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International audience; In this article, we report a facile precursor pyrolysis by sol-gel method to prepare spinel-type Cobalt-substituted zinc aluminate nanoparticles (Zn1–xCoxAl2O4, 0≤x≤1). The relationship between the degree of crystallinity and the optical properties under the effect of the calcination temperature was investigated. The synthesized powders were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetry and Differential thermal analysis (TG–DTA), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis (BET), UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy analysis and colorimetric analysis (CIELab). A single-phase Zn1–xCoxAl2O4 (0≤x≤1) spinel was formed at an annealing temperature of 700°C. Structural refinement via the Rietveld method shows that an annealing temperature in excess of 700°C leads to a decrease in the amorphous phase rate. At 800 °C, the enrichment in 50% of cobalt leads to blue powders with a degree of crystallinity of approximately 92% and a quasi-spherical morphology of nanometric size less than 100 nm.

International audience; Objective: Compliance is considered to be a major property influencing the long term performances of synthetic vascular substitutes that could play a role in anastomotic false aneurysm and intimal hyperplasia stenosis onset. Over the last decades, manufacturers have tried to develop substitutes that mechanically mimic arterial properties and avoid a compliance mismatch at the anastomoses in particular. However, data are missing about how initial compliance properties could change with time. The goal of this study was to evaluate how the compliance of vascular grafts evolves under cyclic loading conditions in vitro.Methods: The compliance of three different models of commercially available textile polyethylene terephthalate (PET) grafts was evaluated. Tests were performed with and without their original coating. Compliance was assessed with a specific device dedicated to measure the deformations undergone by a graft under cyclic pressure loading conditions, using image analysis software. In each experiment, image analysis was performed under 60 and 140 mmHg pressure loading conditions at loading start (H0) and after three, six, and 24 h (H3, H6, H24) loading time. Average radial, longitudinal, and volumetric compliance was calculated from the obtained images.Results: Twenty-four samples were tested. Results demonstrate that all values decreased significantly within only a few hours. On average, the loss of compliance after 3 h of cyclic loading ranged on average from 35% for longitudinal compliance to 39% for radial compliance and 37% (p < .050) for volume compliance. After 24 h, the loss of radial, longitudinal and volume compliance was respectively 63 ± 3%, 60.5 ± 2% and 61 ± 7%.Conclusion: In this in vitro model, PET graft compliance has already decreased significantly within 3 h. The rapid loss of compliance identified in this experimental study helps explain the mismatch mentioned in clinical observations.

Background Anthracycline-induced cardiomyopathy (AIC) may be irreversible with a poor prognosis, disproportionately affecting women and young adults. Administration of allogeneic bone marr...

Background The benefits of invasive versus noninvasive management in oncology patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are unclear. We aimed to retrospectively determine outcome differences between conservative and invasive management of AMI in cancer patients. Methods Patients from our institution between March 2016 and December 2018 with type 1 and type 2 AMI (excluding STEMI) were classified into 2 groups: medical therapy only and invasive strategies. Analyzed outcomes were overall survival (OS), procedural complications, subsequent events, and hospice referral. Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test were used to compare OS between subgroups. Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were conducted to find factors associated with OS. Results We included 201 patients. Type 1 MI was seen in 152 patients (76%) and type 2 MI in 49 (24%). Median OS was 13 months. Most presented with symptoms other than dyspnea or chest pain (49%) and with ECG revealing changes other than ST-segment depression and T-wave inversion (62%). Patients with type 2 MI had worse OS than patients with type 1 MI (HR = 2.3, p = 0.0002). Early coronary angiography (≤72 h; HR = 0.327, p 72 h; HR = 0.496, p = 0.0426), and percutaneous coronary intervention (HR = 0.481, p = 0.0116) were associated with better OS than noninvasive approaches. Single and dual agent antiplatelet therapy, beta blockers, and statins were each associated with better OS. Conclusions Cancer patients without STEMI who underwent invasive treatment for AMI had better OS compared with those treated only medically, with the highest benefit when coronary angiography was performed within 72 h of admission for AMI.

Case reports have reported immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), especially nivolumab, are associated with recurrent pericardial effusions. Our objective was to determine how often patients being treated with ICI develop hemodynamically significant pericardial effusion requiring pericardiocentesis compared with other cancer therapeutics and whether the survival of patients who underwent pericardiocentesis differs according to ICI use versus standard cancer therapeutics. Our institutional review board approved catheterization laboratory data collection for all pericardiocenteses performed and all patients receiving ICI from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2017. Retrospective review of the electronic medical record was performed to identify cancer therapeutics given preceding pericardiocentesis. Log-rank analysis was performed to compare survival in patients requiring pericardiocentesis between those on ICI and those not on ICI. Overall, 3,966 patients received ICI of which only 15 pericardiocenteses were required, including 1 repeat pericardiocentesis in a patient on nivolumab. The prevalence of pericardiocentesis among patients on ICI was 0.38% (15/3,966). Eleven pericardiocenteses were performed after nivolumab infusion, 3 after pembrolizumab, and 1 after atezolizumab, with pericardiocentesis prevalences for each agent of 0.61% (11/1,798), 0.19% (3/1,560), and 0.32% (1/309), respectively. One hundred and twenty pericardiocentesis were performed on patients receiving other cancer therapeutics although no therapeutic agent was associated with more pericardiocenteses than nivolumab. In conclusion, the prevalence of hemodynamically significant pericardial effusions and ICI administration is uncommon, and survival durations after pericardiocentesis for patients receiving ICI and those not receiving ICI are similar, suggesting that frequent echocardiographic monitoring for pericardial effusions is not necessary.

