Natural sunlight-driven oxidation of Mn(aq) and heterogeneous formation of Mn oxides on hematite.

The oxidation of dissolved Mn(aq) plays a critical role in driving manganese cycles and regulating the fate of essential elements and contaminants in environmental systems. Based on sluggish oxidation rate, abiotic processes have been considered less effective oxidation pathway for manganese oxidation in environmental systems. Interestingly, a recent study (Jung et al.

Effectiveness and safety of non-vitamin K direct oral anticoagulants in atrial fibrillation patients with bioprosthetic valve.

Background: Non-vitamin K direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) is effective for prevention of embolic events in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. However, the effectiveness and safety of DOAC in AF patients who have bioprosthetic heart valve (BPHV) is largely unknown.

Methods: We retrospectively identified patients with AF and BPHV, using the diagnostic code and medical device and surgery information from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database, between 2013 and 2018.

Suture reduction of the borderline ascending aortic dilatation during aortic valve replacement.

Background: This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of simple suture reduction of the ascending aorta (SRA) performed with aortic valve replacement (AVR) in patients with borderline ascending aortic dilatation (45-50 mm).

Methods: Ninety-eight patients (ascending aortic diameter 47.7±3.

Impact of Prosthesis-Patient Mismatch on Survival after Mitral Valve Replacement: A Meta-analysis.

Background:  Numerous studies have demonstrated a negative impact of prosthesis-patient mismatch (PPM) on long-term clinical outcomes after aortic valve replacement. However, the impact of PPM after mitral valve replacement (MVR) on clinical outcomes is still controversial. This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of PPM on early and long-term survival after MVR.

Prognostic Value of Cardiac MR Imaging for Preoperative Assessment of Patients with Severe Functional Tricuspid Regurgitation.

Purpose To explore the prognostic value of cardiac magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in predicting postoperative cardiac death in patients with severe functional tricuspid regurgitation (TR). Materials and Methods This study was approved by the institutional review board, and written informed consent was obtained from all patients. Prospectively collected data included cardiac MR images, New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class, a comprehensive laboratory test, and clinical events over the follow-up period in 75 consecutive patients (61 women and 14 men; mean age ± standard deviation, 59 years ± 9) undergoing corrective surgery for severe functional TR.

Association of heart rhythm with exercise capacity after operation for chronic mitral regurgitation.

Background: Although atrial fibrillation (AF) and decreased exercise capacity are common in chronic mitral regurgitation patients, the relationship between rhythm status and exercise capacity after corrective surgery is largely unknown.

Methods: Seventy-one patients undergoing repair or replacement of mitral valve for chronic severe mitral regurgitation were examined with preoperative and 6 months' postoperative cardiopulmonary exercise test and two-dimensional echocardiography. Patients were divided into three groups according to preoperative versus postoperative rhythm (sinus/sinus, SS [n=42]; AF/sinus, AS [n=17]; AF/AF, AA group [n=12]).

Tumor targetability and antitumor effect of docetaxel-loaded hydrophobically modified glycol chitosan nanoparticles.

Hydrophobically modified glycol chitosan (HGC) nanoparticles, a new nano-sized drug carrier, were prepared by introducing a hydrophobic molecule, cholanic acid, to water soluble glycol chitosan. The HGC nanoparticles were easily loaded with the anticancer drug docetaxel (DTX) using a dialysis method, and the resulting docetaxel-loaded HGC (DTX-HGC) nanoparticles formed spontaneously self-assembled aggregates with a mean diameter of 350 nm in aqueous condition. The DTX-HGC nanoparticles were well dispersed and stable for 2 weeks under physiological conditions (pH 7.