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This paper analyses the effect of caponisation at 8 weeks on growth and on carcass and meat characteristics of Castellana Negra chickens slaughtered at 29 weeks. Caponisation did not result in weight improvements as compared with uncastrated birds. No changes were observed in the growth rate or in the parameters determining the point of inflection in the growth curve (sexual maturity). Regarding carcass characteristics, castration resulted in a wider breast angle and heavier pectoral muscles in caponised birds than in uncastrated birds, but with no differences in thigh and drumstick weight and length. Capon meat showed a higher fat content than that of cocks, making it juicier and less fibrous. No differences were found in fatty acid content (C 14:0, C 18:0, C 18:1 and C 18:2). Nor were there any differences in colour measurements, pH or water loss from the meat. While cocks' thighs + drumsticks were found to be tougher than their breasts, there were no such differences in capons because after castration, thigh + drumstick meat became more tender.

1. This study shows the results of (a) fitting growth data to a Gompertz-Laird model and (b) fitting egg production per housed bird to a Grossman model, in a population of Castellana Negra hens. 2. The maximum growth point for males and females, respectively, occurred at 10.6 and 9.3 weeks and the estimated weights at maturity were 2852 and 1878 g. Growth curve parameters were lower than those of commercial lines and similar to reports of other unselected breeds. 3. The start of lay was at 23 weeks. Total egg production reached 163 at 52 weeks, with a persistency (length of constant production) of 3.4 weeks and a production maximum of 69%. The maximum rate of change segment of the laying curve started at 24.3 weeks of age, and the production maximum started at 5.8 weeks into lay. The rate of decline was 1.4% weekly. 4. The Castellana Negra breed belongs to the class of slow-growing light lines and egg production was 163 eggs per calendar year.

This case report describes the treatment of a 25-year-old woman with anterior open bite, Class II skeletal malocclusion, and a history of temporomandibular joint pain and sounds. She also had significant anteroposterior and vertical discrepancies and a convex profile with protrusive lips. Intraorally, she had an anterior open bite of 3 mm and an overjet of 5 mm. Mandibular surgical rotation, associated with mandibular incisor extraction, was performed to reduce the protrusion, close the open bite, and minimize the temporomandibular joint disorder.

A smooth reaction of [(mu3-S)(mu3-OH)Pd3(CwedgeN)3] (2) with [(mu2-X)2Pd2(CwedgeN)2] (2:1; HCwedgeN = p-C2H5OC6H4CH=NC6H4-p-C2H5, X = OH, Cl) provides [(mu4-S){(mu2-OH)Pd2(CwedgeN)2}2] (3) and [(mu4-S)(mu2-Cl)(mu2-OH)Pd4(CwedgeN)4] (4). Treatment of 3 with HCl (molar ratio 1:2) leads to the corresponding tetranuclear complex [(mu4-S)(mu2-Cl)2Pd4(CwedgeN)4] (5). The three complexes contain a (mu4-S)Pd4 core. A density functional theory study of the bonds in 3 supports that the bonding of the S atom can be described in terms of four two-center two-electron S-Pd bonds, in contrast to most other (mu4-S)M4 systems in the literature, where the presence of M-M bonds prevents a bond-localized description of the molecule. The X-ray structures of 2, 3, and 5 are reported.

Background and Objective: Drug eluting stents have demonstrated their superiority versus bare metal stents in the reduction of restenosis and major adverse cardiac events. Most studies do not identificate differences between rapamycin and paclitaxel eluting stent., Patients and Method: Retrospective study. We identified all patients treated with rapamycin eluting stents or paclitaxel eluting stents during 2003 and 2004 in our center. We analized major adverse cardiac events incidence in the whole group and we investigated for differences between paclitaxel and rapamicin groups., Results: 170 patients were included. 98 treated with rapamycin eluting stents and 72 with paclitaxel eluting stents. Medium follow up was 365 days. There were no differences between groups in demographic or periprocedural variables. The incidence of major adverse cardiac events was 3.5% in the entire group (2.0% in rapamycin group and 5.6% in paclitaxel group; p = 0.43)., Conclusions: Drug eluting stents show a low incidence of major adverse cardiac events when they are utilized in usual clinical practice. With regard to this, we have not found differences between most used devices in our environment, rapamycin eluting stents and paclitaxel eluting stents.