Little data is available on the bleeding risk and outcomes of cancer patients with chronic thrombocytopenia who underwent cardiac catheterization. We sought to assess the safety of coronary angiography, percutaneous coronary intervention, and antiplatelet therapy in cancer patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and chronic thrombocytopenia. We performed a retrospective study of patients with chronic thrombocytopenia who underwent cardiac catheterization for ACS between November 2009 and November 2015. Preprocedural platelet counts were classified into 3 groups: mild thrombocytopenia (50,000 to 100,000/µL), moderate thrombocytopenia (30,000 to 50,000/µL), and severe thrombocytopenia (

Primary cardiac tumors are rare, with myxoma being the most common benign histology, whereas malignancies are usually sarcomatous [(1)][1]. They are found incidentally or on imaging prompted by flow obstruction or valvular dysfunction symptoms. The presence of cardiac tumors imposes a complete

International audience; In this study, cobalt aluminate was prepared by a sol-gel method. XRD and FTIR analyses of the precursors obtained at 300 °C for 12 h revealed that the type of complexing agent used in the synthesis affects the pyrolysis step. An amorphous phase was obtained by using citric acid as the complexing agent. A beginning of crystallization was observed by using complexing agents such as polyacrylic acid and glycine. The structural investigation of the starting reagents revealed that the observed lines exhibit characteristics of Co3O4 derived from cobalt nitrate. The crystallinity of the samples increased with the increase in the annealing temperature, with no effect observed by the change in the complexing agent. The appearance of the (331) reflection for the heat-treated powders was characteristic of the blue spinel compound.

Highly crystallized CuInS 2 (CIS) nanocrystals were successfully synthesized using a molten-salt method with CuInS 2 nanoparticles as precursors. The ultrafine precursors have been synthesized by the solvothermal reactions of metal chlorides and thiourea in ethylene glycol in the presence of sodium hydroxide. The effects of reaction temperature, dwell time and salt to reactant ratio on the crystallinity and morphology of CuInS 2 powders were investigated. The powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, BET surface area measurements, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and UV–vis absorption spectroscopy techniques. Crystallizations carried out at 550 °C for 6 h with KSCN/CuInS 2 =3.75 M ratio lead to a powder formed of nanocrystals with a size in the range 25–35 nm and exhibits a specific surface area close to 35 m 2 /g. EDS results showed the formation of stoichiometric CuInS 2 nanocrystals. The UV–vis absorption spectrum showed that the CuInS 2 nanocrystals had a good absorbance in visible region with a band gap close to 1.5 eV, which is in the range desirable for photovoltaic applications.

Laser systems present a promising way to protect military but also civilian people from a growing aerial threat represented by the increasing use of drones in the last decade. In this sense, the study of the thermo-mechanical behavior of aeronautic materials subjected to powerful electromagnetic fluxes is of critical meaning for a better understanding of the deterioration process leading to the neutralization of this flying menace. The surface and in-depth thermodynamic behaviors of laminates composed of an epoxy matrix and of carbon reinforcement fabrics are investigated at typical laser weapon power densities. An experimental heterogeneous deterioration phenomenology is figured out from several tests including two thermal characterization experiments and a cantilever bending test with a simultaneous irradiation. A theoretical model is built up to validate the experimental observations and can be considered as a first approach to simulate the thermo-mechanical weakening of carbon fibers laminates subjected to a laser irradiation.

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were directly grown on carbon fibers (CFs) using the combustion flame oxy-acetylene method. Ferrocene deposited on the fiber surface acts as a catalyst for carbon nanotubes (CNTs) growth. The effects of ferrocene concentration on the morphology of the CNTs coating were investigated. Growth temperature ranges from 500 to 650 °C at atmospheric pressure, while growth surface is a continuous 10 × 1000 mm2 tape. CNTs are produced with a dense entanglement, covering the CFs uniformly. Tube outer diameters are in the range of 20–40 nm. Tube length is quite long (about 4–5 μm) and uniform. Particularly, growth times are very short: about 0.3–0.6 s. Growth morphology and other characteristics of the as-grown tubes were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and by Raman spectroscopy.

Heart failure is one of the most dreaded complications of cancer treatment that can result from the cardiotoxic effects of chemotherapy, radiation treatment, and targeted therapies. Heart failure can occur acutely during chemotherapy administration, or it can manifest years after the completion of cancer treatment. Survivors of childhood cancer may develop chemotherapy-induced heart failure several years after completing anthracycline-based treatment. Cancer patients who have a concurrent diagnosis of heart failure experience complex clinical management issues that require a multidisciplinary approach and a close collaboration among oncologists, cardiologists, and the health care team. The Heart Success Program provides a model for engaging cancer patients and family members as partners with a shared goal of reducing the burden of heart failure. The Heart Success Program also creates the reinforcing structure of a team of interdisciplinary health care providers who maintain a clear focus on measuring and improving clinical care processes and patient outcomes. The program holds promise for the creation of similar future initiatives aimed at other chronic health problems that affect individuals with cancer.

Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-induced myocarditis carries a poor prognosis and is not fully understood. Similar to lymphocytic myocarditis and acute cellular rejection in heart transplant, ICI-induced myocarditis requires immune suppressive strategies. We aimed to describe ICI-induced myocarditis by presenting findings of comprehensive cardiovascular evaluations and outcomes of patients following a therapeutic approach similar to autoimmune disorders or allograft transplant rejection, and to discuss the molecular basis of the benefits of immune modulation and statins in ICI-myocarditis. Three patients with ICI-induced myocarditis (2 with positive biopsies and 1 based on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging with negative biopsy) underwent a complete cardiovascular workup, including cardiac catheterization with endomyocardial biopsy. Treatment was with intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) and statins in all cases, with additional colchicine (2 cases) or hydroxychloroquine (1 case). Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated varied subsets of T cells involved in the inflammatory response. Therapy with IVIG and statins led to symptom resolution and cardiac function normalization at 1-month follow-up in all patients. Cancer therapy was resumed in all patients. One patient expired 10 months after the myocarditis episode due to advanced malignancy; two patients were alive, free of heart failure symptoms and cancer progression, at 1-year follow-up, and 1 patient was rechallenged with ICI. We suggest that treatment with IVIG and statins may allow for a prompt resumption of anti-cancer therapy (including ICI) and improve outcomes.

Introduction Cancer patients are at increased risk for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) due to the disease itself, chemo- or radiation therapy, pulmonary embolism, or comorbidities. Several tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), which are increasingly used in the treatment of various cancers, have been linked with PAH. We aimed to describe the incidence of PAH triggered or worsened by tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Methods In this retrospective study, the medical records of all patients with CML who received first line treatment with imatinib, dasatinib, or nilotinib for ≥3 months at a large tertiary cancer center from 2000 to 2017 were reviewed. PAH was defined as a right ventricular systolic pressure >30 mmHg on transthoracic echocardiogram. Patients with PAH were categorized in 3 groups based on the TKI agent used. Descriptive statistics were used for analysis. Results We identified 632 patients who were treated with TKIs for ≥3 months at our institution: 241 (38.1%) dasatinib, 105 (16.6%) nilotinib, 286 (45.3%) imatinib. New or worsened PAH was identified in 83 (13.1%) cases. In the dasatinib PAH group (n=75, 90.4% of all PAH), mean age was 54.95 years and there were 45 (60%) women. In the nilotinib PAH group (n=3, 6% of all PAH), mean age was 69 years and there was 1 (33%) woman. In the imatinib PAH group (n=5, 3.6% of all PAH), mean age was 49.6 years and there were 3 (60%) women. Conclusions Patients treated with TKIs, especially dasatinib, may develop PAH while the incidence of PAH with nilotinib and imatinib appears to be low. Further research is warranted to cover the gap of screening guidelines, which challenges the detection of CML patients treated with TKIs who develop PAH. As comparable outcomes are reported with first line therapy, in patients at risk for PAH, clinicians can opt for the therapy with decreased association with the syndrome.

When oncological and coronary artery disease (CAD) coincide, complications occur. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with subsequent dual antiplatelet therapy often delays cancer therapy. Recent data favor fractional flow reserve (FFR) over quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) for stable

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) grafted on fibres are widely used to reinforce composites in order to improve their mechanical properties. This study concerned the tribological properties of CNTs grafted on carbon fibres by the flame method. The aim of this study was to determine whether CNTs on fibres suffer damage under stress, similar to those applied during composite manufacturing, which can damage composite properties, particularly fibre/matrix adhesion. For this purpose, reciprocating friction tests were performed to examine the resistance of CNTs and highlight a wear mechanism. The results showed that the presence of CNTs increased the coefficient of friction in the first friction cycles and then decreased it to close to the COF of the fibre without CNTs. The wear mechanism showed that after a small number of friction cycles, the CNTs were flattened out and formed a transfer film.

Background The present multicenter phase II trial evaluated the safety and efficacy of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) instead of conventional doxorubicin in standard R-CHOP (rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine [Oncovin], and prednisone) therapy for elderly patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Materials and Methods Patients aged > 60 years who had stage II to IV disease were included. Treatment consisted of rituximab 375 mg/m2 intravenously (I.V.); cyclophosphamide 750 mg/m2 IV; PLD 40 mg/m2 (maximum, 90 mg) I.V. over 1 hour; and vincristine 2.0 mg I.V., all on day 1. Additionally prednisone, 40 mg/m2, was given orally on days 1 to 1 to 5 (DRCOP [rituximab, cyclophosphamide, PLD, vincristine, and prednisone]). The cycles were repeated every 3 weeks for 6 to 8 cycles. Results Eighty patients were enrolled and were evaluable for toxicity. The median age was 69 years. All except 1 had additional cardiac risk factors for anthracycline-induced cardiac toxicity beyond advanced age. From the intent-to-treat analysis of 79 eligible patients, the overall response rate was 86%, and the complete response rate was 78%. Cardiac events greater than grade 3 were identified in 3 patients (4%); grade 1 to 2 events, mostly asymptomatic declines in ejection fraction, were noted in another 16 patients. One death was attributed to cardiac failure. The estimated 5-year event-free and overall survival rate was 52% and 70%, respectively. Conclusion DRCOP represents an effective strategy for potentially mitigating cardiotoxicity in elderly patients with aggressive B-cell lymphoma. Future studies incorporating baseline cardiac risk assessments, long-term follow-up data, and biospecimen collection for correlative science should be undertaken.

