Novel tips for engaging the coronary sinus guided by right ventricular lead.

Aims: This study investigated the relationship between the ostia of the coronary sinus (CS) and the tricuspid annulus (TA) for CS cannulation using a right ventricular (RV) lead, which could map out the TA by forming a curve when placed at the apex or low septum.

Methods And Results: Seventy patients (45 males, 67 ± 12 years) who were admitted for CRT device implant were included in the evaluation of the relationship between the CS ostia and TA. An electrophysiological (EP) mapping catheter was used to probe the CS.

Identification of non-tuberculous mycobacteria by real-time PCR coupled with a high-resolution melting system.

Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are increasingly important opportunistic pathogens responsible for a variety of clinical diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate a novel technique, real-time PCR coupled with high-resolution melting analysis (real-time PCR-HRMA), for NTM identification. Two pairs of unique primers targeted to the 16S rRNA gene and the 16S-23S internal transcribed spacer region were selected for further evaluation.

Comparison of quick optimization of interventricular delay between simple methods: intracardiac electrogram and surface electrocardiogram after cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Aims: It is time consuming to obtain optimal interventricular (VV) delay by conventional methods. This study is designed to compare quick optimization between intracardiac electrogram (IEGM) with surface electrocardiogram (ECG)-guided VV delay optimization for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).

Methods And Results: Fifty-one heart failure patients (M/F = 34/17, age = 71 ± 10-year-old) scheduled for CRT implantation were included.

Extract of Hedyotis diffusa Willd influences murine leukemia WEHI-3 cells in vivo as well as promoting T- and B-cell proliferation in leukemic mice.

Medicinal plants and herbs are widely used in the treatment of various types of cancer in Taiwan, China and many other countries. Hedyotis diffusa Willd (HDW) has been known as a traditional Chinese medicine for a long time, and possesses various bioactivities and anticancer activity. There is no available information on the effects of HDW extracts in leukemic mice and on immune responses in vivo.

Wogonin triggers apoptosis in human osteosarcoma U-2 OS cells through the endoplasmic reticulum stress, mitochondrial dysfunction and caspase-3-dependent signaling pathways.

Wogonin (5,7-dihydroxy-8-methoxyflavone) is a flavone constituent of Scutellaria baicalensis with various beneficial biological activities and it has been shown to have tumor therapeutic potential in vitro and in vivo. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of wogonin in a human osteosarcoma cell line (U-2 OS). Results showed that a dose- and time-dependent reduction occurred in cell viability after exposure to wogonin in U-2 OS cells.

Respiratory deposition model of an inhaled aerosol bolus.

The bolus delivery method is designed to deliver a dose to the desired location in the lung, and it has the advantage of fewer side effects and a more efficient way of delivery. Based upon the lung deposition model developed for continuously inhaling aerosols of constant concentration, a mathematical model of aerosol bolus deposition is proposed. The calculated results show that the recovery depends on the bolus penetration depth, flow rate, particle size, breath holding time and bolus volume.

Effects of Graptopetalum paraguayense consumption on serum lipid profiles and antioxidative status in hypercholesteremic subjects.

Background: Oxidative stress is known to be an important component of cellular damage regarding hypercholesterolemia and its complications. In vitro study had demonstrated that extracts of Graptopetalum paraguayense E. Walther exhibited strong antioxidative activities.

Glucose exacerbates zinc-induced astrocyte death.

Zinc and cytosolic phospholipase A(2) (cPLA(2)) have been implicated in the death of neural cells and the pathogenesis of ischemia, and hyperglycemia is a potential augmenting factor. However, their potential crosstalk and/or interaction in mediating cell damage have not yet been fully elucidated. Here, we report that a potential link between cPLA(2) activation and zinc-induced astrocyte damage involving reactive oxygen species (ROS)/protein kinase C-α (PKC-α)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling and glucose is able to increase zinc uptake and potentiate zinc-induced alterations and astrocyte damage.

Comparison of nurse practitioner job core competency expectations of nurse managers, nurse practitioners, and physicians in Taiwan.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare expectations of nurse practitioner (NP) job competencies among physicians, nurse managers, and NPs.

Data Sources: A quantitative survey was designed using the Analytic Hierarchy Process to determine the essential NP job competencies based on a checklist of 38 daily activities of NPs, which were recorded for a 10-day period. Using purposive sampling, a demographic data tool and a Nurse Practitioner Job Competency Questionnaire were completed by 56 participants from 13 hospitals in Taiwan, for which they prioritized and assigned percentage weights for NP competencies.

Aqueous extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. decelerates acetaminophen-induced acute liver damage by reducing cell death and oxidative stress in mouse experimental models.

