6,963 publications from this institution
No abstract is provided for this article.
An increasing number of elderly are being referred for percutaneous aortic valve replacement (PAVR). Although case studies are available on treatment and outcome and phase II studies are ongoing, little is known about the demographics of the total population referred in addition to treatment assignment and survival of the entire population. This was subject of the present prospective observational cohort study. Since November 2005, 167 patients were referred for PAVR of whom 65 pts received valve replacement (47 PAVR, 3 balloon valvuloplasty [PABV], 15 surgical [AVR]), 18 refused treatment and 27 were no candidate for PAVR or AVR and received medical therapy. Patients who are still under evaluation (60) were excluded from the analysis. Predefined demographic, clinical, technical, laboratory and procedural variables were prospectively entered into a dedicated database. Follow-up of vital status was obtained by contacting the civil registries. The follow-up was complete for all patients. Treatment assignment, baseline characteristics, risk and mortality at FU are summarized in the table . Most patients referred for PAVR are female. Although the majority received PAVR, still 14% received AVR and 25% were rejected for valve replacement. AVR treated patients have the lowest risk score, yet a higher mortality than the PAVR group. Patients who refused treatment had the highest mortality. It is conceivable that in the latter group, earlier referral and treatment may reduce mortality. Demographics.
No abstract is provided for this article.
A comprehensive experimental investigation into the axial compressive response of concrete-filled double skin tubular (CFDST) sections with stainless steel square and rectangular outer tubes is presented. A total of 28 tests was carried out. The experimental setup and procedures are described, and the test observations are fully reported. The test results are employed to assess the applicability of the current European and North American design provisions for composite carbon steel members to the design of the studied CFDST cross sections. Modifications to the current design codes are also considered—a higher buckling coefficient k of 10.67 to consider the beneficial restraining effect of the concrete on the local buckling of the stainless steel outer tubes and a reduction factor η to account for the effective compressive strength of high-strength concrete. Overall, the comparisons revealed that the existing design rules may generally be safely applied to the prediction of the compressive resistance of CFDST cross sections with stainless steel outer tubes, although the modified design rules offered greater accuracy and consistency.
No abstract is provided for this article.
Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a newly discovered lipid mediator of inflammation. When inhaled by normal volunteers, it induces bronchoconstriction associated with facial flushing and with a transient fall in circulating neutrophils. Of greater interest is its ability to induce prolonged increases in bronchial responsiveness to methacholine. These observations support an important role for PAF in asthama; the availability of specific PAF antagonists will allow us to test this hypothesis.
Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty is an accepted treatment for stenoses of bypass grafts1,2 and for total coronary artery occlusions.3,5 It follows that the same treatment would also be appropriate for total occlusions of saphenous aortocoronary bypass grafts. This report describes our clinical experience with attempted dilatation of totally occluded saphenous bypass grafts.
Asthma is now recognized to be a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways, involving mast cells, eosinophils, and T lymphocytes. Treatment of asthma should therefore be based on anti-inflammatory agents rather than bronchodilators. Choices include inhaled corticosteroids, which are higbly effective in all patients, and cromolyn sodium and nedocromil sodium, which are effective in patients with mild asthma. It is likely that the earlier and more widespread use of anti-inflammator y drugs will reduce the unacceptably high morbidity and mortality of asthma and prevent irreversible chronic airflow obstruction in patients with severe disease.
In bifurcation lesion, a precise evaluation of lesion severity and disease extension requires the use of bifurcation (three branches) quantitative coronary angiography. The use of Intravascular imaging to guide PCI in bifurcation has shown to reduce clinical events. Selection and duration of the dual antiplatelet therapy after bifurcation lesion PCI require further investigation.
