Prognostic value of stress 99mTc-tetrofosmin myocardial perfusion imaging in predicting all-cause mortality: a 6-year follow-up study.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to ascertain whether stress myocardial perfusion imaging can independently predict long-term mortality.

Methods: We studied 1,386 patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease by means of stress 99mTc-tetrofosmin myocardial perfusion tomography. The end point during follow-up was death from any cause.

Association of ischemia on stress (99m)Tc-tetrofosmin myocardial perfusion imaging with all-cause mortality in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Unlabelled: Stress myocardial perfusion imaging is a useful method for evaluation of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with diabetes mellitus. However, its role in predicting all-cause mortality is not well defined. The aim of this study was to determine whether myocardial ischemia on stress myocardial perfusion imaging can predict all causes of death in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Icodextrin reduces postoperative adhesion formation in rats without affecting peritoneal metastasis.

Background: Peroperative peritoneal trauma activates a cascade of peritoneal defense mechanisms responsible for postoperative adhesion formation. The same cascade seems to play a role in the process of intra-abdominal tumor recurrence. Icodextrin is a glucose polymer solution that is absorbed slowly from the peritoneal cavity, allowing prolonged "hydroflotation" of the viscera, thereby decreasing adhesion formation.

Processing and transfusion of residual cardiopulmonary bypass volume: effects on haemostasis, complement activation, postoperative blood loss and transfusion volume.

The aim of this prospective randomized study was to compare the effects of the transfusion of unprocessed and cell saver-processed residual cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) volume on haemostasis, complement activation, postoperative blood loss and transfusion requirements after elective cardiac surgery. Blood samples were taken at eight points in time, perioperatively. Haematological data, including haemoglobin, haematocrit and platelet counts as well as coagulation parameters, including activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time, thrombin time, fibrinogen and the fibrinolytic parameter D-dimers, were measured from each blood sample.

Long-term prognosis after a normal exercise stress Tc-99m sestamibi SPECT study.

Background: Patients with a normal stress technetium 99m sestamibi study were shown to have a favorable outcome at intermediate-term follow-up. However, long-term survival has not been studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence and predictors of mortality and cardiac events at long-term follow-up after a normal exercise stress sestamibi study.

Voiding symptoms in chronic pelvic pain (CPP).

Objective: To establish the prevalence of voiding symptoms in CPP patients.

Study Design: Sixty women with chronic pelvic pain (CPP), aged 23-79 (mean: 48) years completed a questionnaire mainly addressing lower abdominal pain and voiding symptoms. Symptoms occurring often, almost always, or always for more than 6 months were considered present and serious.

Clinical and angiographic outcome of patients with mild coronary lesions treated with balloon angioplasty or coronary stenting. Implications for mechanical plaque sealing.

Aims: To investigate the clinical and angiographic outcome of patients with mild coronary lesions treated with balloon angioplasty or coronary stenting (coronary plaque sealing, i.e. dilatation of angiographically non-significant lesions) compared to moderate and severe stenoses.

Ten years after introduction of intravascular ultrasound in the catheterization laboratory: tool or toy?

Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) represents the gold standard in the assessment of atherosclerotic disease. It has deeply affected our understanding of coronary artery disease and therapeutic strategies. We learned that a phenomenon described in pathologic series plays a very important role during life--that of vessel remodeling.

First clinical experience with the R Stent: a new highly flexible stainless steel tube intracoronary stent.

BACKGROUND: Coronary stents have been used with increasing frequency and in increasingly complex coronary disease. A new 316 LVM stainless steel coronary stent, the R Stent, has been designed to provide maximum flexibility for tracking and high radial strength post-deployment. PURPOSE: To assess the clinical feasibility of the R Stent in a tertiary referral population of patients with coronary heart disease.

Role of angiotensin II in L-NAME-induced systemic and renal hemodynamic effects in hydrochlorothiazide-pretreated hypertensive subjects.

Background: Experimental evidence suggests that in conditions associated with an activated renin-angiotensin system, unopposed activity of angiotensin II underlies the marked renal vasoconstrictor response to nitric oxide synthase inhibition. In the present study, we investigated whether this holds true in hypertensive subjects pretreated with hydrochlorothiazide (HCT).

Methods: Systemic N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) infusions (12.

Poor outcome in Down syndrome fetuses with cardiac anomalies or growth retardation.

The outcome of Down syndrome fetuses presenting with sonographic abnormalities in the second or third trimester is unclear. Therefore, we studied 55 pregnancies referred because of sonographically suspected fetal structural anomalies or growth retardation due to trisomy 21. A detailed ultrasound scan was performed in all cases to delineate the structural anomalies.

No functional benefit for hDAF-transgenic rat livers despite protection from tissue damage following perfusion with human serum.

Currently, xenogeneic extracorporeal liver perfusion is used in the treatment of acute liver failure. In order to determine whether transgeneity for human regulatory proteins could improve the functional outcome of the ex-vivo liver in relation to the histopathological changes, we studied the effect of the humoral mechanism in xenogeneic isolated rat liver perfusion in normal and transgenic rat livers. Isolated rat liver perfusion was performed for 2 h in normal rat livers with Krebs Henseleit (KH) and human serum (HS), and in livers transgenic for human decay accelerating factor (hDAF; Tg HS).

