Bodies, Bollywood and Bond. The evolving image of secret agents in Hindi spy thrillers inspired by the 007 franchise

Independent researcherIn the 1960s, after the international commercial success of the James Bond films, many imitations and parodies of the original were made in different parts of the world. In India popular Hindi films were also inspired by the 007 franchise, beginning with the action thriller Farz in 1967. From then on a new genre was formed in the Bombay cinema: Hindi Bond films. These derivative productions were deliberately created to replicate the plot formula and narrative structure of the original Bond series. They underwent considerable development from cheap, amateurish B-movies to big budget commercial hits such as Ek Tha Tiger in 2012. Also the leading characters in Hindi Bond films, the secret agents of the Indian police and intelligence, evolved from the innocent, happy-go-lucky youngsters in the 1960s into the tough, world-weary men of action in the 2010s. One of the most important factors of this gradual change is the way the heroes’ bodies were shown on screen. The focus on the esthetics, the musculature, the physical abilities and sex appeal of the Bombay Bonds was different in every decade. This article concentrates on the evolution of Hindi Bond films: the genre as well as the leading characters

Extraction of abandoned, potentially dangerous lead with uncovered proximal ending: A case report and method description

In this study, we present the case of the extraction of a non-functioning, abandoned, chronically implanted nine year-old lead with proximal extended frayed ending, displaced spontaneously into the subclavian vein. The seemingly inaccessible lead was extracted from the body using the femoral approach. The lead was looped with a pig-tail catheter, standard guide-wire, and basket Dotter catheter, and the proximal ingrown ending was liberated. Finally, it was grasped with a basket catheter and its tip was liberated using oblique cut rotated internal sheath of a Femoral Working Station: using it as a Byrd dilator designed for subclavian approach. An additional difficulty was the risk of dislodging the correct endocardial lead in the pacemaker-dependent patient. The procedure indicates the necessity for the production of longer Byrd dilators designed for the femoral approach. (Cardiol J 2012; 19, 2: 192–196

IPv6 in Virtualization Environments, Journal of Telecommunications and Information Technology, 2011, nr 2

The primary network layer protocol on which the operation of most computer networks is based, including the Internet is the Internet protocol version 4 (IPv4). Due to the limitations of this protocol, it is becoming increasingly widespread use of the Internet protocol version 6 (IPv6). The IPv6 implements some new features not available in IPv4. The paper provides a short overview of the key features of IPv6 and discussed the possible levels of network virtualization. The research environment to testing the level of support for IPv6 protocol by virtualization environments is proposed. The results of tests conducted using the proposed research environment for Hyper-V virtualizer are presented

Komorowa elektroda jedno- czy dwubiegunowa? - 8 lat doświadczeń ze stymulatorami VVI

Wstęp: Elektrody endokawitarne wciąż pozostają "piętą achillesową" współczesnych układów do stałej stymulacji serca. W porównaniu z ogromnym postępem, jaki osiągnięto w konstrukcji stymulatorów, rozwój w technologii elektrod przebiega dużo wolniej. Jednym z parametrów, który budzi kontrowersje od prawie 40 lat jest polarność elektrody. Materiał i metody: Dokonano retrospektywnej analizy zapisów holterowskich u 260 pacjentów z implantowanym jednojamowym komorowym stymulatorem serca (VVI). Grupa I (UP) - 130 pacjentów z implantowanymi stymulatorami VVI z unipolarnymi elektrodami - Biotronik TIR 60-UP, wszczepionymi w latach 1993–1995. Grupa II (BP) - 130 pacjentów z implantowanymi stymulatorami serca VVI z elektrodami bipolarnymi - Biotronik TIR 60-BP, wszczepionymi w latach 1998–2000. Oceniano zaburzenia wyczuwania oraz zaburzenia stymulacji. U wszystkich pacjentów wykonano badanie holterowskie w okresie 3–24 miesięcy, średnio 17,1 miesiąca po implantacji. Wyniki: W grupie I (pacjenci z elektrodami unipolarnymi) - najczęściej obserwowanym zaburzeniem były incydenty oversensing - hamowania miopotencjałami (18 pacjentów). Kolejne zaburzenie to epizody undersensing - zaobserwowane u 6 pacjentów. Zaburzenia stymulacji wystąpiły u 4 chorych. Tylko u 2 osób z grupy II ujawniono nieprawidłowości w funkcjonowaniu układu stymulującego. Były to epizody undersensing u 1 pacjenta i oversensing u 1 chorego. U żadnej osoby z grupy II nie stwierdzono zaburzeń stymulacji. Wnioski: Zastosowanie elektrod dwubiegunowych w istotny sposób zmniejszyło liczbę zaburzeń sterowania zarówno o typie under-, jak i oversensing u pacjentów z implantowanymi stymulatorami VVI. Wydaje się, że postęp w technologii produkcji elektrod wewnątrzsercowych przyczynia się do redukcji ryzyka incydentów zaburzeń stymulacji u pacjentów ze stymulatorami VVI. (Folia Cardiol. 2003; 10: 495–500

