Publications by authors named "Baran D"

We investigated the association of preimplant left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) with outcomes after HeartMate 3 (HM3) left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. Patients from the European Registry for Patients with Mechanical Circulatory Support (EUROMACS) registry who underwent HM3 implantation from August 2014 to February 2023 (n = 834) were analyzed according to preoperative LVEDD: less than or equal to 65 (n = 251), 65-80 (n = 441), and greater than or equal to 80 mm (n = 142). The mean age was 54.

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Although yerba mate has been known and used for hundreds of years, not all of its properties have been fully understood yet. Yerba mate is a source of many desirable substances, but it may also contain toxic metals and other substances that are harmful to health. Fifteen samples of yerba mate tea from three South American countries were analyzed.

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The quantum-dot-in-perovskite matrix (DIM) is an emerging class of semiconductors for optoelectronics enabled by their complementary charge transport properties and stability improvements. However, a detailed understanding of the pure electrical properties in DIM is still in its early stage. Here, we developed PbS quantum dot-in-CsSnI matrix solids exhibiting improved electrical properties and enhanced stability.

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Article Synopsis
  • Organic solar cells with small molecule acceptors have improved power conversion efficiency, but stability issues hinder their broader use in renewable energy.
  • The review discusses the degradation of various layers in these solar cells due to factors like light, heat, moisture, and oxygen, focusing on the chemical breakdown of polymer donors and small molecule acceptors, as well as the stability of the bulk heterojunction structure.
  • Strategies to reduce degradation effects are outlined, along with future research directions needed to enhance the durability and performance of organic solar cells for practical use.
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Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is increasingly being used to support patients with hypoxemic respiratory failure and cardiogenic shock. During the COVID-19 pandemic, consensus guidance recommended extracorporeal life support for patients with COVID-19-related cardiopulmonary disease refractory to optimal conventional therapy, prompting a substantial expansion in the use of this support modality. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was particularly integral to the bridging of COVID-19 patients to heart or lung transplantation.

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  • The study examined how the volume of heart transplants performed at centers affects their use of Status 2 exceptions, which allow for expedited transplant priority.
  • It analyzed data from the OPTN database for patients who underwent organ heart transplants (OHT) between late 2018 and early 2023, categorizing centers based on their annual transplant volume.
  • Findings showed that lower volume centers applied for Status 2 exceptions much more frequently (50%-60% of the time) compared to medium (30%-35%) and high volume centers (also 30%-35%), indicating that as transplant volume increases, the use of these exceptions decreases significantly.
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  • The study evaluated a personalized treatment plan for heart failure patients, focusing on improving their medication regimen and overall health outcomes.
  • The results showed significant improvements in both medication scores and heart function, with many patients experiencing better symptoms and fewer hospitalizations.
  • The approach led to lower mortality rates compared to expected figures, suggesting that this aggressive protocol can effectively bridge the gap between existing medical knowledge and practical treatment for heart failure.
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  • The study investigates different heart failure (HF) types in patients diagnosed with transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CA), revealing that a significant portion present with impaired systolic function, specifically heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) or mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF).
  • A retrospective analysis of patients from 2016 to 2022 found that 21.6% had HFrEF, 17.8% had HFmrEF, and 60.6% had heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), indicating a notable prevalence of systolic dysfunction in ATTR-CA cases.
  • The findings suggest that clinicians should maintain a high level of suspicion
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Mixed tin-lead (Sn-Pb) halide perovskites stand out as promising materials for next-generation photovoltaics and near-infrared optoelectronics. However, their sensitivity to oxidative degradation remains a major hurdle toward their widespread deployment. A holistic understanding of their oxidation processes considering all their constituent ions is therefore essential to stabilize these materials.

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To achieve the full potential of monolithic perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells, crystal defects and film inhomogeneities in the perovskite top cell must be minimized. We discuss the use of methylenediammonium dichloride as an additive to the perovskite precursor solution, resulting in the incorporation of in situ-formed tetrahydrotriazinium (THTZ-H) into the perovskite lattice upon film crystallization. The cyclic nature of the THTZ-H cation enables a strong interaction with the lead octahedra of the perovskite lattice through the formation of hydrogen bonds with iodide in multiple directions.

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Background: Cardiogenic shock (CS) mortality remains near 40%. In addition to inadequate cardiac output, patients with severe CS may exhibit vasodilation. We aimed to examine the prevalence and consequences of vasodilation in CS.

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Selenium is an essential inorganic compound in human and animal nutrition, involved in the proper functioning of the body. As a micronutrient, it actively contributes to the regulation of various metabolic activities, i.e.

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Background: National prevalence rates for obesity and heart failure (HF) have been steadily increasing, which predisposes patients to higher morbidity and mortality rates.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of HF stages in hospitalized patients according to their body mass index (BMI).

Setting: Academic institution.

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  • This study examines the risk factors for worsening renal function (wRF) in patients with transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CA), which is linked to poor outcomes.
  • Out of 134 patients studied, 41.8% experienced wRF within the first year, with significant predictors being a higher New York Heart Association (NYHA) class, a lack of prior ischemic heart disease, and not being on SGLT-2 inhibitors.
  • The findings highlight that renal dysfunction is a common issue after ATTR-CA diagnosis, indicating that certain patient characteristics can help forecast who is at greater risk for developing wRF.
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Over the past decades, the field of organic solar cells (OSCs) has witnessed a significant evolution in materials chemistry, which has resulted in a remarkable enhancement of device performance, achieving efficiencies of over 19%. The photoactive layer materials in OSCs play a crucial role in light absorption, charge generation, transport and stability. To facilitate the scale-up of OSCs, it is imperative to address the photostability of these electron acceptor and donor materials, as their photochemical degradation process remains a challenge during the photo-to-electric conversion.

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Molecular doping plays an important role in controlling the carrier concentration of organic semiconductors. However, the introduction of dopant counterions often results in increased energetic disorder and traps due to the molecular packing disruption and Coulomb potential wells. To date, no general strategy has been proposed to reduce the counterion-induced structural and energetic disorder.

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Background: Molecular testing with gene-expression profiling (GEP) and donor-derived cell-free DNA (dd-cfDNA) is increasingly used in the surveillance for acute cellular rejection (ACR) after heart transplant. However, the performance of dual testing over each test individually has not been established. Further, the impact of dual noninvasive surveillance on clinical decision-making has not been widely investigated.

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Hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) offers different selectivity than reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC). However, our knowledge of the driving force for selectivity is limited and there is a need for a better understanding of the selectivity in HILIC. Quantitative assessment of retention mechanisms makes it possible to investigate selectivity based on understanding the underlying retention mechanisms.

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