State of the Art in Carotid Artery Stenting: Trial Data,Technical Aspects,and Limitations

The volume of carotid artery stenting (CAS) safety and efficacy data has grown exponentially over the last decade. Recent comparative data with carotid endarterectomy, the utility of embolic protection devices, peri-procedural medications, basic technical aspects of CAS, developments in carotid stent design, potential complications of CAS, and complication risk factors are discussed in this review.     

Balloon Atrial Septostomy by a Right Internal Jugular Venous Approach in a Newborn with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome with a Restrictive Atrial Septum

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome with an intact or highly restrictive atrial septum requires urgent decompression of the left atrium. Catheter‐based interventions from the femoral or umbilical veins represent the standard method of atrial decompression. Restrictive atrial septal defects located at the superior portion of the fossa ovalis can be difficult to cross from these access sites. Here, we describe a successful Rashkind balloon atrial septostomy performed from an internal jugular approach.     

Glutamine and Whey Protein Improve Intestinal Permeability and Morphology in Patients with Crohn’s Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background  

Increased intestinal permeability (IP) has been implicated in the etiopathogenesis, disease activity and relapse of Crohn’s disease (CD). Glutamine, the major fuel for the enterocytes, may improve IP.     

Melanotic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy: a histopathological and immunohistochemical study

Melanotic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy is an uncommon neoplasm that normally occurs in the anterior maxilla of children less than 1 year of age. This is a tumor with controversial origin, although neural crest origin is proposed. This case report presents an analysis of histopathological and immunohistochemical findings in this rare tumor.     

Total Economic Cost and Burden of Dengue in Nicaragua: 1996–2010

The burden of dengue in Nicaragua has been steadily rising during the last three decades; however, there have been few efforts to quantify the burden (measured in disability-adjusted life years [DALYs]) and cost to society. Using primary data from the Nicaraguan Ministry of Health (MINSA), the total cost and burden of dengue were calculated from 1996 to 2010. Total costs included both direct costs from medical expenditures and prevention activities and indirect costs from lost productivity. The annual disease burden ranged from 99 to 805 DALYs per million, with a majority associated with classic dengue fever. The total cost was estimated to be US$13.5 million/year (range: US$5.1–27.6 million). This analysis can help improve allocation of dengue control resources in Nicaragua and the region. As one of the most comprehensive analyses of its type to date in Nicaragua and Latin America, this study can serve as a model to determine the burden and cost of dengue.     

Sildenafil citrate rescues fetal growth in the catechol-O-methyl transferase knockout mouse model

Preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction are responsible for the majority of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality associated with complicated pregnancies. Although their etiologies are complex and multifactorial, both are associated with increased uterine artery resistance. Sildenafil citrate is able to rescue the dysfunction observed ex vivo in uterine arteries of women with preeclampsia. The ability of sildenafil citrate to increase uterine artery vasodilation, thereby decreasing uterine artery resistance and, hence, ameliorated preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction, was tested in a mouse model of preeclampsia, the catechol-O-methyl transferase knockout mouse (COMT(-/-)). COMT(-/-) and C57BL/6J mice were treated (0.2 mg/mL in drinking water, n=6-12) from gestational day 12.5 to 18.5. Measures of pup growth, including body weight, crown/rump length, and abdominal circumference, were reduced in COMT(-/-) mice; this was normalized after treatment with Sildenafil. COMT(-/-) mice also demonstrated abnormal umbilical Doppler waveforms, including reverse arterial blood flow velocity. This was normalized after treatment with Sildenafil. Abnormal uterine artery Doppler waveforms were not demonstrated in COMT(-/-) mice, although ex vivo responses of uterine arteries to phenylephrine were increased; moreover, treatment with Sildenafil did improve ex vivo sensitivity to an endothelium-dependent vasodilator. The data presented here demonstrate that Sildenafil can rescue pup growth and improve abnormal umbilical Doppler waveforms, providing support for a potential new therapeutic strategy targeting fetal growth restriction.     

Cytokines,matrix metalloproteinases and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases‐1 in gingival crevicular fluid from patients with Papillon‐Lefèvre syndrome

The aim of the present study was to compare concentrations of cytokines, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and a metalloproteinase inhibitor (TIMP‐1) in gingival crevicular fluids (GCF) from sites with gingival inflammation in 28 young patients with Papillon‐Lefèvre syndrome (PLS), and in age‐ and gender‐matched controls. Each group consisted of 17 females and 11 males with a mean age of 11.0 years (range 4–22 years). In both groups, anterior upper sites with a clinical diagnosis of gingival inflammation and with pockets ≤3?mm were selected for sampling of GCF, which was carried out with filter disks inserted into the gingival crevice until saturated. The concentrations of cytokines (IL‐1α, IL‐1β, TNF‐α, and IL‐8), matrix metalloproteinases (MMP‐1, MMP‐3, MMP‐8, and MMP‐9), and their tissue inhibitor (TIMP‐1) were analysed using commercial ELISA kits. Significantly higher levels of IL‐1β (P?P?P?P?P?相似文献