Expression of the superoxide dismutase isoform 3 (Sod3) gene in human ascending aorta in the (A) left (L), (B) non (N), and (C) right (R) regions (n = 76 patients). The box plots depict the median (middle line of the box), first quartile (lower line of the box) and third quartile (upper line of the box), with whiskers bars representing 90th and 10th percentiles. The closed circles indicate outliers. * p < 0.05, significant from TAV-NA (normal). (BAV = bicuspid aortic valve; NA = nonaneurysmal; TAA = thoracic aortic aneurysm; TAV = tricuspid aortic valve.)