Background: Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) are an age-and gender-related chronic vascular disease. Ebi3 (EB virus-induced gene 3) encodes a cytokine subunit protein shared by two anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-27 and IL-35. Given the importance of inflammation in AAA pathogenesis, we evaluated the influence of Ebi3 deficiency on experimental AAAs. Methods and Results: AAAs were created in10 week old male Ebi3-knoctout (KO) and wild type (WT) mice via the intra-aortic infusion of porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE), and evaluated using in vivo transabdominal ultrasonography and histology at sacrifice (Figure). Following PPE infusion, KO mice experienced more significant and rapid aneurysmal aortic enlargement. All KO and WT mice developed AAAs (≥50% diameter increase) within 7 and 14 days, respectively. Medial elastin and smooth muscle cell attenuation were more pronounced in aneurysmal aortae of KO mice, as were both aortic macrophage and T cell infiltration. However, no difference in aortic B cell infiltration or mural angiogenesis was noted between groups. Conclusions: Ebi3 deficiency promotes the onsets and progression of experimental AAAs in association with increased aortic accumulation of macrophages and T cells. Our study suggests a protective role of Ebi3 in experimental AAAs, potentially related to IL-27 and/or IL-35 production.
We report on a case of a 65-year-old man who was admitted for anterior chest pain on effort. He had received coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery 20 years ago with saphenous vein grafts (SVGs) to the left anterior descending artery (LAD) and right coronary artery (RCA). An angiography demonstrated large aneurysmal dilatation of both grafts and a fistulous communication between the middle portion of the right SVG and the right atrium (RA). The aneurysm was excised surgically, and the fistula was closed with the right atrial wall with additional bypass grafts of the left internal thoracic artery (LITA) and gastroepiploic artery (GEA). (Ann Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2006; 12: 435–7)
Using capacity-restrained transit assignment model which takes the common lines problem into account, this study analyzes the effect of transit line configuration onto passengers' behavior. The result suggests that passengers' behavior can be affected by the transit line configuration. It was also found that the congestion can be dispersed by introducing flat fare system or by applying additional congestiom charge on a specific link. Sincethe model provides many indices for evaluation of tmansit line service, it can be concluded that congestion mitigation effect by the transit line configuration and the fare system can be evaluated by the proposed model.
