Selective extraction of lithium over alkali and alkaline earth ions by synergistic solvent extraction.

Direct lithium extraction (DLE) from natural surface and geothermal brines is very challenging due to the low ratio of lithium to other metals, and the lack of suitable materials that bind lithium with sufficiently high selectivity. In this paper, a synergistic solvent extraction system is described that comprises a liquid ion exchanger (saponified bis(2-ethylhexyl)dithiophosphoric acid) and a lithium-selective ligand (2,9-dibutyl-1,10-phenanthroline) in an aliphatic diluent. The extraction mechanism was investigated and was confirmed to involve the binding of lithium to the selective ligand, while the liquid ion exchanger facilitates the transfer of metal ions from the aqueous to the organic phase.

MicroCT and contrast-enhanced microCT to study the in vivo degradation behavior and biocompatibility of candidate metallic intravascular stent materials.

Biodegradable intravascular stents offer a promising alternative to permanent stents for treating atherosclerosis-related artery narrowing by potentially avoiding long-term complications. Identifying materials that degrade harmlessly and uniformly at a suitable rate is crucial. This study evaluated an advanced zinc alloy (Zn-Ag-Cu-Mn-Zr) alongside pure iron and pure zinc, using a simplified stent model of metallic wires implanted in the rat aorta.

Congenital and acquired hypothyroidism: Temporal and spatial trends in France from 2014 to 2019.

Purpose: To assess the incidence of congenital hypothyroidism (CH) and acquired hypothyroidism (AH) between 2014 and 2019 in continental France.

Methods: New cases of CH and AH were identified using the French National Health Data System (Système Nationale des Données de Santé, SNDS). Temporal trends were studied using linear regression models.

Exploring contrast-enhancing staining agents for studying adipose tissue through contrast-enhanced computed tomography.

Contrast-enhanced computed tomography offers a nondestructive approach to studying adipose tissue in 3D. Several contrast-enhancing staining agents (CESAs) have been explored, whereof osmium tetroxide (OsO) is the most popular nowadays. However, due to the toxicity and volatility of the conventional OsO, alternative CESAs with similar staining properties were desired.

X-Ray-Based 3D Histopathology of the Kidney Using Cryogenic Contrast-Enhanced MicroCT.

The kidney's microstructure, which comprises a highly convoluted tubular and vascular network, can only be partially revealed using classical 2D histology. Considering that the kidney's microstructure is closely related to its function and is often affected by pathologies, there is a need for powerful and high-resolution 3D imaging techniques to visualize the microstructure. Here, we present how cryogenic contrast-enhanced microCT (cryo-CECT) allowed 3D visualization of glomeruli, tubuli, and vasculature.

Endothelial SMAD1/5 signaling couples angiogenesis to osteogenesis in juvenile bone.

Skeletal development depends on coordinated angiogenesis and osteogenesis. Bone morphogenetic proteins direct bone formation in part by activating SMAD1/5 signaling in osteoblasts. However, the role of SMAD1/5 in skeletal endothelium is unknown.

Comparison of two contrast-enhancing staining agents for use in X-ray imaging and digital volume correlation measurements across the cartilage-bone interface.

Objective: The pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA) is associated with subchondral bone changes, which is linked to abnormal strain distribution in the overlying articular cartilage. This highlights the importance of understanding mechanical interaction at the cartilage-bone interface. The aim of this study is to compare solutions of two contrast-enhancing staining agents (CESA) for combining high-resolution Contrast-Enhanced X-ray microfocus Computed Tomography (CECT) with Digital Volume Correlation (DVC) for full-field strain measurements at the cartilage-bone interface.

[Risk factors for high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions or cervical cancer in chronic inflammatory bowel disease].

Introduction: Chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is thought to increase the risk of high-grade histological intraepithelial lesions (HGIL) and cervical cancer. The risk factors for developing these lesions are poorly understood.

Materials And Methods: This is a single-center retrospective case-control study including IBD patients followed at our University Hospital Center from 2011 to 2021 who presented with HGIL or cervical cancer.

Non-destructive 3D characterization of the blood vessel wall microstructure in different species and blood vessel types using contrast-enhanced microCT and comparison with synthetic vascular grafts.

To improve the current treatment for vascular diseases, such as vascular grafts, intravascular stents, and balloon angioplasty intervention, the evaluation of the native blood vessel microstructure in full 3D could be beneficial. For this purpose, we used contrast-enhanced X-ray microfocus computed tomography (CECT): a combination of X-ray microfocus computed tomography (microCT) and contrast-enhancing staining agents (CESAs) containing high atomic number elements. In this work, we performed a comparative study based on staining time and contrast-enhancement of 2 CESAs: Monolacunary and 1:2 Hafnium-substituted Wells-Dawson polyoxometalate (Mono-WD POM and Hf-WD POM, respectively) for imaging of the porcine aorta.

