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Titanium-Niobium (TiNb) alloys are commonly employed in a number of implantable devices, yet concerns exist regarding their use in implantology owing to the biomechanical mismatch between the implant and the host tissue. Therefore, to balance the mechanical performance of the load-bearing implant with bone, TiNb alloys with differing porosities were fabricated by powder metallurgy combined with spacer material. Microstructures and phase constituents were characterized with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The mechanical properties were tested by uniaxial compression, and the corrosion performance was determined via a potentiodynamic polarization experiment. To evaluate a highly matched potential implant with the host, biocompatibilities such as cell viability and proliferation rate, fibronectin adsorption, plasmid-DNA interaction, and an SEM micrograph showing the cell morphology were examined in detail. The results showed that the alloys displayed open and closed pores with a uniform pore size and distribution, which allowed for cell adherence and other cellular activities. The alloys with low porosity displayed compressive strength between 618 MPa and 1295 MPa, while the alloys with high porosity showed significantly lower strength, ranging from 48 MPa to 331 MPa. The biological evaluation of the alloys demonstrated good cell attachment and proliferation rates.

This study investigated the microstructures, mechanical performances, corrosion resistances, and in vitro studies of porous Ti-xNb-10Zr (x: 10 and 20; at. %) alloys. The alloys were fabricated by powder metallurgy with two categories of porosities, i.e., 21–25% and 50–56%, respectively. The space holder technique was employed to generate the high porosities. Microstructural analysis was performed by using various methods including scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, electron backscatter diffraction, and x-ray diffraction. Corrosion resistance was assessed via electrochemical polarisation tests, while mechanical behavior was determined by uniaxial compressive tests. In vitro studies, such as cell viability and proliferation, adhesion potential, and genotoxicity, were examined by performing an MTT assay, fibronectin adsorption, and plasmid-DNA interaction assay. Experimental results showed that the alloys had a dual-phase microstructure composed of finely dispersed acicular hcp α-Ti needles in the bcc β-Ti matrix. The ultimate compressive strength ranged from 1019 MPa to 767 MPa for alloys with 21–25% porosities and from 173 MPa to 78 MPa for alloys with 50–56% porosities. Noted that adding a space holder agent played a more critical role in the mechanical behaviors of the alloys compared to adding niobium. The pores were largely open and exhibited irregular shapes, with uniform size distribution, allowing for cell ingrowth. Histological analysis showed that the alloys studied met the biocompatibility criteria required for orthopaedic biomaterial use.

Angiosarcomas of the heart are extremely rare tumors and tend to be located in the right atrium. Echocardiogram, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging are imaging techniques to detect and consider precisely. Surgery is the cornerstone of the therapy modality, but it can be supplied by chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Survival and outcomes of heart sarcomas are unfortunately poor. Our study was about angiosarcoma of the heart. We have managed both surgery and oncologic procedures well. Thus, the patient is still alive 21 months after the surgery. Our aim is to share our successful experiments and contribute to the literature.

