Predicting severe proximal left anterior descending coronary artery stenosis using proximal left anterior descending coronary artery tortuosity and the angle between the left main and anterior descending coronary arteries: a retrospective cross-sectional study.

Background: Coronary bifurcation angles influence plaque initiation in the coronary artery, and changes in blood flow caused by tortuosity in the coronary arteries can reduce blood pressure distal to the tortuous portion of the coronary artery, leading to myocardial ischemia. We aimed to describe two factors (coronary artery tortuosity and bifurcation angle) as one descriptor for the evaluation of proximal left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) disease.

Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 133 consecutive patients who underwent computed tomography angiography (CTA) for angina symptoms between November 2019 and January 2020.

Upregulated FOXM1 stimulates chondrocyte senescence in Acot12Nudt7 double knockout mice.

One of the hallmarks of osteoarthritis (OA), the most common degenerative joint disease, is increased numbers of senescent chondrocytes. Targeting senescent chondrocytes or signaling mechanisms leading to senescence could be a promising new therapeutic approach for OA treatment. However, understanding the key targets and links between chondrocyte senescence and OA remains unclear.

Multicolor Hair Dyeing with Biocompatible Dark Polyphenol Complex-Integrated Shampoo with Reactive Oxygen Species Scavenging Activity.

Hair dyeing has become a prevalent lifestyle trend, especially within the fashion industry. However, it possesses disadvantages, such as containing carcinogenic and toxic materials. In this study, we developed a biocompatible hair-dyeing technology using a shampoo with a dark polyphenol complex (DPC), referred to as S-DPC.

Adhesive ginsenoside compound K patches for cartilage tissue regeneration.

Biomaterial-based drug delivery systems have been developed to expedite cartilage regeneration; however, challenges related to drug recovery, validation, and efficient drug delivery remain. For instance, compound K (CK) is a major metabolite of ginsenosides that is known to protect against joint degeneration by inhibiting the production of inflammatory cytokines and the activation of immune cells. However, its effects on cartilage degradation and tissue regeneration remain unclear.

Conversion to Veno-arteriovenous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Differential Hypoxia.

Background: Patients who require initial venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO) support may need to undergo veno-arteriovenous ECMO (VAV ECMO) conversion. However, there are no definitive criteria for conversion to VAV ECMO. We report 9 cases of VAV ECMO at Gyeongsang National University Changwon Hospital, Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine.

Additional Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Pump Without an Oxygenator for Transseptal Left Atrial Decompression: A Case Report.

A 63-year-old man developed chest pain and dyspnea. Venoarterial-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was applied to the patient due to failing heart after percutaneous coronary intervention. We used an additional ECMO pump without an oxygenator for transseptal left atrial (LA) decompression and performed a heart transplant.

Toxic gas detection using 3-channel spark-induced plasma spectroscopy for indoor air quality monitoring.

This study explored the toxic gas detection using a set of two spark-induced plasma emission spectroscopy (SIPS) modules as an alternative to conventional chemical sensors. This opens up a new possibility for detecting toxic molecules (formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acetic acid, toluene, and ammonia) in real-time (<3 s) at relatively high sensitivity (<5 ppm). An optimized electrical controller (Raspberry Pi), manufactured as a compact and economical 3-channel optical measuring device, was developed for handling the high-resolution time-resolved electrical signals from the plasma emissions.

Fulminant Giant Cell Myocarditis following Heterologous Vaccination of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19.

A 48-year-old female patient underwent a heart transplantation for acute fulminant myocarditis, following heterologous vaccination with the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19. She had no history of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 infection. She did not exhibit clinical signs or have laboratory findings of concomitant infection before or after vaccination.

Accurate real-time monitoring of fine dust using a densely connected convolutional networks with measured plasma emissions.

Accurate identification and monitoring of fine dust are emerging as a primary global issue for addressing the harmful effects of fine dust on public health. Identifying the source of fine dust is indispensable for ensuring the human lifespan as well as preventing environmental disasters. Here a simple yet effective spark-induced plasma spectroscopy (SIPS) unit combined with deep learning for real-time classification is verified as a fast and precise PM (particulate matter) source identification technique.

The serial connection of two extracorporeal membrane oxygenators for patient with refractory hypoxemia.

A 34-year-old man developed severe hypoxemia and hypercapnia due to acute respiratory distress during ventilator care after surgery with acute intracranial hemorrhage. Severe hypoxemia had not been corrected even with maximum extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) flow and full ventilator settings. We applied a novel technique for the serial connection of two veno-venous ECMO circuits for optimal oxygen delivery and CO2 removal and could wean VV ECMO.

Left Ventricular Decompression by Transaortic Catheter Venting in Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) has been widely applied to patients with cardiogenic shock. Left ventricle (LV) decompression is important when LV distension develops with pulmonary edema. The purpose of this study was to present the results of transaortic catheter venting (TACV) performed during VA-ECMO.

Onsite real-time detection of covid-like-virus transmission through air using spark-induced plasma spectroscopy.

In March 2020, COVID-19 was officially classified as a pandemic and as a consequence people have adopted strenuous measures to prevent infection, such as the wearing of PPE and self-quarantining, with no knowledge of when the measures will no longer be necessary. Coronavirus has long been known to be non-infectious when airborne; however, studies are starting to show that the virus can infect through airborne transmission and can remain airborne for a significant period of time. In the present study, a spark-induced plasma spectroscopy was devised to characterize the air propagation of the virus in real-time.

Chemical pleurodesis with L. extract for secondary spontaneous pneumothorax in elderly patients.

