The European Society for Vascular Surgery brought together a group of experts in the field of carotid artery disease to produce updated guidelines for the invasive treatment of carotid disease. The recommendations were rated according to the level of evidence. Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is recommended in symptomatic patients with >50% stenosis if the perioperative stroke/death rate is <6% [A], preferably within 2 weeks of the patient's last symptoms [A]. CEA is also recommended in asymptomatic men <75 years old with 70-99% stenosis if the perioperative stroke/death risk is <3% [A]. The benefit from CEA in asymptomatic women is significantly less than in men [A]. CEA should therefore be considered only in younger, fit women [A]. Carotid patch angioplasty is preferable to primary closure [A]. Aspirin at a dose of 75-325 mg daily and statins should be given before, during and following CEA. [A] Carotid artery stenting (CAS) should be performed only in high-risk for CEA patients, in high-volume centres with documented low peri-operative stroke and death rates or inside a randomized controlled trial [C]. CAS should be performed under dual antiplatelet treatment with aspirin and clopidogrel [A]. Carotid protection devices are probably of benefit [C].

The role of the chimney technique in the management of complex abdominal aortic aneurysms is still unclear. This technique has relatively good results, considering the anatomic limitations of the aortic neck. However, long-term endograft durability and proximal fixation remains a significant concern. Thus, there is a reasonable hesitation to embrace the method for widespread use in the absence of long-term data.

Artificial blood vessels composed of viable tissue represent the ideal vascular graft. Compliance, lack of thrombogenicity, and resistance to infections as well as the ability to heal, remodel, contract, and secrete normal blood vessel products are theoretical advantages of such grafts. Three basic elements are generally required for the construction of an artificial vessel: a structural scaffold, made either of collagen or a biodegradable polymer; vascular cells, and a nurturing environment. Mechanical properties of the artificial vessels are enhanced by bioreactors that mimic the in vivo environment of the vascular cells by producing pulsatile flow. Alternative approaches include the production of fibrocollagenous tubes within the recipient's own body (subcutaneous tissue or peritoneal cavity) and the construction of an artificial vessel from acellular native tissues, such as decellularized small intestine submucosa, ureter, and allogeneic or xenogeneic arteries. This review details the most recent developments on vascular tissue engineering, summarizes the results of initial experiments on animals and humans, and outlines the current status and the challenges for the future.

Aerobic exercise training without significant weight loss improves metabolic profile and exerts anti-inflammatory effects in patients with type 2 DM.

In subjects with Type 2 diabetes, all exercise training modalities improved metabolic profile. Importantly, aerobic training predominantly ameliorated adipokines concentrations and carotid intima-media thickness progression.

Randomized clinical studies in patients in the early stages of AAA or in healthy individuals with great propensity to AAA development are required to demonstrate the causative relationship between MMPs and AAA. It still remains obscure whether long-term administration of MMP inhibitors can decelerate or even prevent the need for surgical repair.

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 infectionrelated 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-Salmonellapositive culture as predictors for late infection-related death. Conclusions-Endovascular

An initial chemical, mechanical or immunological insult induces endothelial dysfunction. This triggers a cascade of inflammatory reactions, in which monocytes, macrophages, T lymphocytes and vascular smooth muscle cells participate. Leukocyte adhesion molecules, cytokines, growth factors and metalloproteinases participate in all stages of atherogenesis. Almost all of the traditional risk factors for atherosclerosis are associated with and participate in the inflammatory process. Many infectious agents, mainly Chlamydia pneumoniae, have been proposed as potential triggers of the cascade. The immune system has been implicated in plaque formation, through the activation of cellular and humoral immunity against innate or microbial heat shock protein 60. Methods of detection of systemic or local plaque inflammation have been developed and research is being conducted on the potential use of anti-inflammatory and antibiotic drugs in atherosclerosis.