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A 31-year-old female patient with a previous history of Carney complex and surgical resection for cardiac myxoma and bilateral adrenalectomy at 18 years old and 10 and 11 years old, respectively, was referred to our department with a diagnosis of recurrent biatrial myxomas incidentally discovered on echography. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed the diagnosis of a tumor protruding into the left ventricle, and the patient underwent a surgical resection of a large left atrial mass and a right-sided atrial small tumor. Diagnosis of bilateral atrial myxomas was confirmed by histologic studies. Postoperative outcome was uneventful, and the patient was discharged at the 7th postoperative day. Few months later, she reported trivial clinical symptoms suspecting a cervical radiculopathy. MRI confirmed the presence of a compressive cervical spinal cord tumoral mass at the C2-3 level leading to perform a surgical exeresis of the tumor. Histology showed a spinal melanotic schwannoma. This case highlights the risk of unexpected ubiquitary tumor locations and the importance of a rigorous transversal multidisciplinary follow-up to prevent severe complications in patients with Carney complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geopolymer concrete and mortar have evolved over the years as potential alternatives for reducing the greenhouse gases associated with cement production. This current research was aimed at investigating the optimum dosage and concentration of sodium hydroxide required to leach out silica and alumina oxides in the fly ash for geopolymerization to take place. Blackish grey fly ash from Morupule, Botswana, was synthesized by varying sodium hydroxide (NaOH) of 98% purity between 8 M and 14 M, respectively. The ratio influence of sodium hydroxide to fly ash in dissolving the oxides was carried out at the values of 0.55, 0.62, and 0.75. The results showed that the workability of the geopolymer mortar and paste decreased with the increase in the ratio of fly ash to alkaline activator. The highest workability was achieved at a ratio of 0.75 : 1. The compressive strength, setting time, and workability of geopolymer mortar and paste can be controlled by adjusting the ratio of fly ash to alkaline activator. A ratio of 1.5 : 1 was found to be the most suitable for achieving high compressive strength, while a ratio of 0.75 : 1 was found to be the most suitable for achieving high workability. Furthermore, the workability values were in the range of 105 to 143 mm, while the ranges of initial and final setting times were found to be between 280–350 and 950–1170 minutes, respectively. This study is significant because no previous study has carried out geopolmerization of the Morupule fly ash as a result of its unique characteristics. These findings have important implications for the development of sustainable construction materials. The main finding was that for optimum reaction to take place, and NaOH/fly ash ratio should be kept at 0.55 and molarity of 12 to avoid leaching of other oxides that might weaken the strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents the immobilization with aldehyde groups (glyoxyl carbon felt) of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and formate dehydrogenase (FDH) on carbon‐felt‐based electrodes. The compatibility of the immobilization method with the electrochemical application was studied with the ADH bioelectrode. The electrochemical regeneration process of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide in its oxidized form (NAD+), on a carbon felt surface, has been deeply studied with tests performed at different electrical potentials. By applying a potential of 0.4 V versus Ag/AgCl electrode, a good compromise between NAD+ regeneration and energy consumption was observed. The effectiveness of the regeneration of NAD+ was confirmed by electrochemical oxidation of ethanol catalyzed by ADH in the presence of NADH, which is the no active form of the cofactor for this reaction. Good reusability was observed by using ADH immobilized on glyoxyl functionalized carbon felt with a residual activity higher than 60 % after 3 batches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The LivDet‐2020 competition focuses on Presentation Attacks Detection (PAD) algorithms, has still open problems, mainly unknown attack scenarios. It is crucial to enhance PAD methods. This can be achieved by augmenting the number of Presentation Attack Instruments (PAI) and Bona fide (genuine) images used to train such algorithms. Unfortunately, the capture and creation of PAI and even the capture of Bona fide images are sometimes complex to achieve. The generation of synthetic images with Generative Adversarial Networks (GAN) algorithms may help and has shown significant improvements in recent years. This paper presents a benchmark of GAN methods to achieve a novel synthetic PAI from a small set of periocular near‐infrared images. The best PAI was obtained using StyleGAN2, and it was tested using the best PAD algorithm from the LivDet‐2020. The synthetic PAI was able to fool such an algorithm. As a result, all images were classified as Bona fide. A MobileNetV2 was trained using the synthetic PAI as a new class to achieve a more robust PAD. The resulting PAD was able to classify 96.7% of synthetic images as attacks. BPCER10 was 0.24%. Such results demonstrated the need for PAD algorithms to be constantly updated and trained with synthetic images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease, in which the host immuno‐inflammatory response against the dysbiotic subgingival biofilm leads to the breakdown of periodontal tissues. Most of the available treatments seem to be effective in the short‐term; nevertheless, permanent periodical controls and patient compliance compromise long‐term success. Different strategies have been proposed for the modulation of the host immune response as potential therapeutic tools to take a better care of most susceptible periodontitis patients, such as drug local delivery approaches. Though, maintaining an effective drug concentration for a prolonged period of time has not been achieved yet. In this context, advanced drug delivery strategies using biodegradable nanocarriers have been proposed to avoid toxicity and