Hand VR Exergame for Occupational Health Care.

The widespread use and ubiquity of mobile computing technologies such as smartphones, tablets, laptops and portable gaming consoles has led to an increase in musculoskeletal disorders due to overuse, bad posture, repetitive movements, fixed postures and physical de-conditioning caused by low muscular demands while using (and over-using) these devices. In this paper we present the development of a hand motion-based virtual reality-based exergame for occupational health purposes that allows the user to perform simple exercises using a cost-effective non-invasive motion capture device to help overcome and prevent some of the muskoloskeletal problems associated with the over-use of keyboards and mobile devices.

Alterations in lateral left ventricular wall transmural strains during acute circumflex and anterior descending coronary occlusion.

Background: Increased circumferential-radial shear in the midlateral left ventricle adjacent to ischemic myocardium has been observed during acute midcircumflex ischemia in open-chest animals. Extending this work, we studied transmural strains in closed-chest animals during acute proximal-circumflex (pCX) and proximal-left anterior descending (pLAD) occlusions.

Methods: Six sheep had radiopaque markers implanted to silhouette the left ventricle and measure regional systolic fractional area shortening; three transmural bead columns were inserted into the midlateral wall for transmural myocardial strain analysis.

Posterior mitral leaflet extension: an adjunctive repair option for ischemic mitral regurgitation?

Background: Residual or recurrent mitral regurgitation frequently occurs after mitral valve repair for ischemic mitral regurgitation with an annuloplasty ring. Because annuloplasty primarily addresses annular dilatation, we studied an adjunctive technique that might correct restricted leaflet (Carpentier type IIIb) systolic closing motion, which often accompanies annular dilatation in patients with ischemic mitral regurgitation.

Methods: Six sheep had radiopaque markers placed on the left ventricle, mitral leaflets and annulus, and mitral subvalvular apparatus.

Subvalvular repair: the key to repairing ischemic mitral regurgitation?

Background: Residual or recurrent mitral regurgitation frequently occurs after mitral ring annuloplasty repair for ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR), because annuloplasty primarily addresses annular dilatation. We describe a subvalvular repair technique addressing posterior papillary muscle (PPM) displacement.

Methods And Results: Ten sheep had radiopaque markers placed on the left ventricle (LV) and mitral apparatus.