Retraction: Bismuth-based nanoparticles and nanocomposites: synthesis and applications.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.1039/D4RA05637J.].

Comparison of Endovascular Interventions for the Treatment of Superficial Femoral Artery Disease: A Network Meta-analysis.

Background: To understand the relative safety and efficacy of endovascular treatment modalities used for superficial femoral artery (SFA) disease, we performed a network meta-analysis to compare outcomes between percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), atherectomy (A), bare metal stent (BMS), brachytherapy/radiotherapy, covered stent graft (CSG), cutting balloon angioplasty (CBA), drug-coated balloon (DCB), drug-eluting stent (DES), and intravascular lithotripsy (L).

Methods: We performed a systematic literature search of PubMed from January 2000 to January 2023 to identify randomized trials comparing endovascular interventions for the treatment of SFA disease. The primary end points were technical success and 12-month primary patency.

Fluctuating Genetic Influences at Three Different Stages of Development of Dental Arches: A Complex System.

: The development of dental arches is a complex adaptive system with interactions between genetic and environmental factors. At different developmental stages, the relative contribution of these factors varies. The aims of this project were to identify the longitudinal changes of dental arches in the primary, mixed and permanent dentition stages, using curve fitting methods on serial dental casts, and to investigate the contribution of the genotype to dental arch development.

Effect of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors on the Progression of Aortic Stenosis.

Background: Aortic stenosis (AS) is the leading cause of valvular heart disease-related morbidity and mortality, but there are no medical treatments to slow its progression. Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) have pleiotropic effects which could be disease modifying in AS.

Objectives: Determine if SGLT2i usage is associated with slower progression of AS.

Variation in Likelihood of Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Among US Hospitals.

Background: There may be variability in willingness to perform percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in higher-risk patients who present with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). We sought to describe current treatment selection patterns and hospital-level variability.

Methods And Results: We identified patients presenting with STEMI with a culprit lesion on coronary angiography between January 1, 2019, and March 31, 2023, using the NCDR (National Cardiovascular Data Registry) CPMI (Chest Pain-Myocardial Infarction) registry.

No-Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) Zones and Their Effect on Access to Care for Medicare Beneficiaries with Aortic Stenosis.

Introduction: This study investigates the impact of geographic and socioeconomic barriers on access to transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

Methods: Utilizing Medicare data from the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, this study analyzed TAVR and surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) procedures among beneficiaries from 2017 to 2022. Geographic units were defined by 5-digit zip codes, categorized on the basis of TAVR/SAVR volume into four categories: (1) no TAVR or SAVR, (2) no-TAVR zone (SAVR present, no TAVR), (3) low-TAVR zone (TAVR/SAVR ratio ≤ 0.

Heat-Responsive PLA/PU/MXene Shape Memory Polymer Blend Nanocomposite: Mechanical, Thermal, and Shape Memory Properties.

This study investigates the fabrication and characterization of heat-responsive PLA/PU/MXene shape memory polymer blend nanocomposites with varying PLA content (10, 20, 30, and 50%) and a fixed MXene content of 0.5 wt.%.

Phosphate deficiency inducible OsGDPD5 affects root growth by regulating sugar-auxin crosstalk.

Glycerophosphodiester phosphodiesterases (GDPDs) enzymes are known to be involved in phospholipids degradation pathways, where glycerophosphodiesters are hydrolyzed to glycerol-3-phosphate (G3P) and corresponding alcohol. In plants, GDPDs are involved in phosphate deficiency adaptive responses and have been shown to impact root length, but the precise mechanism remains unclear. This study focuses on the rice GDPD5 gene and its role in regulating primary root growth.

Tolerance of Oryza sativa to low phosphate is associated with adaptive changes in root architecture and metabolic exudates.

The optimum usage of fertilizers is key for the sustainable agriculture. Among nutrients, phosphorus (P) is critical for plant growth and development. Due to complete reliance on natural resources (rock phosphate) for P, the availability of P fertilizers is emerging as a global challenge for crop cultivation.

Energy-exergy and environ-economic (4E) analysis of heat storage-based single-slope solar stills integrated with solar air heater.

The energy-exergy and environ-economic (4E) analysis was conducted on a solar still with and without a hybrid thermal energy storage system (TESS) and a solar air heater. The proposed solar still was modified by integrating a rectangular aluminium box filled with paraffin wax and black gravel as the TESS and coupled with a solar air heater. Paraffin wax was selected due to its widespread availability and proven effectiveness in accelerating desalination, improving process uniformity, and maintaining optimal temperature levels.

Delayed or forgone medical care associated with increased resource utilization and health care expenditures among patients with peripheral artery disease in the United States.

Objective: Peripheral artery disease (PAD) affects >12 million Americans and poses significant financial burdens on patients, but the relationship between delayed/forgone (D/F) care and resource use in this population is unknown. We sought to assess the relationship between D/F care, resource use, and health care expenditures among patients with PAD.

Methods: Adults with PAD in the United States were identified in the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey for years 2007 to 2017.