International audience; CuInS2 was synthesized, with a yield of 70% by reaction in molten KSCN at 400 °C of CuCl2 and InCl3 with a ratio KSCN/Cu=15. The homogeneous powder obtained is constituted of nano-sized grains (70–100 nm), with a specific surface area of 6 m2/g and a band gap Eg of 1.5 eV.

Although left ventricular (LV) dysfunction occurs not uncommonly in the course of cancer therapy, little is known about its natural history and prognostic impact on patients. To investigate the incidence, predictors, and impact on survival of LV systolic dysfunction and recovery during cancer therapy, we conducted a retrospective cohort observational study over 1 year at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. We enrolled patients with a decrease in ejection fraction by echocardiography to50% while undergoing cancer therapy from January 2009 to December 2009. We collected and analyzed their chart data. Of 7,648 patients with echocardiograms in 2009, 366 (4.8%) had ejection fraction50% and 104 met study criteria. LV systolic dysfunction was associated with cardiotoxic therapy in 53 patients (51%). Recovery occurred in 57 patients (55%) and was independently predicted by younger age, smaller left atrial volume index, and lower B-type natriuretic peptide. At last follow-up, 69 patients (66%) were dead, and 35 (34%) were alive. There was a 20% advantage in 2-year survival among patients with LV systolic recovery compared with those without (95% confidence interval 4% to 41%, p = 0.02). In this retrospective study, LV systolic dysfunction recovery occurred in over half of the patients, appeared independent of cardiotoxic etiology, and associated with a 20% survival benefit at 2 years. Multivariable predictors of recovery are younger age, a small left atrial volume index, and lower B-type natriuretic peptide.

Since early times, dyes derived from natural sources have emerged as an important alternative to synthetic dyes. Therefore, there is a need to develop new techniques of leaching natural colorants from plant materials for dyeing applications. The present paper investigates an eco-friendly dyeing process of cotton with the aqueous extract of Hibiscus mutabilis (Gulzuba) without metal salts. During this process, the dyeing step was carried out on modified cotton by several cationizing agents in order to improve its dyeability. Cationized cotton fibres were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra and the scanning electron microscope (SEM) images. The effect of the main operating conditions (pH of the dye bath, temperature, dyeing duration, cationizing agent nature and concentration) on the dyeing quality resulted has been studied. Then, the optimization of the dyeing process was released using a response surface methodology. The performances of this dyeing process were evaluated by measuring the colour yield (K/S) of the modified cotton. It was found that cationizing cotton improves the dyeing quality and the fastness properties.

Background Atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter (AF/AFL) are the most common arrhythmias encountered in clinical practice. Rate versus rhythm control remains a difficult decision, especially in the acute setting. ibutilide is a class iii antiarrhythmic indicated for pharmacological cardioversion of recent-onset AF/AFL. At the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, restoration of sinus rhythm is desirable because many patients have contraindications to anticoagulation. In addition, most are on multiple medications that prolong the QT interval; therefore, the objective of this study was to establish the safety and efficacy of ibutilide. Methods This was a retrospective chart review of 81 patients who were identified via the pharmacy database as receiving ibutilide for AF/AFL from January 2002 to May 2006. Outcomes including cardioversion rates and effects on the QT interval were recorded. Results Ibutilide use was associated with successful cardioversion in 75% of patients. Out of 81 patients, 68 patients (84%) were on at least 1 medication that prolonged the QT interval at the time of ibutilide administration. However, no significant changes in the corrected QT interval pre and post ibutilide cardioversion were noted in any group of patients. Conclusions Overall, ibutilide is safe and effective in cancer patients when used for acute cardioversion of AF/AFL. Despite the use of multiple medications that can potentially prolong the QT interval, no patient experienced serious life-threatening rhythm disturbances or significant QT prolongation during ibutilide administration.

We optimised the working parameters of an innovative air spinning device to produce nanofibrous polymer scaffolds for tissue engineering applications. Scanning electron microscopy was performed on the fibre scaffolds which were then used to identify various scaffold morphologies based on the ratio of surface occupied by the polymer fibres on that covered by the entire polymer scaffold assembly. Scaffolds were then produced with the spinning experimental parameters, resulting in 90% of fibres in the overall polymer construct, and were subsequently used to perform a multiple linear regression analysis to highlight the relationship between nanofibre diameter and the air spinning parameters. Polymer solution concentration was deemed as the most significant parameter to control fibre diameter during the spinning process, despite interactions between experimental parameters. Based on these findings, viscosity measurements were performed to clarify the effect of the polymer solution property on scaffold morphology.

Introduction Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy (TTC) remains an elusive diagnosis complicating prompt and appropriate care for patients presenting to the hospital with heart failure symptoms. This study demonstrates the first multi-center analysis of TTC and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) mortality, costs, and disparities. Methods The backward propagation neural network supervised machine learning algorithm supported multivariable regression and propensity score matched analysis of mortality and total hospital costs for TTC in this case-control study of the 2016 National Inpatient Sample (NIS). Results Of the 6,039,969 hospitalizations, 0.13% were diagnosed with TTC, 132,222 (2.19%) died inpatient, and the median total costs were $29,143 (range $15,587-56,287). In multivariable regression fully adjusting for age, race, and mortality risk, PCI for TTC patients significantly reduced mortality (OR 0.53, p Conclusions This is the first known nationally-representative machine learning and propensity score-augmented analysis demonstrating that PCI significantly reduces mortality and inpatient costs for TTC. Since TTC by definition should not have obstructive coronary artery disease to explain the wall motion abnormalities, our findings suggest TTC is misdiagnosed in many inpatient hospitalizations. This helps explain the improvement in mortality that is likely revascularization of ischemic heart disease that caused heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. In addition, this analysis showed that TTC itself has significant mortality disparities based on income.

