Contemporary National Trend in Surgical Management of Hemodynamically Unstable Pediatric Blunt Splenic Injury.

Background: Evaluation of response to blood transfusion after blunt splenic injury (BSI) may prevent the need for splenectomy. The aim of this study was to evaluate factors associated with splenectomy in pediatric patients with isolated BSI who presented with hemodynamic instability with a focus on timing of transfusion.

Methods: The 2021 Trauma Quality Improvement Project database was queried for children ≤18 years with BSI who arrived with a shock index>1.

Macrophage-Expressed Coagulation Factor VII Promotes Adverse Cardiac Remodeling.

Background: Excess fibrotic remodeling causes cardiac dysfunction in ischemic heart disease, driven by MAP (mitogen-activated protein) kinase-dependent TGF-ß1 (transforming growth factor-ß1) activation by coagulation signaling of myeloid cells. How coagulation-inflammatory circuits can be specifically targeted to achieve beneficial macrophage reprogramming after myocardial infarction (MI) is not completely understood.

Methods: Mice with permanent ligation of the left anterior descending artery were used to model nonreperfused MI and analyzed by single-cell RNA sequencing, protein expression changes, confocal microscopy, and longitudinal monitoring of recovery.

Myeloid cell-derived interleukin-6 induces vascular dysfunction and vascular and systemic inflammation.

Aims: The cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) plays a central role in the inflammation cascade as well as cardiovascular disease progression. Since myeloid cells are a primary source of IL-6 formation, we aimed to generate a mouse model to study the role of myeloid cell-derived IL-6 in vascular disease.

Methods And Results: Interleukin-6-overexpressing (IL-6) mice were generated and crossed with LysM-Cre mice, to generate mice (LysM-IL-6 mice) overexpressing the cytokine in myeloid cells.

Heat-stable whey protein isolate made using isoelectric precipitation and clarification.

Residual lipids (RL) in whey protein isolate (WPI) are detrimental to optimal functional applications (e.g., foaming and low turbidity) and contribute to off-flavor development during powder storage.

Microsurgical replantation after forehead avulsion - success or failure? A case report.

In this article we would like to present, to our best knowledge, the very first published replantation of a forehead/part of a forehead as a single unit. The patient is a 57-year-old male smoker who sustained an avulsion forehead injury after a dog bite. Replantation was performed using microanastomosis of the supratrochlear vessels with restoration of good blood circulation after the procedure.

No drains in reduction mammaplasty - a systematic review.

Breast reduction mammaplasty is the only effective therapeutic intervention for patients with symptomatic breast hypertrophy. In this procedure, closed suction drains have become a standard of care, while the literature supporting use of drains is lacking. In fact, with emerging data we found out that drains might not be so necessary.

Transportation Noise Pollution and Cardiovascular Health.

Epidemiological studies have found that transportation noise increases the risk for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, with solid evidence for ischemic heart disease, heart failure, and stroke. According to the World Health Organization, at least 1.6 million healthy life years are lost annually from traffic-related noise in Western Europe.

From Case Reports to Molecular Insight: Examining the Outcomes and Underlying Mechanisms of Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Breast Implant Patients-A Systematic Review.

There is extensive coverage in the existing literature on implant-associated lymphomas like anaplastic large-cell lymphoma, but breast implant-associated squamous cell carcinoma (BIA-SCC) has received limited scholarly attention since its first case in 1992. Thus, this study aims to conduct a qualitative synthesis focused on the underexplored association between breast implants and BIA-SCC. A systematic review was conducted utilizing the PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases to identify all currently reported cases of BIA-SCC.

Pediatric venoarterial and venovenous ECMO.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is an invaluable resource in the treatment of critically ill children with cardiopulmonary failure.  To date, over 36,000 children have been placed on ECMO and the utilization of this life saving treatment continues to expand with advances in ECMO technology.  This article offers a review of pediatric ECMO including modes and sites of ECMO cannulation, indications and contraindications, and cannulation techniques.

A Prospective Study of Sensory Changes in Pediatric Patients After Minimally Invasive Repair of Pectus Excavatum With Cryoablation.

Background: Cryoablation during minimally invasive repair for pectus excavatum (MIRPE) reduces opioid use and hospital length of stay. Skin hypoesthesia of the chest wall also occurs. This study sought to determine the frequency, onset, duration, and location of sensory changes and neuropathic pain after cryoablation.

Vascular Reconstruction After Cannulation for Support With Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: Literature Review of Data in the Pediatric Population.

Objectives: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is an invaluable life-support resource in the treatment of critically ill children. Traditionally, neck vascular cannulation requires ligation of the carotid artery and jugular vein. In this literature review, we identify rates of postoperative vessel patency, complications, and neurologic outcomes after vascular reconstruction following decannulation.

Evaluation of right-ventricular function by two-dimensional echocardiography and two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography in patients with successful RCA CTO recanalization.

Objectives: Chronic total occlusion (CTO) of the right coronary artery (RCA) is common in patients with coronary artery disease. Although revascularization techniques and success rates have improved significantly in recent years, there are still no studies investigating possible effects of successful recanalization of RCA CTO on the right-ventricular (RV) function. With this study, we aimed to evaluate RV function after recanalization of the RCA by two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (2DE) and additional two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (2DSTE).

Partial enrichment of phospholipids by enzymatic hydrolysis and membrane filtration of whey protein phospholipid concentrate.

