Percutaneous high-speed rotational atherectomy (Rotablator™) of a restenosed ostial renal artery: A case report

This case report describes the feasibility and potential benefit of the use of a high-speed rotational atherectomy device (the Rotablator?) in the treatment of renovascular hypertension in a patient with a recorded restenosis of an ostial renal artery lesion following standard balloon angioplasty.     

Acute necrotizing pancreatitis in the guinea pig

The effect of chlorophylla on experimental acute pancreatitis in guinea pigs was investigated. Pancreatitis was induced by intrapancreatic infiltration of a sodium taurocholate solution. Animals treated with intrapancreatic or intraperitoneal injections of chlorophylla showed higher survival rate than untreated controls.Supported in part by a Research Grant from the Chief Scientist, The Ministry of Health, Israel.     

Naked mole-rats maintain cardiac function and body composition well into their fourth decade of life

GeroScience - The prevalence of cardiovascular disease increases exponentially with age, highlighting the contribution of aging mechanisms to cardiac diseases. Although model organisms which share...     

Common and Dissociable Dysfunction of the Reward System in Bipolar and Unipolar Depression

Unipolar and bipolar depressive episodes have a similar clinical presentation that suggests common dysfunction of the brain’s reward system. Here, we evaluated the relationship of both dimensional depression severity and diagnostic category to reward system function in both bipolar and unipolar depression. In total, 89 adults were included, including 27 with bipolar depression, 25 with unipolar depression, and 37 healthy comparison subjects. Subjects completed both a monetary reward task and a resting-state acquisition during 3T BOLD fMRI. Across disorders, depression severity was significantly associated with reduced activation for wins compared with losses in bilateral ventral striatum, anterior cingulate cortex, posterior cingulate cortex, and right anterior insula. Resting-state connectivity within this reward network was also diminished in proportion to depression severity, most notably connectivity strength in the left ventral striatum. In addition, there were categorical differences between patient groups: resting-state connectivity at multiple reward network nodes was higher in bipolar than in unipolar depression. Reduced reward system task activation and resting-state connectivity therefore appear to be a brain phenotype that is dimensionally related to depression severity in both bipolar and unipolar depression. In contrast, categorical differences in reward system resting connectivity between unipolar and bipolar depression may reflect differential risk of mania. Reward system dysfunction thus represents a common brain mechanism with relevance that spans categories of psychiatric diagnosis.     

Current status of the rheumatologists’ workforce in Latin America: a PANLAR collaborative study

Clinical Rheumatology - Studies conducted by various scientific societies have shown that the demand for specialized rheumatology care is greater than the projected growth of the workforce. Our...     

Paravalvular leak closure: Still a challenge with unpredictable results

IntroductionParavalvular leak (PVL) is a common serious complication associated with prosthetic valve implantation.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to report our single-center experience in a retrospective review and to analyze possible predictors of success.MethodsWe performed 33 percutaneous PVL closures in 26 patients (54% female, mean age 65±13 years). All mitral prostheses were studied previously with 3D transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), and aortic prostheses with 2D/3D TEE. 3D TEE and fluoroscopy were used for the assessment, planning, and guidance of the interventions. Twelve patients also underwent computed tomography angiography for better characterization of anatomic details.ResultsEighteen patients (69.2%) were admitted due to heart failure (New York Heart Association [NYHA] III or IV, seven (26.9%) because of heart failure and hemolysis, and one (3.8%) due to hemolysis only. Regarding the leaks, 46.2% were in aortic and 53.8% in mitral prostheses, 88.5% in mechanical and 7.7% in biological prostheses, and 3.8% in transcatheter aortic valve implants. All the aortic patients had severe aortic regurgitation. Furthermore, all mitral patients but one had moderate to severe or severe mitral regurgitation. Closure was successful in 17 patients (65.4%), partially successful in four (15.4%) and unsuccessful in five (19.2%). After the procedure, 69% were in NYHA I-II. Hemolysis worsened in three patients despite successful closure; all required further valvular surgery and two died. Regarding angiographic and echocardiographic procedural success, we analyzed age, gender, type of prosthesis (mechanical or biological), location (aortic or mitral), clinical data, maximum leak diameter, anatomic regurgitant orifice, leak location (anterior, posterior, inferior and lateral for mitral leaks and left, right and non-coronary sinus for aortic leaks), and number of devices (plugs) used for closure. No parameters presented a significant relationship with success excepting previous hemolysis. There was a relationship between clinical improvement and reduction of PVL (p=0.0001). In follow-up, cardiac-related events (new hospital admissions, cardiac valvular surgery, need for transfusion) were more frequent in patients with partially successful or unsuccessful closure (p=0.012). There was a relationship between cardiac-related events and death (p=0.029).ConclusionPercutaneous PVL closure has emerged as an alternative treatment for PVL. Predictors of procedural success are difficult to establish. Survival is related to reduction of regurgitation and improvement in NYHA functional class.