Table 1.

Patient characteristics.

Characteristics	Control (n = 8)	aTAA (n = 10)	aTAD (n = 10)
Age (y)	63.9 ± 8.4	66.5 ± 8.9	62.9 ± 9.0
Male	4 (50%)	5 (50%)	6 (60%)
Hypertension	6 (75%)	10 (100%)	10 (100%)
COPD	1 (13%)	1 (10%)	1 (10%)
Diabetes mellitus	2 (25%)	2 (20%)	2 (20%)
History of smoking	3 (38%)	4 (40%)	6 (60%)
Use of anti-lipid medication	2 (25%)	2 (20%)	1 (10%)
Use of COX inhibitor	3 (38%)	6 (60%)	5 (50%)
Aortic diameter (cm)	NA	6.0 ± 0.9	5.4 ± 0.8

Data are expressed as a number (percent) or as the mean ± standard deviation. aTAA, ascending thoracic aortic tissue from patients with ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm; aTAD, ascending thoracic aortic tissue from patients with acute ascending thoracic aortic dissection; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; COX, cyclooxygenase; NA, not available.