Loss of pace capture on the ablation line: a new marker for complete radiofrequency lesions to achieve pulmonary vein isolation

Catheter ablation procedures for atrial fibrillation (AF) often involve circumferential antral isolation of pulmonary veins (PV). Inability to reliably identify conduction gaps on the ablation line necessitates placing additional lesions within the intended lesion set.

Evaluation of pulmonary vein stenosis after pulmonary vein isolation using a novel circular mapping and ablation catheter (PVAC)

Background—Pulmonary vein stenosis (PVST) is a well-known complication of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). Specific anatomically designed ablation catheters for antral PVI have not been evaluated with regard to the incidence of PVST. We investigated the incidence, severity, and characteristics of PVST after PVI with the Pulmonary Vein Ablation Catheter (PVAC) and phased radiofrequency technology. Methods and Results A total of 100 patients (55 men) underwent PVI for atrial fibrillation using the PVAC. PVI was guided by selective angiography of each pulmonary vein (PV) in 70 (70%) patients and by reconstructed 3D atriography (ATG) in 30 (30%) patients. Gadolinium-enhanced MRI or multidetector CT was performed in all patients before treatment and 93±78 days after PVI. PVST was classified as follows: insignificant (<25%), mild (25%–50%), moderate (50%–75%), or severe (>75%). A total of 410 PVs were analyzed. Cardiac imaging demonstrated a detectable narrowing of the PV diameter in 23 (23%) patients and in 28 (7%) PVs. In detail, insignificant PVST was observed in 12 (2.9%) PVs, mild PVST in 15 (3.7%), and moderate PVST in 1 (0.2%). No instances of severe PVST were observed. The use of 3D-ATG was associated with a lower incidence of PVST (0.8% [95% CI, 0.0%–2.2%] versus 5.4% [95% CI, 2.7%–8.1%], P=0.027). Conclusions To our knowledge, this study is the first to report the incidence of PVST using the PVAC. In this regard, the PVAC seems to be safe if used in an experienced center. In addition, the use of 3D-ATG may decrease the risk of PVST.

Current hot potatoes in atrial fibrillation ablation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation has evolved to the treatment of choice for patients with drug-resistant and symptomatic AF. Pulmonary vein isolation at the ostial or antral level usually is sufficient for treatment of true paroxysmal AF. For persistent AF ablation, drivers and perpetuators outside of the pulmonary veins are responsible for AF maintenance and have to be targeted to achieve satisfying arrhythmia-free success rate. Both complex fractionated atrial electrogram (CFAE) ablation and linear ablation are added to pulmonary vein isolation for persistent AF ablation. Nevertheless, ablation failure and necessity of repeat ablations are still frequent, especially after persistent AF ablation. Pulmonary vein reconduction is the main reason for arrhythmia recurrence after paroxysmal and to a lesser extent after persistent AF ablation. Failure of persistent AF ablation mostly is a consequence of inadequate trigger ablation, substrate modification or incompletely ablated or reconducting linear lesions. In this review we will discuss these points responsible for AF recurrence after ablation and review current possibilities on how to overcome these limitations.

In vitro effects of bethanechol on smooth muscle preparations from abomasal fundus, corpus, and antrum of dairy cows

Abomasal displacement has been associated with gastric hypomotility. The supply of prokinetic drugs available to address this problem is insufficient. The goal of the study was to investigate the effect of the muscarinic agonist bethanechol (BeCh) on contractility parameters of smooth muscle preparations from several regions of the bovine abomasum (fundus, corpus, and antrum). Cumulative concentration-response curves were constructed using BeCh in vitro with and without pre-incubation with antagonists targeted at M(2) and M(3) muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) subtypes. In all preparations investigated, BeCh induced a significant and concentration-dependent increase in all contractility parameters investigated. The maximal attainable effect (V(max)) was more pronounced in circular specimens, and V(max) of antral specimens in circular orientation were significantly lower when compared to the other preparations. Both antagonists caused a rightward shift of the concentration-response curve, suggesting that the effect of BeCh is mediated at least partly by M(2) and M(3) AChRs.

