In the latter case, the driving force for 3D growth via step mean

In the latter case, the driving force for 3D growth via step meandering is enhanced by H-induced upward mass transport in addition to the lower energy cost associated with island formation on H-terminated substrates, which results in a high density array of InGaAs/GaAs dots selectively nucleated on the terrace apices with reduced lateral dimensions and improved PL efficiency relative

to those of conventional MBE-grown samples. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3608047]“
“Although preformed polymers are commercially available for use in the design and development of drug delivery systems, in situ polymerization has also been employed. In situ polymerization affords the platform to tailor and optimize the drug delivery properties of polymers. This review brings to light the benefits of in situ polymerization for oral drug delivery and the possibilities selleck kinase inhibitor it provides to overcome the challenges of oral route of administration.”
“Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies are fatal find more neurodegenerative diseases that affect mammals including humans. The proteinaceous nature of the infectious agent, the prion, and its propagation, challenge established dogmas in biology. It is now widely accepted that prion diseases are caused

by unconventional agents principally composed of a misfolded host-encoded protein, PrP. Surprisingly, major break-throughs in prion research came from studies on functionally unrelated proteins in yeast and filamentous fungi. Aggregates composed of these proteins act as epigenetic elements of inheritance that can propagate their alternative states by a conformational switch into an ordered beta-sheet rich polymer just like mammalian prions. Since their discovery prions of lower ALK inhibitor cancer eukaryotes have provided invaluable insights into all aspects of prion biogenesis. Importantly, yeast prions provide proof-of-principle that distinct protein conformers can be infectious and

can serve as genetic elements that have the capacity to encipher strain specific information. As a powerful and tractable model system, yeast prions will continue to increase our understanding of prion-host cell interaction and potential mechanisms of protein-based epigenetic inheritance.”
“A SF6/O-2 plasma chemical etching is proposed as a process to texture n- and p-doped c-Si ( 100) by chemical reactivity of active fluorine species, under conditions avoiding ion bombardment and sputtering. Under this chemical etching regime, we found a strong impact of silicon doping on texturing characteristics and effectiveness. Specifically, an anisotropic square-based hillock-like texturing with 6% reflectivity is obtained for n- type Si.

06% vs 44 44%, Chi-square test: P < 0 01) AF patients with ch

06% vs 44.44%, Chi-square test: P < 0.01). AF patients with chest distress had high CHADS2 score (3.72 +/- 1.27), but only 33.3% patients received oral anticoagulants, and such patients had a significantly lower rate of revascularization (21.43% vs 55.63%, Chi-square test: P < 0.01), and higher rate of all-cause death (22.22% vs 4.38%, Chi-square test: P < 0.01) and thromboembolism (16.67% vs 1.68%, Chi-square test: P < 0.01) in the long-term follow-ups compared AZD8186 order with SR patients. Chest distress in the aged with AF was related to insufficient

coronary blood supply that was primarily due to a reduced DBP rather than to occult CAD. Adequate and safe medical therapy was difficult to achieve in these patients. Such patients typically have a poor prognosis, and optimal therapeutic strategies to treat them are urgently needed.”
“Syncope is a self-limited loss of consciousness produced by cerebral hypoperfusion/hypoxia. The objective of this study was to categorize the etiology and determine

the frequency of concurrent epilepsy and whether laboratory testing is diagnostically useful. This was an institutional review board-approved retrospective chart review. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. There were 141 subjects (90 girls [63.8%]; mean age, 12.01 years). Of the syncope referrals, 86 of 123 (69.9%) had simple syncope, 35 of 123 (28.4%) had syncopal convulsions, and 2 of 123 (1.6%) had epilepsy alone. An electroencephalogram was performed in 64.7% (91/141) of the subjects but was diagnostic in 1 of 91 (1.4%) for epilepsy. Magnetic resonance imaging and/or computed tomography scans, electrocardiograms/Holter monitoring/stress BMS-777607 Protein Tyrosine Kinase inhibitor testing, and blood

tests were primarily normal or nondiagnostic, with 6 of 238 (2.5%) total tests contributing to the diagnosis. Primary neurocardiogenic syncope was identified in 78% (111/141) of all subjects (82% boys, 75% girls). Thirty-eight percent had syncopal convulsions, and 2.8% (4/141) had concurrent epilepsy. A detailed medical history was the most useful diagnostic tool.”
“Objective. Panobinostat price The aim of this study was to explore the effectiveness and safety of topical application of 50 mg penicillin G potassium troches in the treatment of minor recurrent aphthous ulcerations (MiRAU) in a Chinese cohort.