Objective: We aimed to investigate antiplatelet drug resistance utilizing light transmission-lumiaggregometry (LT-LA) and the Platelet Function Analyzer-100 (PFA-100) in patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery. Materials and Methods: The study included 60 patients diagnosed with stable coronary artery disease and peripheral vascular diseases that required surgery. Participants were divided into three groups: patients receiving aspirin (ASA) (n=21), patients receiving clopidogrel (CLO) (n=19), and patients receiving dual therapy (ASA+CLO) (n=20). Aggregation and secretion tests by LT-LA and closure time by the PFA- 100 were used to measure antiplatelet drug resistance. Results: Based on the adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced aggregation test, 43% of patients were resistant to ASA, 22% to CLO, and 15% to dual therapy. Diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia were the most commonly identified comorbid disorders. In patients with comorbid risk factors, the median value of platelet aggregation response to ADP was significantly higher in the ASA group than in the CLO and dual therapy groups (p=0.0001). In patients receiving ASA monotherapy, the maximum amplitude of aggregation response to platelet agonists was ≥70% in 43% of patients for ADP and 28% for collagen by LT-LA. Elevated ADP (≥0.29 nmol) and collagen (≥0.41 nmol)-induced adenosine triphosphate release were found by LT-LA in 66% of patients utilizing an ADP agonist and 80% of patients using a collagen agonist undergoing ASA therapy. Closure times obtained with the PFA-100 were normal in 28% of patients using collagen- ADP cartridges and 62% of patients using collagen-epinephrine (CEPI) cartridges who received ASA. Recurrent thrombosis and bleeding were observed in 12 (20%) patients with cardiovascular disease. Three of these individuals (25%) showed ASA resistance with normal responses to ADP-induced aggregation (≥70%) and secretion (≥0.29 nmol), as well as normal CEPI closure times. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that antiplatelet drug monitoring with LT-LA and PFA-100 may be useful in high-risk and complicated cardiovascular patients.

Carotid artery disease is the most important source of cerebrovascular diseases, causing a high rate of morbidity and mortality. While there are medical and interventional treatment options for carotid artery disease, carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is the gold standard treatment for severe carotid artery stenosis. Our study focuses on a rare complication encountered in a 74-year-old female patient who underwent carotid endarterectomy for carotid artery disease. Our patient, who had a smooth postoperative course, developed intracranial hemorrhage after discharge. This complication, occurring under standard antiplatelet therapy, is quite rare in the literature. Our aim is to contribute this rare complication to the literature with our case report.

Background and Objectives: This is the first study to examine the role of monocyte distribution width (MDW) in predicting sepsis after cardiovascular surgery. Methods: This study included 43 consecutive patients who had undergone cardiovascular surgery between July 2021 and July 2022. All patients were examined at the following three time points (TPs): preoperative period (TP1), postoperative at 24 h (TP2), and discharge (TP3). SOFA score, leukocyte count, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), MDW, C-reactive protein (CRP), and procalcitonin (PCT) levels were tested at each TPs. The Sepsis-3 criteria were used to diagnose patients with sepsis. Results: The mean values of all variables (leukocyte count, NLR, MDW, CRP, and PCT levels) were significantly higher at TP2 and TP3 than at TP1 (p < 0.05). All these values were significantly higher at TP2 than at TP3 (p < 0.05). Patients with sepsis had significantly higher mean values for leukocyte count, NLR, MDW, CRP, and PCT levels than those without sepsis (p < 0.05). There was a significant correlation between MDW and inflammatory markers (CRP, PCT, and NLR) during the three time periods (p < 0.05). According to the ROC analysis, the optimal MDW cutoff value with the highest sensitivity and specificity for predicting sepsis in the postoperative period was 20.5. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that elevated MDW levels may be a valuable predictor of sepsis in patients following cardiovascular surgery.

Objective: the objective of this study is to examine the relationships between sleep, quality of life and anxiety in patients undergoing cardiac surgeries during the preoperative period, at discharge, two weeks after discharge and three months after discharge. Method: this study had a prospective, descriptive and correlational design and was conducted in a single center. The sample consisted of 68 patients who had undergone cardiac surgeries. The data were collected using an Information Form, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Richard-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire and the Nottingham Health Profile. Results: the patients’ sleep quality increased from moderate to good at each measurement moment after the surgeries, when compared to sleep quality measured at their first hospitalization. While the state anxiety scores decreased at discharge and 2 weeks after the initial hospitalization, they increased to a moderate level 3 months after discharge. There was no significant relationship between anxiety levels and sleep quality at any measurement moment. Additionally, the patients’ quality of life was significantly improved 2 weeks and 3 months after discharge. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the sleep quality of patients who had undergone cardiac surgeries was improved during the postoperative period, and that this improvement exerted a positive effect on their quality of life.