Degradation of Mechanical Properties of A-PET Films after UV Aging.

In 2018, the European Commission adopted the European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy, which outlines key actions to reduce the negative impact of plastic pollution. The strategy aims to expand plastic recycling capacity and increase the proportion of recycled materials in plastic products and packaging. Using recycled plastic can save 50-60% energy compared to virgin plastic.

Predictors of angiographic restenosis after coronary intervention in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Background: Patients with diabetes mellitus are particularly prone to restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention. An exploratory, nested, case-control study was undertaken to identify clinical, lesional, and procedural predictors of angiographic restenosis in these patients.

Methods: Seventy-five patients with diabetes mellitus with 86 coronary lesions were selected from a larger population of 217 patients who had undergone 6-month angiographic follow-up after a first, successful balloon angioplasty (PTCA) or stent implantation procedure.

Effect of radiofrequency current on previously implanted pacemaker and defibrillator ventricular lead systems.

We compared the response of endocardial lead systems to radiofrequency (RF) current delivered during atrio-ventricular junction ablation (AVJA) for atrial fibrillation with uncontrolled ventricular rate in 107 patients. The mean age was 67 +/- 11 years and the mean ejection fraction 42 +/- 15%. Patients were divided into 3 groups based on the type of ventricular lead present at the time of ablation: a previously implanted defibrillator lead (group 3, n = 13), a previously implanted pacemaker lead (group 2, n = 46) or a temporary lead (group 1, n = 48), which was subsequently followed by a permanent lead implantation.

Aborted sudden cardiac death: a clinical perspective.

Sudden cardiac death in the community remains a major public health problem. The purpose of this article is to outline the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and immediate treatment of the cardiac arrest victim. The subsequent in-hospital diagnostic evaluation and management will then be discussed with an emphasis on the role of the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator.

Cardiology fellowship subspecialty training opportunities in Canada.

Overseas experience broadens horizons, provides a different perspective on medicine and enhances a doctor's professional credibility. This article covers cardiology subspecialty training opportunities in Canada and offers advice on finding a job, the application process and acclimatization into Canadian life.

Massive pulmonary embolism in pregnancy treated with streptokinase and percutaneous catheter fragmentation.

Despite heightened awareness, pulmonary embolism remains a major cause of maternal mortality in the antenatal period and one which has not decreased in incidence over the four triennia since 1976. We report a patient who suffered massive pulmonary embolism with circulatory collapse in the second trimester and who was treated with intravenous streptokinase followed by percutaneous mechanical dispersion of thrombus using a catheter and guide wire. She made an excellent recovery despite complicating antepartum haemorrhage.

Influence of haemodynamics and myocardial ischaemia on Doppler transmitral flow in patients undergoing dobutamine echocardiography.

To examine whether pulsed Doppler left ventricular filling indices can reliably detect myocardial ischaemia in patients with coronary artery disease undergoing dobutamine stress echocardiography we studied three groups matched for age and global indices of left ventricular function. Group I patients (n = 10) had normal coronary arteries whereas those in Groups 2 (n = 12) and 3 (n = 15) had significant coronary disease (> or = 70% diameter stenosis) at angiography. After stopping cardioactive treatment, patients underwent incremental dobutamine stress (5, 10, 15 and 20 micrograms.

Cardiocytolytic antimyolemmal antibodies in dilated cardiomyopathy following presentation: observations in 7 patients.

The prevalence of lytic activity of circulating antimyolemmal antibodies in dilated cardiomyopathy of recent onset is unclear. To obtain preliminary data we studied 7 consecutive patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (age 44 +/- 14 years) and symptoms for fewer than 6 months. The presence of antimyolemmal antibodies was determined in vitro using intact rat and human cardiocytes and indirect immunofluorescence.

Prognostic value of dobutamine echocardiography in patients with high pretest likelihood of coronary artery disease.

To examine the value of transient regional asynergy on dobutamine stress echocardiography as a noninvasive predictor of future cardiac events, 51 symptomatic patients (aged 54 +/- 9 years) with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) were studied using an incremental regimen of 5, 10, 15 and 20 micrograms/kg/min. Pretest likelihood of CAD was (mean +/- standard error of the percentage) 79.7 +/- 5.

Stress Doppler echocardiography using dobutamine in coronary patients with and without ischaemia induction.

To examine the effects of dobutamine on pulsed-Doppler left ventricular ejection dynamics and its utility for evaluation of coronary disease (CAD) we studied 10 patients with normal coronaries (Group 1) and 24 patients with significant CAD (greater than or equal to 70% diameter stenosis) using a graded stress infusion (5 to 20 micrograms.kg-1.min-1).

Aspirin to prevent growth of vegetations and cerebral emboli in infective endocarditis.

The incidence of stroke on cranial computed tomography (CT) and change in echocardiographic vegetation area was prospectively compared in a preliminary observational study involving nine patients with infective endocarditis randomized to either low-dose aspirin (75 mg d-1, Group I, n = 4) or no aspirin (Group II, n = 5). Two symptomatic cerebral infarcts and one myocardial infarct occurred in the controls, compared to no events in patients on aspirin during a total observation period of 343 d (range 28-49 d). The mean vegetation area decreased in the aspirin group (mean change = -0.

Dobutamine stress echocardiography for detection and assessment of coronary artery disease.

Stress echocardiography with dobutamine infusion for detection of coronary artery disease is a potential alternative to exercise stress testing with some theoretic advantages. Fifty patients who were not receiving cardioactive medication were prospectively studied with two-dimensional echocardiography and 12-lead electrocardiography (ECG) during incremental dobutamine infusion (5, 10, 15 and 20 micrograms/kg body weight per min, each dose for 8 min). Images were analyzed by using an 11-segment left ventricular model.

Uses and limitations of high dose dipyridamole stress echocardiography for evaluation of coronary artery disease.

Objective: To compare the usefulness of high dose dipyridamole stress echocardiography with dipyridamole stress electrocardiography and exercise electrocardiography for the evaluation of coronary artery disease.

Design: Prospective investigation with coronary angiography as the criterion standard and blinded assessment of study data.

Setting: Cardiology unit of a tertiary referral centre.

Evaluation of dipyridamole-Doppler echocardiography for detection of myocardial ischemia and coronary artery disease.

Doppler assessment of left ventricular filling and ejection during dipyridamole stress may supplement wall motion analysis for detection of myocardial ischemia and coronary artery disease (CAD). Thirty-four patients taking no cardioactive therapy were studied using intravenous dipyridamole (0.6 mg/kg) during 2-dimensional and pulsed Doppler echocardiography.

Pharmacological stress echocardiography in the evaluation of coronary artery disease.

This article deals with the application of pharmacological stress echocardiography, a relatively new and evolving technique, to the diagnosis and assessment of patients with coronary artery disease. The value of echocardiography in ischaemic heart disease is initially outlined, followed by a brief review of the exercise two-dimensional echocardiography and exercise echo-Doppler literature. Dipyridamole, adenosine and dobutamine stress echocardiography are then examined, and the rationale and potential advantages of this approach explained.