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Abstract Background Owing to the lack of understanding of the clinical significance of pericardial calcification during pericardiectomy, whether pericardial calcification should be considered when determining the optimal timing for pericardiectomy is debatable. We aimed to investigate the effect of pericardial calcification on early postoperative outcomes in patients who underwent pericardiectomy for constrictive pericarditis. Methods Altogether, 44 patients who underwent pericardiectomy for constrictive pericarditis were enrolled. After excluding three patients who underwent concurrent surgeries, a total of 41 patients were categorized into two groups based on the presence of pericardial calcification as determined by preoperative computed tomography and pathological examination. Preoperative clinical and imaging characteristics, intraoperative data, and early postoperative outcomes were compared between the two groups. A multivariable analysis was performed to identify the factors associated with postoperative complications. Results The group with and without PC comprised 21 and 20 patients, respectively. No significant differences were observed in 30-day mortality (n = 1 [5%]) in the group with pericardial calcification and no mortality in the group without pericardial calcification (p > 0.999). Other early postoperative outcome variables did not demonstrate any significant differences between the two groups. However, the use of cardiopulmonary bypass was associated with postoperative complications (p

Background: Sutureless valves are widely used in aortic valve replacement surgery, with Perceval valves and Intuity valves being particularly prominent. However, concerns have been raised about postoperative thrombocytopenia with Perceval valves (Corcym, UK). We conducted a comparative analysis with the Intuity valve (Edwards Lifesciences, USA), and assessed how thrombocytopenia affected patient and transfusion outcomes. Methods: Among 595 patients who underwent aortic valve replacement from June 2016 to March 2023, sutureless valves were used in 53 (Perceval: n=23; Intuity: n=30). Platelet counts were monitored during hospitalization and outpatient visits. Daily platelet count changes were compared between groups, and the results from patients who underwent procedures using Carpentier Edwards Perimount Magna valves were used as a reference group. Results: Compared to the Intuity group, the Perceval group showed a significantly higher amount of platelet transfusion (5.48±1.64 packs vs. 0.60±0.44 packs, p=0.008). During the postoperative period, severe thrombocytopenia (

Background Reports of intravascular thrombosis and cardiac complications have raised concerns about the safety of COVID‐19 vaccinations, particularly in patients with high cardiovascular risk. Herein, we aimed to analyze the impact of preoperative COVID‐19 vaccination on outcomes after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Methods and Results Among 520 patients who underwent isolated CABG from 2020 to 2022, 481 patients (mean±SD age: 67±11 years, 86 women) whose COVID‐19 vaccination status could be confirmed were included. A total of 249 patients who had not received any COVID‐19 vaccine before CABG (never vaccinated group) and 214 patients who had completed primary vaccination (fully vaccinated group) were subjected to 1:1 propensity score matching, and 156 pairs of patients were matched. There was no significant difference in early mortality between the 2 groups after matching. After matching, overall survival (P=0.930) and major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular event‐free survival (P=0.636) did not differ between the 2 groups. One‐year graft patency also did not differ significantly between the 2 groups; all patent grafts in 85/104 patients (82%) and 62/73 patients (85%) in the never vaccinated and fully vaccinated groups, respectively (P=0.685). Subgroup analysis showed equivalent overall and major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular event‐free survival among AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccine recipients and between those with ≤30 days versus >30 days from vaccination to CABG. Conclusions Despite the very high cardiovascular risk for patients undergoing CABG, COVID‐19 vaccination did not affect major outcomes after CABG. Therefore, there is no reason for patients with coronary artery disease requiring CABG to avoid preoperative COVID‐19 vaccination.

Abstract Background Cadmium is a non-essential, third largest heavy metal contaminant with long retention time that poses environmental hazards. It emanating majorly from industrial processes and phosphate fertilizers. Cadmium is effortlessly assimilated by plants and leads to yield loss. Henceforth, identification of mechanisms to attenuate the heavy metal toxicity in crops is beneficial for enhanced yields. Results Beneficial soil bacteria have been known to combat both biotic and abiotic stress, thereby promoting plant growth. Amongst them, Pseudomonas fluorescens has been shown to enhance abiotic stress resistance in umpteen crops for instance maize and groundnut. Here, we investigated the role of P. fluorescens in conferring cadmium stress resistance in Arabidopsis thaliana. In silico analysis of PCR2 gene and promoter revealed the role, in cadmium stress resistance of A. thaliana. Real-time expression analysis employing qRT-PCR ratified the upregulation of AtPCR2 transcript under cadmium stress up to 6 folds. Total leaf (50%), biomass (23%), chlorophyll content (chlorophyll-a and b 40%, and 36 %) silique number (50%), and other growth parameters significantly improved on bacterial treatment of the 2mM Cd-stressed plants. Conclusion Moreover, generated 35s-promoter driven AtPCR2 over-expressing transgenic lines that exhibited resistance to cadmium and other heavy metal stress. Taken together, a crucial interplay of P. fluorscens mediated enhanced expression of AtPCR2 significantly induced cadmium stress resistance in Arabidopsis plants.

