Presence and development of atrial fibrillation in chronic heart failure. Experiences from the MERIT-HF Study

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation is common in heart failure, but data regarding beta-blockade in these patients and its ability to prevent new occurrence of atrial fibrillation are scarce. METHODS: Baseline ECGs in MERIT-HF were coded regarding baseline rhythm, and outcome was analyzed in relation to rhythm. Occurrence of atrial fibrillation during follow-up was also analyzed. RESULTS: At baseline atrial fibrillation was diagnosed in 556 patients (13.9%). Mean metoprolol CR/XL dose in patients in atrial fibrillation (154 mg) and sinus rhythm (158 mg) was similar, as well as decrease in heart rate (14.8 and 13.7 bpm, respectively). Only 61 (total of 362) deaths occurred in those in atrial fibrillation at baseline, 31 on placebo and 30 on metoprolol (RR 1.0; 95% CI 0.61-1.65). During follow-up, new atrial fibrillation was observed in 85 patients on placebo and 47 patients on metoprolol (RR 0.53; 95% CI 0.37-0.76; p=0.0005). CONCLUSION: First, given the wide confidence interval, it was impossible to detect an interaction between metoprolol and mortality in patients with atrial fibrillation and heart failure. Second, in patients with sinus rhythm at baseline, metoprolol reduced the incidence of atrial fibrillation during follow-up. However, we must be extremely cautious in over-interpreting effects in these subgroups.     

Serial electrophysiologic studies after single chamber atrial pacemaker implantation in patients with symptomatic sinus node dysfunction

After single chamber atrial pacemaker implantation, serial electrophysiologicstudies were performed noninvasively at intervals of 3 monthsover a total period of 3 years in 24 patients with symptomaticsinus node dysfunction. All patients underwent invasive electrophysiologicstudies before pacemaker implantation and demonstrated intactanterograde AV conduction. Patients were divided into 2 groupsgroup I did not require antiarrhythmic drugs during follow-upwhereas group 2 received antiarrhythmic drugs. In group 1(11 patients) the atrial paced heart rate producingAV Wenckebach phenomenon (AVWHR) remained stable during a meanfollow-up of 22±10 months, with a variability not exceeding10 beats min^–1 with respect to the initial AVWHR obtainedduring preoperative electrophysiologic study. In group 2 (13patients) with a mean follow-up of 15±8 months a meandecrease of AVWHR of 19.2±17.5 beats min^–1 waspresent between AVWHR before and 3 months after initiation oforal antiarrhythmic drugs (P<0.01) During chronic (>3months) antiarrhythmic drug therapy the variability of the AVWHRnever exceeded 10 beats min^–1 with respect to the AVWHRobtained 3 months after the initiation of oral drug therapy. Deterioration of anterograde AV conduction during long-termfollow-up of patients with symptomatic sinus node dysfunctionand intact anterograde AV conduction at the time of pacemakerimplantation is a consequence of orally taken antiarrhythmicdrugs, rather than a consequence of degeneration of the AV conductingsystem.     

筋膜穿支血管在髋关节OCM入路中解剖学定位的研究

目的探寻在髋关节前外侧(OCM)入路中筋膜穿支血管与肌间隙及神经界面的关系。方法解剖经甲醛溶液常规防腐固定处理33侧髋部,均无肢体畸形及手术史。探查髂前上棘至大转子外侧最凸处连线附近血管穿筋膜点并探明该血管与臀中肌阔筋膜张肌肌间隙的位置及臀上神经的关系;观察在2011-06~2013-06间在我科行87台髋关节前外侧入路手术中发现筋膜穿支血管及其与臀中肌阔筋膜张肌肌间隙的位置关系。结果臀中肌与阔筋膜张肌肌间隙所在附近筋膜表面血管位置较为恒定。在尸体标本中约91%(30例)的标本在肌间隙中部可见穿支血管,穿支血管均来自肌间隙深面。在髋关节置换手术中发现有筋膜穿支血管的约为90.8%(79例),血管均来自肌间隙深面。臀上神经入肌点与筋膜穿支血管最短距离为(5.62±1.18)cm,安全范围与股骨长度及髂嵴最高点与大转子外侧最凸处的距离均有明显相关关系,相关系数分别为0.84、0.61。结论筋膜穿支血管与臀中肌阔筋膜张肌肌间隙关系恒定,在髋关节置换OCM入路中采用筋膜穿支血管定位准确,安全。     

食管心房调搏与动态心电图对窦房结功能的评估及其相关性

目的探讨食管心房调搏与动态心电图检查来评价窦房结功能的效果，以及这两种检查结果的相关性。方法在38例怀疑病态窦房结综合征的患者中，进行经食管心房调搏检查、动态心电图检查及阿托品试验。将其分为晕厥组和无晕厥组以及阿托品试验阴性组和阳性组。结果晕厥组比无晕厥组以及阿托品试验阳性组比阴性组，窦房结恢复时间、校正的窦房结恢复时间、窦房结传导时间和最长R-R间期都显著性地延长，最快心率和最慢心率都显著性地降低。校正的窦房结恢复时间和窦房结传导时间分别与最长R-R间期、最快心率、最慢心率都有直线相关。结论食管心房调搏与动态心电图检查均能较好地评价窦房结功能，这两种检查结果有一定的相关性。     

Histological evaluation of healing after transalveolar maxillary sinus augmentation with bioglass and autogenous bone

