An Efficient ECG Classification System Using Resource-Saving Architecture and Random Forest.

This paper presents a resource-saving system to extract a few important features of electrocardiogram (ECG) signals. In addition, real-time classifiers are proposed as well to classify different types of arrhythmias via these features. The proposed feature extraction system is based on two delta-sigma modulators adopting 250 Hz sampling rate and three wave detection algorithms to analyze outputs of the modulators.

A modified frozen elephant trunk technique for acute Stanford type A aortic dissection.

Background: Acute Stanford type A aortic dissection is often fatal, with a high mortality rate and requiring emergency intervention. Salvage surgery aims to keep the patient alive by addressing severe aortic regurgitation, tamponade, primary tear, and organ malperfusion and, if possible, prevent the late dissection-related complications in the proximal and downstream aorta. Unfortunately, no optimal standard treatment or technique to treat this disease exists.

Galectin-7 downregulation in lesional keratinocytes contributes to enhanced IL-17A signaling and skin pathology in psoriasis.

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by inflammatory cell infiltration, as well as hyperproliferation of keratinocytes in skin lesions, and is considered a metabolic syndrome. We found that the expression of galectin-7 is reduced in skin lesions of patients with psoriasis. IL-17A and TNF-α, 2 cytokines intimately involved in the development of psoriatic lesions, suppressed galectin-7 expression in human primary keratinocytes (HEKn cells) and the immortalized human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT.

Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Itaconic Acid Derivatives as Potential Anti-Influenza Agents.

Influenza A viruses (IAVs) have caused worldwide epidemics and pandemics by reassortment and generation of drug-resistant mutants, which render antivirals and current vaccinations no longer usable. In this study, an itaconic acid derivative 1 was identified from a chemical library of 20 000 compounds, by performing a cell-based screening assay, as a lead agent exhibiting anti-influenza A activity. Accordingly, a series of itaconic acid derivatives were designed and synthesized by adopting a rational design strategy to obtain more potent anti-influenza agents.

Primary myxosarcoma of the right inferior pulmonary vein presenting clinically as benign left atrial myxoma with a concurrent right lower lung tumor.

Primary sarcomas of the pulmonary vein are extremely rare. Although myxomas are the most common intracavitary tumor of the left atrium, some findings should alert the clinician to the probability of malignancy. A 28-year-old woman developed hemoptysis, night fever, generalized malaise, anorexia and weight loss for 2 months, with progressive dyspnea for 2 weeks.

Suture knot embolism--a rare complication of percutaneous arterial closure device.

Percutaneous closure devices used after percutaneous endovascular procedures have become more popular over the past decade. Occlusive vascular complication of the device is rare but always leads to limb-threatening consequence. We report a case of arterial occlusion caused by distal embolization of the suture material in the percutaneous closure device.

Prevalence of symptomatic large pleural effusions first diagnosed more than 30 days after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Background And Objective: Symptomatic large pleural effusions (>25% of hemithorax) are sometimes diagnosed after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). Their incidence and outcome have not been fully described. This study aims to discuss the prevalence and the clinical course in patients diagnosed with symptomatic newly developed large pleural effusions at least 30 days after CABG.

Acute fulminant myocarditis after diphtheria, polio, and tetanus vaccination.

We report an infant case of acute fulminant myocarditis which occurred after administration of a diphtheria, polio, and tetanus vaccination. Fever and dyspnea developed after the vaccination. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was used for intractable cardiogenic shock.

Starfish-assisted off-pump obliteration of massive coronary arteriovenous fistulae.

Coronary arteriovenous fistula is a rare congenital heart disease. A 71-year-old woman suffered from heart failure due to massive coronary arteriovenous fistulae from the right coronary artery and left circumflex artery to the coronary sinus. Using the off-pump technique, we successfully performed Starfish-assisted obliteration of the fistulae.

Total descending thoracic and abdominal aorta grafting in type III aortic dissection with aneurysm.

Single-stage complete replacement of the descending thoracic aorta and the abdominal aorta is a surgical challenge. A 65-year-old man developed acute DeBakey type IIIB aortic dissection and was treated medically. The affected aorta dilated progressively, reaching a maximal diameter of 7 cm 2 years later.