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Stefan Schad,1,2,* Michael Booke,1 Serge C Thal,2 Alexander Bentley,2 Hendrik Booke3,* 1Department of Anesthesiology, Varisano-Klinik, Bad Soden, Germany; 2Department of Anesthesiology, Helios University Hospital Wuppertal, University of Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Germany; 3Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Medicine, University Hospital of Münster, Münster, Germany*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Michael Booke, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Varisano-Klinik, Bad Soden, 65812, Germany, Tel +49 6196 657651, Email michael.booke@varisano.deIntroduction: Operating suites are multidisciplinary units par excellence, and mostly they are the most expensive units in hospitals. Interdisciplinary workflow and efficiency are therefore crucial, which is influenced by floor plans varying from hospital to hospital. Most operating rooms are equipped with adjacent induction rooms, allowing preparation and anesthesia induction of the next patient, while the previous patient is still in the operating room. Parallelizing the working steps is thought to improve turn-over time, thus increasing throughput, number of cases and finally revenue. However, this assumption has never been challenged.Methods: We analyzed workflow during regular working hours in an operating suite equipped with a mixture of operating rooms (OR) with next door induction rooms and operating rooms without induction rooms. This allows a direct comparison of both structural elements for efficiency using utilization data over a 24-months period. Both settings were used for gynecological operations.Results: Key result is that induction rooms do not improve perioperative workflow including turn-over time. Instead, ORs without adjacent induction rooms have a significantly shorter turn-over time and OR occupancy duration per case, although surgical time and staffing were similar.Discussion: Adjacent induction rooms require extra space, funding, and high maintenance costs, but they do not speed up peri-operative processes. Modern anesthetic techniques allow for fast induction of and emergence from anesthesia. Induction rooms adjacent to the OR are no longer needed if general anesthesia without extended monitoring is used for the majority of cases.Keywords: operating room, efficacy, induction room, turn-over time

Stefan Schad,1 Hendrik Booke,2 Serge C Thal,3 Alexander H Bentley,3 Michael Booke1 1Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care Medicine and Pain Therapy, Kliniken-MTK, Academic Hospital of the Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany; 2Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care Medicine and Pain Therapy, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany; 3Department of Anesthesiology, HELIOS University Hospital Wuppertal, Witten/Herdecke University, Wuppertal, GermanyCorrespondence: Stefan Schad Email sschad@kliniken-mtk.deAbstract: The anesthesiologist, who traditionally was solely responsible for the intra- and postoperative care of patients, has undergone a transformation over the last decades and has emerged as a specialist for perioperative medicine. This includes preoperative assessment, preoperative stabilization of emergent cases, pre- or postoperative initiation of regional blocks, postoperative recovery and if needed postoperative intensive care outside the intensive care unit. A traditional recovery room, designated to take care of patients emerging from anesthesia only, no longer matches the modern anesthesiologist’s demands. However, a traditional recovery room can easily be transformed into a vibrant multi-purpose perioperative care unit. Especially in smaller hospitals, this serves to match the anesthesiologist’s demands without the financial burden of separate units for each task. On the contrary, it allows to transform the recovery room from a mandatory, but costly postoperative unit into a highly productive and demanding perioperative unit, allowing for extra revenues without corresponding costs. Worldwide, operating rooms are linked to an adjacent recovery room allowing patients to emerge from anesthesia until they fulfill the criteria to be transferred either to the regular ward or, in case of outpatient surgery, to be discharged home. Running these recovery rooms, however, is expensive due to the required technical equipment and the monthly costs of highly qualified anesthesia personnel. Despite these financial burdens, such recovery rooms are still mandatory to ensure full recovery after anesthesia and surgery. In most countries, there is no (full) reimbursement for providing recovery rooms, turning them into fiscally deficient units in most hospitals. However, recovery rooms can be further developed allowing hospitals to improve their caseloads, reduce turnover times in the operating room, and even help to manage a shortage of beds in the intensive care unit. In this paper, we describe the potential transformation from a traditional recovery room to a multi-purpose perioperative high-tech unit.Keywords: recovery room, postanesthesia care unit, perioperative medicine, turnover time, reimbursement, same-day admission, holding area

