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2022 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jia-hui Li ◽  
Hai-yang Xie ◽  
Qi Sun ◽  
Xiao-gang Guo ◽  
Yan-qiao Chen ◽  
...  

Aims: To compare the procedural outcomes of cryoballoon ablation (CBA) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with the common ostium of inferior pulmonary veins (COIPV) and to explore the effect of COIPV on CBA performance through the assessment of anatomical factors.Methods: A total of 18 AF patients with COIPV were included. Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) was performed with second-generation CBA or RFA. The anatomical characteristics of COIPV and procedural outcomes were collected.Results: The prevalence of COIPV was 0.82% in the enrolled population. PVI was achieved in all pulmonary veins (PVs) without any complications. The “tricircle” strategy was applied for RFA, and the segmental freeze strategy was performed for CBA. Compared with RFA, CBA had shorter procedural time (median: 53.0 vs. 78.0 min, p < 0.001) and longer fluoroscopy time (median: 13.5 vs. 6.0 min, p < 0.001). Higher ovality index of the ostium was seen in patients with ≥4 freezes in inferior PVs [IPVs; 0.95 (0.78–1.05) vs. 0.49 (0.21–0.83), p = 0.047]. During a median of 23.5 months of follow-up, the atrial arrhythmias-free survival after the procedure was comparable between CBA and RFA (p = 0.729).Conclusion: The second-generation CBA is an efficient and safe alternative for RFA in AF patients with COIPV. Anatomical characteristics of COIPV bring the challenge to the procedure performance of RFA and CBA.


2022 ◽  
Vol 226 (1) ◽  
pp. S412-S413
Author(s):  
Kristina M. Feldman ◽  
Andre Robinson ◽  
Sophia Scarpelli-Shchur ◽  
Guillaume Stoffels ◽  
Zainab Al-Ibraheemi ◽  
...  

2022 ◽  
pp. 101684
Author(s):  
Mohamed E. Abd El-Hack ◽  
Mohamed T. El-Saadony ◽  
Ahmed R. Elbestawy ◽  
Ahmed R. Gado ◽  
Maha M. Nader ◽  
...  

2022 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 12
Author(s):  
R. Lasserre ◽  
P. Poustis ◽  
S. Debeugny ◽  
N. Delarche

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 44
Author(s):  
Arnauld Efon Ekangouo ◽  
Hugues C. Nana Djeunga ◽  
Guilhem Sempere ◽  
Joseph Kamgno ◽  
Flobert Njiokou ◽  
...  

Vector control using larvicides is the main alternative strategy to address limits of preventive chemotherapy using ivermectin for the control of onchocerciasis. However, it remains substantially limited by implementation difficulties, ecological concerns and the resistance of vector populations. Therefore, efficient and environmentally safe alternative control strategies are still needed. This study explores the composition of the blackfly bacteriome and its variability in the presence of Onchocerca volvulus infection, in order to determine their potential as a novel vector control-based approach to fight onchocerciasis. An entomological survey of a collection of samples was performed in the Bafia health district, a historical endemic focus for onchocerciasis in Cameroon. A total of 1270 blackflies were dissected and the infection rate was 10.1%, indicative of ongoing transmission of onchocerciasis in the surveyed communities. Sequencing process of blackflies’ gut DNA for bacteria screening revealed 14 phyla and 123 genera, highlighting the diversity of gut blackflies bacterial communities. Eight bacteria formed the core of blackfly bacteriome and Wolbachia was the predominant genus with 73.4% of relative abundance of blackflies’ gut bacterial communities. Acidomonas and Roseanomas genera were significantly abundant among infected blackflies (p = 0.01), whereas other genera such as Brevibacterium and Fructobacillus were associated with the absence of infection (p = 0.0009). Differences in gut bacterial distribution of blackflies according to their infection status by the parasite suggest a causal relationship between the bacteriome composition and the onset of blackflies’ infection by O. volvulus or vice versa. Blackfly native bacteria are then potentially involved in infection by O. volvulus, either by facilitating or preventing the parasite infestation of the vector. These bacteria represent an interesting potential as a biological tool/target for a novel approach of vector control to fight onchocerciasis.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 223
Author(s):  
Nicola Montemurro ◽  
Alba Scerrati ◽  
Luca Ricciardi ◽  
Gianluca Trevisi

Background: Exoscopes are a safe and effective alternative or adjunct to the existing binocular surgical microscope for brain tumor, skull base surgery, aneurysm clipping and both cervical and lumbar complex spine surgery that probably will open a new era in the field of new tools and techniques in neurosurgery. Methods: A Pubmed and Ovid EMBASE search was performed to identify papers that include surgical experiences with the exoscope in neurosurgery. PRISMA guidelines (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses) were followed. Results: A total of 86 articles and 1711 cases were included and analyzed in this review. Among 86 papers included in this review 74 (86%) were published in the last 5 years. Out of 1711 surgical procedures, 1534 (89.6%) were performed in the operative room, whereas 177 (10.9%) were performed in the laboratory on cadavers. In more detail, 1251 (72.7%) were reported as brain surgeries, whereas 274 (16%) and 9 (0.5%) were reported as spine and peripheral nerve surgeries, respectively. Considering only the clinical series (40 studies and 1328 patients), the overall surgical complication rate was 2.6% during the use of the exoscope. These patients experienced complication profiles similar to those that underwent the same treatments with the OM. The overall switch incidence rate from exoscope to OM during surgery was 5.8%. Conclusions: The exoscope seems to be a safe alternative compared to an operative microscope for the most common brain and spinal procedures, with several advantages that have been reached, such as an easier simplicity of use and a better 3D vision and magnification of the surgical field. Moreover, it offers the opportunity of better interaction with other members of the surgical staff. All these points set the first step for subsequent and short-term changes in the field of neurosurgery and offer new educational possibilities for young neurosurgery and medical students.