Introduction and Objectives: Single-lead VDD pacing provides the physiological benefits of atrioventricular synchrony with the convenience of a single-lead system. However, concern remains about the method's safety and effectiveness., Method: In total, 700 patients with single-lead VDD pacemakers were evaluated retrospectively. The following parameters were recorded: age, sex, etiology, the symptoms and electrocardiographic diagnosis that justified pacemaker implantation, the venous access route used for implantation, atrial sensing at implantation, atrial undersensing at follow-up, the occurrence of supraventricular tachyarrhythmias, and final pacing mode., Results: Third-degree atrioventricular block was the main indication for pacemaker implantation (66.4%). The most commonly used venous access route was via the right cephalic vein (49.1%). At implantation, the mean atrial signal was 1.8 (4 1.15) mV. During follow-up, significant atrial undersensing occurred in 7.7% of patients; in 1.9%, it could not be corrected by device reprogramming. Uncontrollable supraventricular arrhythmias were observed in 6.4% of patients. Symptomatic sinus node disease was rare. By the end of follow-up, 91.4% of patients were still on VDD pacing, while, in 8.3%, the pacemaker had to be reprogrammed to the VVI mode. Only 0.3% required atrial lead implantation for DDD pacing. Left-side venous access during implantation was a independent predictora of atrial undersensing at follow-up. Low values of atrial detection at implant did not reach statistical signification although it showed a remarkable trend., Conclusions: Single-lead VDD pacing seems to be safe and effective when appropriately indicated. Our findings are consistent with those of previously published studies.

Background: The antiinflammatory and gastric cytoprotector effect of angiotensin II AT1 receptor antagonist, such as candesartan, losartan and valsartan was studied., Material and Methods: Wistar rats were ramdomly assigned to receive: (1) 96 degrees ethanol; (2) oral indometacin, (3) solid food (pellets) during two hours and subcutaneous indometacin (production of ulcers in the gastric antrum), (4) Carrageen footpad edema., Results: The three ATI receptor angiotensin antagonists yielded gastric cytoprotection against 96 degrees ethanol, almost total gastrointestinal protection against oral indometacin, prevented gastric ulcers formation in the antrum induced by subcutaneous indometacin, remarkable antiinflammatory response against neutrophil infiltration on the gastrointestinal mucosa, and anti-inflammatory effect in carrageen footpad edema., Conclusions: The AT1 receptor antagonists of angiotensin II are gastric cytiprotectors with a remarkable antiinflammatory effect.

The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the influence of a new self-etching primer (Adper Prompt L-pop; 3M ESPE, St Paul, Minn) on shear bond strength of orthodontic brackets. Forty extracted human premolars were obtained and randomly divided into two groups of 20 each: group 1 (control), phosphoric acid + Transbond XT primer (3M Unitek, Monróvia, Calif) and group 2, Adper Prompt L-pop. Transbond XT adhesive paste (3M Unitek) was used in both groups for bracket bonding. All products were used according to the manufacturer's instructions. Instron Universal Testing Machine was used to apply an occlusal shear force directly onto the enamel-bracket interface at a speed of 0.5 mm/min. The groups were compared using Student's t-test. Mean results and standard deviation for the groups were: group 1 = 16.23 MPa (4.77), group 2 = 13.56 MPa (4.31). No significant difference was observed in the bond strengths of the two groups evaluated (P = .069). However, the adhesive remnant index was significantly less when conditioning the enamel with Adper Prompt L-pop compared with phosphoric acid (P = .0003). The results suggest no difference in bond strength whether a conventional etching and primer or Adper Prompt L-pop is used. The amount of adhesive on the enamel after debonding was significantly less when using Adper Prompt than when using phosphoric acid. These results indicated that Adper Prompt is potentially adequate for orthodontic bonding needs.