Decisions involving the economics of home health care agencies require accurate and useful data on agency finances and cost-efficiency relationships. One step in the direction of improving economic management can be taken by defining the agency as a cost center, that is as an economic entity, with which specific resources, revenues and costs which can be expressly identified. This paper describes the economics and accounting frameworks within which resources and costs are classified and allocated into direct and indirect, and fixed and variable categories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatitis B virus antigens and antibodies were detected in the sera of acute and persistently infected patients. Evidence of active virus replication was confined to immediately before or during the initial detection of hepatitis B surface antigen during acute hepatitis B. Hepatitis B core antibody appeared during the period of antigenaemia and preceded recovery. Hepatitis B e antigen was dound in a proportion of sera which contained significant levels of virus particles. In contrast, all sera containing hepatitis B virus particles from persistently infected patients treated by maintenance haemodialysis also contained the e antigen. Among a group of 50 persistent carriers of hepatitis B virus, significant levels of virus production occurred in the presence of antibody to e antigen. In addition, evidence of exposure to hepatitis B virus was found among 3% of blood donors in whose sera the surface antigen was not detected by radioimmunoassay. The significance of these findings is discussed in relation to the aetiology of hepatitis type B. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objectives We report the first clinical experiences with the CARTO-Merge (Biosense-Webster, Diamond Bar, CA, USA) combined with intracardiac ultrasound (ICE) (Acuson, Mountain View, CA, USA) both used for navigation and catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods 18 patients (15 men, 61±10 years) underwent pulmonary vein antrum isolation for symptomatic, drug-resistant AF using Lasso catheter, ICE and CARTO-Merge. The latter system integrated 3D CTA images of the left atrium and pulmonary veins with virtual CARTO maps. Firstly, 3-4 points (Landmarks) were registered on CTA scan according to the real-time position on the electroanatomical map, than 20-40 surface points of the CARTO map were added to finish the registration of the CT scan. Subsequently, the 3D CT anatomical map was used for catheter navigation. Correlation between this reconstruction, ICE and fluoroscopy was documented. Accuracy of the system was evaluated by the software statistical analysis. Results The mean surface inaccuracy was: 2.1±1.6 mm and the mean Landmarks inaccuracy was 8.9±3.0 mm, which reaches the recommended range. Conclusion This novel system appears to have a reliable correlation between CTA and real-time CARTO maps. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Sexual victimization of adult women remains an underreported crime. This systematic review identified and synthesized the barriers to reporting, investigating, prosecuting, and sentencing cases of sexual assault and rape against adult women in Western countries. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, a comprehensive search was conducted on August 3, 2023, across databases including PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Scopus, ProQuest Central, Web of Science, MedNar, and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses. Studies meeting the inclusion criteria provided relevant information on the decision not to formally disclose, investigate, prosecute, or convict incidents of sexual assault and rape of adult women. We included 28 studies and identified 70 barriers in total. Identified barriers were most prevalent to reporting, followed by investigating, prosecuting, and, lastly, sentencing. Key themes in the barriers included lack of trust in the criminal justice system, internal reactions, rape myths and societal norms, and perpetrator characteristics. The identified barriers emphasize an urgent need for reform of the criminal justice system's response to sexual assault and rape. Prioritizing victim-survivors' needs, enhancing transparency of the criminal justice system, and addressing attrition rates are crucial. Future studies need to engage with diverse population to address all victim-survivors' needs and provide further insights into the challenges across all stages of the criminal justice system to enhance the outcome of rape and sexual assault cases., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Background: Post-operative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is common after aortic valve replacement (AVR) and is associated with worse outcomes. We performed a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials comparing Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement (SAVR) and Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) for incidence of POAF at 30 days., Methods: We searched databases from 1/1/1990 to 1/1/2020 for randomized studies comparing TAVR and SAVR. POAF was defined as either worsening or new-onset atrial fibrillation. Random effects model was used to estimate the risk of POAF with TAVR vs SAVR in all trials, and in subgroups (low, intermediate, high risk, and in self-expandable vs balloon expandable valves). Sensitivity analysis was performed including only studies reporting new-onset atrial fibrillation., Results: Seven RCTs were identified that enrolled 7,934 patients (3,999 to TAVR and 3,935 to SAVR). The overall incidence of POAF was 9.7% after TAVR and 33.3% after SAVR. TAVR was associated with a lower risk of POAF compared with SAVR (OR 0.21 [0.18-0.24]; P < 0.0001). Compared with SAVR, TAVR was associated with a significantly lower risk of POAF in the high-risk cohort (OR 0.37 [0.27-0.49]; P < 0.0001), in the intermediate-risk cohort (OR 0.23 [0.19-0.28]; P < 0.0001), low-risk cohort (OR 0.13 [0.10-0.16]; P < 0.0001). Sensitivity analysis of 4 trials including only new-onset POAF showed similar summary estimates (OR 0.21, 95% CI [0.18-0.25]; P< 0.0001)., Conclusions: TAVR is associated with a significantly lower risk of post-operative atrial fibrillation compared with SAVR in all strata. Further studies are needed to identify the contribution of post-operative atrial fibrillation to the differences in clinical outcomes after TAVR and SAVR.

