Numerical Results For The 2D Random Bond 3-state Potts Model

We present results of a numerical simulation of the 3-state Potts model with random bond, in two dimension. In particular, we measure the critical exponent associated to the magnetization and the specific heat. We also compare these exponents with recent analytical computations.Comment: 9 pages, latex, 3 Postscript figure

Periprocedural and Short-Term Outcomes of Transfemoral Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation With the Sapien XT as Compared With the Edwards Sapien Valve

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to analyze the short-term outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve implantation with the Edwards Sapien THV (ESV), compared with the Sapien XT THV (SXT) (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, California).BackgroundThe SXT has been recently commercialized in Europe, but there are no studies analyzing the efficacy and safety of SXT, compared with ESV.MethodsAll consecutive patients (n = 120) who underwent transcatheter aortic valve implantation in our center via the transfemoral approach with either ESV (n = 66) or SXT (n = 54). Valve Academic Research Consortium endpoints were used.ResultsMean age was 80 ± 8 years, and mean Logistic-European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation was 24.9 ± 17.0. The ilio-femoral artery minimal lumen diameter was smaller in patients treated with the SXT (7.27 ± 1.09 mm vs. 7.94 ± 1.08 mm, p = 0.002). Device success was high in both groups (96.3% vs. 92.4%, p = 0.45). Major vascular events were 3-fold lower in the SXT group (11.1% vs. 33.3%, relative risk: 0.40, 95% confidence interval: 0.28 to 0.57; p = 0.004). Life-threatening and major bleeding events were not significantly different between groups (18.5% vs. 27.3% and 35.2% vs. 40.9%, respectively). The SXT group had a lower 30-day Valve Academic Research Consortium combined safety endpoint (20.4% vs. 45.5%; relative risk: 0.44, 95% confidence interval: 0.24 to 0.80; p = 0.004). The 30-day mortality was 1.7% (n = 2). At 30 days, mean transaortic gradient was approximately 10 mm Hg in both groups and the aortic regurgitation was mild-to-moderate in 70.2% of SXT and 76.3% of ESV.ConclusionsThe new SXT valve has the same short-term performance as the ESV but seems to be associated with a lower risk of major vascular complications and thus has a broader clinical application

One-year results following a pre-specified ABSORB implantation strategy in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (BVS STEMI STRATEGY-IT study)

Background: data from clinical experiences with Absorb bioresorbable scaffold (BRS) in STEMI raised concerns among clinicians about the device safety because a noteworthy scaffold thrombosis (ScT) rate was reported at early and long-term follow-up. Nevertheless, pre-specified technical suggestions of how to perform an optimal BRS procedure in STEMI were lacking. In this study we sought to assess the 1-year results following a pre-specified BRS implantation strategy in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients undergoing primary PCI (pPCI). Methods: This is a prospective, multicenter study on 505 STEMI patients undergoing pPCI with Absorb following a dedicated implantation protocol. The primary end-point (a device oriented composite end-point (DOCE) of cardiac death, target-vessel myocardial infarction (TV-MI) and ischemia-driven target lesion revascularization (ID-TLR) within 30 days) was already reported. We here present DOCE, its singular components and ScT rates (secondary end-points) at 1-year. Results: According to the study protocol direct Absorb implantation was feasible in 47 (9.3%) patients while post-dilatation was performed in 468 (92.7%) cases. The hierarchical DOCE rate at 1-year was 1.2% (0.4% cardiac death, 0.4% TV-MI and 0.8% ID-TLR) versus 0.6% at 30-day. Two episodes (0.4%) of ScT (one probable subacute and one late definite) were reported. At 1-year, 99.2% patients were on dual antiplatelet therapy (95% with ticagrelor or prasugrel). Conclusions: A pre-specified Absorb implantation strategy in STEMI patients was associated with persistent low DOCE and ScT rates at 1-year. Longer term follow-up is needed to assess the role of this strategy on preventing very-late events (NCT02601781)