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Lesion Length (lesion + length)
Selected AbstractsPredictors of Clinical Outcome Following NIR Stent Implantation for Coronary Artery Disease: Analysis of the Results of the First International New Intravascular Rigid-Flex Endovascular Stent Study (FINESS Trial)JOURNAL OF INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGY, Issue 1 2002STEVEN FELD M.D. Background: Patient and procedural characteristics associated with major adverse cardiac events following balloon angioplasty have been identified. Factors predictive of angiographic restenosis following coronary stent implantation have been reported, although patient variables associated with adverse clinical outcome are not well defined. Hypothesis and Methods: To identify predictors of adverse clinical outcome following NIR stent implantation, clinical and angiographic characteristics of patients enrolled in the FINESS Trial were subjected to stepwise logistic regression analysis. From December 1995 through March 1996, NIR stent implantation was attempted in 255 patients (341 lesions) enrolled prospectively in a multicenter registry with broad entry criteria. Results: On stepwise logistic regression analysis, the presence of multivessel disease, diabetes, and the total length of the stented segment were predictive of major adverse cardiac events during 6-month follow-up. For every 1 mm increase in stent length, the risk for the combined end point of death or myocardial infarction increased by 3%. Lesion length was not predictive of clinical events on multivariate analysis. Conclusions: Our data raise the possibility that an attempt to use shorter stents to cover significant stenoses, but not adjacent areas of visible narrowing, may improve outcome. [source] Bark beetle-mediated fungal infections of susceptible trees induce resistance to subsequent infections in a dose dependent mannerAGRICULTURAL AND FOREST ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 3 2009Nadir Erbilgin Abstract 1,Experiments were conducted to determine whether propagule loads on the twig beetles Pityophthorus setosus and Pityophthorus carmeli (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) influence the pathogen infection of the host tree in the Monterey pine- Fusarium circinatum system. 2,On an average, F. circinatum was isolated from 2.6% and 3.3% of trapped P. setosus and P. carmeli, respectively, although the isolation percentages varied over the season, being highest in the spring and lowest in late summer and fall for both species. Mean pathogen load was 13.4 and 22.6 propagules per beetle, on P. setosus and P. carmeli, respectively, and decreased from May to November for both species. The pathogen was also isolated from approximately 55% of both beetle species that emerged from infected branches. Mean propagule load on emerged P. setosus and P. carmeli was 39 and 66.5, respectively. 3,On the basis of these data, beetle species were treated with one of three propagule loads (low, medium, high) and caged onto live branches to determine whether they could transmit the pathogen. At all propagule loads, both species transmitted the pathogen, and transmission percentage and lesion length, a measure of tree susceptibility, were positively correlated with propagule load. 4,To investigate further whether the previous transmission by beetles could affect response of the same trees to subsequent infection with F. circinatum, different branches were inoculated on the same trees used in the transmission study, and lesion lengths were measured. Lesion lengths were lower on trees that had been previously exposed to beetles treated with high or medium propagule loads than on trees that had previously been exposed to beetles treated with low propagule loads. This suggests that the initial infection by beetles carrying high or medium propagule loads induced resistance to subsequent infections of the host, whereas infections caused by beetles with low propagule loads did not. [source] The Effect of Ablation Electrode Length and Catheter Tip to Endocardial Orientation on Radiofrequency Lesion Size in the Canine Right AtriumPACING AND CLINICAL ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 1 2002RODRIGO C. CHAN CHAN, R.C., et al.: The Effect of Ablation Electrode Length and Catheter Tip to Endocardial Orientation on Radiofrequency Lesion Size in the Canine Right Atrium. Although the determinants of radiofrequency lesion size have been characterized in vitro and in ventricular tissue in situ, the effects of catheter tip length and endocardial surface orientation on lesion generation in atrial tissue have not been studied. Therefore, the dimensions of radiofrequency lesions produced with 4-, 6-, 8-, 10-, and 12-mm distal electrode lengths were characterized in 26 closed-chested dogs. The impact of parallel versus perpendicular catheter tip/endocardial