Alternative Conduits Have Worse Outcomes than Prosthetic Grafts In Infra-inguinal Bypass / Investigating the Role of Metformin in Improving Immune Defects Associated with Aging

Alternative Conduits Have Worse Outcomes than Prosthetic Grafts In Infra-inguinal Bypass

Presenter: Dr. Othman Abdul Malak (advisor: Dr. Edith Tzeng)

In the absence of saphenous vein for lower extremity bypass, alternative autologous venous conduits and non-autologous biologic conduits have been touted as superior options to conventional prosthetic grafts in below knee and infra-geniculate bypasses. However, the published data is often conflicting, and based on single institutional series. Dr. Abdul Malak's research group therefore sought to compare the outcomes of alternative conduits in infra-inguinal bypasses in the Society for Vascular Surgery Vascular Quality Initiative (SVS-VQI) database, which is one of the largest national datasets available.

Investigating the Role of Metformin in Improving Immune Defects Associated with Aging

Presenter: Dr. Maryam Mohammed (advisor: Dr. Brian Zuckerbraun)

Old age is independently associated with poor post-operative outcomes, possibly secondary to defects in immune response. Mitochondrial dysfunction is one of the central hallmarks of aging. Multiple studies, including one from our own department, have demonstrated decreased mortality and decreased baseline inflammation in type 2 diabetic patients taking metformin. Although the mechanism underlying these effects is likely multifactorial, metformin's primary site of action has been presumed to be the mitochondria. Dr. Mohammed's group has demonstrated salutary effects of metformin on immune function in a mouse model of aging and is working to elucidate the metabolic pathways by which it exerts these effects. She will discuss her group's current data and ongoing work pertaining to these objectives.