Highly sensitive ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry method for the multiplex analysis of levosimendan and its metabolites OR-1855 and OR-1896 in human plasma.

Levosimendan is a positive inotrope and vasodilator used in patients with acute and chronic decompensated heart failure. It is metabolized into OR-1855 (inactive metabolite), which is further acetylated into OR-1896 (active metabolite having a prolonged half-life, hence a sustained effect). Levosimendan represents a valuable alternative to traditional inotropes with broad clinical applications in critically ill patients with cardiogenic shock, advanced heart failure and post-cardiac surgery.

NRV: An open framework for in silico evaluation of peripheral nerve electrical stimulation strategies.

Electrical stimulation of peripheral nerves has been used in various pathological contexts for rehabilitation purposes or to alleviate the symptoms of neuropathologies, thus improving the overall quality of life of patients. However, the development of novel therapeutic strategies is still a challenging issue requiring extensive in vivo experimental campaigns and technical development. To facilitate the design of new stimulation strategies, we provide a fully open source and self-contained software framework for the in silico evaluation of peripheral nerve electrical stimulation.

Early Astrocytic Dysfunction Is Associated with Mistuned Synapses as well as Anxiety and Depressive-Like Behavior in the AppNL-F Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease. Unfortunately, efficient and affordable treatments are still lacking for this neurodegenerative disorder, it is therefore urgent to identify new pharmacological targets. Astrocytes are playing a crucial role in the tuning of synaptic transmission and several studies have pointed out severe astrocyte reactivity in AD.

[Mechanical management of refractory form of heart failure].

Although the initial management of heart failure is essentially pharmacological, the use of mechanical circulatory support may become necessary in advanced forms. In cardiogenic shock, temporary mechanical circulatory support should be considered, while in more stable forms of advanced heart failure, implantation of a long-term left ventricular assist device (LVAD) can prolong survival and improve patient's quality of life. Recent improvements in LVAD technology have reduced post-implant complications, but the procedure is not without risk and requires close clinical follow-up.

NRV: An open framework for evaluation of peripheral nerve electrical stimulation strategies.

Electrical stimulation of peripheral nerves has been used in various pathological contexts for rehabilitation purposes or to alleviate the symptoms of neuropathologies, thus improving the overall quality of life of patients. However, the development of novel therapeutic strategies is still a challenging issue requiring extensive experimental campaigns and technical development. To facilitate the design of new stimulation strategies, we provide a fully open source and self-contained software framework for the evaluation of peripheral nerve electrical stimulation.

Improved Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (ECPR) Outcomes Is Associated with a Restrictive Patient Selection Algorithm.

Introduction: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a leading cause of mortality. Despite decades of intensive research and several technological advancements, survival rates remain low. The integration of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) has been recognized as a promising approach in refractory OHCA.

Mitochondrial hypermetabolism precedes impaired autophagy and synaptic disorganization in App knock-in Alzheimer mouse models.

Accumulation of amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) is a driver of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Amyloid precursor protein (App) knock-in mouse models recapitulate AD-associated Aβ pathology, allowing elucidation of downstream effects of Aβ accumulation and their temporal appearance upon disease progression. Here we have investigated the sequential onset of AD-like pathologies in App and App knock-in mice by time-course transcriptome analysis of hippocampus, a region severely affected in AD.

Ultraviolet photodissociation and collision-induced dissociation for qualitative/quantitative analysis of low molecular weight compounds by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Collision-induced dissociation (CID) is the most wildly used fragmentation technique for qualitative and quantitative determination of low molecular weight compounds (LMWC). Ultraviolet photodissociation (UVPD) has been mainly investigated for the analysis of peptides and lipids while only in a limited way for LMWC. A triple quadrupole linear ion trap instrument has been modified to allow ultraviolet photodissociation (UVPD) in the end of the q2 region enabling various workflows with and without data-dependent acquisition (DDA) combining CID and UVPD in the same LC-MS analysis.

Kidney Increase Natriuresis but Not Glomerular Filtration Under Veno-venous ECMO, a Retrospective Study.

Purpose: Acute kidney injury is a frequent complication of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We aim to study the evolution of kidney function in patients presenting severe ARDS and requiring veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV ECMO).

Methods: We conducted a multicenter retrospective study, including adult patients requiring VV ECMO for ARDS.

Combined lactic acidosis and ketoacidosis in a female diabetic patient with severe heart failure.

