Performance of a light fluorescence device for the detection of microbial plaque and gingival inflammation.

Objectives: The hypothesis to be tested was that using the SOPROCARE system in fluorescence perio-mode allows scoring of microbial plaque that is comparable to the Turesky modification of the Quigley Hein plaque index (T-QH) and scoring of gingival inflammation comparable to the Silness and Löe gingival inflammation index (GI).

Materials And Methods: Fifty-five subjects with various amounts of microbial plaque were recruited. The T-QH and GI index were recorded.

Mechanics of the mitral valve strut chordae insertion region.

Interest in developing durable mitral valve repair methods is growing, underscoring the need to better understand the native mitral valve mechanics. In this study, the authors investigate the dynamic deformation of the mitral valve strut chordae-to-anterior leaflet transition zone using a novel stretch mapping method and report the complex mechanics of this region for the first time. Eight structurally normal porcine mitral valves were studied in a pulsatile left heart simulator under physiological hemodynamic conditions -120 mm peak transvalvular pressure, 5 l/min cardiac output at 70 bpm.

A saddle-shaped annulus reduces systolic strain on the central region of the mitral valve anterior leaflet.

Objectives: Mitral valve repair for degenerative diseases has shown suboptimal results in selected patients. Improved postinterventional mitral valve mechanics are essential to increase repair durability.

Methods: Eight porcine mitral valves were tested in a physiologic left heart simulator under normal hemodynamic conditions.