The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of a self-etching primer (Transbond Plus SEP, 3M Unitek, Monrovia, Calif), developed for orthodontic use, in the regularity and depth of adhesive infiltration in the enamel of human permanent teeth and to compare it with phosphoric acid using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Thirty premolars were divided in two groups of 15 each: group 1(control)-phosphoric acid + Transbond XT Primer (3M Unitek) and group 2- Transbond Plus SEP. Transbond XT Adhesive Paste (3M Unitek) was used in both groups for bracket bonding. All products were used according to the manufacturer's instructions. Dental fragments were decalcified, and for micromorphologic observation of the adhesive penetration in enamel, the resin replicas, remnant at the base of the brackets, were covered with a thin gold layer and examined by SEM. Three calibrated examiners evaluated the photomicrographs and gave scores from 0 = without penetration to 2 = deep penetration. The Mann Whitney U-test (P < .0001) showed a statistical difference between the two groups. The results demonstrated that the SEP was more conservative and produced a smaller amount of demineralization and less penetration of adhesive in the enamel surfaces when compared with the conventional phosphoric acid system.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of a self-etching primer (SEP) (Transbond Plus SEP, 3M Unitek, Monrovia, Calif) on shear bond strength of adhesive uncoated and precoated Victory brackets (3M Unitek). The sample group consisted of 23 patients, with four premolars each, equally divided in four different groups. Brackets were bonded in vivo by the same operator using a split-mouth random technique: group 1, 37% phosphoric acid + primer + composite + conventional Victory bracket; group 2, 37% phosphoric acid + primer + precoated Victory bracket; group 3, SEP + composite + conventional bracket; group 4, SEP + precoated bracket. After 30 days, premolars were extracted for orthodontic reasons and a Universal Instron Machine was used to apply an occlusal shear force directly to the enamel-bracket interface at a speed of 0.5 mm/min. The groups were compared using two-way analysis of variance. Mean results and standard deviation for the groups were: group 1 = 11.60 +/- 2.65 Mpa, group 2 = 9.79 +/- 2.71 Mpa, group 3 = 10.75 +/- 2.67 Mpa, and group 4 = 10.31+/- 2.70 Mpa. No difference was observed between the conventional etching and primer or SEP (P = .948). However, significant differences in bond strength were present between the uncoated and precoated brackets (P = .032). Considering the values required to withstand normal orthodontic forces (8-9 Mpa), it could be concluded that the SEP combined with adhesive precoated brackets showed adequate shear bond strength and may be suitable for clinical use.

A series of novel sulfonamides containing a single difluoromethylene-phosphonate group were discovered to be potent inhibitors of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B. Structure-activity relationships around the scaffold were investigated, leading to the identification of compounds with IC50 or Ki values in the low nanomolar range. These sulfonamide-based inhibitors exhibit 100 and 30 times higher inhibitory activity than the corresponding tertiary amines and carboxamides, respectively.

The tendency of indicating early treatment (before growth spurt) when dealing with Angle Class II cases has been noticed, although there is no definite scientific evidence to justify such decision. The aim of this study was to identify the advantages and disadvantages to this approach and which appliances are used for this purpose. For that purpose, a questionnaire containing full records of a Class II patient was sent to two professors of each Orthodontic graduate program in Brazil (n=96, total 192), from which 107 were properly answered. Results demonstrated that the most used appliances were the headgear (80.4%), maxillary splint (50%) and Bionator (44.4%). The benefits most often quoted were increase of patient self-esteem (78.5%) and reduction in the incidence of incisors trauma (63.6%), while the main disadvantage was saturation of patient compliance (73.8%). Considering early Class II treatment, there is still no unanimity as to treating in one or two stages or in selection of appliances. However, the orthodontists should consider the physical situation of the patient, severity of cases and susceptibility of trauma to the maxillary incisors. It is crucial that updated information is given to parents, in order to justify this approach.

