The RAISE Trial: A Novel Device and First-in-Man Trial.

Background: Currently, standard medical therapies have limited effects on heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), which impacts on the life quality and survival of patients. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the percutaneous radiofrequency ablation-based interatrial shunting for HFpEF with a novel atrial septostomy device.

Methods: A preclinical study in 11 normal domestic pigs and the first-in-man study in 10 patients with HFpEF were performed.

Type A aortic dissection into brachial artery causing upper limb ischaemia: A case report.

Introduction: Acute type A aortic dissection (AAAD) is a surgical emergency with high operative mortality. Distal propogration of the dissecting flap can lead to malperfusion of territory supplied by the aorta including axillary and brachial arteries causing ischaemia of the upper limb.

Case Presentation: We present a case of a 67 year old gentleman who had AAAD and developed upper limb malperfusion after repair.

The unique expression profile of FAM19A1 in the mouse brain and its association with hyperactivity, long-term memory and fear acquisition.

Neurodevelopment and mature brain function are spatiotemporally regulated by various cytokines and chemokines. The chemokine-like neuropeptide FAM19A1 is a member of family with sequence similarity 19 (FAM19), which is predominantly expressed in the brain. Its highly conserved amino acid sequence among vertebrates suggests that FAM19A1 may play important physiological roles in neurodevelopment and brain function.

A New Perspective on Dry Eye Classification: Proposal by the Asia Dry Eye Society.

The 2017 consensus report of the Asia Dry Eye Society (ADES) on the definition and diagnosis of dry eyes described dry eye disease as "Dry eye is a multifactorial disease characterized by unstable tear film causing a variety of symptoms and/or visual impairment, potentially accompanied by ocular surface damage." The report emphasized the instability of tear film and the importance of visual dysfunction in association with dry eyes, highlighting the importance of the evaluation of tear film stability. This report also discussed the concept of tear film-oriented therapy, which stemmed from the definition, and which is centered on provision of insufficient components in each tear film layer and ocular surface epithelium.

Recent challenges and advances in genetically-engineered cell therapy.

Cells naturally sense and actively response to their environment. Cell-therapy has long been studied and shown therapeutic effects in various diseases. However, several hurdles should be overcome to improve cell-based therapy.