Periodontitis in Patients Undergoing Coronary Angiography: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of mortality worldwide, with coronary artery disease (CAD) being the primary contributor. Periodontitis, a common non-communicable disease, has been associated with an increased risk of CVD. Previous studies have suggested a link between the severity of periodontitis and the degree of coronary artery obstruction.

Covered Stent Correction for Sinus Venosus Atrial Septal Defects, an Emerging Alternative to Surgical Repair: Results of an International Registry.

Background: Covered stent correction for a sinus venosus atrial septal defect (SVASD) was first performed in 2009. This innovative approach was initially viewed as experimental and was reserved for highly selected patients with unusual anatomic variants. In 2016, increasing numbers of procedures began to be performed, and in several centers, it is now offered as a standard of care option alongside surgical repair.

Serial Dilation and Intentional Fracturing of Stents in Congenital Heart Disease-Benchside Tests and Initial Clinical Results.

Background: There is some reluctance to implant stents in small children due to concerns regarding outgrowing the maximal stent diameter during follow-up.

Aim: Evaluation of a treatment strategy on the bench side, including intentional stent fracturing, and description of our initial clinical experience.

Methods: A series of benchside tests was performed with small stents, in which the stents were dilated above the rated diameters until they ultimately fractured.

Comparing an Advanced Monofocal With a Non-diffractive Extended Depth of Focus Intraocular Lens Using a Mini-Monovision Approach.

Purpose: To compare interindividual differences in visual performance of an advanced monofocal with a nondiffractive extended depth of focus intraocular lens (IOL) using a mini-monovision approach.

Design: Single-center, randomized, controlled, double-masked study.

Methods: In total, 48 patients (96 eyes) with bilateral age-related cataract were enrolled.

Surgical outcome of the borderline hypoplastic left ventricle: impact of the left ventricle rehabilitation strategy.

Objective: This study aims to assess the surgical outcome of borderline hypoplastic left ventricle before and after the induction of the left ventricle rehabilitation strategy.

Methods: A retrospective review investigated patients with borderline hypoplastic left ventricle who underwent surgical intervention between 2012 and 2022. The patient cohort was stratified into two groups based on the initiation of left ventricle rehabilitation: an early-era group (E group, 2012-2017) and a late-era group (L group, 2018-2022).

Clinical Outcomes after Implantation of a Novel Binocular Complementary Extended Depth-of-Focus Intraocular Lens Compared to Bilateral Low Near-Add Multifocal Intraocular Lenses.

Introduction: Nowadays, patients expect to be less spectacle dependent at all distances after cataract surgery. However, all intraocular lens (IOL) models that currently offer this function can also have negative visual effects. Aim of this study was therefore to compare the visual function performance of a novel and a conventional IOL solution for multifocality.

Introduction and Validation of Low-Cost Ocular Biometry in Healthy and Cataractous Eyes Using a Thermally Tunable Swept-Source Laser.

Purpose: To introduce and validate a novel substantially lower-priced and rapid swept-source investigational optical biometer in healthy and cataractous eyes, using a thermally tuned laser diode used extensively in cell phones and data communication as an alternative swept source.

Design: Prospective accuracy, validity, and reliability analysis.

Methods: A total of 60 eyes of 59 subjects (29 eyes of 29 healthy subjects and 31 eyes of 30 cataract patients) were enrolled in a prospective comparative study at the Vienna General Hospital between August 2021 and April 2023.

Percutaneous transcatheter treatment for partial anomalous pulmonary right venous connection to the superior caval vein without atrial septal defect.

We developed technique similar to transcatheter treatment for superior sinus venosus defects to treat a patient with a Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection of the right upper pulmonary veins (RUPV) without an atrial septal defect. A double transseptal puncture was performed, and the left atrium (LA) was connected with the RUPV using a covered stent. The blood flow from the superior vena cava was directed to the right atrium (RA) using a second covered stent.

Stakeholders' Involvement in Health Technology Assessment in Kazakhstan, Poland and Bulgaria.

Background: In recent years, involvement of healthcare stakeholders in health technology assessment (HTA) has been discussed as helping the inclusion of social values in the decision-making process. The aim of our research was to identify and compare details from Kazakhstan, Poland and Bulgaria on their stakeholders' involvement in the HTA process. Information was sought on their identification, responsibilities, and regulation.

Morphology of the native ascending aorta after the Norwood procedure for aortic atresia: impact on survival and right ventricular dysfunction.

Objectives: Our goal was to evaluate the impact of variable morphology of the native ascending aorta after the Norwood I procedure in patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome/aortic atresia on long-term survival and systemic right ventricular dysfunction.