Rationale: We reviewed the concepts and empirical findings in studies with psychedelics and entactogens related to positive psychology - the study of healthy human functioning, well-being and eudaemonia. It is an unresolved question how beneficial effects of psychedelics and entactogens are related to the potential risks of these substances - particularly in non-clinical settings., Methods: We searched in PubMed, PsychINFO and the Cochrane Library for controlled clinical and epidemiological studies which applied concepts from positive psychology. We included N = 77 eligible studies with 9876 participants published before November 1st, 2017: (1) quantitative studies (N = 54), (2) preliminary or exploratory studies and reviews not including meta-analyses (N = 17), and (3) studies evidencing primarily negative results (N = 6)., Results: Positive psychology concepts have been applied for measuring effects of clinical trials, recreational and ceremonial use of psychedelics and entactogens. Psychedelics and entactogens were shown to produce acute and long-term effects on mood, well-being, prosocial behaviours, empathy, cognitive flexibility, creativity, personality factors like openness, value orientations, nature-relatedness, spirituality, self-transcendence and mindfulness-related capabilities., Conclusions: There is preliminary evidence for beneficial effects of psychedelics and entactogens on measures of positive psychology in clinical and healthy populations, however their sustainability remains largely unresolved. The reported results must be considered preliminary due to methodological restrictions. Since longitudinal data on both positive and adverse effects of psychedelics are lacking, more rigorous and standardized measures from positive psychology should be applied in less biased populations with prospective longitudinal designs to carefully assess the benefit-risk-ratio. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'Psychedelics: New Doors, Altered Perceptions'., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Subarachnoid hemorrhage is a stroke subtype with particularly bad outcome. Recent findings suggest that constrictions of pial arterioles occurring early after hemorrhage may be responsible for cerebral ischemia and - subsequently - unfavorable outcome after subarachnoid hemorrhage. Since we recently hypothesized that the lack of nitric oxide may cause post-hemorrhagic microvasospasms, our aim was to investigate whether inhaled nitric oxide, a treatment paradigm selectively delivering nitric oxide to ischemic microvessels, is able to dilate post-hemorrhagic microvasospasms; thereby improving outcome after experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage. C57BL/6 mice were subjected to experimental SAH. Three hours after subarachnoid hemorrhage pial artery spasms were quantified by intravital microscopy, then mice received inhaled nitric oxide or vehicle. For induction of large artery spasms mice received an intracisternal injection of autologous blood. Inhaled nitric oxide significantly reduced number and severity of subarachnoid hemorrhage-induced post-hemorrhage microvasospasms while only having limited effect on large artery spasms. This resulted in less brain-edema-formation, less hippocampal neuronal loss, lack of mortality, and significantly improved neurological outcome after subarachnoid hemorrhage. This suggests that spasms of pial arterioles play a major role for the outcome after subarachnoid hemorrhage and that lack of nitric oxide is an important mechanism of post-hemorrhagic microvascular dysfunction. Reversing microvascular dysfunction by inhaled nitric oxide might be a promising treatment strategy for subarachnoid hemorrhage., (© The Author(s) 2015.)