Material and methods. A randomized, double-blinded, placebo and no-treatment-controlled, multicenter clinical trial was performed. Troches were consecutively applied 4 times per day for 4 days. The size and pain level of ulcers were measured and recorded on days 0, 3, 4, 5, and 6.

Results. A total of 258 subjects with minor recurrent aphthous ulcerations (86 subjects in penicillin G potassium group, 88 subjects in placebo control group, and 84 subjects in no-treatment control group) fulfilled the study. Penicillin G potassium significantly reduced ulcer size (P < .00001 for days 3, 4, 5, and 6) and alleviated ulcer pain (P < .00001 for days 3, 4, 5, and 6).

To our knowledge, qGCd7 is a novel QTL with major effects for inc

To our knowledge, qGCd7 is a novel QTL with major effects for increasing grain Cd concentrations.”
“Study Design. Literature review.

Objective. To describe the scientific basis of minimally invasive spine surgery as it relates to posterior lumbar surgery.

Summary of Background Data. Minimally invasive spine (MIS) surgery is predicated on several basic principles: (1) avoid muscle crush injury by self-retaining retractors; (2) do not disrupt tendon attachment sites of key muscles, particularly the origin of the multifidus muscle at the spinous process; Smoothened Agonist clinical trial (3) use known anatomic neurovascular

and muscle compartment planes; and (4) minimize collateral soft tissue injury by limiting the width of the surgical corridor.

Methods. Literature review.

Results. The conventional midline posterior approach for lumbar decompression and fusion violates these key principles of MIS surgery. The tendon origin of the multifidus muscle is detached, the surgical corridor is exceedingly wide, and significant muscle crush injury occurs

through the use of powerful self-retaining retractors. The combination of these events leads to well-described changes in muscle physiology and function. MIS surgery is performed using table-mounted tubular retractors that focus the surgical dissection to a narrow corridor directly Fer-1 over the surgical target site. The path of the surgical corridor is GSK461364 selected on the basis of anatomic planes, specifically avoiding injury to the musculotendinous complex and the neurovascular bundle.

Conclusion. With these relatively simple modifications to surgical technique, significant improvements in intraoperative blood

loss, postoperative pain, surgical morbidity, return of function, among others, have been achieved. However, MIS techniques remain technically demanding and a significant complication rate has been observed during the initial learning curve of the procedures.”
“OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical features and outcomes of hospitalised cases of the 2009 influenza A H1N1 virus infection at Geneva’s University Hospital during the peak of the epidemic.

METHODS: From October 2009 to January 2010, we conducted a four-month prospective case collection of H1N1 laboratory confirmed cases and subsequently reviewed all medical charts of the patients admitted at Geneva’s University Hospital.

RESULTS: During the data collection period, 1336 subjects with influenza-like illness were tested for the 2009 H1N1 in Geneva and 451 were positive (34%). A total of 85 patients with confirmed H1N1 were hospitalised (56 adults and 29 children). Patients’ median age was 39 years (range 1 month-94years) and the mean hospital length of stay was 12 days.

Discussion and conclusion: The profound reduction in lesion count

Discussion and conclusion: The profound reduction in lesion count and ASI by combination therapy with AA-Clin gel in comparison to individual treatment with 5% AA or Clin 2% suggested the combination formula as an effective alternative in treatment of acne vulgaris.”
“Scientists have been trying to crack the memory code for hundreds of years; however, centuries later, even the simplest elements of memory formation are still not fully understood. Recent studies in epigenetics indicate

neuronal activity can induce transient reprogramming of epigenetic codes required for long-term memory consolidation. This suggests epigenetics as a basic mechanism in the regulation of long-term memory; and highlights the possibility that epigenetic modifications, as well as environmental factors, can change certain gene expression of brain neurons to restore the ability to remember, even with an aging brain or innate mental Selleckchem URMC-099 deficits. This article is an overview of basic knowledge and current research on epigenetic regulation of long-term memory, and prospects for future research.”
“OBJECTIVE: To characterize potentially modifiable risk factors for third- or fourth-degree perineal lacerations and cervical lacerations in a contemporary U.S. obstetric practice.

