Structured versus free block play: the impact on arithmetic processing.

Background: Block play is one type of intervention that improves visuospatial skills. There are multiple forms of block play and it is unclear whether they have differential cognitive effects.

Method: Given the importance of visuospatial skills for mathematical performance, we studied the differential impact of two types of block playstructured (copying a block design) and free (building from imagination) on arithmetic processing, using behavioral and fMRI methods.

Left Atrial Strain Impairment Precedes Geometric Remodeling as a Marker of Post-Myocardial Infarction Diastolic Dysfunction.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to test the magnitude of agreement between echocardiography (echo)- and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR)-derived left atrial (LA) strain and to study their relative diagnostic performance in discriminating diastolic dysfunction (DD) and predicting atrial fibrillation (AF).

Backgrounds: Peak atrial longitudinal strain (PALS) is a novel performance index. Utility of echo-quantified LA strain has yet to be prospectively tested in relation to current DD guidelines or compared to CMR.

Premature Ventricular Contractions and Cardiomyopathy.

Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are a common arrhythmia that may cause symptoms of variable severity. PVCs have recently garnered interest in their ability to induce adverse structural heart remodeling in an entity known as PVC-induced cardiomyopathy. This entity is a retrospective diagnosis that likely remains under-recognized and may occur concurrently with other forms of cardiomyopathy.

Smartwatch Performance for the Detection and Quantification of Atrial Fibrillation.

Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) burden and duration appear to be related to stroke risk. A wearable consumer electronic device could provide long-term assessment of these measures inexpensively and noninvasively. This study compares the accuracy of an AF-sensing watch (AFSW; Apple Watch with KardiaBand) with simultaneous recordings from an insertable cardiac monitor (ICM; Reveal LINQ).

Outcomes With Novel Oral Anticoagulants in Obese Patients who Underwent Electrical Cardioversion for Atrial Tachyarrhythmias.

The efficacy of novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) in severely obese patients is uncertain as volume of distribution is related to weight, and few such patients were enrolled in the pivotal trials. As the month after direct-current cardioversion (DCCV) for atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter is a high-risk period for stroke, we sought to evaluate the safety of performing DCCV in obese patients on NOAC. All patients who underwent DCCV after ≥3 weeks of NOAC or therapeutic warfarin treatment without a previous transesophageal echocardiogram over a 3-year period at a single center were included.

Dialytic interval and the timing of electrocardiographic screening for subcutaneous cardioverter-defibrillator placement in chronic hemodialysis patients.

Background: Hemodialysis (HD) patients have a high risk of sudden death but limited vascular access and high complication rates from transvenous implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs). Subcutaneous ICDs (S-ICD) may be an alternative, but dynamic ECG changes may result in inappropriate shocks. This study aims to define the screen failure rate for S-ICD in patients pre- and post-HD.

Microcomputer-based artificial vision support system for real-time image processing for camera-driven visual prostheses.

It is difficult to predict exactly what blind subjects with camera-driven visual prostheses (e.g., retinal implants) can perceive.