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The present study evaluated risk factors related to persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) at discharge (AF-d) and recurrent atrial fibrillation (rAF) and all-cause death after the maze IV procedure. Two hundred nineteen patients (63 female, aged 52.5±8.8 years) with valve disease and persistent AF undergoing valve surgery and the maze IV procedure in our center between 2015 and 2016 were included. Baseline demographic and clinical data were obtained by review of medical records. The median follow-up period was 27 months (interquartile range 21–34 months) in our patient cohort. The primary end point was all-cause death. The secondary end point was AF-d or rAF. rAF is defined as AF recurrence at 3 months or later after the procedure. Twenty-eight patients (12.8%) died during follow-up. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that thrombocytopenia, elevated serum total bilirubin level, a larger right atrium, AF-d, and rAF were independent determinants for all-cause death after the maze IV procedure after adjustment for age, sex, and clinical covariates, including New York Heart Association class III/IV disease, hypertension, and aortic regurgitation, while valvular disease duration and left atrial diameter greater than 80.5 mm were independent determinants for AF-d, and thrombocytopenia, elevated serum total bilirubin level, higher mean pulmonary artery pressure, and AF-d were independent predictors for rAF. In conclusion, thrombocytopenia, elevated serum total bilirubin level, an enlarged right atrium, AF-d, and rAF are independent predictors of all-cause death in patients undergoing the maze IV procedure.

Image virtual try-on task has abundant applications and has become a hot research topic recently. Existing 2D image-based virtual try-on methods aim to transfer a target clothing image onto a reference person, which has two main disadvantages: cannot control the size and length precisely; unable to accurately estimate the user's figure in the case of users wearing thick clothes, resulting in inaccurate dressing effect. In this paper, we put forward an akin task that aims to dress clothing for underwear models. %, which is also an urgent need in e-commerce scenarios. To solve the above drawbacks, we propose a Shape Controllable Virtual Try-On Network (SC-VTON), where a graph attention network integrates the information of model and clothing to generate the warped clothing image. In addition, the control points are incorporated into SC-VTON for the desired clothing shape. Furthermore, by adding a Splitting Network and a Synthesis Network, we can use clothing/model pair data to help optimize the deformation module and generalize the task to the typical virtual try-on task. Extensive experiments show that the proposed method can achieve accurate shape control. Meanwhile, compared with other methods, our method can generate high-resolution results with detailed textures., 10 pages, 9 figures, conference

Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a ubiquitous, persistent beta herpesvirus. CMV infection contributes to the accumulation of functional antigen‐specific CD8(+) T‐cell pools with an effector‐memory phenotype and enrichment of these immune cells in peripheral organs. We review here this ‘memory T‐cell inflation’ phenomenon and associated factors including age and sex. ‘Collateral damage’ due to CMV‐directed immune reactivity may occur in later stages of life – arising from CMV‐specific immune responses that were beneficial in earlier life. CMV may be considered an age‐dependent immunomodulator and a double‐edged sword in editing anti‐tumour immune responses. Emerging evidence suggests that CMV is highly prevalent in patients with a variety of cancers, particularly glioblastoma. A better understanding of CMV‐associated immune responses and its implications for immune senescence, especially in patients with cancer, may aid in the design of more clinically relevant and tailored, personalized treatment regimens. ‘Memory T‐cell inflation’ could be applied in vaccine development strategies to enrich for immune reactivity where long‐term immunological memory is needed, e.g. in long‐term immune memory formation directed against transformed cells.

Background Patients with brain tumor or pancreatic cancer exhibit the poorest prognosis, while immune fitness and cellular immune exhaustion impacts their survival immensely. This work identifies differences in the immune reactivity to the common human pathogens cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) between patients with brain tumor in comparison to those with pancreatic cancer and healthy individuals. Methods We characterized the humoral and cellular immune responses of patients with brain tumor or pancreatic cancer to cytomegalovirus structural protein pp65 (CMV-pp65) as well as Epstein–Barr nuclear antigen-1 (EBNA-1) by whole-blood assay and ELISA. Results Anti-CMV-pp65 plasma immunoglobulin gamma (IgG) titers were significantly lower in patients with brain tumor compared to healthy donors and patients with pancreatic cancer. Among the responding patients with GBM, those with a weak anti-CMV IgG response also had a decreased median overall survival (p = 0.017, 667 vs 419 days) while patients with brain tumor showed a generally suppressed anti-CMV immune-reactivity. Patients with brain tumor exhibited a significantly lower interferon gamma (IFNγ) response to EBNA-1 and CMV-pp65 compared to patients with pancreatic cancer or healthy donors. This antigen-specific response was further amplified in patients with brain tumor upon conditioning of whole blood with IL-2/IL-15/IL-21. Exclusively in this setting, among the responding patients with GBM, those exhibiting a EBV-specific cellular immune response above the median also displayed an increased median overall survival pattern compared to weak responders (753 vs 370 days, p

