bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Modified Implantation Technique for the Berlin Heart EXCOR Assist Device in Adults
Authors: Bigdeli Amir Khosrow , Michel Sebastian , Kaczmarek Ingo , Juchem Gerd , Ueberfuhr Peter , Schmitz Christoph , Sodian Ralf 
Published: February 2012

AbstractThe Berlin Heart EXCOR ventricular assist device provides pulsatile ventricular assistance. It can be used for univentricular or biventricular support. However, pre‐, intra‐, and postoperative complications (e.g., bleeding, anastomotic insufficiency) are frequent. We present herein a detailed description of our modified implantation technique in order to facilitate further clinical use of the system.
Headache in Carotid Artery Stenting and Angiography
Authors: Gündüz Ayşegül , Göksan Baki , Koçer Naci , Karaali‐Savrun Feray 
Published: February 2012

Introduction.— Carotid angioplasty headache and diagnostic criteria are based on scarce data and small series. Here, we aimed to determine presence, frequency, and characteristics of headache after carotid artery stenting and angiography headache and speculate on possible mechanisms of head and neck pain emerging during or after the carotid artery stenting procedure.Patients and method.— The total of 64 patients who were admitted to our Neuroradiology Division of Radiology Department for primary percutaneous transluminal carotid interna stenting were included in the study. They had symptomatic or asymptomatic carotid artery disease with stenosis more than 70%. All patients were questioned by a neurologist regarding the presence, side, location, quality, severity, duration, and timing of headache after both angiography and stenting procedures.Results.— Frequency of headache after carotid interna stenting was 39.1%, it commonly arose in a short period after the procedure and relieved in 10 minutes. This type of headache was mild, ipsilateral, frontotemporal in location, pressing in nature, and arose frequently within 10 minutes after the procedure, whereas angiography headache had a frequency of 21.9% and it was ipsilateral, mild, burning‐like headache. Angiography headache also relieved within 10 minutes. Both types of headache were related to severe stenosis.Discussion.— Our study clearly demonstrates that headache is seen after carotid artery stenting (39.1%) and angiography (21.9%). Although both types of headache have similar characteristics, they differ in that it is mostly pressing in the group of carotid artery stenting and burning in angiography group.
Nitric Oxide Modulation of Low‐Frequency Oscillations in Cortical Vessels in FHM – a NIRS Study
Authors: Schytz Henrik W. , Hansen Jakob M. , Phillip Dorte , Selb Juliette , Boas David A. , Ashina Messoud 
Published: February 2012

Background.— The pathophysiological alterations in patients with familial hemiplegic migraine (FHM) are not yet fully known. The headache characteristics in patients with FHM mutations have been examined in a series of glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) provocation studies in FHM patients, but the cortical vascular response to GTN in FHM patients has never been investigated before.Objective.— To investigate changes in spontaneous low‐frequency oscillations (LFO) of cortical vessels in response to the nitric oxide donor GTN by near‐infrared spectroscopy in FHM patients.Methods.— Twenty‐three FHM patients without known mutations and 9 healthy controls received a continuous intravenous infusion of GTN 0.5 µg/kg/minute over 20 minutes. Using near‐infrared spectroscopy, we recorded oxygenated hemoglobin (oxyHb) LFO amplitude bilateral at the frontal cortex at baseline and 15 minutes and 40 minutes after start of the GTN infusion.Results.— GTN changed oxyHb LFO amplitude in FHM patients (P = .002), but not in healthy controls (P = .121). Only in FHM patients with coexisting common migraine types did GTN infusion induced changes in LFO amplitudes (P < .001), where post‐hoc analysis revealed an increase in LFO amplitude 15 minutes (P = .003) and 40 (P = .013) minutes after start of infusion compared with baseline. Interestingly, GTN infusion induced no changes in LFO amplitude in patients with a pure FHM phenotype (P = .695).Conclusion.— FHM patients with a mixed phenotype (coexisting common type of migraine) showed an increase in oxyHb LFO amplitude during GTN infusion, whereas FHM patients with pure phenotype showed no changes. These data suggest possible differences in frontal cortical nitric oxide vascular sensitivity between FHM patients with a mixed phenotype and patients with pure FHM.
Spatiotemporal neuronal correlates of seizure generation in focal epilepsy
Authors: Bower Mark R. , Stead Matt , Meyer Fredric B. , Marsh W. Richard , Worrell Gregory A. 
Published: February 2012

