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The contribution of 1,8-dihydroxy naphthalene (DHN) melanin to cadmium (Cd) tolerance in two dark septate endophytes (DSE) of the genus Cadophora with different melanin content was investigated in vitro. The DSE isolate Cad#148 with higher melanin content showed higher tolerance to Cd than the less melanised Cad#149. Melanin synthesis was significantly reduced by Cd in both isolates with uninhibited melanin synthesis, in a dose-dependent manner. Inhibition of melanin synthesis by tricyclazole reduced the relative growth of Cad#148 exposed to Cd and did not affect Cad#149. Cd accumulation was not altered by tricyclazole in the two isolates, but it increased catalase and reduced glutathione reductase activity in more melanised Cad#148, indicating higher stress levels. In contrast, in Cad#149 the enzyme activity was less affected by tricyclazole, indicating a more pronounced role of melanin-independent Cd tolerance mechanisms. Cd ligand environment in fungal mycelia was analysed by extended EXAFS (X-ray absorption fine structure). It revealed that Cd was mainly bound to O- and S-ligands, including hydroxyl, carboxyl, phosphate and thiol groups. A similar proportion of S- and O- ligands (~35% and ~65%) were found in both isolates with uninhibited melanin synthesis. Among O-ligands two types with Cd-O-C- and Cd-O-P- coordination were identified. Tricyclazole altered Cd-O- ligand environment in both fungal isolates by reducing the proportion of Cd-O-C- and increasing the proportion of Cd-O-P coordination. DHN-melanin, among other tolerance mechanisms, significantly contributes to Cd tolerance in more melanised DSE fungi by immobilising Cd to hydroxyl groups and maintaining the integrity of the fungal cell wall., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The majority of rectal cancers are discovered in locally advanced forms (UICC stage II, III). Treatment consists of preoperative radiochemotherapy, followed by surgery 6-8 weeks later and finally by postoperative chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to find out if tumor regression affected long-term survival in patients with localy advanced rectal cancer, treated with neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy., Patients and Methods: Patients with rectal cancer stage II or III, treated between 2006 and 2010, were included in a retrospective study. Clinical and pathohistologic data were acquired from computer databases and information about survival from Cancer Registry. Survival was estimated according to Kaplan-Meier method. Significance of prognostic factors was evaluated in univariate analysis; comparison was carried out with log-rank test. The multivariate analysis was performed according to the Cox regression model; statistically significant variables from univariate analysis were included., Results: Two hundred and two patients met inclusion criteria. Median follow-up was 53.2 months. Stage ypT0N0 (pathologic complete response, pCR) was observed in 14.8% of patients. Pathohistologic stage had statistically significant impact on survival (p = 0.001). 5-year survival in patients with pCR was>90%. Postoperative T and N status were also found to be statistically significant (p = 0.011 for ypT and p < 0.001 for ypN). According to multivariate analysis, tumor response to neoadjuvant therapy was the only independent prognostic factor (p = 0.003)., Conclusions: Pathologic response of tumor to preoperative radiochemotherapy is an important prognostic factor for prediction of long-term survival of patients with locally advanced rectal cancer., Competing Interests: Disclosure: No potential conflicts of interest were disclosed.

A well-functioning vascular access is essential for successful haemodialysis in patients with end-stage kidney failure. Sometimes, when we have exploited all conventional ways of vascular access salvage, we have to find a unique solution to preserve it.

