Sinus node function after cardiac surgery: is impairment specific for the maze procedure?

Background: Maze surgery is a final solution for intractable atrial fibrillation (AF), but an adverse effect on postoperative sinus node function has been reported. Whether this also applies to other types of cardiac surgery is unclear.

Methods: We assessed postoperative rhythm by means of repeated exercise tolerance testing, ambulatory electrocardiography, and non-invasive testing of autonomic function between 1 and 12 months after four types of cardiac surgery.

Safety evaluation of routine intracoronary acetylcholine infusion in patients undergoing a first diagnostic coronary angiogram.

Background: Recent findings imply prognostic significance of intracoronary acetylcholine infusion for endothelial function testing. We evaluated whether routine use of this test in coronary angiography patients is safe.

Methods: Patients undergoing a first diagnostic coronary angiography were selected to receive intracoronary acetylcholine for endothelial function evaluation.

Autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation in patients with relapsed lymphoma results in accelerated haematopoietic reconstitution, improved quality of life and cost reduction compared with bone marrow transplantation: the Hovon 22 study.

The present study analysed whether autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PSCT) improves engraftment, quality of life and cost-effectiveness when compared with autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT). Relapsing progressive lymphoma patients (n = 204; non-Hodgkin's lymphoma n = 166; Hodgkin's disease n = 38) were, after induction treatment with the DHAP-VIM (cisplatin, cytarabine, dexamethasone, etoposide, ifosfamide, methotrexate) regimen, randomly (2:1) assigned to the harvest of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor-mobilized stem cells after the second DHAP course or autologous bone marrow cells before the second DHAP course. These stem cells were reinfused following high-dose myeloblative chemotherapy.

VERDICT: the Verapamil versus Digoxin Cardioversion Trial: A randomized study on the role of calcium lowering for maintenance of sinus rhythm after cardioversion of persistent atrial fibrillation.

Introduction: Many relapses of atrial fibrillation (AF) occur, especially during the first week(s) after electrical cardioversion (ECV). The aim of the present study was to compare in a randomized design the efficacy of verapamil (intracellular calcium lowering) versus digoxin (calcium increasing) for maintenance of sinus rhythm after ECV.

Methods And Results: Ninety-seven patients with persistent AF were randomized to verapamil (n = 49) or digoxin (n = 48) for 1 month before and 1 month after ECV.

Prospective evaluation of early cardiac damage induced by epirubicin-containing adjuvant chemotherapy and locoregional radiotherapy in breast cancer patients.

Purpose: To evaluate prospectively the cardiotoxic effects of epirubicin-containing adjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer patients.

Patients And Methods: Patients (median age, 46 years; range, 28 to 55 years) were treated with five cycles of fluorouracil, epirubicin (90 mg/m2), and cyclophosphamide (FEC) (group I, n = 21) or with four cycles of FEC followed by high-dose chemotherapy consisting of cyclophosphamide, thiotepa, and carboplatin (group II, n = 19). Locoregional radiotherapy was applied subsequently.

Multilink stent promotes less platelet and leukocyte adhesion than a traditional stainless steel stent: an in vitro experimental study.

Background: Platelet and leukocyte deposition onto metallic struts can be a crucial factor in the outcome of a coronary stenting procedure. By means of an in vitro, closed-loop circulation model, we aimed to assess blood-stent interaction patterns for a new stainless steel stent (MultiLink, Guidant Nederland BV, Nieuwegein, the Netherlands).

Methods: The effect of MultiLink (n=20) on blood cells and blood activation was studied by biochemical assays.

Thymosin-inducible lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of patients with malignant melanoma.

E rosette-forming (T) lymphocytes and surface immunoglobulin-bearing lymphocytes were estimated in 85 patients with malignant melanoma. The melanoma patient group had lower mean levels of T lymphocytes and higher mean levels of immunoglobulin-bearing (? B) lymphocytes than did normal subjects. The absolute and percentage depressions of T-cell levels in the melanoma patients were stage-related, as was the depression of total lymphocyte and B-lymphocyte levels.

The significance of urinary melanoma antigen excretion and the ability of thymosin to raise the level of depleted lymphocytes in vitro in malignant melanoma.

One hundred and fifty-six patients were screened for the presence of urinary melanoma antigen and serum cytoplasmic antibody. It was found that 44% of symptomless Stage 1 patients tested five to 15 years after operation had detectable antigen (Ag) in their urine; the urines of 67% of Stage 2A (local recurrence) patients were positive for Ag; while in only 38% of those patients graded 2B (lymph-node involvement) were these tests positive. Urines of 83% of patients with generalized metastases (Stage 3) were positive.