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The effort for combating the COVID-19 pandemic around the world has resulted in a huge amount of data, e.g., from testing, contact tracing, modelling, treatment, vaccine trials, and more. In addition to numerous challenges in epidemiology, healthcare, biosciences, and social sciences, there has been an urgent need to develop and provide visualisation and visual analytics (VIS) capacities to support emergency responses under difficult operational conditions. In this paper, we report the experience of a group of VIS volunteers who have been working in a large research and development consortium and providing VIS support to various observational, analytical, model-developmental, and disseminative tasks. In particular, we describe our approaches to the challenges that we have encountered in requirements analysis, data acquisition, visual design, software design, system development, team organisation, and resource planning. By reflecting on our experience, we propose a set of recommendations as the first step towards a methodology for developing and providing rapid VIS capacities to support emergency responses.

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BACKGROUND: Continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (CF-LVADs) such as the HeartMate II and HeartWare left ventricular assist device are important alternatives to heart transplantation. Thrombosis is a serious complication in both devices and we present our approach to treating thrombosis and analysis of predisposition factors. METHODS: Our center's CF-LVADs database was retrospectively reviewed for pump thrombosis between January 2011 and January 2015. The patients were grouped for pump thrombosis (n = 13) and nonpump thrombosis (n = 85). Patients with pump thrombosis were further divided by device type (n = 5 HeartMate II and n = 8 HeartWare left ventricular assist device). Predisposition factors for pump thrombosis, our treatment approach, and patient outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS: Pump thrombosis was diagnosed in 13 of 98 patients. The rate of pump thrombosis did not differ between the 37 HeartMate II and 61 HeartWare left ventricular assist device patients. High mean arterial blood pressure (P < .01) and noncompliance with the anticoagulation regimen (P = .04) were associated significantly with thrombosis. Twelve patients with stable hemodynamics were treated initially with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator and 1 patient who had end-organ damage underwent pump exchange. Two patients failed to respond to medical treatment and underwent pump exchange. Two patients with recurrent thrombosis were administered intracardiac tissue plasminogen activator. Five patients died after medical treatment and 4 deaths were due to cerebral hemorrhage. CONCLUSIONS: Avoiding increased mean arterial blood pressures and ensuring optimal anticoagulation may help to decrease pump thrombosis. In patients with pump thrombosis, thrombolytic therapy is an alternative that is less invasive than pump exchange, but carries the risk of hemorrhage and thromboembolism.

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INTRODUCTION: Donor organ shortage is still a problem for heart transplantation. Only 10% of patients in waiting list undergo heart transplantation. Over the last 5 years, 2 different continuous flow pumps, the HeartMate II and the HeartWare, have been successful clinically in the alternative treatment of patients with end-stage heart disease. METHODS: Fifty-five patients underwent left ventricular assist device implantation between 2011 and 2014. Patients were followed on pump support for complications and intraoperative outcomes. Potential device-related complications include infections, bleeding liver dysfunction, renal dysfunction, right ventricular failure, stroke, thromboembolism, gastrointestinal bleeding, and wound infection. RESULTS: The only preoperative significant difference between groups in the study was age; the Heartmate II group were significantly older than Heartware group. There were no differences in gender, body mass index, or body surface area. The Heartware has a better 1-year survival rate, although the difference was not significant. Patients with Heartmate II had a higher incidence of gastrointestinal bleeding and driveline infection. The Heartware group had a higher incidence of stroke and pump thrombosis. CONCLUSIONS: The Heartmate II and Heartware are comparable in most respects such as survival, intraoperative features, and major complications.

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Recent data have revealed an inverse relationship between insulin resistance, which is associated with fatty liver disease, and blood 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (25(OH)D) levels. The aim of the present study was to determine the association of vitamin D levels with the presence and stage of fatty liver disease among non-obese subjects and to determine the effect of vitamin D status on fatty liver disease development. A total of 613 non-obese (body mass index <30 kg/m(2)) gastroenterology and internal medicine outpatients (472 women and 141 men) were enrolled in the study. The patients' laboratory values, including liver function tests, lipid profiles, C-reactive protein, fasting blood glucose, insulin, calcium and 25(OH)D levels were studied. Low vitamin D levels, higher triglyceride levels and higher alanine aminotransferase levels were found to be the significant determinants for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. When the patients were evaluated as low or normal vitamin D groups, low vitamin D levels was determined to be a risk factor for fatty liver disease, with an odds ratio of -1.59 (confidence interval -1.22 to -1.97). The increased risk for fatty liver disease among patients with low vitamin D status may be suggestive of mechanisms promoting fat flow and accumulation in the liver. Molecular studies are warranted to elucidate the action of vitamin D on the liver with respect to fat metabolism.

