Is thickening of the basal lamina in the saphenous vein a hallmark of smoking?
Two ultrastructural characteristics are associated with smoking: thickening of the endothelial basal lamina and a specific accumulation of fibronectin in the thickened basal lamina. Such abnormalities in the saphenous veins from smokers may contribute to the poorer performance of these veins as bypass conduits.
Five PSI showed reasonable empirical properties to screen healthcare performance in Spanish hospitals, particularly in the largest ones.