Low-temperature synthesis of high-entropy amorphous metal oxides (HEOs) for enhanced oxygen evolution performance.

The rational design of multiple metal ions into high-entropy oxide electrode material a single-step hydrothermal process is applicable to the evolution of oxygen molecules (O) through simple water electrolysis. Their cost-effectiveness, high performance, and durable nature are the key factors of non-precious high-entropy multiple metal-based electrocatalysts, which can be used as replaceable catalysts instead of precious ones. This article reports a low-temperature synthesis of the cauliflower-type morphology of high-entropy amorphous metal oxides, and their electrochemical performances towards the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) are investigated.

Veno-venous ECLS rescue for a heart transplant recipient with COVID-19, a case report.

The potential for increased rates of morbidity of SARS-CoV-2 within immunocompromised populations has been of concern since the pandemic's onset. Transplant providers and patients can face particularly challenging situations, in the current settings as data continues to emerge for the prevention and treatment of the immunocompromised subpopulation. This case report details a patient 9-months post orthotopic heart transplant that developed SARS-CoV-2 infection despite two prior doses of the Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine, and had successful rescue from refractory hypoxemia with veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV ECLS).

Pre-emptive intraoperative administration of PCC4 in cardiac surgery patients at high risk of bleeding: A pilot study.

Background: Four-factor prothrombin complex (PCC4), a concentrate of factors II, VII, IX, and X and proteins C and S, has been used selectively for reversal of oral anticoagulation before surgery. There is data to support PCC4 as opposed to supplemental fresh frozen plasma (FFP) to manage postoperative bleeding following cardiac surgery. The preemptive, intraoperative use of PCC4 in cardiothoracic surgery has not been studied though it may prevent postoperative bleeding, the need for blood transfusion and the risk of transfusion-related acute lung injury, volume overload, and right ventricular (RV) heart failure.

Functional status of heart transplant recipients predicts survival.

Introduction: Recipient functional status prior to transplantation can significantly impact post-transplant survival.

Methods: The United Network for Organ Sharing database was queried for adult heart transplants including data on functional capacity and from February 1, 2005 to March 1, 2021; there were 32 875 cases included. The four functional categories studied were based on adult daily activities of living and were separated into total assistance required, some assistance required, no assistance required, and near death.

Ischemic time and patient outcomes after the 2018 UNOS donor heart allocation system change.

Background: The allocation system for heart donors in the United States changed on October 18, 2018. The typical distance from donor hospitals to recipient hospitals has increased as has the ischemic time. We investigated patient outcomes with the new allocation system and the differential effects of ischemic time under both the old and new allocation schemas.

Successful recovery with venovenous ECMO for ARDS after LVAD HeartMate 3 implantation: A case report.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) following left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation is a rare complication. Venovenous (VV) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is used as a treatment for severe ARDS and pneumonia. We report the successful use of VV ECMO for ARDS Klebsiella pneumonia following urgent LVAD HeartMate 3 implantation.

Isolated left ventricular assist device implantation produces variable changes to patient body mass index.

Background: Body mass index (BMI) is an important consideration for transplant-eligible left ventricular assist device (LVAD) recipients. LVAD therapy's impact on BMI is unclear. We evaluated BMI changes in patients who underwent LVAD implantation.

Impella 5.0: An intermediate strategy for bridging a patient from infected durable LVAD to cardiac transplant.

Cardiac transplant remains the gold-standard treatment for end-stage heart failure more than 50 years after the procedure was first pioneered. The number of transplant operations performed annually has been limited by the global imbalance of donor organs to recipients. This imbalance helped fuel the development of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) first as a bridge to cardiac transplant and subsequently as destination therapy.

Seasonal trends in donor heart availability: an analysis of the UNOS database.

Despite the widespread belief that donor organ availability varies around holidays and seasons, there is little empirical data supporting this long-held belief. Variations in donor heart availability may be of interest to patients and clinicians. The UNOS/OPTN registry was queried for all heart donations from October 1987 through March 2017.

Sustained Use of the Impella 5.0 Heart Pump Enables Bridge to Clinical Decisions in 34 Patients.

We studied whether sustained hemodynamic support (>7 d) with the Impella 5.0 heart pump can be used as a bridge to clinical decisions in patients who present with cardiogenic shock, and whether such support can improve their outcomes. We retrospectively reviewed cases of patients who had Impella 5.

Bariatric surgery in patients with advanced heart failure: A proposed multi-disciplinary pathway for surgical care in medically complex patients.

Background: The objective of this study was to develop a multi-disciplinary care pathway to minimize perioperative complications in patients with advanced heart failure undergoing bariatric surgery. Patients with severe obesity and heart failure carry increased perioperative surgical risk compared to patients with no heart failure due to the severity of their cardiac disease state and associated comorbidities. Our bariatric program routinely excluded patients with advanced heart failure from undergoing bariatric surgery due to the high reported perioperative risk.

