5 %) and mitral valve regurgitations (22 %) are significantly correlated with aortic root dilation (p < 0.01) and mitral valve prolapse (p < 0.05) but without relevant progression during childhood. Prophylactic medication was initiated for 42 % of the patients (mean age, 8.0 +/- A 4.5 years) because of progressive aortic root dilation. Aortic dissection did not appear. Aortic root surgery was needed for 4 % of the patients. Gender-specific differences in cardiovascular findings, progression of disease, or treatment did not appear. Comparable with adults, aortic root dilation is the most frequent cardiovascular

finding in children and associated with relevant morbidity, whereas aortic and mitral valve regurgitation are of minor clinical relevance. Manifestation at an early age and slow progression of cardiovascular findings underscore the necessity of repeated echocardiographic examinations for early diagnosis Roscovitine research buy and start of prophylactic treatment.”
“Objective. Intrathecal baclofen (ITB) is effective in the treatment of dystonia

related to complex regional pain syndrome FG 4592 (CRPS). In a previous study, we noted that the responsiveness to ITB declined in 30% of patients once drug delivery was switched from an external to an implanted device associated with a reduction of the infusion rate (IR).

Design. In a double-blind study, we investigated the effect of varying the IR at a fixed daily dose on the efficacy and safety of ITB in patients with CRPS-related dystonia. Patients were randomized to either slower infusion rate delivery (SIRD) or four-times faster infusion rate delivery (FIRD) for 2 weeks and were crossed over after a 1-week washout selleck period.

Patients. Patients were eligible if they experienced no beneficial response to ITB on dystonia despite a minimum dose of 600 mu g/day, or because side effects limited dose escalation.

Outcome Measures. Primary outcome measures were changes in global dystonia and pain severity.

Results. There were no significant differences between the FIRD and the SIRD groups for the median change of numeric rating scale dystonia (-0.3 [interquartile range IQR -1.1-0.5]), pain (0.1 [IQR -0.8-1.3]), and

secondary outcomes, except for the frequency of adverse events, which was significantly higher during FIRD (12 vs 2). FIRD was preferred only by patients who were included because side effects to ITB prevented dose escalation.

Conclusions. Increasing the IR at a fixed daily dose is not associated with improvement of dystonia or pain but warrants further investigation in patients in whom side effects prevent further dose escalation.”
“Transient complete heart block (TCHB) is defined as complete interruption of atrioventricular conduction (AVC) after cardiac surgery followed by return of conduction. This study aimed to assess the risk for the development of late complete heart block (LCHB) after recovery of TCHB and to examine the electrocardiographic and electrophysiologic properties of the AVC system after TCHB.