Abstract We investigated the effect of specific surface area on the electrochemical properties of NiCo2O4 (NCO) for glucose detection. NCO nanomaterials with controlled specific surface areas were prepared by additive-assisted hydrothermal synthesis, and self-assembled nanostructures with urchin-, pine-needle-, tremella-, and flower-like morphologies were obtained. The novelty of this method is the systematic control of chemical reaction routes assisted by the addition of different additives during synthesis, which results in the spontaneous formation of various morphologies without any difference in the crystal structure and chemical states of the constituent elements. Such morphological control of NCO nanomaterials leads to considerable changes in the electrochemical performance for glucose detection. Combined with materials characterization, the relationship between the specific surface area and the electrochemical performance is discussed for glucose detection. This work can provide scientific insights for tailoring the surface area of nanostructures, which determines their functionality for potential applications in glucose biosensors.

Background Several recent studies have shown that preperitoneal pelvic packing (PPP) effectively produces hemostasis in patients with unstable pelvic fractures. However, few studies have examined the rate of surgical site infections (SSIs) in patients undergoing PPP following an unstable pelvic fracture. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate factors associated with SSI in such patients. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical charts of 188 patients who developed hemorrhagic shock due to pelvic fracture between April 2012 and May 2021. Forty-four patients were enrolled in this study. Results SSI occurred in 15 of 44 patients (34.1%). The SSIs occurred more frequently in cases of repacking during the second-look surgery (0 vs. 4 [26.7%], P=0.010) and combined bladder-urethra injury (1 [3.4%] vs. 4 [26.7%], P=0.039). The incidence of SSIs was not significantly different between patients undergoing depacking within or after 48 hours (12 [41.4%] vs. 5 [33.3%], P=0.603). The mean time to diagnosis of SSI was 8.1±3.9 days from PPP. The most isolated organism was Staphylococcus epidermidis. Conclusions Repacking and combined bladder-urethra injury are potential risk factors for SSI in patients with unstable pelvic fracture. Close observation is recommended for up to 8 days in patients with these risk factors. Further, 48 hours after PPP, removing the packed gauze on cessation of bleeding and not performing repacking can help prevent SSI. Additional analyses are necessary with a larger number of patients with the potential risk factors identified in this study.

Abstract Thin film-based optical sensors have been attracting increasing interest for use in developing technologies such as biometrics. Multilayered dielectric thin films with different refractive indices have been utilized to modulate the optical properties in specific wavelength bands for spectral selectivity of Thin Film Narrow Bandpass Filters (TFNBFs). Progress in TFNBF design has been made with the incorporation of metallic thin films. Narrower bandwidths with higher transmittance have been achieved in specific spectral bands. In this work, Ti/TiO2/SiO2 based multilayer thin films were prepared using pulsed-DC reactive sputtering. Computer simulations using the Essential Macleod Program allowed the optimal number of layers and thickness of the multilayer thin films to be determined to efficiently tailor the optical path transmitting specific wavelength bands. The addition of Ti metal layers within dielectric (TiO2/SiO2) multilayer thin films significantly changes the cutoff frequency of transmittance at specific wavelengths. Representative 26 multilayer films consisting of Ti, TiO2, and SiO2 show lower transmittance of 10.29% at 400 nm and 10.48% at 680 nm. High transmittance of 80.42% at 485 nm was observed, which is expected to improve the spectral selectivity of the TFNBF. This work provides a contribution to future simulation based design strategy based on experimental thin film engineering for potential industrial development opportunities such as optical biometrics.

