Cross-sectional echocardiographic recognition of submitral left ventricular aneurysm

Three cases of annular submitral left ventricular aneurysm precisely diagnosed by cross-sectional echocardiography are reported from the Indian subcontinent. The cineangiographic findings are available in all and morphologic findings in two cases. The apical four-chamber view demonstrated a characteristically large aneurysm arising below the mural leaflet of the mitral valve extending anterolaterally and posteriorly and communicating with the left ventricular cavity in all the cases. Contrast echocardiography performed during cardiac catheterisation promises to be a good technique for the qualitative assessment of the associated mitral regurgitation. Cross-sectional echocardiography is invaluable in diagnosis and assessment of results of surgery in this entity.     

Moving beyond Definitive Therapy: Increasing Physical Activity in Survivors of Cancers of the Head and Neck

As chemotherapeutic, radiation, and surgical techniques have improved, there has been a dramatic improvement in survival in patients diagnosed with cancers of the head and neck. As a result, a heightened focus on survivorship by clinicians will increasingly prove necessary. In particular, medical care teams will have to pay special attention to mitigating the long-term sequelae of definitive cancer treatments, many of which act as barriers to exercise. This is unfortunate, as the benefits of exercise in patients with cancer have become increasingly recognized. In this review, we discuss the potential benefits of and barriers to exercise in survivors of cancers of the head and neck. We also review existing exercise guidelines and strategies by which clinicians can promote exercise in this unique patient population.     

Ventricular tachycardia induced by Valsalva's manoeuvre in a patient with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

We describe a patient with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy who developed reproducible ventricular tachycardia during Valsalva's manoeuvre. This phenomenon has not previously been described.     

Lower Extremity and Trunk Electromyographic Muscle Activity During Performance of the Y-Balance Test on Stable and Unstable Surfaces

BackgroundThe Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) has been used as a rehabilitation exercise. To improve its efficacy, efficiency, and method variations, the Y-Balance Test (YBT) with anterior (A), posterolateral (PL), and posteromedial (PM) directions of the SEBT has been recommended. Electromyographic activity has been reported to change when the same task is performed on various surfaces.Hypothesis/PurposeTo compare the EMG activity of trunk and LE muscles during the performance of the YBT on stable and unstable surfaces.Study DesignCross-Sectional study.MethodsHealthy adults with no history of chronic ankle instability were recruited for the study. Surface electromyography was collected for bilateral (ipsilateral [i] and contralateral [c]) rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique (EOB), erector spinae (ES). While, gluteus maximus (GMAX), gluteus medius (GMED), medial hamstrings (MH), biceps femoris (BF), vastus medialis (VM), rectus femoris (RF), vastus lateralis (VL), anterior tibialis (AT), and medial gastrocnemius (MG) on the stance leg (ipsilateral side), during the performance of the YBT. The unstable surface was introduced using a Thera-Band stability trainer. Differences in electromyography were examined for each reach direction and muscle between the stable and unstable surfaces (p≤ 0.05).ResultsTwenty (10 male, 10 female) subjects participated (age: 27.5 ± 4.0 years, height:167 ± 1.0 cm, weight: 66.5 ± 13.0 kg, body fat: 14.1 ± 6.2%). Significantly higher muscle activity for the unstable surface (p<0.05) with moderate to large effect sizes were observed for the following muscles in the A direction: GMED, GMAX, VM, RF, and MG; PL direction: iEOB, iES, cES, GMED, BF, VM, RF, and MG; and PM direction iEOB, iES, GMED, BF, VM, and RF. Significantly higher muscle activity for the stable surface (p = 0.007) was observed in MH muscle in the A direction. No significant differences (p>0.05) between the stable and unstable surfaces were observed in iRA, cRA, cEOB, VL, and AT for any of the directions of the YBT.ConclusionAn increase in muscle activity was observed during YBT on unstable versus stable surfaces for some muscles.Level of Evidence2B     

Real-time photovoltaic parameters assessment of carbon quantum dots showing strong blue emission

The need for replacing conventional sources of energy with renewable ones has been on a swift rise since the last couple of decades. In this context, the progress in third-generation solar cells has taken a good leap in the last couple of years with increasing prospects of high efficiency, stability, and lifetime. Quite recently, a new form of carbon has been discovered accidentally in the form of carbon quantum dots (C QD), which is being pursued actively owing to its chemical stability and luminescent properties. In the current work, we report highly luminescent C QD prepared via a simple hydrothermal route. Transmission electron microscopy revealed an average particle size of 3.4 nm. The prepared C QD were used in a co-sensitized solar cell, where an improvement in the device characteristics was observed. The enhancement in the device characteristics is supported by impedance and electron life-time analysis. Further, the time-dependent analysis of the current and voltage revealed the functioning of the solar cell in real-time condition.

Carbon QD showing bright blue fluorescence aid in improving the photovoltaic parameters in a co-sensitized solar cell. Time-dependent I–V analysis revealed the real-time functioning of the device.     

Automated Detection of Caffeinated Coffee-Induced Short-Term Effects on ECG Signals Using EMD,DWT, and WPD

The effect of coffee (caffeinated) on electro-cardiac activity is not yet sufficiently researched. In the current study, the occurrence of coffee-induced short-term changes in electrocardiogram (ECG) signals was examined. Further, a machine learning model that can efficiently detect coffee-induced alterations in cardiac activity is proposed. The ECG signals were decomposed using three different joint time–frequency decomposition methods: empirical mode decomposition, discrete wavelet transforms, and wavelet packet decomposition with varying decomposition parameters. Various statistical and entropy-based features were computed from the decomposed coefficients. The statistical significance of these features was computed using Wilcoxon’s signed-rank (WSR) test for significance testing. The results of the WSR tests infer a significant change in many of these parameters after the consumption of coffee (caffeinated). Further, the analysis of the frequency bands of the decomposed coefficients reveals that most of the significant change was localized in the lower frequency band (<22.5 Hz). Herein, the performance of nine machine learning models is compared and a gradient-boosted tree classifier is proposed as the best model. The results suggest that the gradient-boosted tree (GBT) model that was developed using a db2 mother wavelet at level 2 decomposition shows the highest mean classification accuracy of 78%. The outcome of the current study will open up new possibilities in detecting the effects of drugs, various food products, and alcohol on cardiac functionality.     

Imaging of neurovascular emergencies in pregnancy and puerperium

Acute neurovascular events, though rare, can complicate pregnancy and postpartum period. It is important to be aware of these clinical conditions for reducing maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. In this review, we present a few important neurovascular emergencies and their imaging manifestations by various imaging modalities—computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and digital subtraction angiography (DSA)—which presented at our institution in the peripartum period.