Cardiovascular imaging in children with cardiac implantable electronic devices.

The number of children with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) is increasing at a time of rapid growth in cardiac magnetic resonance (MR) and cardiac computed tomography (CT) utilization. The presence of CIEDs poses challenges with respect to imaging safety and quality. A thoughtful approach to cardiovascular imaging in patients with CIEDs begins with an awareness of the clinical indications to determine the most appropriate imaging modality.

Production of Starch-Based Flexible Food Packaging in Developing Countries: Analysis of the Processes, Challenges, and Requirements.

Biodegradable packaging offers an affordable and sustainable solution to global pollution, particularly in developing countries with limited recycling infrastructure. Starch is well suited to develop biodegradable packages for foods due to its wide availability and simple, low-tech production process. Although the development of starch-based packaging is well documented, most studies focus on the laboratory stages of formulation and plasticization, leaving gaps in understanding key phases such as raw material conditioning, industrial-scale molding, post-production processes, and storage.

Biomechanical modeling combined with pressure-volume loop analysis to aid surgical planning in patients with complex congenital heart disease.

Patients with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (ccTGA) can be treated with a double switch operation (DSO) to restore the normal anatomical connection of the left ventricle (LV) to the systemic circulation and the right ventricle (RV) to the pulmonary circulation. The subpulmonary LV progressively deconditions over time due to its connection to the low pressure pulmonary circulation and needs to be retrained using a surgical pulmonary artery band (PAB) for 6-12 months prior to the DSO. The subsequent clinical follow-up, consisting of invasive cardiac pressure and non-invasive imaging data, evaluates LV preparedness for the DSO.

Anatomic characteristics of the right aortic arch with aberrant left subclavian artery in patients who do and do not undergo vascular ring repair.

Introduction: It is unclear if certain anatomic characteristics in patients with a right aortic arch with aberrant left subclavian artery (RAA ALSCA) are associated with undergoing surgical repair.

Methods: This was a single-center retrospective study of patients with RAA ALSCA and computed tomography or cardiovascular magnetic resonance from July 2013-September 2023. The size of the proximal ALSCA or diverticulum of Kommerell (DoK), thoracic inlet index, angle of the proximal ALSCA/DoK from the aortic arch, the position of descending aorta, location of the DoK, and tracheal size were compared between patients who did or did not undergo surgery.

Evaluation of perforation-mediated modified atmosphere packaging for the commercialization of bulk purple passion fruit under refrigeration.

Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) is widely used to preserve fresh fruits. In the case of exporting products in bulk formats (2-5 kg), perforated MAP can help extend shelf life if appropriately configured to reach suitable gas levels. This study evaluated the configuration of a perforated MAP system for purple passion (Passiflora edulis Sims) fruits based on modeling and simulation of changes in gas levels within the package headspace and experimental data on the respiration and transpiration of the fruits.