Endoscopic access closure for direct implantation of valved stents

OBJECTIVES: The off-pump trans left ventricular approach provides an alternative option for insertion of stented aortic valves of any size for endovascular replacement. One of the key steps in this procedure is the repair of the ventricle after catheter withdrawal. This study evaluates the reliability of a new device for sutureless and quick repair of the left ventricle access. METHODS: The Amplatz-nitinol occluder consists of two square heads that squeeze the ventricle wall between them thus sealing the ventricular defect. In four adult pigs weighing 55 kg, left thoracoscopy was performed to open the pericardium and visualise the cardiac apex. Following a heparin injection (100 U/kg) under ICUS and fluoroscopic control, we inserted a 30 F sheath into the epigastric area through the cardiac apex up into the left ventricle thus simulating the approach for an off-pump aortic valve replacement. The sheath was then removed and the ventricle closed with the occluder. Animals were followed-up for three hours; the haemodynamics and pericardial bleeding were recorded. The animals were then sacrificed and the gross anatomy of the heart was examined. RESULTS: The device was successfully deployed in four animals in less than one minute. ACT was above 200 seconds in all cases. All animals survived the procedure with a mean arterial pressure of 50 +/- 15 mm Hg. Bleeding during deployment was 80 +/- 20 ml and over a 3 hour period was 800 +/- 20 ml. Examination of the gross anatomy examination demonstrated the correct positioning of the device. CONCLUSIONS: The occluder is easy to use and the procedure is feasible and reproducible. However, the occluder design requires technical improvements in order to reduce bleeding before it can be used clinically

Analysis of filtration processes in small experimental embankment based on numerical modeling and temperature measurements

Abstract This paper presents analysis of filtration processes in small experimental embankment. The analysis is based on field measurements and numerical modeling. The measurements were performed on experimental embankment, which size is in scale 1:5 comparing to typical river embankments in Poland. The measurements are made during flooding experiment. Two parameters during experiment ware measured: pore pressure and temperature. Additionally, the thermograpical observation of air side of embankment was conducted. The FLAC 7.0 software was used in 2D numerical modeling. Modification the parameters of the model allowed to fit the modelled data to the measured data

Closure of left ventricle perforation with the use of muscular VSD occluder

Growing experience in interventional cardiology leads to the use of large diameter of vascular equipment. In some instances, the so-called hybrid procedures are performed. After performing the interventional procedure, the opening in ventricular wall is closed surgically. Our intention was to check if the MVSDO can be used to close the perforation in the heart after the interventional cardiology procedure performed through the left ventricular (LV) free wall. In three pigs under general anesthesia, the heart was exposed through a small substernal incision. The LV was punctured and an 18F sheath was introduced into the LV. A 14 mm MVSDO was inserted through the 10F Delivery System. Using both the echocardiographic and angiographic guidance, the MVSDO was placed on the LV wall to close the opening in the LV. Time and volume of bleeding was recorded. In all cases the occluder was successfully placed closing the opening, bleeding observed after deployment of occluder lasted for approximately 2 min. We think MVSD occluder can be used to close the LV free wall perforation after hybrid interventional cardiac procedure. Early bleeding through MVSDO might be resolved by the manufacturing of new occluder with better sealing properties

Oxidative stress biomarkers and acetylcholinesterase activity in human erythrocytes exposed to clomazone (in vitro)

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of clomazone herbicide on oxidative stress biomarkers and acetylcholinesterase activity in human erythrocytes in in vitro conditions. The activity of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE), as well as the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and reduced glutathione (GSH) were measured in human erythrocytes exposed (in vitro) to clomazone at varying concentrations in the range of 0, 100, 250 and 500 µg/L for 1 h at 37 °C.TBARS levels were significantly higher in erythrocytes incubated with clomazone at 100, 250 and 500 µg/L. However, erythrocyte CAT and AChE activities were decreased at all concentrations tested. SOD activity was increased only at 100 µg/L of clomazone. GSH levels did not change with clomazone exposure. These results clearly showed clomazone to induce oxidative stress and AChE inhibition in human erythrocytes (in vitro). We, thus, suggest a possible role of ROS on toxicity mechanism induced by clomazone in humans

The effects of probiotic bacteria on glycaemic control in overweight men and women: a randomised controlled trial

