These findings suggest that overproduction of ANP and 2,3-DPG at high altitudes may play an important role in the pathophysiology of chronic mountain sickness.
Rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a poorly understood phenomenon. Some aneurysms rupture as they grow larger, while many very large ones do not. There have been numerous reports on the failure properties of unruptured AAA [1], but similar data on ruptured AAA is scarce. Some reports suggest that greater pressure-induced tension in the AAA wall may predispose some to rupture [1]. But what of failure properties? It is conceivable that aneurysms which rupture are globally weaker than ones that do not or perhaps have very localized weak spots. Such key issues have not been explored because of lack of specimens from ruptured AAA. In this exploratory study between clinical and engineering investigators, unruptured and ruptured AAA were wholly harvested from fresh cadavers and the regional variations in wall thickness, mechanical properties and cellular content were compared.
and/or systolic blood pressure o100 mmHg) were present in 46% (16/35) of patients. Mean hemoglobin (Hb) level at presentation was 92 g/L (range 48-147). The diagnosis of HCC rupture, active bleeding and/or hemoperitoneum, was made with CT (33), ultrasound (1), or MRI (1). Solitary HCC was present in 34% (12/35) of patients. The mean ruptured HCC size was 7.7 cm (range 2.6-20.6). Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) particles were used for TAE in 81% (29/36) of cases. Technical success, defined as absence of hemorrhage with vessel stasis on completion angiogram, was achieved in 97% (n ¼ 35/36) of TAE procedures. Clinical success, defined as stabilization of hemodynamic status and Hb levels, was achieved in 75% (27/36) of TAE procedures. One patient underwent a second TAE procedure which was also unsuccessful in achieving hemostasis and died within 24 hours. Serious complications were encountered in 29% (10/35) of patients, including acute liver failure (3), hepatorenal failure (2), encephalopathy (3), variceal bleeding (2), bacterial peritonitis (2), pulmonary embolism (1), pneumonia (1), and cardiac arrest (1). The 30-day mortality rate was 31% (11/35). Median overall survival was 4.3 months (range 0-34). In patients surviving at least 1 month, peritoneal metastases developed in 27% (6/22). Conclusions: TAE is an effective technique for hemodynamic stabilization in acute HCC rupture, but the overall prognosis remains guarded.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.