Percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation in children and adults with an age and gender-specific analysis.

Background: There are limited studies with medium-term follow-up following percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation and no studies with a gender-specific analysis.

Aims: To report clinical outcomes up to five years following percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation using the two most common balloon expandable valves in a mixed population of paediatric and adult patients with an age and gender-specific analysis.

Methods: This was a single-centre retrospective observation study.

Grading the level of evidence of neonatal pharmacotherapy: midazolam and phenobarbital as examples.

Background: Many drugs are used off-label or unlicensed in neonates. This does not mean they are used without evidence or knowledge. We aimed to apply and evaluate the Grading and Assessment of Pharmacokinetic-Pharmacodynamic Studies (GAPPS) scoring system for the level of evidence of two commonly used anti-epileptic drugs.

Mechanistic insights on the effect of crocin, an active ingredient of saffron, on atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E knockout mice.

Background: We investigated the effect of crocin treatment on atherosclerosis and serum lipids in apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE-/-) mice, focusing on the expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and hypoxia-induced factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α).

Methods: Sixty-two animals were divided into two groups and randomly allocated to crocin (100 mg/kg/day) in drinking water or no crocin. All mice were maintained on standard chow diet containing 5% fat.

Assessing patent ductus arteriosus in preterm infants from standard neonatal intensive care monitoring.

Monitoring patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in premature infants is currently performed intermittently using echocardiography which requires considerable expertise. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate whether PDA status could be assessed from standard neonatal intensive care monitoring. Electrocardiography (ECG) and blood pressure (BP) waveforms were acquired from extremely preterm infants using standard neonatal monitors.

Cardiovascular Drug Therapy for Human Newborn: Review of Pharmacodynamic Data.

Background: Circulatory failure in preterm and term newborn infants is commonly treated with inotropes or vasoactive medications. In this structured literature review, the available data on pharmacodynamic effects of the inotropes adrenaline, dobutamine, dopamine, levosimendan, milrinone, noradrenaline, and the vasoactive drugs vasopressin and hydrocortisone are presented.

Methods: Structured searches were conducted to identify relevant articles according to pre-defined inclusion criteria which were human clinical trials published after 2000.