Background/Objectives: Evidence from animal and in vitro models suggest a role of probiotic bacteria in improving glycaemic control and delaying the onset of type 2 diabetes. However, the evidence from controlled trials in humans is limited. The objective was to determine if the probiotic bacteria L. acidophilus La5 and B. animalis subsp lactis Bb12, supplemented in a whole food (yoghurt) or isolated (capsules) form, can improve biomarkers of glycaemic control. Subjects/methods: Following a 3-week washout period, 156 overweight men and women over 55 years (mean age: 67±8 years; mean body mass index (31±4 kg/m2) were randomized to a 6-week double-blinded parallel study. The four intervention groups were: (A) probiotic yoghurt plus probiotic capsules; (B) probiotic yoghurt plus placebo capsules; (C) control milk plus probiotic capsules; and (D) control milk plus placebo capsules. Outcome measurements, including fasting glucose, insulin, glycated haemoglobin and Homoeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), were performed at baseline and week 6. Results: Relative to the milk-control group, probiotic yoghurt resulted in a significantly higher HOMA-IR (0.32±0.15, P=0.038), but did not have a significant effect on the other three measures of glycaemic control (P>0.05). Relative to placebo capsules, probiotic capsules resulted in a significantly higher fasting glucose (0.15±0.07 mmol/l, P=0.037), with no significant effect on the other three measures of glycaemic control (P>0.05). Further analyses did not identify other variables as contributing to these adverse findings. Conclusions: Data from this study does not support the hypothesis that L. acidophilus La5 and B. animalis subsp lactis Bb12, either in isolated form or as part of a whole food, benefit short-term glycaemic control. Indeed, there is weak data for an adverse effect of these strains on glucose homoeostasis

Acoustic Overexposure Increases the Expression of VGLUT-2 Mediated Projections from the Lateral Vestibular Nucleus to the Dorsal Cochlear Nucleus

The dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN) is a first relay of the central auditory system as well as a site for integration of multimodal information. Vesicular glutamate transporters VGLUT-1 and VGLUT-2 selectively package glutamate into synaptic vesicles and are found to have different patterns of organization in the DCN. Whereas auditory nerve fibers predominantly co-label with VGLUT-1, somatosensory inputs predominantly co-label with VGLUT-2. Here, we used retrograde and anterograde transport of fluorescent conjugated dextran amine (DA) to demonstrate that the lateral vestibular nucleus (LVN) exhibits ipsilateral projections to both fusiform and deep layers of the rat DCN. Stimulating the LVN induced glutamatergic synaptic currents in fusiform cells and granule cell interneurones. We combined the dextran amine neuronal tracing method with immunohistochemistry and showed that labeled projections from the LVN are co-labeled with VGLUT-2 by contrast to VGLUT-1. Wistar rats were exposed to a loud single tone (15 kHz, 110 dB SPL) for 6 hours. Five days after acoustic overexposure, the level of expression of VGLUT-1 in the DCN was decreased whereas the level of expression of VGLUT-2 in the DCN was increased including terminals originating from the LVN. VGLUT-2 mediated projections from the LVN to the DCN are likely to play a role in the head position in response to sound. Amplification of VGLUT-2 expression after acoustic overexposure could be a compensatory mechanism from vestibular inputs in response to hearing loss and to a decrease of VGLUT-1 expression from auditory nerve fibers

Normal and abnormal development of the aortic wall and valve: correlation with clinical entities

Dilation of the wall of the thoracic aorta can be found in patients with a tricuspid (TAV) as well as a bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) with and without a syndromic component. BAV is the most common congenital cardiovascular malformation, with a population prevalence of 0.5–2 %. The clinical course is often characterised by aneurysm formation and in some cases dissection. The non-dilated aortic wall is less well differentiated in all BAV as compared with TAV, thereby conferring inherent developmental susceptibility. Furthermore, a turbulent flow, caused by the inappropriate opening of the bicuspid valve, could accelerate the degenerative process in the aortic wall. However, not all patients with bicuspidy develop clinical complications during their life. We postulate that the increased vulnerability for aortic complications in a subset of patients with BAV is caused by a defect in the early development of the aorta and aortic valve. This review discusses histological and molecular genetic aspects of the normal and abnormal development of the aortic wall and semilunar valves. Aortopathy associated with BAV could be the result of a shared developmental defect during embryogenesis