The HeartNet (R) cardiac restraint device (Paracor Medical Inc., Sunnyvale, CA) may reduce LV remodeling and improve functional capacity, quality of life, and outcomes in HF patients. To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the HeartNet Ventricular Support System in HF patients receiving optimal medical therapy.

Methods and Results: Prospective, randomized, controlled, multicenter trial in patients with symptomatic HF and LV ejection fraction

on optimal medical and device therapy. The primary efficacy end points were changes in peak VO2, 6-minute walk (6MW) distance, and Minnesota Living with Heart Failure (MLWHF) quality of life score at 6 months. The primary safety end point was all-cause mortality at 12 months. Because the planned adaptive interim analysis of the first 122 subjects with a completed 6-month follow-up indicated futility to reach the

peak VO2 end point, trial enrollment was suspended. Hence, the results on the 96 Prexasertib treatment and 114 control subjects are reported. Groups were similar at baseline. At 6 months, responder frequency for a prespecified improvement was similar between groups for peak VO2 (P = .502) and MLWHF score (P = .184) but borderline higher for improvement in 6MW distance in the treatment compared with the control group (33 [38%] vs. 25 [25%]; Tariquidar cost P = .044). At 6 months, the treatment group had a significantly greater improvement in Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) (P < .001) and decrease in LV mass (P = .032), LV end-diastolic diameter (P = .015), LV end-systolic diameter (P = .032), and LV end-diastolic volume (P = .031) as compared with controls. At 12 months, all-cause mortality and responder rates were similar in the 2 groups. Success rate for the HeartNet implantation was 99%.

Conclusion:

Enrollment in the trial was stopped because an interim analysis showed futility of reaching the peak VO2 end point. However, because of the device safety and favorable signals for LV remodeling and quality of life, further investigation of this device is warranted. (J Cardiac Fail 2012;18:446-458)”
“Transient microwave reflectance (TMWR) has been used to investigate the n(+)-n-p HgCdTe structures formed by B+ implantation and moderate annealing. Vacancy-doped p-type bulk HgCdTe (x similar to 0.285) crystals were used learn more in this work. 130 keV B+ ions were implanted at a dose of 1×10(14) cm(-2). Samples were successively thinned through etching in 0.5% Br-2 in CH3OH solutions with a standardized procedure for differential Hall/resistivity measurements. At every differential etch step, the TMWR signal was also recorded and theoretically analyzed for estimating bulk lifetime and surface recombination velocity. Results for as-implanted as well as moderately annealed samples have been presented. The study indicated the usefulness of TMWR analysis in evaluating implant anneal process for the formation of n(+)-n-p HgCdTe structures for photodetector fabrication.