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To explore 3- to 7-year-old children's developing understanding of human and non-human minds, a battery of "background knowledge" tasks was administered to 51 American children. The children were asked to speculate about how three other intentional agents (mother, dog, and God) would understand various visual displays. First, children answered when they themselves did not understand the displays, then they answered after they had been given information necessary to understand the displays. Results revealed that children begin to understand the role of background knowledge around the same age that they pass false-belief tasks; and that before thoroughly understanding the role of background knowledge they already begin to discriminate between different types of minds. By age four, children began to show some understanding that because of having different minds than people, God is more able and dogs are less able to understand some visual displays even with full visual access. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radial artery harvesting has been routinely performed by endoscopy. We present a reduced cost technique using a reusable retractor and thermal welding shears. The combination of reusable and disposable tools allows patients to benefit from endoscopic radial artery harvesting with decreased morbidity and favorable cosmetic results. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: The novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) apixaban, rivaroxaban, and dabigatran are indicated for the treatment of nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, but their use in patients with postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is less well defined., Methods: All patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting from 2013 to 2015 (n = 598) were studied. Patients with POAF anticoagulated with either warfarin or NOACs were evaluated for differences in length of stay, blood product use, bleeding, and cost of therapy., Results: There was no significant difference between the NOAC and warfarin group for any of the clinical outcomes evaluated. Time to therapeutic anticoagulation was significantly longer with warfarin. Neither group had a major bleeding event during the initial hospitalization, but 2 patients in the warfarin group had delayed major bleeding complications. Total costs were significantly reduced in patients treated with NOACs., Conclusions: Both NOACs and warfarin are safe and effective means of anticoagulation for POAF after coronary artery bypass grafting. Patients were therapeutic more rapidly and with less cost of treatment when NOACs were used., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Endoscopic vessel harvest for coronary artery bypass conduit has become a routine procedure. With the advancement of endoscopic equipment, radial arteries can be safely harvested with excellent cosmetic results., Methods: One hundred consecutive patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting underwent endoscopic radial artery harvest without complications requiring intervention. The vessel was accessed through a 3-cm long, longitudinal incision performed several millimeters medial to the palpated artery to avoid the lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve. Commercially available endoscopic retractors, using ultrasonic or direct-current shears, were used to ligate side branches and mobilize the pedicled artery and satellite veins. Ligation was performed with clips at the wrist, endo-loops proximally, and endoshears for transection., Results: Patient age ranged from 42 to 88 years; 70% of the patients were men, and 26% were diabetic. Le f t radial arteries were preferentially harvested. All arteries were used and no further conduit was needed because of inadequate length. In 2 patients subcutaneous hematomas formed postoperatively and resolved without exploration. Although some thenar dysthesia was present in 14 patients, no permanent neurovascular injuries occurred. There were no infections, although skin edges did get traumatized from the retractor., Comment: Radial arteries can be harvested in a reproducible, safe, and efficient manner wi th less morbidity and better patient satisfaction.