Influence of Echocardiographic Guidance on Positioning of the Buttoned Occluder for Transcatheter Closure of Atrial Septal Defects

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/73381/1/j.1540-8175.1996.tb00878.x.pd

The Early “Unnatural” History Following Surgical Repair of Ventricular Septal Defects

Introduction Surgical outcomes for simple ventricular septaldefects (VSD) have been excellent in the past three decades. Forthis project, the timing of resolution of left-sided dilation and mitralregurgitation (MR) following VSD repair was assessed. Methods Echocardiographic data surrounding surgery of 42 consecutivechildren who underwent surgical patch repair of a VSD werereviewed. The echocardiograms were reviewed up to a mean of 12months post-operatively (range 9 - 14 months). Quantitative dataindexed to body surface area including left atrial (LA) volume, mitralvalve annulus diameter, and left ventricular end-diastolic dimension(LVEDD) was analyzed. Results The majority of our pre-surgical cohort had only trace(44%) or no MR (31%), with a small proportion having mild (16%)or moderate MR (9%). No patients had moderate or greater MR followingrepair at follow-up. The median mitral valve annular Z-scorewas 1.8 (SD 1.6; range: -1.2 to 4.1) pre-operatively, improving to a 0.6(range: -1.7 to 2.4; p < 0.001) at follow-up. LA dilation was present in70% of patients, with a median LA volume Z-score of 1.1 (range: -2.6to 15.5), decreasing to 13% median Z-score -1.2 (range: -3.5 to 2.9; p< 0.001) at follow-up. LV dilation was present in 81% of pre-operativepatients with a median LVEDD Z-score of 3.0 (range: -2.0 to 7.9).There was significant improvement in qualitative assessment of LVenlargement (25%) with a median LVEDD Z-score of 0.5 (range:-2.1 to 2.9; p < 0.001) at follow-up. Discharge echocardiogram wasperformed at a mean of 5.7 days (range: 3 - 12 days) following surgery. Conclusions Normalization of LA, mitral valve annulus, and LV sizeoccurred within the first three months in the majority of patients, withsignificant changes occurring within the first post-operative weekfollowing surgical repair for VSD

Effect of Substitution of Artemia salina Protein by Soya Protein in Clarias gariepinus Larvae Compounded Diets: Growth, Feed Efficience and Survival

Artemia salina, the main first-feeding protein source of the catfish Clarias gariepinus larvae is relatively scarce and very expensive in Côte d'Ivoire and it raises the cost of catfish fingerlings production. To reduce the feed cost, feeding trial was completed with five isonitrogenous (35%) diets formulated by substituting artemia protein in control diet by soya protein at 25% (SB25), 50% (SB50), 75% (SB75) and 100% (SB100) level. Clarias gariepinus larvae initial body weight 0.0064 ± 0.001 g were stocked at 1 larvae L-1 and fed with the experimental diets three times daily ad libitum for 49 days. At the end of the growth trial, diets SB25 and SB50 present similar growth with the control diet. The low growth recorded from fish fed SB75 and SB100 highly affected final biomass despite the best survival rate recorded. Best values of feed conversion ratio were recorded from larvae fed control diet followed by SB25, SB50. High levels of soya proteins in diets affect feed palatability and larvae growth, vigour, motility and reactivity. Compounded feeds SB25 and SB50 can be used us low cost Clarias gariepinus larvae diets without adverse effects on growth and survival compared of artemia control diet

Operationalising One Health in Nigeria: Reflections From a High-Level Expert Panel Discussion Commemorating the 2020 World Antibiotics Awareness Week.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses an important One Health challenge for all countries of the world. As human, animal and environmental health are closely linked, it is essential that interventions targeted at reducing the spread of AMR and those promoting antimicrobial stewardship are conducted with all sectors in mind. Tackling this global slow-moving pandemic (AMR) also requires action and strong commitment from all countries of the world. Nigeria, like many other countries, have made considerable progress in implementing the National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance. The accomplishments and ongoing work led by the National Technical Working Group on AMR is commendable. However, gaps still exist in terms of operationalising One Health interventions for AMR, especially regarding rational antimicrobial use and antimicrobial stewardship. The 2020 World Antimicrobial Awareness Week presented an opportunity to convene a multi-sectoral expert panel from national government agencies, research, academia and the World Health Organisation across the Nigerian One Health space. The panel discussion analysed the progress made so far and identified the barriers and the opportunities for operationalising One Health interventions on AMR. The discussion highlighted poor awareness and the fear phenomenon, driven by technical and socio-economic factors, as a common cross-sectoral denominator at the heart of inappropriate antibiotic use within the country. At the system level, suboptimal use of antimicrobials fuelled by the ease of purchase, poor regulations and insufficient enforcement of prescription-only access to antimicrobials, and limited infection prevention and biosecurity measures resonated as drivers of AMR across One Health sectors in Nigeria. Looking forward, the panel discussion identified substantial investment in the governance of the existing One Health component structures, inclusive bottom-up institutional antimicrobial stewardship that fosters community participation and multi-level cross-sectoral collaborations as the next level strategic imperatives. In this respect is the need for a strengthened One Health infrastructure, including an operational workforce, educational strategies to elevate AMR and rational antimicrobial use into public consciousness, and the use of improved data systems as countermeasures to the challenge of AMR

