Left atrial strain as evaluated by two-dimensional speckle tracking predicts left atrial appendage dysfunction in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Background: Left atrial appendage (LAA) dysfunction predisposes patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) to cardioembolic stroke. Two-dimensional (2D) speckle tracking was reported to be useful for evaluating left atrial (LA) regional function, as well as left ventricular function. However, it remains unclear whether 2D speckle tracking is useful for evaluating LAA dysfunction.

Two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging as a novel strategy for accurately identifying the accessory pathway.

A 14-year-old patient was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy associated with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. The two-dimensional speckle tracking strain method showed normal left ventricular local contraction, but the peak systolic longitudinal strain of the right ventricular (RV) anterior wall was earlier than that of the septal wall. As expected, the location of the accessory pathway was at the RV anterior wall.

Association of plasma thioredoxin-1 with renal tubular damage and cardiac prognosis in patients with chronic heart failure.

Background: Thioredoxin-1 (Trx-1) is an abundant 12.5 kDa redox protein expressed in almost all eukaryotic cells that protect against the development of heart failure and kidney dysfunction. Plasma Trx-1 levels are considered as a reliable marker for oxidative stress.

Elevated plasma brain natriuretic peptide levels predict left atrial appendage dysfunction in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Background: It is well known that left atrial appendage (LAA) dysfunction plays an important role in the occurrence of cardioembolic stroke. The atrium is the main source of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). We hypothesized that the plasma BNP level would be a sensitive predictor of LAA dysfunction in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Prognostic value of low left atrial appendage wall velocity in patients with ischemic stroke and atrial fibrillation.

Background: It is important to evaluate left atrial appendage (LAA) dysfunction for primary and secondary prevention of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). LAA dysfunction can reportedly be evaluated by LAA wall velocity (LAWV) measured by transthoracic echocardiographic (TTE) imaging. The aim of this study was to examine whether TTE-LAWV can predict long-term cerebrovascular events in patients with ischemic stroke with AF.

Device troubleshooting: cross connection of ventricular leads in a patient with decreased right ventricular electrical activity.

A patient with cardiac sarcoidosis showed low R-wave amplitude in the entire right ventricle (RV). To troubleshoot this, a left ventricular (LV) lead was implanted in the coronary vein. The pace/sense terminal of the defibrillation lead was connected to LV:IS-1 of the defibrillator.

Increased left atrial volume index predicts a poor prognosis in patients with heart failure.

Background: Left atrial volume index (LAVI) is known to reflect the duration and severity of increased left atrial pressure caused by left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction. However, the prognostic value of LAVI in patients with heart failure (HF) has not been fully investigated.

Methods And Results: Transthoracic echocardiography was performed in 146 consecutive patients (78 men, 68 women; mean age 72 ± 12 y) who were hospitalized for HF.

Promotion of flowering and reduction of a generation time in apple seedlings by ectopical expression of the Arabidopsis thaliana FT gene using the Apple latent spherical virus vector.

Tree crops have a long juvenile period which is a serious constraint for genetic improvement and experimental research. For example, apple remains in a juvenile phase for more than five years after seed germination. Here, we report about induction of rapid flowering in apple seedlings using the Apple latent spherical virus (ALSV) vector expressing a FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) gene from Arabidopsis thaliana.

Low wall velocity of left atrial appendage measured by trans-thoracic echocardiography predicts thrombus formation caused by atrial appendage dysfunction.

Background: Atrial fibrillation is associated with ischemic stroke because of thrombi that form within the left atrial appendage (LAA). The aim of this study was to develop a new parameter for LAA function that is easily performed using transthoracic echocardiography (TTE).

Methods: TTE and transesophageal echocardiography were performed in 106 patients with stroke.

Supramolecular hydrogel formation based on inclusion complexation between poly(ethylene glycol)-modified chitosan and alpha-cyclodextrin.

Supramolecular hydrogels have been prepared on the basis of polymer inclusion complex (PIC) formation between poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-modified chitosans and alpha-cyclodextrin (alpha-CD). A series of PEG-modified chitosans were synthesized by coupling reactions between chitosan and monocarboxylated PEG using water-soluble carbodiimide (EDC) as coupling agent. With simple mixing, the resultant supramolecular assembly of the polymers and alpha-CD molecules led to hydrogel formation in aqueous media.