Antegrade percutaneous valve implantation for mitral ring dysfunction,a challenging case

The operative risk for reoperation of degenerated bioprosthetic valves or failing mitral‐valve annuloplasty is higher compared with the risks for first isolated native valve repair or replacement (Astor et al., Eur Heart J 2008;29:2382–2387). In the presence of comorbidities, these risks increase exponentially. The recent introduction of transcatheter valve implantation opened new perspectives for the treatment of patients at very high surgical risk. We report a percutaneous mitral valve (MV) implantation using a transatrial approach within a MV ring using the Edwars Sapien XT valve. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Trehalose/sodium hyaluronate eye drops in post-cataract ocular surface disorders

International Ophthalmology - Prospective, randomised, open-label, comparative study to evaluate efficacy of trehalose/sodium hyaluronate eye drops for post-operative discomfort and tear film...     

Trypanosoma cruzi genotypes of insect vectors and patients with Chagas of Chile studied by means of Cytochrome b gene sequencing, minicircle hybridization, and nuclear gene polymorphisms

Fifty-six Trypanosoma cruzi stocks from Chile and neighboring countries and different hosts, humans, and Triatoma infestans and Mepraia sp., vectors of domiciliary and natural environments were characterized by using three molecular markers. These were cytochrome b (Cyt b) gene sequencing, minicircle DNA blotting, and hybridization with five genotype-specific DNA probes and nuclear analysis of 1f8 and gp72 by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. The results with all three molecular markers are concordant, with minor limitations, grouping T. cruzi stocks into four discrete typing units (DTUs) (TcI, TcII, TcV, and TcVI). TcI and TcII stocks were heterogeneous. TcI and TcII stocks were clustered in two main subgroups determined by Cyt b gene sequencing and minicircle hybridization. However, TcV and TcVI stocks were homogeneous and not differentiated by Cyt b gene sequencing or minicircle DNA hybridization. The discriminatory power and limitations of the molecular markers are discussed, as well as the distribution of the four DTUs in the domiciliary and sylvatic transmission cycles of Chile and the limitations of each marker for molecular epidemiological studies performed with T. cruzi stocks rather than the analysis of direct T. cruzi samples from natural hosts.     

Secondary epiretinal membrane after Ex-Press glaucoma filtration device implant

Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology - To estimate the frequency of epiretinal membrane (ERM) in eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) treated with Ex-Press shunt...