The usefulness of 24 hour Holter monitoring in asymptomatic pacemaker patients in early post-implantation period

Background: Twenty four hour Holter monitoring (HM) in an early post-implantation period in asymptomatic patients is considered as class IIb according to the ACC/AHA guidelines. It seems that post-implantation assessment extended by 24 hour HM in these patients might shorten hospitalization and increase safety of these patients. This aspect has not been widely discussed so far. The aim of our study was to evaluate pacing and sensing disturbances in asymptomatic patients with proper parameters of single and double chamber pacemakers. Methods: Studied group included 236 patients implanted with Biotronik Actros S (single chamber) (group I - 130 patients) and Biotronik Actros D or Axios D (group II - 106 patients) pacemakers. In all the patients 24 hour HM was performed 1-6 days after implantation (mean 3.4) in order to assess all pacing and sensing disturbances. Results: Sensing disturbances were found in 2 patients from group I and 22 patients from group II (the most frequent pacemaker failure was atrial undersensing followed by ventricular oversensing-T wave stering). In 1 patient from group I atrial failure to pace was observed. In whole group pacing/sensing disturbances were found in 23% of patients, nevertheless they did not provoke any hemodynamic consequences. Conclusions: In an early post-implantation period pacemaker disturbances occur in 23% of asymptomatic patients being more frequent in patients with dual chamber pacemaker. Atrial undersensing and ventricular oversensing are the most common disturbances, nevertheless having no hemodynamic consequences they are not life-threatening. Detection of these episodes in an early post-implantation period allows for early change in pacemakers’ parameters and thus decreasing risk of rehospitalization. We confirmed the low usefulness of HM in patients with single chamber pacemaker early after implantation

Komorowa elektroda jedno- czy dwubiegunowa? - 8 lat doświadczeń ze stymulatorami VVI

Wstęp: Elektrody endokawitarne wciąż pozostają "piętą achillesową" współczesnych układów do stałej stymulacji serca. W porównaniu z ogromnym postępem, jaki osiągnięto w konstrukcji stymulatorów, rozwój w technologii elektrod przebiega dużo wolniej. Jednym z parametrów, który budzi kontrowersje od prawie 40 lat jest polarność elektrody. Materiał i metody: Dokonano retrospektywnej analizy zapisów holterowskich u 260 pacjentów z implantowanym jednojamowym komorowym stymulatorem serca (VVI). Grupa I (UP) - 130 pacjentów z implantowanymi stymulatorami VVI z unipolarnymi elektrodami - Biotronik TIR 60-UP, wszczepionymi w latach 1993–1995. Grupa II (BP) - 130 pacjentów z implantowanymi stymulatorami serca VVI z elektrodami bipolarnymi - Biotronik TIR 60-BP, wszczepionymi w latach 1998–2000. Oceniano zaburzenia wyczuwania oraz zaburzenia stymulacji. U wszystkich pacjentów wykonano badanie holterowskie w okresie 3–24 miesięcy, średnio 17,1 miesiąca po implantacji. Wyniki: W grupie I (pacjenci z elektrodami unipolarnymi) - najczęściej obserwowanym zaburzeniem były incydenty oversensing - hamowania miopotencjałami (18 pacjentów). Kolejne zaburzenie to epizody undersensing - zaobserwowane u 6 pacjentów. Zaburzenia stymulacji wystąpiły u 4 chorych. Tylko u 2 osób z grupy II ujawniono nieprawidłowości w funkcjonowaniu układu stymulującego. Były to epizody undersensing u 1 pacjenta i oversensing u 1 chorego. U żadnej osoby z grupy II nie stwierdzono zaburzeń stymulacji. Wnioski: Zastosowanie elektrod dwubiegunowych w istotny sposób zmniejszyło liczbę zaburzeń sterowania zarówno o typie under-, jak i oversensing u pacjentów z implantowanymi stymulatorami VVI. Wydaje się, że postęp w technologii produkcji elektrod wewnątrzsercowych przyczynia się do redukcji ryzyka incydentów zaburzeń stymulacji u pacjentów ze stymulatorami VVI. (Folia Cardiol. 2003; 10: 495–500