Objectives: The aim was to evaluate histologically the outcome of a bioglass and autogenous bone (at 1 : 1 ratio) composite implantation for transalveolar sinus augmentation. Methods: In 31 patients, during implant installation ca. 4 months after sinus augmentation, biopsies were harvested through the transalveolar osteotomy by means of a trephine bur and non‐decalcified sections through the long axis of the cylinder were produced. After a strict selection process, taking into account the presurgical residual bone height and biopsy length, 8 and 15 biopsies representing the new tissues formed inside the sinus and the transalveolar osteotomy, respectively, qualified for analysis. The tissue fractions occupied by newly formed bone (mineralized tissue+bone marrow), soft connective tissue, residual biomaterial+empty spaces, and debris inside the sinus cavity or the transalveolar osteotomy were estimated. Results: Bone and connective tissue fraction in the newly formed tissues inside the sinus cavity averaged 23.4 ± 13.2% and 54.1 ± 23.5%, respectively. Residual biomaterial, empty spaces, and debris averaged 1.9 ± 3.5%, 10.5 ± 6.3%, and 8.4 ± 14.5%, respectively. In the transalveolar osteotomy, bone and connective tissue fraction averaged 41.6 ± 14.3% and 46.1 ± 13%, respectively, while the amount of residual biomaterial, empty spaces, and debris was 2.8 ± 5%, 4.7 ± 1.9%, and 3.2 ± 2.6%, respectively. Statistically significant differences between the sinus cavity and the transalveolar osteotomy were found only for bone and empty spaces' values (P=0.02 and 0.04, respectively). Conclusion: Sinus augmentation with a bioglass and autogenous bone composite is compatible with bone formation that, in a short distance from the floor of the sinus, shows similar density as that reported previously for other commonly used bone substitutes. New bone fraction inside the transalveolar osteotomy was almost twice as much as in the sinus cavity, while the amount of residual biomaterial was much less than that inside the sinus. To cite this article :
Stavropoulos A, Sima C, Sima A, Nyengaard J, Karring T, Sculean A. Histological evaluation of healing after transalveolar maxillary sinus augmentation with bioglass and autogenous bone.
Clin. Oral Impl. Res. 23 , 2012; 125–131.
doi: 10.1111/j.1600‐0501.2011.02161.x     

Radiomorphometric analysis of isolated zygomatic arch fractures: A comparison of classifications and reduction outcomes

Purpose

Although different proposals have been made to categorize isolated zygomatic arch fractures (ZAF), an investigation about fracture type and clinical outcome has not been published. In this study, we analyzed the geometric fracture morphology in isolated ZAF and provide a survey of reduction outcomes in accordance with 4 independent classifications.

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??Objective??To investigate the characteristics of the thickness of maxillary sinus membrane corresponding to molars with severe periodontitis??and observe the thickness changes of maxillary sinus membrane at six months after tooth extraction and alveolar ridge preservation by measurements of cone-beam computed tomography??CBCT?? images. Methods??Totally 8 patients with a total of 8 maxillary molars with severe periodontitis intending to receive alveolar ridge preservation and implant placement were recruited in Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology from February 2016 to November 2017??and another 8 CBCT images of maxillary molars with mild periodontitis were included in the control group. The maximum membrane thickness??maxMT??of the maxillary sinus??and the minimum residual ridge height??minRRH??were measured by CBCT. In the experimental group??the maxMT corresponding to the affected tooth was measured 6 months after the tooth extraction and alveolar ridge preservation. Results??The maxMT of the maxillary sinus in the experimental group was??4.06 ± 1.80??mm??87.5% of the maxillary sinus membranes were found thickening compared to normal thickness??and the minRRH of the molar was??1.09 ± 0.68??mm. The maxMT of the maxillary sinus and the minRRH of the molar in the control group was??1.42 ± 0.38??mm and ??8.50 ± 1.72??mm respectively??and there was no mucosal thickening. There were statistically significant differences between two groups. In the experimental group??the maxMT of the maxillary sinus was changed from??4.06 ± 1.80??mm to??1.55 ± 0.63??mm in six months after alveolar ridge preservation??the proportion of mucosal thickening was decreased to 12.5%??and the difference was statistically significant??P < 0.05??. Conclusion??Maxillary sinus mucosa tends to be thickened in molars with severe periodontitis. The thickness of the maxillary sinus mucosa is likely to return to normal at 6 months after tooth extraction and alvedar ridge preservation.     

Insights from advancements and pathbreaking research on the minimally invasive treatment of atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) remains the most common cardiac arrhythmia with increasing prevalence in developed and aging countries. Pharmacological antiarrhythmic therapy has low effectiveness and is limited by its toxicity. Developed in 1987 by James Cox surgical ablation of AF called MAZE procedure was very effective, but due to its invasiveness and complexity was not widely adopted. Landmark research done by Haissaguerre in 1998 initiated a new approach for treatment namely percutaneous catheter ablation, which remains a class I/A indication in symptomatic paroxysmal AF refractory to optimal medical therapy. However, its efficacy in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (PSAF) is far from satisfactory. Recent advancements in devices and techniques of minimally invasive surgical ablation show very good results in the treatment of PSAF. Current guidelines equate surgical with catheter ablation within the scope of efficacy indicating that both may be considered as an effective and safe treatment option for patients with persistent forms of arrhythmia. The higher efficacy of surgical ablation was confirmed at a 7-year follow-up of FAST trial with recurrence rate as high as 87% in catheter arm compared with 56% in thoracoscopic ablation arm. A new concept of the invasive treatment of AF consisting of combined surgical (epicardial) and electrophysiological (endocardial) was introduced in 2009. Recently experts’ opinions and published data suggest that the proper hybrid treatment consisting of a planned combination of surgical and catheter ablation may give even better results. One of the most invaluable benefits of surgical ablations is the possibility of concomitant occlusion of the left atrial appendage. Recently good results have been reported for the novel epicardial clip for closing the left atrial appendage, which is placed in the deployment loop on a disposable holder.