surface orientation, established by biplane fluoroscopy and/or intracardiac echocardiography, on lesion dimensions was also assessed. Radiofrequency voltage was titrated to maintain a steady catheter tip temperature of 75°C for 60 seconds. With a perpendicular catheter tip/tissue orientation, the lesion area increased from 29 ± 7 mm2 with a 4-mm tip to 42 ± 12 mm2 with the 10-mm tip, but decreased to 29 ± 8 mm2 with ablation via a 12-mm tip. With a parallel distal tip/endocardial surface orientation, lesion areas were significantly greater: 54 ± 22 mm2 with a 4-mm tip, 96 ± 28 mm2 with a 10- mm tip and 68 ± 24 mm2 with a 12-mm tip (all P < 0.001 vs perpendicular orientation). Lesion lengths and apparent volumes were larger with parallel, compared to perpendicular tip/tissue orientations, although lesion depth was independent of catheter tip length with both catheter tip/tissue orientations. Electrode edge effects were not observed with any tip length. Direct visualization using intracardiac ultrasound guidance was subjectively helpful in insuring an appropriate catheter tip/tissue interface needed to maximize lesion size. Although atrial lesion size is critically dependent on catheter tip length, it is more influenced by the catheter orientation to the endocardial surface. This information may also be helpful in designing electrode arrays for the creation of continuous linear lesions for the elimination of complex atrial tachyarrhythmias. [source] Seasonal changes in susceptibility of Quercus suber to Botryosphaeria stevensii and Phytophthora cinnamomiPLANT PATHOLOGY, Issue 3 2002J. Luque Monthly inoculations of both intact plants and excised shoots of Quercus suber with the pathogenic species Botryosphaeria stevensii and Phytophthora cinnamomi were performed to investigate seasonal changes in susceptibility of this forest tree species in relation to environmental parameters and plant water status. Infection symptoms were mainly detected on seedlings inoculated from spring to autumn (April through October) with either pathogen. Mean canker sizes also showed a seasonal pattern, the higher values being recorded in the same period as above. Lesion lengths were significantly (P < 0·001) related to environmental minimum temperature. Mean daily minimum temperatures within the range of 5,12°C clearly inhibited lesion development of P. cinnamomi, whereas B. stevensii showed a less pronounced decrease in canker expansion at the same temperature range. In excised shoots of Q. suber inoculated monthly with B. stevensii, a negative linear relationship was found between the studied range of plant relative water content (81,91%) and canker length. In contrast, the lesions caused by P. cinnamomi were not significantly (P = 0·32) related to any seasonal change in water content. Some control measures for the diseases caused by both pathogens are discussed on the basis of the seasonal changes in host susceptibility observed in this study. [source] Use of High-Frequency, High-Resolution Ultrasound Before Mohs SurgeryDERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 6 2010ELLEN S. MARMUR MD BACKGROUND Although ultrasound imaging is employed ubiquitously today, its use to examine and assess the skin is a relatively new technology. We explored the clinical application and use of high-frequency, high-resolution ultrasound in Mohs micrographic surgery. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the ability of ultrasound to accurately determine lesion length and width of tumor borders in order to reduce the number of surgical stages. METHODS AND MATERIALS This was an institutional review board,approved single-center study of 26 Mohs surgery patients. Ultrasound images were taken to record lesion dimensions, and then the investigator documented clinical estimation of the first stage. Extirpation of the tumor and histological analysis were performed thereafter. RESULTS The results of 20 patients were included in the analysis. A paired-samples t -test revealed no significant difference between clinical and ultrasound widths (t=,1.324, p=.20). Similarly, there was no significant difference between the lengths found from clinical assessment and ultrasound (t=,1.093, p=.29). For different tumor types, there was no significant difference between clinical and ultrasound widths or lengths for basal cell carcinoma (t=,1.307, p=.23; t=,1.389, p=.20) or squamous cell cancer (t=,0.342, p=.73; t=0.427, p=.68). CONCLUSION There is a diagnostic role for high-resolution ultrasound in Mohs surgery regarding the delineation of surgical margins, but its limitations preclude its practical adoption at this time. The ultrasound equipment was loaned to the investigators. Funding for the study was provided by Longport, Inc. [source] A comparison of heat pulse velocity and lesion lengths for assessing the relative virulence of mountain pine beetle-associated fungi