Association of pre-left ventricular assist device defibrillator shocks for ventricular arrhythmia with clinical outcomes after left ventricular assist device implantation.

Background: Implantable cardioverter-defibrillation (ICD) shocks after left ventricular assist device therapy (LVAD) are associated with adverse clinical outcomes. Little is known about the association of pre-LVAD ICD shocks on post-LVAD clinical outcomes and whether LVAD therapy affects the prevalence of ICD shocks.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine whether pre-LVAD ICD shocks are associated with adverse clinical outcomes post-LVAD and to compare the prevalence of ICD shocks before and after LVAD therapy.

Effectiveness of dual external direct current cardioversion for initial cardioversion in atrial fibrillation.

Introduction: Dual external direct current cardioversion (dual-DCCV) is a rhythm control strategy for persistent atrial fibrillation (AF), involving simultaneous delivery of two shocks from two defibrillators. The long-term effectiveness of this approach has not been studied in the biphasic cardioversion era.

Methods: Seventy-seven consecutive patients at a single center were identified to receive dual-DCCV at the time of their initial cardioversion for AF, when maximum output standard external direct current cardioversion failed in two vectors.

Assessment of Total Lesion Glycolysis by F FDG PET/CT Significantly Improves Prognostic Value of GEP and ISS in Myeloma.

Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography with CT attenuation correction (F-FDG PET/CT) is useful in the detection and enumeration of focal lesions and in semiquantitative characterization of metabolic activity (glycolytic phenotype) by calculation of glucose uptake. Total lesion glycolysis (TLG) and metabolic tumor volume (MTV) have the potential to improve the value of this approach and enhance the prognostic value of disease burden measures. This study aims to determine whether TLG and MTV are associated with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), and whether they improve risk assessments such as International Staging System (ISS) stage and GEP70 risk.

Effect of garlic-derived organosulfur compounds on mitochondrial function and integrity in isolated mouse liver mitochondria.

The objectives of this work were to evaluate the direct effects of diallysulfide (DAS) and diallyldisulfide (DADS), two major organosulfur compounds of garlic oil, on mitochondrial function and integrity, by using isolated mouse liver mitochondria in a cell-free system. DADS produced concentration-dependent mitochondrial swelling over the range 125-1000μM, while DAS was ineffective. Swelling experiments performed with de-energized or energized mitochondria showed similar maximal swelling amplitudes.

Laparoscopic cryoablation of renal masses: single-center long-term experience.

Objective: To evaluate perioperative and long-term functional and oncological outcomes of laparoscopic cryoablation (LCA) performed at Washington University.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed evaluating 62 consecutive patients who underwent LCA at our institution between 2000 and 2005.

Results: Mean age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) was 6.

Laparoscopic retroperitoneal lymph node dissection for low-stage cancer: a Washington University update.

Background And Purpose: At present, open retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) remains the preferred approach at many high-volume centers for the surgical treatment of patients with low-stage testis cancer. Despite the potential advantages of a minimally invasive approach, including improved cosmesis and shorter recovery times, there remain concerns over the quality of dissection and oncologic control offered through a minimally invasive approach. Our objective was to critically evaluate the safety and intermediate-term oncologic efficacy of laparoscopic RPLND (L-RPLND).