Molecular Donor-Acceptor Dyads for Single-Material Organic Solar Cells.

A series of ambipolar covalently linked oligothiophene-fullerene dyads have been synthesized by systematical structural variations. In this respect, the length of linker between donor and acceptor unit was altered and in a second series the terminal acceptor units in the donor unit of the dyads were varied. Characterization of the optical and redox properties gave valuable structure-property relationships and were correlated to the photovoltaic performance in single-material organic solar cells, in which power conversion efficiencies of up to 4.

Molecular Oligothiophene-Fullerene Dyad Reaching Over 5% Efficiency in Single-Material Organic Solar Cells.

A novel donor-acceptor dyad, 4, in which the conjugated oligothiophene donor is covalently connected to fullerene PC BM by a flexible alkyl ester linker, is synthesized and applied as photoactive layer in solution-processed single-material organic solar cells (SMOSCs). Excellent photovoltaic performance, including a high short-circuit current density (J ) of 13.56 mA cm , is achieved, leading to a power conversion efficiency of 5.

Broadly Applicable Synthesis of Arylated Dithieno[3,2-b:2',3'-d]pyrroles as Building Blocks for Organic Electronic Materials.

A novel and versatile method for the N-arylation of dithieno[3,2-b:2',3'-d]pyrrole (DTP) is presented. By Pd- or Cu-catalyzed coupling a variety of arenes and acenes were directly attached at the DTP-nitrogen yielding a variety of functionalized DTPs. Investigations on optical and redox properties led to valuable structure-property relationships, which were corroborated by quantum chemical calculations.

Advanced Acceptor-Substituted S,N-Heteropentacenes for Application in Organic Solar Cells.

Ambifunctional heterpentacenes with the heteroatom sequence SSNSS in the ladder-type backbone were used either as donor or as nonfullerenic acceptor in solution-processed bulk-heterojunction solar cells. Different acceptor moieties and side chains were inserted. Synthesis and characterization of the systematically varied structural motifs provided insight in structure-property relationships.

Usefulness of a new miniaturized echocardiographic system in outpatient cardiology consultations as an extension of physical examination.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of a new miniaturized echocardiographic system (MS) to perform bedside echocardiography in initial outpatient cardiology consultations, in addition to physical examination.

Methods: One hundred eighty-nine patients referred for initial cardiology outpatient consultations at two tertiary hospitals in two countries were studied. Each patient was submitted to physical examination followed by MS assessment.

Assessment of myocardial deformation: Predicting medium-term left ventricular dysfunction after surgery in patients with chronic mitral regurgitation.

Introduction And Objectives: The development of left ventricular dysfunction after mitral valve replacement is a common problem in patients with chronic severe mitral regurgitation. Assessment of myocardial deformation enables myocardial contractility to be accurately estimated. Our aim was to compare the value of the preoperative strain and strain rate derived by either speckle-tracking echocardiography or tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) for predicting the medium-term decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) following surgery.

Prognostic factors and predictors of in-hospital mortality of patients with heart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction.

Background And Aim: To date, in-hospital mortality predictors of patients with heart failure and depressed left ventricular ejection fraction are well known. Nevertheless, this is not the case of patients suffering from heart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction. Our aim is to describe the incidence and predictors of in-hospital mortality in patients during the first admission due to preserved left ventricular ejection fraction.

[Quantification of aortic valve area using three-dimensional echocardiography].

Introduction And Objectives: To determine whether the reproducibility of left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) area measurement is greater with three-dimensional echocardiographic (3D-echo) planimetry than with conventional 2D-echo. To determine the LVOT circularity index by means of 3D-echo. To determine the usefulness of measuring the LVOT area by 3D-echo for quantifying the severity of valvular aortic stenosis.

Accuracy of real-time 3-dimensional echocardiography in the assessment of mitral prolapse. Is transesophageal echocardiography still mandatory?