SummaryPurpose:  Focal seizures are thought to reflect simultaneous activation of a large population of neurons within a discrete region of pathologic brain. Resective surgery targeting this focus is an effective treatment in carefully selected patients, but not all. Although in vivo recordings of single‐neuron (i.e., “unit”) activity in patients with epilepsy have a long history, no studies have examined long‐term firing rates leading into seizures and the spatial relationship of unit activity with respect to the seizure‐onset zone.Methods:  Microelectrode arrays recorded action potentials from neurons in mesial temporal structures (often including contralateral mesial temporal structures) in seven patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy.Key Findings:  Only 7.6% of microelectrode recordings showed increased firing rates before seizure onset and only 32.4% of microelectrodes showed any seizure‐related activity changes. Surprisingly, firing rates on the majority of microelectrodes (67.6%) did not change throughout the seizure, including some microelectrodes located within the seizure‐onset zone. Furthermore, changes in firing rate before and at seizure onset were observed on microelectrodes located outside the seizure‐onset zone and even in contralateral mesial temporal lobe. These early changes varied from seizure to seizure, demonstrating the heterogeneity of ensemble activity underlying the generation of focal seizures. Increased neuronal synchrony was primarily observed only following seizure onset.Significance:  These results suggest that cellular correlates of seizure initiation and sustained ictal discharge in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy involve a small subset of the neurons within and outside the seizure‐onset zone. These results further suggest that the “epileptic ensemble or network” responsible for seizure generation are more complex and heterogeneous than previously thought and that future studies may find mechanistic insights and therapeutic treatments outside the clinical seizure‐onset zone.
All‐Cause 1‐, 5‐, and 10‐Year Mortality in Elderly People According to Activities of Daily Living Stage
Authors: Stineman Margaret G. , Xie Dawei , Pan Qiang , Kurichi Jibby E. , Zhang Zi , Saliba Debra , Henry‐Sánchez John T. , Streim Joel 
Published: February 2012

ObjectivesTo examine the independent association between five stages of activities of daily living (ADLs) and mortality after accounting for known diagnostic and sociodemographic risk factors.DesignFor five stages of ADLs (0 to IV), determined according to the severity and pattern of ADL limitations, unadjusted life expectancies and adjusted associations with mortality were estimated using a Cox proportional hazards regression model.SettingCommunity.ParticipantsNine thousand four hundred forty‐seven participants aged 70 and older from the second Longitudinal Study of Aging.MeasurementsOne‐, 5‐, and 10‐year survival and time to death.ResultsMedian life expectancy was 10.6 years for participants with no ADL limitations and 6.5, 5.1, 3.8, and 1.6 years for those at ADL stages I, II, III, and IV, respectively. The sociodemographic‐ and diagnostic‐adjusted hazard of death at 1 year was five times as great at stage IV as at stage 0 (hazard ratio = 5.6, 95% confidence interval = 3.8–8.3). The associations between ADL stage and mortality declined over time but remained statistically significant at 5 and 10 years.ConclusionADL stage continued to explain mortality risk after adjusting for known risk factors including advanced age, stroke, and cancer. ADL stages might aid clinical care planning and policy as a powerful prognostic indicator particularly of short‐term mortality, improving on current ADL measures by profiling activity limitations of relevance to determining community support needs.
A prospective trial assessing the safety and efficacy of collecting up to 840 mL of plasma in conjunction with saline infusion during plasmapheresis
Authors: Buzza Mark , Marks Denese C. , Capper Hugh , Cassin Elisa , Badcock Caro‐Anne , Reid Samantha , Kwok Matthew , Yang Hung , Lee June , Corrigan Carolyn , Hartkopf‐Theis Tanja , Keller Anthony 
Published: February 2012

