Effect of early intervention using state modulation and cue reading on mother-infant interactions in preterm infants and their mothers in Japan.

This study examined the effects of early intervention on mothers and their preterm infants. Intervention aimed to facilitate mother-infant interaction by enhancing the mother's ability to modulate her infant's state and to read infant cues. Specifically, the intervention consisted of a nurse researcher visiting the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) before each infant was discharged, and conducting post-discharge home visits until the infant reached a corrected age of 60 weeks. For research design purposes, mother-infant dyads were placed into either (1) an Intensive Intervention Group (ⅡG) or (2) a Mild Intervention Group (MIG). The outcomes of the groups were then compared. The effects of early intervention were rated by examining mother-infant interaction and the durations of infant sleep and crying. Despite individual differences, there were more improved interaction scores at Time 1 in ⅡG members that had recorded lower interaction scores earlier than those of MIG. A lower frequency of night crying was also recorded from the ⅡG. The results implied that interventions teaching state-modulation methods and cue reading to the mothers should be started while their infants are in the NICU.

Hydrogel-mediated release of basic fibroblast growth factor from a stent-graft accelerates biological fixation with the aortic wall in a porcine model.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the local reaction of the aortic wall induced by basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) released from a gelatin hydrogel coated on the outer surface of a stent-graft for the purpose of biological fixation. METHODS: A total of 18 nitinol-based, polyester-covered stent-grafts were implanted in 6 porcine aortas for 1 month. The implanted stent-grafts were divided into 3 groups: the control group (uncoated), the hydrogel group (coated with hydrogel containing water), and the bFGF group (coated with hydrogel containing bFGF). After stent-graft implantation, the results of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and qualitative and quantitative microscopic examinations were compared among the groups. RESULTS: In the bFGF group, a thin white lamellar tissue was observed on IVUS images. Significantly more new intimal tissue formation was observed in all the bFGF group animals than in the other 2 groups, and alpha smooth muscle (SM) actin-positive cells (alphaSMCs) were detected in this new tissue. The alphaSMCs within the fabric of tightly woven grafts were significantly more abundant in the bFGF group than in the other groups. CONCLUSION: The local controlled release of bFGF from the stent-graft significantly accelerated the proliferation of new intimal tissue between the aorta and the stent-graft and within the graft materials. These findings suggest that a graft can be fixed biologically to the aortic wall, which may contribute to the shrinkage of aneurysms following stent-grafting.

Usefulness of grasping a guiding catheter with a loop-snare wire for stent placement into the vertebrobasilar artery.

In cases in which the subclavian artery is severely tortuous or branches with an extremely angulated origin, stent placement in the vertebrobasilar artery on the approach from the femoral artery is often technically difficult. We report two cases in which a stent placement procedure for the vertebrobasilar artery was successfully performed by grasping a guiding catheter with a loop-snare wire. This technique is useful for tortuous arteries or arteries branching with an extremely angulated origin.

Distal embolus protection with an intra-aortic filter during stent-graft repair of a severely atherosclerotic thoracic aortic aneurysm.

PURPOSE: To assess the technical feasibility and efficacy of distal embolus protection with an intra-aortic filter during stent-graft repair in a patient diagnosed with a shaggy aorta. TECHNIQUE: In a 75-year-old man with a severely atherosclerotic thoracic aortic aneurysm, stent-graft repair was combined with transposition of the arch branches to the ascending aorta under thoracotomy. A filtration-type embolus protection device with a nitinol basket and polyester fabric was introduced through a 12-F sheath and opened in the supraceliac aorta during the stent-graft procedure; it was safely pulled back into the sheath after the stent-grafts were implanted. The stent-graft repair was successful, and abundant atheromatous debris was captured in the filter. Neither procedure-related embolic events nor neurological deficits were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Use of the intra-aortic filter device to prevent distal embolism during thoracic stent-graft repairs may be feasible and efficacious in severely atherosclerotic patients.

Phlebosclerotic colitis: imaging-pathologic correlation.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to analyze the imaging findings of phlebosclerotic colitis in comparison with histologic findings. CONCLUSION: Calcifications and/or obstructions of the veins of the colonic wall and adjacent mesentery and collateral formation, edematous thickening of the colonic wall, and increased density in the fatty tissue of the surrounding mesentery were features of this rare entity. However, in the early stage of the disease, no definite calcification of the affected veins was observed.