AIMS The aim of this study was to validate and assess the feasibility of a previously described method using multibeam high-pulse repetition frequency (HPRF) colour Doppler to quantify the vena contracta area (VCA) in aortic regurgitation (AR). METHODS Twenty-nine patients with mild to severe AR were studied. Regurgitant volume and fraction measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were us...

The Personality and emotions are effective parameters in learning process. Thus, virtual learning environments should pay attention to these parameters. In this paper, a new e-learning model is designed and implemented according to these parameters. The Virtual learning environment that is presented here uses two agents: Virtual Tutor Agent (VTA), and Virtual Classmate Agent (VCA). During the l...

Vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA) is a novel surgical practice that involves the transplantation of multiple tissue types as functional unit without primary purpose extending life. While VCA upper extremity becoming increasingly accepted and performed, lower remains largely unexplored despite its acknowledged potential value. There are inherent ethical concerns surrounding domina...

INTRODUCTION Little or no information is available on the prevalence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) among different ethnic groups in Brunei, or how useful plasma IgA antibodies are against viral capsid antigen (VCA) and early antigen (EA) in the diagnosis of NPC, even though they are routinely measured in patients suspected to have NPC. METHODS The National Cancer Registry at Raja Isteri P...

2-O-Acyl-3-O-(1-acyloxyalkyl) prodrug derivatives, 15, of 5,6-isopropylidene-l-ascorbic acid, VCA, and l-ascorbic acid, VC, have been characterized by measuring (1) their solubilities in water (SAQ) and in 1-octanol (SOCT); (2) the ability of one member of the homologous series, 15a, to diffuse through a silicone membrane from its application in propylene glycol:water (PG:AQ), 30:70; (3) the ab...

This review aims to summarize contemporary evidence of the in vitro and in vivo immunomodulatory effects of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in promoting vascularized composite allotransplant (VCA) tolerance. An extensive literature review was performed to identify pertinent articles of merit. Prospective preclinical trials in mammal subjects receiving VCA (or skin allograft) with administration o...

We find that profilin contributes in several ways to Cdc42-induced nucleation of actin filaments in high speed supernatant of lysed neutrophils. Depletion of profilin inhibited Cdc42-induced nucleation; re-addition of profilin restored much of the activity. Mutant profilins with a decreased affinity for either actin or poly-l-proline were less effective at restoring activity. Whereas Cdc42 must...

PURPOSE: Developing novel treatment concepts to minimize/avoid immunosuppression by induction of immune tolerance represents the prime task in the field of transplantation. In the clinic to date, this was achieved in highly selected patients in clinical trials of kidney transplantation combined with concomitant stem cell or bone marrow transplantation. Vascularized composite allotransplantation...

Purpose We performed a qualitative study to understand psychosocial factors associated with perceived success of upper-extremity vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA). interviewed transplant recipients and their primary caregivers. Methods recruited 4 VCA caregivers for 3 them. conducted semistructured face-to-face interviews using guide that explored participants’ transplantation ex...