BACKGROUND The objectives of this study were as follows: (1) to evaluate frontal sinus ostial patency following balloon dilation with the Ventera Sinus Dilation System, compared with frontal sinusotomy (Draf 2a); and (2) to compare mean blood loss and mean surgical time for frontal sinusotomy using balloon dilation compared with traditional surgical methods. METHODS A single blinded, randomiz...

BACKGROUND Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) provides fast scan speed and high scan resolution improving its diagnostic accuracy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if SD-OCT measurements and their quality score are influenced by pupil dilation. METHODS Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFL), ganglion cell complex (GCC) and optic nerve head (ONH) were measured i...

BACKGROUND Arterial remodeling after balloon angioplasty has been recognized as a major determinant of restenosis. Perturbation of collagen metabolism might be important. After balloon injury, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression is upregulated. We investigated the effect of Batimastat, a nonspecific MMP inhibitor, on late lumen loss, arterial remodeling, and neointima formation after ball...

in sheep industry, pregnancy rate after artificial insemination (ai) declines due to the complex anatomy of the cervix in ewes, such that it might prevent effective intrauterine insemination. at estrus, cervical relaxation occurs to some degree in ewes, which is regulated by the changes in the levels of reproductive hormones. this study aimed to evaluate the effects of estradiol and intravenous...

geometrical profile (roughness) of joint surfaces influences the behaviour of rock joints under shear loading. with regard to the dilation, there are two models of direct shear test that may simulate the original loading condition existing in the location from where the specimens have been sampled. the first model in which the normal load is constant (cnl) and the discontinuity is free to dilat...

OBJECTIVE This study evaluated the efficiency and feasibility of dilatable bands in selected patients. METHODS Two types of dilatable handmade bands were retrospectively evaluated and divided into two groups: main pulmonary artery bands and bilateral branch pulmonary artery bands (hybrid stage I palliation). Stepwise balloon angioplasty (BA) was performed, increasing the diameter either to co...

BACKGROUND Anastomotic stricture is a complex and substantial complication following Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy. Initially, endoscopic and percutaneous approaches are often attempted, but the gold standard remains surgical biliary reconstruction, especially for refractory stricture. However, this solution leaves much room for improvement, due to the challenging nature of the biliary reconstr...

background: achalasia is the most recognized esophageal motor disorder with an unknown etiology. symptoms rather than physical findings are hallmarks of the disease. modalilies for treatment include pharmacologic, botulinum toxin injection, pneumatic dilation and surgery. materials and methods: to review the diagnostic and therapeutic options currently available for achalasia. a medline search ...

The goal of this study was to assess the role of the electrogenic Na+-K+ pump in controlling active tone in cremasteric arterioles of normotensive hamsters and hamsters with bilateral (two-kidney, two figure-8) Grollman hypertension. Arterioles of both groups exhibited a large transient dilation when the Na+-K+ pump was stimulated by superfusing the cremaster muscle with physiological salt solu...

OBJECTIVE This study was to compare pregnancy outcomes between cerclage and expectant management in wemen with a dilated cervix. DESIGN Retrospective multicenter cohort study. SETTING Five hospitals of Catholic University Medical Center Network in Korea. POPULATION A total of 173 women between 14 0/7 and 29 6/7 weeks' gestation with cervical dilation of 1 cm or greater by digital examinat...