Outcome of percutaneous coronary angioplasty (PTCA) performed in a low-volume institution by low-volume operators, evaluated by means of the one-month major adverse cardiac event rate.

Background: Since an inverse relationship between percutaneous coronary angioplasty (PTCA) case-load and in-hospital major adverse cardiac events (MACE) exists, we intended to evaluate the performance of low-volume PTCA operators, during the first year of our interventional program, by applying the more accurate index represented by the MACE rate within the first month.

Methods: The data relative to both the PTCA procedure and the control visit 3-4 weeks later, were retrospectively reviewed. Death, myocardial infarction and need for revascularization were the end-points evaluated, both globally and with respect to the individual operators.

A multivalent pairing model of linkage analysis in autotetraploids.

Polyploidy has been recognized as an important step in the evolutionary diversification of flowering plants and may have a significant impact on plant breeding. Statistical analyses for linkage mapping in polyploid species can be difficult due to considerable complexities in polysomic inheritance. In this article, we develop a novel statistical method for linkage analysis of polymorphic markers in a full-sib family of autotetraploids.

Appropriateness of the use of coronary angiography in a population of patients with ischemic heart disease.

Background: Due to its pivotal role in the management of patients with ischemic heart disease, the use of coronary angiography has been continuously and progressively increasing over the years. However, an inappropriate rate of its utilization has been reported in 2 to 58% of cases. The aim of our study was therefore to evaluate the appropriateness of the indications for coronary angiography at our Institution.

Black esophagus: should it be considered an unfavorable prognostic factor?

Black esophagus is a rare condition, reported for the first time in 1990. It is always noted in severely compromised patients. The diagnosis is possible using endoscopy.

A maximum likelihood-based method for mining major genes affecting a quantitative character.

In this article, we present a maximum likelihood-based analytical approach for detecting a major gene of large effect on a quantitative trait in a progeny population derived from a mating design. Our analysis is based on a mixed genetic model specifying both major gene and background polygenic inheritance. The likelihood of the data is formulated by combining the information about population behaviors of the major gene during hybridization and its phenotypic distribution densities.

Cutaneous seeding after ultrasound-guided percutaneous ethanol injection for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Cutaneous seeding is a rare complication of interventional ultrasound procedures. We describe a case of needle-track cutaneous seeding of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after sonographically guided percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI). In our case, the seeding might have been related to the type of needle used and the multiple passes required to treat the liver lesion.

Variation in the volume of zebra finch song control nuclei is heritable: developmental and evolutionary implications.

In many songbird species, females prefer males that sing a larger repertoire of syllables. Males with more elaborate songs have a larger high vocal centre (HVC) nucleus, the highest structure in the song production pathway. HVC size is thus a potential target of sexual selection.

Complete regression of primary gastric MALT-lymphoma after double eradication Helicobacter pylori therapy: role and importance of endoscopic ultrasonography.

The authors report on a case of complete regression of primary gastric Mucosa Associated Lymphoid Tissue MALT-lymphoma after double eradication Helicobacter pylori therapy. They analyze the diagnostic role of endoscopic ultrasonography and the therapeutic aspects, on the grounds of literature data and personal experience are analyzed.

Negative and positive predictive values of routine exercise testing in stable, medically-treated patients several years following a Q-wave myocardial infarction.

Background: Exercise testing (ET) is the preferred initial strategy for risk stratification after acute myocardial infarction (MI) in patients who are able to exercise and have an interpretable electrocardiogram (ECG). Although the current guidelines do not recommend annual follow-up ET of symptom-free patients years after MI, this is still common practice worldwide. Thus, this study was undertaken to explore the value of ET in the prediction of cardiac events in stable, medically-treated patients with a remote history of Q-wave MI.

Enhanced synthesis of albumin and fibrinogen at high altitude.

The acute effects of active and passive ascent to high altitude on plasma volume (PV) and rates of synthesis of albumin and fibrinogen have been examined. Measurements were made in two groups of healthy volunteers, initially at low altitude (550 m) and again on the day after ascent to high altitude (4,559 m). One group ascended by helicopter (air group, n = 8), whereas the other group climbed (foot group, n = 9), so that the separate contribution of physical exertion to the response could be delineated.

Serial intravascular ultrasound and quantitative coronary angiography after self-expandable wallstent coronary artery implantation.

Serial intracoronary ultrasound studies revealed significant postprocedural stent expansion accompanied by significant stent shortening during long-term follow-up. The disadvantageous lumen loss by neointimal formation could be balanced by late stent expansion.

A phase I study of gemcitabine and epirubicin for the treatment of platinum-resistant or refractory advanced ovarian cancer.

