Transcatheter Aspiration and Mechanical Embolectomy of an Intracardiac Mass.

The management of pulmonary embolus and intracardiac masses is rapidly evolving with the availability of transcatheter aspiration devices. We describe the utility of a transcatheter aspiration device in management of a patient with pulmonary embolus and a right atrial mass in transit after spinal surgery where a topical hemostatic agent was used to control intraoperative bleeding.

Risk Stratification and Management of Intermediate-Risk Acute Pulmonary Embolism.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is the third most common cause of cardiovascular death and necessitates prompt, accurate risk assessment at initial diagnosis to guide treatment and reduce associated mortality. Intermediate-risk PE, defined as the presence of right ventricular (RV) dysfunction in the absence of hemodynamic compromise, carries a significant risk for adverse clinical outcomes and represents a unique diagnostic challenge. While small clinical trials have evaluated advanced treatment strategies beyond standard anticoagulation, such as thrombolytic or endovascular therapy, there remains continued debate on the optimal care for this patient population.

Understanding Biofilm Formation in Ecotoxicological Assays With Natural and Anthropogenic Particulates.

Fossil-made polymers harbor unique bacterial assemblages, and concerns have been raised that ingested microplastic may affect the consumer gut microbiota and spread pathogens in animal populations. We hypothesized that in an ecotoxicity assay with a mixture of polystyrene (PS) and clay: (1) microbiome of the test animals inoculates the system with bacteria; (2) relative contribution of PS and the total amount of suspended solids (SS) select for specific bacterial communities; and (3) particle aggregation is affected by biofilm community composition, with concomitant effects on the animal survival. Mixtures of PS and clay at different concentrations of SS (10, 100, and 1000 mg/L) with a varying microplastics contribution (%PS; 0-80%) were incubated with , whose microbiome served as an inoculum for the biofilms during the exposure.

Ecotoxicological assessment of suspended solids: The importance of biofilm and particle aggregation.

Assessment of microplastic impacts in biota is challenging due to the complex behavior of the test particles and their interactions with other particulates, including microorganisms, in the environment. To disentangle responses to microplastic exposure from those to other suspended solids, both microplastic and natural particles must be present in the test system. We evaluated how microplastic, non-plastic particles, and biofilms interacted in their effects on survivorship using acute toxicity assay with Daphnia magna.