[Which indications and access routes for transcatheter aortic valve implantation? Health technology assessment from HAS].

The transcatheter aortic valve implantation should be restricted to patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis with a contraindication for a surgical replacement (taking into account surgical risk scores, comorbidities, anatomical conditions, life expectancy and frailty). Patient eligibility should be performed by a heart team with the involvement of a cardiac surgeon, an interventional cardiologist, a clinical cardiologist and an anaesthetist/resuscitation specialist. The advice of a geriatrician is strongly recommended.

Drug-eluting stents in patients at high risk of restenosis: assessment for France.

Background: In unselected patients, the incidence of restenosis is lower after placement of drug-eluting stents (DES) than bare-metal stents (BMS) without difference in safety at a time horizon of 4 years. However, DES appears less effective in "off label" patients.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess available evidence of DES efficacy and safety by patient category to establish when DES placement may be recommended for reimbursement by the French national health insurance.

Do microspheres with narrow or standard size distributions localize differently in vasculature? An experimental study in sheep kidney and uterus.

Purpose: To compare standard embolization microspheres (SMS) with microspheres of very narrow size distribution in terms of physical properties and relative distribution within sheep kidney and uterine artery models of embolization.

Materials And Methods: Standard microspheres (SMS; 500-700 mum and 700-900 mum) were compared with narrow microspheres (NMS) of the same material made with a microfluidic method that produced a much narrower size distribution (600 mum and 800 mum). Characterization of both microspheres was performed in vitro (ie, bead size, water content, and compressive modulus).

Probing fibronectin-surface interactions: a multitechnique approach.

The development of adhesive as well as antiadhesive surfaces is essential in various biomaterial applications. In this study, we have used a multidisciplinary approach that combines biological and physicochemical methods to progress in our understanding of cell-surface interactions. Four model surfaces have been used to investigate fibronectin (Fn) adsorption and the subsequent morphology and adhesion of preosteoblasts.

Enzymatically-tailored pectins differentially influence the morphology, adhesion, cell cycle progression and survival of fibroblasts.

Improved biocompatibility and performance of biomedical devices can be achieved through the incorporation of bioactive molecules on device surfaces. Five structurally distinct pectic polysaccharides (modified hairy regions (MHRs)) were obtained by enzymatic liquefaction of apple (MHR-B, MHR-A and MHR-alpha), carrot (MHR-C) and potato (MHR-P) cells. Polystyrene (PS) Petri dishes, aminated by a plasma deposition process, were surface modified by the covalent linking of the MHRs.

Anti-inflammatory effect of ibuprofen-loaded embolization beads in sheep uterus.

Embolization of blood vessels may result in a variety of side effects which can include pain and inflammation. The objective of this study was to assess the release and effect of ibuprofen (IBU) from Bead Block microspheres (BB) loaded with IBU (IBU-BB) on the foreign body inflammatory reaction in a sheep uterine artery model. Both uterine arteries of 12 hormonally cycled ewes were embolized with 0.