Recycled Aggregates Influence on the Mechanical Properties of Cement Lime-Based Mortars.

The current framework for managing construction waste, guided by European Union regulations, calls for an integrated waste management system. However, the reuse of old plaster waste, particularly from deteriorated facades, remains underexplored. This study investigates the potential of repurposing old plaster waste as a substitute for aggregates and cement in mortars, with the aim of promoting environmental sustainability and resource efficiency.

Myocardial Work by Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography in Heart Transplant Recipients: Association Between Global Work Efficiency and Coronary Allograft Vasculopathy.

Coronary allograft vasculopathy (CAV) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality after heart transplantation. CAV is often diagnosed in later stages or during routine screening in asymptomatic subjects. Myocardial work (MW), calculated using left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LV-GLS) and systemic blood pressure, may be associated with the presence of CAV and outperform conventional echocardiographic parameters.

Robust brain tumor classification by fusion of deep learning and channel-wise attention mode approach.

Diagnosing brain tumors is a complex and time-consuming process that relies heavily on radiologists' expertise and interpretive skills. However, the advent of deep learning methodologies has revolutionized the field, offering more accurate and efficient assessments. Attention-based models have emerged as promising tools, focusing on salient features within complex medical imaging data.

The influence of intensive clinical skills 'bootcamps' on nursing students' perceptions of ability to provide acute care: A mixed methods study.

Objectives: To examine the influence of an intensive clinical skill bootcamp on students' perceptions to provide care in acute situations.

Setting: Evidence indicates that the recognition and response to patient change can be a challenge in nursing practice and especially so for undergraduate students (Goldsworthy et al., 2022).

Myocarditis Presenting as Myocardial Infarction with Non-Obstructive Coronary Arteries (MINOCA) in a Young Man: A Case Report.

Myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) is a unique disorder that manifests as an acute myocardial infarction clinically without overt coronary arteries obstruction on angiography. Herein, we report a 17-year-old male presented with a chest pain occurring 3 hours before admission and fever lasting for 2 days. Electrocardiogram examination showed ST elevation in lead II, III, aVF and V3-V6.

Exploring the Potential of Energy-Based Therapeutics (Photobiomodulation/Low-Level Laser Light Therapy) in Cardiovascular Disorders: A Review and Perspective.

Based on the review of the literature, this article examines the potential therapeutic benefits of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) or low-level laser therapy (LLLT) for the treatment of cardiovascular disorders. The methodology involved searching PubMed, Google Scholar, and Central databases for relevant articles published from inception till date. The articles included in this review were preclinical and clinical studies investigating the effects of PBMT and LLLT on the heart.

L1CAM expression in human gastrointestinal tract development: From tongue to colon-rectum.

Background: L1CAM (L1 cell adhesion molecule) is a member of the L1 family of neural adhesion molecules, involved in the development of multiple organs and tissues, including kidneys, the enteric nervous system, and adrenal glands. The aim of this study was to analyze, at the immunohistochemical level, the expression of L1CAM in the human tongue, parotid glands, and the different segments of the gastrointestinal tract during human development.

Design And Method: Immunohistochemical analysis for L1CAM was performed in the human tongue, parotid glands, and in the different segments of the gastrointestinal tract during development, starting from the 8th up to the 32nd week of gestation.

Insights into β-manno-oligosaccharide uptake and metabolism in Bifidobacterium adolescentis DSMZ 20083 from whole-genome microarray analysis.

Metabolism of non-digestible dietary glycans directly influences the structure and composition of human gut microbiota and, in turn, the host health. β-Mannans form an integral component of the modern diet as naturally occurring dietary fibre or additives in processed foods. In the present study, in vitro fermentation and TLC studies were used to determine the ability of adult-associated Bifidobacterium adolescentis DSMZ 20083 to utilise β-manno-oligosaccharides from guar gum, locust bean gum, konjac root, and copra meal generated using GH26 endo-β-mannanase (ManB-1601).

Truncation of C-terminal amino acids of GH26 endo-mannanase (ManB-1601) affects biochemical properties and stability against anionic surfactants.

Hitherto, the contribution of C-terminal amino acids in structure, stability and function of GH26 endo-mannanases has not been demonstrated. Semi-logarithmic plot of endo-mannanase activity showed a progressive decline with increase in the number of truncated amino acids [ManB-CΔ5 (129 U/mL), ManB-CΔ10 (47 U/mL), ManB-CΔ15 (0.05 U/mL) and ManB-CΔ20 (0.

Short-chain β-manno-oligosaccharides from copra meal: structural characterization, prebiotic potential and anti-glycation activity.

Size-exclusion chromatography, HR-ESI-MS and FT-IR of copra meal hydrolyzed by ManB-1601 showed the presence of oligosaccharides (CM-β-MOS) having a degree of polymerisation (DP) between 2 and 4. Thermal decomposition studies of the purified CM-β-MOS (DP 2, 3 and 4) showed mass loss at high temperatures (135.8 °C to 600 °C).

Alkali-stable GH11 endo-β-1,4 xylanase (XynB) from strain CAM 21: application in hydrolysis of agro-industrial wastes, fruit/vegetable peels and weeds.

