Noncollinear Optical Parametric Amplification of Broadband Infrared Sum Frequency Generation Vibrational Spectroscopy.

Sum-frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy is an invaluable tool in surface science, known for its specificity to surfaces and interfaces. Despite its wide application, it is often hampered by weak signal detection. Here, we present an innovative enhancement technique of postsample amplification, using a picosecond noncollinear optical parametric amplifier (NOPA).

Vibronic coupling of Rhodamine 6G molecules studied by doubly resonant sum frequency generation spectroscopy with narrowband infrared and broadband visible.

Doubly resonant sum frequency generation (DR-SFG) serves as a potent characteristic technique for probing the electronic spectra and vibronic coupling of molecules on surfaces. In this study, we successfully developed a novel infrared (IR)-white light (WL) DR-SFG spectroscopy based on narrowband IR and tunable broadband WL. This novel method was employed to explore the excitation spectrum and vibronic couplings of sub-monolayer Rhodamine 6G molecules.

Interaction of Adiponectin Genotypes and Insulin Resistance on the Occurrence of Taiwanese Metabolic Syndrome.

Backgrounds: Adiponectin (apM1) may affect insulin sensitivity, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-) can inhibit the binding of insulin and insulin receptors. However, whether and genes influence the development of metabolic syndrome (MetS) preceded by insulin resistance is unclear. The current study examines the interactions between the +45 genotypes, -308 genotypes, and insulin resistance on the occurrence of MetS.

Coexisting ventricular septal defect affects the features of ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysms.

To determine the correlation exists between ventricular septal defect (VSD) and ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm (RSVA). Methods: Between September 2003 and April 2014, 80 RSVA patients underwent surgical repair. These patients were retrospectively divided into two groups: the VSD group (38 cases) and the non-VSD group (42 cases).

Carvedilol for prevention of atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery: a meta-analysis.

Background: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) remains the most common complication after cardiac surgery. Current guidelines recommend β-blockers to prevent POAF. Carvedilol is a non-selective β-adrenergic blocker with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and multiple cationic channel blocking properties.

Surgical correction of common atrium without noncardiac congenital anomalies.

Aims: Common atrium (CA) is a rare congenital heart defect. We reviewed our experience of surgical treatment of CA and summarize the clinical features of CA and the key techniques for surgical correction.

Methods: Between August 1984 and August 2010, 37 consecutive cases of CA underwent corrective surgery.

Risk factors for midterm cardiac function deterioration after valve replacement surgery in patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis.

Background: A symptomatic reduction in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is the main reason for postoperative heart failure after valve replacement surgery. However, postoperative heart failure occurs in patients with normal preoperative LVEF. Therefore, we examined clinical and echocardiographic data of patients with rheumatic heart disease to determine additional risk factors for low LVEF in the postoperative period.

[The anatomy features and surgical significance of the pulmonary circuits of pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect and major aortopulmonary collateral arteries].

Objectives: To analyze the anatomy features of the pulmonary circuits in the patients with pulmonary atresia (PA) with ventricular septal defect (VSD) and major aortopulmonary collateral arteries (MAPCA), and discuss the clinical significance.

Methods: From April 2002 to June 2010, the anatomy features of pulmonary circuits in 33 patients with PA/VSD/MAPCA were examined and analyzed. There were 21 male and 12 female patients.

Overexpression of ornithine decarboxylase suppresses thapsigargin-induced apoptosis.

Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), the key enzyme of polyamine biosynthesis, has paradoxical roles in apoptosis. Our published papers show overexpression of ODC prevents the apoptosis induced by many cytotoxic drugs. Thapsigargin (TG) is an inhibitor of the sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca(2+) ATPase (SERCA) pumps and causes ER stress-induced apoptosis.

[Diabetes counteracts the protective effect of the diazoxide preconditioning on ischemic reperfused rat heart].

Objective: To explore the impact of diabetic condition on the protective effect of diazoxide preconditioning (DPC) on ischemic-reperfused (I/R) myocardium in rats.

Methods: Thirty normal male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups, including non-diabetic control group, non-diabetic I/R group, and non-diabetic I/R DPC group. Thirty diabetic male rats were also divided into the same 3 groups.

