A cluster of network nodes utilizing Slepian-Wolf distributed source coding is considered. Under energy constraints in the nodes, a low complexity algorithm to find the optimal configuration (including source coding rates and transmit durations) maximizing the number of samples collected by the cluster is proposed. Exact closed form solutions are derived when the fusion center is not energy con...

Aortic valve replacement (AVR) for patients with functioning internal mammalian artery (ITA) grafts is technically challenging, and the optimal treatment strategy for these situations remains controversial. Here, we report five cases of AVR with ITA graft using continuous retrograde cardioplegia in addition to moderate hypothermia without the clamping of ITA and discuss the management of these ...

BACKGROUND Traditional harvesting of the internal thoracic artery (ITA) for use as a conduit in coronary bypass surgery involves the dissection of a rim of tissue surrounding the artery on either side. Recent studies, primarily observational, have suggested that skeletonization of the ITA can improve conduit flow, increase length, and reduce the risk of deep sternal infection in high risk patie...

OBJECTIVE We investigated the mechanism of the protamine action and the effects of free hemoglobin on protamine-induced responses in endothelium-denuded and-intact human internal thoracic artery (ITA) rings precontracted with phenylephrine (PE) or high KCl. METHODS Samples of redundant ITA obtained from patients undergoing a coronary artery bypass graft surgery were cut into 3 mm wide rings a...

BACKGROUND Definitive fate of the coronary endothelium after implantation of a drug-eluting stent remains unclear, but evidence has accumulated that treatment with rapamycin-eluting stents impairs endothelial function in human coronary arteries. The aim of our study was to demonstrate this phenomenon on functional, morphological and biochemical level in human internal thoracic arteries (ITA) se...

OBJECTIVE The internal thoracic artery (ITA) is the most important graft in coronary artery bypass grafting. Its distal region is, however, prone to vasospasm. We studied the effects of nitroglycerin (NTG) and isosorbide-dinitrate (DSDN) on distal segments of left versus right ITA. METHODS Rings of distal segments (6 to 9 mm proximal to bifurcation) of the human left and right ITA were studie...

Today the internal thoracic artery (ITA) is the preferred conduit for coronary artery bypass. It has been clinically demonstrated that an arterial conduit fits better with the hemodynamic conditions of an arterial system, where a systemic arterial pressure is present. The recent surgical improvements allow to use a single pedicle of ITA for multiple bypasses. They can be also constructed sequen...

We performed a randomized study to compare internal thoracic artery (ITA) flow response to two harvesting methods used in the skeletonization procedure: ultrasonic scalpel and bipolar electrocautery. Sixty patients scheduled for CABG were randomized to receive either ultrasonically (n=30 patients) or electrocautery (n=30 patients) skeletonized ITAs. Intraoperative ITA graft mean flows were obta...

The anatomical relationship between the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) and the inferior thyroid artery (ITA) was studied in 76 embalmed corpses, 8 females and 68 males. In both sexes, the RLN lay more frequently between branches of the ITA.; it was found in this position in 47.3% of male corpses and 42.8% of female ones. On the right, RLN was found between branches of the ITA in 49.3% of the c...