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Growing Application (growing + application)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Medical Sciences50%

Selected Abstracts

Persistence of Pulmonary Vein Isolation After Robotic Remote-Navigated Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation and its Relation to Clinical Outcome

JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 10 2010
STEPHAN WILLEMS M.D.
Robotic Remote Ablation for AF. Aims: A robotic navigation system (RNS, HansenÔ) has been developed as an alternative method of performing ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF). Despite the growing application of RNS-guided pulmonary vein isolation (PVI), its consequences and mechanisms of subsequent AF recurrences are unknown. We investigated the acute procedural success and persistence of PVI over time after robotic PVI and its relation to clinical outcome. Methods and Results: Sixty-four patients (60.7 ± 9.8 years, 53 male) with paroxysmal AF underwent robotic circumferential PVI with 3-dimensional left atrial reconstruction (NavXÔ). A voluntary repeat invasive electrophysiological study was performed 3 months after ablation irrespective of clinical course. Robotic PVI was successful in all patients without complication (fluoroscopy time: 23.5 [12,34], procedure time: 180 [150,225] minutes). Fluoroscopy time demonstrated a gradual decline but was significantly reduced after the 30th patient following the introduction of additional navigation software (34 [29,45] vs 12 [9,17] minutes; P < 0.001). A repeat study at 3 months was performed in 63% of patients and revealed electrical conduction recovery in 43% of all PVs. Restudied patients without AF recurrence (n = 28) showed a significantly lower number of recovered PVs (1 (0,2) vs 2 (2,3); P = 0.006) and a longer LA-PV conduction delay than patients with AF recurrences (n = 12). Persistent block of all PVs was associated with freedom from AF in all patients. At 3 months, 67% of patients were free of AF, while reablation of recovered PVs led to an overall freedom from AF in 81% of patients after 1 year. Conclusion: Robotic PVI for PAF is safe, effective, and requires limited fluoroscopy while yielding comparable success rates to conventional ablation approaches with PV reconduction as a common phenomenon associated with AF recurrences. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 21, pp. 1079-1084) [source]

Silicon in agriculture: new insights, new significance and growing application

ANNALS OF APPLIED BIOLOGY, Issue 2 2009
M.G. Keeping
No abstract is available for this article. [source]

Mathematics in chemical engineering: A 50 year introspection

AICHE JOURNAL, Issue 1 2004
Doraiswami Ramkrishna
Abstract A review is made of the role of mathematics in the field of chemical engineering in the latter half of the twentieth century. The beginning of this era was marked by the concerted effort of a few to raise the mathematical consciousness of the profession to think fundamentally about processes. We have accomplished this review by providing a rough structure of the areas of mathematics, deliberating on how each area has matured through growing applications, to conclude that mathematics is the main medium to meditate not only about processes, but even about materials and products. As we are clearly entering another era where the domain of chemical engineering is expanding into new areas with a focus on discovery oriented high throughput technology, modeling and rapid computation must provide the guidelines for rational interpretation of multitudes of observations. © 2004 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 50: 7,23, 2004 [source]

Botulinum toxins in neurological disease

MUSCLE AND NERVE, Issue 5 2004
Cynthia L. Comella MD
Abstract Botulinum toxins are among the most potent neurotoxins known to humans. In the past 25 years, botulinum toxin has emerged as both a potential weapon of bioterrorism and as a powerful therapeutic agent, with growing applications in neurological and non-neurological disease. Botulinum toxin is unique in its ability to target peripheral cholinergic neurons, preventing the release of acetylcholine through the enzymatic cleavage of proteins involved in membrane fusion, without prominent central nervous system effects. There are seven serotypes of the toxin, each with a specific activity at the molecular level. Currently, serotypes A (in two preparations) and B are available for clinical use, and have been shown to be safe and effective for the treatment of dystonia, spasticity, and other disorders in which muscle overactivity gives rise to symptoms. This review focuses on the pharmacology, electrophysiology, immunology, and application of botulinum toxin in selected neurological disorders. Muscle Nerve 29: 628,644, 2004 [source]