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The aim of this study was to investigate the role of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ)-induced oxidative stress on sciatic nerve and muscle tissues of rats. The oxidant/antioxidant parameters in the sciatic nerve and muscle tissues were analyzed, and stereological analysis of the sciatic nerve was performed. Levels of malondialdehyde and nitric oxide in the tissues were significantly higher in the HCQ group than in the control group (p < 0.05). In addition, activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase were found to be significantly higher in the HCQ group than the control group (p < 0.05). There were significant decreases in nerve fiber diameter and myelin sheet thickness in the HCQ group compared with the control group (p < 0.05). These results revealed that HCQ might increase oxidative stress on sciatic nerve and muscle tissues of rats, which may correlate with axonal atrophy in sciatic nerves.

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The process of surface perception is complex and based on several influencing factors, e.g., shading, silhouettes, occluding contours, and top down cognition. The accuracy of surface perception can be measured and the influencing factors can be modified in order to decrease the error in perception. This paper presents a novel concept of how a perceptual evaluation of a visualization technique can contribute to its redesign with the aim of improving the match between the distal and the proximal stimulus. During analysis of data from previous perceptual studies, we observed that the slant of 3D surfaces visualized on 2D screens is systematically underestimated. The visible trends in the error allowed us to create a statistical model of the perceived surface slant. Based on this statistical model we obtained from user experiments, we derived a new shading model that uses adjusted surface normals and aims to reduce the error in slant perception. The result is a shape-enhancement of visualization which is driven by an experimentally-founded statistical model. To assess the efficiency of the statistical shading model, we repeated the evaluation experiment and confirmed that the error in perception was decreased. Results of both user experiments are publicly-available datasets.

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Datasets with a large number of dimensions per data item (hundreds or more) are challenging both for computational and visual analysis. Moreover, these dimensions have different characteristics and relations that result in sub-groups and/or hierarchies over the set of dimensions. Such structures lead to heterogeneity within the dimensions. Although the consideration of these structures is crucial for the analysis, most of the available analysis methods discard the heterogeneous relations among the dimensions. In this paper, we introduce the construction and utilization of representative factors for the interactive visual analysis of structures in high-dimensional datasets. First, we present a selection of methods to investigate the sub-groups in the dimension set and associate representative factors with those groups of dimensions. Second, we introduce how these factors are included in the interactive visual analysis cycle together with the original dimensions. We then provide the steps of an analytical procedure that iteratively analyzes the datasets through the use of representative factors. We discuss how our methods improve the reliability and interpretability of the analysis process by enabling more informed selections of computational tools. Finally, we demonstrate our techniques on the analysis of brain imaging study results that are performed over a large group of subjects.

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OBJECTIVE: Infection may lead to inflammation, atherosclerosis and thrombotic vascular events. The atherosclerotic effect of hypercholesterolaemia on the vascular system is well-known. However, limited studies were done on the therapeutic and preventative agents. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of infection and cholesterol rich diet combined with an antibiotic, anti-inflammatory agent and red wine on the pulmonary vascular system. METHODS: Fifty-nine rats were evaluated. Six groups were created: Control-Group I (n = 10); infection --Group II (n = 9), infection-cholesterol rich diet--Group III (n = 12), infection-cholesterol rich diet-cefepime--Group IV (n = II); infection-cholesterol rich diet-diclofenac potassium--Group V (n = 9); infection-cholesterol rich diet and red wine--Group VI (n = 8). Blood samples of rats were collected for cholesterol analysis every month. Sections of central pulmonary arteries were examined for thickness of the intima and medial wall by computerised image analysis. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference in serum cholesterol levels and in thickness of the intima between the groups (p = 0.000). The rest of the groups had more intimal thickening than Group I (p = 0.000). Group III had thicker intima than Groups IV and V (p = 0.009, p = 0.011 respectively). There was no significant difference between the groups in thickness of media (p = 0.432). CONCLUSION: Infection and cholesterol rich diet have a synergistic effect on atherosclerosis in pulmonary arteries. However antibiotics and anti-inflammatory agents could be useful in prevention.

