OBJECTIVE Previous studies on atrial recovery after cardioversion of atrial fibrillation have not taken into account new knowledge about the pathophysiology of transmitral and transtricuspid flow velocity patterns. It is possible to shed further light on this problem if atrioventricular inflow velocity, venous filling pattern, and atrioventricular annulus motion are recorded and interpreted tog...

PURPOSE To quantify the orientation of the collagen fibrils in the human limbus and to compare it with the orientation in the cornea and the sclera. METHODS Fibril orientation was measured from 100 synchrotron x-ray diffraction patterns collected at intervals along lines across the cornea, limbus, and sclera. RESULTS A distinct circumcorneal annulus of collagen fibrils was revealed in the l...

Objective: To evaluate long term results and independent predictors of outcome of aortic valvoplasty. Design: Retrospective follow up study. Independent predictors of outcome identified by multiple logistic regression. Setting: Tertiary referral centre. Patients: 269 consecutive patients treated at the median age of 8 months (0–23 years): 80 (30%) under 4 weeks, 59 (22%) between 4 weeks and 1 y...

BACKGROUND Arrhythmic mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is characterized by myxomatous leaflets and left ventricular (LV) fibrosis of papillary muscles and inferobasal wall. We searched for morphofunctional abnormalities of the mitral valve that could explain a regional mechanical myocardial stretch. METHODS AND RESULTS Thirty-six (27 female patients; median age: 44 years) arrhythmic MVP patients w...

OBJECTIVES Valve hemodynamics and clinical outcomes among patients with a small aortic annulus who underwent transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) were examined. BACKGROUND The presence of a small aortic annulus may complicate the surgical management of patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS). TAVI is an alternative to aortic valve replacement (AVR) in high-risk patients, but few d...

Intervertebral disc degeneration is a common condition that may lead to low back pain and radiculopathy. Understanding the pathophysiology and cellular and molecular events of degenerative disc disease has resulted in the proposal of a gene therapy approach to halt and reverse disc degeneration. We explored the feasibility of reversing intervertebral disc degeneration using human vascular endot...

BACKGROUND This study sought to compare cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) with dual source computed tomography (DSCT) for analysis of aortic root dimensions prior to transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). In addition, the potential impact of CMR and DSCT measurements on TAVI strategy defined by 2D-transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was evaluated. METHODS Aortic root dimens...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate long term results and independent predictors of outcome of aortic valvoplasty. DESIGN Retrospective follow up study. Independent predictors of outcome identified by multiple logistic regression. SETTING Tertiary referral centre. PATIENTS 269 consecutive patients treated at the median age of 8 months (0-23 years): 80 (30%) under 4 weeks, 59 (22%) between 4 weeks and 1...

Caseous calcification of the mitral annulus is a rare form of periannular calcification with a mass-like appearance, that has to be in the differential of the cardiologist and radiologist. It classically looks like a round or semilunar hyperdense mass with an even denser peripheral rim, located in the posterior mitral annulus and having in general no clinical significance.

The planar lipid bilayer membrane is assumed to be in osmotic equilibrium with the surrounding Plateau-Gibbs border (annulus) and entrapped microlenses. An electric field applied across the membrane raises the chemical potential of the alkane in the bilayer, causing it to shift from the bilayer to the annulus and microlenses. This shift results in a decrease in thickness.