Background: Ultrasound-guided percutaneous endovascular treatment of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) or graft failure is an alternative to radiologically-guided angioplastic methods. Its main advantages are that it can be used with open or percutaneous access, using no contrast media and no radiation. The aim of this study was to analyze the results of ultrasound-guided endovascular treatment of arteriovenous access failure., Material and Methods: Preoperative ultrasound was used to determine the degree of stenosis and the size of balloon used in angioplasty. Angioplasty was performed as open procedure or by using a 4 - 6 French percutaneous sheath. Indications for angioplasty were significant stenosis of native vein or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) graft with or without AVF thrombosis. Stenosis was considered significant if it narrowed the lumen of AVF for more than 50% and changed the shape of the flow curve. Balloon inflation was controlled by ultrasound. Procedural success was assessed with repeated postprocedural ultrasound., Results: In the period from August 2012 until August 2016, 228 ultrasound-guided open or percutaneous transluminal angioplasties (PTA) were performed (61% men, mean age 66.6 ± 12.0 years), success rate was 93%. In 19 (8%) cases, ultrasound-guided PTA was used in conjunction with surgical reconstruction of arteriovenous fistula/graft and in 27 (12%) cases with thromboendarterectomy. Main complications were recoil, phlebitic vein rupture, and guidewire false route in thrombotic vessels. The main cause of access failure was perianastomotic stenosis (25%). 46% of patients required repeated PTA after the first one (after a mean time of 20.8 ± 22.8 weeks, mean number of repeated PTA 2.1 ± 1.7). Repeated PTA was done intentionally as stepped dilatation or because of rethrombosis/restenosis. Ultrasound-guided stent placement was done in 8% of PTA., Conclusions: Ultrasound-guided endovascular treatment of arteriovenous fistula or graft is a feasible and safe method of reestablishing or maintaining a functional vascular access.
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Aims: We evaluated the impact of hemodialysis on mortality and hospital readmission in patients with cardiorenal syndrome., Methods: All patients were NYHA IV functional class and underwent laboratory testing, echocardiography, and cardiac functional testing. Hemodialysis was indicated in patients with progressive decline of kidney function and consequent failure to titrate heart failure medication as well as in patients with hypervolemia that was resistant to conservative treatment with more than 4 annual hospitalizations due to heart failure and/or concomitant chronic kidney disease stage III - IV. Patients were treated with low-efficacy bicarbonate hemodialysis with permanent central venous catheter used as vascular access., Results: Since 2004, 67 patients were started on hemodialysis because of cardiorenal syndrome. Hospital readmission rate due to heart failure decreased (1 year before dialysis vs. 1 year after dialysis: 0.79 ± 1.32 vs. 0.22 ± 0.65 hospitalizations per year, p = 0.001) together with the duration of annual hospital stay (11.4 ± 21.4 vs. 3.7 ± 10.4 days, p = 0.011). 1-, 2-, 3-, 4- and 5-year survival for our patients was 81%, 61%, 52%, 47%, and 39%, respectively., Conclusions: Chronic renal replacement therapy with hemodialysis and strict uremic, electrolyte, and volume control may be more beneficial for patients with advanced heart failure with preserved or reduced LVEF than ultrafiltration alone. We have observed better survival of terminal cardiorenal patients treated with hemodialysis than in the general NYHA IV population, with lower hospital readmission rate and less hospitalized days for heart failure.
