Plasma levels of TAFI (also known as carboxypeptidase B2, coded by CPB2) were significantly elevated in CTEPH patients. Additionally, we found that the minor allele CPB2 is present in those patients. TAFI-overexpressing mice exhibited increased right ventricular systolic pressure, RV hypertrophy, and pulmonary artery thrombus formation compared with controls. Three-dimensional computed tomography showed that TAFI-overexpressing mice had multiple pulmonary artery obstructions, which were similar to those of CTEPH patients. Finally, we performed in silico screening and found several activated TAFI inhibitors and fibrates, with which we found significant amelioration of hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension and improved prognosis in TAFI-overexpressing mice.

Isolated superior mesenteric artery (SMA) dissection is a relative rare condition, and there is no consensus on the optimum treatment approach. We reviewed the clinical presentations of 10 such cases we examined between January 2014 and June 2018. Subjects consisted of eight males and two females (mean age: 49 years), six of whom had hypertension. Diagnosis was based on contrast CT findings; the dissection was thrombosed in six cases. All cases underwent medical (non-surgical) treatment: their subsequent course was universally favorable with no deaths. Doctors must consider SMA dissection as a candidate when diagnosing acute abdomen in young men. Nonetheless, the condition’s prognosis is favorable, and so conservative management is recommended.