Whey protein phospholipid concentrate (WPPC) contains high amounts of phospholipids (PL; 4.5 ± 1%) but there is interest in further enriching the PL content for nutritional and functional applications. Chemical methods were unsuccessful in separating PL from proteins due to the presence of protein-fat aggregates.

Novel Cannabinoid Receptor 2 (CB2) Low Lipophilicity Agonists Produce Distinct cAMP and Arrestin Signalling Kinetics without Bias.

Cannabinoid Receptor 2 (CB2) is a promising target for treating inflammatory diseases. We designed derivatives of 3-carbamoyl-2-pyridone and 1,8-naphthyridin-2(1H)-one-3-carboxamide CB2-selective agonists with reduced lipophilicity. The new compounds were measured for their affinity (radioligand binding) and ability to elicit cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signalling and β-arrestin-2 translocation with temporal resolution (BRET-based biosensors).

Adult orbital xanthogranuloma - a case report.

The periorbital plastic surgery, especially upper and lower blepharoplasty is a very common surgical procedure. Usually the preoperative finding is typical, the surgery routine without unexpected surprises and postoperative course is smooth, quick and without complications. However, periorbital area can also be the source of unexpected findings and peroperative surprises.

Wichterle hydron for breast augmentation - case reports and brief review.

During the period of 1960s and 1970s, a new alloplastic material - Wichterle gel - was introduced in the field of plastic surgery. In 1961, a Czech scientist, prof. Otto Wichterle, had developed, along with his research team, a hydrophilic gel made of polymers, which fulfilled the high standards for prosthetic materials due to its hydrophilic, chemical, thermal and shape stability that provided a better tolerance in the body compared with other hydrophobic gels.

Aircraft noise exposure induces pro-inflammatory vascular conditioning and amplifies vascular dysfunction and impairment of cardiac function after myocardial infarction.

Aims: Traffic noise may play an important role in the development and deterioration of ischaemic heart disease. Thus, we sought to determine the mechanisms of cardiovascular dysfunction and inflammation induced by aircraft noise in a mouse model of myocardial infarction (MI) and in humans with incident MI.

Methods And Results: C57BL/6J mice were exposed to noise alone (average sound pressure level 72 dB; peak level 85 dB) for up to 4 days, resulting in pro-inflammatory aortic gene expression in the myeloid cell adhesion/diapedesis pathways.

Targeting myeloid cell coagulation signaling blocks MAP kinase/TGF-β1-driven fibrotic remodeling in ischemic heart failure.

Despite major advances in acute interventions for myocardial infarction (MI), adverse cardiac remodeling and excess fibrosis after MI causing ischemic heart failure (IHF) remain a leading cause of death worldwide. Here we identify a profibrotic coagulation signaling pathway that can be targeted for improved cardiac function following MI with persistent ischemia. Quantitative phosphoproteomics of cardiac tissue revealed an upregulated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway in human IHF.

Effect of Paclitaxel Drug-Coated Balloon Angioplasty of Infrapopliteal Lesions on Mortality.

Background: Meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials have suggested an increased long-term mortality risk following femoropopliteal and infrapopliteal angioplasty using paclitaxel-coated devices. This study was conducted to evaluate long-term mortality after paclitaxel drug-coated balloon (DCB) and plain old balloon angioplasty (POBA) of infrapopliteal lesions in real-world practice.

Methods: A retrospective mortality analysis of patients with at least 3 years of follow-up who underwent balloon-based endovascular therapy of infrapopliteal lesions was performed.

Cryoablation in 350 Nuss Procedures: Evolution of Hospital Length of Stay and Opioid Use.

Introduction: Current studies show cryoablation decreases opioid requirements and lengths of stay (LOS) in patients undergoing the Nuss procedure for pectus excavatum. This study evaluated the relationship between cryoablation and clinical outcomes for the Nuss procedure.

Methods: A retrospective single-center chart review was performed on patients undergoing the Nuss procedure with intercostal cryoablation from December 2017-August 2021.

Intercostal Nerve Cryoablation in Minimally Invasive Repair of Pectus Excavatum: Effect on Pulmonary Function.

Cryoablation of intercostal nerves is performed for pain control after minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum (MIRPE). Cryoablation affects both sensory and motor neurons, resulting in temporary anesthesia to the chest wall and loss of intercostal motor function. The study objective is to determine the effect of cryoablation on incentive spirometry (IS) volumes, as a measure of pulmonary function, after MIRPE.

Arginase-1 Deletion in Erythrocytes Promotes Vascular Calcification via Enhanced GSNOR (S-Nitrosoglutathione Reductase) Expression and NO Signaling in Smooth Muscle Cells.

Background: Erythrocytes (red blood cells) participate in the control of vascular NO bioavailability. The purpose of this study was to determine whether and how genetic deletion of ARG1 (arginase-1) affects vascular smooth muscle cell NO signaling, osteoblastic differentiation, and atherosclerotic lesion calcification.

Methods: Atherosclerosis-prone mice with conditional, erythrocyte-restricted deletion of ARG1 (apoE red blood cell.

Slower proteolysis in Cheddar cheese made from high-protein cheese milk is due to an elevated whey protein content.

A growing number of companies within the cheese-making industry are now using high-protein (e.g., 4-5%) milks to increase cheese yield.