Mitral regurgitation (MR) is a frequent complication of end-stage heart failure. Historically, these patients were either managed medically or with mitral valve replacement, both associated with poor outcomes. Mitral valve repair via an 'undersized' annuloplasty repair is safe and effectively corrects MR in heart-failure patients. All of the observed changes contribute to reverse remodeling and...

The negative prediction of intrinsic versus transient acute kidney injury (AKI) in septic patients may be facilitated by combined assessment of fractional excretion of sodium and urea. If both excretions are high this would signal the presence of transient AKI and suggest that successful restoration of diuresis by conservative therapy is likely, thus supporting a wait-and-watch approach regardi...

Achievement of an esthetic single-tooth restoration in the anterior segment is a difficult task for the restorative dentist. A case is described in which two congenitally missing maxillary lateral incisors were replaced with single-tooth implants. A new technique was used to restore the teeth provisionally with a polyethylene ribbon and resin replacement. Light-cured staining systems for acryli...

Patient-specific instrumentation (PSI) enables better restoration of the mechanical axis in total knee replacement (TKR) than conventional instrumentation (alignment guides) does. We verified the accuracy of the PSI by computer navigation. The PSI jigs were accurate only if they were pinned accurately onto the distal femur and proximal tibia. Any slight malposition of the jigs leads to malalign...

Shoulder replacement surgery is a reliable procedure that provides predictable results in patients with all types of glenohumeral arthritis. When performed by an experienced surgeon for the right indications, and with appropriate physical therapy, dramatic improvements in pain and function are seen in the majority of patients. With the recent availability of the reverse prosthesis, even patient...