Human Aortic Valve Interstitial Cells Display Proangiogenic Properties During Calcific Aortic Valve Disease.

Objective: The study's aim was to analyze the capacity of human valve interstitial cells (VICs) to participate in aortic valve angiogenesis. Approach and Results: VICs were isolated from human aortic valves obtained after surgery for calcific aortic valve disease and from normal aortic valves unsuitable for grafting (control VICs). We examined VIC in vitro and in vivo potential to differentiate in endothelial and perivascular lineages.

Management specificities for abdominal, pelvic and vascular penetrating trauma.

Management of patients with penetrating trauma of the abdomen, pelvis and their surrounding compartments as well as vascular injuries depends on the patient's hemodynamic status. Multiple associated lesions are the rule. Their severity is directly correlated with initial bleeding, the risk of secondary sepsis, and lastly to sequelae.

An alternative method to characterize the surface urban heat island.

An urban heat island (UHI) is a relative measure defined as a metropolitan area that is warmer than the surrounding suburban or rural areas. The UHI nomenclature includes a surface urban heat island (SUHI) definition that describes the land surface temperature (LST) differences between urban and suburban areas. The complexity involved in selecting an urban core and external thermal reference for estimating the magnitude of a UHI led us to develop a new definition of SUHIs that excludes any rural comparison.

Variation of daily warm season mortality as a function of micro-urban heat islands.

Background: Little attention has been paid to how heat-related health effects vary with the micro-urban variation of outdoor temperatures. This study explored whether people located in micro-urban heat islands are at higher risk of mortality during hot summer days.

Methods: Data used included (1) daily mortality for Montreal (Canada) for June-August 1990-2003, (2) daily mean ambient outdoor temperatures at the local international airport and (3) two thermal surface images (Landsat satellites, infrared wavelengths).

Prediction of the indoor temperatures of an urban area with an in-time regression mapping approach.

Excess mortality has been noted during high ambient temperature episodes. During such episodes, individuals are not likely to be uniformly exposed to temperatures within cities. Exposure of individuals to high temperatures is likely to fluctuate with the micro-urban variation of outdoor temperatures (heat island effect) and with factors linked to building properties.