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Background--Transcatheter valve-in-valve implantation is an established therapy for high-risk patients with failed surgical aortic bioprosthesis. There are limited data comparing outcomes of valve-in-valve implantation using different transcatheter heart valves (THV). Methods and Results--Patients included in the Valve-in-Valve International Data registry (VIVID) and treated with selfexpanding THV devices were analyzed using centralized core laboratory blinded to clinical events. St. Jude Medical Portico versus Medtronic CoreValve were compared in a 1:2 fashion after propensity score matching. A total of 162 patients, Portico- (n=54) and CoreValve- (n=108) based valve-in-valve procedures comprised the study population with no significant difference in baseline characteristics (age, 79±8.2 years; 60% women; mean STS [Society of Thoracic Surgery] score 8.1±5.5%). Postimplantation, CoreValve was associated with a larger effective orifice area (1.67 versus 1.31 cm2;P=0.001), lower mean gradient (14±7.5 versus 17±7.5 mm Hg; P=0.02), and lower core laboratory-adjudicated moderate-to-severe aortic insufficiency (4.2% versus 13.7%; P=0.04), compared with Portico. Procedural complications including THV malpositioning, second THV requirement, or coronary obstruction were not significantly different between the 2 groups. Survival and stroke rates at 30 days were similar, but overall mortality at 1 year was higher among patients treated with Portico compared with CoreValve (22.6% versus 9.1%; P=0.03). Conclusions--In this first matched comparison of THVs for valve-in-valve implantations, Portico and CoreValve demonstrated differences in postprocedural hemodynamics and long-term clinical outcomes. Although this could be related to THV design characteristics, the impact of other procedural factors cannot be excluded and require further evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

L'objectif de ce travail est de fournir aux hydrologues travaillant sur l'Algérie du Nord un modèle numérique de terrain (MNT) permettant la mise en œuvre de méthodes d'estimation régionales de paramètres hydrologiques tels que les débits de crue instantanés décennaux ou les apports moyens annuels. Il doit permettre une détermination satisfaisante des contours des bassins versants et l'obtention de paramètres morphométriques comparables entre eux sur l'ensemble de la zone d'étude. Le MNT que nous proposons est un compromis entre des tailles de pixels petites donnant une bonne précision et des pixels plus grands permettant de couvrir uniformément la zone. Nous montrons que le MNT à la maille de 100 m est parfaitement adapté sous réserve de l'avoir préalablement corrigé manuellement dans les zones endoréiques et dans les zones relativement planes. Ce MNT permet de retrouver correctement les principaux paramètres morphométriques utilisés en hydrologie. Nous mettons donc à la disposition des hydrologues ce MNT à 100 m dans une projection Lambert bien adaptée aux besoins de l'hydrologie algérienne. Editeur Z.W. Kundzewicz Citation Rezak, S., Laborde, J.-P., et Errih, M., 2012. Validation d'un modèle numérique de terrain adapté à la modélisation hydrologique régionale sur l'Algérie du Nord. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 57 (5), 928–941. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) improves the prognosis of patients with severe aortic stenosis who are deemed too high risk for surgical valve replacement. However, this evolving technology is associated with a wide range of potential complications - some specific to TAVI, some often fatal. Prevention, early recognition, and effective treatment of these complications will significantly improve the outcome of this procedure and are essential prerequisites before the therapy is extended to lower-risk patient subsets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predicting the space-time evolution of a gaseous or particulate pollutant concentration in a ventilated room where a process operation is performed is imperative in hazardous activities, such as chemical or nuclear ones. This study presents a prediction of the space-time evolution of airborne pollutant dispersion following the accidental rupture of a containment enclosure (fume cupboard, glove box, pressurized gas duct, etc.). The final model is written as correlations inspired by the free turbulent jet theory, giving the space-time evolution of a pollutant concentration c (x,y,z,t) that has been formulated as a correlated function of various parameters: leak geometry (slot or round opening), emission type (continuous or transient), emission duration and initial emission velocity. These correlations are based on gas tracing experiments and on multidimensional simulations using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tools. An instrumented experimental facility was used to simulate pressurized gas industrial failure, and the measurements performed gave the real-time evolution of a tracer gas concentration. Transient leak simulations were run in parallel with a CFD code. Comparisons between experimental and numerical results largely agree. A semiempirical model was built using a methodical parametric study of all the simulation results. This model is easy to use in safety evaluations of radioactive material containment and radiological protection inside nuclear facilities and for evaluating toxic gaseous compounds in the chemical industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surgical aortic valve replacement is the only recommended treatment for significant aortic valve stenosis. Percutaneous aortic valve replacement appears to be a novel option for high-risk patients. We report the implantation of the ReValving system (CoreValve, Paris, France) in a 64-year-old woman who was refused aortic valve replacement surgery for critical aortic stenosis and left ventricular dysfunction because of severe pulmonary fibrosis. After anesthesia, the patient was put on femorofemoral cardiopulmonary bypass, and underwent a balloon valvuloplasty with subsequent retrograde aortic valve replacement by the ReValving system. Transesophageal echocardiographic monitoring of the patient’s hemodynamics showed immediate improvements of the valvular area and left ventricular ejection fraction and only traces of paravalvular leaks. The patient was easily weaned from ventilation and resumed activity soon after the surgery. A multidisciplinary approach is presently necessary to offer a reliable and safe procedure. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article deals with two related problems in implementing United Nations action against terrorism:first, the ineffectiveness of deterrence when terrorism is motivated by beliefs powerful enough to provoke suicide attacks; second, the risk that the rule of law will be undermined if criminal justice measures do not prevent terrorism. A prospective common solution is to develop aggressive and effective preventive measures explicitly drawn from rule of law standards. A number of preventive strategies, as well as one evidentiary measure and one international cooperation development, are discussed. The goal to be achieved is the integration of human rights guaranteed by the rule of law into a preventive criminal justice strategy. When terrorist violence is prevented rather than merely punished, and human rights are protected, respect for the rule of law will be not merely safeguarded, but enhanced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present article reviews the technical assistance activities of the Terrorism Prevention Branch of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, high-lights joint activities with other entities and covers issues of information sharing and awareness-raising. It concludes with recommendations for the way forward [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case of an old woman with severe aortic stenosis and high surgical risk that was evaluated for transcatheter aortic valve replacement.