Background: Adenosine-induced hyperpolarization may identify pulmonary veins at risk of reconnection following electrical isolation for atrial fibrillation. The potential role of adenosine testing in other arrhythmic substrates, such as cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI)-dependent atrial flutter, remains unclear. We assessed whether dormant conduction across the CTI may be revealed by adenosine after ablation-induced bidirectional block, and its association with recurrent flutter., Methods and Results: Patients undergoing catheter ablation for CTI-dependent flutter were prospectively studied. After confirming bidirectional block across the CTI by standard pacing maneuvers, adenosine (≥ 12 mg IV) was administered to assess resumption of conduction, followed by isoproterenol (ISP) bolus. Further CTI ablation was performed for persistent (but not transient) resumption of conduction. Bidirectional block across the CTI was achieved in all 81 patients (63 males), age 61.2 ± 11.0 years. The trans-CTI time increased from 71.9 ± 18.1 milliseconds preablation to 166.2 ± 26.4 milliseconds postablation. Adenosine elicited resumption of conduction across the CTI in 7 patients (8.6%), 2 of whom had transient recovery. No additional patient with dormant conduction was identified by ISP. Over a follow-up of 11.8 ± 8.0 months, atrial flutter recurred in 4 (4.9%) patients, 3/7(42.9%) with a positive adenosine challenge versus 1/74 (1.3%) with a negative response, P = 0.0016 (relative risk 31.7)., Conclusion: Adenosine challenge following atrial flutter ablation provoked transient or persistent resumption of conduction across the CTI in almost 9% of patients and identified a subgroup at higher risk of flutter recurrence. It remains to be determined whether additional ablation guided by adenosine testing during the index procedure may further improve procedural outcomes., (© 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Unlabelled: Holt-Oram (HO) is a syndrome characterized by congenital cardiovascular malformations, specifically atrial and ventricular septal defects, and skeletal abnormalities of the upper limbs bones. Associations of HO cardiac disorders with other congenital cardiac malformations, specifically persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) are rarely reported and its real incidence is unknown. We present a case of this unusual combination in a patient undergoing cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) device implant., Methods and Results: A 63-year-old male with HO and a history of repaired atrial septal defect was presented for implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) upgrade to CRT. The old implant was located in the right prepectoral area. The old device pocket in the right was accessed and a venous access to the right subclavian vein was obtained. The coronary sinus (CS) was easily cannulated and a long sheath advanced into the CS. A contrast injection revealed an unusually big-sized CS, with a diameter 2.5 times the fully deployed balloon. A 0.035 wire was advanced retrograde reaching the confluence of the innominate and left subclavian veins. The outer sheath was advanced to this location and contrast venography through the sheath allowed visualization of the left jugular and subclavian veins and visualization of the PLSVC draining into the CS. No target veins for lead implant were identified. The patient was referred for surgical implant of an epicardial lead. Transesophageal echocardiogram showed a CS identified as an unusually big vascular structure located between the left atrium and the left atrial appendage., Conclusion: We report an uncommon association of HO and PLSVC. This association was only reported twice in the past and this is the first one that constitutes a casual finding during the attempt of CRT device implant. This is a combination that may complicate a device implant and recognition of it in advance may avoid performing potentially unsuccessful procedures., (© 2011 Copyright the Authors. Congenital Heart Disease © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Implanting new leads for defibrillation or pacing leads could be problematic as a result of venous obstruction. Up to 50% of patients with pacemaker/implantable cardioverter defibrillator leads have an asymptomatic subclavian vein obstruction. Overcoming this obstruction could be very challenging. The current approaches of contralateral access, extraction and surgical intervention have significant drawbacks. This report presents an alternative approach that uses percutaneous subclavian balloon venoplasty successfully to regain venous access. We believe that this technique is safe and effective.