Coronary artery aneurysms are a relatively infrequent finding with an incidence of 1-2% per year. The most frequent cause is atherosclerosis and, in that case, they are always associated to stenosis of coronary arteries. We reviewed the coronary angiographic studies performed in the past seven years and we identified six patients that were admitted with an acute coronary syndrome, whose angiographic studies showed the presence of aneurysms in, at least, one of the coronary arteries. In these patients, we found no relation between aneurysms and distal or proximal stenosis. Although there was no angiographic evidence of classical coronary atherosclerosis, we think that atherosclerotic disease could have been the etiological cause, due to injury of the endothelium and media by deposits of lipids, smooth muscle cells, collagen, macrophages, and T-lymphocytes that would have damaged the adventitia layers of the vessel wall, stimulating "vasa-vasorum" neovascularization. The evolution of coronary aneurysms without associated stenosis in the same coronary artery and without another potentially treatable cause is unknown. Due to the limited literature regarding this issue and, taking into account our experience, we feel that, in these cases, medical treatment might be a good option as we detected no major cardiac events in any patient at mid and long-term follow up.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a rare cause of congestive heart failure which develops in the last month of pregnancy or during five months postpartum in women without previously known cardiac disease. Intraventricular thrombi are no unusual and can be identified by echocardiography. We report the case of a woman with peripartum cardiomyopathy whose echocardiographic study showed the presence of biventricular thrombi. This is a quite rare finding with only two cases reported in the literature. Diagnosis, treatment and special situations that could predispose to intracardiac thrombi formation are discussed.

This study evaluates the longitudinal changes in occlusal dimensions in young adults. The sample was composed of 27 individuals (13 male and 14 female individuals) who presented dental Class I and normal occlusion, according to the inclusion protocol. All teeth were present except for the third molars. The mean age of the subjects was 21 years and two months initially and 28 years and four months at the end of the observation period. The measurements collected in both arches were overbite, overjet, intercanine and intermolar distances, irregularity index, and perimeter. All measurements were taken from study dental casts by a calibrated operator, using a digital caliper. The paired t-test was used to evaluate the changes, using the difference between the initial and final mean measurements. Data indicated that the overbite increased 0.39 mm, the incisor irregularity increased 0.38 mm in the upper arch and 0.54 mm in the lower arch, and the arch perimeter decreased 0.67 mm in the upper arch and 0.71 mm in the lower arch (P > .05). The other measurements did not show significant changes. No sexual dimorphism was observed. It could be concluded that occlusal dimensions change throughout adult life. In the sample studied, changes were statistically significant for overbite, incisors irregularity, and arch perimeter after a mean period of seven years and two months. These changes can be observed in both sexes.

Complexes [Pd(3)(mu(3)-S)(mu(3)-X)(L)(3)] (L = orthometalated imine), obtained by an unusual reaction of mu(2)-OH dimeric complexes and CS(2), are an unprecedented type of asymmetrical bridges between metallatriangles, which force an all-cis arrangement of the three orthometalated ligands relative to the metallatriangle.

4-Substituted pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acids, (E)-dipicH2, and 4-substituted pyridine-2,6-bis(thiocarboxylic) acids, (E)-pdtcH2, (E = OCnH2n + 1, SCnH2n + 1) have been synthesized and used as O,N,O- and S,N,S-pincer ligands with palladium. In the fourth coordination site the complexes bear 4-decyloxy-4'-stilbazole (L1), 4-decyloxy-N-(4-pyridylmethylene)anilines (L2), decyl 4-pyridinecarboxylate (L3), 4-(4'-decyloxyphenyl)pyridinecarboxylate (L4), 4-(3',4',5'-tridecyloxybenzyl)pyridinecarboxylate (L5), 4-isocyano-1-decyloxybenzene (L6), or 4-isocyano-4'-decyloxybiphenyl (L7). Thermotropic mesomorphism is observed for the (E)-dipic complexes with L5 and n = 12, which display columnar phases. The complexes with S,N,S-pincers show an important depression in the melting point compared to their O,N,O homologues and this change gives rise to mesomorphic materials (SC). However, in the case of L5 the mesomorphic behavior observed for the O,N,O derivative is lost in its S,N,S analogue. The alkylsulfanyl compounds exhibit lower transition temperatures and wider mesophase ranges than their alkoxy analogues.

