Planning assistance for the 30/20 GHz program, volume 3

The three basic experiment categories and consolidated experiments proposed by members of the Carrier Working Group are defined by category and by carrier. The three experiment categories are: (1) Possible Service (PS); (2) Possible Service and Technology (PSAT); and (3) Possible Technology (PT). Under Task 9 Western Union provided review, recommendations and critique of the NASA generated Statement of Work (SOW) defining the technical requirements governing design, launch and operation of the 30/20 GHz experimental systems

Planning assistance for the 30/20 GHz program, volume 1

Functional requirements for the 30/20 GHz communication system, planning assistance for the 30/20 GHz program, and a review of specified conceptual designs and recommendations are provided

The relation between ST-segment resolution and in-hospital mortality after primary percutaneous coronary interventions

Objective: The resolution of ST-segment elevation (>50%) indicates successful reperfusion with thrombolytic therapy. The aim of this study is to evaluate the relation of ST-segment resolution post-primary percutaneous cardiac intervention (PCI) with in-hospital mortality and coronary thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) blood flow. Methods: This study is a single-centred retrospective study. The study enrolled 100 patients who were referred to the Nasiriya Heart Centre for primary PCI. We measured the ST segment amplitude in the lead with the highest elevation prior to primary PCI and assessed the ST-segment elevation post-primary PCI. The ratio of ST-segment resolution was calculated and considered complete if reaches ≥70% from the initial ST-segment elevation. We assessed the association of ST-segment resolution with in-hospital mortality. Results: Analysis of the electrocardiogram (ECG) showed that 21 patients (21%) had complete ST-segment (≥ 70%) resolution. No significant association was shown between ST-segment resolution and in-hospital mortality. Two out of 21 patients with complete ST-segment resolution died in the hospital and 6 out of 79 patients with incomplete ST-segment resolution died (P=0.77). There is no significant association between ST-segment resolution and coronary TIMI flow grades. In patients with complete ST-segment resolution, 19 patients had TIMI III flow and 2 patients had TIMI II flow. In patients with incomplete ST-segment resolution, 72 patients had TIMI III flow, 6 patients had TIMI II flow; and 1 patient had no-reflow (P=0.84). Conclusion: Complete ST-segment resolution in post-primary PCI settings has no significant association with in-hospital mortality. Absent or incomplete ST-segment resolution is not necessarily an indicator of coronary artery re-occlusion after primary PCI

Assembling surfactants-mucoadhesive polymer nanomicelles (ASMP-nano) for ocular delivery of cyclosporine-A

The physiological protective mechanisms of the eye reduce the bioavailability of topically administered drugs above all for those with high molecular weight and /or lipophilic characteristics, such as Cyclosporine A (CyA). The combined strategy based on the association of nanomicelles and mucoadhesive polymer seems promising since a limited number of commercial products containing CyA have been recently approved. The scope of this investigation was the design of Assembling Surfactants-Mucoadhesive Polymer Nanomicelles (ASMP-Nano), based on a binary system of two surfactants in combination with hyaluronic acid, and their biopharmaceutical evaluation. The optimisation of the ASMP-Nano in term of the amount of surfactants, CyA-loading and size determined the selection of the clear and stable Nano1HAB-CyA formulation containing 0.105% w/w CyA loaded-nanomicelles with a size of 14.41 nm. The nanostructured system had a protective effect towards epithelial corneal cells with a cell viability of more than 80%. It interacted with cellular barriers favouring the uptake and the accumulation of CyA into the cells as evidenced by fluorescent probe distribution, by hindering CyA permeation through reconstituted corneal epithelial tissue. In pharmacokinetics study on rabbits, the nanomicellar carrier prolonged the CyA retention time in the precorneal area mainly in presence of hyaluronic acid (HA), a mucoadhesive polymer

Percutaneous Transluminal Mitral Commissurotomy using Inoue Balloon in Iraqi population