on jack pineFOREST PATHOLOGY, Issue 4 2008A. V. Rice Summary The mountain pine beetle (MPB) vectors three blue-stain fungi, Grosmannia clavigera, Ophiostoma montium and Leptographium longiclavatum, which contribute to the success of the beetles and the death of the trees. The utility of two methods, heat pulse velocity (HPV) and lesion length, for assessing the relative virulence of these fungi were compared on jack pine in central Alberta. The HPV monitoring apparatus failed to detect xylem sap flow in any of the trees and, thus, could not be used to assess fungal virulence. In contrast, measurement of lesion lengths was more sensitive and provided further evidence that G. clavigera and L. longiclavatum are more virulent than O. montium. The failure of the HPV apparatus to detect sap flow suggests that the study trees were moisture stressed, a factor likely to increase their susceptibility to MPB. Thus, this method is not appropriate for assessing the response of the most susceptible (i.e. drought stressed) trees to MPB and its associated fungi. [source] Systemic induced resistance in Monterey pineFOREST PATHOLOGY, Issue 2 2001Bonello The pathogenic fungus Fusarium circinatum causes pitch canker of pines. This study shows that Monterey pine (Pinus radiata), one of the most economically important pine species in the world and the main host in California, responds to infection by Fusarium circinatum in a manner consistent with systemic induced resistance. Repeated mechanical inoculations of the same trees in the field produced progressively smaller lesions over a period of 2 years, with mean lesion length decreasing significantly from 2.89 ± 0.42 cm to 1.04 ± 0.17 cm. In the greenhouse, predisposing inoculations with the pathogen induced a significant lesion length reduction, from 5.5 ± 0.21 cm in control trees to 4.46 ± 0.36 cm in predisposed trees over a period of 6 weeks. Under constant environmental conditions in a growth chamber, predisposing inoculations also induced a significant reduction in lesion size, from 3.01 ± 0.15 cm to 2.55 ± 0.18 cm over a period of 4 weeks. This is the first unequivocal report of systemic induced resistance in a conifer. Résistance systémique induite chez le Pinus radiata Fusarium circinatum est l'agent causal du ,pitch canker' des pins. Le Pinus radiata est l'un des pins les plus importants économiquement dans le monde, et le principal hôte de la maladie en Californie. Cette étude montre que P. radiata réagit régulièrement à l'infection de Fusarium circinatum d'une façon qui peut être de la résistance systémique induite. Des inoculations mécaniques répétées sur de mêmes arbres en nature ont produit progressivement des lésions dont la taille diminuait au cours d'une période de deux ans; la longueur des lésions diminuait significativement de 2.89 ± 0.42 cm à 1.04 ± 0.17 cm. En serre, des inoculations de pré-conditionnement avec le parasite ont entraîné une réduction significative de la longueur des lésions, de 5.5 ± 0.21 cm chez les témoins à 4.46 ± 0.36 cm chez les arbres pré-conditionnés, au cours d'une période de six semaines. En conditions environnementales constantes en chambre climatique, les inoculations de pré-conditionnement ont aussi induit une réduction significative de la taille des lésions, de 3.01 ± 0.15 cm à 2.55 ± 0.18 cm, en une période de 4 semaines. Ceci est la première mention non équivoque d'une résistance systémique induite chez un conifère. Induzierte systemische Resistenz in Monterey-Kiefer Der pathogene Pilz Fusarium circinatum verursacht einen Krebs an Kiefern (pitch canker). Die vorliegende Untersuchung zeigt, dass die Monterey-Kiefer (Pinus radiata), eine der ökonomisch wichtigsten Kiefernarten der Welt und Hauptwirt in Kalifornien, auf Infektionen durch Fusarium circinatum mit induzierter systemischer Resistenz reagiert. Wiederholte mechanische Inokulationen der gleichen Bäume im Feld führten zu zunehmend kleineren Läsionen über einen Beobachtungszeitraum von zwei Jahren. Die Länge der Läsionen nahm von 2.89 ± 0.42 cm auf 1.04 ± 0.17 cm signifikant ab. Im Gewächshaus bewirkten prädisponierende Inokulationen mit dem Pathogen eine signifikante Reduktion der Läsionslänge von 5.5 ± 0.21 cm in den Kontrollen auf 4.46 ± 0.36 cm in den prädisponierten Pflanzen über einen Beobachtungszeitraum von sechs Wochen. Prädisponierende Inokulationen bewirkten auch unter konstanten Umweltbedingungen in einer Klimakammer eine signifikante Abnahme der Läsionsgrösse von 3.01 ± 0.15 cm auf 2.55 ± 0.18 über eine Periode von vier Wochen. Es handelt sich hier um den ersten eindeutigen Nachweis von induzierter systemischer Resistenz bei einer Konifere. [source] Creating Continuous Linear Lesions in the Atria: A Comparison of the Multipolar Ablation Technique Versus the Conventional Drag-and-BurnJOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 8 2005WILBER W. SU M.D. Introduction: Catheter-based treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) requires the isolation of the triggering foci as well as modification of the atria with substrate that sustains AF. The creation of linear lesions in the left atrium with standard radiofrequency ablative methods requires long procedural times with unpredictable results. Methods: The simultaneous delivery of phase-shifted radiofrequency energy from a multipolar catheter was compared to the conventional drag-and-burn technique for creating linear lesions in 10 dogs. Four atrial sites were targeted under intracardiac ultrasound and fluoroscopic guidance in each of 10 dogs. The conventional drag-and-burn technique or the multipolar phase-shifted ablation catheter was randomly applied for 60 seconds and compared. Results: Creating linear lesions using the simultaneous multipolar phase-shifted ablation catheter was on average 11.0 minutes faster (33.6 minutes vs 44.6 minutes, P < 0.01) than the drag-and-burn method. The fraction of the lesion length achieved using phase-shifted ablation compared to that intended was 23% greater (76% vs 53%, P < 0.01), and has less discontinuities (0.1 compared to 0.8 discontinuities/line, P < 0.003). There was no significant difference in either the lesion transmurality, or fluoroscopy times. Conclusion: The simultaneous delivery of phase-shifted, radiofrequency energy using a multipolar catheter is more effective and efficient in producing linear lesions than the traditional drag-and-burn technique. Using the multipolar ablative method to create linear lesions may be a useful technique in the treatment of patients with substrate-mediated atrial fibrillation. [source] Bark beetle-mediated fungal infections of susceptible trees induce resistance to subsequent infections in a dose dependent mannerAGRICULTURAL AND FOREST ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 3 2009Nadir Erbilgin Abstract 1,Experiments were conducted to determine whether propagule loads on the twig beetles Pityophthorus setosus and Pityophthorus carmeli (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) influence the pathogen infection of the host tree in the Monterey pine- Fusarium circinatum system. 2,On an average, F. circinatum was isolated from 2.6% and 3.3% of trapped P. setosus and P. carmeli, respectively, although the isolation percentages varied over the season, being highest in the spring and lowest in late summer and fall for both species. Mean pathogen load was 13.4 and 22.6 propagules per beetle, on P. setosus and P. carmeli, respectively, and decreased from May to November for both species. The pathogen was also isolated from approximately 55% of both beetle species that emerged from infected branches. Mean propagule load on emerged P. setosus and P. carmeli was 39 and 66.5, respectively. 3,On the basis of these data, beetle species were treated with one of three propagule loads (low, medium, high) and caged onto live branches to determine whether they could transmit the pathogen. At all propagule loads, both species transmitted the pathogen, and transmission percentage and lesion length, a measure of tree susceptibility, were positively correlated with propagule load. 4,To investigate further whether the previous transmission by beetles could affect response of the same trees to subsequent infection with F. circinatum, different branches were inoculated on the same trees used in the transmission study, and lesion lengths were measured. Lesion lengths were lower on trees that had been previously exposed to beetles treated with high or medium propagule loads than on trees that had previously been exposed to beetles treated with low propagule loads. This suggests that the initial infection by beetles carrying high or medium propagule loads induced resistance to subsequent infections of the host, whereas infections caused by beetles with low propagule loads did not. [source] Morphological and Pathological Variability in Rice Isolates of Rhizoctonia solani and Molecular Analysis of their Genetic VariabilityJOURNAL OF PHYTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 11-12 2007S. Guleria Abstract Nineteen isolates of Rhizoctonia solani collected from different rice varieties grown in various regions of Punjab were studied for their morphological and pathological characterization. Majority of the isolates were fast growing with raised and fluffy colonies and hyphal width of 9.6 ,m while four exhibited moderate growth rate. Colony colour in all except two isolates was light yellowish brown. While sclerotial number per 5.0 mm culture disc of the test isolates ranged between 2.1 and 11.2 mm, their size varied between 1.31 and 2.08 mm. Sclerotial colour in all except two isolates was dark brown and most of these were found scattered in the colony. There was no relationship between morphologically similar isolates and their pathogenic behaviour. Majority