Percutaneous Pulmonary Valve Implantation

Percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation (PPVI) is recognized as a feasible and low risk alternative to surgery to treat dysfunctional right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) in usually pluri-operated patients. Evolving technology allowed to develop different kind of prosthesis and to go from an initial treatment exclusively of stenotic conduit to an actual approach extended also to wide native RVOT. The Melody transcatheter pulmonary valve (TPV) and the Edwards Sapien valve are nowadays the most commonly implanted prostheses. However, other devices have been developed to treat large RVOT (i.e., the Venus p-valve, the Medtronic Harmony TPV, the Alterra Adaptive Prestent, and the Pulsta valve). Indications for PPVI are the same as for surgical interventions on pulmonary valve, with limits related to the maximum diameter of the available percutaneous prosthesis. Therefore, an accurate preoperative evaluation is of paramount importance to select patients who could benefit from this procedure. The overall periprocedural mortality incidence is around 1.4%, while freedom from RVOT reintervention ranges from 100% at 4 months to 70% at 70 months, according to the different published studies.

Gender Difference in Catheter Ablation: Atrial Fibrillations from Mars and Venus?

No abstract available.

Cell-to-cell Transmission of Polyglutamine Aggregates in C. elegans

Huntington disease (HD) is an inherited neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor and cognitive dysfunction caused by expansion of polyglutamine (polyQ) repeat in exon 1 of huntingtin (HTT). In patients, the number of glutamine residues in polyQ tracts are over 35, and it is correlated with age of onset, severity, and disease progression. Expansion of polyQ increases the propensity for HTT protein aggregation, process known to be implicated in neurodegeneration. These pathological aggregates can be transmitted from neuron to another neuron, and this process may explain the pathological spreading of polyQ aggregates. Here, we developed an in vivo model for studying transmission of polyQ aggregates in a highly quantitative manner in real time. HTT exon 1 with expanded polyQ was fused with either N-terminal or C-terminal fragments of Venus fluorescence protein and expressed in pharyngeal muscles and associated neurons, respectively, of C. elegans. Transmission of polyQ proteins was detected using bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC). Mutant polyQ (Q97) was transmitted much more efficiently than wild type polyQ (Q25) and forms numerous inclusion bodies as well. The transmission of Q97 was gradually increased with aging of animal. The animals with polyQ transmission exhibited degenerative phenotypes, such as nerve degeneration, impaired pharyngeal pumping behavior, and reduced life span. The C. elegans model presented here would be a useful in vivo model system for the study of polyQ aggregate propagation and might be applied to the screening of genetic and chemical modifiers of the propagation.

Comparison of mechanical properties of a new fiber reinforced composite and bulk filling composites

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the mechanical and physical properties of a newly developed fiber reinforced dental composite. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fiber reinforced composite EverX Posterior (EXP, GC EUROPE), and other commercially available bulk fill composites, including Filtek Bulk Fill (FB, 3M ESPE), SonicFill (SF, Kerr Corp.), SureFil (SDR, Dentsply), Venus Bulk Fill (VB, HerausKultzer), Tetric evoceram bulk fill (TECB, Ivoclar Vivadent), and Xtra Base (XB, Voco) were characterized. Composite samples light-cured with a LED device were evaluated in terms of flexural strength, flexural modulus (ISO 4049, n = 6), fracture toughness (n = 6), and Vickers hardness (0, 2, and 4 mm in depth at 24 hr, n = 5). The EXP samples and the fracture surface were observed under a scanning electron microscopy. Data were statistically analyzed using one-way ANOVA and unpaired t-test. RESULTS: EXP, FB, and VB had significantly higher fracture toughness value compared to all the other bulk composite types. SF, EXP, and XB were not statistically different, and had significantly higher flexural strength values compared to other tested composite materials. EXP had the highest flexural modulus, VB had the lowest values. Vickers hardness values revealed SF, EXP, TECB, and XB were not statistically different, and had significantly higher values compared to other tested composite materials. SEM observations show well dispersed fibers working as a reinforcing phase. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of fibers to methacrylate-based matrix results in composites with either comparable or superior mechanical properties compared to the other bulk fill materials tested.

Effect of resin thickness on the microhardness and optical properties of bulk-fill resin composites

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the effects of the resin thickness on the microhardness and optical properties of bulk-fill resin composites. METHODS: Four bulk-fill (Venus Bulk Fill, Heraeus Kulzer; SDR, Dentsply Caulk; Tetric N-Ceram Bulk Fill, Ivoclar vivadent; SonicFill, Kerr) and two regular resin composites (Charisma flow, Heraeus Kulzer; Tetric N-Ceram, Ivoclar vivadent) were used. Sixty acrylic cylindrical molds were prepared for each thickness (2, 3 and 4 mm). The molds were divided into six groups for resin composites. The microhardness was measured on the top and bottom surfaces, and the colors were measured using Commission Internationale d'Eclairage (CIE) L*a*b* system. Color differences according to the thickness and translucency parameters and the correlations between the microhardness and translucency parameter were analyzed. The microhardness and color differences were analyzed by ANOVA and Scheffe's post hoc test, and a student t-test, respectively. The level of significance was set to alpha = 0.05. RESULTS: The microhardness decreased with increasing resin thickness. The bulk-fill resin composites showed a bottom/top hardness ratio of almost 80% or more in 4 mm thick specimens. The highest translucency parameter was observed in Venus Bulk Fill. All resin composites used in this study except for Venus Bulk Fill showed linear correlations between the microhardness and translucency parameter according to the thickness. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations of this study, the bulk-fill resin composites used in this study can be placed and cured properly in the 4 mm bulk.