BACKGROUND: The demand for plasma for manufacturing intravenous immunoglobulin and other plasma derivatives is increasing. A prospective study was conducted to determine whether up to 840 mL of plasma could be safely and effectively collected in conjunction with saline infusion during plasmapheresis.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Ninety‐one plasma donors were enrolled in a modified 3 × 3 crossover study to assess the equivalence of three plasma collection methods: 750 mL of plasma with no saline (control, Method 1), 840 mL of plasma with a 250‐mL saline infusion during and at the end of the donation (Method 2), and 800 mL of plasma with a 500‐mL saline infusion at the end of the donation (Method 3). The primary efficacy endpoint was the total protein concentration of the collected plasma. Secondary efficacy endpoints were immunoglobulin (Ig)G and Factor (F)VIII plasma concentration and donors' acceptance of the new procedures. Safety was determined from the adverse event (AE) rate.RESULTS: The total protein, IgG, and FVIII concentrations in plasma collected under Methods 2 and 3 were significantly lower than those in plasma collected under Method 1 (p < 0.0001). These variables were also significantly lower in plasma collected under Method 2 compared to Method 3. During the study, 75 AEs were recorded, 73 of which were mild to moderate. Significantly more donors (31%) preferred Method 2 compared to Method 3 (p = 0.006).CONCLUSIONS: Saline infusion during plasmapheresis led to hemodilution of plasma proteins. However, the benefits to donor safety and satisfaction are compelling reasons to implement saline infusion during plasmapheresis.
Incomplete pretransfusion testing leads to surgical delays
Authors: McWilliams Brian , Yazer Mark H. , Cramer James , Triulzi Darrell J. , Waters Jonathan H. 
Published: February 2012

BACKGROUND: The Joint Commission has highlighted the importance of having appropriate and complete pretransfusion testing before surgery begins. The maximum surgical blood ordering schedule (MSBOS) indicates which patients require preoperative transfusion testing. We determined the number of times surgical delays were caused due to the lack of completed pretransfusion testing.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: All transfusion events reported through the common medical event reporting system of eight networked hospitals over a 12‐month period were evaluated to determine how often patients experienced surgical delays due to not having complete pretransfusion testing.RESULTS: During this 12‐month period 12 patients were identified who were either in or en route to the operating room with incomplete pretransfusion testing leading to a delay in providing crossmatched red blood cells (RBCs). In 6 of 12 cases a new antibody was discovered, which required extra time for the provision of crossmatched RBCs, while in 4 of 12 patients the samples were not sent or were lost on the way to the blood bank. In the remaining two patients other parts of the pretransfusion testing process were not followed according to hospital policy. The median surgery start time delay was approximately 12 hours (range, 1‐168 hr) in 11 of 12 cases. One patient's case was not aborted when it was discovered that crossmatched RBCs were not immediately available due to newly detected alloantibodies.CONCLUSIONS: We identified three mechanisms by which delays in completing pretransfusion testing in surgical patients occurred. Adherence to the MSBOS and sample collection policies should reduce delays.
A Service Provider's Elicitation of Its Customers’ Demand Distributions by a Price Mechanism
Authors: Dobson Gregory , Lederer Phillip J. , Robinson Lawrence W. 
Published: February 2012

ABSTRACTIn a service environment a service provider needs to determine the amount and kinds of capacity to meet customers’ needs over many periods. To make good decisions, she needs to know the probability distribution of her customers’ demand in each period. We study a situation in which customers’ demand for a given service is random in each period, but inelastic, or modeled well by this assumption, and cannot be delayed to the next period. This article presents a mechanism that allows a service provider to learn the distribution of a customer's demand by offering him a set of contracts through which he can partially prepay for future service for a reduced cost for units of service based on anticipated needs. We describe the form of a set of contracts that will cause the customer to reveal his demand distribution as he minimizes his expected costs. To justify the effort of organizing and offering contracts, we present an application that demonstrates the cost savings to the service provider with better capacity planning using the truthfully elicited distribution.
Use of the Mechanical Dilator Sheath for Removal of Endocardial Leads: A Single Center Experience
Authors: AKSU TOLGA , GURAY UMIT , SEN TANER , DURUKAN MINE , GURAY YESIM , DEMIRKAN BURCU , KISACIK HALIL 
Published: February 2012

Background:

Due to an increasing number of cardiac device implantations, the number of leads that need to be extracted because of infection or lead failure is consistently rising. We present our experience in percutaneous lead removal in a single tertiary center.
Methods:

From December 2009 to August 2010, 12 patients underwent percutaneous lead extraction procedure by the Evolution™ mechanical dilator sheath (Cook Medical Inc., Bloomington, IN, USA) system after failure of manual traction and a locking stylet.
Results:

Ages of the patients ranged between 7 and 86 years (mean age was 58 ± 12 years). Mean implantation time was 73 months (range between 12 and 244 months). Ten patients had one lead; only two patients had two leads. Indications for lead removal were: lead endocarditis in five patients, local (pocket) infection in four patients, and lead failure in three patients. All leads were successfully removed by using the device, except one lead which was one of the two leads in a patient with dual chamber pacemaker implanted 10 years ago. In three patients, same venous accesses (sheath of extraction system) were used to implant a new lead after removal of damaged leads without a new venous puncture. In only one patient, significant hematoma was found after the intervention and treated conservatively. No other significant complications were encountered in any patients.
Conclusions:

