Results: There were no demographic differences between the two groups

of patients. Hypogastric artery occlusion was successful in all cases when a nitinol vascular plug was used. When coils were used, there was one unsuccessful embolization which required a second procedure. The number of embolic devices used in the coil group was 7.53 (range, three to 13) compared with 1.35 (range, one to six) in the Plug group (P < .05). Only one plug was used see more in 19 of 23 cases. The average cost to embolize per hypogastric artery was $1,496 compared with $470 when a nitinol plug was used. There were two instances of coil migration. No other intraoperative complications occurred. At one month follow tip, seven patients (35%) in the coil group complained

Of buttock claudication compared with two patients (9%) in the nitinol plug group (P = .027).

Conclusion: Our experience demonstrates the safety and effectiveness of the nitinol vascular plug for hypogastric artery occlusion during EVAR. When compared with coils for hypogastric embolization during EVAR, nitinol vascular plugs are less expensive, produce less technical complications, and are associated with a significantly lower incidence of gluteal claudication. (J Vasc Surg 2008;48:1121-4.)”
“The dopaminergic system in the brain plays a critical role in nicotine addiction. Genetic variants in the dopaminergic system, including those in dopamine GSK1904529A price receptor genes, represent plausible candidates for the genetic study of nicotine dependence (ND). We investigated various polymorphisms in the dopamine D(2) receptor gene (DRD2) and its neighboring ankyrin repeats and kinase domain containing 1 gene (ANKK1) to determine whether they were associated with ND. We examined 16 single nucleotide polymorphisms ( SNPs) at DRD2 and 7 SNPs at ANKK1 in our Mid-South Tobacco

Family cohort, which consisted of 2037 participants representing two distinct American populations. Several SNPs (rs7131056, rs4274224, rs4648318, and rs6278) in DRD2, along with the Taq IA polymorphism (rs1800497) in ANKK1, revealed initial significant associations with ND in European Americans, but not after correction for multiple testing, Depsipeptide in vitro indicating a weak association of DRD2 with ND. In contrast, associations for ANKK1 with ND in the African-American and pooled samples, specifically for SNP rs2734849, remained significant after correction. With a non-synonymous G to A transition, rs2734849 produces an amino-acid change ( arginine to histidine) in C-terminal ankyrin repeat domain of ANKK1. Using the luciferase reporter assay, we further demonstrated that the variant alters expression level of NF-kappa B-regulated genes. Since DRD2 expression is regulated by transcription factor NF-kappa B, we suspect that rs2734849 may indirectly affect dopamine D2 receptor density.