Sinus node sparing novel hybrid approach for treatment of inappropriate sinus tachycardia/postural sinus tachycardia: multicenter experience.

Background: The ideal treatment of inappropriate sinus tachycardia (IST) and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) still needs to be defined. Medical treatments yield suboptimal results. Endocardial catheter ablation of the sinus node (SN) may risk phrenic nerve damage and open-heart surgery may be accompanied by unjustified invasive risks.

A summary of the update on cardiovascular implantable electronic device infections and their management: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association.

Background: The purpose of this statement is to update the recommendations by the American Heart Association (AHA) for cardiovascular implantable electronic device (CIED) infections and their management, which were last published in 2003.

Methods And Results: The AHA commissioned this scientific statement to educate clinicians about CIED infections, provide explicit recommendations for the care of patients with suspected or established CIED infections and highlight areas of needed research. The recommendations in this statement reflect analyses of relevant literature, to include recent advances in our understanding of the epidemiology, risk factors, microbiology, management and prevention of CIED infections.

Update on cardiovascular implantable electronic device infections and their management: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association.

Despite improvements in cardiovascular implantable electronic device (CIED) design, application of timely infection control practices, and administration of antibiotic prophylaxis at the time of device placement, CIED infections continue to occur and can be life-threatening. This has prompted the study of all aspects of CIED infections. Recognizing the recent advances in our understanding of the epidemiology, risk factors, microbiology, management, and prevention of CIED infections, the American Heart Association commissioned this scientific statement to educate clinicians about CIED infections, provide explicit recommendations for the care of patients with suspected or established CIED infections, and highlight areas of needed research.

Real-time monitoring of cardiac metabolism using biosensors shows myocardial protection during ischemia-reperfusion injury with glucose-insulin-potassium administration.

Background: Systemic infusion of glucose-insulin-potassium (GIK) is thought to confer myocardial protection during ischemia-reperfusion injury. Our laboratory has experience with real-time monitoring of glucose and pH levels using needle-mounted biosensors. We tested the hypothesis that GIK enhances myocardial metabolism as displayed by real-time myocardial metabolic monitoring.

Use of both internal thoracic arteries in diabetic patients increases deep sternal wound infection.

Background: Use of both internal thoracic arteries has been limited in diabetic patients fearing an increased incidence of deep sternal wound infection. We analyzed this concern by querying The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Database.

Methods: Diabetic patients who had isolated coronary artery bypass graft surgery during 2002 to 2004 were included if they had no prior bypass surgery, two or more distal bypasses, and a left internal thoracic artery bypass.

Immunohistochemical Expression of N-ras Oncogene is a Late Event in Head and Neck Carcinomas.

This study investigated the expression of the N-ras oncogene in routinely processed tissue sections from 133 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) by immunohistochemistry using anti-N-ras monoclonal antibody. N-ras expression was present in 67 of 133 (49.6%) cases.