Introduction Distinguishing Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy (TTC) from ischemic heart disease in patients presenting with acute on chronic heart failure is particularly challenging in patients with thrombocytopenia due to the need for coronary angiography. This is the first known nationally representative study on TTC predictors and its relation to mortality and total costs in HFrEF and thrombocytopenic patient admissions. Methods The 2016 data from the nation's top all-payer hospitalization dataset (the National Inpatient Sample) was used for backward propagation neural network machine learning augmenting multivariable regression fully adjusting for age, race, income, primary malignancy, metastases, and mortality risk among chronic thrombocytopenia (platelets Results Among 6,039,969 inpatient admissions, TTC compared to non-TTC patients were more likely to have HFrEF (8.27% versus 2.84%, p Conclusions This study provides the first large multi-center robust analysis suggesting HFrEF, thrombocytopenia, and sociodemographics as TTC predictors. It is possible patients with thrombocytopenia and HFrEF are more likely to be labeled as TTC rather than have invasive testing to rule out ischemic heart disease. The subset of patient admissions in which TTC patients also received PCI resulting in improved mortality and total costs suggests that ischemic heart disease rather than TTC was the culprit. In addition, the thrombocytopenic patients with acute on chronic heart failure that received PCI and were labeled as TTC also had decreased total costs. This study may help provide cardiologists clinically relevant predictors of TTC and its outcomes to risk stratify patients. In addition, it suggests that despite thrombocytopenia providers should not be quick to label patients with TTC but rather consider invasive workup with possible PCI that may decrease costs of inpatient admissions.

Introduction Cancer is a known adverse predictor of cardiovascular outcomes, yet little is known about its role in Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy (TTC). This study sought to provide the first multi-center nationally representative study of TTC according to primary malignancy. Methods Pearson chi square bivariable analysis was conducted for malignancy overall and primary malignancy type in a case-control study using the 2016 National Inpatient Sample (NIS), the United States’ largest all-payer inpatient dataset. Results Among the 6,039,969 inpatient admissions meeting study criteria, the mean age was 57.51 (20.33), 931,146 (15.43%) had malignancy, and 7,803 (0.13%) had diagnosed TTC. Those with TTC compared to those without it had significantly (all p Conclusions This study is the first known nationally representative analysis demonstrating that TTC can preferentially impact patients according to their primary malignancy type, underscoring a specific pathophysiological mechanism between tumor and cardiomyopathy biology. These findings suggest heart failure treatment of patients may be improved as cardiologists and oncologists better risk stratify patients according to their specific malignancy history presenting to the hospital with heart failure symptoms concerning for TTC.

Cancer patients with CAD & thrombocytopenia are usually managed non-invasively due to perceived high risk of procedural complications (i.e. bleeding). Initial experience suggested feasibility of coronary angiography (CA) irrespective of platelet count. We sought to determine if thromboelastogram (

Reports have shown up to 9.1% of patients with known malignancy have a metastatic cardiac tumor. The most common intra-cardiac metastases are renal, liver, and uterine malignancies, usually through direct endovascular spread. Germ cell tumors are an extremely rare source of cardiac metastases. A 22

Recently introduced Gen 5 high sensitivity troponin T (hs-TnT) assay helps physicians diagnose or rule out myocardial infarction (MI). However, its diagnostic performance has not been studied in cancer patients. From the laboratory database of 779 hospitalized cancer patients, we identified 103

Newer generation drug-eluting stents (DES) may allow for early discontinuation of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT). DAPT duration after PCI has not been validated in cancer patients. We aimed to describe the practices and outcomes regarding DAPT duration in a cancer population with DES. We

Our previous studies demonstrated that poly(lactic acid) (PLA) air spun nanofiber mesh coatings could be advantageously used to promote monolayer endothelial cell growth on poly(ethylene terephtalate) vascular prostheses. PLA is one of the best candidate for this application because it slowly degrades, and could be thereafter gradually replaced by the extracellular matrix components. Thus, the key parameters for a successful replacement are both the mechanism and the rate of the poly(lactic acid) hydrolysis. Therefore in this study, the PLA degradation process was investigated using 1 H-NMR spectroscopy. Contrary to classical analyses which are based on the crystallinity change (DSC, XRD) or on the molecular weight loss (GPC), NMR spectroscopy allows assessing the polymer degradation at a molecular level. Indeed, the analysis of 1 H-NMR peak assigned to PLA end-chain unit can be used to measure the polymer average molecular weight and consequently, follow the degradation. Moreover, by using homonuclear decoupled 1 H NMR spectroscopy, stereosequences of the main poly(lactic acid) linear chain can be identified and isotactic and stereoblock ratios can be evaluated. Accordingly, this study investigated the degradation process of two different commercial poly(lactic acid)s in air, water and physiological serum environments during 90 days. The influence of the PLA initial chemical structure (stereosequences) on the degradation process was clearly evidenced and the time dependence of the relative amount of l -lactic, d -lactic, and meso-lactic units within the PLA structure was estimated. This NMR approach provides a better understanding of the polymer degradation mechanisms.