The reactions of [Pd(acac)(2)] or [Pd(OAc)(2)](3) with pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid (H(2)dipic) in acetonitrile afford [Pd(dipic)(NCMe)] in high yield. This complex has been used as starting material in the preparation of a variety of neutral an anionic complexes. The dipicolinate anion behaves as a tridentate ligand in all cases, but two modes of coordination are found, depending on the ligand: as a pincer ligand O,N,O-bonded to the same palladium, giving mononuclear complexes, and as an O,N-chelate N,O'-bridging ligand in dinuclear complexes. An X-ray determination of the structure of a dimer, [Pd(dipic)(PBu(3))](2) (monoclinic, space group P2(1)/n, a = 18.144(4) Å, b = 13.191(2) Å, c = 19.571(3) Å, beta = 113.45(2) degrees, Z = 4, R = 0.050, R(w) = 0.054) shows that the ligand is coordinated to one palladium in a eta(2)-N,O chelate fashion and one oxygen atom of the other carboxylate group makes a bridge to the other palladium atom, in a novel bonding mode for the dipic ligand.

Cardiogenic shock continues to be a clinical situation which is related with high mortality. Although its etiology is varied, the most frequent cause is an acute myocardial infarction. The poor prognosis of cardiogenic shock can be favourably modified with the diagnosis of the underlying cause followed by the stabilization of the patient and early revascularization. Early treatment with inotropic or vasopressor drugs improves the condition of most patients and the use of circulatory assistance, such as the intraaortic balloon, lead to an acceptable hemodynamic situation in 80% of cases. However, they do not significantly modify the mortality rates. In addition, thrombolytic therapy does not appear to be effective for this kind of patients. Only revascularization methods have proved to be effective; surgery is the only option where ventricular septal, free wall, or papillary muscle rupture occurs, resulting in survival rates of between 50 and 60% with coronary artery by-pass surgery. Angioplasty is frequently successful in reperfusion of the infarct-related artery; the survival rate in these cases is approximately 70%, according to the different series published. As the mortality rate is exceedingly high (70-90%) when conventional therapy is used; when appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic means are available and when the patient's condition is recoverable, the attitude should be aggressive and coronary angiography and angioplasty applied as soon as possible. In centers where these means are not available, once measures have been taken to achieve the stabilization of the patient, the most suitable procedure is to transfer him or her to a hospital in which qualified staff and such treatment methods are available.

The clinical performance of a glass ionomer cement for direct bonding of orthodontic brackets was compared with a composite resin routinely used in this procedure. Brackets were bonded, using both materials, in alternate quadrants of 16 patients of the Orthodontic Clinic of the State University of Rio de Janeiro. A total of 225 teeth, 112 in the glass ionomer cement group and 113 in the composite group, were tested. Bond failure frequencies were recorded for 12 months, and chi-square statistical test was carried out comparing the failure rates of the materials. The composite showed a statistically significant lower failure rate (7.96%) than the glass ionomer cement (50.89%), regardless of the dental arch tested. Although the glass ionomer cement presents important properties not observed in the composite, it is necessary to increase its cohesive strength to permit its clinical use for direct bonding of orthodontic brackets.