METHODS: The Consortium on Safe Labor collected electronic medical records from 19 hospitals within 12 institutions

(228,668 deliveries from 2002 to 2008). Information on patient characteristics, prenatal complications, labor and delivery data, and maternal and neonatal outcomes were collected. Only women with successful vaginal deliveries of cephalic Epacadostat purchase singletons at 34 weeks of gestation or later selleckchem were included; we excluded data from sites lacking information about lacerations at delivery and deliveries complicated by shoulder dystocia; 87,267 and 71,170 women were analyzed for third-or fourth-degree and cervical lacerations, respectively. Multivariable logistic regressions were used to adjust for other factors.

RESULTS: Third-or fourth-degree lacerations occurred in 2,516

women (2,223 nulliparous [5.8%], 293 [0.6%] multiparous) and cervical lacerations occurred in 536 women (324 nulliparous [1.1%], 212 multiparous [0.5%]). Risks for third-or fourth-degree lacerations included nulliparity (7.2-fold risk), being Asian or Pacific Islander, increasing birth weight, operative vaginal delivery, episiotomy, and longer second stage of labor. Increasing body mass index was associated with fewer lacerations. Risk factors for cervical lacerations included young maternal age, vacuum vaginal delivery, and oxytocin use among multiparous women, and cerclage regardless of parity.

CONCLUSION: Our large cohort of women with severe obstetric lacerations reflects contemporary obstetric practices. Nulliparity and episiotomy use are important risk factors for third-or fourth-degree lacerations. Cerclage increases the risk for cervical lacerations.

Methods: A computer program was created to generate stopping rule

Methods: A computer program was created to generate stopping rules based on specified error rates, trial size, and RR and median TTP of interest and disinterest for a two-stage phase II trial. Rules were generated for stage II such that the null hypothesis (H(nul)) was rejected if either RR or TTP met desired thresholds, and accepted if both did not. Assuming an exponential distribution for progression, EPD thresholds

were determined based on specified TTP values. Stopping rules were generated for stage I such that H(nul) was accepted and the study stopped if both RR and EPD were unacceptable.

Results: Patient thresholds were generated for RR, median TTP, and EPD which achieved specified error rates and which allowed early stopping based on RR and EPD. For smaller proportional differences between interesting and disinteresting values CA4P mouse HTS assay of RR or TTP, larger trials

are required to maintain alpha error, and early stopping is more common with a larger first stage.

Conclusion: Stopping rules are provided for phase II trials for drugs which have either a desirable RR or TTP. In addition, early stopping can be achieved using RR and EPD.”
“Background: Survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) remains poor. Acute coronary obstruction is a major cause of OHCA. We hypothesize that early coronary reperfusion will improve 24 h-survival Ganetespib order and neurological outcomes.

Methods: Total occlusion of the mid LAD was induced by balloon inflation in 27 pigs. After 5 min, VF was induced and left untreated for 8 min. If return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) was achieved within 15 min (21/27 animals) of cardiopulmonary resuscitation

(CPR), animals were randomized to a total of either 45 min (group A) or 4 h (group B) of LAD occlusion. Animals without ROSC after 15 min of CPR were classified as refractory VF (group C). In those pigs, CPR was continued up to 45 min of total LAD occlusion at which point reperfusion was achieved. CPR was continued until ROSC or another 10 min of CPR had been performed. Primary endpoints for groups A and B were 24-h survival and cerebral performance category (CPC). Primary endpoint for group C was ROSC before or after reperfusion.

Results: Early compared to late reperfusion improved survival (10/11 versus 4/10, p = 0.02), mean CPC (1.4 +/- 0.7 versus 2.5 +/- 0.6, p = 0.017), LVEF (43 +/- 13 versus 32 +/- 9%, p = 0.01), troponin I (37 +/- 28 versus 99 +/- 12, p = 0.005) and CK-MB (11 +/- 4 versus 20.1 +/- 5, p = 0.031) at 24-h after ROSC. ROSC was achieved in 4/6 animals only after reperfusion in group C.

Conclusions: Early reperfusion after ischemic cardiac arrest improved 24 h survival rate and neurological function.