Background: Mitral stenosis (MS) is the most common valve disease in developing countries and there are many ways to deal with this condition. The aim of this study was to evaluate the immediate results of percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy (PTMC) in patients with severe symptomatic rheumatic mitral stenosis. Patients and Methods: From May 2006 to August 2007, 58 patients (17 male, 41 female) with age range (16-57) years, underwent PTMC in Ibn AL- Bitar Hospital for Cardiac Surgery. All the patients were symptomatic, their MVA 1.5 cm2 with NYHA class II-IV. Clinical evaluation and echocardiographic examination were carried out before and after PTMC, mitral valve structures were assessed using Wilkins score. The procedure was performed under local anesthesia, using the step-wise Inoue balloon technique with the antegrade transvenous approach. Results: The procedure was successful in 51(88%) of the patients and unsuccessful in the remaining 7(12%) patients. Successful result was defined as post procedure mitral valve area ( MVA) 1.5 cm² as assessed by echocardiography and no mitral regurgitation (MR)>2 according to sellers classification. Mitral valve area increased from 0.93 ±0.2 to 1.84±0.2 cm² after the procedure (P<0.001) as measured by echocardiography. Severe MR was observed in 1(1.7%) patients, while new mild - moderate MR have been detected in 9(17.6%) patients. Symptomatic improvement was seen in all patients who underwent successful PTMC .There where no procedure related deaths, temponade or the need for emergent mitral valve replacement. Conclusion: percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy by Inoue balloon technique is safe and effective procedure for patients with severe and symptomatic rheumatic MS. The ideal candidate are those patients with pliable valve ,but still most of patients with relatively high Wilkins echo score can get considerable benefit

Clinical study of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Background: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a common genetic cardiovascular disease. Its morphologically divided into asymmetrical septal hypertrophy, symmetrical concentric hypertrophy and apical hypertrophy,and physiologically divided into obstructive HCM and non obstructive HCM according to the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) gradient at rest or with provocation. Several factors that increase risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD), the more risk factors a patient has, the greater the chance that the patient is exposed to sudden death and sufficient to warrant consideration for interventional therapy. Objective: The aims of the study are to evaluate the clinical presentations, risk stratification and family screening of patients with HCM. Patients and methods: This cross sectional study was performed in Ibn-Albitar hospital for cardiac surgery. We studied the prevalence of certain variables among seventy three patients with  HCM from “June 2010 to April 2012" including the clinical triggers ,electrocardiographic (ECG) changes, ventricular and supraventricular arrhythmia by holter monitoring, morphological and physiological types of HCM by echocardiography, family screening and finally we assessed the risk factors for SCD and candidacy for interventional procedures. Results: A total of seventy three patients, males to females ratio were 1.5:1 with a mean age of 34±26 (years). HCM was higher in patients younger than 45 years of age, 43(58.9%). Eighty seven percent were symptomatic  and (12.3%) were asymptomatic diagnosed by family screening of first degree relatives with HCM. Family history of HCM was identified in (38.3%).Three quarter of patients had asymmetrical septal hypertrophy and (6.8%) had pure apical HCM. Abnormal ECG was found in(87.6%) mainly in the form of left ventricular hypertrophy( LVH )while 9 patients(12.3%) had normal ECG. Nonsustained ventricular tachycardia(NSVT) was found in(30.1%). Echocardiographically, systolic anterior motion(SAM) of the anterior mitral leaflet was seen in about half of patients and three patients (7.6%) had SAM without LVOT obstruction. About half of patients (49.4%) had resting and provocable LVOT obstruction and about half of obstructive type (47.2%) had LVOT gradient ≥50mmhg and are candidate for surgical or percutaneous intervention. Conclusions: Most of our patients were symptomatic and significant number of patients had family history of HCM. Asymmetrical septal hypertrophy was the commonest morphological type of HCM. Relatively equal prevalence of obstructive and nonobstructive HCM and significant number of patients with the obstructive type had LVOT gradient ≥ 50mmhg who are candidate for surgical or trascatheter interventions