Transcarotid Approach to Placement of an Impella 5.0.

Microaxial left ventricular assist devices (mLVADs) have traditionally been placed through a transfemoral or transaxillary arterial approach. Transfemoral access is restrictive, significantly limiting postoperative patient ambulation. Transaxillary placement is preferred but not feasible in a subset of patients due to small arterial diameter or tight angulation of the thoracic outlet.

A Dual-Lumen Percutaneous Cannula for Managing Refractory Right Ventricular Failure.

A right ventricular assist device (RVAD) using a dual-lumen percutaneous cannula inserted through the right internal jugular vein (IJV) might improve weaning in patients with refractory right ventricular (RV) failure. However, the reported experience with this cannula is limited. We reviewed the records of all patients receiving RVAD support with this new dual-lumen cannula at our institution between April 2017 and February 2019.

Association of preoperative duration of inotropy on prevalence of right ventricular failure following LVAD implantation.

Aims: 20% to 40% of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) device implantations are complicated by right ventricular (RV) failure that results in significant morbidity and mortality. We hypothesized that the duration on milrinone infusion is an independent risk factor for RV failure following LVAD implantation.

Methods And Results: Retrospective demographic, clinical and hemodynamic data were collected on all adults with ACC/AHA stage D heart failure on intravenous milrinone who underwent LVAD implantation between 2012 and 2019.

Minimally Invasive Mechanical Circulatory Support Through the Perioperative Pulmonary Thromboendarterectomy Period: A Case Report.

A 64-year-old man being evaluated for pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE) preoperatively experienced pulseless electrical activity secondary to right ventricular failure while undergoing bronchoscopy. After return of spontaneous circulation, a percutaneous right ventricular assist device (RVAD) was placed through the right internal jugular vein. He continued on right ventricular support with demonstration of right ventricular recovery over the following 8 days, and subsequently underwent PTE for treatment of his primary condition.

Burden of arrhythmia and electrophysiologic procedures in alcoholic cardiomyopathy hospitalizations.

Background: Limited national US data are available regarding the prevalence of and trends in different arrhythmias and the use of electrophysiological procedures in patients with alcoholic cardiomyopathy.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that used the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database (2007-2014). Hospitalizations of adults with alcoholic CMP were identified with the ICD-9 code (425.

In-hospital mortality of acute coronary syndrome in elderly patients.

To analyze predictors of death in elderly patients diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Methods: A record-based study carried out between January 2016 and January 2018 at The central province in Saudi Arabia. All elderly patients (greater than 75 years) with definite diagnosis of ACS were retrospectively included.

Testing the obesity paradox in patients on long-term milrinone infusion for end-stage heart failure.

Background: Obese patients with chronic HF have a lower mortality than do non-obese patients with heart failure (HF) i.e. "obesity paradox".

Partial outflow pump dehiscence following off-pump HeartWare left ventricular assist device implantation in a patient with the Marfan syndrome.

A 30-year-old man with Marfan syndrome, biventricular heart failure, and an earlier left ventricular assist device placement presented to the emergency department with chest discomfort. Computed tomography with contrast showed contrast extravasation from the anterior aspect of the ascending aorta. The patient was immediately taken to the operating room, where re-exploration of the mediastinum disclosed two needle holes from the distal anastomosis at the toe of the graft that were no longer hemostatic, and it appeared that the patient's heart had dilated in the interim to the point that the outflow graft was too snug.

Traumatic brain injury in patients screened for blood alcohol concentration based on the mechanism of injury.

Introduction: We aimed to investigate in-hospital outcomes of traumatic brain injury (TBI) based on blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and mechanism of injury (MOI).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study for patients admitted with TBI between 2010 and 2014. Based on BAC, patients were classified into [negative (-BAC) and positive (+BAC) group].

Low-cost, high-performance supercapacitor based on activated carbon electrode materials derived from baobab fruit shells.

Due to an effective synthesis strategy, two kinds of hierarchical porous activated carbons were derived via KOH and HPO activation and carbonization processes from baobab fruit shells (BFSs) used as a green and low-cost biomass precursor. The physicochemical properties and the morphological structure of the baobab fruit shell derived carbons (BFSCs) were systematically studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectra, nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) techniques. The biomass-derived activated carbons, BFSC1 (using KOH activation), and BFSC2 (using HPO activation), obtained exhibit high specific capacitances of 233.

Functional Outcomes in Moderate-to-Severe Traumatic Brain Injury Survivors.

Introduction: We aimed to analyze the functional outcomes based on the admission characteristics in individuals with moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) over a 5-year period.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted to assess the cognitive, physical, and functional outcomes based on traditional and novel metrics used in potential outcome prediction.

Results: A total of 201 participants were enrolled with a mean age of 31.