The Efficacy and Safety of Hybrid Ablations for Atrial Fibrillation.

Objectives: This study sought to comprehensively determine the procedural safety and midterm efficacy of hybrid ablations.

Background: Hybrid ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) (thoracoscopic ablation followed by catheter ablation) has been used for patients with nonparoxysmal AF; however, accurate data regarding efficacy and safety are still limited.

Methods: Patients with nonparoxysmal AF underwent thoracoscopic, off-pump ablation using the COBRA Fusion radiofrequency system (Estech) followed by a catheter ablation 3 months afterward.

A contemporary approach to a young female patient with Loeys-Dietz syndrome and an uncomplicated type B aortic dissection: a case report.

Background: Aortic dissection is a relatively uncommon, but often catastrophic disease that requires early and accurate diagnosis. It often presents in patients with congenital connective tissue disorders. The current aortic surgical techniques are related with serious early and late complications.

Acute revascularization in ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction.

We briefly and comprehensively present some of the novel findings in the field of revascularization therapy and management of ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). We highlight the latest evidence-based advancements in the pharmacological and mechanical treatment of patients who presented with STEMI. Since the last updates to the international guidelines (American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association and the European Society of Cardiology) were published in 2011 and 2012, there have been changes and several important studies have presented their final outcomes.

Bioresorbable vascular scaffolds in acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: a prospective multicentre study 'Prague 19'.

Aims: Bioresorbable vascular scaffolds (BVSs) have been studied in chronic coronary artery disease, but not in acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). This prospective multicentre study analysed the feasibility and safety of BVS implantation during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (p-PCI) in STEMI.

Methods And Results: Bioresorbable vascular scaffold implantation became the default strategy for all consecutive STEMI patients between 15 December 2012 and 30 August 2013.

An anti-B lectin from Zea mays everta.

The results of serological studies of Zea mays everta seed extracts with anti-B specificity are presented. Lectin will agglutinates A1B erythrocytes significantly more weakly than erythrocytes of B and A2B blood groups.

Aberrant secretors in donors and patients with duodenal ulcer.

Results of the screening of aberrant (paradoxal) secretors in 14372 healthy donors and 614 patients with ulcus duodeni are presented. An extremely high frequency of aberrant secretors was established (12.6%) in patients with ulcus duodeni in comparison to donors (0.

Interallelic competition and complementation in the ABO blood group system.

By means of quantitative agglutination, the results of interactions of A subgroup and variant genes with the B gene, as well as interactions of the Bx allele with A1, A2 and O genes in their heterozygous combination, are demonstrated. In the majority of interactions, competition occurs according to the rule that the allele producing the more active enzyme reduces the original activity of the enzyme produced by the relatively weaker allele. That the opposite result of interaction can occur also is shown in examples of Bx variants, when in A1Bx and A2Bx combinations complementation and a partial or nearly total normalization of the phenotypic expression of B antigen on red cells and in saliva happen.

A study of human-type ABH antigens on erythrocytes and in saliva of sheep.

The results of serological investigations of human type ABH antigens and antibodies of 116 sheep are presented. Traces of ABH antigens on sheep erythrocytes are recognized by elution. Agglutinins with anti-AA1, anti-B and sometimes anti-H specificity besides of heteroagglutinins were differentiated by cross-absorption experiments.

A new anti-H lectin.

The results of serological investigations of a new anti-H lectin obtained from the leaves of Sambucus nigra are presented. In saline extracts the lectin is useful for investigating the ABO secretors' status, A-subgroups and absorption-elution experiments as well.

[Quantitative study of ABH antigens in the saliva of newborns and adults].

The results of comparative quantitative investigations of the inhibiting strength of salivas from adults and newborn infants are presented. It is found that A and B salivary antigens of newborn infants have a significantly weaker inhibiting strength than those of adults. Opposite proportions are established in relation to salivary H antigens.

[H-deficient variants in the Bulgarian population].

In a systematic study of more than 100.000 subjects, the authors have put forward eight AHm, one AHmB and three OHm. The determination of these phenotypes is based solely on immunogenetic background (quantitative study of A,B,H, antigens, study of anti-H anti-A and anti-B allo hemagglutinins, study of salivary substances).

Incidence of ABO(H) blood group variants among the Bulgarian population.

The result of a screening of ABO (Hh) variants after investigating the blood group of 106,980 persons are presented. The Ax variant is registered most frequently among the Bulgarian population. As a whole the frequencies of ABO blood group variants Ax, Ael, A3, Aend and Am among the Bulgarian population are similar to that established by other authors among the French population and nearly twice as high as among the population of Bombay.

H-excess A1 and Aint variants among the Bulgarian population.

During the investigation of the subgroups of 45,895 A blood group persons, H-excess A1 and Aint variants were found in 0.359%. These variants were subdivided into three categories provisionally named A1H, A1Hint and AintH according to their most typical isoserological characteristics.

[Quantitative studies of the ABO blood group system. Quantitative changes in agglutinability of antigens A, B and H with regard to the patient's age].

The results of a comparative quantitative investigation about the agglutinability of erythrocyte antigens A, B, and H to be found in fetus (fifth to ninth lunar month), newborns, adults, and old age people are represented. In investigating with anti-H sera it could be found that A-antigens in fetus undergo the same development to be observed in newborns; it amounts to 75% of the agglutinability present in adults. After delivery the agglubinability will essentially increase up to the fifth month; it will only reach the average values of adults, however, after the seventh year of age and will remain unchanged then until the end of life.