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OBJECTIVE: Infection may lead to inflammation, atherosclerosis and thrombotic vascular events. The atherosclerotic effect of hypercholesterolaemia on the vascular system is well-known. However, limited studies were done on the therapeutic and preventative agents. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of infection and cholesterol rich diet combined with an antibiotic, anti-inflammatory agent and red wine on the pulmonary vascular system. METHODS: Fifty-nine rats were evaluated. Six groups were created: Control-Group I (n = 10); infection - Group II (n = 9), infection-cholesterol rich diet - Group III (n = 12), infection-cholesterol rich dietcefepime - Group IV (n = 11); infection-cholesterol rich diet-diclofenac potassium - Group V (n = 9); infection-cholesterol rich diet and red wine - Group VI (n = 8). Blood samples of rats were collected for cholesterol analysis every month. Sections of central pulmonary arteries were examined for thickness of the intima and medial wall by computerised image analysis. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference in serum cholesterol levels and in thickness of the intima between the groups (p = 0.000). The rest of the groups had more intimal thickening than Group I (p = 0.000). Group III had thicker intima than Groups IV and V (p = 0.009, p = 0.011 respectively). There was no significant difference between the groups in thickness of media (p = 0.432). CONCLUSION: Infection and cholesterol rich diet have a synergistic effect on atherosclerosis in pulmonary arteries. However, antibiotics and anti-inflammatory agents could be useful in prevention.

OBJETIVO: La infección puede conducir a inflamación, ateroesclerosis y eventos vasculares trombóticos. El efecto aterosclerótico de la hipercolesterolemia en el sistema vascular es bien conocido. Sin embargo, se hicieron estudios limitados sobre los agentes preventivos y terapéuticos. El objetivo de este estudio fue investigar los efectos de la infección y la dieta rica en colesterol, combinados con agentes antibióticos, anti-inflamatorios, y vino tinto, sobre el sistema vascular pulmonar. MÉTODOS: Cincuenta y nueve ratas fueron evaluadas. Se hicieron seis grupos: grupo-control I (n = 10), grupo-infección II (n = 9), grupo infección-dieta rica en colesterol III (n = 12), grupo-infección-dieta rica en colesterol-cefepima IV (n = 11), grupo-infección-dieta rica en colesterol-diclofenaco potásico V (n = 9), grupo-infección-dieta rica en -vino tinto VI (n = 8). Se tomaron muestras de sangre de ratas para analizar el colesterol cada mes. Se examinaron secciones de las arterias pulmonares centrales para determinar el grosor de la pared íntima y media mediante análisis computarizado de imágenes. RESULTADOS: Hubo una diferencia estadísticamente significativa en los niveles de colesterol en suero y el grosor de la íntima entre los grupos (p = 0.000). El resto de los grupos tenía más engrosamiento de la íntima que el grupo I (p = 0.000). El grupo III tenía una íntima más gruesa que los grupos IV y V (p = 0,009, p = 0.011 respectivamente). No hubo ninguna diferencia significativa entre los grupos en cuanto al espesor de la media (p = 0.432). CONCLUSIÓN: La infección y la dieta rica en colesterol tienen un efecto sinérgico sobre la aterosclerosis en las arterias pulmonares. Sin embargo, los antibióticos y los agentes antiinflamatorios podrían ser útiles para la prevención.

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BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to know if the liver function tests (LFT), especially gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), have a predictive value in diagnosis of metabolic syndrome (MS). METHODS: A cross-sectional, single-center study was carried out with 908 subjects. Four hundred and forty two of these subjects were diagnosed with MS with IDF criteria; while other 466 were sex and age matched healthy control subjects. Blood pressure, liver function tests, fasting blood glucose levels and lipid profile of the subjects were recorded. RESULTS: The mean values of alanine amino transferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and GGT levels were statistically significantly higher in MS group. The mean values of liver enzymes, for female/ male subjects in MS group, AST; ALT and GGT respectively, were; 20.5/19.7 U/l; 25.9/28.5 U/l; 35.9/42.1 U/l. When the sample is divided into quartiles of the GGT levels, increase in GGT is positively correlated with increased MS prevalence. In ROC analysis GGT is as strongly associated with the IDF diagnostic components as is each individual IDF component, except elevated systolic blood pressure. In covariance analysis, there was significant relationship between elevated GGT levels and MS presence after adjustment for age, sex and MS diagnostic criteria; but not AST and ALT levels. In multivariance analysis, in MS group, a high GGT was positively associated with CVD prevalance (odds ratio: 2.011, 95% CI 1.10-4.57) compared to low GGT group independent of age, sex and smoking habits. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSIONS: Elevated liver enzymes, although in normal ranges, especially at upper quartiles, play a central role in early diagnosis of fat overflow to the liver. Regarding the availability and simplicity of these tests in routine clinical practice, they, especially GGT, have potential to be considered in algorithms for metabolic syndrome.

