A switchable green emitting dye and its phenomenal properties: implications for the photoluminescence features of carbon dots.

New molecular fluorophores are constantly being discovered in post-synthetic mixtures of carbon dots (CDs), prompting researchers to elucidate their role in the optical properties of these nanomaterials. It has been reported that the green-emitting fluorophore that forms during the synthesis of popular citric acid/urea CDs is HPPT (4-hydroxy-1-pyrrolo[3,4-]pyridine-1,3,6(2,5)-trione). However, due to the low concentration of HPPT-like molecules within the structure of CDs, their actual binding and contribution to the optical properties of CDs has not so far been convincingly confirmed.

Vitamin K Status Based on K1, MK-4, MK-7, and Undercarboxylated Prothrombin Levels in Adolescent and Adult Patients with Cystic Fibrosis: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The available evidence on vitamin K status in cystic fibrosis (CF) is scarce, lacking data on vitamin K2 (menaquinones-MK). Therefore, we assessed vitamin K1, MK-4 and MK-7 concentrations (LC-MS/MS) in 63 pancreatic insufficient and modulator naïve CF patients, and compared to 61 healthy subjects (HS). Vitamin K1 levels did not differ between studied groups.

Data-Driven Blood Transfusion Thresholds for Severely Injured Patients During Blood Shortages.

Introduction: Crises like the COVID-19 pandemic create blood product shortages. Patients requiring transfusions are placed at risk and institutions may need to judiciously administer blood during massive blood transfusions protocols (MTP). The purpose of this study is to provide data-driven guidance for the modification of MTP when the blood supply is severely limited.

Survey of Diagnostic and Management Practices in Small Bowel Obstruction: Individual and Generational Variation Despite Practice Guidelines.

Small bowel obstruction (SBO) is a common disorder managed by surgeons. Despite extensive publications and management guidelines, there is no universally accepted approach to its diagnosis and management. We conducted a survey of acute care surgeons to elucidate their SBO practice patterns.

The Lipid-Soluble Bioactive Substances of Varieties under Different Tillage and Nitrogen Fertilisation.

Yield and grain composition play an important role in food production. The aim of this study was to determine the content of phytosterols, squalene, and tocopherols in four varieties of common buckwheat grains: Kora, Panda, Smuga, and Korona depending on the tillage and nitrogen doses employed. The grains were cultivated at the Experimental Station of the State Research Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation in Osiny, Poland, with plow tillage, without plow tillage cultivation, and with nitrogen fertilizers (0, 50, and 100 kg N ha).

The burden of geriatric traumatic brain injury on trauma systems: Analysis of 348,800 Medicare inpatient claims.

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death and disability in older adults. The aim of this study was to characterize the burden of TBI in older adults by describing demographics, care location, diagnoses, outcomes, and payments in this high-risk group.

Methods: Using 2016-2019 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Inpatient Standard Analytical Files (IPSAF), patients >65 years with TBI (>1 injury ICD-10 starting with "S06") were selected.

The public health burden of geriatric trauma: Analysis of 2,688,008 hospitalizations from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services inpatient claims.

Background: Geriatric trauma care (GTC) represents an increasing proportion of injury care, but associated public health research on outcomes and expenditures is limited. The purpose of this study was to describe GTC characteristics, location, diagnoses, and expenditures.

Methods: Patients at short-term nonfederal hospitals, 65 years or older, with ≥1 injury International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, were selected from 2016 to 2019 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Inpatient Standard Analytical Files.

Fat-Soluble Vitamin Supplementation Using Liposomes, Cyclodextrins, or Medium-Chain Triglycerides in Cystic Fibrosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Fat-soluble vitamin deficiency remains a challenge in cystic fibrosis (CF), chronic pancreatitis, and biliary atresia. Liposomes and cyclodextrins can enhance their bioavailability, thus this multi-center randomized placebo-controlled trial compared three-month supplementation of fat-soluble vitamins in the form of liposomes or cyclodextrins to medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) in pancreatic-insufficient CF patients. The daily doses were as follows: 2000 IU of retinyl palmitate, 4000 IU of vitamin D3, 200 IU of RRR-α-tocopherol, and 200 µg of vitamin K2 as menaquinone-7, with vitamin E given in soybean oil instead of liposomes.

Copper and Zinc Content in Infant Milk Formulae Available on the Polish Market and Contribution to Dietary Intake.

The inappropriate concentration of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) in formulae for infants can lead to abnormal micronutrient intake and adverse health outcomes. This study aimed to determine the concentration of Cu and Zn in different formulae and evaluate the Cu/Zn ratio. Besides, the daily intake (DI) of both micronutrients was estimated.

Preclinical atherosclerosis in cystic fibrosis: Two distinct presentations are related to pancreatic status.

Background: Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) are exposed to overlapping cardiovascular risk factors. We hypothesized that CF is characterized by increased arterial stiffness and greater intima-media thickness (IMT).

Methods: This cross-sectional study assessed the digital volume pulse arterial stiffness index (SI) using photopletysmography, measured intima-media complex thickness (IMT) at the common carotid artery, and obtained an extended set of clinical and atherosclerosis-related laboratory parameters.