2021 ◽  
Vol 71 (6) ◽  
pp. 2045-48
Author(s):  
Zahra Arsalan ◽  
Omer Zafar ◽  
Syed Abid Hassan Naqvi ◽  
Qurat Ul Ain

Objective: To evaluate whether steroids or immunomodulator is a better mode of treatment in long term management of vernal keratoconjunctivitis.Study Design: A quasi experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Armed Forces institute of Ophthalmology, Rawalpindi, from Feb 2019 to Oct 2019. Methodology: Ninety-two patients in between ages of 5-20 years were divided into two equal groups of 46 patients each. After instillation of 0.1% Fluoromethalone (steroid) into both eyes of patients of vernal keratoconjunctivitis, in group A and outcomes were compared with those of 0.05% Cyclosporine (immunomodulator) administered in the same manner in group B. All the patients were followed up regularly after 1, 3, and 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months and data recorded for inference. Results: Both the drugs were found to effectively reduce the foreign body sensation but had no or minimal effect on visual acuity and intraocular pressure (p-vale<0.001). Few patients in steroid group showed noticeable rise of intraocular pressure. (p=0.02). Cyclosporine was found to markedly reduce the mucoid discharge and photophobia without any adverse side effects (p-value=0.02). Conclusion: Cyclosporine appears to be more effective in control of mucous discharge and inflammation than steroids in vernal keratoconjunctivitis with minimal or no side effects and hence was found to be a safe alternative to steroid usage in long-term treatment groups.


Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 38
Author(s):  
Errol Hassan ◽  
Md Munir Mostafiz ◽  
Ellen Talairamo Iramu ◽  
Doug George ◽  
Kyeong-Yeoll Lee

Beneficial insects play a major role in controlling pest populations. In sustainable agricultural production systems, control methods compatible with integrated pest management (IPM) are preferred over broad-spectrum pesticides. EOs from aromatic plants may provide a new and safe alternative to synthetic chemicals. In this research, the efficacy of Fungatol, Gamma-T-ol, Fungatol plus neem, and Gamma-T-ol plus neem was evaluated against Aphidius colemani Viereck (Hymenoptera: Braconidae; Aphidiidae), the parasitoid of the cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae). Under laboratory and greenhouse conditions, five different concentrations of each formulation were applied to parasitized mummies and adult parasitoids. Results for parasitoid emergence from aphid mummies sprayed with different concentrations of Fungatol, Gamma-T-ol, Fungatol plus neem, and Gamma-T-ol plus neem in the laboratory and glasshouse showed that the formulations did not adversely affect adult emergence as rates above 60% were observed. For residual toxicity tests done by exposing adult parasitoids to a fresh, dry biopesticide film sprayed on glass plates, less than 20% mortality was observed after 48 h of exposure. Adult longevity tests revealed that the highest concentrations of some of the formulations evaluated were slightly toxic to A. colemani. According to the IOBC rating, our results indicated that most of the tested concentrations for each formulation were harmless to A. colemani. Based on the above results, it may be proposed that the formulations evaluated in this study are potential botanical pesticide candidates for incorporation into an IPM program.


Dermatology ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
S. Morteza Seyed Jafari ◽  
Simone Cazzaniga ◽  
Simon Bossart ◽  
Laurence Feldmeyer ◽  
Lorenzo Pelloni ◽  
...  

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Actinic keratosis (AK) is the most common precancerous cutaneous lesion, with risk of progression to cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. In the current study, we evaluated the efficacy of 20-MHz high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), as a new treatment modality for AK. <b><i>Materials and Methods:</i></b> Patients with AK lesions (grades I–III) treated with HIFU were included in the study. The clinical assessment was performed 3 months after therapy. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Twenty-one patients (14 men, 7 women) with 108 AK lesions (grades I–III) were included in the current study. Ages ranged from 62 to 85 years (mean 72.6 years). Clinically complete resolution of the actinic damage in the treated area was detected in 72.2% of lesions. Furthermore, 28 lesions (26%) showed a reduction of the AK grade, or partial response, after the therapy. Most of the patients experienced annoying but short pain during the procedure. However, late adverse effects of the therapy, such as hypopigmentation, hyperpigmentation and erythema were reported only in a small portion of the lesions. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> 20-MHz HIFU could be an effective and safe alternative treatment for AK.


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