Background Previous studies have shown that acetylation plays a critical role in regulating the progress of cardiovascular diseases by acetylated histone and non-histones protein. However, the global lysine acetylome during atrial fibrillation (AF) were not fully understood. Purpose The aim of the present study was to identify the underlying mechanisms of AF via profiling of the quantitative changes of global proteomics and lysine acetylome in the left atrial appendage (LAA) tissues from valvular heart disease patients with AF. Methods This study obtained LAA specimens from patients undergoing cardiac surgery for severe valvular heart disease. The LAA specimens were obtained from both 9 patients with AF and with sinus rhythm (SR). The changes of proteome and acetylome in the AF-LAA vs SR-LAA tissues were studied using dimethyl-labeling, HPLC fractionation, affinity enrichment, LC-MS/MS analysis, database Search and bioinformatic analysis. The acetylated levels of each lysine acetylated site were normalized on the basis of the corresponding protein abundance. Results The bioinformatic analysis indicates 294 up-regulated (AF/SR ratio >1.3) proteins and 169 down-regulated (AF/SR ratio Interaction network of Ac-proteins Conclusions This study details and expands our understanding of the changes of proteome and lysine acetylome in the LAA tissues from valvular heart disease patients with AF. The data suggest important expression differences of acetylated proteins related to energy metabolism and cardiac contraction which may be involved in the matrix of AF formation and maintainence. Acknowledgement/Funding This work was supported by the grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (no. 81600273, no. 81570310, no.81770337 and no.81870258)

Pulmonary artery-derived ventricular arrhythmia is gradually being recognized, which in a clinical context is recognized as an arterial ectopic beat. Our study aimed to provide new insights on the epidemiological characteristics, origin site, electrocardiogram (ECG) characteristics, intracardiac electrophysiological characteristics and radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) strategies for pulmonary artery-derived ventricular arrhythmia. Patients with a distance between the origin site and the pulmonary valve of >10 mm have what is known as pulmonary trunk-derived ventricular arrhythmia, while patients with a distance between the origin site and the pulmonary valve of ≤10 mm have what is known as pulmonary sinus cusp-derived ventricular arrhythmia. It is very difficult to differentiate pulmonary artery-derived ventricular arrhythmia from right ventricular outflow tract-derived ventricular arrhythmia on ECGs as both share similar anatomical features, but pulmonary artery-derived ventricular arrhythmia shows obvious intracardiac electrophysiological characteristics. Currently, conclusions based on the epidemiological characteristics of pulmonary artery-derived ventricular arrhythmia, relationship between the origin site and the pulmonary valve, electrophysiological characteristics, and RFCA strategies are controversial and still need further study.

Context: Axillary vein puncture is an alternative method for pacemaker leads implantation. However, the safety and effectiveness of axillary vein puncture become an issue for debate now. Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of a modified axillary vein technique for pacemaker implantation. Settings and Design: This modified axillary vein technique refers to a novel axillary vein puncture method combined with caudal 35° fluoroscopy and surface anatomic landmarks including deltopectoral groove, coracoid process, and the first rib. Subjects and Methods: This technique was applied to 139 consecutive patients referred for pacemaker implantation between March 1, 2016, and December 31, 2016, at our department. Statistical Analysis Used: None. Results: Success rate of pacemaker implantation was 96.4% (134/139). Five patients (3.60%) were switched to an alternate approach for leads implantation. There were no procedure-related complications such as pneumothorax, hemopneumothorax, major bleeding, and significant pocket hematoma. Conclusion: This modified axillary vein puncture strategy combining caudal 35° fluoroscopy and surface anatomic landmarks is safe and feasible for pacemaker implantation.