Revealing the three-dimensional murine brain microstructure by contrast-enhanced computed tomography.

To improve our understanding of the brain microstructure, high-resolution 3D imaging is used to complement classical 2D histological assessment techniques. X-ray computed tomography allows high-resolution 3D imaging, but requires methods for enhancing contrast of soft tissues. Applying contrast-enhancing staining agents (CESAs) ameliorates the X-ray attenuating properties of soft tissue constituents and is referred to as contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT).

Endothelial SMAD1/5 signaling couples angiogenesis to osteogenesis during long bone growth.

Skeletal development depends on coordinated angiogenesis and osteogenesis. Bone morphogenetic proteins direct bone development by activating SMAD1/5 signaling in osteoblasts. However, the role of SMAD1/5 in skeletal endothelium is unknown.

Type 2 diabetics followed up by family physicians: Treatment sequences and changes over time in weight and glycated hemoglobin.

Introduction: The treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is based on preventive hygiene and dietary measures (HDM), oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs), and insulin. The objective of the present study was to reuse general practice data from electronic health records and describe changes over time among patients with T2DM in primary care.

Methods: We analyzed data on patients with T2DM collected by three family physicians in Tourcoing (France) from 2006 to 2018.

Mortality risk and antibiotic use for COVID-19 in hospitalized patients over 80.

Introduction: Patients over 80 years of age are more prone to develop severe symptoms and die from COVID-19. Antibiotics were massively prescribed in the first days of the pandemic without evidence of super infection. Antibiotics may increase the risk of mortality in cases of viral pneumonia.

[Efficacy and safety of oral misoprostol 25μg vs. vaginal dinoprostone in induction of labor at term].

Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of oral misoprostol 25μg compared to vaginal dinoprostone in the induction of labor at term.

Methods: Analytic, retrospective study of patients induced at term by prostaglandins with an unfavorable cervix, over two consecutive periods from 01/01/2019 to 19/02/2020 and from 20/02/2020 to 07/04/2021, within a regional level III university hospital center. We compared the safety and the efficacy between the oral misoprostol Angusta® used since 20/02/2020 and the vaginal dinoprostone previously used in gel or diffuser.

Use of a hospital administrative database to identify and characterize community-acquired, hospital-acquired and drug-induced acute kidney injury.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) has serious short- and long-term consequences. The objective of the present study of a cohort of hospitalized patients with AKI was to (i) evaluate the proportion of patients with hospital-acquired (HA) AKI and community-acquired (CA) AKI, the characteristics of these patients and the AKIs, and the short-term outcomes, and (ii) determine the performance of several ICD-10 codes for identifying AKI (both CA and HA) and drug-induced AKI.

Methods: A cohort of hospitalized patients with AKI was constituted by screening hospital's electronic medical records (EMRs) for cases of AKI.

Heimdall, a Computer Program for Electronic Health Records Data Visualization.

Introduction: Electronic health records (EHR) comprehend structured and unstructured data, that are usually time dependent, enabling the use of timelines. However, it is often difficult to display all data without inducing information overload. In both clinical usual care and medical research, users should be able to quickly find relevant information, with minimal cognitive overhead.

Polypharmacy in older patients: identifying the need for support by a community pharmacist.

Background: The community pharmacist is a key player in medication reviews of older outpatients. However, it is not always clear which individuals require a medication review. The objective of the present study was to identify high-priority older patients for intervention by a community pharmacist.

What Is a Chronic Disease? A Contribution Based on the Secondary Use of 161 Million Discharge Records.

Several definitions of chronic diseases exist. The objective is to reuse a nationwide medical-administrative database (PMSI) to estimate the lifespan of diagnostic codes, hence the chronicity of the corresponding diseases. We analyzed 162 million inpatient stays from 2008 to 2014, and estimate the lifespan of every ICD-10 code for every patient, identified by a unique imprint.

Breast reconstruction in France, observational study of 140,904 cases of mastectomy for breast cancer.

Objectives: In France, there are few up-to-date epidemiological data on breast reconstruction after mastectomy for breast cancer. The objective of the present study was to measure immediate and delayed breast reconstruction (IBR and DBR, respectively) rates and thus the proportion of patients not benefiting from any reconstruction.

Methods: We performed an observational study by assessing data from the French nationwide discharge summary database (Programme de Médicalisation des Systèmes d'Information) for the period 2008-2014.