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Papillary fibroelastomas (PFEs) are primary cardiac tumors. They are rare benign tumors that occur on the endocardium of the heart, especially on the heart valves. The majority of these benign tumors have been observed on the left side of the heart and involved the aortic and mitral valves; however, occurrence on the right side of the heart has been infrequently reported, with only a few cases documented on the pulmonary valve. Most patients with PFEs are asymptomatic and the tumors are usually found incidentally. The tumors have the potential to cause systemic or pulmonary embolism or obstructive phenomena. We present a rare case of a papillary fibroelastoma occurring on the pulmonary valve with clinical presentation due to pulmonary artery obstruction. The tumor was removed surgically.

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AIM: We evauated the outcome of patients with left ventricular pseudoaneurysms, focusing on those treated surgically. METHODS: Between June 1990 and March 2007, 7 patients underwent surgery because of left ventricular pseudoaneursym following myocardial infarction, at our institution. The median time interval between myocardial infarction and the diagnosis of left ventricular psedoaneursym was 2.6 months (range: 15 days to 8 months). The aneursym was resected and the defect was closed with a Teflon patch or direct sutures. RESULTS: The location of the pseudoaneursym was posterior in 3 patients, inferolateral in 3 patients and anterolateral in 1 patient. The aneursym was resected and the defect was closed with a Teflon patch in 6 patients. In 1 patient with chronic pseudoaneurysm, the defect was closed with direct sutures reinforced with Teflon felt. In addition, 5 patients underwent coronary artery bypass grafting. The patients have been followed-up for a mean period of 45 months (range: 24 to 109 months). CONCLUSION: There was no intraoperative death. However, 2 patients died due to multiple organ failure, one 17 days and the other 1 month after the surgical operation. There was 1 late death due to the cancer. Currently, 1 patient is free of any cardiac symptoms, 2 patients have New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class II heart failure, and 1 patient with moderate mitral regurgitation is in class III.

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Here we describe a 47-year-old postmenopausal woman who had been taking alendronate 70 mg/week for osteoporosis. After two months of alendronate therapy, she developed hepatotoxicity, and no other etiological factors for this besides the alendronate were apparent. After the alendronate therapy was discontinued, the patient's hepatic enzyme levels slowly returned to normal. Hepatotoxicity due to alendronate therapy is a rare but possible adverse effect.

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BACKGROUND: Because commercial minimally invasive harvesting equipments significantly increase operation costs, they are not always available in all clinics worldwide. The aim of this study was to investigate whether minimally invasive saphenous vein harvesting using a laryngoscope can be applied efficiently and successfully. METHODS: Thirty patients were prospectively randomized into two groups. One group underwent a minimally invasive technique using a laryngoscope; the other, open saphenous vein harvest. A modified bridging technique, in which tissue retraction and illumination is achieved with a sterilized laryngoscope, was used for minimally invasive harvesting. Smooth muscle contractile and endothelial functions were tested in vitro using an organ chamber. Morphology was examined with light microscopy. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in harvest times or length of the vein harvested by either of the above mentioned techniques. Total length of the incision in the minimally invasive group was significantly shorter than that in the open group. In follow-ups, no significant complications occurred in either group. Pain and leg edema were significantly less in the minimally invasive group compared to those of the open group. There was no significant difference in response to acetylcholine and 80 mM KCl between veins taken with the laryngoscope compared to veins taken with the traditional open technique. Similarly, histological data was unable to show any significant damage to the vessel wall. CONCLUSIONS: Because the laryngoscopic saphenectomy does not harm the harvested graft, it can be applied, instead of other minimally invasive saphenous vein harvesting systems, with a zero cost, efficiently, successfully, and with satisfactory speed and significant reduction of postoperative leg pain and wound complications.

