Effects of Isoproterenol Administration in Dobutamine Stress Echocardiography.

Objective: This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of isoproterenol administration as an adjunct for achievement of target heart rate (HR) during dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE).

Background: In DSE, optimal accuracy is achieved when a target HR of 85% of maximal predicted heart rate (MPHR) is attained. Although rarely studied, intravenous isoproterenol has been used as an adjunct therapy to dobutamine and atropine to increase chronotropic response during pharmacologic stress testing.

Three-Dimensional Printing of Bioinspired Hierarchical Structures for Enhanced Fog Collection Efficiency in 3D Space via Vat Photopolymerization.

Collecting fog water is crucial for dry areas since natural moisture and fog are significant sources of freshwater. Sustainable and energy-efficient water collection systems can take a page out of the cactus's playbook by mimicking its native fog gathering process. Inspired by the unique geometric structure of the cactus spine, we fabricated a bioinspired artificial fog collector consisting of cactus spines featuring barbs of different sizes and angles on the surfaces for water collection and a series of microcavities within microchannels inspired by Nepenthes Alata on the bottom to facilitate water flowing to the reservoir.

A computational study on structural and functional consequences of nsSNPs in human dopa decarboxylase.

The Dopa Decarboxylase (DDC) gene plays an important role in the synthesis of biogenic amines such as dopamine, serotonin, and histamine. Non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (nsSNPs) in the DDC gene have been linked with various neurodegenerative disorders. In this study, a comprehensive analysis of nsSNPs in the DDC gene was conducted to assess their potential functional consequences and associations with disease outcomes.

Comprehensive bioinformatics analysis of structural and functional consequences of deleterious missense mutations in the human QDPR gene.

Quinonoid dihydropteridine reductase (QDPR) is an enzyme that regulates tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), a cofactor for enzymes involved in neurotransmitter synthesis and blood pressure regulation. Reduced QDPR activity can cause dihydrobiopterin (BH2) accumulation and BH4 depletion, leading to impaired neurotransmitter synthesis, oxidative stress, and increased risk of Parkinson's disease. A total of 10,236 SNPs were identified in the QDPR gene, with 217 being missense SNPs.

Rare Case of Ochronosis with Fracture of Intracapsular Neck of Femur and Scoliosis: A Case Report.

Introduction: Ochronosis is a rare syndrome caused by accumulation of homogentisic acid in connective tissue due to deficiency of enzyme homogentisic acid oxidase. It characterized by blue-black pigmentation connective tissues such as sclera, cartilage of ear, and synovium of joints and it causes destruction of joints cartilage and early arthritis. Urine becomes dark coloured on prolonged standing.

Predicting respiratory decompensation in mechanically ventilated adult ICU patients.

Mechanical ventilation is a life-saving treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), but often causes patients to be at risk of further respiratory complication. We created a statistical model utilizing electronic health record and physiologic vitals data to predict the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defined Ventilator Associated Complications (VACs). Further, we evaluated the effect of data temporal resolution and feature generation method choice on the accuracy of such a constructed model.

Comparative Evaluation of Solubility of Gutta-Percha in Three Different Solvents: A Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) Study.

Background Gutta-percha is the most frequently used filling material for root canal obturation. This thermoplastic material fulfills the primary requisites for root canal filling, one of which is easily removable material in cases of endodontic retreatment. The most commonly used solvents were chloroform, xylene, and orange oil due to their effectiveness in dissolving and removing maximum gutta-percha in a minimum time.

Platelet-Inspired Intravenous Nanomedicine for Injury-Targeted Direct Delivery of Thrombin to Augment Hemostasis in Coagulopathies.

Severe hemorrhage associated with trauma, surgery, and congenital or drug-induced coagulopathies can be life-threatening and requires rapid hemostatic management via topical, intracavitary, or intravenous routes. For injuries that are not easily accessible externally, hemostatic approaches are needed. The clinical gold standard for this is transfusion of blood products, but due to donor dependence, specialized storage requirements, high risk of contamination, and short shelf life, blood product use faces significant challenges.

Irreducible Phalangeal Fractures Due to Incarceration into the Extensor Tendon Apparatus - A Report of Two Patients.

Irreducible phalangeal fractures are uncommon, and if neglected can cause fracture non-union or functional deficits of the affected digit. We present two patients with irreducible phalangeal fractures - one in a child with a juxta-epiphyseal middle phalanx fracture incarcerated into the triangular ligament of the extensor apparatus and another in an adult following incarceration of a fractured proximal phalanx into the common intrinsic tendon on the radial side. Both required open reduction to extricate the incarcerated fracture ends, achieving good union and excellent functional outcomes.

Platelet-mimicking procoagulant nanoparticles augment hemostasis in animal models of bleeding.

Treatment of bleeding disorders using transfusion of donor-derived platelets faces logistical challenges due to their limited availability, high risk of contamination, and short (5 to 7 days) shelf life. These challenges could be potentially addressed by designing platelet mimetics that emulate the adhesion, aggregation, and procoagulant functions of platelets. To this end, we created liposome-based platelet-mimicking procoagulant nanoparticles (PPNs) that can expose the phospholipid phosphatidylserine on their surface in response to plasmin.

Should asymptomatic cervical stenosis be treated in the setting of progressive thoracic myelopathy? A systematic review of the literature.

Purpose: Unlike tandem stenosis of the cervical and lumbar spine, tandem cervical and thoracic stenosis (TCTS) of the spine is less common, and the approach and order of intervention are controversial. We aim to review the literature to evaluate the incidence and interventions for patients with cervical and thoracic stenosis. We provide illustrative cases to demonstrate that thoracic myelopathy in the setting of asymptomatic cervical stenosis can be treated safely.

