Molecular Beam Epitaxy of β-(InxGa1-x)2O3 on β-Ga2O3 (010): Compositional Control, Layer Quality, Anisotropic Strain Relaxation, and Prospects for Two-Dimensional Electron Gas Confinement

In this work, we investigate the growth of monoclinic β-(InxGa1-x)2O3 alloys on top of (010) β-Ga2O3 substrates via plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy. In particular, using different in situ (reflection high-energy electron diffraction) and ex situ (atomic force microscopy, X-ray diffraction, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry, and transmission electron microscopy) characterization techniques, we discuss (i) the growth parameters that allow for In incorporation and (ii) the obtainable structural quality of the deposited layers as a function of the alloy composition. In particular, we give experimental evidence of the possibility of coherently growing (010) β-(InxGa1-x)2O3 layers on β-Ga2O3 with good structural quality for x up to ≈ 0.1. Moreover, we show that the monoclinic structure of the underlying (010) β-Ga2O3 substrate can be preserved in the β-(InxGa1-x)2O3 layers for wider concentrations of In (x ≤ 0.19). Nonetheless, the formation of a large amount of structural defects, like unexpected (10 2 ̅ ) oriented twin domains and partial segregation of In is suggested for x > 0.1. Strain relaxes anisotropically, maintaining an elastically strained unit cell along the a* direction vs plastic relaxation along the c* direction. This study provides important guidelines for the low-end side tunability of the energy bandgap of β-Ga2O3-based alloys and provides an estimate of its potential in increasing the confined carrier concentration of two-dimensional electron gases in β-(InxGa1-x)2O3/(AlyGa1-y)2O3 heterostructures.

Certificate-of-need laws and substance use treatment

Background

Certificate-of-need (CON) laws in place in most US states require healthcare providers to prove to a state board that their proposed services are necessary in order to be allowed to open or expand. While CON laws most commonly target hospital and nursing home beds, many states require CONs for other types of healthcare providers and services. As of 2020, 23 states retain CON laws specifically for substance use treatment, requiring providers to prove their “economic necessity” before opening or expanding. In contrast to the extensive academic literature on how hospital and nursing home CON laws affect costs and access, substance use CON laws are essentially unstudied.

Methods

Using 2002–19 data on substance use treatment facilities from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services, we measure the effect of CON laws on access to substance use treatment. Using fixed-effects analysis of states enacting and repealing substance use CON laws, we measure how CON laws affect the number of substance use treament facilities and beds per capita in a state.

Results

We find that CON laws have no statistically significant effect on the number of facilities, beds, or clients and no significant effect on the acceptance of Medicare. However, they reduce the acceptance of private insurance by a statistically significant 6.0%.

Conclusions

Policy makers may wish to reconsider whether substance use CON laws are promoting their goals.

Third international challenge to model the medium- to long-range transport of radioxenon to four Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty monitoring stations

In 2015 and 2016, atmospheric transport modeling challenges were conducted in the context of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) verification, however, with a more limited scope with respect to emission inventories, simulation period and number of relevant samples (i.e., those above the Minimum Detectable Concentration (MDC)) involved. Therefore, a more comprehensive atmospheric transport modeling challenge was organized in 2019. Stack release data of Xe-133 were provided by the Institut National des Radioéléments/IRE (Belgium) and the Canadian Nuclear Laboratories/CNL (Canada) and accounted for in the simulations over a three (mandatory) or six (optional) months period. Best estimate emissions of additional facilities (radiopharmaceutical production and nuclear research facilities, commercial reactors or relevant research reactors) of the Northern Hemisphere were included as well. Model results were compared with observed atmospheric activity concentrations at four International Monitoring System (IMS) stations located in Europe and North America with overall considerable influence of IRE and/or CNL emissions for evaluation of the participants' runs. Participants were prompted to work with controlled and harmonized model set-ups to make runs more comparable, but also to increase diversity. It was found that using the stack emissions of IRE and CNL with daily resolution does not lead to better results than disaggregating annual emissions of these two facilities taken from the literature if an overall score for all stations covering all valid observed samples is considered. A moderate benefit of roughly 10% is visible in statistical scores for samples influenced by IRE and/or CNL to at least 50% and there can be considerable benefit for individual samples. Effects of transport errors, not properly characterized remaining emitters and long IMS sampling times (12-24 h) undoubtedly are in contrast to and reduce the benefit of high-quality IRE and CNL stack data. Complementary best estimates for remaining emitters push the scores up by 18% compared to just considering IRE and CNL emissions alone. Despite the efforts undertaken the full multi-model ensemble built is highly redundant. An ensemble based on a few arbitrary runs is sufficient to model the Xe-133 background at the stations investigated. The effective ensemble size is below five. An optimized ensemble at each station has on average slightly higher skill compared to the full ensemble. However, the improvement (maximum of 20% and minimum of 3% in RMSE) in skill is likely being too small for being exploited for an independent period.