Infectious diseases in a Nicaraguan refugee camp in Costa Rica

Artículo científico -- Universidad de Costa Rica. Instituto de Investigaciones en Salud, 1989Some Nicaraguans living in Costa Rica are in refugee camps. The types and rates of infectious diseases in the Pueblo Nuevo refugee camp were measured by examining medical records for 1985 and performing stool and blood testing. The incidence of infections was 320 episodes per 1000 persons per year. Respiratory infections represented 63% of all illnesses and pulmonary tuberculosis was high. Malaria was not found in blood samples and no childhood illnesses preventable by immunizations were recorded in the records. intestinal parasites were found in 565 of the persons examined, considerably higher than the 153/4 prevalence noted in surveys of Costa Rica as a whole. Trichuris trichlura was found in 40 To of the positive stool samples. The deficient hygienic conditions and overcrowding in the camp are responsible for the high rates of infections and the continued presence of infections many of which probably were acquired in Nicaragua. Improvement of hygienic conditions can be accomplished by involving the refugees in education, cleaning and identifying problem areas. Adequate sanitation and improved water supply, and reducing overcrowding are also recommended.Universidad de Costa Rica. Instituto de Investigaciones en Salud.Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. New YorkUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias de la Salud::Instituto de Investigaciones en Salud (INISA

Stent redilation in canine models of congenital heart disease: Pulmonary artery stenosis and coarctation of the aorta

In a canine puppy model, pulmonary artery stenosis was created by banding the left pulmonary artery to 30–40% of its original diameter. Animals underwent right heart catheterization and angiography 1–2 mo later, and Palmaz P308 stents were implanted. Stent redilation was performed 3–5 mo later. One mo postredilation, the animals were restudied and sacrificed. Coarctations of the aorta were created by transverse aortic incision and longitudinal repair. P308 stent implantation was performed 2–3 mo later. Stent redilation was performed after 6–10 mo, and the animals were restudied and sacrificed 1–2 mo later. Stent implantation was performed in 6 puppies with pulmonary artery stenosis, as 2 animals developed postoperative pulmonary arterial hypoplasia, precluding stenting. The stenosis diameter increased from 4.8 ± 0.5 mm to 7.4 ± 0.6 mm (mean ± SE) following stenting ( P = 0.005), and increased further to 9.2 ± 0.7 mm following redilation ( P < 0.001). There were no significant vessel tears or ruptures. Coarctation stenting was performed in 8 animals. The coarctation was dilated from 5.8 ± 0.9 mm to 9.8 ± 0.6 mm ( P < 0.001), and to 13.5 ± 0.5 mm at redilation ( P = 0.002). Redilation could not be performed in 1 animal. Aortic rupture and death occurred in 2 of 7 animals at redilation. Stent implantation and redilation in experimental pulmonary artery stenosis appears safe and effective. Though stent implantation for coarctation of the aorta appears safe, there was a 28% aortic rupture rate at stent redilation in this model. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/38176/1/24_ftp.pd

Aldosterone Antagonists in Monotherapy Are Protective against Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Nephropathy in Rats

Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB) are the standard clinical therapy of diabetic nephropathy (DN), while aldosterone antagonists are only used as adjuncts. Previously in experimental DN we showed that Na/K ATPase (NKA) is mislocated and angiotensin II leads to superimposed renal progression. Here we investigated the monotherapeutic effect of aldosterone blockers on the progression of DN and renal NKA alteration in comparison to ACEi and ARBs. Streptozotocin-diabetic rats developing DN were treated with aldosterone antagonists; ACEi and ARB. Renal function, morphology, protein level and tubular localization of NKA were analyzed. To evaluate the effect of high glucose per se; HK-2 proximal tubular cells were cultured in normal or high concentration of glucose and treated with the same agents. Aldosterone antagonists were the most effective in ameliorating functional and structural kidney damage and they normalized diabetes induced bradycardia and weight loss. Aldosterone blockers also prevented hyperglycemia and diabetes induced increase in NKA protein level and enzyme mislocation. A monotherapy with aldosterone antagonists might be as, or more effective than ACEi or ARBs in the prevention of STZ-induced DN. Furthermore the alteration of the NKA could represent a novel pathophysiological feature of DN and might serve as an additional target of aldosterone blockers