// Liu Zhenjiang 1 , Martin Rao 1 , Thomas Poiret 1,2 , Silvia Nava 1 , Qingda Meng 1 , Anna von Landenberg 1 , Jiri Bartek Jr. 3,4,5 , Shanshan Xie 6 , Georges Sinclair 3 , Inti Peredo 3 , Ernest Dodoo 3,* and Markus Maeurer 1,2,* 1 Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Therapeutic Immunology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden 2 Centre for Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden 3 Department of Neurosurgery, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden 4 Department of Clinical Neuroscience and Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden 5 Department of Neurosurgery, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark 6 Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden * These authors have contributed equally to this work Correspondence to: Markus Maeurer, email: // Keywords : glioblastoma, mesothelin, T-cell response, interferon gamma, immunotherapy, Immunology and Microbiology Section, Immune response, Immunity Received : February 25, 2017 Accepted : June 11, 2017 Published : August 16, 2017 Abstract Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) presents the most malignant form of glioma, with a 5-year survival rate below 3% despite standard therapy. Novel immune-based therapies in improving treatment outcomes in GBM are therefore warranted. Several molecularly defined targets have been identified mediating anti-GBM cellular immune responses. Mesothelin is a tumor-associated antigen (TAA) which is expressed in several solid tumors with different histology. Here, we report the immunological significance of mesothelin in human malignant glioma. Expression of mature, surface-bound mesothelin protein was found to bein human GBM defined by immunofluorescence microscopy, and on freshly isolated, single cell suspension of GBM tumor cells and GBM tumor cell lines, determined by based on flow cytometric analysis. Peripheral blood (PB) from patients with GBM, stimulated with mesothelin peptides and IL-2, IL-15 and IL-21, exhibited increased antigen-specific IFN-γ and TNF-α production. Anti-mesothelin directed T-cell responses could also be detected in tumor - infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) isolated from GBM speciments. Furthermore, T cells cultured in the presence of IL-2, IL-15 and IL-21 displayed enhanced mesothelin-specific CD4+ and CD8+ subset proliferation, based on ELISA and flow cytometric readouts. Mesothelin-specific IgG antibodies as well as (shed) mature mesothelin protein were detected in plasma samples from patients with GBM by indirect ELISA. Finally yet importantly, we identified distinct immune recognition hotspots within the mature mesothelin component, defined by peptide-specific IFN-γ responses from peripheral T-cells from patients with GBM. Mesothelin may therefore qualify as a viable target for immunotherapeutic approaches for patients with GBM.

Background Real-time radiofrequency (RF) ablation lesion assessment is a major unmet need in cardiac electrophysiology. Objective The purpose of this study was to assess whether improved temperature measurement using a novel thermocoupling (TC) technology combined with information derived from impedance change, contact force (CF) sensing, and catheter orientation allows accurate real-time prediction of ablation lesion formation. Methods RF ablation lesions were delivered in the ventricles of 15 swine using a novel externally irrigated-tip catheter containing 6 miniature TC sensors in addition to force sensing technology. Ablation duration, power, irrigation rate, impedance drop, CF, and temperature from each sensor were recorded. The catheter "orientation factor" was calculated using measurements from the different TC sensors. Information derived from all the sources was included in a mathematical model developed to predict lesion depth and validated against histologic measurements. Results A total of 143 ablation lesions were delivered to the left ventricle (n = 74) and right ventricle (n = 69). Mean CF applied during the ablations was 14.34 ± 3.55g, and mean impedance drop achieved during the ablations was 17.5 ± 6.41 Ω. Mean difference between predicted and measured ablation lesion depth was 0.72 ± 0.56 mm. In the majority of lesions (91.6%), the difference between estimated and measured depth was ≤1.5 mm. Conclusion Accurate real-time prediction of RF lesion depth is feasible using a novel ablation catheter-based system in conjunction with a mathematical prediction model, combining elaborate temperature measurements with information derived from catheter orientation, CF sensing, impedance change, and additional ablation parameters.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and most severe form of malignant gliomas. The prognosis is poor with current combinations of pharmaceutical, radiotherapy, and surgical therapy. A continuous search for new treatments has therefore been ongoing for many years. Therapy with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) is a clinically promising strategy to treat various cancers, including GBM. An endovascular intraarterial injection of TILs as a method of delivery may, instead of intravenous infusion, result in better retention of effector cells within the tumor. Prior to clinical trials of intra-arterial injections with any cells, preclinical safety data with special emphasis on embolic–ischemic events are necessary to obtain. We used native rabbits as a model for intra-arterial injections with routine clinical catheter material and a clinical angiography suite. We selectively infused a total dose of 20 million activated T cells at a cell concentration of 4,000 cells/ml over 8 min of injection time. The rabbits were evaluated for ischemic lesions by 9.4 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) ( n = 6), and for tracking of injected cells, single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) was used ( n = 2). In this study, we show that we can selectively infuse activated T cells to a CNS volume of 3.5 cm3 (estimated from the volumetric MRI) without catastrophic embolic– ischemic adverse events. We had one adverse event with a limited basal ganglia infarction, probably due to catheter-induced mechanical occlusion of one of the lateral lenticulostriatal arteries. The cells pass through the native brain without leaving SPECT signals. The cells then, over the first hours, end up in the liver to a large extent and to a lesser degree by the spleen, pancreas, and kidneys. Virtually no uptake could be detected in the lungs. This indicates a difference in biodistribution as opposed to other cell types when infused intravenously.

