Total autologous reconstruction of the right and left ventricular outflow tracts: the case for the modified Ross-Ozaki procedure.

The Ross procedure continues to be the best procedure to address unrepairable aortic valve pathology, especially in young adults. The Achilles heel of this procedure has been aortic root dilation and the potential need for a reoperation that may be associated with slightly increased risks in addition to the need for intervention on the pulmonary outflow tract. Modifying the Ross procedure by autograft inclusion inside a Dacron graft seems to have the potential advantage of stabilizing the autograft diameter, which may be associated with improved durability and decrease the need for future intervention.

The potential of bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells in treating cisplatin induced sensorineural hearing loss in a guinea pig animal model.

Background: Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is the most common sensory deficit worldwide. Current solutions for SNHL, including hearing aids, cochlear implants, and hearing assistive devices, do not provide consistent results and fail to address the underlying pathology of hair cell and ganglion cell damage. Stem cell therapy is a cornerstone in regenerative medicine.

Polypeptide- and Protein-Based Conjugate Nanoparticles via Aqueous Ring-Opening Polymerization-Induced Self-Assembly (ROPISA).

Protein-polymer conjugates and polymeric nanomaterials hold great promise in many applications including biomaterials, medicine, or nanoelectronics. In this work, the first polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) approach performed in aqueous medium enabling protein-polymer conjugates and nanoparticles entirely composed of amino acids is presented by using ring-opening polymerization (ROP). It is indeed shown that aqueous ring-opening polymerization-induced self-assembly (ROPISA) can be used with protein or peptidic macroinitiators without prior chemical modification and afford the simple preparation of nanomaterials with protein-like property, for example, to implement biomimetic thermoresponsivity in drug delivery.

Toward Synthetic Intrinsically Disordered Polypeptides (IDPs): Controlled Incorporation of Glycine in the Ring-Opening Polymerization of -Carboxyanhydrides.

Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) do not have a well-defined folded structure but instead behave as extended polymer chains in solution. Many IDPs are rich in glycine residues, which create steric barriers to secondary structuring and protein folding. Inspired by this feature, we have studied how the introduction of glycine residues influences the secondary structure of a model polypeptide, poly(l-glutamic acid), a helical polymer.

Flexible Antagonist versus Agonist Flare Protocol in Women above 40 Undergoing IVF, A retrospective Cohort Study.

Objective: Several strategies have been proposed for ovarian stimulation in older women, such as using an increased daily dose of gonadotropins (300-450 IU per day) with GnRH agonist (long or micro dose flare protocols), or using GnRH antagonist protocols. The objective of this study is to compare the efficacy of flexible GnRH antagonist protocol and GnRH agonist flare - pituitary block protocols for ovarian stimulation in women above 40 years old undergoing IVF.

Methods: This study was performed between January 2016 and February 2019.

The Impact of Previous Exposure to COVID-19 on the Outcome of ICSI Cycles.

Objective: Due to the large increase in the number of reported cases and the impact of COVID-19 on public health, the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) recommended the cessation of all activities related to assisted reproduction. There are many unknowns about the long-term effects of the virus on fertility and pregnancy. We conducted this study to offer some evidence-based guidance on the relationship between COVID-19 and IVF/ICSI cycle outcomes.

Memory Effect in Thermoresponsive Proline-based Polymers.

We report that synthetic polymers consisting of L-proline monomer units exhibit temperature-driven aggregation in water with unprecedented hysteresis. This protein-like behavior is robust and governed by the chirality of the proline units. It paves the way to new processes, driven by either temperature or ionic strength changes, such as a simple "with memory" thermometer.

A short-term evaluation of the safety and the efficacy of bipolar transurethral resection of the prostate in patients with a large prostate (>90 g).

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of bipolar transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) in patients with a large prostate (>90 g), as a significant recent modification of TURP is the incorporation of bipolar technology, which uses the same technique as monopolar TURP but with normal saline as the irrigant.

Patients And Methods: Forty patients with a prostate of >90 g and who were considered at risk for monopolar TURP were treated by bipolar TURP. The operative duration, resection time, resected tissue weight, resection rate, resection ratio, amount of irrigation fluid used, the decrease in intraoperative haemoglobin level, haematocrit and serum sodium levels, and the blood loss were recorded.

The use of a biological model for comparing two techniques of fluoroscopy-guided percutaneous puncture: A randomised cross-over study.

Objectives: To develop a new and inexpensive model for training in fluoroscopic puncture into the pelvicalyceal system, and to use this model to compare the learning curve of two fluoroscopic techniques, the 'eye of the needle' (EN) and triangulation techniques.

Materials And Methods: For the trial we used a commercial plastic model (a shop-window mannequin) in which a bovine kidney, embedded in sponge with a spatial orientation similar to the human, was inserted into the model. The ureter of the animal kidney was connected to contrast fluid.

Experimental autogenous cartilaginous grafts for laryngotracheoplasty: a comparison of two techniques and two different types of grafts.

Objectives: This experimental work was performed to compare the results of laryngotracheoplasty with the use of autogenous cartilaginous grafts harvested either from the auricula or costal cartilage using two techniques, anterior or posterior graft placement.

Study Design: This study was carried out in 20 healthy dogs of both sexes and varying ages, weighing about 12-15 kg. The animals were divided into two groups (A and B), equal in number.

Eosinophil cationic protein as a serological marker of disease activity in childhood bronchial asthma.

To study the value of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) as a serological marker of disease activity in childhood bronchial asthma, ECP levels were measured in 20 healthy control children and 25 asthmatic children, during and 2 weeks after acute exacerbation. The mean serum ECP level of all asthmatic patients, during and after exacerbation, was significantly higher than the control group and was significantly higher during attacks than 2 weeks after their termination. ECP levels were highest in severe attacks, but did not differ between mild and moderate attacks.

A study on beta-adrenergic receptors in children with asthmatic bronchitis.

The function of beta-adrenergic receptors was assessed in 50 children with asthmatic bronchitis and 45 healthy controls by the hyperglycemic, eosinopenic and platelet aggregation responses to epinephrine. The results showed evidence of beta-adrenergic blockade in children with asthmatic bronchitis. It is suggested that this blockade may reflect a functional and/or a structural immaturity of the beta receptors in these children.

Histopathological and histochemical studies on the tonsils in children with rheumatic heart disease.

The tonsils were studied histologically and histochemically in 67 children with rheumatic heart disease, 33 children with chronic tonsillitis and 5 normal children. The tonsils of rheumatic children showed hyperplasia and hyperactivity of lymphocytes and paucity of phagocytes. It was suggested that these peculiar findings might contribute to the pathogenesis of rheumatic fever.