Hemodynamic Properties of the Hemopump HP14

Background

The Hemopump HP14 is a catheter-mounted, transvalvular, left ventricular assist device intended for femoral percutaneous insertion. The pump was developed for patients with postoperative or postinterventional low cardiac output and for CABG surgery on the beating heart. Little is known about the effect of afterload and hematocrit on the pump performance.

Methods

The influence of hematocrit and afterload on the pump flow was tested using an in vitro model filled with heparinized bovine blood. Regression analysis of the pump flow with respect to three hematocrit values (20%, 30%, 40%) and ten afterload levels (30 mmHg-120 mmHg in 10 mmHg increments) was performed for all pump speed levels (n = 7).

Results

At all pump speed levels reduction of afterload and hematocrit were significant predictors for increasing pump flow (p<0.001). For hematocrit values between 40% and 20% and highest pump speed, mean pump flow at lowest afterload ranged between 2.34 and 2.53 L/min; and at highest afterload between 1.31 and 1.53 L/min. For speed level 1, afterload of 120 mmHg and hematocrit of 40% there was a maximal retrograde flow of 230 ± 35 ml/min.

Conclusions

Pump performance is significantly improved by both afterload and hematocrit reduction. In the weaning phase and during the removal of the device, the pump should run at a speed level of at least three to prevent retrograde flow in the pump. Estimates for pump flow in vivo can be extrapolated from our diagrams. Our results show that the Hemopump HP14 is a valuable alternative to intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation.

Metal-Exchange Catalysis in the Growth of Sesquioxides: Towards Heterostructures of Transparent Oxide Semiconductors

We observe that the growth rate of Ga_{2}O_{3} in plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy can be drastically enhanced by an additional In supply. This enhancement is shown to result from a catalytic effect, namely, the rapid formation of In_{2}O_{3}, immediately followed by a transformation of In_{2}O_{3} to Ga_{2}O_{3} due to an In-Ga interatomic exchange. We derive a simple model that quantitatively describes this process as well as its consequences on the formation rate of Ga_{2}O_{3}. Moreover, we demonstrate that the catalytic action of In_{2}O_{3} allows the synthesis of the metastable hexagonal phase of Ga_{2}O_{3}. Since the Ga_{2}O_{3}(0001)/In_{2}O_{3}(111) interface is closely lattice matched, this novel growth mode opens a new path for the fabrication of sesquioxide heterostructures.

Comprehensive Raman study of epitaxial silicene-related phases on Ag(111)

The investigation of the vibrational properties of epitaxial silicene and two-dimensional (2D) Si structures on the silver(111) surface aims for a better understanding of the structural differences and of the simplification of the seemingly complex phase diagrams reported over the last years. The spectral signatures of the main silicene phases epitaxially grown on Ag(111) were obtained using in situ Raman spectroscopy. Due to the obvious 2D nature of various epitaxial silicene structures, their fingerprints consist of similar sets of Raman modes. The reduced phase diagram also includes other Si phases, such as amorphous and crystalline silicon, which emerge on the Ag surface at low and high preparation temperatures, respectively. The Raman signatures obtained along with their interpretations provide the referential basis for further studies and for potential applications of epitaxial silicene.