// Qingda Meng 1 , Davide Valentini 2 , Martin Rao 1 , Zhenjiang Liu 1 , Shanshan Xie 1 , Ann Morgell 3 , Ernest Dodoo 1 , Matthias Lohr 3 , Elena Rangelova 3 , Marco del Chiaro 3 , Ingemar Ernberg 4 and Markus Maeurer 1, 2 1 Division of Therapeutic Immunology (TIM), Department of Laboratory Medicine (LABMED), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden 2 Centre for Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation (CAST), Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden 3 Pancreatic Surgery Unit, Division of Surgery, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology (CLINTEC), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden 4 Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden Correspondence to: Markus Maeurer, email: markus.maeurer@gmail.com Keywords: pancreatic cancer; mesothelin; interferon gamma; survival; antigen-specific response Received: February 27, 2017 Accepted: June 19, 2017 Published: April 27, 2018 ABSTRACT Most patients with pancreatic cancer present with extensive metastasis at diagnosis, with a 5-year survival rate of approximately 5%, despite chemotherapy and surgery. New treatment modalities are needed to improve survival. Mesothelin is a tumor-associated antigen (TAA) in patients with pancreatic cancer that could be used to gauge cellular immune responses directed against transformed cells since up to 100 percent of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells have been shown to strongly express mesothelin. A prospective, observational study was carried out in twenty-six, chemotherapy-naive patients with resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Participants were between 48 and 81 years (median age: 64.5 years), 15 males and 11 females. All participants were clinically followed-up between 439 and 853 days post-surgery (n=14) or until death (n=12). Peripheral blood drawn on the day of surgery was stimulated with a mesothelin peptide pool (42 peptides, non-overlapping), individual mesothelin peptides, positive (anti-CD3 antibody, OKT3) and negative controls (medium) with or without adding IL-21. Kaplan-Meier estimators were used to gauge patients’ survival pattern in relation to mesothelin-specific IFN-γ responses. A survival benefit was linked with IFN-γ responses to peptides corresponding to mature mesothelin (p=0.018) and targeted recognition of the mesothelin 601-615 epitope (MQEALSGTPCLLGPG) (p=0.006) in the presence of IL-21. Conversely, production of high levels of IFN-γ to OKT3 stimulation with IL-21 conditioning was associated with reduced survival of patients (p=0.016). Gauging anti-Mesothelin- directed immune responses will aid to identify patients i) in need of a more intensive clinical follow-up and ii) who may benefit from immunotherapeutic approaches targeting mesothelin.

Background The origin of pulmonary sinus cusp (PSC)-derived ventricular arrhythmia (VA) is a highly specialized anatomical structure; therefore, insertion of the radiofrequency ablation catheter tip to the target site to ensure safe ablation is a major challenge for clinicians. Purpose To summarize ablation methods, and provide valuable experience for the treatment of pulmonary sinus cusp-derived VA with ablation. Methods A retrospective analysis and summary of the clinical data of 15 patients undergoing catheter ablation for pulmonary sinus cusp-derived VA in Cardiac Intervention Therapy Center, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University between January 2013 and July 2015 was conducted. Results For the 15 patients, the pulmonary sinus cusp-derived VA originated from the lower regions of the pulmonary sinuses, leading from the right, left and anterior sinuses of the pulmonary sinus cusp in 4, 6 and 5 patients, respectively. Nine patients with pulmonary sinus cusp-derived VAs originating from the right and anterior sinuses underwent successful reversed U-curve catheter ablation, while the other 6 cases with arrhythmias originating from the left sinus underwent successful ablation with the conventional method (non-reversed U-curve catheter ablation). All the patients were followed-up for 6–31 months, and no cases of recurrence or complications occurred. Conclusions Reversed U-curve catheter ablation is suitable for VAs originating from the right and anterior pulmonary sinus cusps, while conventional ablation can also be used for those originating from the left PSCs. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

