Plasma Surface Modification of the Inner Wall of Montgomery's Tracheal Implant (T-Tube).

Tracheal stenosis (i.e., the abnormal narrowing of the trachea) can occur due to a variety of inflammatory and infectious processes as well as due to therapeutic procedures undertaken by the patient.

Cold Atmospheric Pressure Plasma May Prevent Oral Mucositis-Related Candidemia in Chemotherapy-Treated Rats.

Oral mucositis associated with candidiasis can causes systemic candidemia, posing a risk to cancer patients administered antineoplastic therapy. Cold atmospheric pressure plasma jets (CAPPJs) have antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties. This study evaluated the effects CAPPJs in preventing systemic fungal dissemination in a murine model of oral mucositis associated with candidiasis.

Inhibitory effect of helium cold atmospheric plasma on cariogenic biofilms.

This study aimed to determine the effects of low-temperature plasma jet produced in gas helium (LTP-helium) on cariogenic biofilms composedby and , and also by the combination of and . Biofilms were treated for 1, 3, 5, and 7 minutes. A 0.

Strange episodes during sleep - epilepsy or parasomnia?

In some forms of epilepsy, the seizures occur almost exclusively during sleep. This is particularly the case with hypermotor frontal lobe seizures. Clinically it can be difficult to distinguish such seizures from parasomnias and psychogenic non-epileptic seizures.

Norwegian population-based study of effectiveness of vagus nerve stimulation in patients with developmental and epileptic encephalopathies.

Objective: Evaluate the long-term efficacy of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) in patients with developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEE) compared with epilepsy patients without intellectual disability (ID).

Methods: Long-term outcomes from a Norwegian VNS quality registry are reported in 105 patients with DEEs (Lennox-Gastaut syndrome [LGS] n = 62; Dravet n = 16; Rett n = 9; other syndromes n = 18) were compared with 212 epilepsy patients without ID, with median follow-up of 88 and 72 months, respectively. Total seizure reduction was evaluated at 6, 12, 24, 36, and 60 months.

Elevated IgG and IgM Autoantibodies to Advanced Glycation End Products of Vascular Elastin in Hypertensive Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: Relevance to Disease Initiation and Progression.

The increased glycation of elastin is an important factor in vascular changes in diabetes. Using the ELISA method, we determined serum levels of IgM and IgG autoantibodies to advanced glycation end products of vascular elastin (anti-AGE EL IgM and anti-AGE EL IgG) in 59 hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and 20 healthy controls. Serum levels of matrix metalloproteinases-2 and -9 (MMP-2 and MMP-9) and the C-reactive protein (CRP) were also determined.

Circulating Levels of Endothelin-1 and Big Endothelin-1 in Patients with Essential Hypertension.

The role of endothelin-1 (ET-1) in the pathogenesis of hypertension (HTN) is not clearly established. There is evidence that its circulating levels are elevated in some forms of experimental and human HTN, but this was not a consistent finding. Based on these controversial data, we tested serum levels of ET-1 and Big ET-1 (the precursor of ET-1) in patients with essential HTN, comparing the results with those of healthy normotensive controls.

Changes in Serum Levels of Matrix Metalloproteinase-1 and Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases-1 in Patients with Essential Hypertension.

Hypertension (HTN) is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular (CV) disease. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) are thought to be actively involved in the remodeling of the CV extracellular matrix (ECM) during hypertensive damage. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate serum levels of MMP-1 and TIMP-1 in patients with essential HTN and compare them with those of normotensive individuals.

New Insights on the Nickel State Deposited by Hydrazine Wet-Chemical Synthesis Route in the Ni/BCY15 Proton-Conducting SOFC Anode.

Yttrium-doped barium cerate (BCY15) was used as an anode ceramic matrix for synthesis of the Ni-based cermet anode with application in proton-conducting solid oxide fuel cells (pSOFC). The hydrazine wet-chemical synthesis was developed as an alternative low-cost energy-efficient route that promotes 'in situ' introduction of metallic Ni particles in the BCY15 matrix. The focus of this study is a detailed comparative characterization of the nickel state in the Ni/BCY15 cermets obtained in two types of medium, aqueous and anhydrous ethylene glycol environment, performed by a combination of XRD, N physisorption, SEM, EPR, XPS, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.

Norwegian population-based study of long-term effects, safety, and predictors of response of vagus nerve stimulation treatment in drug-resistant epilepsy: The NORPulse study.

Objective: This study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) over time, and to determine which patient groups derive the most benefit.

Methods: Long-term outcomes are reported in 436 epilepsy patients from a VNS quality registry (52.8% adults, 47.

Feasibility of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation in treatment of drug resistant epilepsy: A multicenter prospective study.

Background: Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (ta-VNS) is a new non-invasive technique developed as treatment option for drug resistant epilepsy. A few studies have been carried out showing that the efficacy and tolerability of ta-VNS is comparable with traditional implanted VNS but the feasibility of the therapy has been poorly described. This study aimed to explore potential clinical benefits of ta-VNS and to evaluate adaptation, compliance, as well as the usability of the device from a service design perspective.

The Causal Relationship between Endothelin-1 and Hypertension: Focusing on Endothelial Dysfunction, Arterial Stiffness, Vascular Remodeling, and Blood Pressure Regulation.

Hypertension (HTN) is one of the most prevalent diseases worldwide and is among the most important risk factors for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular complications. It is currently thought to be the result of disturbances in a number of neural, renal, hormonal, and vascular mechanisms regulating blood pressure (BP), so crucial importance is given to the imbalance of a number of vasoactive factors produced by the endothelium. Decreased nitric oxide production and increased production of endothelin-1 (ET-1) in the vascular wall may promote oxidative stress and low-grade inflammation, with the development of endothelial dysfunction (ED) and increased vasoconstrictor activity.

Estimation of (Acari: Ixodidae) Populations of Kaylaka Park in the Town of Pleven, Bulgaria.

(1) Background: Ticks are vectors of a large number of pathogenic microorganisms, which cause serious diseases in both humans and animals. Kaylaka Park is located in northern Bulgaria close to the city of Pleven. Part of the park is urbanized and visited daily by many citizens.

Oxygen-Storage Materials to Stabilize the Oxygen Redox Activity of Three-Layered Sodium Transition Metal Oxides.

To double the energy density of lithium- and sodium-ion batteries there is a need to activate simultaneously cationic and anionic redox reactions at the intercalation-type electrodes. In contrast to the cationic redox activity, the oxygen redox activity enforces an enhancement in the surface reactivity of the oxides leading to their poor reversibility and cycling stability. Herein, we propose a new concept to stabilize oxygen redox activity by using oxygen-storage materials as an efficient buffer supplying and receiving oxygen during alkali ion intercalation.