of the isolates produced lesion length between 45.6 and 58.2 mm on detached rice leaves (cv. PR116). Molecular characterization of genetic diversity in the test isolates was studied by using 10 inter simple sequence repeats (ISSR) and eight random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. The size of amplified DNA bands ranged from 0.25,3.0 to 0.5,4.0 kb with ISSR and RAPD markers, respectively. Combined data set of 155 DNA markers were analysed with UPGMA resulting five clusters with 49,89% genetic similarity. Most of the isolates showed grouping specific to the host variety. Out of these two types of DNA markers, RAPD markers were able to detect more genetic variability when compared to ISSR markers. [source] Development of Greenhouse Inoculation Procedures for Evaluation of Partial Resistance to Cercospora zeae-maydis in Maize InbredsJOURNAL OF PHYTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 11-12 2005G. Asea Abstract Greenhouse experiments were conducted to determine the effects of inoculation methods on incubation period, lesion length, percentage leaf area affected and sporulation of Cercospora zeae-maydis on young maize (Zea mays L.) plants inoculated at V3 growth stage. Seedling plants were inoculated by four methods: (i) application of conidial suspension while puncturing the leaves within the whorl several times, (ii) spraying conidial suspension on leaves, (iii) placing colonized agar into lateral slits in leaves and (iv) placing colonized agar into whorls. Analysis of variance revealed a significant effect of genotype and inoculation method on several components of resistance and overall disease severity. Application of conidial suspension while puncturing the whorl was found to be the least laborious method, and it produced characteristic symptoms of gray leaf spot. Consistent trends were observed in classification of inbreds to resistant, susceptible and intermediate classes. Increasing the duration of exposure to high humidity by placing plastic bags over plants for 5 days significantly increased disease severity (P , 0.001). Cercospora zeae-maydis produced conidia in all the lesions examined. Spore production was generally most abundant in lesions on susceptible inbreds that displayed necrotic lesion types (LT) and least abundant in lesions on resistant inbreds that were characterized by chlorotic and fleck LTs. The results demonstrated that inoculations in the greenhouse can provide an indication of inbred responses to C. zeae-maydis and may be useful in evaluating resistance and in studies of host,pathogen interactions. [source] Intravascular low-power laser irradiation after coronary stenting: Long-term follow-upLASERS IN SURGERY AND MEDICINE, Issue 3 2001Ivan K. De Scheerder MD Abstract Background and Objective A high restenosis rate remains a limiting factor for percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and stenting. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of intravascular red laser therapy (IRLT) on restenosis after stenting procedures in de novo lesions. Study Design/Materials and Methods A total of 68 consecutive patients were treated with IRLT in conjunction with coronary stenting procedures. Mean lesion length was 16.5,±,2.4,mm. Reference vessel diameter (RVD) and pre-minimal lumen diameter (MLD) were 2.90,±,0.15,mm and 1.12,±,0.26,mm, respectively. Results After treatment, MLD was 2.76,±,0.32 mm with no procedural complications or in-hospital adverse events. Angiographic follow-up (n,=,61) revealed restenosis in nine patients (14.7%) with rate by artery size of >,3 mm (n,=,21) 0%; 2.5,3.0 mm (n,=,28) 14.2%; and <,2.5 mm (n,=,12) 41.6%. Conclusion Intravascular red light therapy is safe, feasible, and reduces expected restenosis rate after coronary stenting. Lasers Surg. Med. 28:212,215, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Correlative analysis of Mycosphaerella graminicola pathogenicity and cell wall-degrading enzymes produced in vitro: the importance of xylanase and polygalacturonasePLANT PATHOLOGY, Issue 1 2007M.-N. Douaiher Eight Mycosphaerella graminicola isolates were investigated for correlations between pathogenicity and the in vitro production of cell wall-degrading enzymes. Isolate pathogenicity was evaluated in terms of lesion and production of pycnidia in wheat leaves. Additionally, the isolates were compared over time for their ability to produce in vitro significant levels of xylanase (EC 3·2·1·8), ,-xylosidase (EC 3·2·1·37), ,-1,3-glucanase (EC 3·2·1·6), cellulose (EC 3·2·1·4) and polygalacturonase (EC 3·2·1·15) activities when grown in a liquid medium. Correlation tests and principal component analysis revealed a significant correlation between the in vitro production of xylanase and pectinase and pathogenicity components. Xylanase was correlated to necrosis frequency (r = 0·795), ,-xylosidase was correlated to the mean