Percutaneous vein occlusion with small intestinal submucosa: an experimental pilot study in Swine and sheep.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility, outcomes, and amount of small intestinal submucosa (SIS) material needed for embolization of jugular vein (JV) in a swine and sheep model. Our hypothesis was that SIS would cause vein occlusion.

Materials And Methods: The external JVs (EJV) in swine (n = 6) and JVs in sheep (n = 6) were occluded with SIS fan-folded compressed strips.

Safety of inferior vena cava filter retrieval in anticoagulated patients.

Purposes: To evaluate the safety of inferior vena cava (IVC) filter retrieval in therapeutically anticoagulated patients in comparison to prophylactically or not therapeutically anticoagulated patients with respect to retrieval-related hemorrhagic complications.

Materials And Methods: This was a retrospective study of 115 consecutive attempted IVC filter retrievals in 110 patients. Filter retrievals were stratified as performed in patients who were therapeutically anticoagulated (group 1), prophylactically anticoagulated (group 2), or not therapeutically anticoagulated (group 3).

Inhibition of malaria parasite blood stages by tyrocidines, membrane-active cyclic peptide antibiotics from Bacillus brevis.

Tyrothricin, a complex mixture of antibiotic peptides from Bacillus brevis, was reported in 1944 to have antimalarial activity rivalling that of quinine in chickens infected with Plasmodium gallinaceum. We have isolated the major components of tyrothricin, cyclic decapeptides collectively known as the tyrocidines, and tested them against the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum using standard in vitro assays. Although the tyrocidines differ from each other by conservative amino acid substitutions in only three positions, their observed 50% parasite inhibitory concentrations (IC(50)) spanned three orders of magnitude (0.

Crystal structures of incommensurately modulated Ln(PO3)3 (Ln=Tb-Yb) and commensurate Gd(PO3)3 and Lu(PO3)3.

The crystal structure of the late lanthanoids' catena-polyphosphates Ln(PO3)3 (Ln=Tb-Yb) is incommensurately modulated (Dy(PO3)3: space group Cc(0beta0)0; Z=4; a=1417.4(4), b=670.96(14), c=1009.

Angioscopy for experimental evaluation of optional IVC filters.

Purpose: To demonstrate the feasibility of direct angioscopic visualization of an optional inferior vena cava (IVC) filter in situ and during retrieval.

Materials And Methods: Angioscopy was used for direct visualization of optional IVC filters in six sheep. Cavograms were obtained before the filters were retrieved.

Percutaneous technique for creation of tricuspid regurgitation in an ovine model.

Experimental models of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) are needed to study the percutaneous placement of prosthetic atrioventricular valves. The purpose of this study was to develop an appropriate simple and reproducible percutaneous experimental model for creation of tricuspid regurgitation. Tricuspid regurgitation was successfully created through papillary muscle avulsion using a guide-wire loop in seven sheep with regurgitation documented on right ventricular angiograms and a significant increase in heart rate and right atrial pressures.

Species-specific bacterial communities in the phycosphere of microalgae?

Specific associations of bacteria with phytoplankton have recently been reported in the literature. In our study, we analyzed bacterial communities of microalgal cultures related to algal growth phases. Seven freshly isolated key diatom and dinoflagellate species from Helgoland Roads, North Sea, were investigated.

A novel multiple-trauma CT-scanning protocol using patient repositioning.

Emergency CT examination is considered to be a trade-off between a short scan time and the acceptance of artifacts. This study evaluates the influence of patient repositioning on artifacts and scan time. Eighty-three consecutive multiple-trauma patients were included in this prospective study.

Crystal structure, physical properties and HRTEM investigation of the new oxonitridosilicate EuSi2O2N2.

The new layered oxonitridosilicate EuSi(2)O(2)N(2) has been synthesized in a radio-frequency furnace at temperatures of about 1400 degrees C starting from europium(III) oxide (Eu(2)O(3)) and silicon diimide (Si(NH)(2)). The structure of the yellow material has been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis (space group P1 (no. 1), a=709.

Günther Tulip filter retrievability multicenter study including CT follow-up: final report.

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of retrieval of the Günther Tulip inferior vena cava (IVC) filter.

Materials And Methods: This was a nonrandomized, single-armed, multicenter prospective investigation. Patients at temporary high risk for pulmonary embolism (PE) or deep vein thrombosis (DVT) who did not require a permanent filter were eligible.

Robust protein quantitation in chromatographic fractions using MALDI-MS of tryptic peptides.

A method is introduced to evaluate protein concentrations using the height sum of all MALDI-MS peaks that unambiguously match theoretic tryptic peptide masses of the protein sought after. The method uses native chromatographic protein fractionation prior to digestion but does not require any depletion, labeling, derivatization, or preparation of a compound similar to the analyte. All peak heights of tryptic peptides are normalized with the peak height of a unique standard peptide added to the MALDI-MS samples.

Percutaneous treatment of aberrant right subclavian artery aneurysm with use of the Amplatzer septal occluder.

Aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSA) aneurysms are rare but carry a high risk of rupture and require early elective treatment. The present report describes a 60-year-old man with an asymptomatic ARSA aneurysm for whom surgical treatment would have been associated with a high degree of risk. The ARSA aneurysm was occluded with use of Amplatzer septal occluders, which avoided high-risk surgery and preserved antegrade flow into the left common carotid, subclavian, and vertebral arteries and perfusion of the right upper extremity through an induced right subclavian steal.

Persistent left superior vena cava in sheep.

Persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) is a rare finding. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of PLSVC in sheep. In this case, PLSVC was confirmed using angiography.

Alternate or additional findings to stone disease on unenhanced computerized tomography for acute flank pain can impact management.

Purpose: We evaluated the incidence and clinical relevance of alternate or additional findings on unenhanced CT in patients with acute flank pain and suspected urinary calculi.

Materials And Methods: A consecutive series of 1,500 patients underwent unenhanced CT due to acute flank pain. The absence or presence of urinary tract calculi and their localization were recorded.

Detection of hepatic portal venous gas: its clinical impact and outcome.

The clinical impact and outcome of a rare radiographic finding of hepatic portal venous gas (HPVG) as well as the effectiveness of computed tomography (CT), CT scanogram, and conventional radiography in the detection of HPVG were retrospectively analyzed. CT scans, CT scanogram, and plain film radiographs of 11 patients with HPVG were reviewed and compared with their medical records and surgical and pathology reports. Eight of the 11 patients underwent plain film radiographs 1 day before or after the CT scan.

GerES IV pilot study: assessment of the exposure of German children to organophosphorus and pyrethroid pesticides.

Organophosphorus pesticides and pyrethroids are widely used in German agriculture and residential settings. Their occurrence in human biological samples can be used as an indicator for the exposure of children to these compounds. Using multivariate evaluation the routes of exposure can be identified.

Selective lysis of erythrocytes infected with the trophozoite stage of Plasmodium falciparum by polyene macrolide antibiotics.

The continuous increase in strains of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum resistant to most front-line antimalarial compounds is reason for grave clinical concern. The search for new drugs led us to investigate a number of membrane active polyene macrolide antibiotics, such as amphotericin B, nystatin, filipin and natamycin. The interaction of these compounds with sterols in bilayer cell membranes can lead to cell damage and ultimately cell lysis.

Multidimensional proteomics of human serum using parallel chromatography of native constituents and microplate technology.

A versatile, multidimensional, and non-denaturing proteome separation procedure using microplate technology is presented, yielding a digitized image of proteome composition. In the first dimension, the sample under study is separated into 96 fractions by size exclusion chromatography (SEC). In the second dimension, the fractions of the first dimension are transferred by the liquid-handling device CyBi-Well (CyBio AG, Jena, Germany) to 96 parallel anion exchange chromatography columns.

An augmented reality system for image-guided surgery.

The introduced new developed navigation system is a High Intensity Approach Light System for augmented reality in image-guided surgery. The surgeon follows the projected approach lights with his ordinary surgical instruments. Thus, tracked instruments are not necessary with this system.

Evaluation of a 16-MDCT scanner in an emergency department: initial clinical experience and workflow analysis.

Objective: MDCT is especially suited for emergency purposes because it allows rapid high-resolution scans of large areas, fast high-quality reformatting in every orientation, and 3D illustration of the data set. In a prospective study, we evaluated the reliability and workflow of a dedicated emergency department 16-MDCT scanner in the management of patients presenting to the emergency department.

Subjects And Methods: The use of a 16-MDCT scanner for 503 patients in the emergency department of a university clinic was evaluated.

Importance of extracolonic findings at IV contrast medium-enhanced CT colonography versus those at non-enhanced CT colonography.

To compare the clinical importance of extracolonic findings at intravenous (IV) contrast-enhanced CT colonography versus those at non-enhanced CT colonography. IV contrast medium-enhanced (n=72) and non-enhanced (n=30) multidetector CT colonography was performed in 102 symptomatic patients followed by conventional colonoscopy on the same day. The impact of extracolonic findings on further work up and treatment was assessed by a review of patient records.

Kelvin probe force microscopy study on conjugated polymer/fullerene bulk heterojunction organic solar cells.

We conducted a comprehensive Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) study on a classical organic solar cell system consisting of MDMO-PPV/PCBM blends. The KPFM method yields the information of topography and local work function at the nanometer scale. Experiments were performed either in the dark or under cw laser illumination at 442 nm.

Visualization of surgical 3D information with projector-based augmented reality.

For visualizing surgical information (operation plans) directly onto the patient a projector-based augmented reality system is used for cranio-maxillofacial surgery. A prototype is introduced which has been evaluated in the first clinical cases. In a new setup with a second video projector it is now possible to give additionally 3D information for localization and orientation (6DoF).

Intraoperative augmented reality: the surgeons view.

Augmented Reality (AR) is a promising tool for intraoperative visualization. Two different AR systems, one projector based, one based on see-through glasses were used on patients. The task was the transfer of preoperative planning into the intraoperative reality, or the visualization of space occupying lesions, respectively.