First results of the search for neutrinoless double-beta decay with the NEMO 3 detector.

The NEMO 3 detector, which has been operating in the Fréjus underground laboratory since February 2003, is devoted to the search for neutrinoless double-beta decay (beta beta 0v). The half-lives of the two neutrino double-beta decay (beta beta 2v) have been measured for 100Mo and 82Se. After 389 effective days of data collection from February 2003 until September 2004 (phase I), no evidence for neutrinoless double-beta decay was found from approximately 7 kg of 100Mo and approximately 1 kg of 82Se. The corresponding limits are T1/2(beta beta0v) > 4.6 x 10(23) yr for 100Mo and T1/2(beta beta 0v) > 1.0 x 10(23) yr for 82Se (90% C.L.). Depending on the nuclear matrix element calculation, the limits for the effective Majorana neutrino mass are < 0.7-2.8 e/v for 100Mo and < 1.7-4.9 eV for 82Se.

Vascular stenting in normal and atherosclerotic rabbits. Studies of the intravascular endoprosthesis of titanium-nickel-alloy.

Percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty would be more effective if the rate of recurrent stenosis were reduced. To evaluate the prevention of restenosis after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, intravascular endoprosthetic stents of titanium-nickel-alloy were implanted transluminally in seven normal and 21 atherosclerotic rabbits. In normal rabbits, a 3.5-mm diameter stent was implanted in the aorta and a 2.5-mm diameter stent in the right iliac artery, which were followed with serial angiograms from 6 weeks (n = 7) to 8 months (n = 4). There was a mean stenosis of 13.1% in the 2.5-mm and 13.6% in the 3.5-mm stent. There was no significant narrowing compared with the adjacent control segments of artery; histopathology showed a thin, fibrous neointima with smooth muscle cells. Each atherosclerotic rabbit was balloon dilated at two separate stenotic sites; each site was 2.0 cm in length. The aortic site (with 28.8 +/- 13.8% mean stenosis [+/- SD]) was dilated with a 3.5-mm balloon, and the iliac site (with 36.5 +/- 14.2% stenosis) was dilated with a 2.5-mm balloon. In each site, an intravascular stent of corresponding diameter and 7-mm length was implanted in one half of the dilated segment, assigned randomly, and the other half served as the angioplasty control. Angiographically observed restenosis rates and the corresponding histopathology were similar in the atherosclerotic segments that had angioplasty alone versus the atherosclerotic segments that had angioplasty plus stenting. The mean neointimal thickness in the aortas and iliac arteries, respectively, measured 247 +/- 181 microns (+/- SD) and 218 +/- 77 microns after 6 weeks (n = 8) versus 321 +/- 168 and 308 +/- 189 microns after 20 weeks (n = 5, p = NS). At 20 weeks follow-up, there was 29.1 +/- 29.8% (median, 16.4%) stenosis in the aortic stent versus 38.9 +/- 24.1% (median, 34.0%) stenosis in the percutaneous transluminal angioplasty control segment of aorta (n = 5, p = NS) and 81.4 +/- 25.5% stenosis in the iliac artery stent versus 89.3 +/- 15.3% stenosis in the PTA control segment of the right iliac artery (n = 5, p = NS). Comparing stenotic arterial segments treated with angioplasty alone with angioplasty plus intravascular stenting in the atherosclerotic rabbits showed that there was no significant difference in either the histopathologic changes or the restenosis rates.

Titanium-nickel intravascular endoprosthesis: a 2-year study in dogs.

Twelve 5-mm-internal-diameter intravascular endoprostheses of noncorrosive, shape-memory titanium-nickel (TiNi) alloy were delivered transluminally by catheter and implanted in the iliac (n = 10) and femoral (n = 2) arteries of six normal dogs for either 1 or 2 years in order to evaluate the implantation technique and long-term effects. The patency rates were as follows: at 1 month, 92% (11/12); at 1 year, 100% 11/12 widely patent; 1/12 recanalized); and at 2 years, 100% (3/4 without stenosis; 1/4 with 20% stenosis). No migration, erosion, inflammation, surface thrombus, or stenosis of the side branches was seen; an absence of untoward angiographic and histopathologic effects was detected at 1 and 2 years. The neointima was completely endothelialized, without changes in thickness over time, 229.3 +/- 127.6 microns after 1 year and 223.3 +/- 216.7 microns after 2 years (p = not significant). The neointimal layer became thicker toward its distal aspect (p less than or equal to .05). Satisfactory delivery, long-term patency, and biocompatibility (manifested as a thin, stable neointima) were observed for the TiNi intravascular endoprosthesis at 1 and 2 years.

CT evaluation of limited splenic trauma.

One case is reported in which signs of limited splenic injuries were seen on initial CT evaluation. Delayed splenic rupture requiring splenectomy was observed by CT. These previously unreported signs of limited splenic trauma may add important management information to the current methods of diagnosing splenic injury.