Banking and Distribution of Large Cryopreserved Arterial Homografts in Brussels: Assessment of 4 Years of Activity by the European Homograft Bank (EHB) with Reference to Implantation Results in Reconstruction of Infected Infrarenal Arterial Prostheses and Mycotic Aneurysms

In 1991 European Homograft Bank (EHB) initiated a program of cryopreservation and distribution of large arteries to meet a new demand for quality-controlled arterial homo grafts of various sizes. From May 1991 to June 1995, 308 arteries have been registered from 136 donors: 122 brain death cases and 14 cadavers (mean age 34 years, male/female ratio 1.52/1); 263 arteries were cryopreserved (113 aortas, 64 aortic bifur cations, and 86 femoral); 19 were discarded for atherosclerosis (6.7%); 10 batches of arteries were partially or totally discarded because of persistent contamination and further eight batches for positive or doubtful viral serology. One hundred patients were treated in nine European centers with one (N = 69) or more EHB homografts. Indications were: infected prosthesis 70 (17 with aortoenteric fistula); mycotic aneurysm 19 (four ascending aortas, two with bronchial fistula); neoplastic infiltration of subrenal aorta one; extracardiac reconstructions/shunts 10. (continued on next page) (Abstract continued) Results from homograft reconstructions in infected prosthesis or mycotic aneurysm were available in 90 patients. There were 19 early deaths and 24 early complications, three were directly graft-related and included a fatal case of homograft rupture. Sixty- seven vascular cases were followed up from 1 month onward (mean: 16 months): 50 were uneventful; there were nine late deaths, of which two resulted from graft-related digestive hemorrhage; there were eight cases of late complications; three arteries were partly explanted as a result of focal thrombosis. Four patients were lost to follow-up. In the cases of aortoenteric fistula, however, the results were disappointing with only five late survivors of the 16 treated patients. Finally, these results show that cryopreserved arteries seem to perform as well in the midterm as the fresh ones.

Both the banking activity of cryopreserved homografts and the short- to mid-term performances of the implants in cases of prosthetic or native arterial infection are very satisfactory, provided no aortoenteric fistula is present. Cryopreserved arteries can also be used for extracardiac shunts and reconstructions.

Double crush syndrome of the median nerve revealing a primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the flexor digitorum superficialis muscle

Extranodal manifestations of lymphoma are well described in the literature and occur in 20 to 30% of patients. Skeletal muscle involvement is rare. We describe the case of a patient with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in a forearm muscle. At the age of 86, the featured patient started experiencing continuous, progressive and high intensity pain that was more frequent at night and localized in the right dominant hand. It was associated with paresthesia and hypoesthesia, primarily in the thumb, index finger and middle finger. Clinical examination and electrodiagnosis led to the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome. The patient underwent carpal tunnel release at a private hand center. The progression was unfavorable. Additional clinical examination and electrodiagnosis showed compression of the anterior interosseous nerve (double crush syndrome). The patient was referred to our university hand center for further management. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a large mass of about 20cm occupying the entire anterior compartment of the forearm and enclosing the median nerve. Biopsies were performed and revealed a diffuse large B-cell primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The patient underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Six months later, the patient was in complete remission. Muscular involvement during lymphoma is rare. Biopsy is mandatory; needless radical surgery can be avoided because lymphoma is primarily a non-surgical disease. The key points of the treatment process are reviewed.

Electrophilic surface sites as precondition for the chemisorption of pyrrole on GaAs(001) surfaces

We report how the presence of electrophilic surface sites influences the adsorption mechanism of pyrrole on GaAs(001) surfaces. For this purpose, we have investigated the adsorption behavior of pyrrole on different GaAs(001) reconstructions with different stoichiometries and thus different surface chemistries. The interfaces were characterized by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning tunneling microscopy, and by reflectance anisotropy spectroscopy in a spectral range between 1.5 and 5 eV. On the As-rich c(4 × 4) reconstruction that exhibits only nucleophilic surface sites, pyrrole was found to physisorb on the surface without any significant modification of the structural and electronic properties of the surface. On the Ga-rich GaAs(001)-(4 × 2)/(6 × 6) reconstructions which exhibit nucleophilic as well as electrophilic surface sites, pyrrole was found to form stable covalent bonds mainly to the electrophilic (charge deficient) Ga atoms of the surface. These results clearly demonstrate that the existence of electrophilic surface sites is a crucial precondition for the chemisorption of pyrrole on GaAs(001) surfaces.

