Impaired Intracellular Calcium Buffering Contributes to the Arrhythmogenic Substrate in Atrial Myocytes From Patients With Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Alterations in the buffering of intracellular Ca, for which myofilament proteins play a key role, have been shown to promote cardiac arrhythmia. It is interesting that although studies report atrial myofibrillar degradation in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (persAF), the intracellular Ca buffering profile in persAF remains obscure. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the intracellular buffering of Ca and its potential arrhythmogenic role in persAF.

Membrane saturable absorber mirror (MESAM) in a red-emitting VECSEL for the generation of stable ultrashort pulses.

We present a new saturable absorber device principle which has the potential for broad spectral range applications. An active region membrane is separated from the substrate and placed on a dielectric end mirror. By combining the absorbing membrane with the dielectric mirror to one device we get a membrane saturable absorber mirror (MESAM) which is similar to the well-known semiconductor saturable absorber mirror (SESAM) without the restriction of the stop-band reflectivity of the distributed Bragg reflector (DBR).

InGaAsP VECSEL for watt-level output at a wavelength around 765 nm.

We demonstrate a deep-red-emitting vertical external-cavity surface-emitting laser (VECSEL) with an emission wavelength around λ = 765 nm based on InGaAsP/GaInP quantum wells. The quaternary material system was characterized with x-ray diffraction of thin films as the basis for InGaAsP quantum wells, which are incorporated into an 11 × 1 quantum well active region. The surface morphology of the fabricated VECSEL structure is analyzed with atomic force microscopy and the laser is evaluated in a linear cavity for various heatsink temperatures resulting in a watt-level output power of P = 1.

High-power quasi-CW diode-pumped 750-nm AlGaAs VECSEL emitting a peak power of 29.6 W and an average power of 8.5 W.

A peak output power of 29.6 W and an average output power of 8.5 W at a wavelength of 750 nm were demonstrated in quasi-CW multi-mode operation using an AlGaAs-based vertical external-cavity surface-emitting laser (VECSEL) diode-pumped at a wavelength of 675 nm.

Microcavity-enhanced Kerr nonlinearity in a vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting laser: erratum.

We correct a mistake in [Opt. Express27, 11914 (2019)10.1364/OE.

Therapeutic nihilism is inadequate in geriatric medicine.

Patients' wishes should guide therapeutic considerations in the face of options and necessities, particularly when an intervention carries the risk of death. Therefore, in the medical management of the young and the old, everything should be attempted as long as the patient has a strong will to live.

Microcavity-enhanced Kerr nonlinearity in a vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting laser.

Self-mode-locking has become an emerging path to the generation of ultrashort pulses with vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting lasers. In our work, a strong Kerr nonlinearity that is so far assumed to give rise to mode-locked operation is evidenced and a strong nonlinearity enhancement by the microcavity is revealed. We present wavelength-dependent measurements of the nonlinear absorption and nonlinear refractive index change in a gain chip using the Z-scan technique.

Supra-aortic interventions for endovascular exclusion of the entire aortic arch.

Objective: Our aim was to analyze the outcomes of endovascular exclusion of the entire aortic arch (proximal landing in zone 0, distal landing in zone III or beyond, after Ishimaru) in which complete surgical debranching of the supra-aortic vessels (I), endovascular supra-aortic revascularization (chimney, fenestrated, or branched grafts) with partial surgical debranching (II), or total endovascular supra-aortic revascularization (III) was additionally performed.

Methods: Publications describing endovascular repair of the aortic arch (2000-2016) were systematically searched and reviewed.

Results: From a total of 53 relevant studies including 1853 patients, only 1021 patients undergoing 35 different total aortic arch procedures were found eligible for further evaluation and included in group I, II, or III (429, 190, and 402 patients, respectively).

Heart Transplantation in a Toddler with Cardiac Kawasaki Disease.

Kawasaki disease is very rare in Western Europe. The disease may involve coronary arteries. A 2-year-old boy diagnosed with Kawasaki disease had had seizure-like symptoms.

Is there a correlation between late re-exploration after cardiac surgery and removal of epicardial pacemaker wires?

Background: Re-exploration for bleeding accounts for increased morbidity and mortality after major cardiac operations. The use of temporary epicardial pacemaker wires is a common procedure at many departments. The removal of these wires postoperatively can potentially lead to a serious bleeding necessitating intervention.

A minimally invasive approach for open surgical thoracoabdominal aortic replacement: experimental concept for a novel surgical procedure.

Objectives: We aimed to develop a simple, reliable, and timesaving technique for the therapy of thoracoabdominal aortic (TAA) aneurysms that are not suitable for endovascular repair.

Methods: In this pilot study, we sought to combine the advantages of classic open vascular procedure with the use of endoscopic surgical tools and small skin incisions to develop a minimally invasive approach for TAA replacement. The following procedures were used: endoscopic exposure and closure of the lower intercostal arteries; small posterolateral thoracotomy and left retroperitoneal incisions to expose the anastomotic regions of the aorta; partial anticoagulation; passive bypass and sequential aortic clamping; tunnelling of the graft through the native aortic lumen (endoaneurysmorrhaphy) and open performance of vascular anastomosis.

Long term biventricular support with Berlin Heart Excor in a Septuagenarian with giant-cell myocarditis.

Giant-cell myocarditis (GCM) is known as a rare, rapidly progressive, and frequently fatal myocardial disease in young and middle-aged adults. We report about a 76 year old male patient who underwent implantation with a biventricular Berlin Heart Excor system at the age of 74 due to acute biventricular heart failure caused by giant-cell myocarditis. The implantation was without any surgical problems; however, a difficulty was the immunosuppressive therapy after implantation.

Incidence of deep sternal wound infection is not reduced with autologous platelet rich plasma in high-risk cardiac surgery patients.

Background: Deep sternal wound infections (DSWI) remain a devastating complication in cardiac surgery applying full sternotomy. As the risk profile in cardiac surgery changed toward an older and sicker population, the incidence of DSWI increases. Platelet rich plasma (PRP) holds promise in tissue regeneration with respect to bone regeneration, reduction of bleeding, and accelerated wound healing.

A three-group model to predict mortality in emergent coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Background: Emergent coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) for acute myocardial infarction is associated with an increased operative risk. For estimation of mortality risk, the European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE) is appropriate up to a medium risk score (<6 points). To predict mortality risk more accurately in cases of higher EuroSCORE, additional cardiac data can be helpful.

[Norman Edward Shumway - pioneer of cardiac surgery (February 9, 1923 to February 10, 2006)].

After a fulfilled life, Norman E. Shumway, the great pioneer of cardiac transplantation, died of lung cancer 1 day after his 83rd birthday in Palo Alto, California, USA. Already at the beginning of the 1960s, he and his colleague Richard R.

Angiotensin II and myosin light-chain phosphorylation contribute to the stretch-induced slow force response in human atrial myocardium.

Aims: Stretch is an important regulator of atrial function. The functional effects of stretch on human atrium, however, are poorly understood. Thus, we characterized the stretch-induced force response in human atrium and evaluated the underlying cellular mechanisms.

Miniaturized HIA microdiagonal pump as left ventricular assist device in a sheep model.

We evaluated the newly developed miniaturized HIA microdiagonal blood pump (MDP) as a continuous flow left ventricular assist device. In a sheep model (n = 6), the MDP was implanted through left lateral thoracotomy and placed paracorporeally with inflow conduit to left atrium and outflow conduit to descending aorta. The sheep were pumped at a mean flow rate of 2.