Bioinspired artificial platelets: past, present and future.

Platelets are anucleate blood cells produced from megakaryocytes predominantly in the bone marrow and released into blood circulation at a healthy count of 150,000-400,00 per μL and circulation lifespan of 7-9 days. Platelets are the first responders at the site of vascular injury and bleeding, and participate in clot formation via injury site-specific primary mechanisms of adhesion, activation and aggregation to form a platelet plug, as well as secondary mechanisms of augmenting coagulation via thrombin amplification and fibrin generation. Platelets also secrete various granule contents that enhance these mechanisms for clot growth and stability.

Bioinspired artificial platelets for transfusion applications in traumatic hemorrhage.

Among blood components, platelets (PLTs) present the toughest logistic challenges in transfusion due to limited availability, difficult portability and storage, high contamination risks, and very short shelf life (approx. 5 days). Robust research efforts are being directed to develop biologic PLTs in vitro as well as design biosynthetic and artificial PLT technologies that can potentially resolve these challenges to allow adequate availability and timely transfusion to improve survival in trauma.

Trauma-targeted delivery of tranexamic acid improves hemostasis and survival in rat liver hemorrhage model.

Background: Trauma-associated hemorrhage and coagulopathy remain leading causes of mortality. Such coagulopathy often leads to a hyperfibrinolytic phenotype where hemostatic clots become unstable because of upregulated tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) activity. Tranexamic acid (TXA), a synthetic inhibitor of tPA, has emerged as a promising drug to mitigate fibrinolysis.

Early Detection of Hypothermic Neuroprotection Using T2-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging in a Mouse Model of Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy.

Perinatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) can lead to neurodevelopmental disorders, including cerebral palsy. Standard care for neonatal HIE includes therapeutic hypothermia, which provides partial neuroprotection; magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is often used to assess injury and predict outcome after HIE. Immature rodent models of HIE are used to evaluate mechanisms of injury and to examine the efficacy and mechanisms of neuroprotective interventions such as hypothermia.

Intravenous synthetic platelet (SynthoPlate) nanoconstructs reduce bleeding and improve 'golden hour' survival in a porcine model of traumatic arterial hemorrhage.

Traumatic non-compressible hemorrhage is a leading cause of civilian and military mortality and its treatment requires massive transfusion of blood components, especially platelets. However, in austere civilian and battlefield locations, access to platelets is highly challenging due to limited supply and portability, high risk of bacterial contamination and short shelf-life. To resolve this, we have developed an I.

Swine (Sus scrofa) as a Model of Postinfarction Mitral Regurgitation and Techniques to Accommodate Its Effects during Surgical Repair.

Mitral regurgitation (MR) is a common heart-valve lesion after myocardial infarction in humans. Because it is considered a risk factor for accelerated heart failure and death, various surgical approaches and catheter-based devices to correct it are in development. Lack of a reproducible animal model of MR after myocardial infarction and reliable techniques to perform open-heart surgery in these diseased models led to the use of healthy animals to test new devices.

The Impact of Intimal Tear Location and Partial False Lumen Thrombosis in Acute Type B Aortic Dissection.

Background: Partial false lumen (FL) thrombosis is a risk factor for long-term mortality in acute type B aortic dissection (ATBAD). This study investigates FL pressures in models of ATBAD with patent and partially thrombosed FL.

Methods: Twenty-five porcine aortas were used to create five models of ATBAD that were connected to a pulsatile flow loop.

Selection of Host Differentials for Elucidating Pathogenic Variation in Magnaporthe grisea Populations Adapted to Finger Millet (Eleusine coracana).

Blast, caused by Pyricularia grisea (teleomorph: Magnaporthe grisea), is the most devastating disease of finger millet affecting production, utilization, and trade in Africa and Southeast Asia. An attempt was made to select a set of putative host differentials that can be used to determine virulence diversity in finger-millet-infecting populations of M. grisea.

Identification of Blast Resistance in a Core Collection of Foxtail Millet Germplasm.

Blast, also known as leaf spot, caused by Pyricularia grisea (teleomorph: Magnaporthe grisea), is a serious disease affecting both forage and grain production in foxtail millet in India. For the identification of new and diverse sources of blast resistance, a foxtail millet core collection comprising 155 accessions was evaluated against the Patancheru isolate (Fx 57) of M. grisea.

Total upper and lower eyelid reconstruction using deltopectoral flap.

Total upper and lower eyelid unilateral full thickness reconstruction is a surgical challenge. A case of right orbital haemangioma with unilateral complete defect of total upper and lower eyelids with right orbital exenteration is reported, together with the surgical technique of reconstruction. Patient was a 24-year-old female who underwent right orbital exenteration with total upper and lower eyelid excision for orbital haemangioma presented after 3 weeks of the above procedure.

Site-specific immobilization of proteins in a microarray using intein-mediated protein splicing.

One of the critical issues in the generation of a protein microarray lies in the choice of immobilization strategies, which ensure proteins are adhered to the glass surface while properly retaining their native biological activities. Herein, we report a bacterium-based, intein-mediated strategy to generate N-terminal cysteine-containing proteins which are then chemoselectively immobilized to a thioester-functionalized glass slide to generate the corresponding protein microarray. We also showed preliminary data of the strategy in a yeast host system.

Developing novel activity-based fluorescent probes that target different classes of proteases.

In this article, we report the design and synthesis of a group of novel activity-based probes that target different protease sub-classes based on their substrate specificities, rather than their enzymatic mechanisms. The feasibility of our approach has been demonstrated by using representative members of the different protease sub-classes.