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Until now, no direct evidence linking blood groups to abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) progression has been found. However, various mechanisms, linked to ABO-blood groups, which play an important role in vascular pathologies, were identified. Multiple studies have demonstrated a significant association between non-O blood groups and both venous and arterial thrombosis. Given that the intraluminal thrombus has been shown to accelerate aneurysm growth, a potential link between blood groups and AAA progression is possible. Also, inflammation, haemostatic factors and endothelial dysfunction plays a key role in AAA genesis and growth. In different studies blood groups have been shown to have an association with all these factors. This study is a retrospective Analysis of a database which is part of a longitudinal monitoring study including patients from 2014 to 2024.

We conducted a retrospective analysis of our patient database, including individuals with AAA who had undergone multiple computed tomography angiography (CTA) scans in 6-month periods. This allowed for the assessment of precise aneurysm growth rates over time. In our cohort blood groups were correlated with AAA growth rates using a mixed model analysis. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS.

In this study we investigated the connection between blood groups and AAA growth in our collective of 114 AAA patients. The given patients had a typical atherosclerosis profile: 83,3% men, 82,5% hypertension, 83,3% hyperlipidemia. Patients were followed up with CT-measurements in 6 Month intervals. All patients in this study had at least 2 CT-scans available. Using growth models in SPSS software we compared the growth rates between the ABO-Blood groups: 0 n=45, 39,5%; A n=45, 39,5%; B n=16,14,0%; AB n=8, 7,0% and Rhesus Factor: Rh+ n=95, 83,3%; Rh– n=19, 16,7%. Also, an analysis comparing growth rates in Patients with Blood Group 0 and non-0 was performed. However, no significant connection between the blood groups or Rhesus factor and the AAA growth rates could be found.

Despite these established associations, in our study we found no significant difference in AAA growth rates among patients with different blood groups. The complex interplay between thrombosis, inflammation, and endothelial function needs further investigation to determine whether blood groups have an influence on AAA progression.

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a significant cause of lower extremity morbidity, manifesting as claudication or chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI). Multispectral optoacoustic tomography (MSOT) is a novel imaging technique which provides quantitative imaging of tissue perfusion and oxygenation with high penetration depth. This study evaluates the perfusion changes post-revascularization using MSOT in PAD patients, comparing outcomes across different revascularization strategies.

In this prospective study, 40 patients with PAD (Claudication or CLTI) were enrolled and assigned to one of four groups: Claudicants undergoing open surgical therapy (n=10), claudicants undergoing endovascular therapy (n=10), CLTI undergoing open surgical therapy (n=10), and CLTI undergoing endovascular therapy (n=10). MSOT measurements of perfusion parameters, including deoxygenated hemoglobin (Hb), oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO2), and oxygenation (mSO2), were performed before and after revascularization. The impact of revascularization on microcirculation was assessed by comparing pre- and post-intervention MSOT-values.

All patients underwent successful revascularization. MSOT analysis revealed significant improvements in perfusion parameters post-revascularization across all groups. The differences in ΔmSO2 (the change in oxygenation post-exercise) were particularly notable, indicating enhanced microcirculation. Patients in the open surgical therapy groups demonstrated more pronounced improvements compared to those undergoing endovascular therapy, irrespective of PAD stage. In claudicants, the mean ΔmSO2 increased from -0,1755 to -0,014 (p<0.05) post-surgery and from -0,109 to -0,002 (p<0.05) post-endovascular therapy. For CLTI patients, the mean ΔmSO2 increased from -0,140 to -0,006 (p<0.05) post-surgery and from -0,127 to -0,011 (p<0.05) post-endovascular therapy.

MSOT has the potential to be a valuable tool for assessing microcirculatory changes post-revascularization in PAD patients. Both surgical and endovascular therapies significantly improve perfusion, with open surgical interventions showing greater efficacy. These findings suggest MSOT could be integral in guiding and evaluating future revascularization strategies in PAD patients.

Ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) is a leading cause of death worldwide, with limited treatment options for end-stage heart disease, including implantation of a ventricular assist device (VAD) or transplantation. An alternative approach is extensive microsurgical coronary intervention, involving thromboendarterectomy (TEA) and patch angioplasty. However, this procedure is high-risk when performed in vivo, and existing synthetic polymers or xenogeneic glutaraldehyde-fixed pericardium patches used in patch angioplasty can calcify and degenerate over time. To develop a more effective and durable patch, we investigated a spider silk-reinforced fibrin patch for its pre- endothelialization capacity and evaluated its potential for coronary patch angioplasty using a beating porcine heart in an ex vivo cardiac perfusion system.

Condensed fibrin patches were prepared with or without the addition of spider silk, and biocompatibility was determined with extract and contact cytotoxicity assays using porcine coronary artery endothelial cells (ECs). After seeding, EC- monolayer formation was assessed by immunofluorescence staining. Gene expression of inflammation and thrombogenicity markers was analyzed by qPCR. In addition, a thrombocyte adhesion assay was performed. First in a mock circulation loop, later in the ex vivo cardiac perfusion model, the persistence of endothelial monolayers under flow conditions was tested.

The addition of spider silk to fibrin patches did not increase cytotoxicity and promoted cell adhesion and proliferation. EC seeded on fibrin patches with spider silk enrichment showed a physiological antithrombogenic and non-inflammatory status with lower platelet adhesion compared to native fibrin patches. Moreover, the ECs showed resistance and a physiological response after suturing and under flow conditions.

Spider silk-reinforced condensed fibrin patches promoted the formation of a viable, confluent, non-inflammatory and non-thrombogenic EC monolayer that was maintained after vascular reconstruction of the coronary artery in the ex vivo cardiac perfusion setting. This proof-of concept not only represents a possible alternative therapy for ICM, but could also be used to expand the donor pool by treating marginal donor organs. Moreover, the concept of a pre-endothelialized patch could help to reduce complications after other vascular surgery interventions.