Long-term outcomes of gastric band removal without additional bariatric surgery.

Objective: The outcomes of patients undergoing band removal alone without an additional bariatric procedure after laparoscopic gastric banding are not well reported. We seek to close this gap in the literature.

Setting: Cantonal Hospital & University Teaching Hospital, Switzerland METHODS: In this retrospective study, we investigated 21 patients who underwent band removal with a mean follow-up of 63 months.

Assessment of left atrial functional parameters using a novel dedicated analysis tool for real-time three-dimensional echocardiography: validation in comparison to magnetic resonance imaging.

Real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE) is superior to two-dimensional echocardiography in assessing left atrial (LA) parameters, but to date algorithms developed for the left ventricle were applied due to a lack of dedicated LA software. In addition, no data are available on RT3DE assessment of active atrial contraction. The aim of this study was to validate a novel RT3DE analysis tool specifically dedicated to evaluate the LA.

Functional assessment of the left atrium by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography using a novel dedicated analysis tool: initial validation studies in comparison with computed tomography.

Aims: A novel real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE) analysis tool specifically designed for evaluation of the left atrium enables comprehensive evaluation of left atrial (LA) size, global, and regional function using a dynamic 16-segment model. The aim of this study was the initial validation of this method using computed tomography (CT) as the method of reference.

Methods And Results: The study population consisted of 34 prospectively enrolled patients with clinical indication for pulmonary vein isolation.

Dynamic assessment of right ventricular volumes and function by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography: a comparison study with magnetic resonance imaging in 100 adult patients.

Background: The aim of this study was to validate a novel real-time three-dimensional echocardiographic (RT3DE) analysis tool for the determination of right ventricular volumes and function in unselected adult patients.

Methods: A total of 100 consecutive adult patients with normal or pathologic right ventricles were enrolled in the study. A dynamic polyhedron model of the right ventricle was generated using dedicated RT3DE software.

Differentiation-promoting drugs up-regulate NKG2D ligand expression and enhance the susceptibility of acute myeloid leukemia cells to natural killer cell-mediated lysis.

Natural killer (NK) cells are potent effectors of innate antitumor defense and are currently exploited for immune-based therapy of human leukemia. However, malignant blood cells in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) display low levels of ligands for the activating immunoreceptor NKG2D and can thus evade NK immunosurveillance. We examined the possibility of up-regulating NKG2D-specific UL16-binding protein (ULBP) ligands using anti-neoplastic compounds with myeloid differentiation potential.

Ligands for natural killer cell-activating receptors are expressed upon the maturation of normal myelomonocytic cells but at low levels in acute myeloid leukemias.

Natural killer (NK) cell-mediated cytolytic activity against tumors requires the engagement of activating NK receptors by the tumor-associated ligands. Here, we have studied the role of NKG2D and natural cytotoxicity receptors (NCRs) in the recognition of human leukemia. To detect as-yet-unknown cell-surface molecules recognized by NCRs, we developed soluble forms of NKp30, NKp44, and NKp46 as staining reagents binding the putative cognate ligands.