[Prefabrication of transplants in plastic surgery]

Complex three-dimensional defects with destruction of the external form, loss of functional stability and inner lining are associated with tactical and technical challenges in reconstructive plastic surgery. Causative factors are mutilating infections, resection of malignant tumors and trauma, predominantly located at the aerodigestive junction, the urogenital region and the extremities. Three-dimensional tissue constructions are preformed distant to the defect site allowing safe pedicled or microsurgical transfer into the defect.

[Cardiac rehabilitation, a proven intervention underutilized in the French-speaking part of Switzerland]

Cardiac rehabilitation is associated with a reduced risk of recurrence and mortality after an acute coronary syndrome. Cardiac rehabilitation is a multidisciplinary approach which starts during the acute hospital phase, then followed by a four to six weeks home-based or stationary program, in order to maintain long-term lifestyle changes. Despite the important health benefits of cardiac rehabilitation and its cost-effectiveness, only half of the patients in Europe will achieve a cardiovascular prevention program after an acute coronary syndrome. In the French part of Switzerland, one explanation for this low adherence might be the lack of both stationary and home-based program facilities.

Atomic structures of silicene layers grown on Ag(111): scanning tunneling microscopy and noncontact atomic force microscopy observations

Silicene, the considered equivalent of graphene for silicon, has been recently synthesized on Ag(111) surfaces. Following the tremendous success of graphene, silicene might further widen the horizon of two-dimensional materials with new allotropes artificially created. Due to stronger spin-orbit coupling, lower group symmetry and different chemistry compared to graphene, silicene presents many new interesting features. Here, we focus on very important aspects of silicene layers on Ag(111): First, we present scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and non-contact Atomic Force Microscopy (nc-AFM) observations of the major structures of single layer and bi-layer silicene in epitaxy with Ag(111). For the (3 × 3) reconstructed first silicene layer nc-AFM represents the same lateral arrangement of silicene atoms as STM and therefore provides a timely experimental confirmation of the current picture of the atomic silicene structure. Furthermore, both nc-AFM and STM give a unifying interpretation of the second layer (√3 × √3)R ± 30° structure. Finally, we give support to the conjectured possible existence of less stable, ~2% stressed, (√7 × √7)R ± 19.1° rotated silicene domains in the first layer.

The quasiparticle band dispersion in epitaxial multilayer silicene

The growth of multilayer silicene is an exciting challenge for the future of silicon nano-electronics. Here, we use angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy to map the entire Brillouin zone (BZ) of (√3 × √3)R30° reconstructed epitaxial multilayer silicene islands, growing on top of the first (3 × 3) reconstructed silicene wetting layer, on Ag(111) substrates. We found Λ- and V-shape linear dispersions, which we relate to the π and π* bands of massless quasiparticles in multilayer silicene, at the BZ centre [Formula: see text] and at all the [Formula: see text] centres of the (√3 × √3)R30° Brillouin zones in the extended scheme, due to folding of the Dirac cones at the [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] points of the (1 × 1) silicene BZ. The Fermi velocity of ∼0.3 × 10(6) m s(-1) obtained is highly promising for potential silicene-based devices.

[Cardiac MR in development: the large multicenter CMR studies in 2012]

The results of several large multicenter CMR studies were reported in 2012, thus, constantly corroborating the evidence on CMR performance. In this review, we present results of the MR-IMPACT programme and the CE-MARC study, which demonstrated the superiority of perfusion-CMR over gated SPECT for the workup of suspected CAD, the currently available data from the European CMR registry, comprising almost 30,000 patients from 57 participating centers in 15 European countries, and finally, the results of the Advisa-MRI study, which documented the safety of a MRI-compatible pacemaker system. These large trials and others set the basis for the recommendations in the new European guidelines on heart failure to use CMR as a first line method if echocardiographic quality is inadequate or the etiology of heart failure is unclear.

Presence of gapped silicene-derived band in the prototypical (3 × 3) silicene phase on silver (111) surfaces

By mapping the low-energy electronic dynamics using angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), we have shed light on essential electronic characteristics of the (3 × 3) silicene phase on Ag(111) surfaces. In particular, our results show a silicene-derived band with a clear gap and linear energy-momentum dispersion near the Fermi level at the Γ symmetry point of the (3 × 3) phase at several distinctive Brillouin zones. Moreover, we have confirmed that the large buckling of ~0.7 Å of this silicene structure induces the opening of a gap close to the Fermi level higher than at least 0.3 eV, in agreement with recent reported photoemission results. The two-dimensional character of the charge carriers has also been revealed by the photon energy invariance of the gapped silicene band, suggesting a limited silicene-silver hybridization, in disagreement with recent density-functional theory (DFT) predictions.

