Publications by authors named "B R Lindman"
Aortic Valve Calcification: Clarifying Severity and Prognosis in Low-Flow Aortic Stenosis.
Circ Cardiovasc Imaging
January 2025
Background: Current guidelines recommend a strategy of clinical surveillance (CS) for patients with asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis (AS) and a normal left ventricular ejection fraction.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to conduct a study-level meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effect of early aortic valve replacement (AVR) compared with CS in patients with asymptomatic severe AS.
Methods: Studies were quantitatively assessed in a meta-analysis using random-effects modeling.
Importance: Guidelines advise heart team assessment for all patients with aortic stenosis, with surgical aortic valve replacement recommended for patients younger than 65 years or with a life expectancy greater than 20 years. If bioprosthetic valves are selected, repeat procedures may be needed given limited durability of tissue valves; however, younger patients with aortic stenosis may have major comorbidities that can limit life expectancy, impacting decision-making.
Objective: To characterize patients younger than 65 years who received transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and compare their outcomes with patients aged 65 to 80 years.
Background: For patients with asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction, current guidelines recommend routine clinical surveillance every 6 to 12 months. Data from randomized trials examining whether early intervention with transcatheter aortic-valve replacement (TAVR) will improve outcomes in these patients are lacking.
Methods: At 75 centers in the United States and Canada, we randomly assigned, in a 1:1 ratio, patients with asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis to undergo early TAVR with transfemoral placement of a balloon-expandable valve or clinical surveillance.
Article Synopsis
- The study examines the impact of microplastics (MPs) in aquatic environments, focusing on effluents from textile industries, which are significant contributors to MP pollution.
- Using various analytical techniques, researchers found that polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyamide were the most prevalent plastic types in the effluents, with municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) surprisingly contributing more overall pollution despite better MP removal rates.
- A new bio-based flocculant made from wood wastes was developed, showing effectiveness in removing PET microplastics from wastewater, thereby addressing the issue of MP contamination from WWTP discharges.