International audience; The objective of this study is to develop a technique for measuring the compliance of the textile vascular prostheses without membrane. The principle of this test is to investigate the dimensional changes of prostheses, using imaging techniques, submitted to internal pressure. The internal compliance is broken into three categories : the radial compliance, the longitudinal compliance and the volumetric compliance. The results have shown a significant difference in compliance between the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) vascular grafts and the healthy host arteries.

Background The systemic inflammatory and hypercoagulable states, as well as the cardiotoxic effects of chemo-radiation therapies, expose cancer patients to a wide spectrum of cardiovascular comorbidities that may require cardiac catheterization. The presence of thrombocytopenia increases the risk for significant bleeding during endovascular procedures. We sought to evaluate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of cancer patients with chronic thrombocytopenia undergoing cardiac catheterization for evaluation of cardiomyopathy. Methods We performed a retrospective study of patients with preprocedural thrombocytopenia undergoing cardiac catheterization indicated for cardiomyopathy (chemotherapy-induced, myopericarditis, Takotsubo, or other cardiomyopathies) between November 2009 and November 2015 at our institution. Preprocedural platelet counts were classified into 3 groups: mild thrombocytopenia (>50 K/µL), moderate thrombocytopenia (30-50 K/µL), and severe thrombocytopenia ( Results Out of a total of 148 patients that underwent coronary angiography, 50 (33.8%) had cardiomyopathy as the indication (Table). Mean platelet count on admission was 44.1 ± 29.2 K/µL. Severe thrombocytopenia was identified in 22 patients (44%), moderate thrombocytopenia in 7 patients (14%), and mild thrombocytopenia in 21 patients (42%). No periprocedural bleeding or major adverse cardiovascular events were noted. Median overall survival (OS) was 6.9 months. Patients who had congestive heart failure had significantly decreased OS (p = 0.01). Decreased hemoglobin (p = 0.08), moderate thrombocytopenia (p = 0.03), severe thrombocytopenia (p = 0.09), and LVEF Conclusions Thrombocytopenia should not represent an absolute contraindication for cardiac catheterization in cancer patients with cardiomyopathy and can be considered when hemodynamic data or information obtained invasively may impact clinical care.

Long-term survival after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is now an expected outcome. The growing population of survivors is at risk of developing treatment-related complications, including cardiovascular disease (CVD). A nested case-controlled design was used to identify clinical and treatment-related risk factors for development of late (1+ years after HCT) CVD. Cases were identified from a cohort of 1+-year survivors who underwent transplantation at City of Hope between 1977 and 2006. Controls (HCT survivors without CVD) were matched on age, year of HCT, type of HCT, and duration of follow-up. Sixty-three patients with late CVD were identified, 44 (69.8%) with a coronary artery event and 19 (30.2%) with a cerebrovascular event. Median age at HCT was 49.0 years. Median age at onset of late CVD was 54.0 years; 66.7% of the affected patients had undergone autologous HCT. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the presence of multiple cardiovascular risk factors (2 or more of the following: obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes) after HCT was associated with a 5.2-fold increased risk of late CVD (P < .01), and that pre-HCT chest radiation exposure was associated with a 9.5-fold greater risk of coronary artery disease (P = .03). Pre-HCT exposure to chest radiation and the presence of comorbidities were primarily responsible for the risk associated with late CVD after HCT. These data form the basis for developing predictive models for identifying high-risk individuals for targeted surveillance and aggressive management of comorbidities.

The Controlled Behavior Composite Material (CBCM) is a thermal activated composite material. The thermal activation is made thanks to carbon yarns connected to a power supply. Two sorts of CBCM plates are tested. A three-point bending test is performed to obtain the characteristic curves of the plates and a “free deflection” as well as a “blocking force” are defined as relevant parameters. Response times, mechanical powers and yields are calculated to evaluate the performances of the CBCM plates. The influence of some working (intensity per yarn) and design (orientation of the main reinforcement) parameters is studied. Organization in the anisotropy of the structure is a key point for the thermo-mechanical behavior of the CBCM. The loss of matrix rigidity due to the rise in temperature is quantified and the results show that it can be partially offset by the CBCM effect.

The purpose of this report is to propose an in vitro approach to predicting the long-term dilative behavior of knitted polyester prosthetic grafts. Various techniques were applied to five warp knitted fabric prosthetic grafts in order to determine the following fabric properties: knitted fabric structure, textile structure, number and respective linear density of threads and strands, and length of yarn in each stitch. Following these investigations, the prosthetic grafts underwent testing to determine specific strength at break, breaking extension, and stress-strain curve. On two prosthetic grafts, image analysis was performed during circumferential tensile strength testing in order to monitor changes in structural features as a function of stress. Changes in the distance between two wales and two courses of stitches and stitch surface were measured. In addition to surface deformation, thickness was measured, using an induction sensor. Study of fabric structure showed many differences between the five models made by different manufacturers. Knit fabric structure was Indeforma in three cases and half-tricot in two. Strand number and size varied greatly from one model to another. Pattern also varied from one model to another, with knit stitch density varying from 1 to 3. Specific strength at break testing showed great differences in the mechanical properties of the grafts. These differences were especially obvious in the first part of the rheograms, which reflects the ability of the graft to comply in response to low-strength forces, i.e., much lower than those necessary to cause rupture. Image analysis of stitch behavior under stress further confirmed differences in graft behavior depending on the fabric structure adopted by the manufacturers. The in vitro approach proposed in this study to analyze the fabric characteristics of knitted prosthetic grafts effectively revealed differences in construction and behavior. These differences could account for differences in the dilative behavior of grafts in vivo.

