Venous Obstruction Following Pacemaker or Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Implantation, Mini Review

Venous obstruction is relatively frequent following permanent pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation. However, most of them are asymptomatic. Although the exact risk factor for this complication is not known, number of leads, heart failure and infection may prone the patient to this complication. The goal standard for detection of vein stenosis is venography; however, ultrasound sonography has an acceptable accuracy. Anticoagulant therapy may be considered for symptomatic patients. For device upgrading, non-functional leads removal, venoplasty and rarely surgical treatment may be indicated

His Bundle Extrasystole or A Dual Atrioventricular Nodal Response

A dual atrioventricular (AV) nodal response and His bundle extrasystole cannot be different in many cases with certainty. We present a 31-year-old man with episodes of palpitation and conducted and non-conducted His bundle extrasystole detected during an electrophysiology study

Enzyme replacement therapies: What is the best option?

Despite many beneficial outcomes of the conventional enzyme replacement therapy (ERT), several limitations such as the high-cost of the treatment and various inadvertent side effects including the occurrence of an immunological response against the infused enzyme and development of resistance to enzymes persist. These issues may limit the desired therapeutic outcomes of a majority of the lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs). Furthermore, the biodistribution of the recombinant enzymes into the target cells within the central nervous system (CNS), bone, cartilage, cornea, and heart still remain unresolved. All these shortcomings necessitate the development of more effective diagnosis and treatment modalities against LSDs. Taken all, maximizing the therapeutic response with minimal undesired side effects might be attainable by the development of targeted enzyme delivery systems (EDSs) as a promising alternative to the LSDs treatments, including different types of mucopolysaccharidoses (MPSs ) as well as Fabry, Krabbe, Gaucher and Pompe diseases

Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy With or Without Defibrillation

No abstract available

Enhancing Safety on Construction Sites by Detecting Personal Protective Equipment and Localizing Workers Using Computer Vision Techniques

The construction industry is among the world's most dangerous industries, with a high number of accidents and fatalities. Following safety guidelines and wearing the required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is an essential step in mitigating accidents. Safety managers and inspectors are responsible for making sure safety regulations are correctly followed. However, safety inspection is time-consuming, costly, and is done based on a random basis and for a short period. In order to facilitate safety inspection, various research studies are done using different techniques and technologies. Detecting PPE using Computer Vision (CV) has gained a lot of interest in enhancing construction sites' safety. Nevertheless, detecting PPE on large construction sites and generating safety reports is still a big challenge. Additionally, real-world 2D localization of workers is critical to monitor workers’ safety based on their location. This research proposes an automated framework consists of three modules to enhance the safety of construction sites. The first module of the framework is the PPE Detection (PPED) module, which detects and tracks the workers and their PPE on large construction sites based on the frame segmentation technique. The second module is the PPE Safety Report Generation (PPESRG), which uses PPED results to match workers in two overlapping views and generate technical and practical high-level safety reports while protecting workers’ privacy. Finally, the third module of the framework is a Single-camera Localization (SL) module that uses worker detection results from the PPED module and camera calibration parameters to locate workers on 2D real-world coordinate and monitor workers’ safety based on their location on the construction site.   The proposed framework is validated using real-world construction videos, and the experimental results of each module demonstrate the practicality and robustness of applying on real-world construction sites. Based on different test videos, the PPED module has achieved 99.04% precision, 91.61% recall, and 90.77% accuracy. Furthermore, the generated safety reports are validated by the safety managers of the project as being practical for safety monitoring on the construction sites. Finally, the proposed CL module is validated with an average error of the average 1.58 m for locating workers on the construction sites. The main contributions of this research are: (1) proposing a nested network based on frame segmentation technique that improved the worker and PPE detection rate on large construction sites, (2) proposing a safety report generation method, which benefits from PPED results of two cameras to generate practical safety reports while protecting workers’ privacy and (3) single-camera based technique which is fast and easy to implement on large construction sites in order to locate workers. Future works will focus on accelerating the detection process, improving CV-based localization accuracy, and benefitting from other data sources to enhance generated safety reports (e.g., schedule, etc.)

IoT-Based Smart Management of Healthcare Services in Hospital Buildings during COVID-19 and Future Pandemics

The paper aims to design and develop an innovative solution in the Smart Building context that increases guests' hospitality level during the COVID-19 and future pandemics in locations like hotels, conference locations, campuses, and hospitals. The solution supports features intending to control the number of occupants by online appointments, smart navigation, and queue management in the building through mobile phones and navigation to the desired location by highlighting interests and facilities. Moreover, checking the space occupancy, and automatic adjustment of the environmental features are the abilities that can be added to the proposed design in the future development. The proposed solution can address all mentioned issues regarding the smart building by integrating and utilizing various data sources collected by the internet of things (IoT) sensors. Then, storing and processing collected data in servers and finally sending the desired information to the end-users. Consequently, through the integration of multiple IoT technologies, a unique platform with minimal hardware usage and maximum adaptability for smart management of general and healthcare services in hospital buildings will be created

Strategy to manage T-Wave Oversensing in a Biventricular ICD

T-wave oversensing is a relatively prevalent cause of intracardiac signals oversensing in patients with Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD). Some of these oversensings are typically corrected with device reprogramming. If reprogramming fails to resolve the issue, invasive options such as repositioning the implanted lead may be necessary. We present a patient with dilated cardiomyopathy and intermittent T wave oversensing by a cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) that was managed by altering V-V timing

