Over a median follow-up period of 7 months, 22 (22.2%) patients died and 23 (23.2%) patients were rehospitalized for HF. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a significantly lower event-free survival in high predicted-E/e’ group HF patients with reduced EF (P = 0.0247). No significant differences were observed in HF rehospitalization rates between the two groups. Conclusion In this single-centre prospective study of patients with ADHF, LDS predicted echocardiographic E/e’ measurements and showed prognostic value in predicting all-cause mortality in HF patients with a reduced EF.Computational modeling of cardiovascular flows is becoming increasingly important in a range of biomedical applications, and understanding the fundamentals of computational modeling is important for engineering students. In addition to their purpose as research tools, integrated image-based computational fluid dynamics platforms can be used to teach the fundamental principles involved in computational modeling and generate interest in studying cardiovascular disease. We report the results of a study performed at five institutions designed to investigate the effectiveness of an integrated modeling platform as an instructional tool and describe “best practices” for using an integrated modeling platform in the classroom. Use of an integrated modeling platform as an instructional tool in nontraditional educational settings (workshops, study abroad programs, in outreach) is also discussed. find more Results of the study show statistically significant improvements in understanding after using the integrated modeling platform, suggesting such platforms can be effective tools for teaching fundamental cardiovascular computational modeling principles.Aims Long QT syndrome (LQTS) is an inherited cardiac ion channelopathy predisposing to life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. The aim of this study was to investigate left ventricular mechanical abnormalities in LQTS patients and establish a potential role of strain as a marker of arrhythmic risk. Methods and results We included 47 patients with genetically confirmed LQTS (22 LQT1, 20 LQT2, 3 LQT3, and 2 SCN3B) and 25 healthy controls. A history of cardiac events was present in 30 LQTS subjects. Tissue Doppler and speckle tracking echocardiography were performed and contraction duration was measured by radial and longitudinal strain. The radial strain characteristic was subdivided into two planes – the basal and the apical. Left ventricular ejection fraction and global longitudinal strain were normal in LQTS patients. Mean contraction duration was longer in LQTS patients compared with controls in regard to basal radial strain (491 ± 57 vs. 437 ± 55 ms, P less then 0.001), apical radial strain (450 ± 53 vs. 407 ± 53 ms, P = 0.002), and longitudinal strain (445 ± 34 vs. 423 ± 43 ms, P = 0.02). Moreover, contraction duration obtained from apical radial strain analysis was longer in symptomatic compared with asymptomatic LQTS mutation carriers (462 ± 49 vs. 429 ± 55 ms, P = 0.024), as well as in subject with mutations other than LQT1 considered to be at higher risk (468 ± 50 vs. 429 ± 49 ms, P = 0.01). Conclusion Myocardial contraction duration is prolonged for both radial and longitudinal directions in LQTS patients. Regional left ventricular function analysis may contribute to risk stratification. Apical radial deformation seems to select subjects at higher risk of arrhythmic events.Competence in muscle biopsy evaluation is a core component of neuropathology practice. The practicing neuropathologist should be able to prepare frozen sections of muscle biopsies with minimal artifacts and identify key histopathologic features of neuromuscular disease in hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections as well as implement and interpret a basic panel of additional histochemical, enzyme histochemical, and immunohistochemical stains. Important to everyday practice is a working knowledge of normal muscle histology at different ages, muscle motor units, pitfalls of myotendinous junctions, nonpathologic variations encountered at traditional and nontraditional muscle sites, the pathophysiology of myonecrosis and regeneration, and approaches to distinguish muscular dystrophies from inflammatory myopathies and other necrotizing myopathies. Here, we provide a brief overview of what every neuropathologist needs to know concerning the muscle biopsy.Background We sought to compare the dysplasia detection rate of high-definition white light endoscopy (HDWLE) with that of chromoendoscopy in patients with long-standing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Methods This is a retrospective observational cohort of patients with IBD who underwent surveillance colonoscopy between October 1, 2016 and September 30, 2017. We assessed the association between dysplasia detection and multiple variables. Results A total of 808 unique colonoscopies were performed, of which 150 (18.6%) included chromoendoscopy. Primary sclerosing cholangitis was a comorbid diagnosis in 24.5% of patients. The performing endoscopist was an IBD specialist with 37.1% of patients and had >10 years’ experience with 64.9% of patients. Prior dysplasia had been seen in 245 (30.3%) patients 102 (68.0%) and 143 (22.0%) among patients who had chromoendoscopy and HDWLE, respectively. Dysplasia in polyps was found in 129 procedures (15.1%). Among patients who had chromoendoscopy and HDWLE, polypoid dyspla dysplasia detection in patients with chronic IBD-colitis after adjusting for multiple known risk factors.We synthesized amino-modified poly(ε-caprolactone) PCN-b-PEG-b-PCN (PECN) triblock copolymers and studied the contribution of the introduced amino groups to the drug delivery efficiency of PECN nanoparticles (NPs) and their injectable thermosensitive hydrogels. PECN15 with an optimal amino group content was obtained. Firstly, the hydrophobic drug paclitaxel (PTX) was loaded into PECN15 up to 5.91% and formed PTX/PECN NPs 90 nm in size and with a slightly positive charge (7.3 mV). Furthermore, the injectable PTX/PECN NPs aqueous solution (25 wt%) at ambient temperature could undergo fast gelation at 37 °C and sustainedly release PTX/PECN NPs in 10 days. More importantly, compared with our previously reported PECT NPs, the PECN NPs without an increase in toxicity could improve the cell uptake and enhance intracellular drug release by responding to the acidic environment of the endosome. Thus, the PTX/PECN NPs presented a lower IC50 of 3.14 μg mL-1 than that of the PTX/PECT NPs (7.67 μg mL-1) and free PTX (4.65 μg mL-1).