Damaged or infected leads can safely and relatively easily be extracted by using this new percutaneous extraction technique.
(PACE 2012; 1–5)
Circadian and Seasonal Variations of Ventricular Tachyarrhythmias in Patients with Early Repolarization Syndrome and Brugada Syndrome: Analysis of Patients with Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator
Authors: KIM SUNG‐HWAN , NAM GI‐BYOUNG , BAEK SEUNGHEE , OH CHOI HYUNG , HUN KIM KI , CHOI KEE‐JOON , JOUNG BOYOUNG , PAK HUI‐NAM , LEE MOON‐HYOUNG , SOON KIM SUNG , PARK SEUNG‐JUNG , KEUN ON YOUNG , SOO KIM JUNE , OH IL‐YOUNG , CHOI EUE‐KEUN , OH SEIL , CHOI YUN‐SHIK , IL CHOI JONG , WEON PARK SANG , KIM YOUNG‐HOON , YOUNG LEE MAN , EUY LIM HONG , LEE YOUNG‐SOO , CHO YONGKEUN , KIM JUN , LEE DONG‐IL , KYOUNG CHO DAE , KIM YOU‐HO 
Published: February 2012

Circadian and Seasonal Variation in Early Repolarization Syndrome. Introduction: The circadian and seasonal patterns of ventricular tachyarrhythmia (VTA) in patients with early repolarization syndrome (ERS) have not been determined. We compared the timing of VTAs in patients with ERS and Brugada syndrome (BS).Methods and Results: We enrolled patients with ERS (n = 14) and BS (n = 53) who underwent implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation. The timing of VTAs, including cardiac arrest and appropriate shocks, was determined. During follow up of 6.4  ±  3.6 years in the ERS group and 5.0  ±  3.3 years in the BS group, 5 of 14 (36%) ERS and 10 of 53 (19%) BS patients experienced appropriate shocks (P = 0.37). Cardiac arrest showed a trend of nocturnal distribution peaking from midnight to early morning (P = 0.14 in ERS, P = 0.16 in BS). Circadian distribution of appropriate shocks showed a significant nocturnal peak in patients with ERS (P  <  0.0001) but a trend toward a nocturnal peak in patients with BS (P = 0.08). There were no seasonal differences in cardiac arrest in patients with ERS and BS. However, patients with ERS showed a seasonal peak in appropriate shocks from spring to summer (P  <  0.0001). There was no significant seasonal peak in patients with BS. The timing of VTAs (cardiac arrest plus appropriate shock) showed significant nocturnal distributions in patients with ERS and BS (P  <  0.01, respectively). A significant clustering of VTAs was noted from spring to summer (P  <  0.01) in patients with ERS, but not in patients with BS (P = 0.42).Conclusions: Incidence of VTAs showed marked circadian variations with night‐time peaks in patients with ERS and BS. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 23, pp. 757‐763, July 2012)
Percutaneous Left Axillary Artery Approach for Impella 2.5 Liter Circulatory Support for Patients with Severe Aortoiliac Arterial Disease Undergoing High‐Risk Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Authors: LOTUN KAPILDEO , SHETTY RANJITH , PATEL MANISHKUMAR , ARAIN SALMAN A. 
Published: February 2012

The use of the Impella 2.5 liter (L) device for hemodynamic support has been well described. The typical access site for the Impella 2.5 L device is the femoral artery. The use of the axillary and subclavian artery has been described via surgical cut down for the Impella 5 L device when femoral artery access is not possible. In patients with severe aortoiliac disease and difficult anatomy the femoral artery access for the Impella 2.5 L device is not feasible. We describe the successful percutaneous use of the Impella 2.5 L device for hemodynamic support via the left axillary artery in 2 patients undergoing high‐risk PCI with concomitant severe aortoiliac disease.(J Interven Cardiol 2012;25:210–213)
Preparation of Platelike NaNbO3 Particles by Single‐Step Molten Salt Synthesis
Authors: Kikuchihara Anna , Sakurai Fumito , Kimura Toshio 
Published: February 2012