El objetivo de este estudio consistio en analizar un modelo in vitro para predecir el comportamiento de dilatacion a largo plazo de los implantes protesicos de poliester tejido. Se aplicaron varias tecnicas a 5 implantes protesicos textiles para determinar las siguientes propiedades del tejido: estructura del entramado, diseno textil, numero y densidad lineal respectiva de los hilos y las hebras, y longitud del estambre en cada punto. Tras estas investigaciones, los implantes protesicos fueron sometidos a diferentes pruebas para determinar la fuerza especifica de rotura, la extension de la rotura, y la curva tension-deformacion. En dos protesis se realizaron analisis de imagen durante la prueba de fuerza de tension circunferencial para monitorizar los cambios en las caracteristicas estructurales en funcion del estres. Se determinaron los cambios en la distancia entre dos pilares y dos hileras de puntos y la superficie de los puntos. Ademas de la deformacion de la superficie, se determino el grosor mediante un sensor de induccion. El estudio de la estructura del tejido mostro diversas diferencias entre los 5 modelos realizados por distintos fabricantes. La estructura del entramado fue indemallable en 3 casos y punto simple en 2. El numero y tamano de las hebras vario ampliamente de un modelo a otro. El patron tambien vario entre modelos, con una densidad de puntos que oscilo entre 1 y 3. La fuerza especifica en la prueba de rotura mostro grandes diferencias en las propiedades mecanicas de los implantes. Estas diferencias fueron especialmente obvias en la primera parte del reograma, que refleja el comportamiento del injerto en respuesta a fuerzas de baja intensidad, es decir, mucho menores que las necesarias para provocar su rotura. El analisis de la imagen del comportamiento de los puntos en condiciones de estres confirmo aun mas las diferencias de respuesta dependiendo del diseno textil adoptado por los fabricantes. El modelo in vitro propuesto en este estudio para analizar las caracteristicas de los implantes protesicos tejidos revelo efectivamente diferencias en el comportamiento en funcion del diseno. Estas diferencias podrian justificar las diferencias en la tendencia a la dilatacion de los implantes in vivo.

Le but du travail etait de proposer un protocole d'analyse in vitro du comportement en dilatation des protheses en polyester tricotees afin de pouvoir essayer de predire la survenue de dilatation tardive. Nous avons etudie 5 modeles de protheses vasculaires tricot chaine par les investigations textiles suivante : analyse du liage, de la contexture, due nombre de fils et de filaments ainsi que leurs titres respectifs, mesure de la longueur de fil absorbee par maille. Les protheses ont ete ensuite soumises au test de resistance a la traction circonferentielle en consignant la force a la rupture, l'allongement a la rupture, et la courbe contrainte-deformation. Deux protheses ont ete etudiees par analyse d'image lors de la mise en contrainte afin de suivre les parametres de la structure en fonction de la traction. Nous avons mesure l'evolution de la distance entre 2 colonnes de mailles, de la distance entre 2 rangees de mailles, et la surface des mailles. La mesure de la deformation surfacique a ete completee par la mesure de l'epaisseur par un capteur inductif. L'analyse textile que les fabricants ont proposes des constructions textiles differentes. Il s'agissait de liages Indeforma pour 3 protheses et de liages demi-simples pour les deux autres. Ces structures faisaient appel a des fils comportant des filaments en nombre et titre tres differents d'un modele a l'autre. Ces protheses presentaient egalement des contextures variables d'un modele a l'autre puisque la densite de mailles dans le tricot pouvait varier du simple au triple. Le test de resistance a la traction circonferentielle a montre que ces prothese presentaient des comportement mecaniques tres differents, surtout lorsque l'on etudiait la partie initiale des rheogrammes, cette partie traduisant la faculte de la prothese a se deformer sous l'action de contraintes reduites, tres inferieures a celles generant la rupture. L'analyse d'image des mailles lors de la mise en contrainte a egalement permis de montrer des differences de comportement en fonction du type de structure textile retenue par les fabricants. Le protocole de caracterisation des protheses textiles tricotees que nous avons propose nous a permis de montrer les differences de construction et de comportement entre les modeles pouvant expliquer les differences de comportement en termes de dilatation observes in vivo.

International audience; The perovskite CaCu3Ti4O12 (CCT) has been obtained after calcination of oxalate precursors at 900-1000 °C in air. Those precursors are prepared using a soft chemistry method, the coprecipitation. The oxalate powders consist of disk-like particles of 2-3 μm diameter and 300-400 nm thickness. By varying the ratio of the initial amounts of metal chlorides, additional phases (CaTiO3, TiO2 and CuO) could be obtained besides CCT. The corresponding multiphased ceramics present improved dielectric properties.

