The art of indigeneity: Aesthetics and competition in Mexican economies of culture

On the basis of ethnographic research with woodcarvers in Oaxaca, Mexico, this paper investigates the role that aesthetic practices play in economic competition in cultural markets. I explain how one family has become the most successful artisans in their village by aesthetically referencing the indigenous art that is highly sought after by the North American ethnic art market. By reformulating Bourdieu's analysis of artistic fields, I argue that aesthetic competition should be theorised at the level of genres, which allow insight into how individual aesthetic innovations may transform the fields in which art is produced and circulated. I show that by referencing indigeneity, this successful family not only accesses a new market but also renders their work more authoritative than the carvings of their neighbours, which aesthetically reference Mexican ‘artesanías’ (craftwork). In so doing, they not only earn more money but also change the ways that Oaxacan woodcarvings are valued in general

The “Missing” Link Between Acute Hemodynamic Effect and Clinical Response

The hemodynamic, mechanical and electrical effects of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) occur immediate and are lasting as long as CRT is delivered. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that acute hemodynamic effects should predict long-term outcome. However, in the literature there is more evidence against than in favour of this idea. This raises the question of what factor(s) do relate to the benefit of CRT. There is increasing evidence that dyssynchrony, presumably through the resultant abnormal local mechanical behaviour, induces extensive remodelling, comprising structure, as well as electrophysiological and contractile processes. Resynchronization has been shown to reverse these processes, even in cases of limited hemodynamic improvement. These data may indicate the need for a paradigm shift in order to achieve maximal long-term CRT response

Advanced algorithms can lead to electrocardiographic misinterpretations

We observed a patient with syncope, who implanted a pacemaker with advanced algorithms such as "atrial-tachy response" and "dynamic atrio-ventricular delay". After one year, conventional ECG Holter showed pacemaker malfunction, wrongly attributed to exposure to electromagnetic field. In fact, telemetry revealed an inappropriate programming and solved our case. Holter monitoring is commonly performed in the evaluation of pacemaker malfunction, albeit it remains a quite shallow diagnostic method especially to detect electromagnetic interferences. New algorithms seem important, but it is reasonable to obtain more suitable analytical tools, too. © 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

Cardiac resynchronisation therapy response predicts occurrence of atrial fibrillation in non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine whether or not cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has a favourable effect on the incidence of new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) in a homogeneous population of patients with non-ischaemic idiopathic-dilated cardiomyopathy and severe heart failure. Methods: We designed a single-centre prospective study and enrolled 58 patients AF naïve when received CRT. After 1 year of follow-up our population was subdivided into responders (72.4%) and non-responders (27.6%), so as to compare the incidence of AF after 1, 2 and 3 years of follow-up in these two groups. Results: Already after 1 year, there was a significant (p < 0.05) difference in new-onset AF in non-responder patients with respect to responders (18.2% vs. 3.3%). These data were confirmed at 2 years (33.3% vs. 12.2%) and 3 years (50.0% vs. 15.0%) follow-up. In particular, 3 years after device implantation non-responders had an increased risk to develop new-onset AF (OR = 5.67). Conclusions: This is the first study analysing long-term effects of CRT in a homogeneous population of patients with non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy, indicating the favourable role of this non-pharmacological therapy on the prevention of AF. © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd