A retrospective analysis of autotransplanted teeth including an evaluation of a novel surgical technique

Clinical Oral Investigations - To assess survival rates and frequency of complications for immature and mature autotransplanted teeth after at least 1 year in function. All consecutive patients who...     

Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) for diagnosis and treatment planning in periodontology: systematic review update

Clinical Oral Investigations - To update the findings of a systematic review from the year 2016 on the evidence for the accuracy and potential benefits of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) in...     

Extracorporeal CO2 removal as bridge to lung transplantation in life‐threatening hypercapnia

In patients awaiting lung transplantation (LTX), adequate gas exchange may not be sufficiently achieved by mechanical ventilation alone if acute respiratory decompensation arises. We report on 20 patients with life‐threatening hypercapnia who received extracorporeal CO₂ removal (ECCO2‐R) by means of the interventional lung assist (ILA®, Novalung) as bridge to LTX. The most common underlying diagnoses were bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome, cystic fibrosis, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, respectively. The type of ILA was pumpless arteriovenous or pump‐driven venovenous (ILA activve®, Novalung) in 10 patients each. ILA bridging was initiated in 15 invasively ventilated and five noninvasively ventilated patients, of whom one had to be intubated prior to LTX. Hypercapnia and acidosis were effectively corrected in all patients within the first 12 h of ILA therapy: PaCO₂ declined from 109 (70–146) to 57 (45–64) mmHg, P < 0.0001; pH increased from 7.20 (7.06–7.28) to 7.39 (7.35–7.49), P < 0.0001. Four patients were switched to extracorporeal membrane oxygenation due to progressive hypoxia or circulatory failure. Nineteen patients (95%) were successfully transplanted. Hospital and 1‐year survival was 75 and 72%, respectively. Bridging to LTX with ECCO2‐R delivered by arteriovenous pumpless or venovenous pump‐driven ILA is feasible and associated with high transplantation and survival rates.     

GOLDART--Gold Alloy Versus Platinum-Iridium Electrode for Ablation of AVNRT

Introduction: Radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation targeting the slow pathway is currently the most effective treatment for patients with atrioventricular nodal reciprocating tachycardia (AVNRT). Gold exhibits a more than four times greater thermal conductivity than platinum, and the creation of deeper lesions was demonstrated in ex vivo animal experiments. The current clinical trial was initiated to compare gold catheters with standard platinum–iridium (Pt–Ir) material and to analyze differences in the increase of power or temperature as a function of time during RF ablation.
Methods: A prospective, randomized multicenter study design was used to compare RF deliveries at the slow pathway with standard Pt–Ir tip catheters (128 patients), as well as gold alloy tip electrodes (124 patients) during AVNRT ablation.
Results: Although there was a trend towards higher power delivery in the gold group (4.96 vs. 4.28 W/s), this trend was not statistically significant. Likewise, cumulative duration of all RF ablations, total procedure time, and power delivered at other time points were not significantly different between the groups. Also, the occurrence of AV-block and sensations of pain were similar in both treatment groups. However, charring on the catheter tip after the intervention was observed eightfold more frequently in the Pt–Ir group.
Conclusion: In conclusion, power delivery cannot be significantly increased by RF ablation of AVNRT with gold electrodes. But the electrode material seems to be safe and well-tolerated and specifically did not increase the risk of AV-block. The significant reduction of coagulum formation on gold tips suggests a possible advantage of this material beyond its better conduction properties.     

Inhibition of prolactin secretion by lergotrile mesylate: mechanism of action.

Lergotrile mesylate (2-chloro-6-methylergoline-8beta-acetonitrile, methane-sulphate salt) was shown to be a potent inhibitor of prolactin secretion in vivo and in vitro. The dopamine receptor blocker, pimozide, was able to reverse the inhibitory effect of lergotrile mesylate (LM) on prolactin release from rat pituitaries in vitro. Alpha-adrenergic or beta-adrenergic receptor blockers were unable to antogonize the action of LM on prolactin release. These findings indicate that ergolines such as LM inhibit prolactin release from pituitaries by activating an adenohypophyseal dopamine receptor. LM is currently undergoing clinical trial as a prolactin inhibitor and a dopamine agonist.