Association between ventricular arrhythmia (premature ventricular contractions burden and nonsustained ventricular tachycardia) and cardiovascular events in patients without structural heart disease.

Background: Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) and nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) are common arrhythmias in cardiovascular clinical settings. However, the clinical significance of PVCs and NSVT in the absence of structural heart disease has not yet been fully elucidated. This study aimed to evaluate the association between PVCs, NSVT, and clinical outcomes.

The Toxoplasma rhoptry protein ROP55 is a major virulence factor that prevents lytic host cell death.

Programmed-cell death is an antimicrobial defense mechanism that promotes clearance of intracellular pathogens. Toxoplasma counteracts host immune defenses by secreting effector proteins into host cells; however, how the parasite evades lytic cell death and the effectors involved remain poorly characterized. We identified ROP55, a rhoptry protein that promotes parasite survival by preventing lytic cell death in absence of IFN-γ stimulation.

Risk factors for septic shock in older patients with urinary tract infection.

Backgrounds: Few studies have addressed the risk factors for the development of septic shock in older patients with urinary tract infections. We decided to investigate whether a similar risk exists in in older patients.

Methods: A total of 1478 older patients (492 men, 986 women) aged 65 years or older (mean age 85.

Modification of Antibacterial Copolymers on the Surface of PVA-Based Microfibers via Thermal Cross-Linking and Their Antibacterial Properties.

Bacterial infections on material surfaces are a serious public health concern worldwide. Although poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)-based materials have great potential as medical devices, they lack antibacterial properties on their surfaces and pose bacterial infection risks during implantation surgery. Copolymers containing antibacterial [2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]trimethylammonium chloride (METAC) units were used to modify the surfaces of chemically cross-linked water-insoluble PVA-based microfibers.