A novel "in-situ tulip-bud deployment" method for transcatheter closure of secundum atrial septal defect.

Objective: We devised a new technique for interventional closure of atrial septal defect (ASD) using the Amplatzer Septal Occluder (ASO), and validated this by comparing it with a cohort using the conventional method.

Background: Transcatheter closure of ASD is a widely accepted modality of treatment. Although the outcome is good, there are occasional technical difficulties encountered.

Cardiovascular risks associated with obesity in children and adolescents.

Introduction: The aim of this paper is to review the cardiovascular (CVS) risks associated with obesity in children and adolescents. Both short-term and long-term CVS consequences, the mechanisms of how these develop and the measures that can alter or reverse these CVS events are reviewed.

Materials And Methods: Selected publications include original articles and review papers that report on studies of CVS risks and consequences related to childhood obesity.

Plasma endotoxin and immune responses during a 21-km road race under a warm and humid environment.

Introduction: This study investigated the responses of plasma endotoxin and pro- and antiinflammatory cytokines during a 21-km road race in warm and humid conditions. The influence of carbohydrate-electrolyte (CE)-water (WA) drink mix ingested on leukocyte subset responses and the association between plasma lipopolysaccharide (LPS) concentration and fluid balance, exercise intensity, and body core temperature (Tc) were also studied.

Materials And Methods: Thirty runners provided blood samples before and after the half-marathon for leukocyte, LPS and cytokine analyses.

Cardiac time intervals of normal fetuses using noninvasive fetal electrocardiography.

Objectives: To evaluate the fetal cardiac time intervals from the longitudinal analysis of noninvasive fetal electrocardiography (fECG) in normal pregnancies.

Methods: One hundred singleton pregnancies were examined in this longitudinal study. Cardiac time intervals were derived from fetal electrocardiograms obtained noninvasively using three electrodes placed on the maternal abdomen.

Ventricular bigeminy misdiagnosed as fetal bradycardia by cardiotocography--the value of non-invasive fetal electrocardiography.

We document the value of non-invasive fetal electrocardiography (fECG) in a case of fetal arrhythmia in which an unnecessary cesarean section was almost performed. The fetal heart rate (fHR) was 60-70 beats per minute (bpm) on the cardiotocography (CTG), with occasional, sudden fluctuations to 130 bpm. This was probably a result of the technical limitations of the CTG.