超声洁治和局部用甲硝唑治疗轻、中度种植体周围炎

目的：评价用碳纤维工作头的超声洁牙机和25％甲硝唑凝胶治疗种植体周围炎的疗效。方法：将27颗患轻中度种植体周围炎的种植牙随机分为洁牙机治疗组和甲硝唑治疗组，在基线、1、2、6和12周时检查种植体的临床和生物学指标。结果： 两种治疗方法均可使菌斑指数、龈沟出血指数、龋下微生物的酶活性检查等指标改善。治疗期间未发现任何不良反应。结论；碳纤维头超声洁治和局部用25％甲硝唑凝胶是治疗牙种植体周围炎的安全有效的方法。     

血栓前体蛋白与心脏瓣膜置换术后的抗凝监测

目的：探讨血栓前体蛋白(TPP)在心脏机械瓣膜置换术后抗凝治疗监测中的意义，及制定术后抗凝治疗的合理方案。方法：比较抗凝组(60例)和对照组(20例)的国际标准化比率(INR)、TPP，并比较抗凝组中有、无房颤的病人华法林用量、INR和TPP，对抗凝组病人TPP和INR的关系作一元线性回归分析，比较各组的INR和血浆TPP浓度。结果：抗凝组与对照组相比，TPP低、INR高。抗凝组有房颤者的血浆TPP浓度高于窦性心律者。线性回归分析结果表明，TPP和INR无明显相关性。出血病人的血浆TPP浓度明显低于正常高限(6μg／ml)。结论：TPP是心脏机械瓣置换术后抗凝治疗理想的辅助监测指标。术后有房颤心律者的血栓栓塞危险性增加。抗凝治疗应同时检测INR和TPP。     

Extended total arch replacement for type B aortic dissection with ascending aneurysm following healed aortic dissection

We describe a case of type B aortic dissection with large ascending aortic aneurysm occurring 12.8 years after aortic root replacement (Cabrol procedure) in a non-Marfan patient with cystic medial necrosis of the aorta. We have successfully performed an extended total aortic arch replacement using a four-branched graft through the “L-indsion” approach (a combination of a left anterior thoracotomy and upper half median sternotomy). Of note, a histological specimen from the aneurysmal ascending aortic wall revealed “healed aortic dissection” with fibrous tissue replacing the media and intima in addition to multiple foci of cystic medial necrosis.     

Long-term follow-up of elderly patients with severe aortic stenosis treated by balloon aortic valvuloplasty. Importance of haemodynamic parameters before and after dilatation

Early and late prognosis after percutaneous balloon aortic valvuloplasty (PBAV) was assessed in 38 consecutive elderly patients (mean age, 78.5 +/- 6.1 years). Significant valve opening was achieved in 35 patients. The hospital mortality was 8% (three patients); two other patients died within the first month and three underwent aortic valve replacement. At 2 years follow-up, there were 10 additional deaths (seven cardiac deaths) and five patients had symptom recurrence managed by aortic valve replacement (3) or repeat PBAV (2). Overall, six patients underwent surgery without untoward events and six had repeat PBAV. Only two out of six patients with repeat PBAV had sustained improvement; one was referred to surgery and the remaining three died soon after the second PBAV. One- and 2-year survival were respectively 72 and 62% and percentage of survivors with persistent improvement 68 and 41%. Although aortic valve area after PBAV was associated with outcome, predictors of poor long-term prognosis were primarily related to the pre-operative haemodynamic status. Patients with pulmonary resistances greater than 400 dynes cm-1 s-5 had the poorest outcome (chi 2 = 18.4-P less than 0.0001). Overall, signs of heart failure were predictors of poor long term follow-up. These data indicate that long-term success of PBAV is mainly related to the left ventricular dysfunction noted prior to intervention.     

Mitral insufficiency with congenital double-orifice mitral valve in an elderly patient.

We describe the case of a 79-year-old woman with mitral insufficiency and a double-orifice mitral valve (DOMV), discovered by echocardiography. Transthoracic echocardiography showed two insufficiency jets. Transesophageal echocardiography revealed a DOMV. Each orifice was provided with a subvalvular apparatus. No associated congenital abnormalities were present. Our case demonstrates that even in elderly patients with a double regurgitant jet, DOMV should be suspected and assessed by transesophageal echocardiography.     

Isolated tricuspid valve stenosis caused by infective endocarditis in an adult: Report of a case

We report herein the case of a 42-year-old man in whom dyspnea on exertion was found to be caused by isolated tricuspid stenosis. Two-dimensional echocardiogram showed thickening of the tricuspid valve with a markedly enlarged right atrium. A color-flow Doppler examination-revealed severe tricuspid stenosis without regurgitation and a Doppler-derived tricuspid diastolic pressure gradient of 23 mmHg. At the time of surgery, the patient was noted to have a stenotic tricuspid valve with thickened leaflets, fused commissures, and almost normal chorda tendineae. The valve leaflets were teased apart to the scattered specimen, and tricuspid valve replacement was successfully performed. Microscopic examination of the specimen demonstrated infective endocarditis. Isolated acquired tricuspid stenosis is extremely rare and, to our knowledge, this is the first case of infective endocarditis being involved as the primary cause.     

