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Background: True superficial femoral artery aneurysms (SFAAs) do not occur frequently but carry a high risk of limb loss when they are complicated with thrombosis, distal embolization or rupture. Large aneurysms can also exert a mass effect, compressing adjacent veins and nerves. We performed an updated review of the literature with regard to their incidence, diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes over the years., Methods: A MEDLINE, Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE) search of papers reporting SFAAs was conducted. Studies reported in the literature were considered for the review regardless of their nature and the number of participants. The available data regarding patient demographics, method of diagnosis, size, location, clinical presentation, therapy, and outcomes were examined., Results: Searching from 1967 to the present, we identified 59 papers reporting true SFAAs. Forty-one papers were case reports with 1 case each, 9 papers with 2 cases each and 9 papers reporting case series with more than 3 cases. There was 1 study reporting data on the management of asymptomatic SFAAs. We identified 164 SFA aneurysms, and 84.4% were symptomatic. The mean age of patients at the presentation was 70.2 years (range, 27-96) and 89.4% were men. SFAAs were diagnosed earlier in patients with connective tissue disorders, with a mean age of 35 years (range, 29-43). In 60.2 % of cases are present symptoms related to mass compression, 26,8% with rupture, and 27,3% of cases with ischemic symptoms. Endovascular approach was chosen in 52.6% of SFAAs reported in the last 5 years., Conclusions: The data in the available literature are poor regarding the management of asymptomatic aneurysms, and the conclusions are based mainly on the symptomatic aneurysms reported. Most SFAAs present mainly with symptoms due to mass compression and rupture rather than ischemic symptoms. The endovascular approach is becoming more popular and could become the preferred choice., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Objective: To evaluate a new Hyaluronan-based graft., Material and Methods: Hyaluronan-based grafts (HYAFF 11trade mark tube, diameter 2 mm, length 1.5 cm) were implanted in an end-to-end fashion in the abdominal aorta of 15 rats. Histology, immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy were used to evaluate the results at 7, 21, and 90 days., Results: At day 7, new tissue was observed in the graft coming from both the proximal and distal ends of the aorta. The luminal surface of the regenerating tissue was covered by endothelial cells (CD34(+), VEGFR-2(+), vWF(+)). At day 21, regenerating tissue joined at the centre of the tube. The neo-vessel was formed by smooth muscle cells (Myosin Light Chain Kinase) as well as elastic, and collagen fibres. At day 90 a stable artery segment was formed and the biomaterial was almost completely degraded. Infiltration of neutrophils and lymphocytes was not observed. All animals survived the observation period and there were no signs of stenoses or aneurysms., Conclusion: The hyaluronan-based graft allowed complete regeneration of a newly formed vascular tube in which all the cellular and extracellular components are present and organized in a well defined architecture similar to native artery.

The eggshell matrix was obtained from hen eggshells using EDTA solutions. The water-soluble organic material was separated on a DEAE-cellulose column equilibrated with 8 M urea using Tris-hydrochloric acid buffer as eluent with a linear gradient of sodium chloride. Five main fractions were obtained which differ in amino acid composition and sugar contents. As is shown from the uronic acid content, the first two fractions eluted from the column are glycoproteins, while the other three contain proteins and glycosaminoglycans From the alkaline hydrolysate of the eggshell matrix, a peptide was isolated which is composed of aspartic acid, threonine, serine, glutamic acid, proline, glycine and alanine in a molar ratio of 2:1:3:7:1:3:1 with a minimum molecular weight of 2158 daltons. The calcium ion binding to this peptide was studied, at different pH values, with both free and blocked carboxyl groups, using murexide as an indicator of free Ca2+. The importance of this acidic peptide in the calcification process of the eggshell matrix is discussed.