(P>0.05),AAA组FBN1与MMP9表达呈成正相关(r=0.861,P<0.05),差异有统计学意义.主动脉瘤破裂及瘤体直径>8.0 cm患者FBN1表达水平高于瘤体直径≤8.0 cm者,差异有统计学意义(P=0.047).FBN1阴性患者5年生存率为87.2%,FBN1阳性患者5年生存率为48.1%,FBN1阴性组5年生存率高于阳性组(χ2=17.081,P<0.05).结论 腹主动脉瘤组织FBN1表达显著升高,FBN1表达越高,患者生存率越低,FBN1可以作为AAA患者生存结局的评估指标之一.     

microRNA expression profile in Smooth Muscle Cells isolated from thoracic aortic aneurysm samples

PurposeThoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) is a cardiovascular disease characterized by increased aortic diameter, treated with surgery and endovascular therapy in order to avoid aortic dissection or rupture. The mechanism of TAA formation has not been thoroughly studied and many factors have been proposed to drive its progression; however strong focus is attributed to modification of smooth muscle cells (SMCs). Latest research indicates, that microRNAs (miRNAs) may play a significant role in TAA development – these are multifunctional molecules consisting of 19–24 nucleotides involved in regulation of the gene expression level related to many biological processes, i.e. cardiovascular disease pathophysiology, immunity or inflammation.Materials and methodsPrimary SMCs were isolated from aortic scraps of TAA patients and age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Purity of isolated SMCs was determined by flow cytometry using specific markers: α-SMA, CALP, MHC and VIM. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was conducted for miRNA analysis.ResultsWe established an isolation protocol and investigated the miRNA expression level in SMCs isolated from aneurysmal and non-aneurysmal aortic samples. We identified that let-7 g (0.71-fold, p = 0.01), miR-130a (0.40-fold, p = 0.04), and miR-221 (0.49-fold, p = 0.05) significantly differed between TAA patients and healthy controls.ConclusionsFurther studies are required to improve our understanding of the pathophysiology underlying TAA, which may aid the development of novel, targeted therapies. The pivotal role of miRNAs in the cardiovascular system provides a new perspective on the pathophysiology of thoracic aortic aneurysms.