Esophageal Electrical Cardioversion of Atrial Fibrillation: When Esophagus Gives a Help to Cardiologists

Atrial fibrillation is a common clinical disease especially in the elderly and in patients with organic heart disease. Electrical cardioversion is the first choice therapeutic approach for patients in which sinus rhythm could improve the quality of life and where the maintenance of sinus rhythm is considered likely. There are different techniques to perform an electrical cardioversion, each with specific indications, advantages, and limitations. The method most frequently used to restore sinus rhythm is external direct current cardioversion; however, this technique has some disadvantages, since it requires a high energy and usually general anesthesia. Esophageal cardioversion is an alternative method to obtain restoration of sinus rhythm, warranting acute and long-term results absolutely comparable with those obtained by the conventional transthoracic technique, especially in obese and COPD patients with high thoracic impedance for whom the standard technique may be less effective

Partners in Crime in the Setting of Recurring Cardiac Arrest

No previous reports are available about the potential dramatic effects resulting from the combination of acquired long QT interval not associated to bradycardia and myocardial ischemia. We report the case of a man that during acute necrotic pancreatitis presented QT interval prolongation without bradycardia, TdP, and two episodes of cardiac arrest. A coronary angiogram revealed a subocclusive stenosis of left anterior descending coronary artery, treated with a percutaneous coronary intervention. After myocardial revascularization, even in presence of long QT interval, no arrhythmic events occurred suggesting the key role of myocardial ischemia in triggering TdP in acquired long QT even without bradycardia. ECG performed six months later, after complete recovery from pancreatitis, showed a normal QT interval

CHARACTERIZATION OF SILK-COTTON AND WOOL-COTTON BLENDS PATTERN BOOKS BY FIBER OPTICS REFLECTANCE SPECTROSCOPY. THE BOOMING MARKET OF FIRST SYNTHETIC TEXTILE DYES IN EARLY 20th CENTURY

A remarkable number of early 20th century azo synthetic textile dyes was characterized by Fiber Optics Reflectance Spectroscopy (FORS). Items are part of silk-cotton and wool-cotton blends pattern books of Leopold Cassella & Co., a leading firm at that time. Focusing on early dyes from this privileged point of view, meant for us providing our own scientific contribution to restore luster to a historical period that represented the keystone from upmarket natural dyes to synthetic ones on a large scale. A selection of spectra on silk-cotton blend with the same dye concentration was compared color by color. In the case of wool-cotton blend textiles, two concentrations were available for each dye. Therefore, spectra comparisons between the same dyes used in silk-cotton and wool-cotton blends were carried out, as well as between the same dyes in different concentration in the case of wool-cotton textiles, simulating possible fading conditions. In addition, almost each analyzed dye was linked to its molecular structure. Finally, the obtained set of data has been statistically treated. The complete dataset was subjected to an exploratory analysis using PCA that exhibited an organization of the samples based on brightness and colors. The generation and validation of a PLS-DA model confirmed the recognizability of the samples based on color and pointed out the excellent conservation conditions implemented. The method provides a non-invasive, fast and low-cost approach for the recognition of azo dyes, based on the combined application of FORS, colorimetric parameters and chemometrics and lays the foundation for a reference database

The tectonic puzzle of the Messina area (Southern Italy): Insights from new seismic reflection data

The Messina Strait, that separates peninsular Italy from Sicily, is one of the most seismically active areas of the Mediterranean. The structure and seismotectonic setting of the region are poorly understood, although the area is highly populated and important infrastructures are planned there. New seismic reflection data have identified a number of faults, as well as a crustal scale NE-trending anticline few km north of the strait. These features are interpreted as due to active right-lateral transpression along the north-eastern Sicilian offshore, coexisting with extensional and right-lateral transtensional tectonics in the southern Messina Strait. This complex tectonic network appears to be controlled by independent and overlapping tectonic settings, due to the presence of a diffuse transfer zone between the SE-ward retreating Calabria subduction zone relative to slab advance in the western Sicilian side

Electrocardiographic features, mapping and ablation of idiopathic outflow tract ventricular arrhythmias

Idiopathic outflow tract ventricular arrhythmias are ventricular tachycardias or premature ventricular contractions presumably not related to myocardial scar or disorders of ion channels. These arrhythmias have focal origin and display characteristic electrocardiographic features. The purpose of this article is to review the state of the art of diagnosis and treatment of idiopathic outflow tract ventricular arrhythmias

FIRB "SQUARE" project: nano-structured sensors for the detection of the polluting in engine exhaust gases and for indoor air quality monitoring

The present work is a final dissemination of activities carried out and main results obtained in the national founded project Firb "Square". The project is leaded by Centro Ricerche Fiat and it involves the most qualified national public Research Institutes and Universities active in the fields of nanomaterials synthesis, nanotechnology and gas sensors development

Effective nonapical left ventricular pacing with quadripolar leads for cardiac resynchronization therapy

Background: Current guidelines recommend avoiding apical left ventricular (LV) pacing for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). Aims: We investigated the feasibility of nonapical pacing with the current quadripolar LV lead technology. Methods: We analyzed consecutive patients who received CRT with an LV quadripolar lead. The post­­implantation position of each electrode of the LV lead was designated as basal, mid, or apical. The pacing capture threshold (PCT) and phrenic nerve stimulation (PNS) threshold were assessed for each electrode. Results: We enrolled 168 patients. A total of 8 CRT defibrillators were from Biotronik (with Sentus OTW QP leads), 98 were from Boston Scientific (with 21 Acuity X4 Spiral and 77 Acuity X4 Straight leads), and 62 from St. Jude Medical (with Quartet leads). The median (interquartile range) number of electrodes at nonapical segments per patient was 3 (1–4) with Biotronik Sentus leads, 4 (3–4) with spiral ­design Boston Scientific leads, 4 (3–4) with straight Boston Scientific leads, and 3 (3–4) with St. Jude Medical Quartet leads (P = 0.045). Three patients (38%) with Biotronik Sentus leads, 21 (100%) with spiral ­design Boston Scientific leads, 69 (90%) with straight ­design Boston Scientific leads, and 49 (79%) with St. Jude Medical Quartet leads (P < 0.001) had at least 1 electrode located at nonapical segments linked with a PNS ­PCT safety margin of more than 2 V. During the 6­month follow ­up, PNS was detected in 4 patients and was eliminated with reprogramming. No significant changes in PCT were detected during follow ­up. Conclusions: Quadripolar leads allowed nonapical pacing with acceptable electrical parameters in the majority of CRT recipients, although differences were found among the currently available devices