Background: Many patients requiring permanent pacemaker (PPM) or implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) placement are anticoagulated with warfarin, aspirin (ASA), and clopidogrel for a number of thromboembolic risk indications. The present review sought to evaluate the relationship between continuation of these medications in the peri-procedural period and the incidence of hematoma formation after implantation., Methods: We retrospectively reviewed consecutive patients undergoing PPM and ICD implantation at our hospital from January 2007-2009. All patients on warfarin, aspirin, and clopidogrel were maintained on these medications peri-operatively. We collected data on the use of warfarin at implantation, INR prior to device implantation, use of dual-antiplatelet therapy (DAPT), such as concomitant aspirin and clopidogrel and subsequent formation of hematoma in the peri-procedure period., Results: PPM and ICD implantations were performed in 194 men and six women. The mean age was 73 years old. Fifty eight patients were taking warfarin with an average international normalized ratio of 1.9 +/- 0.6; 112 were on ASA, 23 on clopidogrel, and 20 of them on DAPT. Only five patients were on DAPT and warfarin combined at the time of device implantation. Hematomas formed in a total of seven patients (3.5%), five of whom were on DAPT consisting of ASA and clopidogrel (P < 0.0001) while only two of them were on warfarin (P = 0.67). Pocket revision for hematoma evacuation was needed in four patients (2%), three of whom were on DAPT and only one on warfarin., Conclusion: This study suggests that hematoma formation after PPM or ICD implantation is rare, even among those who are anticoagulated. There were more patients with hematoma on DAPT than warfarin therapy and half of these patients with this complication needed pocket revision for evacuation. (PACE 2010; 385-388).

Coronary sinus diverticula are rare findings usually associated with the presence of accessory pathways. We report the case of a 74-year-old man, who underwent cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) device implant. Coronary sinus diverticulum was an incidental finding while attempting to subselectively cannulate the coronary sinus for left ventricle lead implant. The case was able to be completed without complications.

In recent years, several studies have unequivocally shown the occurrence of cortical spreading depressions (CSDs) after stroke and traumatic brain injury (TBI) in humans. The fundamental question, however, is whether CSDs cause or result from secondary brain damage. The aim of the current study was, therefore, to investigate the role of CSDs for secondary brain damage in an experimental model of TBI. C57/BL6 mice were traumatized by controlled cortical impact. Immediately after trauma, each animal showed one heterogeneous direct current (DC) potential shift accompanied by a profound depression of electroencephalogram (EEG) amplitude, and a temporary decrease of ipsi- and contralateral regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) suggesting bilateral CSDs. Within the next 3 h after TBI, CSDs occurred at a low frequency (0.38 CSD/h per animal, n=7) and were accompanied by rCBF changes confined to the ipsilateral hemisphere. No significant relationship between the number of SDs and lesion size or intracranial pressure (ICP) could be detected. Even increasing the number of posttraumatic CSDs by application of KCl by more than six times did not increase ICP or contusion volume. We therefore conclude that CSDs may not contribute to posttraumatic secondary brain damage in the normally perfused and oxygenated brain.