ObjectiveIntracranial vertebral artery dissecting aneurysm (VADA) may present as aneurysmal dilation alone, dilation with coexisting stenosis, or, in some cases, as a recurrent aneurysm after previous reconstructive treatment. To date, the clinical utility of flow diverters in VADA has not been examined according to these various circumstances. This study aims to report the safety and efficacy of flow diverters in the treatment of various manifestations of intracranial VADA.MethodsA total of 26 patients and 27 VADAs treated with flow diverting stents from November 2014 to September 2021 were included. Medical records and radiologic data were analyzed to assess the safety and efficacy of flow diverting stents.ResultsThe results showed that 12 cases (44.4%) presented with aneurysmal dilation only, 7 (26.0%) with aneurysmal dilation and one or more associated stenotic lesions, and 8 (29.6%) as recurrence after previous treatment, including stent-assisted coil embolization (n = 5), single stent only (n = 1), and coil embolization without stent (n = 2). Among 27 lesions, 25 were treated with single flow diverters; additional flow diverting stents were required in 2 cases because of incomplete coverage of the aneurysm neck. There was one instance of incomplete expansion of the flow diverter. All cases showed contrast stagnation in the aneurysmal sac immediately after deployment of the flow diverting stent, and during a mean follow-up period of 18.6 months (range 6 to 60), the overall complete occlusion rate was 55.6%, with complete occlusion of 83.3% of aneurysmal dilation only lesions, 42.9% of aneurysms with stenosis, and 25% of the recurrent aneurysm. Only two patients (7.7%) had delayed ischemic complications.ConclusionFlow diverters have proven safe and effective in unruptured VADA. However, the complete occlusion rate with the flow diverter is relatively lower in VADA with stenosis or with previous stent placement than in dilation-only lesions. Further study with a larger cohort would be needed to confirm these results.

Exploring bifunctional electrocatalysts to lower the activation energy barriers for sluggish electrochemical reactions for both the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) are of great importance in achieving lower energy consumption and higher conversion efficiency for future energy conversion and storage system. Despite the excellent performance of precious metal-based electrocatalysts for OER and ORR, their high cost and scarcity hamper their large-scale industrial application. As alternatives to precious metal-based electrocatalysts, the development of earth-abundant and efficient catalysts with excellent electrocatalytic performance in both the OER and the ORR is urgently required. Herein, we report a core–shell CoFeS2@CoS2 heterostructure entangled with carbon nanotubes as an efficient bifunctional electrocatalyst for both the OER and the ORR. The CoFeS2@CoS2 nanocubes entangled with carbon nanotubes show superior electrochemical performance for both the OER and the ORR: a potential of 1.5 V (vs. RHE) at a current density of 10 mA cm−2 for the OER in alkaline medium and an onset potential of 0.976 V for the ORR. This work suggests a processing methodology for the development of the core–shell heterostructures with enhanced bifunctional performance for both the OER and the ORR.

Background: Limited comparative data are available on the efficacy of cryoablation versus radiofrequency ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation. This study aimed to compare radiofrequency ablation and cryoablation with regard to clinical outcomes and the restoration of sinus rhythm or atrial contractility. Methods: A total of 239 patients who underwent surgical ablation between August 2003 and December 2016 at our institution were included. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the energy device that was used (group A: n=140, radiofrequency ablator; group B: n=99, cryoablator). Echocardiographic data, overall survival, and major cardiovascular and cerebrovascular event (MACCE)-free survival were compared between the 2 groups. Results: At 1 year of follow-up, the atrial contractility recovery rate was 32.2% (19 of 59) in group A and 48.8% (21 of 44) in group B. In addition, cryoablation was found to be a predictive factor for the recovery of atrial contractility (cryoablation vs. radiofrequency ablation: odds ratio, 2.540; 95% confidence interval, 1.063-6.071; p=0.036). The left ventricular ejection fraction was significantly higher in group B (53.1%±11.5% vs. 59.1%±6.3%, p=0.001). The median follow-up duration was 36 months. The 5-year overall survival rate was 80.1%±3.6% in group A and 92.1%±2.9% in group B (p=0.400). The 5-year MACCE-free survival rate was 70.3%±4.0% in group A and 70.9%±5.6% in group B (p=0.818). Conclusion: Cryoablation was associated with a higher atrial contractility restoration rate and better left ventricular function than radiofrequency ablation. However, no significant relationship was observed between the energy source and overall or MACCE-free survival.

