BACKGROUND Permanent pacemaker implantation (PPMI) after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) remains an issue open for criticism. Aim of this study is to investigate a strategy to reduce PPMI rate after TAVI in general and more specifically after implantation of the LOTUS® prosthesis. METHODS Through our learning curve, we have developed a structured protocol to reduce PPMI rate. T...

The purified lectins from Lotus tetragonolobus and Dolichos biflorus were coupled to Sepharose 2B to make insoluble adsorbents for purification and fractionation of blood group A and H active glycoproteins. With both adsorbents, hog gastric mucin A + H blood substance (HGM), purified by phenol-ethanol precipitation, yielded fractions showing only A, only H, or AH activities. The AH fraction was...

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is an alternative therapy to surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR) in inoperable patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS). Currently, new valve systems are being developed, and we experienced TAVI with the Boston Scientific Lotus Valve System (Marlborough, Massachusetts, USA) with two patients for the first cases in Asia-Pacific countries and Tu...

Within the Oltenia surface mining region of Romania, 14,890 ha have been disturbed and only 1,002 ha have been reclaimed. The majority of this disturbance has involved agricultural land (12,208 ha), of which only a small amount has been reclaimed (552 ha). Forest land disturbed by surface mining in this region amounted to 2,682 ha, of which only 450 ha have been reclaimed. Therefore, huge land ...