Model of reentrant ventricular tachycardia based on infarct border zone geometry predicts reentrant circuit features as determined by activation mapping

BACKGROUND: Infarct border zone (IBZ) geometry likely affects inducibility and characteristics of postinfarction reentrant ventricular tachycardia, but the connection has not been established. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine characteristics of postinfarction ventricular tachycardia in the IBZ. METHODS: A geometric model describing the relationship between IBZ geometry and wavefront propagation in reentrant circuits was developed. Based on the formulation, slow conduction and block were expected to coincide with areas where IBZ thickness (T) is minimal and the local spatial gradient in thickness (DeltaT) is maximal, so that the degree of wavefront curvature rho proportional, variant DeltaT/T is maximal. Regions of fastest conduction velocity were predicted to coincide with areas of minimum DeltaT. In seven arrhythmogenic postinfarction canine heart experiments, tachycardia was induced by programmed stimulation, and activation maps were constructed from multichannel recordings. IBZ thickness was measured in excised hearts from histologic analysis or magnetic resonance imaging. Reentrant circuit properties were predicted from IBZ geometry and compared with ventricular activation maps after tachycardia induction. RESULTS: Mean IBZ thickness was 231 +/- 140 microm at the reentry isthmus and 1440 +/- 770 microm in the outer pathway (P <0.001). Mean curvature rho was 1.63 +/- 0.45 mm(-1) at functional block line locations, 0.71 +/- 0.18 mm(-1) at isthmus entrance-exit points, and 0.33 +/- 0.13 mm(-1) in the outer reentrant circuit pathway. The mean conduction velocity about the circuit during reentrant tachycardia was 0.32 +/- 0.04 mm/ms at entrance-exit points, 0.42 +/- 0.13 mm/ms for the entire outer pathway, and 0.64 +/- 0.16 mm/ms at outer pathway regions with minimum DeltaT. Model sensitivity and specificity to detect isthmus location was 75.0% and 97.2%. CONCLUSIONS: Reentrant circuit features as determined by activation mapping can be predicted on the basis of IBZ geometrical relationships.     

Finite element analysis of the effects of thermal obturation in maxillary canine teeth.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to determine the distribution and level of temperature, in a model of a maxillary canine, the surrounding periodontal tissues, and the bones, during a System B heat obturation technique simulation. STUDY DESIGN: The temperature distribution was determined by using a three-dimensional finite element analysis. The tooth was assumed to have undergone an endodontic treatment before the application. Heat applications of 200 degrees C and 100 degrees C were considered. RESULTS: By using the virtual model and the simulation technique, the maximum temperature in the periodontal ligament was found to be 43.5 degrees C. CONCLUSIONS: Within the assumptions and the limitations of the study, it was determined that the simulation of System B technique created no potentially harmful levels of temperature throughout the maxillary canine model.     

Time-dependent changes in distribution of basic fibroblast growth factor immunoreactive cells in hippocampus after kainic acid injection in rat pups

Five-day-old Wistar albino rats were injected with kainic acid (KA) or saline i.p. to investigate time-dependent alterations in morphology and number of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) immunoreactive (-ir) astrocytes and neurons in hippocampus at 15, 30, and 90 days after the injections. Sections were stained with cresyl violet for morphological evaluation and bFGF immunohistochemistry was used for quantitative evaluation of bFGF-ir cell density. Fifteen days after KA injection, there was gliosis but no neuronal loss although disorganization in CA1, CA3, CA4 pyramidal layers and neuronal loss were evident 30 and 90 days after the injection. KA injected rats demonstrated significantly increased number of bFGF-ir astrocytes throughout the hippocampus and pyramidal neurons in CA2 after 15 days and decreased number of bFGF-ir cells after 30 and 90 days. The decrease in the number of bFGF-ir astroglia and neurons in long term after KA injection may indicate a decrease in the production of bFGF and/or number of bFGF-ir cells suggesting that protective effects of bFGF may be altered during epileptogenesis in hippocampus.     

