Supplementary Material for: Long-term efficacy of ultrasound-guided percutaneous transluminal angioplasty for arteriovenous fistula outflow stenosis caused by venous valve

Introduction: Venous valve–related stenosis (VVRS) is an uncommon type of failure of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) among patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). There is a paucity of data on the long-term efficacy of ultrasound-guided percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) for VVRS. Methods: ESRD patients who underwent PTA because of VVRS between January 2017 and December 2021 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University were enrolled. Patients were classified into three cohorts (cohort1, VVRS located within 3 cm of the vein adjacent to the anastomosis; cohort2, VVRS located over 3 cm away from the anastomosis; cohort3, multiple stenoses). The patency rates were assessed by the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log-rank test. Univariate and multivariate Cox analyses were performed to identify the risk factors. Results: A total of 292 patients were enrolled, including 125 (42.8%), 111 (38.0%), and 56 (19.2%) patients in cohort1, cohort2 and cohort3, respectively. The median follow-up was 34.8 months. The 6-month, 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year primary patency rates were 86.0%, 69.4%, 47.5%, and 35.3%, respectively. The secondary patency rates were 94.5%, 89.4%, 75.5%, and 65.3%, respectively. Cohort1 showed a relatively better primary patency compared to cohort2 and cohort3. The secondary patency rates were comparable in the three cohorts. Duration of dialysis and VVRS type were potential factors associated with primary patency. Conclusions: This study showed acceptable long-term primary and secondary patency rates after PTA for VVRS in ESRD patients, especially for those with VVRS located within 3 cm of the vein adjacent to the anastomosis

Supplementary Material for: Drug-Eluting Stent, but Not Bare Metal Stent, Accentuates the Systematic Inflammatory Response in Patients

<b><i>Objective:</i></b> The systematic pro-inflammatory responses after percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stents (DES) remain poorly defined. Therefore, we compared the systematic pro-inflammatory state of circulating mononuclear cells (MNCs) between DES and bare metal stent (BMS) implantation. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Patients with indications for treatment with stents were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to placement of DES or BMS. The primary endpoint was a change of pro-inflammatory state at 12 weeks post-procedure. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Thirty-six consecutive patients received DES or BMS. At 12 weeks after stent implantation, the lipid profile and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) improved significantly in both groups. The mRNA levels and plasma concentrations of interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-a and matrix metalloproteinase-9 were significantly elevated in the DES group, which was not observed in the BMS group. An increase in NF-γB binding activity and a decrease in PPAR-γ expression in MNCs were observed in the DES group, along with increases in IγB phosphorylation and p50 expression. However, similar changes were not observed in the BMS group. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Systematic inflammatory responses were accentuated after the patients were treated percutaneously with DES, despite their improved lipid profile and hs-CRP. These data may provide fundamental information for optimizing therapeutic strategy in the era of DES

Supplementary Material for: Secondhand smoke exposure and risk of dementia in non-smokers: A population-based cohort study

Background Large population-based prospective studies are necessary to provide clarification on the associations of panoramic secondhand smoking burden, including prenatal and postnatal secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure, with the risk of developing dementia. Methods Our study comprised a sample of 353,756 dementia-free individuals from the UK Biobank who were non-smokers, had data on the exposure of maternal smoking as well as SHS exposure in daily life, which was quantified in terms of hours per week (h/wk), and whether they lived with household smokers. Multivariable Cox regression models were utilized to analyze the independent and joint associations of maternal smoking and daily life SHS exposure with dementia risk. Results During a median follow-up of 11.8 years, 4,113 participants developed dementia. Compared with those who lived in the environment without smokers, multivariable-adjusted HRs (95% CIs) were 1.11 (1.02, 1.20) and 1.31 (1.13, 1.52) for those who exposed to SHS for >0 but ≤4 h/wk and >4 h/wk, respectively, and was 1.25 (1.13, 1.39) for those who lived with smokers in the household. A positive history of maternal smoking was associated with a modestly higher risk of dementia (HR=1.07; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.15). Furthermore, compared with participants with neither history of maternal smoking nor exposure to SHS, a particularly higher risk of dementia was observed among those with both exposures (HR = 1.48; 95% CI: 1.18, 1.86). Additionally, the HR (95% CI) was 1.32 (1.10, 1.59) when comparing participants with a history of maternal smoking who lived with smokers in their households with those who had neither exposures. Conclusions Having a history of maternal smoking, longer exposure to SHS, and living with smokers in the household were each associated with an increased risk of developing dementia. Individuals who were simultaneously exposed to maternal smoking and SHS or lived with household smokers had a particularly higher dementia risk