Primary synovial sarcoma of the heart

Primary synovial sarcoma of the heart is very rare, accounting for 5% of cardiac malignancies. Of the few cases reported in the literature to date, nearly all have had a very poor outcome. We present a further case. This uncommon malignancy has no specific symptoms during its development, which results in delayed diagnosis. Echocardiography, chest computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging can provide effective information about this tumor. With the identification of the characteristic and diagnostic chromosomal abnormality t(X; 18), this malignancy will become increasingly recognized. Synovial sarcoma of the heart requires surgical intervention to improve the prognosis. Adjuvant and/or genetic therapy pre- or postoperation can help prolong life. Chemotherapy is usually recommended as it may benefit the patients. The key to treatment in the future is to find new therapeutic agents. Further elucidation of the effects of this chromosomal abnormality may lead to better-directed therapies in future. (Cardiol J 2011; 18, 2: 128-133

Vibration of hydraulic machinery

Vibration of Hydraulic Machinery deals with the vibration problem which has significant influence on the safety and reliable operation of hydraulic machinery. It provides new achievements and the latest developments in these areas, even in the basic areas of this subject. The present book covers the fundamentals of mechanical vibration and rotordynamics as well as their main numerical models and analysis methods for the vibration prediction. The mechanical and hydraulic excitations to the vibration are analyzed, and the pressure fluctuations induced by the unsteady turbulent flow is predicted in order to obtain the unsteady loads. This book also discusses the loads, constraint conditions and the elastic and damping characters of the mechanical system, the structure dynamic analysis, the rotor dynamic analysis and the system instability of hydraulic machines, including the illustration of monitoring system for the instability and the vibration in hydraulic units. All the problems are necessary for vibration prediction of hydraulic machinery

Vibration of Hydraulic Machinery

XVII, 500 p. 267 illus.online resource

Outcomes of Surgical Repair for Persistent Truncus Arteriosus from Neonates to Adults: A Single Center's Experience.

This study aimed to report our experiences with surgical repair in patients of all ages with persistent truncus arteriosus.From July 2004 to July 2014, 50 consecutive patients with persistent truncus arteriosus who underwent anatomical repair were included in the retrospective review. Median follow-up time was 3.4 years (range, 3 months to 10 years).Fifty patients underwent anatomical repair at a median age of 19.6 months (range, 20 days to 19.1 years). Thirty patients (60%) were older than one year. The preoperative pulmonary vascular resistance and mean pulmonary artery pressure were 4.1±2.1 (range, 0.1 to 8.9) units.m2 and 64.3±17.9 (range, 38 to 101) mmHg, respectively. Significant truncal valve regurgitation was presented in 14 (28%) patients. Hospital death occurred in 3 patients, two due to pulmonary hypertensive crisis and the other due to pneumonia. Three late deaths occurred at 3, 4 and 11 months after surgery. The actuarial survival rates were 87.7% and 87.7% at 1 year and 5 years, respectively. Multivariate analysis identified significant preoperative truncal valve regurgitation was a risk factor for overall mortality (odds ratio, 7.584; 95%CI: 1.335-43.092; p = 0.022). Two patients required reoperation of truncal valve replacement. One patient underwent reintervention for conduit replacement. Freedom from reoperation at 5 years was 92.9%. At latest examination, there was one patient with moderate-to-severe truncal valve regurgitation and four with moderate. Three patients had residual pulmonary artery hypertension. All survivors were in New York Heart Association class I-II.Complete repair of persistent truncus arteriosus can be achieved with a relatively low mortality and acceptable early- and mid-term results, even in cases with late presentation. Significant preoperative truncal valve regurgitation remains a risk factor for overall mortality. The long-term outcomes warrant further follow-up