Is Binary Grading Better Than WHO System for Grading Epithelial Dysplasia? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: This meta-analysis summarizes the current evidence on the intra- and inter-observer agreement between WHO and the binary grading systems used to assess epithelial dysplasia (ED).

Methods: A systematic search for observational studies that compared the level of agreement among pathologists between WHO and binary grading systems for ED was conducted using three databases: Medline, Scopus, and EBSCOhost. For the meta-analysis, summary estimations of kappa value (κ) and standard error (SE) were utilized.

Introduction of a high sensitivity troponin reduces ED length of stay.

Background: High sensitivity cardiac troponins (hs-cTn) allow earlier identification and exclusion of acute myocardial infarction. We determined if transitioning from contemporary to high sensitivity troponin T (hs-cTnT) would reduce ED length of stay in chest pain (CP) patients.

Methods: We conducted a pragmatic, prospective, before and after study of implementing a hs-cTnT by reviewing the electronic health records in all adult ED patients presenting to a large, suburban academic medical center during the 3 months before and after transitioning from a 4th generation troponin to a 5th generation hs-cTnT (Elecsys® Troponin T-high sensitive, Roche Diagnostics, Indianapolis, IN).

Comprehensive Respiratory Muscle Training Improves Pulmonary Function and Respiratory Muscle Strength in Acute Stroke Patients.

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of respiratory muscle training (RMT) on pulmonary function, respiratory complications, and stroke-related disabilities in patients with acute stroke.

Methods: One hundred twenty-two subjects with stroke admitted to the stroke rehabilitation center of Inje Hospital between August 2016 and May 2018 were recruited. After the initial exclusion, the remaining patients were assigned to the RMT group (36 patients) or the standard rehabilitation (SR) group (28 patients who did not undergo RMT).

Rare Occurrence of Internal Auditory Canal Stenosis Accompanied With Congenital Facial Palsy in a 3-Month-Old Infant: A Case Report.

Internal auditory canal (IAC) stenosis with hypoplasia of the facial and vestibulocochlear nerves is a rare cause of congenital facial palsy. In this case report, a 3-month-old female infant was referred for a neurological developmental assessment for developmental delay and congenital facial palsy. Upon evaluation of developmental delay, hearing loss was detected.

Molecular detection of respiratory pathogens and typing of human rhinovirus of adults hospitalized for exacerbation of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) and asthma are associated with a variety of precipitating factors including infection. This study assessed the infective viral etiologies by real-time multiplex polymerase chain reaction of patients hospitalized with AECOPD and asthma exacerbations. In addition, infective etiologies were assessed for association with the clinical outcome of the patients.

Feasibility of zero or near zero fluoroscopy during catheter ablation procedures.

Background: Awareness of risks associated with radiation exposure to patients and medical staff has significantly increased. It has been reported before that the use of advanced three-dimensional electroanatomical mapping (EAM) system significantly reduces fluoroscopy time, however this study aimed for zero or near zero fluoroscopy ablation to assess its feasibility and safety in ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) and other tachyarrhythmias in a "real world" experience of a single tertiary care center.

Methods: This was a single-center study where ablation procedures were attempted without fluoroscopy in 34 consecutive patients with different tachyarrhythmias under the support of EAM system.

Inhibition of protein kinase C (PKC) response of voltage-gated calcium (Cav)2.2 channels expressed in Xenopus oocytes by Cavβ subunits.

Cav2.2 channels are a substrate for phosphorylation by protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes. The contribution of Cavβ, an auxiliary subunit of these channels, in the PKC modulation was studied.

Usefulness of inducible ventricular tachycardia to predict long-term adverse outcomes in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy.

The role of the electrophysiologic (EP) study for risk stratification in patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy is controversial. We investigated the role of inducible sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (SMVT) for the prediction of an adverse outcome (AO), defined as the occurrence of cardiac death, heart transplantation, sudden cardiac death, ventricular fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia with hemodynamic compromise or syncope. Of 62 patients who fulfilled the 2010 Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy Task Force criteria and underwent an EP study, 30 (48%) experienced an adverse outcome during a median follow-up of 9.

Patient satisfaction and clinical outcome following outpatient radiofrequency catheter ablation of supraventricular tachycardia.

Background: Catheter ablation is an effective and safe treatment for various arrhythmic disorders. Patients are frequently admitted for an overnight stay after the ablation procedure to monitor for possible postprocedural complications or recurrence of the arrhythmia. The aim of this study was to assess patient satisfaction in patients with supraventricular tachycardia following catheter ablation on an outpatient basis.

Characterization of zebrafish (Danio rerio) NCX4: a novel NCX with distinct electrophysiological properties.

Members of the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX) family are important regulators of cytosolic Ca2+ in myriad tissues and are highly conserved across a wide range of species. Three distinct NCX genes and numerous splice variants exist in mammals, many of which have been characterized in a variety of heterologous expression systems. Recently, however, we discovered a fourth NCX gene (NCX4), which is found exclusively in teleost, amphibian, and reptilian genomes.

Gene structure evolution of the Na+-Ca2+ exchanger (NCX) family.

Background: The Na+-Ca2+ exchanger (NCX) is an important regulator of cytosolic Ca2+ levels. Many of its structural features are highly conserved across a wide range of species. Invertebrates have a single NCX gene, whereas vertebrate species have multiple NCX genes as a result of at least two duplication events.

Bone conduction changes following successful tympanoplasty type I.

Pre and one year postoperative bone conduction (b.c.) thresholds were compared for 50 ears of 48 patients, ranging in age from 14 to 42 years, in whom successful tympanic grafts resulted in at least an average improvement of 10 db for 500 to 4000 Hz.