A new method for the correction of secondary unilateral cleft lip nose

Summary In 1982, Dibbell described a procedure to correct this distortion by rotating and advancing the nostril medially and superiorly. We used this method in our department for several years, but as Dibbell himself experienced, we didn't always obtain satisfactory results. Like many authors, I agree that the best approach for proper correction of the secondary unilateral cleft lip nose deformity is the external approach using transcolumellar incisions, because the lower lateral cartilage exposure is inadequate with Dibbell's method. I added the transcolumellar incision similar to Bardach's to solve this problem. In this paper, this combination technique will be presented and contrasted with Dibbell's and Bardach's techniques.     

复方硅橡胶对家兔输卵管上皮细胞内铜元素含量及超微结构的影响

本实验就复方硅橡胶栓堵剂（ＣＳＲ）对家兔输卵管上皮细胞趋微结构的影响进行了观察分析，并测定了上皮细胞内铜元素的含量变化，电镜观察表明：家充输卵管经复方硅橡胶栓堵后，其上皮细胞表面结构、细胞连接、细胞核等超微结构均未发生明显的形态改变：注药侧（右侧〕和对照侧（左侧）输卵管上皮细胞内虽有少数线粒体膨胀，但两组间无论在线粒体数目，膨胀线粒体百分率以及线粒体外膜比表面等方面均无差异（Ｐ＞０．１），电镜Ｘ—时线能谱分析表明：注药侧输卵管上皮细胞内铜元素的相对含量咯高于对照组，而且铜元素多畜集于线粒体内。     

A fluid level in an acute extradural haematoma

We report a fluid level in an acute extradural haematoma developing after placement of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt for hydrocephalus. This fluid level was thought to be due to a mixture of blood and cerebrospinal fluid.     

Hydatid disease presenting as an intrascrotal mass in a child.

A thirteen-year-old boy with the preliminary diagnosis of hydrocele of the cord who underwent surgery is presented. Ultimate diagnosis of hydatid disease was established by surgical exploration and histopathologic examination of the specimen. Although it is a rare occurrence, hydatid disease should be considered as a diagnostic possibility in endemic areas.     

扶正化瘀胶囊干预慢性乙型肝炎肝纤维化作用的多中心临床研究

目的　研究扶正化瘀胶囊治疗慢性乙型肝炎肝纤维化的临床疗效及其安全性。方法　多中心、随机、双盲、平行对照的方法 ,入选年龄 18～ 65岁的慢性乙型肝炎肝纤维化患者。试验药 (扶正化瘀胶囊 )和对照药 (和络舒肝胶囊 ) ,均为每次 5粒 ,3次 /d口服 ;疗程 2 4周。疗程结束后进行 12周的随访。观测指标 :(1)于治疗第 0、2 4周观察肝组织病理学、HBV标志物 ,第 0、12、2 4周检测肝纤维化血清指标 (HA、LN、P Ⅲ P、Ⅳ C)、B超肝脾检查 ,第 0、6、12、18、2 4周观察肝功能 (随访期评价肝功能、血清肝纤维化指标 )。 (2 )安全性指标 :治疗前、后检测血、尿常规 ,肾功能 ,心电图。结果　 (1)受试者入组情况及人口学资料 :试验组 110例 ,对照组 10 6例 ,两组病例人口学特征、生命体征、病程、药物过敏史、既往治疗史、肝功能、纤维化血清学指标、肝组织病理学 (试验组 99例 ,对照组 96例 )、HBV标志物、肾功能等各项指标比较 ,无显著差异。 (2 )肝组织病理学 :治疗前后作活检肝组织学观察 93例 ,试验组 50例和对照组 43例治疗前纤维化分期 (S)均值分别为 2 .3 3和 2 .11。试验组治疗后S均值为 1.80 ,较治疗前显著下降。对照组治疗后S均值为 2 .14 ,与治疗前比较无显著改善。试验组活检肝组织纤维化分期判断