Stephen, Lynn

Callaars, Josephus

This prespecified secondary analysis of the MOMENTUM 3 randomized clinical trial aims to determine whether clinical outcomes of patients with 2 different left ventricular assist devices differed based on preoperative categories of bridge to transplant/bridge to candidacy vs destination therapy.

To the Editor We read the recent article by Klauser et al with great interest. While the potential implications of the findings are exciting, we have several concerns. First, the authors do not explicitly state whether electrocardiogram gating was used in their study. This is an important detail because cardiac motion artifact is a source of artifactual coloration with dual-energy computed tomography (DECT), particularly with dual-source scanners given the approximately 80-millisecond temporal difference between the 2 radiography beams. Furthermore, beam hardening artifact from calcified atheromas and partial volume effect, known sources of artifacts in the 2-material decomposition algorithm of DECT, may largely explain the findings. While patients with gout had higher prevalence of coronary calcification (55 of 59 patients [93%]) and cardiovascular monosodium urate (MSU) deposition (51 of 59 patients [86%]) than controls, the authors do not report whether the 4 patients with gout without coronary calcifications exhibited MSU deposition nor the number of controls or cadaveric hearts with coronary calcification. The images from the article show areas of green pixelization occurring adjacent to calcified plaques on grayscale computed tomography images (eg, Figure 2A and D, left anterior descending artery [yellow arrowhead]), which would favor this artifact hypothesis without additional data.

In Reply We appreciate the valuable comments of Becce et al on our article. We applied prospective electrocardiography gating using a thin-slice cardiac protocol to ensure highest spatial resolution with minimal motion artifact. A noncontrast electrocardiography-gated computed tomography (CT) examination with standardized scan parameters was performed using a 128-slice dual-source CT (SOMATOM Definition Flash; Siemens) with a detector collimation of 2 × 64 × 0.6 mm, rotation time of 0.28 seconds, and prospective electrocardiography triggering for heart rates less than 65 beats per minute (diastolic padding, 70% of RR interval) and more than 65 beats per minute (systolic padding, 40% of RR interval). Axial images were reconstructed with 0.75-mm slice width, increment of 0.5, and a medium-smooth convolution kernel (B26f). When motion artifact was present, it was distinguished by visual analysis of an experienced observer and colorized pixels related to motion were excluded.

This cross-sectional study investigates whether hospital inpatient percutaneous coronary intervention volume is associated with rates of 30-day risk-adjusted mortality and hospital readmission after transcatheter aortic valve replacement and transcatheter mitral valve repair.

This Special Communication analyzes the conclusions drawn from effective regurgitant orifice area analysis and end-diastolic volume analysis from 2 randomized clinical trials to assess disparities in the different clinical outcomes.

Dewey Library - PQ7390.G773 D6613 2018

As polls come closer arrows are flying thicker, faster, sharper. Some are of time-honoured design, others quite modern. Included in the first category is flaming a party leader as communal or dissing her for being in the Italians’ pocket.

By fielding one of its vice-presidents – former television soap star Smriti Irani – against Congress’s Rahul Gandhi in Amethi Lok Sabha constituency, BJP has shown it is inclined to take the electoral battle to one of two Gandhi pocket boroughs in Uttar Pradesh.

Weis, Judith S., 1941-

Sedlak, David L

De Villiers, Marq, 1940- author

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Jacobson, Susan Kay, author

Pickering, K. T. (Kevin T.), author

Australia. Parliament. Senate. Environment and Communications References Committee, author, issuing body

Vatn, Arild, author

Murray-Darling Basin Authority (Australia), author, issuing body

Yeo, Sue-Yee Sharon, author

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Jarvis, W. Todd, author

Murray-Darling Basin Authority (Australia)

Probert, P. Keith, author

Miranda, Luiz Bruner de, author

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Carruthers, Jane, author

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Smardon, Richard C., author