Background: Segmental analysis in mitral prolapse is important to decide the chances of valvular repair. Multiplane transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is the only echocardiographic tool validated for this aim hitherto. The aim of the study was to assess if segmental analysis can be performed with transthoracic real-time 3-dimensional (3D) echocardiography as accurately as with TEE, hence representing a valid alternative to TEE.

Diastolic heart failure in the elderly: in-hospital and long-term outcome after the first episode.

Our aim was to describe the incidence and predictors of in-hospital mortality and long-term mortality and morbidity in elderly patients after a first admission due to diastolic HF (DHF). Six hundred and seventy nine consecutive elderly patients with a first admission to hospital due to DHF comprised our study group. Mean age was 83.

[Associated factors to increased sensitivity in the transthoracic echocardiogram for the diagnosis of infective endocarditis].

Introduction And Objectives: Echocardiography is considered a basic tool in the diagnosis and management of infective endocarditis. Transesophageal echocardiography is more sensitive than transthoracic echocardiography. Our aim was to describe which factors are related to the ability of transthoracic echocardiography to establish the diagnosis of infective endocarditis.

Which method should be the reference method to evaluate the severity of rheumatic mitral stenosis? Gorlin's method versus 3D-echo.

Introduction: Several studies have shown a wide variability among different methods to determine the valve area in patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis. Our aim was to evaluate if 3D-echo planimetry is more accurate than the Gorlin method to measure the valve area.

Methods: Twenty-six patients with mitral stenosis underwent 2D and 3D-echo echocardiographic examinations and catheterization.

Prognostic significance of ischemic mitral regurgitation after non-Q-wave acute myocardial infarction.

Background And Aim Of The Study: The development of mitral regurgitation (MR) soon after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a recognized and frequent complication. Its negative impact on survival has been observed after Q-wave AMI, even when of a mild degree, and independently of left ventricular systolic function. Few data exist regarding MR after non-Q-wave AMI (nQ AMI), however.

Disagreement between tissue Doppler imaging and conventional pulsed wave Doppler in the measurement of myocardial performance index.

Aim: Myocardial performance index (MPI) is usually measured with pulsed wave Doppler (PWD). Our aim was to assess the degree of agreement between PWD and a method based on tissue Doppler imaging (TDI).

Methods And Results: Seventy-five patients with prior myocardial infarction and 20 healthy subjects underwent measurement of time intervals and MPI with PWD and pulsed TDI at septal and lateral sides of mitral annulus.

Infective endocarditis: mid-term prognosis in patients with good in-hospital outcome.

Background And Aim Of The Study: The study aim was to analyze the mid-term prognosis of infective endocarditis (IE) in patients managed with medical therapy during the in-hospital phase and who had a good initial outcome. Comparison was made with the prognosis of patients treated surgically during this period.

Methods: A total of 151 patients diagnosed with IE was studied, and in-hospital outcome, clinical characteristics and mid-term follow up data were analyzed.

Long-term prognostic importance of transient left ventricular dilation during pharmacologic stress echocardiography.

Objectives: We sought to evaluate the prognostic significance of left ventricular (LV) transient ischemic dilation (TID) for patients with a positive stress echocardiogram (SE).

Background: TID during SE has been related to the presence of extensive coronary artery disease, but its long-term prognostic implications have not been reported.

Methods: In all, 99 consecutive patients with a positive SE comprised the study group.

Prognostic influence of mitral regurgitation prior to a first myocardial infarction.

Aims: Mitral regurgitation (MR) following an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) confers an adverse prognosis during long-term follow-up. There are no studies evaluating the influence of pre-AMI MR in the short- and long-term prognosis of such patients. Our aim was to assess the prognostic value of pre-AMI MR in the short- and long-term follow-up of patients who suffered a first AMI and to assess its influence on left ventricular haemodynamics.

Impact of echocardiography in the short- and long-term prognosis of patients with infective endocarditis and negative blood cultures.