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Table of Contents: A1 Point-of-care ultrasound examination of cervical spine in emergency departmentYahya Acar, Onur Tezel, Necati SalmanA2 A new technique in verifying the placement of a nasogastric tube: obtaining the longitudinal view of nasogastric tube in addition to transverse view with ultrasoundYahya Acar, Necati Salman, Onur Tezel, Erdem CevikA3 Pseudoaneurysm of the femoral artery after cannulation of a central venous line. Should we always use ultrasound in these procedures?Margarita Algaba-Montes, Alberto Oviedo-García, Mayra Patricio-BordomásA4 Ultrasound-guided supraclavicular subclavian vein catheterization. A novel approach in emergency departmentMargarita Algaba-Montes, Alberto Oviedo-García, Mayra Patricio-BordomásA5 Clinical ultrasound in a septic and jaundice patient in the emergency departmentMargarita Algaba-Montes, Alberto Oviedo-García, Mayra Patricio-BordomásA6 Characterization of the eyes in preoperative cataract Saudi patients by using medical diagnostic ultrasoundMustafa Z. Mahmoud, Abdelmoneim SuliemanA7 High-frequency ultrasound in determining the causes of acute shoulder joint painMustafa Z. MahmoudA8 Teaching WINFOCUS Ultrasound Life Support Basic Level 1 for Providers in resource-limited countriesAbbas Ali, Alrayah Mustafa, Ihab Abdelrahman, Mustafa Bahar, Osama Ali, H. Lester Kirchner, Gregor ProsenA9 Changes of arterial stiffness and endothelial function during uncomplicated pregnancyAjda Anzic, Paul LeesonA10 Cardiovascular haemodynamic properties before, during and after pregnancyAjda Anzic, Paul LeesonA11 An old man with generalized weaknessMaryam Bahreini, Fatemeh RasooliA12 Ultrasonography for non-specific presentations of abdominal painMaryam Bahreini, Houman HosseinnejadA13 Introduction of a new imaging guideline for suspected renal colic in the emergency department: effect on CT Urogram utilisationGabriel Blecher, Robert Meek, Diana Egerton-WarburtonA14 Transabdominal ultrasound screening for pancreatic cancer in Croatian military veterans: a retrospective analysis from the first Croatian veteran's hospitalEdina Ćatić Ćuti, Stanko Belina, Tihomir Vančina, Idriz KovačevićA15 The challenge of AAA: unusual case of obstructive jaundiceEdina Ćatić Ćuti, Nadan RustemovićA16 Educational effectiveness of easy-made new simulator model for ultrasound-guided procedures in pediatric patients: vascular access and foreign body managementIkwan Chang, Jin Hee Lee, Young Ho Kwak, Do Kyun KimA17 Detection of uterine rupture by point-of-care ultrasound at emergency department: a case reportChi-Yung Cheng, Hsiu-Yung Pan, Chia-Te KungA18 Abdominal probe in the hands of interns as a relevant diagnostic tool in revealing the cause of heart failureEla Ćurčić, Ena Pritišanac, Ivo Planinc, Marijana Grgić Medić, Radovan RadonićA19 Needs assessment of the potential utility of point-of-care ultrasound within the Zanzibar health systemAbiola Fasina, Anthony J. Dean, Nova L. Panebianco, Patricia S. HenwoodA20 Ultrasonographic diagnosis of tracheal compressionOliviero Fochi, Moreno Favarato, Ezio BonanomiA21 The role of ultrasound in the detection of lung infiltrates in critically ill patients: a pilot studyMarijana Grgić Medić, Ivan Tomić, Radovan RadonićA22 The SAFER Lasso; a novel approach using point-of-care ultrasound to evaluate patients with abdominal complaints in the emergency departmentYoungrock Ha, Hongchuen TohA23 Awareness and use of clinician-performed ultrasound among clinical clerkship facultyElizabeth Harmon, Wilma Chan, Cameron Baston, Gail Morrison, Frances Shofer, Nova Panebianco, Anthony J. DeanA24 Clinical outcomes in the use of lung ultrasound for the diagnosis of pediatric pneumoniasAngela Hua, Sharon Kim, James TsungA25 Effectiveness of ultrasound in hypotensive patientsIsa Gunaydin, Zeynep Kekec, Mehmet Oguzhan AyA26 Moderate-to-severe left ventricular ejection fraction related to short-term mortality of patients with post-cardiac arrest syndrome after out-of-hospital cardiac arrestJinjoo Kim, Jinhyun Kim, Gyoosung Choi, Dowon ShimA27 Usefulness of abdominal ultrasound for acute pyelonephritis diagnosis after kidney transplantationJi-Han LeeA28 Lung ultrasound for assessing fluid tolerance in severe preeclampsiaJana Ambrozic, Katja Prokselj, Miha LucovnikA29 Optic nerve sheath ultrasound in severe preeclampsiaGabrijela Brzan Simenc, Jana Ambrozic, Miha LucovnikA30 Focused echocardiography