Clinical and electrocardiographic covariates of deceleration capacity in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

Background: Deceleration capacity (DC) is a novel electrocardiography (ECG) parameter characterizing the overall capacity of slowing down the heart rate. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical and ECG covariates of DC in patients with the first episode of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with primary angioplasty. Methods: Deceleration capacity, heart rate variability (HRV) and heart rate turbulence (HRT) were assessed from 24-hour ECG Holter recordings in 70 patients (66 male, mean age 57 years) with STEMI. Deceleration capacity was evaluated as continuous or dichotomized (£ 4.5 vs. > 4.5 ms) variable. Results: The median value of DC was 5.12 ms. Thirty patients (43%) had abnormal DC (£ 4.5 ms). The abnormal DC was more common in female, older and hypertensive patients. Although DC was not associated with either STEMI localization or left ventricular ejection fraction, it was significantly correlated with mean heart rate, standard HRV indices and HRT slope. Multivariate logistic regression showed that hypertension (OR = 3.23, 95% CI = 1.1-9.9, p = 0.039) and mean heart rate > 70 beats/minute (OR = 6.05, 95% CI = 2.0-18.4, p = 0.001) were independently associated with abnormal DC. Conclusions: Deceleration capacity in patients with the first STEMI treated with primary angioplasty is influenced by age, gender, hypertension and heart rate, but not the location of myocardial infarction or left ventricular ejection fraction. Correlation between DC and HRV indices suggests that DC is related to autonomic modulation of heart rate

Whether noninvasive optimization of AV and VV delays improves the response to cardiac resynchronization therapy

Background: Device optimization is not routinely performed in patients who underwentcardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) device implantation. Noninvasive optimization ofCRT devices by measurement of cardiac output (CO) can be used as a simple method to assessventricular systolic performance. The aim of this study was to assess whether optimization ofatrioventricular (AV) and interventricular (VV) delay can improve hemodynamic response toCRT and whether this optimization should be performed for each patient individually.Methods: Twenty patients with advanced heart failure New York Heart Association (NYHA)class III/IV, left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 35% and left bundle branch block (QRS ≥ 120 ms)in sinus rhythm were evaluated from 24 h to 48 h after implantation of a CRT device by meansof impedance cardiography (ICG). CO was fi rst measured at each patient’s intrinsic rhythm.Patients then underwent adjustments of AV and VV delay from 80 ms to 140 ms and from–60 ms to +60 ms, respectively in 20 ms increment steps and CO at each setting was measuredby ICG. Both AV and VV delays were programmed according to the greatest improvement inCO compared to intrinsic rhythm.Results: There was a statistically signifi cant increase in CO measured at the intrinsic rhythmcompared to different AV delay by mean of 21% (3.8 ± 1.0 vs. 4.6 ± 0.1 L/min, p < 0.05).Optimal AV/VV delays with left ventricle-preexcitation or simultaneous biventricular pacingcaused additional increased CO from intrinsic rhythm by mean of 32.6% (3.8 ± 1.0 vs. 5.04 ±± 1.0 L/min, p < 0.05). Optimal AV/VV setting delays also resulted in improved hemodynamicresponses compared to VV factory setting delay.Conclusions: Both AV and VV delay optimization should be performed in clinical practice.Optimal AV delay improved outcome. However, combination of optimized AV/VV delays providedthe best hemodynamic response. Optimized AV/VV delays with left ventricle-preexcitationor simultaneous biventricular pacing increased hemodynamic output compared to intrinsicrhythm and VV factory setting delay