Novel Modal Approximation Scheme for Plasmonic Transmission Problems.

The concept of resonances and modes for the description of particle plasmons has recently received great interest, both in the context of efficient simulations as well as for an intuitive interpretation in physical terms. While resonance modes have been successfully employed for geometries whose optical response is governed by a few modes only, the resonance mode description exhibits considerable difficulties for larger nanoparticles with their richer mode spectra. We analyze the problem using a boundary element method approach together with a Mie solution for spherical particles, and identify the fixed link between the electric and magnetic components of the resonance modes as the main source for this shortcoming.

High-degree atrioventricular block in patients with preexisting bundle branch block or bundle branch block occurring during transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has become the standard therapy for high-risk and non-operable patients with severe aortic stenosis. However, the procedure involves several adverse effects, such as rhythm and conduction disturbances. Patients with postprocedural left bundle branch block may have an increased mortality risk, whereas patients with preprocedural right bundle branch block display a higher rate of postinterventional bradyarrhythmias.

Influence of high-dose highly efficient statins on short-term mortality in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention with stenting for acute coronary syndromes.

Statins are recommended for prevention of progression of cardiovascular disease after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Although high-dose highly efficient statins are recommended, especially in high-risk patients, clinical data are scarce and further investigation in "real-world" settings is needed. One thousand five hundred twenty-eight consecutive patients, who underwent PCI for acute coronary syndrome, were included in a prospective registry from January 2003 to January 2011.

Long-term outcome after drug-eluting stent implantation in comparison with bare metal stents: a single centre experience.

Background: The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of drug-eluting stents (DES) compared with bare-metal stents (BMS) on all-cause mortality and target vessel revascularization (TVR) in a "real-world" clinical setting.

Methods And Results: One thousand four hundred and ninety consecutive patients, who underwent PCI, were included in a prospective registry from January 2003 until December 2006. Patients were divided retrospectively into two groups: those who received a DES and those who received a BMS.

Antiplatelet drug induced isolated profound thrombocytopenia in interventional cardiology: a review based on individual case reports.

A combination antithrombotic and antiplatelet therapy with clopidogrel, aspirin, glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor inhibitors and heparins is routinely used as adjunct therapy in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). As all substances inhibit platelet function, bleeding and thrombocytopenia may occur. We report on three patients who developed isolated profound thrombocytopenia (platelet count of < 20,000/mm(3)) within 24 h after initiation of combination antiplatelet and antithrombotic therapy during a 1 year observation period in 443 consecutive patients undergoing PCI and stent implantation.

Implementation of guidelines improves the standard of care: the Viennese registry on reperfusion strategies in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (Vienna STEMI registry).

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine whether implementation of recent guidelines improves in-hospital mortality from acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in a metropolitan area.

Methods And Results: We organized a network that consisted of the Viennese Ambulance Systems, which is responsible for diagnosis and triage of patients with acute STEMI, and 5 high-volume interventional cardiology departments to expand the performance of primary percutaneous catheter intervention (PPCI) and to use the fastest available reperfusion strategy in STEMI of short duration (2 to 3 hours from onset of symptoms), either PPCI or thrombolytic therapy (TT; prehospital or in-hospital), respectively. Implementation of guidelines resulted in increased numbers of patients receiving 1 of the 2 reperfusion strategies (from 66% to 86.

[Direct and indirect antithrombins in acute coronary syndromes].

Unfractionated heparin (UFH) as well as low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWH), especially enoxaparin, are recommended by the current international guidelines for routine used in the conservative treatment of patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). UFH is still the recommended antithrombin as soon as percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) are performed, although the results of different trials clearly have demonstrated the benefit of enoxaparin also in interventional cardiology. Bleeding complications along PCI procedures can be minimized by avoiding crossover from enoxaparin to UFH or vice versa and by reducing the dosage of indirect antithrombins, particularly of enoxaparin, in patients with chronic renal dysfunction and/or the elderly.