Does optimal lesion preparation reduce the amount of acute recoil of the Absorbe BVS? Insights from a real-world population.

Objectives: To evaluate the acute recoil of the ABSORB bioabsorbable vascular scaffold (BVS) and its relationship with procedural characteristics in a real world population.

Background: In vivo acute recoil of the BVS was evaluated in selected patients.

Methods: Acute recoil was studied with videodensitometry in a consecutive series of patients treated by means of a BVS, and the results were compared with those obtained in subjects receiving an everolimus-eluting stent (EES).

Impact of hepatitis B vaccination in a highly endemic area of south Italy and long-term duration of anti-HBs antibody in two cohorts of vaccinated individuals.

The aims of this study were to evaluate the impact of hepatitis B vaccination on the changing pattern of HBV infection in a former hyperendemic area (Afragola, South Italy), and to assess the long-term persistence of anti-HBs in two cohorts of individuals vaccinated as infants 18 and 23 years ago. Our data shows a significant decline in the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers in the general population from 1978 to 2006 (HBsAg: 13.4% versus 0.

Hyperhomocysteinemia and mortality after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Background: The independent prognostic impact, as well as the possible causal role, of hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) in coronary artery disease (CAD) is controversial. No previous study specifically has addressed the relationship between HHcy and mortality after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prognostic impact of HHcy after CABG surgery.

Typological and technological study of prehistoric implements in animal hard tissues.

Several series of prehistoric implements in animal hard tissues, either from ancient and recent excavations, were studied by the typological and technological points of views. Their morpho-typological description was in many cases associated to microscopic study of surface modifications, often allowing identification of traces related to manufacture. This technological information in some cases could be integrated by the observations of use-wear, thus providing functional indications.

Influence of polymorphisms in the factor VII gene promoter on activated factor VII levels and on the risk of myocardial infarction in advanced coronary atherosclerosis.

In this study, we investigate the influence of three factor VII (FVII) gene polymorphisms on activated FVII levels (FVIIa), and also on the risk of myocardial infarction (MI) in patients with advanced coronary atherosclerotic disease (CAD). The -323A2 allele in the promoter is known to be associated with low FVII levels, and has been suggested to protect against MI in some studies. The -402GA promoter polymorphism, that in vitro has been associated with having opposite effect, is less well studied clinically.