frequency‐related problems of treatment. The versatility of distinct nanocarriers allows the improvement of their loading and release capabilities and could be potentially used for microbiological control, periodontal regeneration, and/or immunomodulation. In the present review, we revise and discuss the most frequent biodegradable nanocarrier strategies proposed for the treatment of periodontitis, including polylactic‐co‐glycolic acid (PLGA), chitosan, and silica‐derived nanoparticles, and further suggest novel therapeutic strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is the most prevalent malignant neoplasia in human immunodeficiency virus positive (HIV+) patients for which the primary mode of management was chemotherapy. Methods: We have presented the case of a newly diagnosed HIV+ male patient who was diagnosed with a pedunculated nodule in the anterior region of the hard palate, measuring 3.5 cm in diameter and with 2 months of evolution. Results: Histopathological examination confirmed the clinical hypothesis of KS. Soon after the diagnosis, the patient started using combined antiretroviral therapy (Biovir and Kaletra), presenting a significant reduction of the lesion after 4 weeks. With 1.5 cm in diameter, the lesion was surgically removed. The patient was followed‐up for 10 years without any recurrence. Conclusion: In antiretroviral‐naive patients with a well‐preserved immune system, the use of cART may be efficient in reducing the progression of the KS lesions, thus avoiding the use of chemotherapeutic agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper, an ion with many important metabolic functions, has also been proposed to have a role as modulator on neuronal function, mostly based on its effects on voltage- and neurotransmitter-gated conductance as well as on neurological symptoms of patients with altered copper homeostasis. Nevertheless, the mechanisms by which copper exerts its neuromodulatory effects have not been clearly established in a functional neuronal network. Using rat hippocampus slices as a neuronal network model, the effects of copper in the range of 10-100 nM were tested on the intrinsic, synaptic and network properties of the CA1 region. Most of the previously described effects of this cation were in the micromolar range of copper concentrations. The current results indicate that copper is a multifaceted neuromodulator, having effects that may be grouped into two categories: (i) activity enhancement, by modulating synaptic communication and action potential (AP) conductances; and (ii) temporal processing and correlation extraction, by improving reliability and depressing inhibition. Specifically it was found that copper hyperpolarizes AP firing threshold, enhances neuronal and network excitability, modifies CA3-CA1 pathway gain, enhances the frequency of spontaneous synaptic events, decreases inhibitory network activity, and improves AP timing reliability. Moreover, copper chelation by bathocuproine decreases spontaneous network spiking activity. These results allow the proposal that copper affects the network activity from cellular to circuit levels on a moment-by-moment basis, and should be considered a crucial functional component of hippocampal neuronal circuitry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The teaching of implant surgery, as in other medical disciplines, is currently undergoing a particular evolution. Aim of the Study. To assess the usefulness of haptic device, a simulator for learning and training to accomplish basic acts in implant surgery. Materials and Methods. A total of 60 people including 40 third-year dental students without knowledge in implantology (divided into 2 groups: 20 beginners and 20 experiencing a simulator training course) and 20 experienced practitioners (experience in implantology >15 implants) participated in this study. A basic exercise drill was proposed to the three groups to assess their gestural abilities. Results. The results of the group training with the simulator tended to be significantly close to those of the experienced operators. Conclusion. Haptic simulator brings a real benefit in training for implant surgery. Long-term benefit and more complex exercises should be evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A bstract Background and aim: Emergency surgery for type A aortic dissection (AAD) is associated with high mortality rates. The published outcomes of such surgery in aging patients are controversial and the optimal management for elderly patients has not been established. Our study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of surgery for AAD in patients over the age of 80 years. Materials and Methods: Between January 1996 and January 2010, 236 patients underwent surgery for AAD, of which 15 patients were older than 80 years. We evaluated the operative mortality in the whole cohort compared to the outcomes in the elderly subgroup. We assessed the preoperative risks factors and quality of life after surgery by performance status and the patients' ability to return home. Results: Operative mortality was higher in patients aged >80 years (40% vs. 18%, p = 0.04). The survival rate for patients >80 years at one, three, and five years was 53.3%± 0.12%, 42.6%± 0.14%, and 42.6%± 0.12%, respectively. Of the survivors, six patients were able to return home (40%) and the postoperative performance status was '3' in one patient, '2' in six patients, and '1' in two patients. A preoperative level of 2 or greater was found to be a significant risk factor (p = 0.04). Conclusion: Survival in octogenarians undergoing surgery for AAD is possible, and some patients were able to return home with a reasonable level of autonomy. Larger series will be needed to define the optimal management for octogenarians presenting with AAD. (J Card Surg 2012;27:65-69) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study synthesizing water-soluble polymers with multiligand groups to analyze their ability to remove environmentally impacting metal ions and examine its bactericidal activity. The new water soluble polymer was examined as a polychelatogen with the liquid-phase polymer-based retention (LPR) technique. Polymer 2-acrylamido glycolic acid (AGA)-co- 2-acrylamido-2-methly-1-propane sulfonic acid (APSA) is effective in retaining metal ions with a fast and strong interaction.