International audience; A “soft chemistry” method, the coprecipitation, has been used to synthesize the perovskite CaCu3Ti4O12 (CCT). Three main types of materials were obtained for both powders and sintered ceramics: a monophased consisting of the pure CCT phase, a biphased (CCT + CaTiO3), and a three-phased (CCT + CaTiO3 + copper oxide (CuO or Cu2O)). These ceramics, sintered at low temperature, 1050 °C, present original dielectric properties. The relative permittivity determined in the temperature range (−150 < T < 250 °C) is significantly higher than the one reported in the literature. Internal barrier layer capacitor is the probable mechanism to explain the particular behaviour. Moreover, the presence of a copper oxide phase beside the perovksite CCT plays an important role for enhancing the dielectric properties.

This paper shows one example of synthesis using optimal design methodology in material science. The aim is to determine the initial concentrations in lanthanum, strontium and manganese which have to be introduced in the reaction medium to obtain by hydrothermal synthesis the manganite powder of composition La 0.7 Sr 0.3 MnO 3 + δ . Two original designs, in which two of the precursors concentrations vary, are built to estimate the parameters (or effects) of two predictive quadratic models giving the strontium and lanthanum proportions vs. strontium and manganese concentrations (design 1) and vs. strontium and lanthanum concentrations (design 2), the third precursor concentration being fixed. The sole triplet of concentrations leading to the hoped oxide is obtained at the issue of 18 runs. The repeatability of the procedure is checked by synthesizing three times the manganite of composition La 0.7 Sr 0.3 MnO 3 + δ .

BaTiO3 fine powders were synthesized by hydrothermal method at 150 °C or 250 °C for 7 h, starting from a mixture of TiCl3 + BaCl2 or TiO2 + BaCl2. The size of the crystallites is close to 20 nm whatever the starting mixture and the reaction temperature. These powders are well crystallized and constituted of a mixture of the metastable cubic and stable tetragonal phases. The ceramics obtained after uniaxial pressing and sintering at 1250 °C for 10 h or 20 h present high densification (up to 99.8%). The Curie temperature (Tc) and the electrical permittivity ( r) of the ceramics strongly depend on the type of titanium source that has been used for preparing the powder and on the sintering dwell time. Particularly, Tc is shifted towards lower temperature when TiCl3 is used. The permittivity value at Tc of BaTiO3 sintered at 1250 °C for 10 h reaches 7000 and 11,000 with respectively TiCl3 and TiO2 used as titanium source.

BaTiO3 nanopowders were synthesized by hydrothermal method: treatment at 150 °C or 250 °C for 7 h of a mixture of TiCl3 and BaCl2 or TiO2 and BaCl2. After sintering treatment at 1250 °C in air for 10 h or 20 h, the corresponding ceramics were obtained and characterized. The ceramics present a heterogeneous microstructure, depending of the nature of the precursor. The grain size and the grain size distribution in the ceramic bulk are directly related to the powder characteristics, and they govern the electrical properties. For small grain size with low grain size distribution, the permittivity at room temperature is large and the Curie temperature is 100 °C. For large grain sizes in very small grains matrix, the permittivity at room temperature is slightly lower and the phase transition occurs at higher temperature (120 °C).

Synthese hydrothermale de manganites La 1-x Sr x MnO 3+δ . La synthese des manganites a ete etudiee pour x = 0 et x = 0,2, sous pression autogene sur l'intervalle de temperatures 140 - 240°C, en changeant la duree (2 - 410 heures), la nature des precurseurs metalliques et la base. Plusieurs protocoles conduisant a des polymorphes pseudo-cubiques ont ete etablis. Le traitement hydrothermal conduit toujours a un solide amorphe qu'il faut recuire a 650°C (x = 0) ou 550°C (x = 0,2) pour cristalliser le manganite; les poudres sont alors constituees de chaines entrelacees et presentent des aires de surfaces specifiques proches de 35 m 2 .g -1 . Leur calcination a 1000°C brise les chaines en formant des grains dont la taille varie de 100 a 200 nm (x = 0) et de 50 a 100 nm (x = 0,2) et conduit a des oxydes de structure rhomboedrique.

In this work, the multi shape memory effect is studied for two types of thermal active epoxy polymer composites. One of them is called the controlled behavior of composite material (CBCM) which has already been tested as an unsymmetrical active composite and the other one is the conventional symmetrical composite. The shape memory of these composites characterized by the value of the initial fixity is obtained through one-step programming cycle. During this cycle, the composites are heated to the fixity temperature above their thermal glass transition temperature. During the recovery step, by providing different lower recovery temperatures than the fixity temperature, the properties of multi-step positions are obtained. For a certain recovery temperature, the ability to conserve the corresponding positions is investigated for several cycles. For CBCM, contrary to symmetric composite, the coupling between its shape memory property and unsymmetrical constitution leads to a two-way bending actuator with two opposite positions.

Zirconia powders are prepared by reaction of a zirconium precursor with an alkali metal nitrate. The major part of the reactions takes place before the melting points and then the reactions go slowly to completion at 450°C in the molten salts. The roles of the precursor and the alkali metal ion are discussed considering the reaction between two precursors, octahydrated zirconium oxychloride and zirconium tetrachloride, and two nitrates, LiNO 3 and NaNO 3 , and some resulting physico-chemical differences. The obtained zirconia powders contain very small amounts of alkali metal ions which act as stabilizing agent. Their effect on the balance tetragonal–monoclinic ZrO 2 depends upon the homogeneity of their distribution which is related to their ability to diffuse inside the bulk of particles and their polarizing power when located mainly on the surface.