Neuroprotective effects of the lipophilic beta(2)-adrenoceptor agonist clenbuterol have been established in neuronal cultures and in various rodent models of stroke. In previous studies, however, clenbuterol was always applied as a racemate, while it has not been established whether the enantiomers differ in their neuroprotective activities. Here, we demonstrate that R,S-clenbuterol and S(+)-clenbuterol, but not the R(-)-enantiomer protect cultured neurons against glutamate-mediated excitotoxicity and staurosporine-induced apoptosis. Similar to previous findings with clenbuterol racemate, the neuroprotective effect of S(+)-clenbuterol correlated well with morphological changes of astrocytes which transformed into dense stellate cells with dendritic processes indicating beta(2)-adrenoceptor-mediated activation. Most importantly, the S(+)-enantiomer but not R(-)-clenbuterol reduced ischemic brain damage similar to the effect of the racemate. The selective beta(2)-adrenoceptor antagonist butoxamine blocked this neuroprotective effect of S(+)-clenbuterol. In addition, S(+)-clenbuterol significantly reduced blood pressure, enhanced blood glucose levels and increased glucocorticoid levels compared to vehicle-or R(-)-clenbuterol-treated controls. These results clearly demonstrate that S(+)-clenbuterol is the eutomer that mediates neuroprotective effects of the beta(2)-adrenoceptor agonist but also according changes of physiological parameters.

Background: Elimination of vagal inputs into the left atrium (LA) may be necessary for successful catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF). These vagal inputs are clustered in autonomic ganglia (AG) that are close to the pulmonary vein antrum (PVA) borders, but whether standard intracardiac echocardiography (ICE)-guided PVA isolation (PVAI) affects these inputs is unknown., Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess whether standard ICE-guided PVAI affects vagal responses induced by endocardial AG stimulation in the LA., Methods: Twenty consecutive patients undergoing first-time PVAI (group 1) and 20 consecutive patients undergoing repeat PVAI for AF recurrence (group 2) were enrolled in the study. Before ablation, electrical stimulation (20 Hz, pulse duration 10 ms, voltage range 12-20 V) was performed through an 8-mm-tip ablation catheter. Based on prior data, regions around all four PVA borders were carefully mapped and stimulated to localize AG inputs. A positive stimulated vagal response was defined as atrioventricular (AV) block, asystole, or increase in mean RR interval by >50%. Locations of positive vagal responses were recorded wth biplane fluoroscopy and CARTO. All patients then underwent standard ICE-guided PVAI by an operator blinded to the locations of vagal responses. Stimulation of the AG locations was then repeated postablation., Results: Patients (age 54 +/- 11 years, 30% female, ejection fraction 54% +/- 7%) had a history of paroxysmal (75%) and persistent (25%) AF. In group 1, vagal responses were induced in all 20 patients around a mean of 3.8 +/- 0.4 PVAs per patient. The most common response was asystole (53%), mean RR slowing >50% (28%), and AV block (20%). Postablation, vagal responses could no longer be induced in all 20 patients. A diminished response was induced (RR slowing <50%) in 2/20 patients around one PVA each. In group 2, vagal responses were not induced in any of the 20 repeat patients. Stimulation capture postablation was confirmed because transient, nonsustained (<30 seconds) AF or atrial flutter was induced in all 40 patients with stimulation, whether vagal responses were induced or not., Conclusions: Standard ICE-guided PVAI eliminates vagal responses induced by AG stimulation. Responses are not seen in patients presenting for repeat PVAI, despite clinical recurrence of AF.

