Arising from remodeling of both the mitral valve annulus and the left ventricle, it is associated with high mortality and morbidity. In selected patients, cardiac resynchronization therapy helps to reduce functional mitral regurgitation, but surgical intervention remains the mainstay of therapy when medical therapy for left ventricular dysfunction has been inadequate. It is, however, JQ1 associated with significant perioperative risks and does not alter long-term mortality. Percutaneous devices, and more recently
the Mitraclip in particular, represent a promising alternative that can improve symptoms and ventricular remodeling with significantly lower periprocedural risk.”
“Background: Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is a growing problem in HIV-infected patients in developing countries, where there is scarce data about this co-infection. Our objectives were to analyze the main features and outcomes of HIV-infected patients with TBM.
Methods: This was a retrospective study of HIV-infected Brazilian patients admitted consecutively for TBM. All patients had Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolated from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Presenting clinical and laboratory features were studied. Multivariate analysis was used to identify
variables associated learn more with death during hospitalization and at 9 months after diagnosis. Survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method.
Results: We included 108 cases (median age 36 years, 72% male). Only 15% had fever, headache, and meningeal signs simultaneously. Forty-eight percent had extrameningeal tuberculosis. The median CD4+ cell count was 65 cells/mu l. Among 90 cases, 7% had primary resistance to isoniazid and 9% presented multidrug-resistant strains. The overall
mortality during hospitalization was 29% and at 9 months was 41%. Tachycardia and prior highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) were associated with 9-month mortality. The 9-month survival rate was 22% (95% confidence interval 12-43%).
Conclusions: Clinical and laboratory manifestations were unspecific. Disseminated tuberculosis and severe immunosuppression were common. Mortality was high and the 9-month survival rate was low. Tachycardia and prior HAART were associated with death within 9 months of diagnosis. (C) 2009 International VRT752271 Society for Infectious Diseases. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“A novel polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) formed by sodium cellulose sulfate (NaCS) and chitosan was prepared as a candidate material for colon-specific drug delivery system. It was found in experiments that the properties of two raw materials and the process parameters, such as the degree of substitution (DS) and concentration of NaCS, the viscosity and concentration of chitosan, were very important factors on the properties of the final product-NaCS-chitosan-PEC.