Bicarbon valve - European multicenter clinical evaluation

Objective: Fifteen collaborating centers in eight countries present their pooled experience with the new Bicarbon™ bileaflet valve. Methods: Between 4/90 and 4/96, 1351 patients, 806 males and 545 females, aged 10 to 83, mean 58.4±12.4, underwent valve implantation. Operations: AVR, 726; MVR, 475; DVR, 150. Additional procedures: CABG, 211; TV repair, 64; other, 152. Results: Mortality: 67 early (seven valve related) and 56 late (40 valve related). Valve thrombosis: six obstructive, three non-obstructive; embolism: nine major cerebral, 37 other. Major bleeding: 29. Hemolysis: two clinically significant. Non-structural dysfunction: 24 paravalvular leaks, one leaflet interference. No structural failure! Endocarditis: 24. Reoperation 48: 22 non-structural dysfunctions, 14 endocarditis, seven thrombosis and embolism, five other. Estimated 5-year freedom from valve-related deaths is 97.2% for AVR and 92.4% for MVR; 4-year freedom from valve related deaths for DVR is 90.5%. Mean calculated NYHA improvement is 1.24. Conclusions: The Bicarbon mechanical prosthesis is well designed, durable, has good hemodynamic features and an acceptably low incidence of complications.     

Unsteady Fluid Dynamics of Several Mechanical Prosthetic Heart Valves Using a Two Component Laser Doppler Anemometer System

Abstract: Five typical mechanical heart valves (Starr-Edwards, Björk-Shiley convexo-concave (c-c), Björk-Shiley monostrut, Bicer-Val, and St. Jude Medical) were tested in the mitral position under the pulsatile flow condition. The test program included measurements of velocity and turbulent stresses at 5 downstream locations. The study was carried out using a sophisticated cardiac simulator in conjunction with a highly sensitive 2 component laser Doppler anemometer (LDA) system. The continuous monitoring of parametric time histories revealed useful details about the complex flow and helped to establish the locations and times of the peak parameter values. Based upon the nondimensional presentation of data, the following general conclusions can be made. First, all the 5 valve designs created elevated turbulent stresses during the accelerating and peak flow phases, presenting the possibility of thromboembolism and perhaps hemolysis. Second, the difference in valve configuration seemed to affect the flow characteristics; third, the bileaflet design of the St. Jude valve appeared to create a lower turbulence stress level.     

Incremental Value of Three-Dimensional Echocardiography Over Transesophageal Multiplane Two-Dimensional Echocardiography in Qualitative and Quantitative Assessment of Cardiac Masses and Defects

In the present study, we compared three-dimensionally (3-D) reconstructed images with multiplane two-dimensional (2-D) transesophageal echocardiographic (TEE) images in 17 patients with various cardiac masses and defects. To overcome the problem of making measurements from 3-D reconstructed images, we carefully "dissected" the 3-D dataset using paraplane and anyplane 2-D sections, which were then used to obtain the maximum sizes of the cardiac masses and defects. Of the 15 vegetations and 9 abscesses detected by 3-D TEE in 7 patients, only 8 (53%) vegetations and 4 (44%) abscesses were detected by multiplane 2-D TEE (P < 0.02). Also, the exact anatomical location, shape, geometry, and extent of various cardiac masses and defects were more clearly delineated by 3-D than 2-D TEE. The maximum dimensions of cardiac masses and defects were larger by 3-D than by 2-D TEE in 17 (89%) of the 19 lesions available for comparison (P < 0.002). In addition, 3-D TEE correlated more closely than 2-D TEE when compared to surgical measurements in three patients in whom they were available. Thus, it would appear that in several instances, the exact size of the cardiac lesion could only be assessed by analysis of the 3-D volumetric dataset. Out preliminary study has demonstrated the superiority of transesophageal 3-D reconstruction over multiplane 2-D TEE in both qualitative and quantitative assessment of various cardiac mass lesions and pathological defects.     

Analysis of Implantation in Assisted Reproduction Through the Use of Serial Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Measurements

Purpose: Our purpose was to examine implantation of singleton pregnancies achieved following various assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) through the appearance and rising titers of serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels. Methods: A total of 114 singleton pregnancies resulting from in vitro fertilization and intrauterine insemination was analyzed. Patients were divided into five groups according to the type of ovarian stimulation protocol [gonadotropin stimulation with/without the use of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa), long protocol, or flare-up technique] and to the day of embryo transfer (day 2 or day 3 after oocyte retrieval). Serial serum hCG levels were measured between 10 and 25 days after fertilization and log-transformed. Linear regression analyses were performed and extrapolated to hCG = 10 mIU/ml (hCG ₁₀ ), which was used as an estimate of detectable implantation. The slopes of the regression lines were used to estimate the rising speed of hCG. Results: There were no significant differences in the days of hCG in maternal serum to reach 10 mIU/ml (implantation) or in the slopes of the regression lines for all five studied groups. Conclusions: The appearance of hCG in maternal serum was used to assess the time of clinically detectable implantation. Furthermore, because hCG production is a marker of trophoblastic activity, its serum doubling time was used as an indicator of embryo quality. Results showed that in various ART protocols with and without GnRHa, there were no significant differences in implantation time or embryo quality. Embryo development in early pregnancy follows a preprogrammed-timing schedule and depends mainly on the embryonic age of the health, successfully implanted conceptus.