Performance Assessment of an Electrostatic Filter-Diverter Stent Cerebrovascular Protection Device: Evaluation of a Range of Potential Electrostatic Fields Focusing on Small Particles.

Silent Brain Infarction (SBI) is increasingly recognized in patients with cardiac conditions, particularly Atrial Fibrillation (AF) in elderly patients and those undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI). While these infarcts often go unnoticed due to a lack of acute symptoms, they are associated with a threefold increase in stroke risk and are considered a precursor to ischemic stroke. Moreover, accumulating evidence suggests that SBI may contribute to the development of dementia, depression, and cognitive decline, particularly in the elderly population.

Physical manifestations of stress in women. Correlations between temporomandibular and pelvic floor disorders.

Introduction: Stress is characterized as a challenging occurrence that triggers a physiological and/or behavioral allostatic response, alongside the demands typically encountered throughout the natural course of life. A sustained state of stress gives rise to secondary effects, including insomnia and neck pain. Also, the risk of musculoskeletal problems in the cervical and lumbar spine can be increased due to a sustained state of stress.

Performance assessment of an electrostatic filter-diverter stent cerebrovascular protection device. Is it possible not to use anticoagulants in atrial fibrilation elderly patients?

Stroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide. Nearly two-thirds of strokes are produced by cardioembolisms, and half of cardioembolic strokes are triggered by Atrial Fibrillation (AF), the most common type of arrhythmia. A more recent cause of cardioembolisms is Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacements (TAVRs), which may onset post-procedural adverse events such as stroke and Silent Brain Infarcts (SBIs), for which no definitive treatment exists, and which will only get worse as TAVRs are implanted in younger and lower risk patients.

A New Index to Evaluate Running Coordination Based on Notational Analysis.

The aim of this study was 1) to define a new index to describe running coordination, named % of coordination, and 2) to examine whether it could represent an order parameter in relation to running velocity. Twelve international middle-distance athletes (six males and six females) performed three trials at easy, 5000 m pace and sprint velocities while filmed from a lateral view at 240 Hz. Notational analysis of six lower-limb key events corresponding to touchdown, mid-stance and flight phases was performed with high values of intra- (maximum standard deviation = 7 ms) and inter-operator (maximum systematic bias = 6 ms) reliability.

Association between RNAm-Based COVID-19 Vaccines and Permanency of Menstrual Cycle Alterations in Spanish Women: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to delve more deeply into the medium and long-term relation between mRNA-based vaccines and changes in menstrual pain, cycle length, and amount of bleeding in Spanish women. Material and Methods: A total of 746 women (63% between 18−30 and 37% between 31−45 years old) participated in the study. A numerical rating scale was used for recording pain intensity, a pictorial chart for menstrual bleeding, and data from menstrual cycle duration, type of vaccine, number of doses and time from vaccination.

Anaerobic Variables As Specific Determinants of Functional Classification in Wheelchair Basketball.

Every parasport is currently encouraged to consider evidence-based classification to develop their respective classification system. Therefore, the aims of this study were to: (1) assess the relationship between trunk function and anaerobic power determining proficiency in wheelchair basketball, and (2) define "natural classes" in wheelchair basketball based on anaerobic power. Fifty-nine elite players (representing five national teams) were divided into four main functional classes: Group 1 (n=17), Group 2 (n=14), Group 3 (n=16), Group 4 (n=12).

The spatiotemporal control of expert tennis players when returning first serves: A perception-action perspective.

The aim of the current experiment was to examine the spatiotemporal control of expert tennis players while executing first service returns within a representative experimental setting. We recruited and tested 12 male expert tennis players in hard courts. A comprehensive analysis of the timing (eleven temporal variables analysed at 300 Hz) and performance success of the return actions were carried out, while simultaneously considering task constraints such as the accuracy and the speed of the serves.

A temporal analysis of the swimmers' coordination in the relay start.

The main aims of the present research were 1) to characterise the inter-subject and intra-subject timing of the preparatory movements of competitive swimmers during relay starts and 2) to relate the preparatory movements with the relay start outcome. Nine international youth swimmers performed 10 relay freestyle starts (one-step technique) filmed at 120 Hz from a lateral viewpoint. Results obtained (0.

How Enaction and Ecological Approaches Can Contribute to Sports and Skill Learning.

The purpose of this paper is to explain learning in sports and physical education (PE) from the perspective of enactive and ecological psychology. The learning process is first presented from the enactive perspective, and some relevant notions such as sense-making and sensorimotor schemes are developed. Then, natural learning environments are described, and their importance in the human development process is explained.

Selective Autoretroperfusion Provides Substantial Cardioprotection in Swine: Incremental Improvements With Mild Hypothermia.

Mild hypothermia (MH) and retroperfusion are 2 techniques proposed to reduce infarct size due to myocardial infarction. The authors evaluated the effects of focal MH combined with selective coronary venous autoretroperfusion (SARP) as an acute cardioprotective modality before percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in a swine model of left ventricular myocardial infarction. Significant reduction in infarct size with preservation of cardiac function and cardiomyocyte viability were achieved.

Self-Control in Aiming Supports Coping With Psychological Pressure in Soccer Penalty Kicks.