Background And Aim Of The Study: Higher morbidity and mortality have been attributed to patients suffering endocarditis but with negative blood cultures. The study aim was to determine whether, in the present era of routine echocardiography, patients with negative-culture endocarditis had a worse short- and long-term outcome, and whether outcomes in patients with true negative and aborted positive blood cultures were different.

Methods: When endocarditis was clinically suspected, an early (<24 h) echocardiographic examination was performed in all patients, regardless of blood culture results.

Isovolumic contraction time by pulsed-wave Doppler tissue imaging in aortic stenosis.

Background: Doppler Tissue Imaging (DTI) has been evaluated in ischaemic heart disease and some cardiomyopathies. In patients with aortic stenosis (AS), left ventricular contraction is slowered. This study aimed to evaluate the possible role of the measurement of isovolumic contraction time (ICT) by DTI in the evaluation of AS severity.

Evaluation of myocardial perfusion with grey-scale ultra-harmonic and multiple-frame triggering. The need for quantification.

Background And Objective: Contrast echocardiography has been recently introduced as a new technique for evaluating myocardial perfusion in a qualitative basis. The objective of this study was to test whether a visual subjective evaluation of myocardial perfusion by myocardial contrast echocardiography adequately matches the data obtained with an off-line quantification of myocardial perfusion.

Methods: Sixty-one myocardial segments were evaluated by myocardial contrast echocardiography with Ultra-harmonic and Multiframe Triggering in 11 patients 3-7 days after an anterior myocardial infarction, using SH-U 563A (Levovistâ, Schering AG, Berlin, Germany) as contrast agent.

Myocardial perfusion in real-time using power modulation. In vivo evidence for microcirculatory damage after acute myocardial infarction.

Background And Objectives: In addition to the myocardium, the microvasculature may be also damaged in acute myocardial infarction. The aim was to evaluate the capability of myocardial contrast echocardiography in the detection of microvasculature damage after myocardial infarction.

Patients And Methods: Twelve patients with recent acute myocardial infarction and five control subjects with normal coronary arteries and without history of myocardial infarction were studied.

[Infective endocarditis in patients with chronic liver disease: clinical and prognostic assessment].

Introduction And Objectives: Chronic liver disease increases the susceptibility to bacterial infections and infective endocarditis. Our aim was to determine the clinical and microbiological features and the prognosis in patients with chronic liver disease who also had infective endocarditis.

Patients And Method: One hundred and seventy-four consecutive inpatients at our institution were recruited and followed.

Myocardial contrast echocardiography in the assessment of patients with chronic coronary artery disease.

Unlabelled: The development of new contrast agents and new imaging methods has lead to an emerging field of applications for myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) in patients suffering from chronic ischemic heart disease. Echo contrast allows the assessment of myocardial perfusion (MP) by imaging the coronary microcirculation. Several echocardiographic modalities are available, the main difference between them being the acoustic power needed to perform the study.

Differences between endocarditis with true negative blood cultures and those with previous antibiotic treatment.

Background And Aim Of The Study: High morbidity and mortality are attributed to patients with culture-negative endocarditis. The main reason for negative blood culture in infectious endocarditis (IE) is administration of antibiotics before sample withdrawal. The study aim was to determine any difference in prognosis between patients with 'aborted' culture-negative endocarditis (A-CNE) and those with true culture-negative endocarditis (T-CNE).

Contrast agents provide a faster learning curve in dipyridamole stress echocardiography.

Aim: Interobserver variability is an important limitation of the stress echocardiography and depends on the echocardiographer training. Our aim was to evaluate if the use of contrast agents during dipyridamole stress echocardiography would improve the agreement between an experienced and a non-experienced observer in stress echo and therefore if contrast would affect the learning period of dypyridamole stress echo.

Methods And Results: Two independent observers without knowledge of any patient data interpreted all stress studies.