ABSTRACTPulmonary vein stenosis (PVS) is an insidious diagnosis associated with morbidity and mortality. Pharmacologic therapy may suffice initially, but advanced stages demand mechanical intervention. Pulmonary stent implantation (PSI) and pulmonary balloon angioplasty (PBA) are common strategies, both carrying restenosis risks. This meta‐analysis compares PSI and PBA to determine the superior revascularization strategy. We systematically searched databases until November 2023, identifying 11 studies with 780 patients. Studies, including those involving patients undergoing balloon angioplasty (BA) or stent angioplasty (SA) for PVS, were selected. Case reports, editorials, and cross‐sectional studies were omitted. Primary outcomes included restenosis requiring reintervention, 5‐year freedom from restenosis, and procedure‐related complications. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a random‐effects model. Meta‐regression analysis assessed factors like age and stent size. Study quality was evaluated using the Newcastle–Ottawa scale. This Systematic review and meta‐analysis incorporated 11 observational studies. PSI exhibited a lower risk of restenosis requiring reintervention (OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.13, 0.87, p = 0.02) and significantly higher 5‐year freedom from restenosis (OR 4.42, 95% CI 1.11, 17.62, p = 0.04) compared to PBA, with no significant difference in procedure‐related complications. Meta‐regression analysis showed age and stent size insignificantly affecting restenosis risk. Our review supports PSI as the preferred revascularization strategy for PVS due to superior patency benefits, emphasizing its role as the initial treatment choice. Further research is warranted for validation, considering individual patient factors in treatment selection.

Besides dental caries, periodontitis and periimplant infections are the two most prevalent biofilm-associated oral diseases. Such chronic inflammation can cause destruction of the supporting gum tissue and eventually bone and tooth loss. To prevent oral pathologies, a professional routine for the removal of soft and hard bacterial deposits is recommended in supplement to daily oral hygiene. Manual instrumentation with curettes and ultrasonic scalers are used for prophylactic treatment. However, current ultrasonic instruments are limited in dimensions and operating frequencies. An innovative design for a novel dental scaler based on a planar ultrasonic transducer is introduced. The planar design allows the mass to be considerably reduced compared to a conventional Langevin transducer, resulting in a higher velocity to current ratio and thus an efficient but also sensitive scaler. The feasibility and potential of the planar scaler have already been confirmed by achieving displacement amplitudes of $> 50\ {\mu{\mathrm{m}}}$ at 28 kHz. In addition, the planar design allows for an alteration of the resonant frequency through minor geometric adjustments to the horn. The design was modified for 20 and 40 kHz to obtain information about the most advantageous operating frequency, through both electromechanical characterisation and an in vitro setup with an artificial biofilm pocket model.

Caries and periodontitis affect the majority of adults during their lifetime. Piezoelectric ultrasonic scalers offer great benefits during the prevention and treatment of periodontal diseases. Our group developed a novel ultrasonic periodontal scaler based on a planar piezoelectric transducer. However, similar to other piezoelectric configurations, the transducer's characteristics are strongly influenced by operation conditions. In this study, we investigated the influence of driving voltage amplitude and loading force applied using physical calculus models on the novel planar transducer's input impedance and vibration. Our results show that the resonance frequency, i.e. the frequency at which maximal deflection of the tip occurs, decreases with increasing driving voltage amplitude while it increases with increasing force. Additionally, decreasing driving voltage amplitudes and increasing force both increase the minimal magnitude and reduce the maximal phase of the input impedance near resonance. Based on these observations, we developed a procedure to extend the Butterworth–Van-Dyke (BVD) Model. The extended BVD models allow to simulate the transducer in realistic scenarios and may facilitate the development of dedicated control systems for planar piezoelectric transducers.

Atrial-esophageal fistula is an extremely rare condition but is often a deleterious complication following catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation. The associated iatrogenic communication acts as a conduit for air and bacterial translocation, which may lead to cerebral air embolism and polymicrobial sepsis, respectively. Coupled with a history of invasive procedures, the diagnosis is largely based on the accompanying neurological symptoms. In this report, we present the case of a 73-year-old female who presented with neurological deficits attributed to cerebral vascular emboli three weeks after catheter ablation for the treatment of chronic atrial fibrillation.