Successful Use of Surgically Placed Impella 5.0 and Central Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Circuit in a Patient with Postcardiotomy Shock

The Impella 5.0, a percutaneously inserted left ventricular assist device, has been used to support patients who have severe heart failure or who are undergoing high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention. We report our surgical placement of the Impella 5.0, through a graft sewn to the aorta, to unload the left ventricle of a 59-year-old man who was undergoing venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for postcardiotomy shock. The patient underwent successful placement of a long-term left ventricular assist device before his discharge from the hospital. The versatility of the Impella 5.0 is exemplified in this patient who was successfully bridged to long-term support.     

Human khat (Catha edulis) chewers have elevated plasma leptin and nonesterified fatty acids

In this study, the effect of regular khat (Catha edulis Forsk) chewing (200 and 400 g) in humans on plasma leptin, nonesterified fatty acid, triacyglycerol, and total cholesterol levels was investigated. The results presented show that khat chewing increases plasma leptin concentration particularly in individuals who chew 400 g of khat leaves. The significance of increased plasma leptin is in explaining the underlying mechanism of the observed effects associated with khat chewing such as loss of appetite, decreased body weight, and hyperthermia. The decreased body weight was evident from the significantly lower body mass index of the khat leaves chewers group as compared to the non–khat leaves chewers group (control). Moreover, like leptin, the plasma levels of nonesterified fatty acids were significantly higher in those chewing 400 g of khat leaves. On the other hand, the plasma levels of triacylglycerol were significantly lower in the 2 khat-chewers groups (200 and 400 g of khat leaves), whereas plasma cholesterol levels were not affected by the 2 levels of khat leaves used in this study. The significance of these results may suggest that khat leaves may contain a component(s) that has the ability to reduce body weight via decreasing appetite.     

The impact of mitral valve morphology on the long-term outcome of mitral balloon valvuloplasty.

BACKGROUND: The effect of mitral valve morphology (MVM) on the long-term results of mitral balloon valvuloplasty (MBV) is not well established. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of MVM on long-term outcome of MBV. METHODS: Five hundred and eighteen consecutive patients (mean age, 31+/-11 years) who underwent successful MBV were followed up for 0.5-16.5 (mean, 6+/-4.5) years. Patients were divided into two groups according to their mitral echo score (MES) before MBV: group A (n=340; MES8). RESULTS: We report the immediate and long-term clinical and echocardiographic results of the above-mentioned 518 consecutive patients. The mitral valve area was significantly larger in group A than in group B, both immediately after MBV (2.0+/-0.3 vs. 1.82+/-0.3 cm2, respectively; P<0.0001) and also at the last follow-up (1.8+/-0.33 vs. 1.5+/-0.33 cm2, respectively; P<0.0001). Restenosis occurred in 38/340 (11%) in group A vs. 73/178 (41%) in group B (P<0.0001). Actuarial freedom from restenosis at 5, 10, 15 years were 92+/-2%, 85+/-3%, 65+/-6% for group A vs. 72+/-4%, 44+/-5%, 9+/-6% for group B (P<0.001). Event-free survival rates at 5, 10, 15 years for group A were 93+/-1%, 88+/-2%, 66+/-6% vs. 82+/-3%, 59+/-6%, 8+/-7% for group B (P<0.0001). Stepwise Cox multivariate regression analysis identified MES, preprocedure functional class, and postprocedure mitral valve area相似文献   

Protection from Shigella sonnei infection by immunisation of rabbits with Plesiomonas shigelloides (SVC 01).

Plesiomonas shigelloides, an organism commonly found in water, is only rarely associated with diarrhoea in man. P. shigelloides serotype O:17 (SVC O1), which is antigenically similar to Shigella sonnei, was found to be neither virulent nor toxic for rabbits. Rabbits immunised by feeding with P. shigelloides (SVC O1) were completely protected against an oral challenge with 10(10) cells of S. sonnei but non-immunised rabbits were not. P. shigelloides (SVC O1) may be a useful vaccine strain for shigellosis.     

Localized pulmonary disease due to Trichosporon beigelii.

A case of pulmonary infection caused by Trichosporon beigelii is reported. The infection occurred in a neutropenic patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. His chest radiograph showed a 6-cm pulmonary infiltrate in the right midzone and an apical infiltrate on the left. Repeated cultures of bronchoalveolar lavage grew budding yeast that was identified as T beigelii on the basis of morphological, cultural, and biochemical characteristics. He responded to amphotericin-B therapy. Systemic infections caused by this yeast are rare and its causal relationship in localized lung disease has been reported only seven times previously.     

New myxosporidia from indian freshwater fish,Labeo fimbriatus

Summary A new species of Myxosporidia, Thelohanellus andhrae sp. n., is described from an Indian fish Labeo fimbriatus. Its chief differential characters are as follows: (a) in the elongated pyriform spore the anterior end is flat, (b) the polar capsule lying in the anterior portion also has a flat anterior surface, and (c) the distal part of the polar filament is whip-like.With 7 Figures in the Text