Racial, Socioeconomic, and Geographic Disparities in Preamputation Vascular Care for Patients With Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia.

Background: Black patients, those with low socioeconomic status (SES), and those living in rural areas have elevated rates of major lower extremity amputation, which may be related to a lack of subspecialty chronic limb-threatening ischemia care. We evaluated the association between race, rurality, SES, and preamputation vascular care.

Methods: Among patients aged 66 to 86 years with fee-for-service Medicare who underwent major lower extremity amputation for chronic limb-threatening ischemia from July 2010 to December 2019, we compared the proportion who received vascular care in the 12 months before amputation by race (Black versus White), rurality, and SES (dual eligibility for Medicaid versus no dual eligibility) using multivariable logistic regression adjusting for clinical and demographic covariates.

A Rational Approach to the Treatment of Acute Pulmonary Embolism.

Over the past decade, new modalities have emerged to treat acute pulmonary embolism (PE). However, PE remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In the absence of robust clinical trial data and definitive guidelines and recommendations for a variety of clinical situations, individual patient treatment decisions have become paradoxically more challenging as innovation in the space has grown.

Beyond templates: exploring uncharted territory in anisotropic gold nanostructure-oligomer composites synthesis and electrocatalytic performance towards environmental pollutants.

The synthesis of polymer/oligomer-stabilized metal nanostructures (MNS) opens up a wide range of possibilities, from fundamental materials science to practical applications in domains such as medicine, catalysis, sensing, and energy. Because of the versatility of this synthetic approach, it is a dynamic and ever-changing field of study. These polymers/oligomers have precise control over the nucleation and growth kinetics, allowing the production of mono-disperse MNS with well-defined properties.

Bismuth-based nanoparticles and nanocomposites: synthesis and applications.

In the vast landscape of materials science, bismuth emerges as a compelling element with unique properties and diverse applications. Its intriguing characteristics and advancements in nanotechnology have propelled bismuth-based nanoparticles to the forefront of scientific exploration, promising breakthroughs in various disciplines. This comprehensive review explores diverse methods for synthesizing bismuth-based nanoparticles and nanocomposites, ranging from conventional approaches such as hydrothermal and sol-gel to innovative techniques such as microwave-assisted, microemulsion, and green synthesis.

Waste to Energy: Combustion, Performance, and Emission Characteristics of Waste Animal Fats/Diesel Blends Premixed with Various Alcohols as Port Fuels.

Animal flesh is a major food source with economic and industrial value for consumer demand. These meats produced biowaste during and after preparation and use. Chicken intestines make up most of the waste thrown away after processing or frying.

Injectable, in-situ forming, tunable, biocompatible gelatin hydrogels for biomedical applications.

Gelatin hydrogels have drawn attention for their diverse biomedical applications due to their flexible physiochemical properties. However, such gelatin hydrogels are made of toxic crosslinkers and photoinitiators, restricting their non-invasive deep tissue application. The in-situ forming chemical crosslinked without such toxic crosslinker and UV light has not been explored under physiological conditions.

Contribution margins and utilization of transcatheter aortic valve replacement versus surgical aortic valve replacement in the Medicare population.

Background: Hospitals and health systems must balance the demand for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) against financial sustainability. Patients may be eligible for both TAVR and surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR), but financial realities for hospitals may affect differential access to those therapies. We sought to understand the landscape of costs and reimbursement for TAVR and SAVR in the US and to understand the association of procedural reimbursement with receipt of either.

Measuring hospital inpatient Procedure Access Inequality in the United States.

Geographic disparities in access to inpatient procedures are a significant issue within the US healthcare system. This study introduces the Procedure Access Inequality (PAI) index, a standardized metric to quantify these disparities while adjusting for disease prevalence. Using data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Inpatient Databases, we analyzed inpatient procedure data from 18 states between 2016 and 2019.

Economic Analysis of Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis for Intermediate-Risk Pulmonary Embolism.

Background: Pulmonary embolism is associated with a significant burden of morbidity, mortality, and health care costs. Catheter-directed thrombolysis has emerged as a promising option for patients with intermediate-risk pulmonary embolism which aims to improve outcomes over standard anticoagulation.

Methods: We constructed a decision-analytic model comparing the cost-effectiveness of catheter-directed thrombolysis to anticoagulation alone for the management of intermediate-risk pulmonary embolism.

Analyzing steady-state equilibria and bifurcations in a time-delayed SIR epidemic model featuring Crowley-Martin incidence and Holling type II treatment rates.

This article presents a time-delayed SIR epidemiological model that has been quantitatively examined. The model incorporates a logistic growth function for the susceptible population, a Crowley-Martin type incidence, and Holling type II treatment rates. We investigated two separate time delays.

Heuristic machine learning approaches for identifying phishing threats across web and email platforms.

Life has become more comfortable in the era of advanced technology in this cutthroat competitive world. However, there are also emerging harmful technologies that pose a threat. Without a doubt, phishing is one of the rising concerns that leads to stealing vital information such as passwords, security codes, and personal data from any target node through communication hijacking techniques.