Disentangling vulnerabilities from outcomes: Distinctions between trait affect and depressive symptoms in adolescent and adult samples.

Background: Trait negative affect and trait positive affect are affective vulnerabilities to depressive symptoms in adolescence and adulthood. While trait affect and the state affect characteristic of depressive symptoms are proposed to be theoretically distinct, no studies have established that these constructs are statistically distinct. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to determine whether the trait affect (e.

Endoscopic radial artery harvesting is better than the open technique.

Background: Radial arteries are being used more often for coronary artery bypass grafting. A minimally invasive technique was devised for harvesting vessels and compared with the traditional harvesting technique.

Methods: In a prospective study of 200 consecutive patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting, 100 patients had traditional open radial artery harvesting and 100 underwent endoscopic radial artery harvesting.

Epicardial atrial defibrillation: successful treatment of postoperative atrial fibrillation.

Background: Atrial fibrillation is the most common complication after cardiac surgery. Current medical treatment using antiarrhythmics and anticoagulants has a significant morbidity. The goal of this study was to determine if epicardial atrial defibrillation can be safely performed and return patients to sinus rhythm.