"International migrations caused by socio-economic and demographic reasons, especially from underdeveloped countries to the rich and prosperous areas of the globe are discussed with the focus on Western Europe and particularly on Maghrebi immigration to Spain. Emigration of the people from a backward region even increases the deterioration of [the] local economy, provoking stagnation and inflation. Therefore emigration only can not be seen as an economic take-off for sustained economic development over the frontier areas between developed and depressed territories. Related social questions as well as economic, religious and political may add factors affecting the structural balance of the societies concerned.", (excerpt)

Changes in cephalometric landmark positions and relationships were evaluated more than 5 years postsurgically in 26 patients whose long-face condition had been treated with a combination of superior repositioning of the maxilla and mandibular advancement. All the patients had a least 2-mm surgical intrusion of the maxilla and 2-mm lengthening of the mandible with wire osteosynthesis, maxillomandibular fixation, and skeletal suspension wires. On the average, a small amount of downward and backward rotation of the mandible occurred long term. The mean change in overjet was less than 1 mm. Most of the changes occurred in a minority of the patients: 20% of the group had 2 to 4-mm downward movement of menton, and the mandibular plane angle increased more than 2 degrees in 25% of the patients. On clinical evaluation, a tendency toward opening of the bite beyond 1 year postsurgery was noted in 5 of the 26 patients (19%), and one patient had a greater than 4-mm decrease in overbite. The condylion-pogonion distance decreased 2 to 4 mm in three patients, two of whom had shown greater than 4-mm shortening of this distance during the first postsurgical year. It appears that long-term shortening of the condylar process is not a highly prevalent problem, but changes of 2 to 4 mm in condylion-pogonion associated with modest clinical relapse may occur beyond 1 year postsurgery in 5 to 10% of these two-jaw surgery patients.

A review of surgical-orthodontic patients treated through the University of North Carolina Dentofacial Program indicated that the duration of surgical treatment was roughly comparable to that of nonsurgical orthodontics for most patients; there was a greater chance of very long treatment when surgery was involved. Treatment times differed significantly among patients whose orthodontic treatment was done in the faculty practice, university clinic, or outside the university. Median treatment times were 18, 24, and 28 months, respectively, for the three practice settings, but some patients in each group underwent more than 48 months of treatment. After 1 year of presurgical treatment, two thirds of the faculty practice patients, but only one third of the clinic and private practice patients, were ready for surgery. Postsurgical orthodontic treatment of patients attending the faculty practice also was completed more quickly: appliances were removed within 9 months from 83% of faculty practice patients, 71% of clinic patients, and 53% of private patients. Guidelines for efficient management of surgical-orthodontic patients are presented.

Introduction and Purpose: The purpose was assessing the usefulness of exercise digitalized echocardiography for the diagnosis of ischemic heart disease., Patients and Methods: Eighty-eight patients, with suspected artery coronary disease, underwent both a exercise echocardiography with treadmill Bruce protocol and a coronary arteriography, within a period less than 2 months, without changes in their clinical evolution. Fifty-eight patients shown significant coronary lesions (> or = 50%)., Results: The exercise echocardiography showed a high sensitivity (74%), significantly greater (p < 0.01) than exercise electrocardiography alone. The sensitivity was fixed by the level of exercise done, reaching 91% when submaximal exercise was achieved, and by the severity and extension of coronary disease, being of 68.5% for a single-vessel, 80% for two-vessel and 100% for three-vessel. The specificity was 87%, considering the lesions lesser than 50% as not significant, and it was 100% when the coronary arteries without disease were taken into account., Conclusions: Exercise echocardiography can be a rutinary method for the diagnosis of ischemic heart disease, and it shows a high sensitivity and specificity, greater than exercise electrocardiography alone.

Forty-four brackets were bonded "in vivo" using cotton roll and rubber dam isolation. Maxillary and mandibular premolars, to be extracted for orthodontic reasons, were used in this study. After bonding, the teeth were retained in the mouth for at least 30 days. They were extracted using surgical elevators. After extraction, the teeth were secured in plastic rings using gypsum and kept in water for 7 days until debonding. A Universal Instron Machine was used to produce a shear force at a speed of 0.1 cm/min until each bracket was removed. No statistically significant differences for debonding strength were observed between the two types of isolation, nor between the buccal and palatal surfaces of the teeth. One hundred percent of the failures occurred at the bracket/composite interface.

