A computerised system for measurement of vibration at the abdominal surface was constructed which was addressed to the evaluation of gastrointestinal (GI) motor function. Preliminary studies revealed a dominant low frequency signal which was synchronous with the heartbeat and was considered representative of aortic pulsation. This was excluded by selective spectral filtration. The remaining sig...

BACKGROUND A novel estradiol-based combined oral contraceptive (COC) is currently available in many countries worldwide, including Europe and the US. Based on previous studies, it is expected that this estradiol-based COC will have a reduced hepatic effect compared with COCs containing ethinylestradiol with regard to proteins controlling the hemostatic balance. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study...

The active forms of all marketed hydroxymethylglutaryl (HMG)-CoA reductase inhibitors share a common dihydroxy heptanoic or heptenoic acid side chain. In this study, we present evidence for the formation of acyl glucuronide conjugates of the hydroxy acid forms of simvastatin (SVA), atorvastatin (AVA), and cerivastatin (CVA) in rat, dog, and human liver preparations in vitro and for the excretio...

Using functions in various forms, recent database publications have assigned “scores”, “preference values”, and “probabilistic values” to object-relational database tuples. We generalize these functions and their evaluations as sideway functions and sideway values, respectively. Sideway values represent the advices (recommendations) of data creators or preferences of users, and are employed for...

Using functions in various forms, recent database publications have assigned “scores”, “preference values”, and “probabilistic values” to object-relational database tuples. We generalize these functions and their evaluations as sideway functions and sideway values, respectively. Sideway values represent the advices (recommendations) of data creators or preferences of users, and are employed for...

BACKGROUND Sinus of Valsalva aneurysm (SVA) may be congenital or acquired. They could mimic ventricular tumor symptoms and cause signs and symptoms of ventricular outflow tract obstruction. They may also involve the conduction system and cause palpitations or syncopal episodes. Both transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) serve as quick, noninvasive metho...

STUDY DESIGN Retrospective study. OBJECTIVE To assess the relationship between sagittal alignment of the cervical spine and patient-reported health-related quality-of-life scores following multilevel posterior cervical fusion, and to explore whether an analogous relationship exists in the cervical spine using T1 slope minus C2-C7 lordosis (T1S-CL). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA A recent study ...

Background Cervical sagittal alignment plays an important role in the pathogenesis of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM), but there are limited studies on the cervical sagittal parameters in CSM patients and their correlations with myelopathy. The aim of this study is to investigate the correlations among the preoperative cervical sagittal alignment parameters and their correlations with the...

Recent evidence has shown that the inhibitors of the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (statins) might exert antiarrhythmic effects both in experimental models and in humans. In this study we analyzed the effects of atorvastatin and simvastatin acid (SVA) on the currents responsible for the duration of the plateau of human atrial action potentials: hKv1.5, Kv4.3, and L-type Ca(2+)...

A 64-year-old man was admitted with unstable angina pectoris. He had been followed-up at outpatient clinics for mild to moderate aortic regurgitation and bicuspid aortic valve. He developed complete atrioventricular block (AVB) and underwent permanent pacemaker implantation 9 years previously. Cardiac catheterization showed severe stenosis at the left main trunk, as well as unexpected unrupture...