Closed-loop system to enhance slow-wave activity.

Objective: Recent evidence reports cognitive, metabolic, and sleep restoration benefits resulting from the enhancement of sleep slow-waves using auditory stimulation. Our objective is to make this concept practical for consumer use by developing and validating an electroencephalogram (EEG) closed-loop system to deliver auditory stimulation during sleep to enhance slow-waves.

Approach: The system automatically detects slow-wave sleep with 74% sensitivity and 97% specificity and optimally delivers stimulation in the form of 50 ms-long tones separated by a constant one-second inter-tone interval at a volume that is dynamically modulated such that louder tones are delivered when sleep is deeper.

Endovascular repair of profunda femoral artery false aneurysms using covered stents.

Pseudoaneurysms of the profunda femoral artery (PFA) have been reported following different types of trauma, mostly iatrogenic. We present three cases of PFA false aneurysm formation, two after vascular procedures and one as a result of a gunshot injury, which were successfully treated with the endovascular deployment of covered stents. Treating these patients by endoluminal means is an efficient and feasible minimally invasive approach.

Post-implantation syndrome after endovascular repair of aortic aneurysms: need for postdischarge surveillance.

Objectives: To present the consequences and the need for readmission due to a vigorous inflammatory response in six patients who underwent endovascular repair of aortic aneurysms and developed post-implantation syndrome (PIS), during the postoperative period.

Methods: From January 2007 to December 2009, 162 patients underwent endovascular repair of an aortic aneurysm. PIS was recorded in 49 patients.

The in vitro effects of bupivacaine on articular chondrocytes.

We have studied the effects of bupivacaine on human and bovine articular chondrocytes in vitro. Time-lapse confocal microscopy of human articular chondrocytes showed > 95% cellular death after exposure to 0.5% bupivacaine for 30 minutes.

Tensile properties of five commonly used mid-urethral slings relative to the TVT.

We characterized the tensile properties of five mid-urethral slings relative to the Gynecare TVT. Slings were divided and loaded to failure. The heat-sealed Boston Scientific mid-section and the American Medical Systems (AMS) tensioning suture were examined separately.