monitoring in the postoperative period for non-cardiac patientsAsta Mačiulienė, Almantas Maleckas, Algimantas Kriščiukaitis, Vytautas Mačiulis, Andrius MacasA31 POCUS-guided paediatric upper limb fracture reduction: algorithm, tricks, and tipsSharad MohiteA32 Point-of-care lung ultrasound: a good diagnostic tool for pneumonia in a septic patientZoltan Narancsik, Hugon MožinaA33 A case of undergraduate POCUS (r)evolutionSara Nikolić, Jan Hansel, Rok Petrovčič, Una Mršić, Gregor ProsenA34 The Graz Summer School for ultrasound: from first contact to bedside application: three-and-a-half-day undergraduate ultrasound training: résumé after two years of continuous developmentSimon Orlob, Markus Lerchbaumer, Niklas Schönegger, Reinhard KaufmannA35 Usefulness of point-of-care ultrasound in the emergency room in a patient with acute abdominal painAlberto Oviedo-García, Margarita Algaba-Montes, Mayra Patricio-BordomásA36 Use of bedside ultrasound in a critically ill patient. A case reportAlberto Oviedo-García, Margarita Algaba-Montes, Mayra Patricio-BordomásA37 Diagnostic yield of clinical echocardiography for the emergency physicianAlberto Oviedo-García, Margarita Algaba-Montes, Mayra Patricio-BordomásA38 Focused cardiac ultrasound in early diagnosis of type A aortic dissection with atypical presentationChun-I Pan, Hsiu-Yung Pan, Chien-Hung WuA39 Detection of imperforated hymen by point-of-care ultrasoundHsiu-yung Pan, Chia-Te KungA40 Developing a point-of-care ultrasound curriculum for pediatric nurse practitioners practicing in the pediatric emergency departmentSarah Pasquale, Stephanie J. Doniger, Sharon Yellin, Gerardo ChiricoloA41 Use of transthoracic echocardiography in emergency setting: patient with mitral valve abscessMaja Potisek, Borut Drnovšek, Boštjan LeskovarA42 A young man with syncopeFatemeh Rasooli, Maryam BahreiniA43 Work-related repetitive use injuries in ultrasound fellowsKristine Robinson, Clara Kraft, Benjamin Moser, Stephen Davis, Shelley Layman, Yusef Sayeed, Joseph MinardiA44 Lung ultrasonography in the evaluation of pneumonia in childrenIrmina Sefic Pasic, Amra Dzananovic, Anes Pasic, Sandra Vegar ZubovicA45 Central venous catheter placement with the ultrasound aid: two years' experience of the Interventional unit, Division of Intensive Care Medicine, KBC ZagrebAna Godan Hauptman, Marijana Grgic Medic, Ivan Tomic, Ana Vujaklija Brajkovic, Jaksa Babel, Marina Peklic, Radovan RadonicA46 Duplicitas casui: two patients admitted due to acute liver failureVedran Radonic, Ivan Tomic, Luka Bielen, Marijana Grgic MedicA47 A pilot survey on an understanding of Bedside Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) among medical doctors in internal medicine: exposure, perceptions, interest, and barriers to trainingPeh Wee MingA48 Unusual case of defecation syncopeNur hafiza Yezid, Fatahul Laham MohammedA49 A case report of massive pulmonary embolism; a multidisciplinary approachZainal Abidin Huda, Wan Nasarudin Wan Ismail, W.Yus Haniff W.Isa, Hashairi Fauzi, Praveena Seeva, Mohd Zulfakar Mazlan.

Tartary buckwheat is a gluten-free crop with great potential as a wheat substitute. Iron (Fe) is an important mineral element in staple foods which is required in sufficient bioaccessible quantities. The aim of the study was to investigate how processing of grains into groats (hydrothermal processing to remove the husk) and sprouts (7-day-old seedlings) affected Fe speciation (Fe(2+) or Fe(3+)), Fe ligand composition and Fe bioaccessibility to human Caco-2 cells. Groats contained the least Fe (23.8 ± 1.65 mg kg(-1)) and the lowest amounts of Fe(2+) (8%). Grains and sprouts had comparable Fe concentrations (78.2 ± 2.65 and 68.9 ± 2.73 mg kg(-1)) and similar proportions of Fe(2+) (15% and 18%). The main ligands for Fe in Tartary buckwheat material were phytate and citrate. Phytate was less abundant in sprouts, which did not correlate with greater Fe bioaccessibility. Iron bioaccessibility was 4.5-fold greater for grains than groats, suggesting that Fe is more bioaccessible in the husk than in the rest of the grain., (Crown Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)