Background The modification of cardiac energy metabolism during atrial fibrillation (AF) has been demonstrated in previous studies, indicating a close association between these 2 processes. The aim of the present study was to identify the underlying mechanisms via profiling of the expression of energy metabolism-related proteins in the left atrial appendage (LAA) of patients with AF. Methods and results Isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantification-coupled 2-D liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (iTRAQ-coupled 2-D LC-MS/MS) was used to profile the expression of energy metabolism-related proteins in the LAA from valvular disease patients with sinus rhythm (SR; n=6) and AF (n=8). Using ProteinPilot 4.0, 122 energy metabolism-related proteins, consisting of 39 carbohydrate metabolism-related proteins, 22 proteins involved in lipid metabolism, 49 biological oxidation-related proteins and 12 other kinds of proteins, were identified. Most of them were key enzymes involved in energy metabolism. Moreover, most of the proteins that were expressed differently in the LAA between the AF and SR patients, and which were related to energy metabolism, were downregulated. These results were further validated on western blot. Conclusions Atrial myocardium energy production in valvular disease patients is impaired during permanent AF, and this impairment in energy production may be involved in the matrix of AF formation.

Rationale: This study aimed to describe the case of a 3-year-old girl with old bilateral facet dislocation on cervical vertebrae 6 and 7, who had spinal cord transection, received surgical treatment, and achieved a relative satisfactory therapeutic effect. Patient concerns: A 3-year-old girl was urgently transferred to the hospital after a car accident. Diagnoses: she was diagnosed with splenic rupture, intracranial hemorrhage, cervical dislocation, spinal transection, and Monteggia fracture of the left upper limb. Interventions: The girl underwent emergency splenectomy and was transferred to the intensive care unit of the hospital 15 days later. One-stage anterior–posterior approach surgery (anterior discectomy, posterior laminectomy, and pedicle screw fixation) was performed when the patient stabilized after 45-day symptomatic treatment. The operation was uneventful. Outcomes: The reduction of lower cervical dislocation was satisfactory, with sufficient spinal cord decompression. The internal fixation position was good, and the spinal sequence was well restored. The girl was discharged 2 weeks later after the operation and followed up for 2 years. The major nerve function of both upper limbs was recovered, with no obvious retardation of the growth of immature spine. Lessons: A satisfactory therapeutic effect was achieved for a pediatric old subaxial cervical dislocation with bilateral locked facets using anterior discectomy, posterior laminectomy, and pedicle screw fixation. The posterior pedicle screw fixation provided a good three-dimensional stability of the spine, with reduced risk and complications caused by anterior internal fixation. The growth of immature spine was not obviously affected during the 2-year follow-up.

To explore the impact of different left ventricular (LV) lead pacing sites on clinical outcome of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) or the device with defibrillator (CRT-D). The location of the LV lead was assessed by means of coronary venograms in right and left anterior oblique views which

We read with great interest the paper by Di Biase et al. [(1)][1]. These investigators suggested that the recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) was significantly reduced by combined pulmonary vein and left atrial appendage (LAA) isolation (LAAI) for the treatment of persistent and long-standing

