Unlike bare metal stents placed

Unlike bare metal stents placed in coronary [heart] arteries, where re-blockage occurs about 20 percent of the time, we found the re-blockage rates in the carotid artery were quite small," said study lead author Dr. Brajesh gucci bags K. Lal, associate professor of vascular surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore, in a statement provided by the American Stroke Association. "Patients and physicians can be reassured that both procedures are durable and that re-blockage rates are equivalent, so they can use different criteria to determine which procedure is right for a patient," he added. The study was funded by the U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, and by stent maker Abbott Vascular Solutions. Clogs in the carotid arteries -- the two large blood vessels in the neck -- cause about 10 percent of strokes. The study looked at about 2,200 patients with a partially blocked neck artery. About half the patients received a stents in the artery, which is a minimally invasive procedure, and about half underwent an artery-opening surgery. Over two years, the researchers found that the arteries narrowed again in close to 6 percent of both groups of patients. The arteries became entirely blocked less than 1 percent of the time in both groups. Patients whose arteries narrowed again faced a four-fold increase in their risk of stroke. The research into these patients will continue so physicians can see what happens over a 10-year period. Dr. Brahmajee K. Nallamothu, an associate professor of internal medicine at the University of Michigan Health System, who's familiar with the findings, said the research is valuable. "First, it supports the durability of carotid stenting over time, and provides additional evidence for this minimally invasive treatment option," he said. "Second, it suggests a link between the recurrence of blockages and future strokes. This is an interesting observation, which has potential implications for how we manage patients who develop recurrent narrowing in their carotid artery." Nallamothu said patients should almost always get to decide which gucci shoes strategy they prefer. Carotid stenting is a bit more expensive than surgery, he noted, and "side effects are the big issue. Carotid stenting appears to lower the risks of heart attacks relative to (surgery) around the time of the procedure, while the reverse is true in regards to the risk of stroke," he added. The study was scheduled for release Wednesday at the American Stroke Association conference in New Orleans. The recall of 14 lots of Lo/Ovral-28 tablets and 14 lots of generic Norgestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol tablets was announced late Tuesday after Pfizer discovered that some blister packs may contain either too many or too few active pills and that the pills may be out of sequence. The expiration dates on the recalled packets range between July 31, 2013 and March 31, 2014. The pills are packaged in blister packs containing 21 active tablets and seven inactive tablets. The packaging error means that the daily regimen for the pills may be incorrect and could leave women without adequate contraception and at risk for unintended pregnancy, Pfizer said in a news release. Experts said the error could pose real problems for women using the pills. "This is extremely important," said Dr. Steven Goldstein, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at NYU Langone School of Medicine in New York City. "It is absolutely essential that birth control pills be taken as intended, with 21 medicated pills in a row. Otherwise ovulation could take place and an unintended pregnancy is definitely a possibility." Another expert agreed. "Sequence and content of active versus inactive pills is crucial in determining efficacy, including whether or not unwanted pregnancy will be actually prevented," said Dr. Jill Rabin, chief of ambulatory care, obstetrics and gynecology, head of urogynecology at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park, N.Y. She said that women who determine that they do have the recalled contraceptive pills should first "ensure that you are not currently pregnant (by taking a pregnancy test) if you have any symptoms of pregnancy (missed periods/abnormal bleeding, etc)." They should also switch immediately to a non-hormonal form of contraception if they are not pregnant, notify their health care provider of the situation, and return the defective product to the pharmacy. Pfizer has informed the U.S. Food and Drug Administration about the recall. In a statement issued Wednesday, the FDA agreed that "patients who have the affected product should notify their physician and return the product to the pharmacy."Gucci outlet, gucci bags, cheap gucci shoes 2012 sale. The cause of the error was identified and corrected immediately, according to Pfizer.