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An abstract of the article "In vitro testing of titanium knot fastener used in cardiac and general surgery with pull apart force" by B. M. Gersak and colleagues is presented.

An abstract of the article "Fibrin-based clot firmness as assessed by rotational thromboelastometry is predictor of total amount of chest tube output in patients following elective cardiac surgery" by K. Praprotnik and colleagues is presented.

An abstract of the article "Altered electrophysiological properties and deranged cardiac autonomic modulation predispose patients to atrial fibrillation after arrested heart operations" by J. M. Kalisnik and colleagues is presented.

Non-uniform recovery of excitability may be essential in triggering malignant ventricular tachycardia after cardiac surgery. Thirty-five channels ECG was recorded for 6 min in 27 patients before and after heart surgery and in 20 control subjects. Off-line analysis was performed. RR interval duration, RR SD, QT SD and power spectra of RR variability were computed from 256 s stable RR and QT interval series. When compared to controls, patients had decreased RR SD and increased QT SD before surgery (p<0.002 and p<0.0005, respectively); RR SD further decreased and QT SD increased after the surgery (p<0.0001 and p<0.0002, respectively). Increase of QT variability and decrease of RR variability after cardiac surgery may reflect disrupted electrophysiological stability of the myocardium and thus electrophysiological substrate for triggering malignant arrhythmia. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]