[Adults with congenital heart diseases: a growing population, a multidisciplinary approach]

Untill recently, congenital heart disease was considered as a childhood's disease. With improvement in pediatric survival, adults with a congenital heart disease (ACHD) represent an emerging group of patients who need specialized medical care. In 2010, the ESC published newguidelines on global and specific management of adults with congenital heart disease. ACHD centers organize appropriate medical care for these patients, promote specialist training and national scientific research in collaboration with other national ACHD centers.

[Percutaneous closure of left atrial appendage: a new hope for patients with atrial fibrillation?]

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia. The risk of thromboembolic events is important, and at that time, there is no definite treatment for AF. Oral anticoagulation also represents a hemorrhagic risk factor. Ninety percent of atrial thrombi are located within the left atrial appendage. The percutaneous closure of this left atrial appendage with a device has been shown to decrease thromboembolic events even after interruption of oral anticoagulation as compared to warfarin in a recent randomized study. Recent data support this innovative technique as a reasonable alternative to long term anticoagulation in patients at high risk of bleeding.

Silicene: compelling experimental evidence for graphenelike two-dimensional silicon

Because of its unique physical properties, graphene, a 2D honeycomb arrangement of carbon atoms, has attracted tremendous attention. Silicene, the graphene equivalent for silicon, could follow this trend, opening new perspectives for applications, especially due to its compatibility with Si-based electronics. Silicene has been theoretically predicted as a buckled honeycomb arrangement of Si atoms and having an electronic dispersion resembling that of relativistic Dirac fermions. Here we provide compelling evidence, from both structural and electronic properties, for the synthesis of epitaxial silicene sheets on a silver (111) substrate, through the combination of scanning tunneling microscopy and angular-resolved photoemission spectroscopy in conjunction with calculations based on density functional theory.

Quo vadis? - Monitoring Campylobacter in Germany

Campylobacter is a poorly recognized foodborne pathogen, leading the statistics of bacterially caused human diarrhoea in Europe during the last years. In this review, we present qualitative and quantitative German data obtained in the framework of specific monitoring programs and from routine surveillance. These also comprise recent data on antimicrobial resistances of food isolates. Due to the considerable reduction of in vitro growth capabilities of stressed bacteria, there is a clear discrepancy between the detection limit of Campylobacter by cultivation and its infection potential. Moreover, antimicrobial resistances of Campylobacter isolates established during fattening of livestock are alarming, since they constitute an additional threat to human health. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) discusses the establishment of a quantitative limit for Campylobacter contamination of broiler carcasses in order to achieve an appropriate level of protection for consumers. Currently, a considerable amount of German broiler carcasses would not comply with this future criterion. We recommend Campylobacter reduction strategies to be focussed on the prevention of fecal contamination during slaughter. Decontamination is only a sparse option, since the reduction efficiency is low and its success depends on the initial contamination concentration.

[Examination of the opportunity costs and turnover situation in patients with deep sternal infections]

BACKGROUND

Each and every hospital of any kind is forced, due to increased cost pressure, to work as economically and as efficiently as possible. This even applies when the operational orientations of the hospitals institutions are different. In the present article an analysis of the repercussions of the treatment of postoperative complications in terms of entrepreneurial practice is given. Our focus is on the opportunity cost.

METHOD

A theoretical calculation of opportunity costs is made based on the example of postoperative infections following cardiac surgery and the resulting treatment. The bases of the examinations are the results collected at the hospital Mediclin Herzentrum Lahr / Baden in 2008. The wound healing disorders were recorded from November 2004 until November 2007 and include 3675 patients who were operated on using a median sternotomy. Out of the 3675 patients 45 (1.2 %) were affected. Various treatment options are at hand. The used therapy algorithm in our practice is dependent on the stage and the development of the infection.

RESULTS

If the high trim point, the medial trim point and the low trim point of the mediastinitis patients, as well as the average revenue and the surcharge omission on exceeding the high trim point (these data can be found in the annual accounts) and knowledge of the actual length of stay of the mediastinitis patient are known, the opportunity cost, respectively potential turnover increases, can be calculated. Reducing the medial trim point from 48.43 to, for example, 36.37 days could potentially produce a turnover increase of as much as 10 633.41 €.

CONCLUSION

Keeping patient safety in mind, significant turnover increases can be achieved with adequate planning. The considered sales situation, however, can only be achieved under the same terms: these being free operating room and bed capacities, available personnel, equal cost of materials as well as enough patients. The consideration of opportunity costs could be important for entrepreneurs if staff shortage continues and, in economical terms, non-expendable capacities are created.

[Cardiac MRI in the follow-up of adult congenital cardiomyopathy patients]

Magnetic resonance imaging is a rapidly developing modality in cardiology. It offers an excellent image definition and a large field of view, allowing a more accurate morphological assessment of cardiac malformations. Due to its unique versatility and its ability to provide myocardial tissue characterization, cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is now recognized as a central imaging modality for a wide range of congenital heart diseases, including assessment of post-surgical cardiac anatomy, quantification of valvular disease and detection of myocardial ischemia. CMR provides useful diagnostic information without any radiation exposure, and improves the global management of patients with congenital heart disease.

[Selection and preoperative follow-up of heart transplantation candidates in the French part of Switzerland]

Heart transplantation (HTx) started in 1987 at two university hospitals (CHUV, HUG) in the western part of Switzerland, with 223 HTx performed at the CHUV until December 2010. Between 1987 and 2003, 106 HTx were realized at the HUG resulting in a total of 329 HTx in the western part of Switzerland. After the relocation of organ transplantation activity in the western part of Switzerland in 2003, the surgical part and the early postoperative care of HTx remained limited to the CHUV. However, every other HTx activity are pursued at the two university hospitals (CHUV, HUG). This article summarizes the actual protocols for selection and pre-transplant follow-up of HTx candidates in the western part of Switzerland, permitting a uniform structure of pretransplant follow-up in the western part of Switzerland.

[Cardiology]

The present review provides a selected choice of clinical research in the field of interventional cardiology, electrophysiology and cardiac imaging. We also focused on the new guidelines published by the European society of cardiology in 2010 (revascularization, atrial fibrillation and device therapy in heart failure).

[Preoperative cardiac assessment before non-cardiac surgery: cardiac risk stratification]

Perioperative cardiac events occurring in patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery are a common cause of morbidity and mortality. Current guidelines recommend an individualized approach to preoperative cardiac risk stratification prior to non-cardiac surgery, integrating risk factors both for the patient (active cardiac conditions, clinical risk factors, functional capacity) and for the planned surgery. Preoperative cardiac investigations are currently limited to high-risk patients in whom they may contribute to modify the perioperative management. A multidisciplinary approach to such patients, integrating the general practitioner, is recommended in order to define an individualized peri-operative strategy.

[Pre-operative cardiac assessment in non-cardiac surgery: a frequent dilemma simplified by a decision tree]

In patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery, cardiac events are the most common cause of perioperative morbidity and mortality. It is often difficult to choose adequate cardiologic examinations before surgery. This paper, inspired by the guidelines of the European and American societies of cardiology (ESC, AHA, ACC), discusses the place of standard ECG, echocardiography, treadmill or bicycle ergometer and pharmacological stress testing in preoperative evaluations. The role of coronary angiography and prophylactic revascularization will also be discussed. Finally, we provide a decision tree which will be helpful to both general practitioners and specialists.

[Cardiac involvement in connective tissue disease: the example of systemic lupus erythematosus]

When we think of cardiac affection in the context of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), we usually refer to pericarditis first. As frequent as this affection is, it is actually not the only cardio-vascular problem that occurs with this systemic inflammatory disease. Are the cardiac events--ranging from multiple heart valve involvements to increased cardiovascular risks--clinically significant? And are they involving a specific follow-up, treatment or support? We are therefore trying to evaluate these questions in order to give some recommendations to any practitioners following up a lupus patient, or a patient suffering from any other inflammatory systemic disease.

[Cardiology 2009: what is new?]

The present review provides a selected choice of clinical research in the field of heart failure, electrophysiology, cardiac imaging and interventional cardiology.