Pig kidney fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase is a homotetrameric enzyme which does not contain tryptophan. In a previous report the guanidine hydrochloride-induced unfolding of the enzyme has been described as a multistate process [Reyes, A. M., Ludwig, H. C., Yañez, A. J., Rodriguez, P. H and Slebe, J. C. (2003) Biochemistry 42, 6956–6964]. To monitor spectroscopically the unfolding transitions, four mutants were constructed containing a single tryptophan residue either near the C1–C2 or the C1–C4 intersubunit interface of the tetramer. The mutants were shown to retain essentially all of the structural and kinetic properties of the enzyme isolated from pig kidney. The enzymatic activity, intrinsic fluorescence, size-exclusion chromatographic profiles and 1-anilinonaphthalene-8-sulfonate binding by the mutants were studied under unfolding equilibrium conditions. The unfolding profiles were multisteps, and formation of hydrophobic structures was detected. The enzymatic activity of wild-type and mutant FBPases as a function of guanidine hydrochloride concentration showed an initial enhancement (maximum ∼ 30%) followed by a biphasic decay. The activity and fluorescence results indicate that these transitions involve conformational changes in the fructose-1,6-bisphosphate and AMP domains. The representation of intrinsic fluorescence data as a ‘phase diagram’ reveals the existence of five intermediates, including two catalytically active intermediates that have not been previously described, and provides the first spectroscopic evidence for the formation of dimers. The intrinsic fluorescence unfolding profiles indicate that the dimers are formed by selective disruption of the C1–C2 interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the case of a 66-year-old male with increasing angina occurring after two previous coronary artery surgery procedures. The second operation had been complicated by severe mediastinitis necessitating surgical drainage, and sternal stabilization. Angiography revealed an occlusion of the LAD bypass with a patent LAD associated with a stenotic circumflex coronary artery. The ascending aorta was severely calcified. An off-pump axillo-LAD coronary artery bypass was safely performed in conjunction with stenting of the circumflex artery. This approach dramatically simplified the procedure and reduced the operative risk. At the 52-month follow-up, the patient is free of any angina symptoms. doi: 10.1111/jocs.12113 (J Card Surg 2013;28:388-390). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Premise of the study : Microsatellite primers were developed in Lupinus luteus L., an emerging temperate protein crop, to investigate genetic diversity, population structure, and to facilitate the generation of better yellow lupine varieties. • Methods and Results: Thirteen polymorphic primer sets were evaluated in a European and Eastern European accession collection of L. luteus . The primers amplified di-, tri-, and tetranucleotide repeats with 2 – 4 alleles per locus. These revealed a moderate to low level of genetic variation, as indicated by an average observed heterozygosity of 0.0126. Select loci also amplified successfully in the closely related species L. hispanicus Boiss. & Reut. and in the New World species L. mutabilis Sweet. • Conclusions: These results indicate the utility of primers for the study of genetic diversity across L. luteus populations and related lupine species. The use of these microsatellite markers will facilitate the implementation of several molecular breeding strategies in yellow lupine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photographs are presented depicting the medical results of a 67-year-old patient with an anterior mediastinal mass with patent bypass grafts following a reoperative median sternotomy.

We report a case of acute mitral regurgitation due to a temporary distortion of the mitral valve apparatus during apical transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). A few minutes after penetrating the apex, the patient developed severe hypotension and cardiac arrest. A hemodynamic support with femoral–femoral extracorporeal circulation was immediately installed. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) revealed that the guidewire interfered with the subvalvular mitral apparatus generating severe acute mitral regurgitation. The patient's condition improved immediately after guidewire removal and there was no residual mitral regurgitation. This case clearly shows the importance and the usefulness of performing a thorough and complete TEE monitoring to prevent and identify complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]