Background: Gemcitabine is active in patients with otherwise resistant or refractory ovarian cancer. As the drug is well tolerated, studies using gemcitabine combined with other antineoplastic agents are needed. The aim of the study was to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of epirubicin combined with gemcitabine, with and without support of G-CSF.

Phase I study with weekly cisplatin-paclitaxel and concurrent radiotherapy in patients with carcinoma of the cervix uteri.

Background: Cisplatin and paclitaxel are active in cervical cancer and both are able to potentiate the effects of radiotherapy. In this study we evaluated the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) of paclitaxel in combination with a fixed dose of cisplatin when given weekly concurrently with pelvic radiotherapy to patients with carcinoma of the cervix uteri.

Patients And Methods: Eighteen patients with cervical cancer were enrolled in this study.

Hyperventilation increases muscle protein synthesis in critically ill trauma patients.

Background: Critically ill trauma patients are often in negative nitrogen balance and demonstrate advanced muscle protein wasting, which is in part due to a decrease in muscle protein synthesis. Previous studies have been performed on the relationship between pH and protein metabolism. Some evidence suggests that alkalosis might enhance protein synthesis.

Successful treatment of coronary artery perforation during angioplasty using a new membrane-coated stent.

We report a case of successful treatment of coronary artery perforation and cardiac tamponade, which developed during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, with a PTFE-coated stent. Intravascular ultrasound was first used to overcome the shortcomings of conventional angiography and overlapping of a conventional stent was not as effective as coated-stent placement in sealing a further leakage. Thus, PTFE-coated stents may be an effective alternative to emergency surgery or autologous venous covered stenting and should be considered when coronary artery perforation occurs.

Density dependent regulation of human Schwann cell proliferation.

Cessation of division is prerequisite for Schwann cell differentiation but regulation of this critical function is poorly understood. Heregulin/forskolin-induced growth of human Schwann cells (HSCs) in vitro was found to be strongly regulated by cell density and thus could model some aspects of negative growth-regulation in vivo. To better understand this phenomenon, the production of an autocrine growth-inhibitor and the role of contact-inhibition were investigated.

Myocardial necrosis in ICU patients with acute non-cardiac disease: a prospective study.

Objective: To ascertain if, after an episode of hypotension, unnoticed myocardial necrosis could occur in critical care patients with acute non-cardiac illness and to search for signs of cardiac necrosis.

Design: A prospective observational study.

Setting: General intensive care unit (ICU) at a tertiary level hospital.

Pressure-wire guided balloon angioplasty in allograft coronary vasculopathy.

We report a case of successful percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty guided from pressure-wire measurements in a transplanted patient. Fractional flow reserve, a lesion-specific, pressure-independent index of functional stenosis severity, was used to guide the intervention.

A phase I study of paclitaxel and epirubicin, without and with filgrastim, for the treatment of platinum-resistant advanced ovarian cancer.

The aim of the study was to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of epirubicin combined with a fixed dose of paclitaxel, without and with support of filgrastim, in patients with platinum resistant or refractory ovarian cancer. Paclitaxel (150 mg/m2) and epirubicin (starting dose 90 mg/m2, 15 mg/m2 escalation per level) were given on day 1, every 28 days for 4-6 cycles. Filgrastim (F) (5 microg/kg/die) was given in case of grade 4 leukopenia (levels without support) or from day 4 up to leukocyte count >10,000/mm3 after nadir (levels with support).

Phase II study of cisplatin and vinorelbine as first-line chemotherapy in patients with carcinoma of the uterine cervix.

Purpose: To evaluate the activity and toxicity of the combination of cisplatin (80 mg/m2 day 1) and vinorelbine (25 mg/m2 days 1 and 8) in patients with carcinoma of the uterine cervix that has not been previously treated with chemotherapy.

Patients And Methods: Fifty patients with cervical cancer were enrolled onto this study (27 stage IB-III, 23 stage IVB-recurrent). A two-stage optimal Simon design was applied.

Long-term prognosis of painless exercise-induced ischemia in stable patients with previous myocardial infarction.

Objectives: This study was designed to better understand the functional correlates and the prognostic relevance of exercise-induced painless ischemia relative to painful ischemia in patients with stable coronary artery disease and previous myocardial infarction (MI).

Background: The usefulness of exercise testing (ET) for predicting cardiac events, years after MI, although suggested and widely applied, is questionable. In particular, previous studies have reached conflicting conclusions as to whether exercise-induced painless ischemia is related to a less severe myocardial ischemia or to a different prognosis than painful ischemia.