Studies on experimental animals have shown great morphologic adap

Studies on experimental animals have shown great morphologic adaptation of the excrescences and the whole dendritic tree of CA3 pyramidal neurons in changes of environmental conditions. However, the available data about the excrescences in human brain is short and insufficient about their properties in Alzheimer’s disease. In the present study, these dendritic structures were studied and compared in CA3 area of hippocampus in patients suffered from Alzheimer’s disease, age matched controls and young individuals. Golgi impregnated material under

light microscopy was used for the description of the structural characteristics of the excrescences. Morphometric estimation of their density on the apical and basilar dendritic tree and their average length revealed reduced density and significantly increased Selleckchem BX-795 size in Alzheimer’s disease patients. The mean density of the excrescences on the apical dendritic tree of the patients compared to age matched controls is reduced 32.8%

(p < 0.001), while the mean number of long excrescences (longer than 5 mu m) is increased 32.6% (p < 0.05). On the basilar dendritic tree, the reduction in density is 26.3% (p < 0.05) Selleckchem ACY-738 and the increase in the number of long excrescences is 23.3% (p < 0.05). These enlarged thorny excrescences can be even longer than 10 mu m, appearing as “”giant spines”". The increased size of the excrescences is considered as a remodeling procedure (compensative mechanism) of the CA3 pyramidal neurons for the balancing of the reduction in the spinal density.”
“The effect of BaZrO3 (BZO) dopant concentration on superconducting properties in YBa2Cu3O6+x thin films is investigated in a wide magnetic field range up to 30 T. Based on the magnetization

and resistivity measurements, the optimal BZO concentration for flux pinning is found to be 4% up to 20 T and increasing up to around 8% in higher fields. This result is qualitatively explained by a model where more BZO is needed in order to organize optimal columnar defect structure at high fields because the amount of single BZO particles check details acting as isotropic point pinning centers is increased, especially in high BZO concentrations. This means that for applications of thin film or coated conductor structures carried out at high magnetic fields, even higher dopant concentration than used in a low-field range should be produced in order to attain the optimal flux pinning conditions. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3329539]“
“Rotavirus is a double-stranded RNA virus that is characterized by substantial genetic diversity. The various serotypes of rotavirus have been determined by the presence of neutralizing epitopes on the outer capsid of the protein shell. At present, 5 rotavirus serotypes (G1, G2, G3, G4, G9) are the predominant circulating strains, accounting for approximately 95% of strains worldwide, although there is considerable geographic variability.

Pruritus was found in

88/169 patients (52 1%), with no di

Pruritus was found in

88/169 patients (52.1%), with no differences between HD and PD patients. Prevalence of poor sleep in patients with pruritus was higher than in those without (59% vs. 11%; p<0.001). Both physical and mental scores of SF-36 did not correlate with the presence and the intensity of pruritus. Pruritus intensity was significantly related to poor scores in all 3 subscales of Skindex-29 (symptoms, social function and emotions). In the subscales of social function and emotions, worse scores were observed in patients undergoing www.selleckchem.com/products/qnz-evp4593.html HD and with minor psychiatric disorders (GHQ(pos)).

Conclusions: Pruritus had a high level of impact on all aspects of QoL and was a predictor of poor sleep. Type of dialysis and minor psychiatric disorders affect the emotional and social aspects of QoL.”
“Experimental progress in

investigating normal and disordered gastric motility is increasingly being complimented by sophisticated multiscale modeling studies. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/cbl0137-cbl-0137.html Mathematical modeling has become a valuable tool in this effort, as there is an ever-increasing need to gain an integrative and quantitative understanding of how physiological mechanisms achieve coordinated functions across multiple biophysical scales. These interdisciplinary efforts have been particularly notable in the area of gastric electrophysiology, where they are beginning to yield a comprehensive and integrated in silico organ modeling framework, or virtual stomach’. At the cellular level, a number of biophysically based mathematical cell models have been developed, and these are now being applied in areas including investigations of gastric electrical pacemaker mechanisms, smooth muscle electrophysiology, and electromechanical coupling. At the tissue level, micro-structural models are being creatively Selleckchem Stem Cell Compound Library developed and employed to investigate clinically significant questions, such as the functional effects of ICC degradation on gastrointestinal (GI) electrical activation. At the organ level, high-resolution electrical mapping and modeling studies are combined to provide improved insights

into normal and dysrhythmic gastric electrical activation. These efforts are also enabling detailed forward and inverse modeling studies at the whole body’ level, with implications for diagnostic techniques for gastric dysrhythmias. These recent advances, together with several others highlighted in this review, collectively demonstrate a powerful trend toward applying mathematical models to effectively investigate structure-function relationships and overcome multiscale challenges in basic and clinical GI research. (C) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.”
“The optimal surgical approach for multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) has not been defined, and the relative merits of multilevel anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) and anterior cervical corpectomy (2-level or skip 1-level corpectomy) and fusion (ACCF) remain controversial.

