Construction and Validation of a Benchtop Model for Testing of Mechanical Thrombectomy Devices for Pulmonary Embolism.

Purpose: This study aims to define the process of designing and manufacturing 3D printed and glass models of the pulmonary artery (PA) and utilizing them in a test bed for evaluation of devices for mechanical thrombectomy of pulmonary embolism (PE).

Materials And Methods: Patient derived computed tomography angiography (CTA) images of the PA were digitally converted into a hollowed-out structure and translated into clear 3D printed and glass models. A test bed was created using a peristaltic pump and silicone tubing connected to the models.

Evaluation of absorbable PLA nasal implants in an ovine model.

Objective: To examine biocompatibility and absorption profile of a poly (L-lactide-co-D,L-lactide) 70:30 nasal implant.

Methods: In an ovine model, 66 rod-shaped absorbable implants were placed in 11 nasal dorsa. The sheep were sacrificed at 1.

Double balloon angioplasty for unstentable large-caliber right coronary stenosis.

Despite newer lower-profile stent technologies, placing coronary stents may still remain challenging when vessels are extremely tortuous. We describe a case of a tortuous, very largecaliber right coronary with a near-180 degrees switchback "shepherd's crook" turn, which could not be stented, and for which double balloon angioplasty was successfully performed.

High levels of HDL cholesterol do not predict protection from cardiovascular disease in women.

Elevated levels >or= 60 mg/dL) of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol have been felt to be protective for cardiovascular disease in women. While cardiovascular disease is the leading killer of women in the United States, this is underrecognized, and women's symptoms are often atypical, leading to underdiagnosis. When high-density lipoprotein cholesterol is high, physicians may underestimate a woman's cardiovascular risk.

Behavioral training increases local astrocytic metabolic activity but does not alter outcome of mild transient ischemia.

Functional neurological outcome after transient ischemia might be improved by timely therapeutic intervention. To determine if restorative behavioral therapy influences damage, improves task learning, or alters astrocyte metabolic activity after ischemia, rats (food-restricted to 85% of free-feeding weight) were (a) first trained to respond on one of two levers under a fixed-ratio 20 schedule of food presentation (FR20), then (b) subjected to sham manipulation of carotid arteries or 10 min ischemia by four-vessel occlusion, followed by (c) 4 days of operant testing or inactivity, (d) then all rats were tested under a FR20 lever reversal task for 4 weeks, and (e) 3 days after the last behavioral session astrocyte metabolism was assayed by local uptake of [2-14C]acetate. Mild loss of hippocampal neurons occurred in ischemic rats with or without training after ischemia.