of the lesion length (r = ,0·787), whereas polygalacturonase was correlated to the time when 50% of the leaves contained a lesion (r = 0·776), the lesion frequency (r = 0·646) and the time when 50% of the leaves showed pycnidia (r = ,0·711). The results suggest that these two groups of cell wall-degrading enzymes are therefore likely to be key determinants of pathogenicity in M. graminicola. [source] Objective Sizing of Upper Airway Stenosis: A Quantitative Endoscopic Approach,THE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 1 2006MBBChir, S. A. R. Nouraei MA Abstract Objective: In patients with airway stenosis, anatomy of the lesion determines the magnitude of the biomechanical ventilatory disturbance and thus the nature and severity of symptoms. It also gives information about biology, likelihood of response to treatment, and prognosis of laryngotracheal lesions. Accurate airway sizing throughout treatment is therefore central to managing this condition. We developed a method for objective assessment of airway lesions during endoscopy. Methods: We used airway simulations to investigate the effects of endoscope tilt and lens distortions on measurement accuracy, devising and validating clinical rules for quantitative airway endoscopy. A calibrator was designed to assess lesion length, location, and cross-section during tracheoscopy. Results: It proved possible to calculate the length and location of the stenosis using simple mathematics. Cross-section measurements were more than 95% accurate, independent of endoscope tilt and without making assumptions about endoscope optics and visuospatial distortion, for both pediatric and adult airway dimensions. The technique was used to characterize airway lesions in 10 adult patients with an average age of 48 years undergoing therapeutic laryngotracheoscopy. Lesions occurred on average 36 mm below the glottis (range, 21,54 mm) and were 9.3 mm long (5,17 mm). The average pretreatment airway cross-section was 48.3 mm2, increasing to 141.1 mm2 after laser therapy. Two independent observers calculated airway cross-sections, achieving an interobserver concordance of 0.98. Conclusions: This method can be used to objectively and precisely determine the anatomy of airway lesions, allowing accurate documentation of lesion characteristics and surgical results, serial monitoring throughout treatment, and comparison of outcomes between different centers. [source] Colonisation of barley roots by endophytic Fusarium equiseti and Pochonia chlamydosporia: Effects on plant growth and diseaseANNALS OF APPLIED BIOLOGY, Issue 3 2009J.G. Maciá-Vicente Abstract Colonisation of plant roots by endophytic fungi may confer benefits to the host such as protection against abiotic or biotic stresses or plant growth promotion. The exploitation of these properties is of great relevance at an applied level, either to increase yields of agricultural crops or in reforestation activities. Fusarium equiseti is a naturally occurring endophyte in vegetation under stress in Mediterranean ecosystems. Pochonia chlamydosporia is a nematode egg-parasitic fungus with a worldwide distribution. Both fungi have the capacity to colonise roots of non-host plants endophytically and to protect them against phytopathogenic fungi under laboratory conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the root population dynamics of these fungi under non-axenic practical conditions. Both fungal species were inoculated into barley roots. Their presence in roots and effects on plant growth and incidence of disease caused by the pathogen Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici were monitored periodically. Both fungi colonised barley roots endophytically over the duration of the experiment and competed with other existing fungal root colonisers. Furthermore, colonisation of roots by P. chlamydosporia promoted plant growth. Although a clear suppressive effect on disease could not be detected, F. equiseti isolates reduced the mean root lesion length caused by the pathogen. Results of this work suggest that both F. equiseti and P. chlamydosporia are long-term root endophytes that confer beneficial effects to the host plant. [source] Left coronary artery thrombus characterized by a fully automatic three-dimensional gated reconstruction,CATHETERIZATION AND CARDIOVASCULAR INTERVENTIONS, Issue 1 2009Gert A.F. Schoonenberg MSc Abstract Rotational coronary angiography and subsequent automatic modeling or reconstruction can result in clinically valuable three-dimensional (3D) representations of the coronaries. From these 3D representations information can be derived for specific coronary segments, such as lesion length, vessel diameter, bifurcation angles, and optimal viewing angles. In this case report, we highlight the characterization of a left coronary artery thrombus by a fully automatic 3D gated reconstruction. This case also shows that detailed 3D morphology of a lesion can be assessed during percutaneous coronary interventions using rotational coronary angiography and subsequent automated image processing. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Results of the multicenter first-in-man study of a novel scoring balloon catheter for the treatment of infra-popliteal peripheral arterial diseaseCATHETERIZATION AND CARDIOVASCULAR INTERVENTIONS, Issue 7 2007Dierk Scheinert MD Abstract Objective: To evaluate the AngioSculpt® (ASC), a novel scoring balloon catheter designed to treat complex diffuse fibro-calcific atherosclerotic lesions and avoid device slippage during deployment, in patients with infra-popliteal disease. Methods: The ASC incorporates a flexible nitinol scoring element containing three or more spiral struts which encircle a minimally compliant balloon to create focal concentration of the dilating force. Patients scheduled for percutaneous intervention of infra-popliteal arteries or planned amputation and with a reference vessel diameter of 1.5,3.5 mm were included in the study. Results: A total of 42 patients and 56 lesions were treated at five sites. Of these, 38 patients (90.5%) presented with critical limb ischemia (Rutherford Class , 4). The ASC was successfully deployed in 98.2% (55/56) of lesions attempted and was used as primary therapy without stenting in 89.3% (50/56). Lesion morphology was complex, including moderate/severe calcification in 73%, lesion length 33.9 ± 42.2 mm, bifurcation in 26.8%, and ostial in 12.5%. There was no significant device slippage and no perforations. Post-ASC dissections occurred in only six (10.7%) lesions and were minor or resolved with stenting. In 13 patients initially referred for amputation, ASC treatment resulted in limb salvage. Conclusions: The ASC is highly effective in a broad range of complex lesion morphologies, in most cases as stand-alone therapy, is associated with a very low complication rate and avoids device slippage during deployment. Additional studies are planned to assess the long term efficacy of this promising new technology. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Use of Taxus polymer-coated paclitaxel-eluting stents for treatment of in-stent restenosis in real world patients: Results of clinical and angiographic follow-up at six months in a single-center registryCATHETERIZATION AND CARDIOVASCULAR INTERVENTIONS, Issue 3 2006Victor Y. Lim MRCP Abstract Objective:To evaluate the safety and efficacy of Taxus paclitaxel-eluting stents in a real world group of unselected patients with coronary in-stent restenosis (ISR) lesions. Methods: This is a prospective single-center registry of a consecutive series of 94 patients with 104 ISR lesions, without previous brachytherapy, over a period of 1 year. Quantitative coronary angiographic analyses were performed at baseline and at 6-month angiographic follow-up. Clinical follow-up were obtained at 6 months. Results:Pre-intervention mean reference vessel diameter was 2.62 ± 0.50 mm and mean lesion length was 13.95 ± 6.78 mm. Baseline ISR patterns were mostly either Type I focal (32.7%) or Type II diffuse intrastent (48.1%). At 6-month angiographic follow-up, the in-stent and in-segment binary restenosis was 3.8% (4/105) and 7.6% (8/105) respectively, and the in-stent and in-segment late loss was 0.30 ± 0.50 mm and 0.57 ± 0.54 mm, respectively. Seven of these eight restenosed lesions had a diffuse or proliferative ISR pattern prior to intervention. Lesions that restenosed had longer mean stent length per lesion (37.3 mm vs. 22.5 mm in nonrestenosed group; P = 0.001) and more likely to have had a pattern of total occlusion pre-intervention (25.0% vs. 3.1% in nonrestenosed group; P = 0.046). At 6-month clinical follow-up, the MACE rate was 8.5% and target lesion revascularization rate was 7.4%. There was no death but subacute stent thrombosis occurred in 1 patient (1.1%) at 3 days after intervention. Conclusions: Paclitaxel-eluting Taxus stent for the treatment of ISR effectively suppresses recurrent neointimal proliferation, and was safe and efficacious at 6-month follow-up. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Real-world bare metal stenting: Identification of patients at low or very low risk of 9-month coronary revascularizationCATHETERIZATION AND CARDIOVASCULAR INTERVENTIONS, Issue 2 2004Stephen G. Ellis MD Abstract The high cost of drug-eluting stents (DESs) has made identification of patients who are at low risk for subsequent revascularization after treatment with bare metal stents (BMSs) highly desirable. Previous reports from randomized trials suffer from biases induced by restricted entry criteria and protocol-mandated angiographic follow-up. Between 1994 and 2001, 5,239 consecutive BMS patients, excluding those with coil stents, technical failure, brachytherapy, staged procedure, or stent thrombosis within 