SGLT2i are now recommended in a wide spectrum of indications including type 2 diabetes (T2DM), heart failure, and chronic kidney disease. This medication class is now available in combination with metformin, which is still a fundamental treatment in patients with T2DM. Despite excellent proven safety profile for both drugs, the expanding use of these agents in clinical practice may lead to an increased incidence of rare side effects, like metformin-associated lactic acidosis (MALA) and euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis (EDKA), which can be life-threatening.

ECMELLA as a bridge to heart transplantation in refractory ventricular fibrillation: A case report.

Background: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is an effective cardiorespiratory support technique in refractory cardiac arrest (CA). In patients under veno-arterial ECMO, the use of an Impella device, a microaxial pump inserted percutaneously, is a valuable strategy through a left ventricular unloading approach. ECMELLA, a combination of ECMO with Impella, seems to be a promising method to support end-organ perfusion while unloading the left ventricle.

Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless Transition in the Type-I Weyl Semimetal PtBi.

Symmetry breaking in topological matter has become in recent years a key concept in condensed matter physics to unveil novel electronic states. In this work, we predict that broken inversion symmetry and strong spin-orbit coupling in trigonal PtBi lead to a type-I Weyl semimetal band structure. Transport measurements show an unusually robust low dimensional superconductivity in thin exfoliated flakes up to 126 nm in thickness (with ∼ 275-400 mK), which constitutes the first report and study of unambiguous superconductivity in a type-I Weyl semimetal.

A Dedicated Expert ECMO-Team and Strict Patient Selection Improve Survival of Patients with Severe SARS-CoV-2 ARDS Supported by VV-ECMO.

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has overwhelmed health care systems worldwide since its first wave. Intensive care units have been under a significant amount of pressure as patients with the most severe form of the disease presented with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). A proportion of them experienced refractory acute respiratory failure and had to be supported with veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO).

Is the prognosis of non-hypertensive, COVID-19 patients treated with renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors more uncertain?

Previous studies suggested that ongoing treatment with renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitor drugs may alter the course of SARS-CoV-2 infection and promote the development of more severe forms of the disease. The authors conducted a comparative, observational study to retrospectively analyze data collected from 394 patients admitted to ICU due to SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. The primary aim of the study was to establish an association between the use of RAAS inhibitor drugs and mortality in the ICU.

Management of High-Risk Pulmonary Embolism: What Is the Place of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation?

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a common disease with an annual incidence rate ranging from 39-115 per 100,000 inhabitants. It is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular mortality in the USA and Europe. While the clinical presentation and severity may vary, it is a life-threatening condition in its most severe form, defined as high-risk or massive PE.

[Cardiac surgery in the time of COVID19 - A narrative of three very unusual cases and lessons learned].

COVID19 altered and impacted medical and surgical practice around the world. Standard of care and routine procedures are disrupted. Majors shift in personnel, and ad hoc new team as well as delocalization and working with new infrastructures are further challenges to be dealt with.

Use of Carboxyhemoglobin as an Early Sign of Oxygenator Dysfunction in Patients Supported by Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

Introduction: Plasma free hemoglobin is the gold standard for monitoring hemolysis in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) but its routine use has some limitations. Carboxyhemoglobin (HbCO) is also a marker of intravascular hemolysis. We aimed to investigate HbCO as a marker of both hemolysis and oxygenator dysfunction in patients supported by ECMO.

Determination of Cleavage Energy and Efficient Nanostructuring of Layered Materials by Atomic Force Microscopy.

A method is presented to use atomic force microscopy to measure the cleavage energy of van der Waals materials and similar quasi-two-dimensional materials. The cleavage energy of graphite is measured to be 0.36 J/m, in good agreement with literature data.

Design and qualification of a bench-scale model for municipal waste-to-energy combustion.

This paper reports the design and qualification of the first purpose-built, bench-scale reactor system to model the municipal waste-to-energy combustion of fluorinated polymers. Using the principle of similarity, the gas-phase combustion zone of a typical municipal waste-to-energy plant has been scaled down to the bench with a focus on chemical similarity. Chemical similarity is achieved in large part through the use of methanol as a surrogate for municipal solid waste (MSW).

Diaphragm dysfunction and peripheral muscle wasting in septic shock patients: Exploring their relationship over time using ultrasound technology (the MUSiShock protocol).

Background: Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients are known to lose muscle mass and function during ICU stay. Ultrasonography (US) application for the assessment of the skeletal muscle is a promising tool and might help detecting muscle changes and thus several dysfunctions during early stages of ICU stay. MUSiShock is a research project aiming to investigate structure and function of diaphragm and peripheral muscles using ultrasound techniques in septic shock patients, and to assess their relevance in several clinical outcomes such as the weaning process.