Background: Secondary spontaneous pneumothorax is generally managed by surgery, if pneumothorax was not improved following chest tube insertion or in the event of persistent air leakage lasting more than 5 days. However, if surgery is not an option, chemical pleurodesis with sclerosants can be performed. Several sclerosants have been used in the chemical pleurodesis of secondary spontaneous pneumothorax, However, there is still controversy for what is the ideal sclerosant for Secondary spontaneous pneumothorax.

Veno-Arterial-Venous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in a Critically Ill Patient with Coronavirus Disease 2019.

Patients with cardiopulmonary failure may not be fully supported with typical configurations of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), either veno-arterial (VA) or veno-venous (VV). Veno-arterial-venous (VAV)-ECMO is a technique used to support the cardiopulmonary systems during periods of inadequate gas exchange and perfusion. In the severe case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which simultaneously affects the heart and lung, VAV-ECMO may improve a patient's recovery potential.

Real-time monitoring of toxic components from fine dust air pollutant samples by utilizing spark-induced plasma spectroscopy.

A growing modern-day concern is fine dust air pollution that contains heavy metals and ammonium ions (NH) from industrial and agricultural waste sources, respectively. In the current study, the development of an innovative and effective technique for real-time, quantitative monitoring of toxic fine dust components using plasma emission spectroscopy is presented as a complement to emergency preparedness plans aimed at reducing dust pollution. A novel spark-induced plasma spectroscopic (SIPS) device that can control the frequency and magnitude of plasma was developed for the toxic pollutants in this work.

Malignant pulmonary embolism associated with renal sarcoma: A case report.

Rationale: The preoperative diagnosis of massive pulmonary tumor embolism associated with renal neoplasms is relatively rare. In most cases, pulmonary tumor embolism is detected intraoperatively during renal tumor resection. Moreover, primary renal sarcoma is rare, and primary renal sarcoma complicated by pulmonary tumor embolism is extremely rare; accordingly, there is no optimal treatment for such cases.

Management of acute type A aortic dissection with acute lower extremities malperfusion.

Background: Acute type A aortic dissection complicated by malperfusion is a life - threatening emergency. The optimal management strategy for malperfusion remains controversial.

Case Presentation: A 46-year-old man presented to another institution with acute type A aortic dissection with abdominal aorta occlusion.

Perforation of inferior vena cava and duodenum by strut of inferior vena cava filter: A case report.

Introduction: An Inferior vena cava (IVC) filter is an intravascular filter that is implanted into the IVC to prevent pulmonary embolism in medical, surgical, and trauma patients. The insertion of an IVC filter is a relatively safe procedure, but rarely may be associated with symptomatic perforation of the IVC wall, particularly in the long term.

Patient Concerns And Diagnosis: A 74-year-old-woman with a medical history of IVC filter insertion visited the emergency department complaining of abdominal pain.

A non-calorimetric approach for investigating the moisture-induced ageing of a pyrotechnic delay material using spectroscopies.

The degradation of thermal properties due to ageing such as burning rate and exothermic heat release are unsolved issues faced during a long-term storage of the pyrotechnic substances. Accordingly, we employed various non-calorimetric methods to investigate the thermal performance of pyrotechnic delay, which is exposed to various moisture-rich conditions at extended durations. The chemical and physical changes in the compositions of a pyrotechnic delay comprised of metal fuel (Zr-Ni alloy) and oxidants (KClO, BaCrO) are analysed for four different relative humidity levels using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy.

Sternal reconstruction with bone cement block using the rigid plate fixation technique.

Chest computed tomography demonstrated a suspected primary tumor in the upper sternal body of a 48-year-old woman who presented with sternal pain. After being diagnosed with chondrosarcoma, she underwent sternal resection. Subsequent chest wall reconstruction was performed after careful planning using a bone cement block made of polypropylene mesh and polymethylmethacrylate.

Involvement of TREK-1 Channel in Cell Viability of H9c2 Rat Cardiomyoblasts Affected by Bupivacaine and Lipid Emulsion.

Lipid emulsion (LE) therapy has been used to reduce overdose of bupivacaine (BPV)-induced cardiotoxicity. The TWIK-related potassium channel-1 (TREK-1) is inhibited by BPV and activated by polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are the main component in LE. These pharmacological properties inspired us to investigate whether the TREK-1 channel is associated with cell viability of H9c2 cardiomyoblasts affected by BPV and LE.

Clinical usefulness of the angle between left main coronary artery and left anterior descending coronary artery for the evaluation of obstructive coronary artery disease.

Background: A wider angle between the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) and left circumflex coronary artery (LCX) has been suggested to induce plaque formation in the arterial system via changes in shear stress. However, the relationship between the left main coronary artery (LM)-LAD angle and LAD stenosis has not been investigated. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the associations between the LM-LAD and LAD-LCX angles and LAD stenosis.

Invasive thymoma with multiple ring calcifications and osseous metaplasia: A case report.

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A case report of pseudoaneurysm of left sinus of Valsalva invaded into the left ventricle with severe aortic regurgitation.

Background: The pseudoaneurysms of sinus of Valsalva is an uncommon and serious complication of an infection, trauma, or after cardiac surgery or procedure. Pseudoaneurysms of sinus of Valsalva from left is rare. We describe a case of pseudoaneurysm of the left coronary sinus of Valsalva invaded into the left ventricle (LV) diagnosed by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), transesophageal ecoccardiography (TEE), and multiple detector computed tomography (MDCT).

A Report of Two Cases of Adventitial Cystic Disease of the Popliteal Artery.

Two patients were admitted to our department because of recent aggravation of claudication in the leg, which was exacerbated by walking. They were diagnosed as having a Baker cyst or acute thrombosis in the popliteal fossa at another hospital. There was no evidence of ischemia, and the ankle brachial index was normal.