30 days, were prospectively identified from a large single-center tertiary-referral-center prospective registry for long-term follow-up. We sought to identify characteristics of patients with very low (, 4%) or low (4,10%) likelihood of coronary revascularization 9 months after BMS. Nine-month clinical follow-up was obtained in 98.2% of patients. Coronary revascularization was required in 13.4% and did not differ significantly by stent type. On the basis of multivariate analysis identifying 11 independent correlates and previous reports, 20 potential low-risk patient and lesion groups (228 ± 356 patients/groups) were identified (e.g, patients with all of the following: native vessel, de novo, reference diameter , 3.5 mm, lesion length < 5 mm, no diabetes, not ostial in location). Actual and model-based outcomes were analyzed. No group had both predicted and observed 9-month revascularization , 4% (very low risk). Conversely, 19 of 20 groups had a predicted and observed revascularization rate of 4,10% (low risk). In the real-world setting, the need for intermediate-term revascularization after BMS may be lower than expected, but it may be very difficult to identify patients at very low risk. Conversely, if the benefits of DESs are attenuated in routine practice, many groups of patients treated with BMSs may have nearly comparable results. Catheter Cardiovasc Interv 2004;63:135,140. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] A comparison of heat pulse velocity and lesion lengths for assessing the relative virulence of mountain pine beetle-associated fungi on jack pineFOREST PATHOLOGY, Issue 4 2008A. V. Rice Summary The mountain pine beetle (MPB) vectors three blue-stain fungi, Grosmannia clavigera, Ophiostoma montium and Leptographium longiclavatum, which contribute to the success of the beetles and the death of the trees. The utility of two methods, heat pulse velocity (HPV) and lesion length, for assessing the relative virulence of these fungi were compared on jack pine in central Alberta. The HPV monitoring apparatus failed to detect xylem sap flow in any of the trees and, thus, could not be used to assess fungal virulence. In contrast, measurement of lesion lengths was more sensitive and provided further evidence that G. clavigera and L. longiclavatum are more virulent than O. montium. The failure of the HPV apparatus to detect sap flow suggests that the study trees were moisture stressed, a factor likely to increase their susceptibility to MPB. Thus, this method is not appropriate for assessing the response of the most susceptible (i.e. drought stressed) trees to MPB and its associated fungi. [source] Bark beetle-mediated fungal infections of susceptible trees induce resistance to subsequent infections in a dose dependent mannerAGRICULTURAL AND FOREST ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 3 2009Nadir Erbilgin Abstract 1,Experiments were conducted to determine whether propagule loads on the twig beetles Pityophthorus setosus and Pityophthorus carmeli (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) influence the pathogen infection of the host tree in the Monterey pine- Fusarium circinatum system. 2,On an average, F. circinatum was isolated from 2.6% and 3.3% of trapped P. setosus and P. carmeli, respectively, although the isolation percentages varied over the season, being highest in the spring and lowest in late summer and fall for both species. Mean pathogen load was 13.4 and 22.6 propagules per beetle, on P. setosus and P. carmeli, respectively, and decreased from May to November for both species. The pathogen was also isolated from approximately 55% of both beetle species that emerged from infected branches. Mean propagule load on emerged P. setosus and P. carmeli was 39 and 66.5, respectively. 3,On the basis of these data, beetle species were treated with one of three propagule loads (low, medium, high) and caged onto live branches to determine whether they could transmit the pathogen. At all propagule loads, both species transmitted the pathogen, and transmission percentage and lesion length, a measure of tree susceptibility, were positively correlated with propagule load. 4,To investigate further whether the previous transmission by beetles could affect response of the same trees to subsequent infection with F. circinatum, different branches were inoculated on the same trees used in the transmission study, and lesion lengths were measured. Lesion lengths were lower on trees that had been previously exposed to beetles treated with high or medium propagule loads than on trees that had previously been exposed to beetles treated with low propagule loads. This suggests that the initial infection by beetles carrying high or medium propagule loads induced resistance to subsequent infections of the host, whereas infections caused by beetles with low propagule loads did not. [source] | |||||||||||||