The receptor for human granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (hGMR) is composed of two subunits, alpha and beta, which are both required for high-affinity binding of the ligand. To examine the transforming potential of hGMR, we have transfected cDNAs encoding the receptor alpha and beta subunits into NIH 3T3 cells, which normally do not express GMRs. Introduction of the receptor subunits into these cells resulted in focal transformation, which was dependent on the presence of human granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (hGM-CSF) in the culture medium. No transformation was observed when hGM-CSF was replaced with other growth factors such as human epidermal growth factor or human interleukin 3 or when cells were transfected with the alpha or beta subunit alone. Individual conditional transformants isolated after transfection expressed functional hGMRs, were susceptible to transformation by picomolar levels of the ligand, and were capable of anchorage-independent growth in soft agar in the presence but not in the absence of hGM-CSF. Biochemical analysis showed that treatment of these cells with hGM-CSF caused a rapid phosphorylation of the beta subunit and other cellular proteins on tyrosine residues, recapitulating some of the events that take place during GM-CSF signaling in myeloid cells. We conclude that coexpression of the alpha and beta subunits of hGMR in established murine fibroblasts is sufficient to reconstitute a functional receptor, which is capable of causing ligand-dependent transformation. The oncogenic potential of hGMR lends support to the hypothesis that its deregulated or abnormal expression may play a role in leukemogenesis.

We submit the case of a 75-year-old man that underwent aortic valve replacement whose preoperative coronary angiography showed lesion-free coronaries. Two months after surgery he began to feel rapidly progressing effort angina pectoris. Transesophageal echocardiography showed prosthetic normal function while allowing the study of the great coronary trunks. We observed the presence of a 50% stenosis at the ostium of the left coronary artery trunk due to the use of selective coronary cannulation to supply cardioplegia solution during valve replacement. A second coronary angiography confirmed this finding. Transesophageal echocardiography may be used as an initial diagnostic method when coronary ostial stenosis is suspected after aortic valve replacement.

"During the last few years, Spain has become a host country for Maghreb emigrants that cross the Straits of Gibraltar hoping to find a better life. This article evaluates the importance of this migratory trend, its evolution, location and characteristics. At the same time, this paper sets forth new data about the recent Official Registration process of alien residents." (SUMMARY IN ENG AND FRE), (excerpt)

The shape of the mitral valve ring, the position of its chordae and of its leaflets were studied in 34 normal hearts fixed through intra-ventricular injection of tamponate formalin. As the authors have assumed that the post-rigor left ventricle has an architecture very similar to that seen at to the end of ventricular systole, comparisons were made between the anatomical and the echocardiographic features usually seen at the end of the phase of the cardiac cycle. The mitral ring has the shape of a hyperbolic paraboloid, and this peculiar geometry explains why the "apical-four chambers" view, which explores the most superficial ring segments, is the more appropriate view for detecting mitral valve prolapses. In that incidence the valvar diameter is longer (2.43 +/- 0.45 cm) that in the "parasternal view" (1.99 +/- 0.45 cm) and the angle made by the leaflets is comparatively less acute ("four chambers" = 127.41 +/- 16.45 degrees; "parasternal" = 102.05 +/- 0.17 degrees). In the "four chamber" view the point of coaptation (which represents the vertex of the referred angle) is 0.45 +/- 0.17 cm far from the echographic line usually taken as the valvar plane (EVPL-echocardiographic valvar plane line) whereas in the other view, it is more distant from this line (0.59 +/- 0.16 cm). These two last factors make both leaflets closer to the left atrium and explains why mitral valve prolapse, when present, is more easily seen in that incidence.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)