Reduction of left ventricular mass, left atrial size, and N-terminal pro–B-type natriuretic peptide level following alcohol septal ablation in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy

Background: Alcohol septal ablation (ASA) is an alternative to surgical treatment in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). Through alcohol-induced necrosis, ASA leads to an increase in left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) diameter and a decrease in LVOT pressure gradient. Aims: We sought to assess the effect of ASA on left ventricular (LV) wall thickness and mass, left atrial (LA) size, and N-terminal pro–B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level. Methods: The study cohort consisted of 50 patients with HOCM (30 in the ASA group, 20 in the optimal pharmacotherapy group [OPG]). Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), and NT-proBNP level analysis were performed at baseline and at six months. Results: All parameters are presented as means. In the ASA group, the maximal LVOT pressure gradient decreased from 122.7 to 54.8 mmHg directly after ASA and to 37.2 mmHg after a further six months (p < 0.0001). The NT-proBNP level decreased from 2174.4 to 1103.4 pg/mL (p < 0.001). On TTE, the interventricular septum (IVS) thickness decreased to from 23.6 to 19.4 mm (p < 0.0001) and the lateral wall (LW) thickness decreased from 15.9 to 14.2 mm (p < 0.007). On CMR, basal IVS thickness decreased from 23.7 to 18.0 mm (p < 0.0001) and the LW thickness decreased from 13.2 to 12.2 mm (p = 0.02). IVS mass reduced from 108.9 to 91.5 g (–16%; p < 0.001). All of the above parameters remained unchanged in the OPG. Conclusions: Successful ASA reduces LV hypertrophy and improves parameters of the LV overload, resulting in LV wall hy­pertrophy regression, and LA size and NT-proBNP level reduction. The above parameters may be as useful in assessing the efficacy of ASA as the LVOT gradient itself

Virtual trust : the influence of computer-mediated communication on decision making processes in mixed-motive task

Research on computer-mediated communication (CmC) provides inconsistent conclusions about the consequences of these kind of interactions on the functioning of individuals. The uncertainties relate to areas of research on social dilemmas, which suggests that CmC may in certain situations increase the effectiveness of teamwork. The object of our interest was the infl uence of CmC and face to face interaction (FtF) on the tendency to show a trust (cooperation) in a modifi ed for the purpose of the experiment iterated (nine-rounds lasting) ‘prisoner’s dilemma’ game. Test results provide a coherent conclusions suggesting that tendency to compete increases in FtF communication in comparison to CmC. Participants taking part in a game in CmC variant were over fi ve times more likely to choose cooperation than those who communicate FtF. This trend has also proved stable over time and the result has brought a higher results for CmC group than FtF one (calculated on the basis of the payoff matrix of the game). Obtained effect has been explained by reference to the classical results of studies on the effect of social facilitation-inhibition, where the increased tendency to choose the dominant reaction (competition) may result from the presence of other people (FtF interaction)