Content of toxic and essential metals in recrystallized and washed table salt in Shiraz, Iran

BACKGROUND: Table salt is the most commonly used food additive. Since most of the salt consumed in Iran comes from mines, contamination with heavy metals is a health concern. The commonest salt purification method in Iran is washing with water. But recently, some industries have turned to recrystallization method. The present study aimed to determine the level of essential and non-essential heavy metals in the table salt refined with recrystallization and washing methods. METHODS: Thirty eight pre-packed salt samples were directly collected from retail market in Shiraz (22 samples refined with recrystallization method and 16 with washing method). The level of lead, cadmium, copper, zinc, nickel and cobalt was determined using Voltammetric method. Daily intakes of lead and cadmium as well as their weekly intakes were calculated. RESULTS: The levels of lead, cadmium, copper, zinc, nickel and cobalt in recrystallized samples were 0. 30 ± 0.26, 0.02 ± 0.02, 0.11 ± 0.06, 0.34 ± 0.22, 0.15 ± 0.19 and 0.008 ± 0.007 μg/g, respectively, and also 0.37 ± 0.27, 0.017 ± 0.021, 0.19 ± 0.18, 0.37 ± 0.20, 0.13 ± 0.23 and 0.037 ± 0.06 μg/g in washed salt samples. The calculated weekly intake of lead and cadmium was 0.216 and 0.014 μg/kg, respectively for the recrystallized and 0.2653 and 0.0119 μg/kg for the washed salts. CONCLUSION: All values for toxic metals were lower than the permitted maximum for human consumption as prescribed by Codex and Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran. Only 0.8652-1.0612% of lead and 0.17-0.2% of cadmium PTWIs are received via salt consumption weekly

Comparison of Diagnostic Value of Cast Analyzer X Iranian Software versus Curve Expert Software for Arch Form Construction based on Mathematical Models

Objective: For the assessment of primary arch form, different methods have been used including qualitative classifications, inter-canine and inter-molar widths and quantitative and numerical methods using mathematical models. The purpose of this study was to compare the validity and reliability of Cast Analyzer X Iranian software with those of Curve Expert Professional version 1.1 for arch form construction based on mathematical models.Methods: This diagnostic, in vitro study was performed on 18 sets of dental casts with normal Class I occlusion. The clinical buccal points (bracket attachment sites)(CBPs) were marked on each tooth and their spatial coordinates were digitized using a three-dimensional (3D) laser scanning system. These coordinates were entered in Cast Analyzer X and Curve Expert software programs. Arch forms were constructed by the software programs using Brown’s beta function, Noroozi’s beta function and fourth order polynomial equation. The root mean square (RMS) of the distance from a reference point to their corresponding points on the curve was calculated. The RMS values in the  two software programs were compared.Results: The RMS values in Brown’s beta function, Noroozi’s beta function and fourth order polynomial equation were significantly different in the Cast Analyzer X software (p<0.001) and the fourth order polynomial equation had the lowest RMS. The difference in RMS values between the two software programs was not clinically considerable and was 0.45 and 0.68 mm for the fourth order polynomial equation and Brown’s beta function, respectively.Conclusion: Considering the RMS values, the fourth order polynomial equation is the most suitable analysis for describing normal dental arch forms best fitted with the CBPs. Although the difference between the two software programs was statistically significant, this difference was not clinically noticeable. The RMS value was lower in Cast Analyzer X and consequently the fitting of curves  with the landmarks (CBP) was better in the Iranian software

Effect of vitamin supplementation on serum oxidized low-density lipoprotein levels in male subjects with cardiovascular disease risk factors.

Objective(s):Oxidized low-density lipoproteins (ox-LDLs) appear to play a significant role in atherogenesis. In fact, circulating ox-LDL concentrations have been recognized as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). The main objectives of this study were to assess the effects of antioxidant vitamins on ox-LDL as a biomarker of CVD in male subjects with CVD risk factors. Materials and Methods:The effect of antioxidant vitamins on ox-LDL as a biomarker of CVD in male subjects with CVD in male subjects with CVD risk factors at baseline and after 12 weeks of supplementation with vitamin E (400 IU), C (500 mg), ß-carotene (15 mg), and the combined supplements (E, C, and ß-carotene) respectively defined as group E, C, B and control group was considered as group P. Results:The mean values for ox-LDL at the baseline were 86.93 ± 26.30 U/l in group C, 94.52 ± 38.40 U/l in group E, 79.73±2.07 U/l in group B, 85.97±23.07 U/l in combined group, and 84.90± 14.66 U/l in group P. After 12 weeks of intervention the percentage of changes for group C, group E, group B, COM group, and group P were (-18.32), (-2286), (-17.31), (-19.01) and (-2.0), respectively. Using Wilcoxon method, significant differences were detected in the mean ox-LDL concentrations of baseline and after intervention, values in the C, E, B and combined groups (P< 005). Conclusion:This study illustrated that diet supplemented with vitamin C (500 mg), vitamin E (400 IU), ß-carotene (15 mg), and the combination of these vitamins was associated with lower serum ox-LDL levels