Severe Genotype, Pancreatic Insufficiency and Low Dose of Pancreatic Enzymes Associate with Abnormal Serum Sterol Profile in Cystic Fibrosis.

Background: Several factors could lead to lipid disturbances observed in cystic fibrosis (CF). This study aimed to assess sterol homeostasis in CF and define potential exogenous and endogenous determinants of lipid dysregulation.

Methods: The study involved 55 CF patients and 45 healthy subjects (HS).

Infant formula fatty acid profile following microwave heating.

Microwave heating of foods may alter their content. Yet, parents commonly heat infant formula in the microwave oven. The study aimed at understanding whether microwave heating of formula changes its fatty acid (FA) composition.

Evaluation and management of blunt cerebrovascular injury: A practice management guideline from the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma.

Background: Blunt cerebrovascular injuries (BCVIs) are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. This guideline evaluates several aspects of BCVI diagnosis and management including the role of screening protocols, criteria for screening cervical spine injuries, and the use of antithrombotic therapy (ATT) and endovascular stents.

Methods: Using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology, a taskforce of the Practice Management Guidelines Committee of the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of currently available evidence.

Understanding the Trauma/Acute Care Surgery Workforce.

As the roles of trauma/acute care surgeons continue to evolve, it is imperative that health-care systems adapt to meet workforce needs. Tailoring retention strategies that elicit workforce satisfaction ensure continued coverage that is mutually beneficial to surgeons and health-care systems. We sought to elicit factors related to career characteristics and expectations of the trauma/acute care surgery (ACS) workforce to assist with such future progress.

Surgical Site Infection after Primary Closure of High-Risk Surgical Wounds in Emergency General Surgery Laparotomy and Closed Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy.

Background: We hypothesized that the universal adoption of closed wounds with negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) in emergency general surgery patients would result in low superficial surgical infection (SSI) rates.

Study Design: We performed a retrospective observational study using primary wound closure with external NPWT, from May 2017 to May 2018. Patients with active soft tissue infection of the abdominal wall were excluded.

The Price of Always Saying Yes: A Cost Analysis of Secondary Overtriage to an Urban Level I Trauma Center.

Level I trauma centers serve as a community resource, with most centers using an inclusive transfer policy that may result in overtriage. The financial burden this imparts on an urban trauma system has not been well examined. We sought to examine the incidence of secondary overtriage (SOT) at an urban Level I trauma center.

Puzzling Aqueous Solubility of Guanine Obscured by the Formation of Nanoparticles.

Dissolution of guanine in neutral solutions was obscured by peculiar behavior of guanine, indicating an apparent dependence of solubility on the amount of solid guanine used. Here, we demonstrate that the problem is caused by the formation of tiny guanine nanoparticles that tend to grow forming stable particles of ca. 800 nm size.

Quetiapine protects the blood-brain barrier in traumatic brain injury.

Background: The integrity of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is paramount in limiting vasogenic edema following traumatic brain injury (TBI). The purpose of this study was to ascertain if quetiapine, an atypical antipsychotic commonly used in trauma/critical care for delirium, protects the BBB and attenuates hyperpermeability in TBI.

Methods: The effect of quetiapine on hyperpermeability was examined through molecular modeling, cellular models in vitro and small animal models in vivo.

Open vs Closed Negative Pressure Wound Therapy for Contaminated and Dirty Surgical Wounds: A Prospective Randomized Comparison.

Background: A new proprietary negative pressure wound device has been developed to apply negative pressure therapy to closed wounds (closed-NPWT). We postulated that closed-NPWT management of contaminated and dirty wounds would lead to faster wound healing and no significant difference in wound complications.

Study Design: An IRB approved, prospective randomized trial was performed.

Music-space associations are grounded, embodied and situated: examination of cello experts and non-musicians in a standard tone discrimination task.

In recent research, a systematic association of musical pitch with space has been described in the so-called Spatial-Pitch-Association-of-Response Codes-effect (SPARC). Typically, high pitch is associated with upper/right and low pitch with lower/left space. However, a theoretical classification of these associations regarding their experiential sources is difficult.

Outcomes of Geriatric Trauma Patients on Preinjury Anticoagulation: A Multicenter Study.

Outpatient anticoagulation in the geriatric trauma patient is a challenging clinical problem. The aim of this study is to determine clinical outcomes associated with class of preinjury anticoagulants (PA) used by this population. This is a multicenter retrospective cohort study among four Level II trauma centers.

Paying it forward: Four-year analysis of the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma Mentoring Program.

Background: Mentorship programs in surgery are used to overcome barriers to clinical and academic productivity, research success, and work-life balance. We sought to determine if the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma (EAST) Mentoring Program has met its goals of fostering academic and personal growth in young acute care surgeons.

Methods: We conducted a systematic program evaluation of EAST Mentoring Program's first 4 years.

Dissociative electron transfer in polychlorinated aromatics. Reduction potentials from convolution analysis and quantum chemical calculations.

Formal potentials of the first reduction leading to dechlorination in dimethylformamide were obtained from convolution analysis of voltammetric data and confirmed by quantum chemical calculations for a series of polychlorinated benzenes: hexachlorobenzene (-2.02 V vs. Fc(+)/Fc), pentachloroanisole (-2.