Background: Acetaminophen (AAP)-induced oxidative stress can cause cell death to induce liver damage. The antioxidant effect of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. (HS) was shown in previous studies.

Danthron inhibits the migration and invasion of human brain glioblastoma multiforme cells through the inhibition of mRNA expression of focal adhesion kinase, Rho kinases-1 and metalloproteinase-9.

In this study, we investigated the effect of danthron on the cell migration and invasion of human brain glioblastoma multiforme GBM 8401 cells in vitro. The changes of migration and invasion of GBM 8401 cells after treatment with danthron were detected by cell migration assay and cell invasion assay. The levels of mRNA gene expression associated with cell migration and invasion were detected by real-time PCR.

Amyand's hernia with adenocarcinoid tumor.

The contents of an incarcerated inguinal hernia sac usually consist of small bowel or omentum. Amyand's hernia, the situation in which appendicitis is noted in the hernia sac, is a rare occurrence. Also, neoplasms of the appendix is quite uncommon.

[Preference for the attributes of home care service among primary family caregivers].

This study uses direct scaled measurement to investigate the preference for the attributes of home care service among primary family caregivers. One hundred and fourteen effective questionnaires were collected from caregivers. The response rate was 100%.

Berberine induces apoptosis in human HSC-3 oral cancer cells via simultaneous activation of the death receptor-mediated and mitochondrial pathway.

Evidence has accumulated that berberine is able to induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in many human cancer cell lines. However, there is no available information on the effects of berberine on human oral squamous cell carcinoma. In this study, the effects of berberine on cell growth, apoptosis and cell cycle regulation in human oral squamous carcinoma HSC-3 cells were examined.

Effects of oral administration of berberine on distribution and metabolism of 2-aminofluorene in Sprague-Dawley rats.

The effects of berberine on the in vivo N-acetylation and metabolism of 2-aminofluorene (2-AF) in bladder, blood, colon, kidney, liver, feces and urine samples and brain tissues (cerebrum, cerebellum and pineal gland) of male Sprague-Dawley rats were investigated. Major metabolites, such as 1-OH-2-AAF, 3-OH-2-AAF, 8-OH-2-AAF and 9-OH-2-AAF were found in bladder tissues, 1-OH-2-AAF, 5-OH-2-AAF and 8-OH-2-AAF were found in blood samples, 1-OH-2-AAF, 3-OH-2-AAF, 5-OH-2-AAF, 8-OH-2-AAF and 9-OH-2-AAF were found in colon tissues, 1-OH-2-AAF, 3-OH-2-AAF and 9-OH-2-AAF were found in kidney tissues, 1-OH-2-AAF, 3-OH-2-AAF and 8-OH-2-AAF were found in liver tissues, 1-OH-2-AAF, 3-OH-2-AAF, 5-OH-2-AAF, 7-OH-2-AAF, 8-OH-2-AA and 9-OH-2-AAF were found in feces samples and 1-OH-2-AAF, 3-OH-2-AAF, 5-OH-2-AAF, 7-OH-2-AAF, 8-OH-2-AA and 9-OH-2-AAF were also found in urine samples, 1-OH-2-AAF, 3-OH-2-AAF and 8-OH-2-AAF were found in cerebrum tissues, 1-OH-2-AAF, 3-OH-2-AAF and 7-OH-2-AAF were found in cerebellum tissues. In the control group, however, only 2-AF and 2-AAF were found in pineal gland after rats had been orally treated with 2-AF (50 mg/kg) for 24 h.

Human Thelaziasis occurrence in Taiwan.

A 62-year-old woman presented with unilateral eye swelling and itching. Subsequent examination showed the cause was an infestation of the parasitic worm Thelazia callipaeda. The vector leading to human infection is the fly.

Evidence of gallbladder function changes in hepatoma after transcatheter arterial embolization by quantitative Tc-99m DISIDA cholescintigraphy.

Background/aims: Transcatheter arterial embolization is the treatment of choice for inoperable hepatocellular carcinoma. Gallbladder infarction following transcatheter arterial embolization has been reported, therefore, the gallbladder functions were studied using the quantitative Tc-99m DISIDA cholescintigraphy in the present study.

Methodology: The gallbladder functions which were presented as the filling fraction and the ejection fraction in 24 patients with hepatoma before and after transcatheter arterial embolization.

Salivary function in patients with reflux esophagitis: effect of cisapride.

Unlabelled: Saliva plays an important role in esophageal acid clearance. Reduction in salivary function has been considered in the pathogenesis of reflux esophagitis. Cisapride, a prokinetic agent, has been reported effective for treating mild-to-moderate grade gastroesophageal reflux disease.