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In order to investigate the possible relationship between atherosclerosis and chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection, 66 Wistar rats were given five separate intratracheal inoculations of either P. aeruginosa or sterile saline at 4-week intervals. The rats were divided into four groups: group 1 was infected with P. aeruginosa and fed a diet containing cholesterol 1% w/v; group 2 was infected with P. aeruginosa and fed a normal diet; group 3 was not infected and was fed a diet containing cholesterol 1% w/v; and group 4 (the control group) was not infected and was fed a normal diet. One month after the final inoculation, the rats were killed humanely; computerised image analysis was used to evaluate sections of the aorta and heart, and the maximal wall thickness of the aorta and coronary artery. The aortic wall thickness was significantly greater for group 1 (329.53 +/- 58.06 microm) compared to groups 2 (190.59 +/- 27.81 microm; p < 0.0001), 3 (262.90 +/- 61.12 microm; p < 0.0004) and 4 (158.00 +/- 30.30 microm; p < 0.0001). Similarly, the coronary artery wall thickness was significantly greater for group 1 (72.96 +/- 10.67 microm) compared to groups 2 (35.07 +/- 8.53 microm; p < 0.0001), 3 (41.45 +/- 10.22 microm; p < 0.0001) and 4 (32.30 +/- 5.27 microm; p < 0.0001). These findings strengthen the hypothesis that chronic infection plays a role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.

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In our study, we aimed to present our cases with heart wounds and to determine the factors influencing mortality. We retrospectively evaluated 23 cases with cardiac injuries who were treated among years 1986-99 in our clinic. There were 4 female and 19 male cases, and the average age was 32 years (range 12-52). Heart wounds were caused by blunt trauma in 6 cases, and penetrating trauma in 17 cases. Penetrating heart wounds was caused by gunshot wounds in four patients and stab wounds in 13 patients. Our cases were underwent to rapid resuscitation and emergency surgery. Mortality rate was 17% with 3 cases. Blunt cardiac wounds was caused by motor vehicle accidents in all cases. Diagnosis with immediate echocardiography and efficient treatment was performed. Mortality rate was 33% with 2 cases. We think that emergent resuscitation and immediately surgical exploration in patients with penetrating heart wounds and immediate diagnosis by echocardiography and prompt treatment in patients with blunt heart injuries may improve overall survival.

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Dyspeptic symptoms are common in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) and have been attributed to hypercalcemia; however, they may also become permanent after parathyroid surgery. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori in patients with PHPT and to see whether there is a relationship between dyspeptic complaints and H. pylori infection. Of 21 patients with PHPT, 18 patients had dyspeptic complaints. These 18 female patients with PHPT and dyspeptic symptoms were the study population, and 20 female volunteers with dyspeptic symptoms were the controls. An endoscopic examination was performed in all controls and in patients before parathyroid surgery. H. pylori was assessed by serological and histological evaluation. H. pylori was identified upon histological evaluation in 17 patients (94.4%) and serologically in 17 patients (94.4%). Active macroscopic and microscopic gastritis were found in 15 (83.3%) and in 17 (94.4%) of the patients, respectively. In the control group, H. pylori was identified histologically in 13 subjects (65%) and serologically in 17 subjects (85%). The prevalence of H. pylori assessed by histological examination was significantly (P < 0.05) different between patients and controls. There was a significant association between H. pylori infection identified by histology and/or serology and the presence of microscopic (r = 1; P < 0.001), as well as macroscopic (r = 0.54; P < 0.05), gastritis. In conclusion, this study showed that H. pylori infection was found frequently (85.7%) in patients with PHPT. In the management of PHPT with or without surgery, patients, especially those with dyspeptic symptoms, should be evaluated for H. pylori infection, which can be effectively eradicated by appropriate therapy.

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We performed coronary artery bypass grafting on a 58-year-old man who only 9 months earlier had undergone right pneumonectomy for bronchial carcinoma. Although his preoperative pulmonary function had been poor, coronary artery bypass surgery was successful, and the patient was discharged on the 9th postoperative day Two years after surgery, he remained in New York Heart Association functional class I. We attribute this success to special management before, during, and after the operation. On the 32nd postoperative month, this patient died of multiple tumor metastases.

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