Objectives: We sought to test how catheter ablation using an open irrigation catheter (OIC) compares with standard catheters for pulmonary vein antrum isolation., Background: Open irrigation catheters have the advantage of delivering greater power without increasing the temperature of the catheter tip, which enables deeper and wider lesions without the formation of coagulum on catheters., Methods: Catheter ablation was performed using an 8-mm catheter (8MC) or an OIC. Patients were randomized to 3 groups: 8MC; OIC-1, OIC with a higher peak power (50 W); and OIC-2, OIC with lower peak power (35 W)., Results: A total of 180 patients were randomized to the 3 treatment strategies. Isolation of pulmonary vein antra was achieved in all patients. The freedom from atrial fibrillation was significantly greater in the 8MC and OIC-1 groups compared with the OIC-2 group (78%, 82%, and 68%, respectively, p = 0.043). Fluoroscopy time was lower in OIC-1 compared with OIC-2 and 8MC (28 +/- 1 min, 53 +/- 2 min, and 46 +/- 2 min, respectively, p = 0.001). The mean left atrium instrumentation time was lower in the OIC-1 compared with the OIC-2 and 8MC groups (59 +/- 3 min, 90 +/- 5 min, and 88 +/- 4 min, respectively, p = 0.001). However, there was a greater incidence of "pops" in the OIC-1 (100%, 0%, 0%, p < 0.001) along with higher incidences of pericardial effusion (20%, 0%, 0%, p < 0.001) and gastrointestinal complaints (17% in OIC-1, 3% in 8MC, and 5% in OIC-2, p = 0.031)., Conclusions: Although there was a decrease in fluoroscopy and left atrium instrumentation time with the use of OIC at higher power, this setting was associated with increased cardiovascular and gastrointestinal complications.

Background: Catheter ablation has significantly transformed the clinical management of atrial fibrillation (AF). The safety and efficacy of this procedure are not well understood in patients with pacemakers and defibrillators., Objectives: The purpose of this study was to study the impact of radiofrequency catheter ablation of AF in patients with pacemakers and implantable cardiac defibrillators., Methods: We studied 86 patients with pacemakers and defibrillators (group I) and a similar number of age- and gender-matched controls (group II) who underwent AF ablation between 1999 and 2004. Clinical and procedural variables were compared between the two groups. In group I, various generator and lead parameters were compared before and after the procedure. Resurgence of clinical AF after 2 months was considered recurrence., Results: Both groups were similar with regard to age, gender, body mass index, and type of AF. Group I had a higher incidence of diabetes (17% vs 6%, P = .03), coronary artery disease (25% vs 13%, P = .05), less prolonged AF (31 +/- 21 vs 45 +/- 30 months, P <.001), lower left ventricular ejection fraction (49 +/- 13% vs 52 +/- 9%, P = .03), and left ventricular end-diastolic dimensions (4.97 +/- 0.81 vs 4.72 +/- 0.67, P = .03). No changes in the sensing and pacing thresholds, impedance of atrial and ventricular leads, or defibrillator coil impedance after AF ablation were observed in group I. Atrial lead dislodgment was seen in two patients. Transient abnormal but "expected" pulse generator behavior was seen in 25% of patients without permanent malfunction. Stroke (1% vs 1%, P = 1.000), pulmonary vein stenosis (2% vs 1%, P = .77), and AF recurrence rates at 12 months were similar between groups I and II, respectively (19% vs 21%, P = .73)., Conclusion: AF ablation is safe and efficacious in patients with pacemakers and defibrillators.

Background and Purpose: Although excitotoxic overactivation of glutamate receptors has been identified as a major mechanism of ischemic brain damage, glutamate receptor antagonists failed in stroke trials, in most cases because of limited therapeutic windows or severe adverse effects. Therefore, we chose memantine and clenbuterol, both approved safe and efficient in their respective therapeutical categories, and examined combinations of these neuroprotectants for possible therapeutic interactions in ischemic stroke., Methods: Combinations of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist memantine (20 mg/kg) with the beta2-adrenoceptor agonist clenbuterol (0.3 to 3 mg/kg) were tested in a mouse model of permanent focal cerebral ischemia. In addition, combinations of memantine (1 to 10 nmol/L) and clenbuterol (1 to 10 nmol/L) were examined in cultured hippocampal neurons exposed to glutamate (500 micromol/L) or staurosporine (200 nmol/L)., Results: The infarct size was further reduced by combination therapy as compared with effects of the respective neuroprotectants alone. Of note, in combination with memantine, the therapeutic window of clenbuterol was significantly prolonged up to 2 hours after ischemia. Experiments in postnatal cultures of rat hippocampal neurons exposed to glutamate or staurosporine confirmed that neuroprotection by combinations of memantine and clenbuterol exceeded the effects of the individual compounds., Conclusions: Combinations of memantine with clenbuterol extend the respective therapeutic window and provide synergistic cerebroprotective effects after stroke.