Application of beta-irradiation through the struts of a previously deployed stent.

The application of beta-radiation in coronary arteries is a promising new technique for the treatment of in-stent restenosis. This is the first case in which the 5 F. delivery catheter of the Beta-Cath trade mark system was advanced through the struts of a stent, previously deployed in an adjacent branch, so as to deliver radiation to the target vessel.

Low rates of clinical restenosis with the new flexible stainless steel tube intracoronary stent: the R Stent. A six-month safety and feasibility study.

BACKGROUND: Coronary stents have been used with increasing frequency and in increasingly complex coronary lesions for the treatment of symptomatic coronary artery disease. A new stainless steel coronary stent, the R Stent, has been designed to provide maximum flexibility for tracking and high radial strength post-deployment. AIMS: To assess the safety and feasibility of the R Stent in patients with coronary artery disease.

Prenatal diagnosis and confirmation of the acrofacial dysostosis syndrome type Rodriguez.

The group of acrofacial dysostosis (AFD) syndromes is very heterogeneous and contains many different entities. In 1990, Rodriguez et al. [1990: Am J Med Genet 35:484-489] described a new type of AFD characterized by severe mandibular hypoplasia, phocomelia and oligodactyly of the upper limbs, absence of fibulae, microtia, cleft palate, internal organ anomalies including arrhinencephaly and abnormal lung lobulation, and early lethality.

Technical considerations and pitfalls in laparoscopic live donornephrectomy.

Background: Recent developments in laparoscopic solid organ surgery suggest a possible reduction in postoperative discomfort and disability for kidney donors. Technical aspects and the influence of surgical experience in laparoscopic donor nephrectomy were evaluated.

Methods: The clinical outcome of 57 laparoscopic donor nephrectomies (LapNx) was compared with that for a historic control group of 27 open donor nephrectomies (OpenNx).

Strabismic suppression depends on the amount of dissimilarity between left- and right-eye images.

Suppression in strabismus is more likely to occur when the images for the left- and right-eye are similar. In this study the relationship between the depth of strabismic suppression and the amount of dissimilarity between the images was quantified. Six subjects with microstrabismus looked at two identical colorful, cartoon images via mirrors.

New developments in frontotemporal dementia and parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17.

Purpose Of Review: The identification of tau mutations in frontotemporal dementia and parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17 (FTDP-17) has revealed invaluable information regarding the role of the tau protein in neurodegenerative disease. Over the past year several new mutations have been identified, and experimental studies have provided further insight into the mechanism of neurodegeneration due to tau mutations and possible interactions with amyloid pathology.

Recent Findings: Extensive clinical and pathological variation is seen in patients with different types of mutation, as well as in patients with the same mutation.

Effects of L-arginine and L-NAME on the renal function in hypertensive and normotensive subjects.

Background/aim: Renal vasodilation in response to L-arginine has been reported to be diminished in hypertensive (HT) subjects. If this diminished renal vasodilator response indicates disturbance of the renal NO pathway, a diminished renal vasoconstrictor response to NO synthase inhibition may be present in HT subjects as well. The present study was conducted to compare the effects of L-arginine and N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) on renal and systemic hemodynamics between HT and normotensive (NT) subjects.

Safe retroperitoneal endoscopic resection of pheochromocytomas.

Although endoscopic adrenalectomy is advocated for small adrenocortical tumors, questions remain about the safety of endoscopic retroperitoneal resection of pheochromocytomas. In this study we evaluated the outcome of retroperitoneal endoscopic adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma. Between June 1995 and September 1999 we performed 18 retroperitoneal endoscopic adrenalectomies for a pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma.

Comparison of mastocytosis with onset in children and adults.

Objective: To compare the incidence, symptomatology and course of mastocytosis with onset in childhood and in adults.

Design: Retrospective study of 101 patients with mastocytosis who were referred from 1980 to 1998.

Patients: Medical records of 65 cases of mastocytosis with onset in childhood and 36 in adulthood were analysed.

A model system for optimising the selection of membrane antigen-specific human antibodies on intact cells using phage antibody display technology.

The functional expression of human antibody fragments on the surface of filamentous bacteriophage, and selection of phage antibodies (PhAbs) with antigens, has provided a powerful tool for generating novel antibodies. Applications of phage antibody display technology have increased over the past decade. Successful isolation of phage antibodies has been reported mostly using purified antigens.

Liver transplantation and hepatitis C.

End-stage liver disease caused by chronic hepatitis C viral infection is one of the major indications for liver transplantation. However, evidence for ongoing viral replication can already be found days after surgery and may lead sequentially to lobular hepatitis, chronic active hepatitis, fibrosis and liver cirrhosis. In some patients, this evolution is remarkably fast, most probably enhanced by the immunosuppressive therapy.