Renal-artery stenosis, a common disease among persons older than 65 years,may result in hypertension, ischemic nephropathy, and multiple long-term complications [1]. Early studies [2] suggested that renal-artery angioplasty or stentingmay result in significant reductions in systolic blood pressure. However, the Cardiovascular Outcomes in Renal Atherosclerotic Lesions (CORAL) trial [3] recently presented a definitive test of the usefulness of renal-artery stents for moderately severe renalartery stenosis and made a conclusion that renal-artery stenting is no better than medical therapy alone in preventing clinical events. It seems that stenting for renal-artery stenosis after years of its clinical use hits a blind alley. However, pathophysiological changes after stenting include not only improvement in the diameter of the stenotic renal artery but also the tissues of and around the artery, particularly the sympathetic nerve fibers which lie in the adventitia of the renal artery (Fig.1). A recent research [4] demonstrated that balloon angioplasty can reduce the number of sympathetic nerve fibers of the renal artery. So this may be more than just a theoretical consideration. Renal-artery stenosis is characterized not onlybyactivationof the renin–angiotensin system, but also byheightened sympathetic drive [5] which contributes to the pathophysiology of numerous chronic cardiovascular diseases such as essential hypertension, heart failure, chronic kidney disease, diabetes and so on. Nowadays percutaneous catheter-based renal denervation (RDN) is emerging as a new, effective and safe approach to achieve sustained blood pressure reduction in patients with resistant hypertension which can decrease sympathetic activity by interrupting the afferent and efferent renal sympathetic nervous fibers located in the adventitia of the renal arteries by delivery of radiofrequency energy. Herein, we hypothesize that RDN on patients with prior renal stents may enhance the damages of renal sympathetic nervous fibers and reduce the sympathetic activities to a much lower level. However, renal-artery stenosis and prior renal stents are considered a contraindication in routine clinical practice of RDN due to technological unavailability and a worry of deterioration of stenosis. Nevertheless, one case report [6] explored and demonstrated the feasibility and potential effectiveness of the combination of RDN and renal stenting. What's more, a recent small animal study [7] proved that vascular brachytherapy which has been approved for the treatment of in-stent restenosis can also cause renal sympathetic nerve fibrosis while avoiding significant damage to the renal artery. All theseexplorationsmaybreak new ground of therapy with renal-artery stenosis.

Defibrillation threshold (DFT) testing has traditionally been a routine part of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation. DFT testing was developed in the early days of the ICD when failure of defibrillation was common, recipients had a high-risk of ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF), and the only therapy for rapid VT or VF was a shock. However, modern ICD systems have such a high rate of successful defibrillation that many electrophysiologists now question whether DFT testing is still worthwhile. Studies found that long-term mortality was not higher among patients not undergoing DFT testing. Moreover, there was no survival difference between patients with a lower DFT and a higher DFT. Other studies have demonstrated that DFT testing poses some risk to the patient such as myocardial damage, embolic stroke in patient with atrial fibrillation and DFT testing-related death. If DFT testing is abandoned, more patients may have the opportunity to be treated with ICD, especially in regions with few or no electrophysiologists. It may be argued that other physicians, such as those currently implanting pacemakers, would more readily implant ICDs if not for the requirement of DFT testing.

Meeting abstracts Expansion of antigen-specific T cells, from peripheral blood specific for tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) is a prerequisite for the advanced cellular therapy. Such antigen-specific T cells should express a Th1-functional phenotype and are able to enter tumor-tissue. We identified

Meeting abstracts The generation of T lymphocytes with specific reactivity against autologous tumor cells is a prerequisite for effective targeted cellular therapies. We established a protocol for tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) cultures from small biopsies or surgically resected material

Radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation of left-sided accessory pathways is really a great challenge in patients with prosthetic heart valves so that it is in general delayed or even avoided in such patients due to concerns of the higher perceived risks of mechanical complications and difficulty of

It is a trend of modern measurement technology to combine the contact and non-contact measurement techniques together to realize a more efficient and high-precision inspection of manufactured products. Based on an analysis of existing optical inspection technologies and the merits and shortcomings of coordinate measuring machine (CMM) technique, we propose a multi-sensor automatic inspection system, which combines the coordinate measuring machine with non-contact optical measuring apparatus and can select automatically either of the two methods for different (simple-geometry or complex free-form) measured objects so as to raise the accuracy amd efficiency of measurement. The general planning and key components of the system are discussed.

A method for surface profile measurement using a chessboard-shaped 2-D Ronchi grating is proposed. The gradients in two orthogonal directions of the measured surface can be obtained simultaneously using a chessboard-shaped 2-D Ronchi grating, so that it is possible to reconstruct the surface profile by means of only one Ronchigram with high accuracy. The measuring principle and the design of the chessboard-shaped 2-D Ronchi grating are described. Measurements of both stationary and varying surfaces using an instrument constructed on the basis of the method were conducted with satisfactory results.