title: Assessment of apoptotic cells in the wall of thrombophlebitic saphenous vein.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Programmed cell death plays a critical role in various physiological processes. In the present study, we investigated its possible pathogenic role in primary varicose veins. We studied histological changes in surgical specimens from thrombophlebitic saphenous veins. In thrombophlebitic saphenous, varicose, and healthy veins, we also determined the number of apoptotic cells, and investigated apoptosis in the role of the pathogenesis of varicose veins.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-four specimens of thrombophlebitic saphenous veins and simple varicose veins were collected. Thirteen samples of normal great saphenous veins were also collected (control group). Apoptosis of venous walls was determined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick-end labeling (TUNEL) and immunofluorescence methods. The corpuscular number per high-power field was counted under light microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significantly higher apoptotic ratio of the intima and media were observed in control veins as compared with thrombophlebitic saphenous veins and simple varicose veins (p < 0.01). A significant difference was not observed between thrombophlebitic saphenous veins and simple varicose veins (p > 0.05). A significant difference was not seen between the intima and media of the three groups (p > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the walls of thrombophlebitic saphenous veins and varicose veins, the apoptotic indices were clearly decreased. The results suggest that the process of programmed cell death was inhibited in walls of thrombophlebitic saphenous veins and varicose veins.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, 89 Hospital of PLA, Weifang, China.
authors.forename: Hu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, 89 Hospital of PLA, Weifang, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Postgraduate, Weifang Medical College, Weifang, China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, 89 Hospital of PLA, Weifang, China.
authors.forename: Haibo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, 89 Hospital of PLA, Weifang, China.
authors.forename: Yongbo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Patholog, 89 Hospital of PLA, Weifang, China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, 89 Hospital of PLA, Weifang, China.
authors.forename: Jinyuan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, 89 Hospital of PLA, Weifang, China.
authors.forename: Kun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, 89 Hospital of PLA, Weifang, China jianhuazhaowf@163.com.
authors.forename: Jianhua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
keywords: Varicose vein; apoptosis; thrombophlebitic saphenous vein; vascular remodeling