Defective recovery of QT dispersion following transcatheter aortic valve implantation: Frequency, predictors and prognosis

Background: Corrected QT dispersion (cQTD) has been correlated with non-uniform ventricular repolarisation and increased mortality. In patients with aortic stenosis, cQTD has been shown improved after surgical valve replacement, but the effects of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) are unknown. Therefore, we sought to explore the frequency, predictors and prognostic effects of defective cQTD recovery at 6 months after TAVI. Methods: A total of 222 patients underwent TAVI with the Medtronic-CoreValve System between November 2005 and January 2012. Patients who were on class I or III antiarrhythmics or on chronic haemodialysis or who developed atrial fibrillation, a new bundle branch block or became pacemaker dependent after TAVI were excluded. As a result, pre-, post- and follow-up ECG (median: 6 months) analysis was available in 45 eligible patients. Defective cQTD recovery was defined as any progression beyond the baseline cQTD at 6 months. Results: In the 45 patients, the mean cQTD was 47 ± 23 ms at baseline, 45 ± 17 ms immediately after TAVI and 40 ± 16 ms at 6 months (15% reduction, P = 0.049). Compared to baseline, cQTD at 6 months was improved in 60% of the patients whereas defective cQTD recovery was present in 40%. cQTD increase immediately after TAVI was an independent predictor of defective cQTD recovery at 6 months (per 10 ms increase; OR: 1.89, 95% CI: 1.15-3.12). By univariable analysis, defective cQTD recovery was associated with late mortality (HR: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.05-2.17). Conclusions: Despite a gradual reduction of cQTD after TAVI, 40% of the patients had defective recovery at 6 months which was associated with late mortality. More detailed ECG analysis after TAVI may

Measurement of the t-tbar Production Cross Section in p-pbar Collisions at sqrt(s)=1.8 TeV

We present a measurement of the t-tbar cross section in p-pbar collisions at sqrt(s)=1.8 TeV using an integrated luminosity of 109 pb-1 collected with the Collider Detector at Fermilab. The measurement uses t-tbar decays into final states which contain one or two high transverse momentum leptons and multiple jets, and final states which contain only jets. Using acceptances appropriate for a top quark mass of 175 GeV/c^2, we find sigma(t-tbar)=7.6 (+1.8 -1.5) pb .Comment: 17 pages, Revtex, with one postscript figure. Submitted to Physical Review Letter

Root coverage with coronally advanced flap:6‐year follow‐up

Buduneli, Nurcan/0000-0002-1590-5801WOS: 000506681000006PubMed: 31494957Aim the aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term stability of root coverage without a regular control programme after coronally advanced flap (CAF) procedures in isolated gingival recessions. Material and Methods Recession defects were treated with CAF using microsurgery technique. Probing depth, clinical attachment level, keratinized gingival width, plaque index, papilla bleeding index, recession depth, recession width and root surface area was evaluated at baseline, and then postoperative 6-month and 6-year follow-up sessions. Percentages of root coverage and complete root coverage rates were also calculated. Results in total, 12 defects in 12 patients of the 36 defects in 30 patients were available for analysis at the 6-year follow-up examination (66.7% of the initial sites could be reached). Percentage of mean root coverage was 95.06% at 6-month and 69.27% at 6-year and the difference was statistically significant (P 0.05). Conclusion Within the limits of this long-term follow-up study, there seems to be a rather high risk for relapse after root coverage with CAF possibly due to the lack of regular recalls and persistent traumatic tooth brushing habits

Factors predictive of persistent fistulas in EUS-Directed transgastric ERCP: A multicenter matched case-control study

BACKGROUND: EUS-directed transgastric ERCP (EDGE) is an established method for managing pancreaticobiliary pathology in Roux-en-Y gastric bypass patients, with high rates of technical success and low rates of serious adverse events (AEs). However widespread adoption of the technique has been limited due to concerns about the development of persistent gastrogastric (GG) or jejunogastric (JG) fistulas. GG/GJ fistulas have been reported in up to 20% of cases in some series, but predictive risk factors and long-term management/outcomes are lacking. AIMS: To assess (1) factors associated with the development of persistent fistulas; (2) technical success of endoscopic fistula closure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a case-control study involving 9 centers (8 USA, 1 Europe) from 02/2015 to 09/2021. Cases of persistent fistulas were defined as endoscopic or imaging evidence of fistula more than 8 weeks after lumen-apposing metal stent (LAMS) removal. Controls were defined as endoscopic or imaging confirmation of no fistula more than 8 weeks after LAMS removal. AEs were defined/graded according to ASGE lexicon. RESULTS: 25 patients identified to have evidence of a persistent fistula on follow-up surveillance (cases) were matched with 50 patients with no evidence of a persistent fistula on follow-up surveillance (controls) based on age and sex. Mean LAMS dwell time was 74.7±106.2d. Following LAMS removal, argon plasma coagulation (APC) ablation of the fistula was performed in 46 (61.3%). Primary closure of the fistula was performed in 26.7% (n=20, endoscopic suturing in 17, endoscopic tacking in 2 and over-the-scope clips + endoscopic suturing in 1). When comparing cases to controls, there was no difference in baseline demographics, fistula site, LAMS size, or primary closure frequency between the two groups (p\u3e0.05). However, in the persistent fistula group, the mean LAMS dwell time was significantly longer (127 d vs 48 d, p=0.02), and more patients had ≥5% total body weight gain (33.3% vs 10.3%; p=0.03). LAMS dwell time was a significant predictor of persistent fistula (OR=4.5 after \u3e40 days in situ, p=0.01). The odds of developing a persistent fistula increased by 9.5% for every 7 days that the LAMS was left in situ. In patients with a persistent fistula, endoscopic closure was attempted in 76% (n=19) with successful resolution in 14 (73.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Longer LAMS dwell time was found to be associated with a higher risk of persistent fistulas in EDGE patients. APC or primary closure of the fistula on LAMS removal was not found to be protective against developing a persistent fistula, which if present, can be effectively managed through endoscopic closure in most cases