Computed tomography in the evaluation of the anomalous origin of the coronary artery: coexistence with other congenital heart disease in an adult population

Background: The aim of the study is to assess the prevalence of anomalous origin of the coronary artery in cardiac computed tomography (CT) and to evaluate its coexistence with other congenital heart disease. Materials and methods: 7,115 patients, who underwent 64-slice or dual source cardiac CT in the years 2005–2011 were screened for the presence of anomalous origin of the coronary artery. Results: Anomalous origin of coronary artery was found in 62 (0.87%) patients (34 males, mean age 57.4 ± 15.1 years). Anomalous aortic and pulmonary origin of coronary artery concerned 59 (0.83%) and 3 (0.04%) cases, respectively. Concomitant heart defects were observed in 5 (0.07%) patients, all with anomalous aortic origin of coronary artery. Malformations included transposition of great arteries (4 patients) and single ventricle in (1 patient). Conclusions: The incidence of anomalous origin of a coronary artery in cardiac CT is similar to invasive coronary angiography. In an adult population the vast majority of those anomalies are isolated abnormalities without concomitant other congenital heart defects

LAGUNA in Polkowice-Sieroszowice mine in Poland

The Polkowice–Sieroszowice mine in one of the seven candidates for the future pan-European underground laboratory studied in the framework of the LAGUNA project. We review the evidence that from the point of view of geology, long-term plans for the mine and existing infrastructure, and support of the authorities this is a perfect place to host the 100 kton liquid argon detector GLACIER

Topographical anatomy of the left ventricular summit: implications for invasive procedures

Background: Recent clinical reports have emphasized the clinical significance of the left ventricular summit (LVS), a specific triangular epicardial area, as the source of ventricular arrhythmias where radiofrequency ablation is of great difficulty. Materials and methods: The macroscopic morphology of the LVS has been assessed in 80 autopsied and 48 angio-CT human hearts. According to Yamada’s equation, the size was calculated based on the distance to the first, most prominent septal perforator. Results: The size of the LVS varies from 33.69 to 792.2 mm2, is highly variable, and does not correlate with BMI, sex, or age in general. The mean size of the LVS was 287.38 ± 144.95mm2 in autopsied and angio-CT (p=0.44). LVS is mostly disproportionately bisected by cardiac coronary veins to superior – inaccessible and inferior–accessible areas. The superior aspect dominates over the inferior in both groups (p=0.04). The relation between superior and inferior groups determines three possible arrangements: the most common type is superior domination (50.2%), then inferior domination (26.6%), and finally, equal distribution (17.2%). In 10.9 %, the inferior aspect is absent. Only 16.4% of the LVS were empty, without additional trespassing coronary arteries. Conclusions: The difference in size and content of the LVS is significant, with no correlation to any variable. The size depends on the anatomy of the most prominent septal perforator artery. The superior, inaccessible aspect dominates, and the LVS is seldom free from additional coronary vessels, thus making this region hazardous for electrophysiological procedures

Selected thermodynamical aspects of hydrogen storage in salt caverns

Przestawiono wybrane rezultaty modelowania termodynamicznych procesów związanych z magazynowaniem wodoru w kawernach solnych. Do symulacji użyto programu KAGA w którym zaimplementowano cztery różne równania stanu dla wodoru.Selected results of modeling thermodynamic processes connected with underground storage of hydrogen in salt caverns are presented. KAGA software was used for the simulation with four different equation of state for hydrogen

Physical and mathematical description of leaching process. (Salt cavern leaching process p. II)

Omówiono najważniejsze podejścia do określenia równań składających się na matematyczno-fizyczny opis procesu ługowania. Podstawową rolę odgrywa tu turbulentne mieszanie wywołane zróżnicowaniem gęstości. Niezrozumienie tej roli i brak jej opisu stanowią podstawowe braki dotychczasowych propozycji. Dość dobrym przybliżeniem jest model, w którym stężenie i przepływ przez kawernę zależą jedynie od głębokoci i czasu.The most important approaches to formulate the equations constituting the physical and mathematical description of the leaching process are discussed. Turbulent mixing caused by density differentiation plays the principal role here. Poor understanding of this role and lack of its description are the fundamental deficiencies of past proposals. Model where brine concentration and flow through the cavern are dependent only on depth and time, is sufficiently good approximation

Sources of our knowledge about leaching process (Salt cavern leaching process p. I)

W pracy szczegółowo omówiono źródła naszej wiedzy o procesie ługowania. Są to laboratoryjne testy na próbkach soli, fizyczne modele w blokach soli, doświadczenie górnicze z ługowania kawern oraz eksperymenty in situ. Rozkładem stężenia solanki w kawerni rządzi turbulentne mieszanie. Można w kawernie wyróżnić dwie strefy: całkowitego mieszania, powyżej buta rury wodnej oraz strefę stratyfikacji poniżej.Sources of our knowledge about leaching process are in details discussed in the paper. There are laboratory tests on salt samples, physical models in salt blocks, mining experience with cavern leaching and leaching experiments in situ. Distribution of brine concentration in the cavern is governed by turbulent mixing processes. Two main zones can be found in the salt cavern: zone of total mixing, above the water tubing shoe and stratification zone below