Methods: Of 151 survivors of the Norwood procedure for hypoplastic left heart syndrome/aortic atresia at our institution between January 2001 and December 2020, we included patients with available and measurable aortograms prior to stage II palliation. The diameter of the native ascending aorta, the length of the native ascending aorta and the angle between the native ascending aorta and the proximal pulmonary artery were measured.

Relationship of Aortopulmonary Collaterals and Pulmonary Artery Development During Staged Single Ventricle Reconstruction.

To evaluate the relationship of aortopulmonary collaterals and the development of central pulmonary arteries during staged palliation. A total of 287 patients, who underwent staged palliation with bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt and total cavopulmonary connection between 2008 and 2019, had available angiography. Pulmonary artery index was calculated using pulmonary angiography as described by Nakata and colleagues.

Mobile bedside ductus arteriosus closure in severely premature neonates using only echocardiographic guidance.

Background: Transcatheter closure of the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in premature infants is currently dependent on fluoroscopic guidance and transportation to the catheterization laboratory.

Aim: We describe a new echocardiographically guided technique to allow our team to move to the bedside at the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of the referring center for percutaneous treatment of PDA in premature infants.

Methods: This is a single-center, retrospective, primarily descriptive analysis.

Mid-term results following pulmonary artery patch augmentation in congenital heart disease.

Background: Treatment of pulmonary artery (PA) stenosis in congenital heart disease is associated with adverse outcomes. The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to compare outcomes after surgical patch augmentation of PA stenosis in patients with biventricular congenital heart disease using different patch materials.

Methods: We identified all patients from our institutional congenital heart disease database who underwent patch augmentation for PA stenosis on the main pulmonary artery (MPA) or PA branches between 2012 and 2018.

Outcomes of transcatheter pulmonary SAPIEN 3 valve implantation: an international registry.

Background And Aims: Transcatheter pulmonary valve implantation (TPVI) is indicated to treat right-ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) dysfunction related to congenital heart disease (CHD). Outcomes of TPVI with the SAPIEN 3 valve that are insufficiently documented were investigated in the EUROPULMS3 registry of SAPIEN 3-TPVI.

Methods: Patient-related, procedural, and follow-up outcome data were retrospectively assessed in this observational cohort from 35 centres in 15 countries.

Occurrence of Corneal Staining after Cataract Surgery with and without Chitosan-N-Acetylcysteine Eye Drops.

Introduction: The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of ocular surface damage assessed by corneal staining scores right after cataract surgery and whether it can be prevented using chitosan-N-acetylcysteine (C-NAC) eye drops.

Methods: We included patients scheduled for routine cataract surgery. Each patient was randomly assigned to one of three groups.

Proof of Concept: A New Solution for Low-Profile Transcatheter Implantation of Optimus-L Stents in Small Children.

Background: There is no stent designed or approved for use in infants. We sought to obtain in vitro and in vivo data on a new concept conceived to implant Optimus-L stents at infant vessel diameters and offer a potential long term stent solution.

Methods: Nineteen Optimus-L stents were mounted on 8 types of angioplasty balloons with diameters 6, 8, and 10 mm with the use of an injection-moulded hand crimper.

Uncertainties in TDCR measurement revisited: Contribution of optical effects.

In the Triple to Double Coincidence Ratio method in Liquid Scintillation Counting, the detection efficiency is calculated from the value of a free parameter describing the intrinsic light yield of the counting system. This model is generally based on a Poisson distribution of the number of photoelectrons detected and the detection efficiency is obtained from the complement of the non-detection efficiency. In the classical free parameter model, the mean of the Poisson distribution, m, is a constant but some variability of this mean could be expected from optical effects due to internal reflections inside the LS source or from non-homogeneity of the detection efficiency of the photomultiplier tubes.

Comparison of corneal aberrations from anterior segment swept source OCT versus Placido-topography combined spectral domain OCT in cataract patients.

Background: To comprehensively evaluate the agreement of component corneal aberrations from the newly updated wavefront analysis software of a swept-source optical coherence tomographer (SS-OCT) and a referential Placido-topography combined OCT device in elderly cataract patients.

Methods: Retrospective study including 103 eyes from 103 elderly patients scheduled for cataract surgery that were measured on the same day with a SS-OCT (Heidelberg Engineering, Germany) device and a Placido-topography combined OCT device (CSO, Italy). Anterior, total, and posterior corneal wavefront aberrations were evaluated for their mean differences and limits of agreement (LoA) via Bland-Altman plots.