TASK DEFINITION: Given a passage classify if the passage has a definite objective/aim/goal or not. Output '1' if the passage has a defininte objective/aim/goal and output '0' if the passage does not have a definite objective/aim/goal.
PROBLEM: Topical negative pressure (TNP), widely used in wound therapy, is known to stimulate wound edge blood flow, granulation tissue formation, angiogenesis, and revascularization. We have previously shown that application of a TNP of -50 mmHg to the myocardium significantly increases microvascular blood flow in the underlying tissue. We have also shown that a myocardial TNP levels between -75 mmHg and -150 mmHg do not induce microvascular blood flow changes in the underlying myocardium. The present study was designed to elucidate the difference between -25 mmHg and -50 mmHg TNP on microvascular flow in normal and ischemic myocardium.', 'Six pigs underwent median sternotomy. The microvascular blood flow in the myocardium was recorded before and after the application of TNP using laser Doppler flowmetry. Analyses were performed before left anterior descending artery (LAD) occlusion (normal myocardium), and after 20 minutes of LAD occlusion (ischemic myocardium).', 'A TNP of -25 mmHg significantly increased microvascular blood flow in both normal (from 263.3 +/- 62.8 PU before, to 380.0 +/- 80.6 PU after TNP application, * p = 0.03) and ischemic myocardium (from 58.8 +/- 17.7 PU before, to 85.8 +/- 20.9 PU after TNP application, * p = 0.04). A TNP of -50 mmHg also significantly increased microvascular blood flow in both normal (from 174.2 +/- 20.8 PU before, to 240.0 +/- 34.4 PU after TNP application, * p = 0.02) and ischemic myocardium (from 44.5 +/- 14.0 PU before, to 106.2 +/- 26.6 PU after TNP application, ** p = 0.01).

SOLUTION: 0

PROBLEM: In patients undergoing total knee replacement (TKR), most blood loss occurs post-operatively, and the return of unwashed filtered shed blood (USB) from post-operative drainage may represent an alternative to allogeneic blood transfusion (ABT). We evaluated the impact of USB return on the cellular immune response (CIR) after TKR.', 'Forty TKR patients, intended to receive post-operative USB, entered the study. Blood samples were obtained before and 6 h, 24 h, 72 h and 7 days after surgery, and from USB, after it had been passed through a 40-microm filter. Full blood cell counts, lymphocyte subsets and immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG, IgM) were measured in all samples. A set of clinical data was collected from each patient.', 'Twenty-four of the 25 patients received a mean of 1.2 USB units and did not need additional ABT (USB group). Twelve of the 15 remaining patients who received neither USB nor ABT served as a control group for the post-operative CIR study. All patients showed a post-operative decrease in T-cell and natural killer (NK) cell counts, but not B-cell counts, and there were no significant differences between the groups with regard to CIR parameters, post-operative infection or hospital stay.

SOLUTION: 0

PROBLEM: The novel ACURATE TA™ transcatheter aortic valve (Symetis, Ecublens, Switzerland) is composed of a self-expanding nitinol stent covered by an anti-paravalvular leak skirt designed for transapical implantation. Since Conformite Europeenne (CE)-mark approval, the first 250 patients implanted with the newly approved device have been included in this post-market, multicentre registry.', 'The registry was conducted at 17 sites in Germany, Italy, Switzerland and Argentina to treat 250 high-risk elderly patients. This all-comers population presented preoperatively with a mean aortic gradient of 43.2 ± 17.4 mmHg, mean age of 80.9 ± 6.3 years, mean society of thoracic surgeons risk score of 8.0 ± 5.9% and mean logistic European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE) I of 22.3 ± 12.7%. The majority of patients (93%) were in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III/IV. All patients were treated within a multidisciplinary Heart Team.', 'The procedural success rate was 98% (n = 245) with two valve-in-valve procedures and three conversions to conventional surgery. The 30-day mortality rate was 6.8%. Postimplant echocardiography revealed a relevant paravalvular leak (moderate 2+) in 2.3% of patients, with all other patients demonstrating either none/trace or a 1+ leak. The 30-day stroke rate was 2.8% and the mean transvalvular gradient was 12.4 ± 5.8 mmHg. A new pacemaker implantation was required in 10.0% of patients and 85% of patients returning for the follow-up presented in NYHA class I/II.

SOLUTION:
1