Characteristics and dimensions of the sinus membrane in patients referred for single-implant treatment in the posterior maxilla: a cone beam computed tomographic analysis

PURPOSE The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the thickness and anatomic characteristics of the sinus membrane using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) in patients evaluated for implant surgery in the posterior maxilla. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study included 131 consecutive patients referred for dental implant placement in the posterior maxilla. A total of 138 CBCT images was obtained using fields of view of 4 × 4 cm, 6 × 6 cm, or 8 × 8 cm. Reformatted sagittal CBCT slices were analyzed with regard to the thickness and characteristics of the sinus membrane at single-tooth gaps in the posterior maxilla. Factors that might influence the dimensions of the sinus membrane, such as age, sex, endodontic status, and the season, were analyzed. RESULTS The mean thickness of the maxillary sinus mucosa varied between 2.1 and 2.69 mm in the three locations analyzed. Fewer than half of the evaluated sinuses exhibited a healthy mucosa (49 of 138, or 35.51%). Most of the pathologic findings were flat, shallow thickenings (63 of 138, or 45.65%). Sex did not influence the thickness of the sinus membrane at the root tips of the premolars or at single-tooth gaps, but there was a statistically significant correlation in the region of the maxillary molars. No other evaluated factors had a statistically significant effect on the dimensions of the antral mucosa. CONCLUSIONS In the present study, sex was the only factor influencing the dimension of the sinus membrane, whereas patient age, season, and the endodontic status of neighboring teeth had no significant effect on the thickness of the antral mucosa. Future studies should address which types of mucosal thickening require interdisciplinary therapy.

Nail surgery

Nail surgery is a special branch of hand and dermatologic surgery. It is not widely performed, and many physicians do not feel at ease to perform it. The objective of this contribution is to give a short overview of the most important surgical procedures in clinical practice. References from the literature and the author's own experiences are condensed to describe what a dermatologic practitioner with knowledge of the nail and some surgical skills can perform. Nail surgery is a precise technique that requires careful administration and attention to details. Proper patient preparation starts with a patient history to identify potential contraindications and to prevent unnecessary complications. The author recommends isopropyl alcohol scrub and chlorhexidine for disinfection and ropivacaine 1% for anesthesia. The technique used for anesthesia depends on the type of surgery. Surgical procedures are described for diagnostic biopsies, nail avulsion in general, onychogryposis, paronychia treatment, hematomas and bone fracture due to trauma, removal of subungual foreign bodies, ingrowing nails, pincer nails, warts, ungual fibrokeratomas, digital myxoid pseudocyst, subungual exostoses, and various tumors. If performed correctly with adequate skills, nail surgery will lead to functionally and aesthetically satisfying results in the majority of instances.

Infection of organotypic slice cultures from rat central nervous tissue with Neospora caninum: an alternative approach to study host-parasite interactions

Neospora caninum is an apicomplexan parasite which has emerged as an important cause of bovine abortion worldwide. Abortion is usually triggered by reactivation of dormant bradyzoites during pregnancy and subsequent congenital infection of the foetus, where the central nervous system appears to be most frequently affected. We here report on an organotypic tissue culture model for Neospora infection which can be used to study certain aspects of the cerebral phase of neosporosis within the context of a three-dimensionally organised neuronal network. Organotypic slice cultures of rat cortical tissue were infected with N. caninum tachyzoites, and the kinetics of parasite proliferation, as well as the proliferation-inhibitory effect of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), were monitored by either immunofluorescence, transmission electron microscopy, and a quantitative PCR-assay using the LightCycler instrument, respectively. In addition, the neuronal cytoskeletal elements, namely glial acidic protein filaments as well as actin microfilament bundles were shown to be largely colocalising with the pseudocyst periphery. This organotypic culture model for cerebral neosporosis provides a system, which is useful to study the proliferation, ultrastructural characteristics, development, and the interactions of N. caninum within the context of neuronal tissue, which at the same time can be modulated and influenced under controlled conditions, and will be useful in the future to gain more information on the cerebral phase of neosporosis.

Xenotransplantation of cryopreserved human ovarian tissue--a systematic review of MII oocyte maturation and discussion of it as a realistic option for restoring fertility after cancer treatment.

OBJECTIVE To systematically review the reporting of MII (MII) oocyte development after xenotransplantation of human ovarian tissue. DESIGN Systematic review in accordance with the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA). SETTING Not applicable. PATIENT(S) Not applicable. INTERVENTION(S) Formation of MII oocytes after xenotransplantation of human ovarian tissue. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Any outcome reported in Pubmed. RESULT(S) Six publications were identified that report on formation of MII oocytes after xenotransplantation of human ovarian tissue. CONCLUSION(S) Xenografting of human ovarian tissue has proved to be a useful model for examining ovarian function and follicle development in vivo. With human follicles that have matured through xenografting, the possibility of cancer transmission and relapse can also be eliminated, because cancer cells are not able to penetrate the zona pellucida. The reported studies have demonstrated that xenografted ovarian tissue from a range of species, including humans, can produce antral follicles that contain mature (MII) oocytes, and it has been shown that mice oocytes have the potential to give rise to live young. Although some ethical questions remain unresolved, xenotransplantation may be a promising method for restoring fertility. This review furthermore describes the value of xenotransplantation as a tool in reproductive biology and discusses the ethical and potential safety issues regarding ovarian tissue xenotransplantation as a means of recovering fertility.