Effect of resin thickness on the microhardness and optical properties of bulk-fill resin composites

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the effects of the resin thickness on the microhardness and optical properties of bulk-fill resin composites. METHODS: Four bulk-fill (Venus Bulk Fill, Heraeus Kulzer; SDR, Dentsply Caulk; Tetric N-Ceram Bulk Fill, Ivoclar vivadent; SonicFill, Kerr) and two regular resin composites (Charisma flow, Heraeus Kulzer; Tetric N-Ceram, Ivoclar vivadent) were used. Sixty acrylic cylindrical molds were prepared for each thickness (2, 3 and 4 mm). The molds were divided into six groups for resin composites. The microhardness was measured on the top and bottom surfaces, and the colors were measured using Commission Internationale d'Eclairage (CIE) L*a*b* system. Color differences according to the thickness and translucency parameters and the correlations between the microhardness and translucency parameter were analyzed. The microhardness and color differences were analyzed by ANOVA and Scheffe's post hoc test, and a student t-test, respectively. The level of significance was set to alpha = 0.05. RESULTS: The microhardness decreased with increasing resin thickness. The bulk-fill resin composites showed a bottom/top hardness ratio of almost 80% or more in 4 mm thick specimens. The highest translucency parameter was observed in Venus Bulk Fill. All resin composites used in this study except for Venus Bulk Fill showed linear correlations between the microhardness and translucency parameter according to the thickness. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations of this study, the bulk-fill resin composites used in this study can be placed and cured properly in the 4 mm bulk.

Dietary energy density and fast food consumption of 16-21 year-old adolescents

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to determine the dietary energy density of diets consumed by adolescents and characterize their fast food consumption. METHODS: Secondary data analyses were made on a selected group of adolescents aged 16-21 years (n=99) who were enrolled in a university located in Manila. A two-day nonnconsecutive 24-hour food recall was conducted to collect dietary data. Dietary Energy Density (OED) was calculated by dividing the available energy (from carbohydrate, protein and fat) by unit weight of foods and beverages consumed. To determine the DED of the total food and beverage intake, the following were obtained: (a) the mean energy (kilocalorie) value of total food and beverage consumed, the total amount of food consumed, and the total beverage consumed; (b) the mean total weight of and beverage consumed, the total amount of food consumed, and the total beverage consumed; and (c) the mean consumed of total amount of food and beverage consumed, total food cosumed, and the total beverage consumed. Fast food consumers included respondents who reportedly ate fast food at east on least onceduring the two survey days while non-fast food consumers did not eat in any fast food establishment within the surveyed period. Data were analyzed using Epilnfo version 3.5.3. Data were reported as mean ± SD. Student's t-test was used to compare the means while the chi-square test was employed to determine the existence of a relationship between variables. RESULTS: Adoloscent consumed fast food on typical school day. Fast food consumers had significantlly higher mean intake of energy, carbohydrate, protein and fat than non-fast food consumers. The DEDs of beverage as well as food and beverage intake fast food consumers. Compared to non-fast food consumers, those who ate fast food took significantly more enegry-dense beverage (1.24 kcal/g venus 0.98 kcal/g; p = .0096) and meals (2.51 kcal/g versus 1.95 kcal/g; p = .0772); however, the DED of foods consumed didnot differ significantly. There were significantly more fast food consumers who ate "medium" and "high" energy-dense foods tha non-fast consumers (28.8% ad 6.8& versus 10& and 2.5%; p = 0.038). Fast food consumption of the adolscent was not significantly associated with their nutritional status measured in terms of body mass index (BMI) CONCLUSION: Adolescents consumed fast foods on a typical school day. Fast food consumers had significantly higher mean intake of carbohydrate, protein, fat, and calories compared to non-fast food consumers. Those who ate fast foods took significantly more energy-dense meals (food and beverage) and beverages than non-fast food consumers. Findings likewise showed that there are significantly more fast food consumers who ate "medium" and "high" energy-dense foods compared to non-fast food consumers. Thus, fast food establishments should offer a variety of food choices that includes low energy-dense food items. In this study, no association was found between fast food consumption and BMI.

Unusual Intracranial Parasagittal Meningioma Extending into the Internal Jugular Vein through the Sinuses

Meningiomas frequently invade cerebral venus sinuses, especially parasagittal meningioma to superior sagittal sinus. However, most invasions do not reach internal jugular vein. We present a case of parasagittal meningioma extending into the internal jugular vein through the sinuses. Radiological investigation revealed that the tumor was invading the sagittal, transverse, sigmoid sinus and junction of the internal jugular vein to subclavian vein, which was filled with tumor. The histopathological examinations revealed that both the cerebral tumor and mass in the internal jugular vein contributed to the transitional meningioma. This is a rare case of a meningioma extending into the internal jugular vein through the sinuses. According to this case, the frontal parasagittal meningioma could invade directly the internal jugular vein. The significance of this association to cerebral venus sinuses and internal jugular vein are discussed.