Background: Early extubation after cardiovascular surgery has some clinical advantages, including reduced hospitalization costs. Herein, we review the results of ultra-fast-track (UFT) extubation, which refers to extubation performed on the operating table just after the operation, or within 1-2 hours after surgery, in patients with congenital cardiac disease. Methods: We performed UFT extubation in patients (n=72) with a relatively simple congenital cardiac defect or who underwent a simple operation starting in September 2016. To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of our recently introduced UFT extubation strategy, we retro-spectively reviewed 195 patients who underwent similar operations for similar diseases from September 2015 to September 2017, including the 1-year periods immediately before and after the introduction of the UFT extubation protocol. Propensity scores were used to assess the effects of UFT extubation on length of stay (LOS) in the intensive care unit (ICU), hospital LOS, and medical costs. Results: After propensity-score matching using logistic regression analysis, 47 patients were matched in each group. The mean ICU LOS (16.3±28.6 [UFT] vs. 28.0±16.8 [non-UFT] hours, p=0.018) was significantly shorter in the UFT group. The total medical costs (182.6±3.5 [UFT] vs. 187.1±55.6 [non-UFT] ×100,000 Korean won [KRW], p=0.639) and hospital stay expenses (48.3±13.6 [UFT] vs. 54.8±29.0 [non-UFT] ×100,000 KRW, p=0.164) did not significantly differ between the groups. Conclusion: UFT extubation decreased the ICU LOS and mechanical ventilation time, but was not associated with postoperative hospital LOS or medical expenses in patients with simple congenital cardiac disease.

Objective: To identify the preventive effect of Angelica gigas Nakai (A. gigas Nakai) extract in a benzalkonium chloride-induced dry eye model. Methods: A total of 28 mice were divided into 4 groups: 1) Normal group: mice received only saline; 2) positive control group: mice received an oral solution without A. gigas Nakai extract at 10:00 a.m. and 0.2% benzalkonium chloride eye drops at 2:00 p.m.; 3) A. gigas Nakai extract (5 mg); 4) A. gigas Nakai extract (10 mg). Both group 3) and group 4) received an oral solution with A. gigas Nakai extract (either 5 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg) at 10:00 a.m. and 0.2% benzalkonium chloride eye drops at 2:00 p.m. After 14 d of follow-up, tear volume measurement and fluorescein staining were evaluated for the recovery effects on ocular surface. Histologic analysis was conducted by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Apoptosis on ocular epithelium layer was examined using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling staining. Expression of TNF- α was also measured using western blot analysis. Results: An increase in both the tear volume and the sustained fluorescein staining scores was observed, demonstrating the preventive effects of A. gigas Nakai extract. Structure changes such as irregularity of the epithelial layer and corneal epithelial cell death were inhibited in the A. gigas Nakai extract groups. Expression of TNF- α moderately declined; however, its expression level was still higher, compared to the normal group. Conclusions: Results from the current study show the significant preventive effect of A. gigas Nakai extract in a mouse model of benzalkonium chloride-induced dry eye syndrome. Thus, A. gigas Nakai extract could be considered as an oral preventive agent for dry eye syndrome in the future.

Carbon nanotube yarns with high loadings of pseudocapacitive material are desirable, e.g., for emerging wearable technologies. Here authors make biscrolled yarns with high loadings of MnO2nanoparticles confined in carbon nanotube galleries, demonstrating very high linear and areal capacitances.

The present study investigates the effect of ludartin on spinal cord injury in rat model. Ludartin treatment decreased the expression of myeloperoxidase and malondialdehyde in spinal cord tissues. The expression of glutathione and superoxide dismutase was enhanced. It also exhibited inhibitory effect on reduction of NeuN-positive cells. The proportion of TUNEL positive cells was also regulated. In addition, ludartin treatment prevented the onset of apoptosis which was evident by decrease in caspase-3 and Bax level and increase of Bcl‑2 level. Up-regulation of tumor necrosis factor‑α, inter-leukin‑1β and I interleukin‑6 by spinal cord injury was suppressed by ludartin treatment. There was improvement in locomotion of rats by treatment with ludartin. Ludartin treatment of spinal cord injury rats improves locomotion by inhibiting inflammatory cytokine expression and preventing cell apoptosis. Thus, ludartin has therapeutic importance in spinal cord injury treatment.