Background: This article describes the results of a retrospective study of 3 classes of medical students who participated in a targeted occupational and environmental health curriculum at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine., Purpose: We wanted to determine if targeted focused curricular interventions which integrated occupational and environmental health principles into routine history taking would result in increased scores on the number of questions posed during the Clinical Skills Assessment Program in the 4th year., Methods: We analyzed Clinical Skills Assessment Program questions for 3 graduating medical school classes from 1997 to 1999., Results: It appears that intense, focused training may increase the occupational and environmental questions which students ask. By revisiting the components of the history during the 3rd year, the final assessment of 4th-year students substantially and significantly increased., Conclusions: Those who wish to stem the decline in history-taking skills as students enter their clinical years should consider reinforcing these skills using structured programs and practice in areas of the history that are traditionally neglected but recognized as essential in gathering comprehensive data on patients.

Background: Career development of health professionals is one of many uses of Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), with many studies reported from the 1950s. Since 1977, no large-scale effort to collect data on the medical school population has been reported., Purpose: To determine (a) changes in MBTI profiles of medical students over time, (b) differences between the profiles of men and women and the effects of the increased number of women in medical school, (c) possible associations between type and career choices, and (d) possible type differences of graduates selecting primary care and specialties., Method: Twelve U.S. schools with data on 3,987 students contributed to a database of their graduates' MBTI type and specialty choice at Match., Results: Compared with data from the 1950s, the type distribution of physicians has remained fairly stable, save for a trend toward more judging types. Women in medicine today are more representative of the general population on the feeling dimension than earlier, when medicine was more male-dominated. Women are more likely than men to choose primary care specialties, as are those with preference for introversion and feeling. Feeling types choose Family Medicine significantly more often than thinking types; male, extraverted, and thinking types choose surgical specialties. Of those selecting nonprimary care, male, extraverted, and thinking types choose surgical specialties significantly more than women, introverted, and feeling types., Conclusion: Type remains useful for understanding how some aspects of personality relate to medical specialty choice.

A program of 8 lessons on various aspects of osteoarthritis (OA), its treatment, and patient self-care was prepared on an Apple IIc computer. The courses were then field-tested and evaluated by 72 older (age range 52-88) OA patients in community centers for senior citizens. Statistical analysis of the findings showed significant increases in knowledge and significant self-reported, beneficial behavior changes, including increased exercise, use of heat, and rest. Our findings demonstrate that older persons can use the computer to learn to cope with OA when a thoughtfully planned program is made available in a community setting.

Dysmorphic erythrocytes have been described in the urine sediment of patients with renal parenchymal bleeding. This study compares the prevalence of dysmorphic erythrocytes in 5,128 urine specimens with blood, erythrocytic, or fibrin casts, proteinuria, and significant numbers of exfoliated renal tubular cells (RTCs). Of the 510 samples containing pathologic casts, 15% had dysmorphic erythrocytes, 60% had proteinuria, 71% had RTCs, and 12% had no other urinalysis abnormality. Of the 186 samples containing dysmorphic erythrocytes, 55% had pathologic casts, 42% had proteinuria, 71% had RTCs, and 13% had no other abnormality. Renal hematuria can best be evaluated by examination of all four of these urinalysis abnormalities rather than using a single entity for diagnosis. Patients with urinalysis evidence of renal hematuria should be evaluated further for renal disease rather than lower urinary tract disorders.

Following a six-week program of training in a series of exercises, a significant number of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary emphysema showed decided improvement in functional activity. Subjective improvement also was noted and kept the patient motivation high. Preliminary observations indicated that the improvement could be maintained long after the end of the training period.