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Abstract Atherosclerosis is a chronic lipid-driven inflammatory response of the innate and adaptive immune systems, and it is responsible for several cardiovascular ischemic events. The present study aimed to determine immune infiltration-related biomarkers in carotid atherosclerotic plaques (CAPs). Gene expression profiles of CAPs were extracted from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the CAPs and control groups were screened by the “limma” package in R software. Immune cell infiltration between the CAPs and control groups was evaluated by the single sample gene set enrichment analysis. Key infiltrating immune cells in the CAPs group were screened by the Wilcoxon test and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression. The weighted gene co-expression network analysis was used to identify immune cell-related genes. Hub genes were identified by the protein–protein interaction (PPI) network. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to assess the gene’s ability to differentiate between the CAPs and control groups. Finally, we constructed a miRNA-gene-transcription factor network of hub genes by using the ENCODE database. Eleven different types of immune infiltration-related cells were identified between the CAPs and control groups. A total of 1,586 differentially expressed immunity-related genes were obtained through intersection between DEGs and immune-related genes. Twenty hub genes were screened through the PPI network. Eventually, 7 genes (BTK, LYN, PTPN11, CD163, CD4, ITGAL, and ITGB7) were identified as the hub genes of CAPs, and these genes may serve as the estimable drug targets for patients with CAPs.

Intramuscular ganglion cyst (IMGC) is a very rare lesion with an unidentified pathogeny that originates within the muscle. We encountered a case of 49-year-old man who complained of intermittent claudication in the right lower limb for 2 months. An intramuscular ganglion cyst in the biceps femoris muscle was diagnosed and located by Computed tomography angiography (CTA) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which compressed the popliteal artery and resulted in ischemia in the right lower limb. Six months after surgical resection, there was no recurrence of the cyst and the popliteal artery was patency. We describe this case with a review of the relevant literature.

Background To evaluate the feasibility and effects of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) delivered by a new infusion system during endovascular intervention therapy in patients who had limb ischemia within 6 months. Methods From November 2006 to December 2010, 103 consecutive patients were randomly distributed in two groups. 10 mg (group A) and 5 mg (group B) bolus of rt-PA was respectively injected into the proximal occlusive lesion by a new infusion system. Subsequently, additional rt-PA of 10 mg (group A) and 5 mg (group B) was injected into the thrombotic occlusion, respectively. Significant underlying lesions were treated by endovascular intervention or surgery. Rates of major and minor complication, procedural success, and clinical success were evaluated statistically. Results Rates of complete lysis and partial lysis success were 12.6% (13 of 103) and 87.4% (90 of 103), respectively. To treat underlying lesions, 84.5% (84 of 103) patients received balloon angioplasty/stent implantation and 4.9% (5 of 103) patients received surgical correction. After final definitive treatment, procedural success rate was up to 99% (102 of 103) and clinical success rate was 100%. Comorbidity conditions and patient characteristics did not statistically influence the rates of success and complication. During the follow-up period of 30-day, 6-, 12- month, there was no statistical difference in the amputation-free survival rates between these two groups. Conclusion It is safe and effective to treat lower limb ischemia by combining adjunctive endovascular intervention with bolus of rt-PA (10 to 20 mg) given by a new infusion system. But long-term effects of thrombolysoangioplasty therapy in treating lower limb ischemia must be confirmed by large-scale population studies before routine use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]