Left Main Coronary Artery Obstruction by Dislodged Native-Valve Calculus after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement can be an effective, reliable treatment for severe aortic stenosis in surgically high-risk or ineligible patients. However, various sequelae like coronary artery obstruction can occur, not only in the long term, but also immediately after the procedure. We present the case of a 78-year-old woman whose left main coronary artery became obstructed with calculus 2 hours after the transfemoral implantation of an Edwards Sapien XT aortic valve. Despite percutaneous coronary intervention in that artery, the patient died. This case reminds us that early recognition of acute coronary obstruction and prompt intervention are crucial in patients with aortic stenosis who have undergone transcatheter aortic valve replacement.     

Synthesis of New 6-[4-(2-Fluorophenylpiperazine-1-YL)]-3(2H)-Pyridazinone-2-Acethyl-2- (Substitutedbenzal)Hydrazone Derivatives and Evulation of Their Cytotoxic Effects in Liver and Colon Cancer Cell Lines

Pharmaceutical Chemistry Journal - In this study, seven new 3(2H)-pyridazinone derivatives expected to show cytotoxic activity in liver and colon cancer cell lines were synthesized. Their...     

Patients with Primary Immunodeficiencies in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit: Outcomes and Mortality-Related Risk Factors

Purposes

The aims of this study were to review the frequency, characteristics, and the clinical course of primary immunodeficiency (PID) patients admitted to pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and attempt to identify factors related with mortality that might predict a poor outcome.

Methods

We performed a retrospective review of children with PID aged 1 month to 18 years and admitted to PICU from January 2002 to January 2012 in our tertiary teaching children’s hospital.

Results

There were a total of 51 patients accounting for 71 admissions to the PICU. The most common diagnosis was severe combined immunodeficiency. Respiratory problems were the leading cause for admission. A total of 20 patients received hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Immune reconstitution was achieved in 9 (45 %) patients and eight of them did survive. In all 56 % of all admission episodes resulted in survival. Risk factors for mortality included requirement of mechanical ventilation (P?<?.001), number of organ system failure (P?=?.013), need for renal replacement therapy (P?<?.001), use of inotropes (P?<?.001), higher Pediatric Logistic Organ Dysfunction (PELOD) score (P?=?.005), and length of PICU stay (P?<?.001).

Conclusions

This is the first study regarding the outcome and mortality-related risk factors for PID patients requiring PICU admission. We suggest that PICU management is as important as early diagnosis and treatment for these patients. Prediction of those at risk for poorer outcome might be beneficial for accurate intensive care management and survival.     

Regenerative capacities of normal and cirrhotic livers following 70% hepatectomy in rats and the effect of alpha-tocopherol on cirrhotic regeneration

BACKGROUND: The regeneration of normal and cirrhotic liver has been very well demonstrated after partial hepatectomy; although the tissue regenerated by cirrhotic liver is also cirrhotic. The structural differences of the regenerated tissues between normal and cirrhotic livers may also indicate different regeneration capacities. The objective of this study was to compare the regeneration capacities of normal and cirrhotic livers by bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) labeling indices in replicating nuclei and mitotic figures in cells in partially hepatectomized normal and cirrhotic rats and to study the effect of alpha-tocopherol on cirrhotic liver regeneration. METHODS: Five groups of adult Wistar rats comprised normal livers, cirrhotic livers, regenerated normal livers, regenerated cirrhotic livers, and alpha-tocopherol-treated regenerated cirrhotic livers. Cirrhosis was induced by intragastric administration of carbon tetrachloride and phenobarbital in the drinking water of the rats. Liver regeneration capacities in normal and cirrhotic rats and following partial hepatectomy in normal and cirrhotic rats and cirrhotic rats that were administered alpha-tocopherol were evaluated through BrdU incorporation, PCNA labeling, and mitotic indices. RESULTS: BrdU and PCNA labeling and mitotic indices were zero for normal rats and 4.3 +/- 3.5, 6.5 +/- 5, and 2.5 +/- 1.5 for cirrhotic rats, respectively. The values after partial hepatectomy in normal and cirrhotic rats were 46.2 +/- 8.7 and 27.8 +/- 7.5 for BrdU labeling, 83.7 +/- 6.5 and 51.3 +/- 6.8 for PCNA labeling, and 31.8 +/- 4.2 and 18.6 +/- 3.4 for mitotic index, respectively. For the fifth group comprising cirrhotic rats that were administered alpha-tocopherol and had undergone partial hepatectomy, BrdU incorporation, PCNA labeling, and mitotic indices were 37.5 +/- 6.3, 76.5 +/- 6.2, and 27.2 +/- 4.2, respectively. When the cirrhotic liver regeneration group was compared with the normal liver regeneration group, rates of liver regeneration in the cirrhotic group were significantly depressed (P < 0.01). Although the BrdU incorporation and PCNA labeling indices of the alpha-tocopherol-administered cirrhotic liver regeneration group indicated significantly lower rates of liver regeneration when compared with the normal liver regeneration group (P < 0.05), the liver regeneration rates of the alpha-tocopherol-administered cirrhotic group were also significantly higher than those of the cirrhotic liver regeneration group that was not administered alpha-tocopherol (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Cirrhotic livers revealed a significantly depressed capacity for regeneration following partial hepatectomy. alpha-Tocopherol administration seemed to improve the rates of regeneration in cirrhotic rats with respect to the BrdU incorporation, PCNA labeling, and mitotic indices.