In this work, we prepared spinel-type NiCo2O4 (NCO) nanopowders as a low-cost and sensitive electrochemical sensor for nonenzymatic glucose detection. A facile and simple chemical bath method to synthesize the NCO nanopowders is demonstrated. The effect of pH and annealing temperature on the formation mechanism of NCO nanoparticles was systematically investigated. Our studies show that different pHs of the precursor solution during synthesis result in different intermediate phases and relating chemical reactions for the formation of NCO nanoparticles. Different morphologies of the NCO depending on pHs are also discussed based on the mechanism of growth. Electrochemical performance of the prepared NCO was characterized towards glucose, which reveals that sensitivity and selectivity of the NCO are significantly related with the final microstructure combined with constituent species with multiple oxidation states in the spinel structure.

When the number of lens groups is large, the zoom locus becomes complicated and thus cannot be determined by analytical means. By the conventional calculation method, it is possible to calculate the zoom locus only when a specific lens group is fixed or the number of lens groups is small. To solve this problem, we employed the Padé approximation to find the locus of each group of zoom lenses as an analytic form of a rational function consisting of the ratio of polynomials, programmed in MATLAB. The Padé approximation is obtained from the initial data of the locus of each lens group. Subsequently, we verify that the obtained locus of lens groups satisfies the effective focal length (EFL) and the back focal length (BFL). Afterwards, the Padé approximation was applied again to confirm that the error of BFL is within the depth of focus for all zoom positions. In this way, the zoom locus for each lens group of the optical system with many moving lens groups was obtained as an analytical rational function. The practicality of this method was verified by application to a complicated zoom lens system with five or more lens groups using preset patents.

BackgroundTumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) play a tumorigenic role related to advanced staging and poor prognosis in many human cancers including thyroid cancers. Yet, a functional role of TAMs in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) has not been established. The aim of this study was to investigate TAM expression in human PTC with lymph node (LN) metastasis.MethodsThirty-six patients who underwent surgery after being diagnosed with PTC with LN metastasis were included. Primary tumor tissues were immunohistochemically stained with an anti-CD68 antibody and clinical characteristics according to TAM density were evaluated.ResultsThe TAM densities (CD68+ cells) varied from 5% to 70%, in all tumor areas, while few cells were stained in adjacent normal tissues. TAMs were identified as CD68+ cells with thin, elongated cytoplasmic extensions that formed a canopy structure over tumor cells. Comparing clinicopathologic characteristics between tumors with low (

SnS2 and Sn1−xTixS2 (x = 0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, and 0.7 mol) materials were designed using solvothermal method with the aim to enhance hydrogen production from water/methanol water photosplitting. Scanning electron microscopy revealed hexagonal plates with one side, 3.0 μm in length, in the SnS2 materials. Pure SnS2 showed absorption band edges of above 660 nm, and the absorption was shifted to low wavelengths with the insertion of Ti ions. The evolution of H2 from MeOH/H2O (1 : 1) photosplitting over SnS2 hexagonal plates in the photocatalytic liquid system was 0.016 mL h−1 g−1, and the evolutions were enhanced in Sn1−xTixS2. In particular, 0.049 mL h−1 g−1 of H2 gas was produced in Sn0.7Ti0.3S2 without electrolytes and it increased significantly to more than 90.6% (0.47 mL h−1 g−1 evolutions) at higher pH using 0.1 M of KOH. Based on the UV-visible absorption spectra, the high photocatalytic activity of Sn1−xTixS2 was attributed to the existence of an appropriate band-gap state that retarded recombination between the electrons and holes.

This study focused on the dynamic hydrogen production ability of a core@shell-structured CuS@TiO2 photocatalyst coated with a high concentration of TiO2 particles. The rectangular-shaped CuS particles, 100 nm in length and 60 nm in width, were surrounded by a high concentration of anatase TiO2 particles (>4~5 mol). The synthesized core@shell-structured CuS@TiO2 particles absorbed a long wavelength (a short band gap) above 700 nm compared to that pure TiO2, which at approximately 300 nm, leading to easier electronic transitions, even at low energy. Hydrogen evolution from methanol/water photo-splitting over the core@shell-structured CuS@TiO2 photocatalyst increased approximately 10-fold compared to that over pure CuS. In particular, 1.9 mmol of hydrogen gas was produced after 10 hours when 0.5 g of 1CuS@4TiO2 was used at pH = 7. This level of production was increased to more than 4-fold at higher pH. Cyclic voltammetry and UV-visible absorption spectroscopy confirmed that the CuS in CuS@TiO2 strongly withdraws the excited electrons from the valence band in TiO2 because of the higher reduction potential than TiO2, resulting in a slower recombination rate between the electrons and holes and higher photoactivity.