Long-term follow-up of medically treated patients with spontaneous coronary artery dissection: a prospective, Swiss single-centre cohort study.

Aims Of The Study: Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is an increasingly diagnosed cause of acute myocardial infarction. However, there is still a limited number of larger cohorts with long-term follow-up. We report on the largest Swiss single-centre cohort to date, with follow-up of up to 22 years.

Impact of a volume challenge on haemodynamics and prognosis in patients with severe aortic stenosis.

Aims: A volume challenge can unmask pulmonary hypertension (PH) and its mechanism. We evaluated the impact of a volume challenge on mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) and mean pulmonary artery wedge pressure (mPAWP) and its prognostic implications in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR).

Methods And Results: In 285 patients with severe AS (indexed aortic valve area 0.

Modulation of Working Memory Using Transcranial Electrical Stimulation: A Direct Comparison Between TACS and TDCS.

Transcranial electrical stimulation (TES) has been considered a promising tool for improving working memory (WM) performance. Recent studies have demonstrated modulation of networks underpinning WM processing through application of transcranial alternating current (TACS) as well as direct current (TDCS) stimulation. Differences between study designs have limited direct comparison of the efficacy of these approaches, however.

Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection: Angiographic Follow-Up and Long-Term Clinical Outcome in a Predominantly Medically Treated Population.

Objective: We sought to assess the angiographic and long-term clinical outcomes in a predominantly medically treated population with spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD).

Background: There are little data on the angiographic and long-term outcome in patients with SCAD.

Methods: We studied 64 patients with SCAD (mean age 53 years, 94% females, three peripartum) with acute coronary syndrome who were treated using coronary bypass grafting (n = 1), percutaneous coronary intervention (n = 7), or medical therapy (n = 56).

A virus-like particle-based vaccine selectively targeting soluble TNF-alpha protects from arthritis without inducing reactivation of latent tuberculosis.

Neutralization of the proinflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha by mAbs or soluble receptors represents an effective treatment for chronic inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, or Crohn's disease. In this study, we describe a novel active immunization approach against TNF-alpha, which results in the induction of high titers of therapeutically active autoantibodies. Immunization of mice with virus-like particles of the bacteriophage Qbeta covalently linked to either the entire soluble TNF-alpha protein (Qbeta-C-TNF(1-156)) or a 20-aa peptide derived from its N terminus (Qbeta-C-TNF(4-23)) yielded specific Abs, which protected from clinical signs of inflammation in a murine model of rheumatoid arthritis.

Impact of a lead glass screen on scatter radiation to eyes and hands in interventional cardiologists.

The objective of this study was to assess the impact of a transparent lead glass screen (TLGS) on scatter radiation to the eyes and the hands in interventional cardiologists and to compare the results to the recommended annual threshold values of 150 and 500 mSv, respectively. Local radiation doses to the left eye and the ring finger of the left hand of three operators (A, B, C) were assessed by thermoluminiscence dosimeters during 813 coronary angiographies (CAs), including 190 ad hoc percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) either with a TLGS placed between patient and operator [615 CAs including 138 ad hoc PCIs; dose-area product (DAP) = 84.9 +/- 71.

A therapeutic vaccine for nicotine dependence: preclinical efficacy, and Phase I safety and immunogenicity.

Nicotine is the principal addictive component in tobacco, and following uptake acts in the central nervous system. The smoking-cessation efforts of most smokers fail because a single slip often delivers sufficient nicotine to the brain to reinstate the drug-seeking behaviour. Blocking nicotine from entering the brain by induction of specific antibodies may be an effective means to prevent such relapses.