GH11 endo-xylanases, due to their inherent structural and biochemical properties, are the key to efficient bioconversion of lignocellulosic biomass into value-added products. A GH11 endo-xylanase (XynB) from strain CAM 21 was cloned, over-expressed and purified (Mw∼24 kDa) using Ni-NTA affinity chromatography. XynB showed optimum activity at pH 7.

Novel compound mutations in the mitochondrial translation elongation factor (TSFM) gene cause severe cardiomyopathy with myocardial fibro-adipose replacement.

Primary mitochondrial dysfunction is an under-appreciated cause of cardiomyopathy, especially when cardiac symptoms are the unique or prevalent manifestation of disease. Here, we report an unusual presentation of mitochondrial cardiomyopathy, with dilated phenotype and pathologic evidence of biventricular fibro-adipose replacement, in a 33-year old woman who underwent cardiac transplant. Whole exome sequencing revealed two novel compound heterozygous variants in the TSFM gene, coding for the mitochondrial translation elongation factor EF-Ts.

Brain Natriuretic Peptide as a Biomarker of Asymptomatic Clozapine-Related Heart Dysfunction: A Criterion for a More Cautious Administration.

Clozapine-related pericarditis is a rare side effect of the drug. We reported the clinical cases of two women, aged 22 and 28 years, affected by schizophrenia with pericarditis symptoms related to clozapine treatment of 200 mg/day. Clozapine was discontinued in both patients, resulting in normalization of the ECG changes, and echocardiography confirmed the progressive disappearance of the pericardial effusion.

Impaired mitochondrial biogenesis is a common feature to myocardial hypertrophy and end-stage ischemic heart failure.

Mitochondrial (mt) DNA depletion and oxidative mtDNA damage have been implicated in the process of pathological cardiac remodeling. Whether these features are present in the early phase of maladaptive cardiac remodeling, that is, during compensated cardiac hypertrophy, is still unknown. We compared the morphologic and molecular features of mt biogenesis and markers of oxidative stress in human heart from adult subjects with compensated hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and heart failure.

Intraoperative and postoperative complications in trabeculectomy, Clinical study.

Glaucoma represents a progresive multifactorial optic neuropathy characterised by retinal ganglion cell loss and atrophy of the optic nerve its main cause being high intraocular pressure. [,] Trabeculectomy is the most used surgical method when it comes to the majority of the ophthalmologists which is why knowing and managing the intraoperative and postoperative complications well is very important. [] .

Aortic valve replacement in a patient with ostegenesis imperfecta A case report.

Aim: Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is an inherited connective tissue disorder in which fragile bones readily cause fractures. Aortic root dilatation, aortic valve regurgitation and mitral valve prolapse are uncommon cardiovascular manifestations of OI. Cardiac surgery in these patients carries a high risk of complications due to increased tissue and capillary fragility.

Efficacy of computer-aided detection as a second reader for 6-9-mm lesions at CT colonography: multicenter prospective trial.

Purpose: To assess the effect of computer-aided detection (CAD) as a second reader on the sensitivity and specificity of computed tomographic (CT) colonography in detecting 6-9-mm colorectal cancer (CRC) lesions.

Materials And Methods: Individuals with clinical indications for colonoscopy--either for symptoms or as part of participating in a surveillance program or CRC screening--were prospectively enrolled at one of 10 academic centers between July 2007 and May 2009. Institutional review board approval was obtained at each clinical site, and all participants provided written informed consent.

The pressure/volume relationship during dobutamine stress echocardiography in transplanted heart: comparison with quality of life and coronary anatomy.

Background: Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) is a major late complication in cardiac transplant recipients and has a relevant impact on outcome of these patients.

Aims Of This Study: to compare, in cardiac transplant recipients patients, the diagnostic value of pressure/volume relationship (ESPVR) during dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) for coronary artery disease, assessed by Multislice Computed Tomography (MSCT), and by coronary angiography (CA). We also analyzed any possible relationship between ESPVR and the Health Related Quality of Life of the patients (HRQoL), evaluated by SF-36 questionnaire.

Peripheral extracorporeal membrane oxygenation system as salvage treatment of patients with refractory cardiogenic shock: preliminary outcome evaluation.

The novel Permanent Life Support (PLS; Maquet, Jostra Medizintechnik AG, Hirrlingen, Germany) as peripheral veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support system has been investigated as treatment for patients with refractory cardiogenic shock (CS). Between January 2007 and July 2011, 73 consecutive adult patients were supported on peripheral PLS ECMO system at our institution (55 men; age 60.3 ± 11.

Levitronix CentriMag third-generation magnetically levitated continuous flow pump as bridge to solution.

The Levitronix CentriMag (Levitronix LLC, Waltham, MA) ventricular assist device (VAD) is a magnetically levitated rotary pump designed for temporary extracorporeal support. Between February 2004 and May 2010, 42 consecutive adult patients were supported with Levitronix at our institution (32 men; age 62.3 ± 10.

Influence of reconstruction settings on the performance of adaptive thresholding algorithms for FDG-PET image segmentation in radiotherapy planning.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the behavior of a contouring algorithm for PET images based on adaptive thresholding depending on lesions size and target-to-background (TB) ratio under different conditions of image reconstruction parameters. Based on this analysis, the image reconstruction scheme able to maximize the goodness of fit of the thresholding algorithm has been selected. A phantom study employing spherical targets was designed to determine slice-specific threshold (TS) levels which produce accurate cross-sectional areas.