Complete AV-block secondary to lithium-clozapine therapy and relapsing multiple sclerosis in a bipolar patient.

A complete atrioventricular block (CAVB) can be a lethal complication when it is not treated directly with isoprenaline and pacemaker therapy. The overall incidence of CAVB varies between 4 to 8 per cent with a mortality OR of 3.2 within 30 days if untreated.

Aminolaevulinic acid-induced protoporphyrin IX pharmacokinetics in central and peripheral arteries of the rat.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) based on the photosensitive protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) may prevent restenosis after transluminal angioplasty. PpIX is synthesized in mitochondria, which differ in number and activity among various tissues. Therefore, we questioned whether the course of PpIX concentration after systemic aminolaevulinic acid (ALA) administration differed among various arteries.

Arterial wall strength after endovascular photodynamic therapy.

Background And Objectives: Vascular photodynamic therapy (PDT) inhibits intimal hyperplasia (IH) induced by angioplasty in rat iliac arteries by eradicating the proliferating smooth muscle cells. This process may jeopardise the structure and strength of the arterial wall, reflected by a decreased bursting pressure.

Study Design/materials And Methods: Thirty male Wistar rats of 250-300 g were subdivided into 3 groups (n = 10).

In situ light dosimetry during photodynamic therapy of Barrett's esophagus with 5-aminolevulinic acid.

Background And Objectives: Previous studies with PhotoDynamic Therapy (PDT) in bladder and bronchi have shown that due to scattering and reflection, the actually delivered fluence rate on the surface in a hollow organ can be significantly higher than expected. In this pilot study, we investigated the differences between the primary calculated and the actual measured fluence rate during PDT of Barrett's Esophagus (BE) using 23 independent clinical measurements in 15 patients.

Study Design/materials And Methods: A KTP-dye module laser at 630 nm was used as light source.

A comparison of balloon injury models of endovascular lesions in rat arteries.

Background: Balloon injury (BI) of the rat carotid artery (CCA) is widely used to study intimal hyperplasia (IH) and decrease in lumen diameter (LD), but CCA's small diameter impedes the evaluation of endovascular therapies. Therefore, we validated BI in the aorta (AA) and iliac artery (CIA) to compare it with CCA.

Methods: Rats underwent BI or a sham procedure (control).