This article reports single‐step molten salt synthesis to prepare single‐crystal, platelike NaNbO3 particles without the Bi2O3 byproduct. In the previous method of two‐step molten salt synthesis, platelike Bi2.5Na3.5Nb5O18 particles have been prepared by heating a mixture of Bi2O3,Na2CO3, and Nb2O5 in molten NaCl; the particles are then converted to platelike NaNbO3 particles by reaction with Na2CO3 in molten NaCl. The obtained NaNbO3 particles are polycrystalline, and Bi2O3 particles form as a byproduct. In the present method, single‐crystal, platelike NaNbO3 particles without the Bi2O3 byproduct are obtained by heating mixtures of Bi2O3, Na2CO3, and Nb2O5 with molar ratios of 5:7:10 (the composition of Bi2.5Na3.5Nb5O18) and 5:5:8 (the composition of Bi2.5Na2.5Nb4O15) in molten NaCl at 1225°C for 12 h. During heating, platelike Aurivillius (Bi2.5Na3.5Nb5O18 and Bi2.5Na2.5Nb4O15) particles are formed first and these then react with NaCl to form platelike NaNbO3 particles, BiCl3, and Na2O. BiCl3 evaporates from the system and Na2O is washed out after heating. Thus, single‐phase NaNbO3 is obtained. Sluggish conversion from the Aurivillius phases to NaNbO3 is responsible for the formation of single‐crystal particles.
Effect of hypoxia on integrin‐mediated adhesion of endothelial progenitor cells
Authors: Kaiser Ralf , Friedrich Denise , Chavakis Emmanouil , Böhm Michael , Friedrich Erik B. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractHoming of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) is crucial for neoangiogenesis, which might be negatively affected by hypoxia. We investigated the influence of hypoxia on fibronectin binding integrins for migration and cell‐matrix‐adhesion. AMP‐activated kinase (AMPK) and integrin‐linked kinase (ILK) were examined as possible effectors of hypoxia.Human EPCs were expanded on fibronectin (FN) and integrin expression was profiled by flow cytometry. Cell‐matrix‐adhesion‐ and migration‐assays on FN were performed to examine the influence of hypoxia and AMPK‐activation. Regulation of AMPK and ILK was shown by Western blot analysis. We demonstrate the presence of integrin β1, β2 and α5 on EPCs. Adhesion to FN is reduced by blocking β1 and α5 (49% and 2% of control, P < 0.05) whereas α4‐blockade has no effect. Corresponding effects were shown for migration. Hypoxia and AMPK‐activation decrease adhesion on FN. Although total AMPK‐expression remains unchanged, phospho‐AMPK increases eightfold.The EPCs require α5 for adhesion on FN. Hypoxia and AMPK‐activation decrease adhesion. As α5 is the major adhesive factor for EPCs on FN, this suggests a link between AMPK and α5‐integrins. We found novel evidence for a connection between hypoxia, AMPK‐activity and integrin activity. This might affect the fate of EPCs in ischaemic tissue.
Pharmacokinetics of 250 μg anti‐D IgG in the third trimester of pregnancy: An observational study
Authors: TIBLAD ELEONOR , WIKMAN AGNETA , RANE ANDERS , JANSSON YVONNE , WESTGREN MAGNUS 
Published: February 2012

Abstract Objective. We present a pharmacokinetic study evaluating a single intramuscular dose of 250 μg anti‐D immunoglobulin in the third trimester of pregnancy. The aim of the study was to determine the kinetic profile and duration of detectable levels of anti‐D. Design. Prospective observational study. Setting. Antenatal outpatient clinic. Population. Healthy Rhesus D (RhD)‐negative pregnant women with an RHD‐positive fetus. Methods. Serial plasma anti‐D quantitations following antenatal administration of anti‐D immunoglobulin were performed using flow cytometry. Kinetic profiles for anti‐D levels were generated from the concentration values at predetermined sampling time points. The half‐lives were calculated by linear regression analysis. Main outcome measures. Time vs. concentration profile, half‐life and anti‐D concentration ≥1 ng/mL close to term. Results. The maximal plasma concentration of anti‐D was usually seen at 3–10 days postinjection, with a median value of 25 ng/mL. The half‐life varied between individuals, with a median of 23 days. We found detectable levels of anti‐D IgG within two weeks of parturition in 11 of 12 women. Conclusions. The preparation of anti‐D immunoglobulin used in the present study, if administrated in pregnancy week 28–30, is associated with detectable levels of anti‐D in most women at the time of delivery. Although the half‐time is 23 days, it is uncertain whether all mothers have adequate anti‐D concentrations at term. Alternative strategies may be evaluated in the future, with repeated administration of antenatal prophylaxis at term rather than conventional postpartum administration of anti‐D.