This study addressed the question whether coaches better allow athletes to self-control their decisions when under pressure or whether to impose a decision upon them. To this end, an experiment was conducted that manipulated the soccer kickers' degree of control in decision-making. Two groups of elite under-19 soccer players ( = 18) took penalty kicks in a self-controlled (i.

Laboratory and Non-laboratory Assessment of Anaerobic Performance of Elite Male Wheelchair Basketball Athletes.

Wheelchair basketball is an adaptive Paralympic sport and wheelchair basketball players are under classification in sport. Coaches are looking for useful assessment tools (field-based tests) to evaluate players' anaerobic performance (anaerobic capacity). The aim of this study was to assess the validity of field-based tests for anaerobic performance evaluation for two functional categories of wheelchair basketball players and to create a calculator to predict mean or peak power on the basis of the selected field-based test results.

Role of Aortic Geometry on Stroke Propensity based on Simulations of Patient-Specific Models.

Stroke is a life threatening event that is expected to more than double over the next 40 years. Atrial fibrillation (AF) has been reported as a strong independent risk factor for stroke. We have previously shown that a hemodynamic perturbation by AF or reduced cardiac output and cycle length may have a significant impact on clot trajectory and thus embolic stroke propensity through the left common carotid artery using an idealized aortic arch model.

Gaze control during interceptive actions with different spatiotemporal demands.

It is widely accepted that the sources of information used to guide interceptive actions depend on conflicting spatiotemporal task demands. However, there is a paucity of evidence that shows how information pick-up during interceptive actions is adapted to such conflicting constraints. The present study therefore examined the effects of systematic manipulations of spatiotemporal constraints on performance, timing and gaze in an in situ interceptive action.

Suction catheter for enhanced control and accuracy of transseptal access.

Aims: Percutaneous structural heart therapies, such as mitral value repair, require site-specific transseptal access (TSA). This can be challenging for interventional cardiologists. We describe a TSA catheter (TSAC) that utilises suction for enhanced control and puncture accuracy.

Thrombus deflector stent for stroke prevention: A simulation study.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a dysfunction of heart rhythm and represents an increased predisposition to ischemic stroke in AF patients. It has been shown that the AF-induced hemodynamic conditions may contribute to the increased embolic propensity through the carotid arteries. We simulated a stroke-prevention device with a unique strut structure to deflect the trajectory of a blood clot to the carotid artery.

Action-specific effects in aviation: what determines judged runway size?

Several recent studies have shown that the performance of a skill that involves acting on a goal object can influence one's judgment of the size of that object. The present study investigated this effect in an aviation context. Novice pilots were asked to perform a series of visual approach and landing manoeuvres in a flight simulator.

Efficacy of a laparoscopic gastric restrictive device in an obese canine model.

Background: Bariatric surgery using laparoscopic techniques is the most effective treatment for morbid obesity. The objective of the study is to assess the safety and efficacy of a novel laparoscopic reversible gastric restrictive (RGR) device in a group of obese dogs. An implant was also performed in a cadaver to assess implant feasibility in a human.

Mild anastomotic stenosis in patient-specific CABG model may enhance graft patency: a new hypothesis.

It is well known that flow patterns at the anastomosis of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) are complex and may affect the long-term patency. Various attempts at optimal designs of anastomosis have not improved long-term patency. Here, we hypothesize that mild anastomotic stenosis (area stenosis of about 40-60%) may be adaptive to enhance the hemodynamic conditions, which may contribute to slower progression of atherosclerosis.

Stroke propensity is increased under atrial fibrillation hemodynamics: a simulation study.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained dysfunction in heart rhythm clinically and has been identified as an independent risk factor for stroke through formation and embolization of thrombi. AF is associated with reduced cardiac output and short and irregular cardiac cycle length. Although the effect of AF on cardiac hemodynamic parameters has been reported, it remains unclear how the hemodynamic perturbations affect the potential embolization of blood clots to the brain that can cause stroke.

Growth and remodeling of the left ventricle: A case study of myocardial infarction and surgical ventricular restoration.

Cardiac growth and remodeling in the form of chamber dilation and wall thinning are typical hallmarks of infarct-induced heart failure. Over time, the infarct region stiffens, the remaining muscle takes over function, and the chamber weakens and dilates. Current therapies seek to attenuate these effects by removing the infarct region or by providing structural support to the ventricular wall.

Response of gut hormones after implantation of a reversible gastric restrictive device in different animal models.

Background: Variable responses of gut hormones have been observed after bariatric procedures. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the ghrelin, glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), and leptin levels in nonobese canine and obese rat models after weight loss owing to a reversible gastric restriction (RGR) device.

Methods: Mongrel dogs and obese Zucker rats were submitted to either surgical implantation or a sham operation and were followed up for 6 wk.

Selective autoretroperfusion preserves myocardial function during coronary artery ligation in swine.

Background: External pumps have been previously used to minimize edema and hemorrhage caused by coronary retroperfusion. The objective of this study was to use a pump-less approach (selective autoretroperfusion, SARP) to preserve myocardial function after acute coronary artery ligation.

Methods: In five experimental pigs, the LAD artery was ligated distal to the first diagonal and retroperfusion was instituted for three hours from a brachiocephalic artery at 50 mmHg pressure through an adjustable occluder on the cannula.