BACKGROUND Hypoxia-induced elevation in pulmonary artery pressure during air travel may contribute to the worldwide burden of in-flight medical emergencies. The pulmonary artery pressure response may be greater in older passengers, who are more likely to require flight diversion due to a medical event. Understanding these effects may ultimately improve the safety of air travel. METHODS We stu...

BACKGROUND Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is common disease among hemodialysis (HD) patients and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. However, its pathogenesis has not been completely elucidated. We aimed to evaluate the frequency of PAH in HD patients, as well as the relationship between fluid status and PAH. MATERIAL AND METHODS We enrolled 77 HD patients in this study...

Cell surface proteins SspA and SspB in Streptococcus gordonii and SpaP in Streptococcus mutans are members of the antigen I/II family of polypeptides produced by oral streptococci. These proteins are adhesins and mediate species-specific binding of cells to a variety of host and bacterial receptors. Here we show that antigen I/II polypeptides are involved in the attachment of oral streptococci ...

Background Clinical decision-making in symptomatic patients after mitral valve (MV) repair remains challenging as echocardiographic reference values are lacking. In native MV disease intervention is recommended for mean transmitral pressure gradient (TPG) >15 mmHg or systolic pulmonary artery pressure (SPAP) >60 mmHg at peak exercise. Insight into standard stress echo parameters after MV repair...

Auditing is an examination conducted by independent party on the financial statements. Prior to implementation of audit process, auditor must prepare plan according SPAP standard. Audit planning a stage process that aims ensure success in quality, economical, efficient and effective manner. The purpose this study was determine applied KAP Abdul Ghonie Partners SPAP. author's data obtained form ...

Patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) who express autoantibodies to centromeric proteins (CENPs) are at risk of developing pulmonary vascular disease and pulmonary arterial hypertension without fibrosis. Currently no biomarkers are available to predict these complications. We previously characterized the fine specificity of anti-CENP-A antibodies in SSc by screening a phage display library (ex...

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to evaluate the tenascin-C levels in severe rheumatic mitral stenosis before and after percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty (PMBV). SUBJECTS AND METHODS Forty patients with severe mitral stenosis requiring PMBV and 20 age-matched healthy subjects were included in the study. The mitral valve areas, mitral gradients and systolic pulmonary artery pres...

INTRODUCTION Acute cor pulmonale (ACP) and patent foramen ovale (PFO) remain common in patients under protective ventilation for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We sought to describe the hemodynamic profile associated with either ACP or PFO, or both, during the early course of moderate-to-severe ARDS using echocardiography. METHODS In this 32-month prospective multicenter study, 1...

INTRODUCTION Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a severe disease with no known effective therapy. Patients with IPF may develop severe increase of pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) on exercise, the mechanisms of which is not clearly identified. OBJECTIVES To determine whether oxygen may correct the increase of PAP developed during exercise in patients with IPF. PATIENTS AND METHODS We p...

Alkaline phosphatase (AP) is a bi-metalloenzyme with potential applications in biotechnology and bioremediation. The enzyme hydrolyses nonspecifically phosphate monoesters under alkaline conditions to yield inorganic phosphate. The AP isolated from the bacterium Sphingomonas sp. Strain BSAR-1 (SPAP) was shown to be particularly useful for the recovery of uranium from alkaline radioactive waste....