[Clinical analysis of surgical procedures and outcomes for corrected transposition of great arteries with heart anomaly].

Objective: To determine the outcome of anatomically corrective repair and traditional repair of corrected transposition of great arteries (c-TGA) with heart anomaly.

Methods: From April 2002 to December 2006, nineteen patients including fourteen male and five female with c-TGA, underwent operations, age ranged from 2 to 22 years old and weight ranged from 10 to 48 kg. Fifteen of them received anatomically corrective repair and the other four received traditional repair.

[Protective effect of ischemia and diazoxide preconditioning on postischemic reperfused myocardium and possible mechanism thereof].

Objective: To study the protective mechanism of ischemic preconditioning (IPC) and diazoxide preconditioning (DPC) against myocardium ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury.

Methods: The hearts were taken out from 30 male Wistar rats and were divided randomly into 3 equal groups: I/R group undergoing 30-min equilibration perfusion and 30-min ischemia and then 60-min reperfusion, IPC group undergoing 10-min equilibration perfusion and then two cycles of 5 min ischemia interspersed with 5 min reperfusion prior to 30 min ischemia and a 60-min reperfusion, and DPC group undergoing 10-min equilibration perfusion and 2 cycles of 5 min of 100 microM diazoxide perfusion followed by 5-min drug-free period before the 30 min ischemia and 60-min reperfusion. Frozen sections of myocardium at the cardiac apex were made and immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator 1alpha (PGC-1alpha).

[Study of cardiopulmonary adaptation during exercise in patients after extracardiac conduit total cavopulmonary connection].

Objective: To study cardiopulmonary physiology during exercise in patients after extracardiac total cavopulmonary connection (ECTCPC).

Methods: Twenty-six patients were studied after ECTCPC by exercise testing with bicycle treadmill protocol. Heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), respiratory frequency (RF) and pulse oxygen saturation (SpO(2)) were measured continuously; twenty-six patients suffered from Fallot 4 underwent biventricular repair were also studied as control group.

[Surgical treatments and results of pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect].

Objective: To evaluate the indication and operative program of ventricular septal defect with pulmonary atresia (VSD-PA).

Methods: From June 1984 to March 2005, there were 32 patients with VSD-PA, which underwent 33 operations. Among them, 15 were males and 17 were females.

[Clinical analysis on surgical treatment of single atrium].

Objective: To summarize the experience of surgical treatment of single atrium.

Methods: From August 1984 to August 2004, there were 33 patients with single atrium in our study. Plastic surgery for mitral valves were performed for 30 cases with mitral insufficiency.

[The treatments and results of tetralogy of Fallot with major aortopulmonary collateral arteries].

Objective: To evaluate the indication and operative program of complete repair of tetralogy of Fallot with major aortopulmonary collateral arteries (TOF-MAPCA).

Methods: From January 2000 to May 2004, 9 patients with TOF-MAPCA including 5 patients with pulmonary atresia underwent complete surgical repair, 6 of them were male and 3 were female. The ages ranged from 3 to 9 years.

[The effects of inhaled nitric oxide on pulmonary vascular resistance in patients after total cavopulmonary connection].

Objective: To study the effects of inhaled nitric oxide (NO) on pulmonary vascular resistance in patients after total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC).

Methods: Fifty-two patients after TCPC were evaluated, of them 24 patients were administered with inhaled nitric oxide in the early postoperative period. The cardiac index (CI) and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) were compared before and after inhaled NO.

[Surgical treatment of secundum atrial septal defects in adults over 30 years old].

Objective: To summarize the experience of surgical treatment of secundum atrial septal defects in adults over 30 years old.

Methods: There were 469 patients with secundum atrial septal defects in our study (male 144, female 325; ages 30-68, mean 38.6 years old).

[Surgical treatment on residual shunt after repair of ventricular septal defect].

Objective: To summarize the experience in surgical treatment of residual shunt after repair of ventricular septal defect and investigate the position of the residual shunts.

Methods: Between January 1979 and May 2003, re-operations on residual shunt after repair of ventricular septal defect were performed in 37 patients with congenital heart disease including ventricular septal defect, tetralogy of Fallot, double outlet right ventricle in 19, 17 and 1 patients, respectively. It accounted for 0.