Conclusions: Consolidation of microbiology services, when perform

Conclusions: Consolidation of microbiology services, when performed with proper planning, can improve the productivity and turnaround time of testing, as well as reducing the cost of providing care, resulting in positive effects on hospital finances and improved quality of care.”
“Background and aims: We previously reported that IBD patients who are non-responders to thiopurines with preferential shunting of metabolites to hepatotoxic 6-methylmercaptopurine ribonucleotides compared to 6-thioguanine nucleotides can reverse the ratio of 6-MMP/6-TGN and respond to thiopurines with the addition G418 of allopurinol. The objective of this study is to report long term

efficacy and safety, along with results for an additional 11 patients.

Methods: Retrospective chart review of patients at the University of Chicago IBD Center treated with allopurinol in addition to thiopurines.

Results: Twenty five patients with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis were enrolled. Within the first month of therapy

6-TGN metabolite levels increased from a mean of 186.5 +/- 17.4 (SE) to 352.8 +/- 37.8 pmol/8 x 10(8) (p = 0.0001). Over the same period 6-MMP levels decreased from a mean of 11,966 +/- 1697 to 2004 +/- 536 pmol/8 x 10(8) (p < 0.0001). The mean daily dosage of prednisone decreased from 19.8 +/- 3.8 mg to 5.3 +/- 2.7 mg (p = 0.03). Thirteen selleck kinase inhibitor patients have a minimum of one year follow-up. Nine of these thirteen patients have continued on therapy for at least 2 years. All. thirteen of these patients continue to be in clinical remission at the last follow-up visit. No patients have had evidence of sustained thrombocytopenia Compound C or abnormal liver enzymes.

Conclusions: In AZA/6-MP non-responders with increased 6-MMP/6-TGN ratios, addition of allopurinol continues to demonstrate safety and efficacy for long-term maintenance and steroid-sparing in IBD. (c) 2009 European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“Background: The diagnosis of myocarditis is challenging due to its varying clinical presentation. Since myocarditis can be associated with significant 5-year mortality, and postmortem data show myocarditis

in almost 10% of all adults suffering sudden cardiac death, individual risk stratification for patients with suspected myocarditis is of great clinical interest. We sought to demonstrate that patients with clinically suspected myocarditis and a normal cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) according to our definition have a good prognosis, independent of their clinical symptoms and other findings.

Methods: Prospective clinical long-term follow-up of consecutive patients undergoing CMR for work-up of clinically suspected myocarditis at our institution in 2007-2008.

Results: Follow-up was available for n = 405 patients (all comers, 54.8% inpatients, 38% outpatient referrals from cardiologists). Median follow-up time was 1591 days. CMR diagnosis was “”myocarditis”" in 28.8%, “”normal”" in 55.

Three further temporal bones were scanned without any preparation

Three further temporal bones were scanned without any preparation. Independently, 2 otologists and 2 radiologists scored the image quality of defined anatomic structures, using a range from 4 (excellent) to 0 (no diagnostic value).

Results: The general score for DVT was 2.67, whereas CT

reached a score of 2.76. The diagnostic value for hard contrast objects was 3.0 for DVT and 2.9 for CT, whereas the score for soft SYN-117 manufacturer tissue was 1.1 for DVT and 2.3 for CT. Almost no quality reduction of the display of anatomic structures caused by metallic artifacts could be detected in both diagnostic modalities.

Discussion: Both DVT and high-resolution CT allow good overall image quality in temporal bones, with discrete advantages for digital volume tomographic scans in terms of the image quality of hard contrast objects like bony structures or metallic implants.”
“Purpose: To investigate the changes

of IGF system in colon cancer patients in relation to age, the serum IGF-I, IGF-II, IGFBP2, IGFBP3 and ALS were measured by immunochemistry before surgery, as well as one and six months after surgery.

