Evidence for polymicrobial communities in explanted vascular filters and atheroma debris.

Rationale: Microbial communities have been implicated in a variety of disease processes and have been intermittently observed in arterial disease; however, no comprehensive unbiased community analysis has been performed. We hypothesize that complex microbial communities may be involved in chronic vascular diseases as well and may be effectively characterized by molecular assays.

Objective: The main objective is to survey vascular debris, atheroma, and vascular filters for polymicrobial communities consisting of prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbes, specifically eukaryotic microbes.

Effect of a pro-breastfeeding intervention on the maintenance of breastfeeding for 2 years or more: randomized clinical trial with adolescent mothers and grandmothers.

Background: Being an adolescent mother and cohabiting with the maternal grandmother have been shown to be risk factors for a shorter breastfeeding duration. The objective of this study was to assess whether the positive effects of a pro-breastfeeding intervention aimed at adolescent mothers and maternal grandmothers on the prevalence of breastfeeding observed in the first year of life were maintained at 2 years of age.

Methods: This study is the continuation of a randomized clinical trial initiated in 2006 involving 323 adolescent mothers, their newborns and maternal grandmothers when cohabiting.

The Effect of a Pro-Breastfeeding and Healthy Complementary Feeding Intervention Targeting Adolescent Mothers and Grandmothers on Growth and Prevalence of Overweight of Preschool Children.

Introduction: The pattern and duration of breastfeeding (BF) and the age at onset of complementary feeding, as well as its quality, have been associated with the prevalence of overweight in childhood.

Objective: To assess the effect of a pro-BF and healthy complementary feeding intervention, targeted to adolescent mothers and maternal grandmothers, on growth and prevalence of overweight and obesity in children at preschool age. This intervention had a positive impact on duration of BF and timing of onset of complementary feeding.

Use of ACIST™ contrast injection device in carotid artery stenting in high-surgical-risk patients.

Objective: The objective is to see if use of the ACIST™ device during carotid stenting would be feasible without an increase in primary end points when compared to historic controls.

Background: Carotid stenting has been studied as an effective alternative to endarterectomy in high-surgical-risk patients. Traditional angiography involves manual contrast injection.