Human Macrophages Activate Bystander Neutrophils' Metabolism and Effector Functions When Challenged with .

Neutrophils are dynamic cells, playing a critical role in pathogen clearance; however, neutrophil infiltration into the tissue can act as a double-edged sword. They are one of the primary sources of excessive inflammation during infection, which has been observed in many infectious diseases including pneumonia and active tuberculosis (TB). Neutrophil function is influenced by interactions with other immune cells within the inflammatory lung milieu; however, how these interactions affect neutrophil function is unclear.

Development and Evaluation of a Surgical Direct Assessment Tool for Resident Training.

In podiatric residency training, minimum activity volume numbers are used to assess surgical competency. The purpose of this study was to develop a standardized direct assessment form as a complement to minimum activity volume numbers. Sixteen attending physicians completed 121 direct assessment forms, evaluating six podiatric medicine and surgery residents.

Differential effects of reward and punishment in decision making under uncertainty: a computational study.

Computational models of learning have proved largely successful in characterizing potential mechanisms which allow humans to make decisions in uncertain and volatile contexts. We report here findings that extend existing knowledge and show that a modified reinforcement learning model, which has separate parameters according to whether the previous trial gave a reward or a punishment, can provide the best fit to human behavior in decision making under uncertainty. More specifically, we examined the fit of our modified reinforcement learning model to human behavioral data in a probabilistic two-alternative decision making task with rule reversals.

Effects of multisite ventricular pacing on cardiac function in normal dogs and dogs with heart failure.

Introduction: We studied the effects on cardiac function of pacing two right and two left ventricular sites in normal and failing hearts with a normal QRS duration.

Methods And Results: Hemodynamic parameters were studied in isoflurane-anesthetized dogs with normal hearts and dogs with heart failure induced by rapid ventricular pacing. Unipolar intramyocardial electrodes were placed at the high right atrium and the apex (A) and base (B) of the left (L) and right (R) ventricles (V).

Electrocardiographic manifestations of the rapid recharge function of pulse generators after sensing.

In this report, we present our observations in three patients with Medtronic Spectrax VVI pulse generators that exhibited unusually clear electrocardio-Spectrax VVI pulse generators that exhibited unusually clear electrocardiographic artifacts, due to the rapid recharge function upon sensing. Although many contemporary pulse generators contain rapid recharge circuits operative after the delivery of a pacemaker stimulus, only certain Medtronic Spectrax pulse generators also possess a rapid recharge capability after sensing. Rapid recharge upon sensing may produce electrocardiographic deflections that should not be misinterpreted as pacemaker malfunction.

Interpretation of dual chamber pacemaker electrocardiograms.

A diagramming system has been developed to assist in interpreting dual chamber pacemaker electrocardiograms. The system is based on the ladder diagram principle but uses two separate ladders, one for the ECG allowing proper representation of atrial A-V and ventricular activation, and a second ladder diagram below it for pacemaker events. The system is applicable to all current single and dual chamber pacing modes and is easy to draw.

The marker channel: a telemetric diagnostic aid.

Interpretation of ECG records from patients who have sophisticated pacemakers is often difficult. To address this problem, radiofrequency telemetry of diagnostic data is now being provided in varying forms from such pacemakers. A particularly useful aid to ECG analysis is offered by transmission of a Marker Channel which provides detailed information regarding occurrence and timing of pacing and sensing events.

Clinical evaluation of atrial synchronous ventricular inhibited pacemakers.

The technical specifications and the operation of two atrial synchronous ventricular inhibited (ASVIP) pacemaker designs are described along with the results of clinical evaluation of these pacemakers in 30 patients. Clinical advantages of such pacemakers are contrasted with the performance of A-V sequential (DVI) and atrial synchronous (VAT) systems.

Implantable pacemakers for management of tachyarrhythmias.

Attempts have been made to control tachyarrhythmias with implantable pacemakers since the late 1960's. The basic approaches considered were: a) maintenance of a basic rate following surgical division of the conducting system, b) pacing to prevent onset of tachyarrhythmias, and c) pacing to terminate episodes of tachyarrhythmias. The earliest approaches required conscious patient interaction in effecting therapy.