Material and Methods: One hundred and twenty six patients were included into the study: group I (<50 yrs, N=21); group II (50 to <55 yrs, N=16); group III (55 to <65 yrs, N=34); group IV (65 to <75 yrs, N=42) and group GS-9973 inhibitor V (>= 75 yrs, N= 13).

Results: Before surgery: only the mean value of IGF-I concentration in group I was significantly higher as compared to group V (p<0.01). One month after surgery: 1) a decrease in the mean values of IGF-I, IGF-II, IGFBP3 and ALS levels was observed, but only for IGF-II (groups II-V), IGFBP3 (groups II-V) and ALS (groups III-V) the changes were significant;

2) the mean value of ALS Selleck Screening Library level in group I was higher as compared to group III-V (p<0.05 to 0.02); 3) higher mean values of IGF-I/alb, IGFBP3/alb and ALS/alb were noted for group I as compared to group V (p<0.01 to 0.001); 4) the mean levels of IGFBP2 were significantly lower in group I as compared to groups II, III, IV and V (p<0.001 in all cases).

Conclusions: In colon cancer patients IGF-I, IGFBP3 and ALS decrease with age, but the relation between them exists regardless the patient’s age and time of observation. Lower IGFBP2 level together with higher IGF-I might contribute to more aggressive course of disease in colon cancer patients below 50 years of age.”
“Background and objective: The six-minute walk test (6MWT) is a validated field test in the assessment of interstitial lung disease but may not be so useful in scleroderma (SSc) lung disease. The aim of this study was to determine the reliability of the 6MWT in patients with SSc and correlate results with morphological and functional measures of disease severity.

For every 30-min increase in anesthesia duration, the estimated a

For every 30-min increase in anesthesia duration, the estimated average decrease in developmental test scores

ranged from 1.1 to 2.9 (P ranged from < 0.001 to 0.30). Similar, but weaker findings were observed with surgery duration and total duration of inhaled anesthesia. Inverse relations between exposure amounts and neurodevelopment were stronger in children with non-sagittal synostosis.

Conclusions: Average neurodevelopmental scores were lower among children experiencing longer surgeries and higher exposures to inhaled anesthesia. These associations may be due to anesthesia exposure, nonspecific effects of surgery, or unmeasured variables that correlate with surgery duration. Further study of potential causal mechanisms is warranted.”
“We promote an efficient method named harmony response analysis (HRA) as a comparison with transient response analysis and supercell plane wave expansion Selleckchem HSP990 (supercell PWE) to study the behavior of Lamb wave in silicon-based one-dimensional composite plates. To implement HRA for dealing with Lamb waves PXD101 inhibitor in phononic-crystal plates, the viscous-spring artificial boundaries are employed to eliminate the boundary reflection in maximum. With the calculation of displacement

field, the propagations of elastic waves under different frequency loads (inside/outside the completed band gap) are investigated in details. The method is then applied in plates both with and without substrate. We further study the plates with quasiperiodicity (generalized Fibonacci systems and double-period system) and investigate the change in band gaps

induced by the quasiperiodicity. (C) 2009 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3259401]“
“(PACE 2009; 1357-1358).”
“Background: In this study, we analyze the impact of the choice of either the left or right brachiocephalic vein (BCV) on the cannulation success when using the ultrasound-guided supraclavicular in-plane technique approach to the longitudinally viewed BCV in infants.

Methods: The URMC-099 central vascular protocols of 183 infants were reviewed retrospectively.

Results: The weight ranged from 0.7 to 10 kg. Central venous catheter placement was eventually successful in 98.9%. In 141 patients (82.9%), the left BCV was successfully punctured on the first attempt, in 23 patients (13.5%) after 2 and in 6 patients (3.5%) after 3 attempts. The right BCV was successfully punctured on the first attempt in five patients (38.4%), in three patients (15.3%) after two and in five patients (38.4%) after three attempts, respectively. Significantly more puncture attempts were required for the right BCV (chi-square analysis: P < 0.01). There was also a significant improvement of the success rate over the time course of the case series (Jonckheere-test: P < 0.01).

Conclusion: It seems to be easier to cannulate the left BCV than the right BCV when using this ultrasound-guided supraclavicular strict in-plane technique.