75 research outputs found
Combining balloon-assisted tracking and sheathless guiding catheter: unloosening the Gordian knot
No full textIn a patient with a small-calibre radial artery and a 360 degrees radio-ulnar loop, we combined the balloon-assisted tracking (BAT) technique (used to track a catheter trough the loop) with the use of a 6.5 F PB sheathless guiding catheter, in order to allow the extensive catheter manipulations needed for PCI despite the ongoing artery spasm. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved
Stability in by-product formation as a strain selection tool of Saccharomyces cerevisiae wine yeasts.
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Predicting the no-reflow phenomenon following successful percutaneous coronary intervention
No full textIn the setting of acute myocardial infarction, early and adequate reopening of an infarct-related artery is not necessarily followed by a complete restoration of myocardial perfusion. This condition is usually defined as 'no-reflow'. The pathophysiology of no-reflow is multifactorial since extravascular compression, microvascular vasoconstriction, embolization during percutaneous coronary intervention, and platelet and neutrophil aggregates are involved. In the clinical arena, angiographic findings and easily available clinical parameters can predict the risk of no-reflow. More recently, several studies have demonstrated that biomarkers, especially those related to the pathogenetic components of no-reflow, could also have a prognostic role in the prediction and in the full understanding of the multiple mechanisms of this phenomenon. Thus, in this article, we investigate the role of several biomarkers on admission in predicting the occurrence of no-reflow following successful percutaneous coronary interventio
Positron emission tomography in acute coronary syndromes
No full textSeveral imaging techniques have been used to assess cardiac structure and function, to understand pathophysiology, and to guide clinical decision making in the setting of acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Over the last years, cardiac positron emission tomography (PET) has affirmed its role in this setting. Indeed, the combined quantitative assessment of myocardial metabolism and perfusion has allowed to better understand the functional status of infarcted and non-infarcted myocardium, thus improving our knowledge of myocardial response to necrosis. More recently, several studies, taking advantage of previous observations in patients with cancer, have shown that PET could also provide important information on the mechanisms of vascular instability through the early identification of activated inflammatory cells in the atherosclerotic plaque. These findings are opening the way to more effective forms of prevention of acute vascular syndromes in high-risk patients; furthermore, new more sensitive and specific tracers for the identification of vascular inflammation are under development. In this review, we describe the potential and limitations of PET in the assessment of AC
Is microvascular damage evaluated by myocardial contrast echocardiography in the sub-acute phase of myocardial infarction entirely anatomical?
No full textPerfusion defect obtained by myocardial contrast echocardiographyin the sub-acute phase of myocardial infarction: a new reliable technique in the quantitative assessment of infarct size
No full textComparison of the cytobrush, cottonswab, and low-volume uterine flush techniques to evaluate endometrial cytology for diagnosing endometritis in chronically infertile mares
No full textEndometritis is the most important cause of infertility in barren mares. The quick method of endometrial cytology (EC) has a relatively high reliability in diagnosing endometrial inflammation in the mare. For reliable cytological results, a collection technique that yields many well-preserved cells representative of a large uterine surface area without causing harm to the reproductive tract is required. The aim of the study was to compare three usually employed techniques for collection of endometrial and inflammatory cells (guarded cotton swab, uterine lavage, and cytobrush) in chronically infertile mares. Twenty Standardbred mares were used. In each mare, samples for EC were collected, first by a cotton swab (DGS), then by a cytobrush (CB), and finally by low volume flush (LVF). The slides were stained using the Diff Quick stain. The following parameters were assessed for each tested technique: background content of the slides; quality of the cells harvested; total cellularity; neutrophils; ratio PMN/uterine epithelial cells; inflammatory cells; vaginal epithelium cells. Categorical variables were compared using contingency tables and Pearson Chi-square tests, whereas continuous variables were compared using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA); P < 0.05 was considered significant. Samplings by DGS and CB resulted easy and quick to perform via a single operator in all cases. LVF was performed easily, but required the presence of 2-3 players and took more time. The background content of the slides prepared by DGS appeared proteinaceous, slides prepared by LVF appeared contaminated by red blood cells or debris, whereas slides prepared by CB appeared clear. All smears showed a good total cellularity. The CB yielded significantly more cells (P < 0.0001) than DGS and LVF. The DGS produced significant more cells than LVF (P < 0.0001). The DGS produced significantly more (P = 0.003) intact cells than CB and LVF. Distorted cells were significantly (P = 0.001) more frequent in smears by LVF. The CB harvested significantly (P = 0.009) more fragmented cells. CB and LVF produced significantly (P < 0.0001; P = 0.02) more PMNs/HPF than DGS. In smears collected by LVF the proportion of PMNs/uterine epithelial cells was significantly (P = 0.0062; P = 0.0023) higher than in smears by CB and DGS. CB collected a significantly higher (P = 0.0011) proportion of PMNs than DGS. Acute endometritis was diagnosed in 50% (10/20) of the mares by DGS cytological samples, 25% (5/20) by CB, and 75% (15/20) by LVF. Inflammatory cells other than PMN (lymphocytes, macrophages, eosinophils) were collected exclusively by CB method. Epithelial cells from the vagina were only detected in LVF slides. The agreement of the diagnosis of endometritis between the three techniques of collection and between the different criteria adopted to evaluate smears obtained with the same technique was poor (k ≤ 0.3). In conclusion, results show that cytobrush and flush specimens were superior in all parameters to cotton swab smears. Even though the cytobrush technique requires specialized equipment, sample collection by this method was easier, more consistent, and quicker than the lavage method, indicating that the brush would be the preferred collection method for use on field in the mare. More studies are needed to establish criteria for interpretation of inflammation in the mare on cytobrush samples
CAD-CAM procedure for the construction of an interlocutory prosthetic nose after rhinectomy
No full textPresentation of the “Parma Scale” for treatment evaluation in offenders with mental disorders
No full textRoutine treatment evaluation is still poorly implemented in the Italian forensic psychiatric practice. This is also a lack of reliable instruments, especially those sufficiently specific and sensitive to longitudinally measure behavioral and functional changes. Moreover, among the very few assessment tools specifically designed to investigate treatment progress of offenders with mental disorders and the changeability of their problematic/protective behaviors, the vast majority were developed in non-Italian countries and cultures. Therefore, given the high specificity of the Italian forensic psychiatric framework, the aim of this paper was to present a new Italian instrument, the “Parma Scale” for treatment evaluation of offenders with mental disorders, which was developed as a quick and easy forensic tool specifically designed for a dynamic assessment of treatment plans (supported by hope and oriented towards a functional, personal and social recovery) and for an accurate application in different forensic psychiatric settings
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