A process for designing algorithm-based personalized gamification

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Accuracy of echocardiographic area-length method in chronic myocardial infarction : comparison with cardiac CT in pigs

Abstract Background We evaluated echocardiographic area-length methods to measure left ventricle (LV) volumes and ejection fraction (EF) in parasternal short axis views in comparison with cardiac computed tomography (CT) in pigs with chronic myocardial infarction (MI). Methods Male farm pigs with surgical occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery (n = 9) or sham operation (n = 5) had transthoracic echocardiography and cardiac-CT 3 months after surgery. We measured length of the LV in parasternal long axis view, and both systolic and diastolic LV areas in parasternal short axis views at the level of mitral valve, papillary muscles and apex. Volumes and EF of the LV were calculated using Simpson’s method of discs (tri-plane area) or Cylinder-hemiellipsoid method (single plane area). Results The pigs with coronary occlusion had anterior MI scars and reduced EF (average EF 42 ± 10%) by CT. Measurements of LV volumes and EF were reproducible by echocardiography. Compared with CT, end-diastolic volume (EDV) measured by echocardiography showed good correlation and agreement using either Simpson’s method (r = 0.90; mean difference −2, 95% CI −47 to 43 mL) or Cylinder-hemiellipsoid method (r = 0.94; mean difference 3, 95% CI −44 to 49 mL). Furthermore, End-systolic volume (ESV) measured by echocardiography showed also good correlation and agreement using either Simpson’s method (r = 0.94; mean difference 12 ml, 95% CI: −16 to 40) or Cylinder-hemiellipsoid method (r = 0.97; mean difference:13 ml, 95% CI: −8 to 33). EF was underestimated using either Simpson’s method (r = 0.78; mean difference −6, 95% CI −11 to 1%) or Cylinder-hemiellipsoid method (r = 0.74; mean difference −4, 95% CI–10 to 2%). Conclusion Our results indicate that measurement of LV volumes may be accurate, but EF is underestimated using either three or single parasternal short axis planes by echocardiography in a large animal model of chronic MI

Systemic Dosing of Thymosin Beta 4 before and after Ischemia Does Not Attenuate Global Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Pigs

The use of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and aortic cross-clamping causes myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (I-RI) and can lead to reduced postoperative cardiac function. We investigated whether this injury could be attenuated by thymosin beta 4 (TB4), a peptide which has showed cardioprotective effects. Pigs received either TB4 or vehicle and underwent CPB and aortic cross-clamping for 60 min with cold intermittent blood-cardioplegia and were then followed for 30 h. Myocardial function and blood flow was studied by cardiac magnetic resonance and PET imaging. Tissue and plasma samples were analyzed to determine the amount of cardiomyocyte necrosis and apoptosis as well as pharmacokinetics of the peptide. In vitro studies were performed to assess its influence on blood coagulation and vasomotor tone. Serum levels of the peptide were increased after administration compared to control samples. TB4 did not decrease the amount of cell death. Cardiac function and global myocardial blood flow was similar between the study groups. At high doses a vasoconstrictor effect on mesentery arteries and a vasodilator effect on coronary arteries was observed and blood clot firmness was reduced when tested in the presence of an antiplatelet agent. Despite promising results in previous trials the cardioprotective effect of TB4 was not demonstrated in this model for global myocardial I-RI.Peer reviewe

Effect of Inhaled Xenon on Cardiac Function in Comatose Survivors of Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest-A Substudy of the Xenon in Combination With Hypothermia After Cardiac Arrest Trial

Peer reviewe

Effect of Inhaled Xenon on Cardiac Function in Comatose Survivors of Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest—A Substudy of the Xenon in Combination With Hypothermia After Cardiac Arrest Trial

OBJECTIVES: This explorative substudy aimed at determining the effect ofinhaled xenon on left ventricular function by echocardiography in comatose survivorsof out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.DESIGN: A randomized two-group single-blinded phase 2 clinical drug trial.SETTING: A multipurpose ICU in two university hospitals.PATIENTS: Of the 110 randomized comatose survivors after out-of-hospital cardiacarrest with a shockable rhythm in the xenon in combination with hypothermiaafter cardiac arrest trial, 38 patients (24–76 yr old) with complete echocardiographywere included in this study.INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomized to receive either inhaled xenoncombined with hypothermia (33 C) for 24 hours or hypothermia treatment alone.Echocardiography was performed at hospital admission and 24 4 hours afterhypothermia.MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Left ventricular ejection fraction,myocardial longitudinal systolic strain, and diastolic function were analyzedblinded to treatment. There were 17 xenon and 21 control patients in whom echocardiographywas completed. Clinical characteristics did not differ significantlybetween the groups. At admission, ejection fraction was similar in xenon and controlpatients (39% 10% vs 38% 11%; p = 0.711) but higher in xenon thancontrol patients after hypothermia (50% 10% vs 42% 10%; p = 0.014).Global longitudinal systolic strain was similar in xenon and control patients atadmission (–9.0% 3.8% vs –8.1% 3.6%; p = 0.555) but better in xenonthan control patients after hypothermia (–14.4.0% 4.0% vs –10.5% 4.0%;p = 0.006). In patients with coronary artery disease, longitudinal strain improved inthe nonischemic myocardial segments in xenon patients. There were no changesin diastolic function between the groups.</p

Increasing Industry-Academia Collaboration : Types of Regional Software Engineering Companies and Their Needs from Academia

Improvements in the industry-academia collaboration have been argued to bring wide range of benefits for both communities, increasing innovation capacity for industry and providing academy access to real-world environments. However, building close collaborative ties between SE industry and academia has been slow and difficult. Academia has struggled to keep pace with SE engineering profession in reacting to new platforms and trends and in creating realistic SE learning environments for the students. Consequently, the students’ initial experiences in the industry have turned out to be rather different than their education. This paper describes early efforts to increase industry-academia collaboration in the Finnish region of South Savo. Through the process of searching, contacting, and interviewing regional SE companies, we began to see similarities and differences between SE companies in the region. In this paper, we describe five emerged archetypes of regional SE companies and report their preferences for industry-academia collaboration

An online tool for analyzing written student feedback

Collecting student feedback is commonplace in universities. Feedback surveys usually have both open-ended questions and Likert-type questions, but the answers to open questions tend not to be analysed further than simply reading them. This paper presents a tool for analyzing written student feedback using topic modeling and emotion analysis. We demonstrate the utility of this tool using course survey responses from a software engineering (SE) programme