Expression of light chain 3 (LC3).

<p>Original Western blots of protein content of LC3 in myocardial biopsies obtained at baseline (BL) before initiation of cardiopulmonary bypass and at 5–10 min reperfusion (R10) from patients undergoing remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) or not (placebo). LC3-II (lower band) was normalized to glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and LC3-I (upper band), respectively. Ratios are presented in bar graphs.</p

Expression of autophagy-related gene 5–12 complex (ATG5-12).

<p>Original Western blots of protein content of ATG5-12 in myocardial biopsies obtained at baseline (BL) before initiation of cardiopulmonary bypass and at 5–10 min reperfusion (R10) from patients undergoing remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) or not (placebo). Immunoreactivity of ATG5-12 was normalized to glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). Ratios are presented in bar graphs.</p

Expression of p62.

<p>Original Western blots of protein content of p62 in myocardial biopsies obtained at baseline (BL) before initiation of cardiopulmonary bypass and at 5–10 min reperfusion (R10) from patients undergoing remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) or not (placebo). Immunoreactivity of p62 was normalized to glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). Ratios are presented in bar graphs.</p

Expression of parkin.

<p>Original Western blots of protein content of parkin in myocardial biopsies obtained at baseline (BL) before initiation of cardiopulmonary bypass and at 5–10 min reperfusion (R10) from patients undergoing remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) or not (placebo). Immunoreactivity of parkin was normalized to glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). Ratios are presented in bar graphs.</p

Serum concentration of troponin I.

<p>Serum concentration of troponin I before (preop) and over 72 hours after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients undergoing remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) or not (placebo). Decreased troponin I concentrations confirmed protection by RIPC. Insert: area under the curve (AUC) for serum troponin I concentrations over 72 h.</p

Phospho- and total proteins normalized to Ponceau staining.

<p>Data are mean ± SEM. Immunoreactivities were compared by paired (within RIPC or placebo, respectively) or unpaired (between RIPC and placebo) Student t-tests. Protein content of autophagy-related gene 5–12 complex (ATG5-12), phosphorylated (p) and total beclin-1, light chain 3 (LC3), parkin, p62, signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5), STAT3, and extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) in myocardial biopsies obtained at baseline (BL) before initiation of cardiopulmonary bypass and at 5–10 min reperfusion (R10) from patients undergoing remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) or not (placebo).</p

Phosphorylation and expression of beclin-1.

<p>Original Western blots of protein content of phosphorylated (p) and total beclin-1 in myocardial biopsies obtained at baseline (BL) before initiation of cardiopulmonary bypass and at 5–10 min reperfusion (R10) from patients undergoing remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) or not (placebo). Immunoreactivity of pbeclin-1 was normalized to the respective total protein. Immunoreactivity of total protein was normalized to glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). Ratios are presented in bar graphs.</p

In more than 40%, intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) leads to a different sizing strategy in aortic stent grafts.

<p>Shown are the distributions for changes in the sizing strategy made by IVUS in Valiant/Relay stent grafts (A) and GORE according to the recommended sizing chart (B). Further subdivision of the increases in stent graft sizes is presented in the smaller, right circles.</p

Example for assessment of aortic remodeling at the inferior edge of the stentgraft with sufficient remodeling (A) and impaired remodeling (B).

<p>A: True lumen (*) is fully expanded, no false lumen is definable. B: False lumen (+) represents almost two-thirds of total aortic area at this intersection.</p

Patient demographics.

<p>Patient demographics.</p