Septal late enhancement by cardiac CT is associated with repeat ablation in nonischemic cardiomyopathy patients.

Introduction: Scar substrate in nonischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) patients is often difficult to identify. Advances in cardiac imaging, especially using late iodine-enhanced computed tomography (LIE-CT), allow better characterization of scars giving rise to ventricular tachycardia (VT). Currently, there are limited data on clinical correlates of CT-derived scar substrates in NICM.

[Integrative medicine and geriatrics : towards a convergence?].

In recent years integrative medicine has been the subject of growing interest among the overall population as well as the medical and scientific community. According to the Swiss health survey, approximately 40 % of the Swiss population regularly use complementary therapies. The fields of application of integrative medicine in geriatrics seem large (pain, cognitive disorders, end-of-life support, anxiety, etc.

Noncontact whole-chamber charge density mapping of the left ventricle: Preclinical evaluation in a sheep model.

Background: Conventional contact-based electroanatomic mapping is poorly suited for rapid or dynamic ventricular arrhythmias. Whole-chamber charge density (CD) mapping could efficiently characterize complex ventricular tachyarrhythmias and yield insights into their underlying mechanisms.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of noncontact whole-chamber left ventricular (LV) CD mapping and to characterize CD activation patterns during sinus rhythm, ventricular pacing, and ventricular fibrillation (VF).

Identification of a new series of flavopiridol-like structures as kinase inhibitors with high cytotoxic potency.

In this work, unique flavopiridol analogs bearing thiosugars, amino acids and heterocyclic moieties tethered to the flavopiridol via thioether and amine bonds mainly on its C ring have been prepared. The analogs bearing thioether-benzimidazoles as substituents have demonstrated high cytotoxic activity in vitro against up to seven cancer cell lines. Their cytotoxic effects are comparable to those of flavopiridol.

Robotic-assisted minimally invasive surgery of the spine (RAMISS): a proof-of-concept study using carbon dioxide insufflation for multilevel posterior vertebral exposure via a sub-paraspinal muscle working space.

Background: Open posterior spinal procedures involve extensive soft tissue disruption, increased hospital length of stay, and disfiguring scars. Our aim was to demonstrate the feasibility of using robotic-assistance for minimally invasive exposure of the posterolateral spine with and without carbon dioxide (CO ) insufflation.

Methods: Sheep specimens underwent minimally invasive subperiosteal dissection of the spine during three trials.