Analyzing the effectiveness of energy aid for driving the transition towards energy decarbonization; Evidence from Asian developing countries.

Environmental degradation poses a significant challenge in many developing countries, as they heavily rely on fossil fuels to drive economic activities. The transition towards renewable energy is crucial to mitigate ecological depletion, yet numerous Asian developing countries may struggle to achieve the desired levels of renewable energy adoption due to financial constraints. Foreign aid in the energy sector can expedite this transition process.

Residual effects of tobacco biochar along with different fixing agents on stabilization of trace elements in multi-metal contaminated soils.

The residual effect of tobacco biochar (TB ≥ 500°C) mono and co-application with Ca-hydroxide (CH), Ca-bentonite (CB) and natural zeolite (NZ) on the bio-availability of trace elements TE(s) in alkaline soils has not been deeply studied yet. A pot study that had earlier been investigated TB mono and blended with CH, CB and NZ on the immobilization of Pb, Cu Cd, and Zn by Chinese cabbage. Maize crop in the rotation was selected as test plant to assess the residual impact of amendments on stabilization of Pb, Cu Cd, and Zn in mine polluted (M-P), smelter heavily and low polluted (S-HP and S-LP, respectively) soils.

Base excess and hematocrit predict response to indomethacin in very low birth weight infants with patent ductus arteriosus.

Background: The treatment of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants remains a challenge. The ability to predict which infants will respond to indomethacin could spare some from the risks of unnecessary medications. Our objective was to determine if indicators of acid-base homeostasis could predict response to indomethacin treatment for ductal closure, and thus help guide treatment decisions.

Effect of pre-storage removal of different parts of the scape top on the biochemical changes of two garlic cultivars during controlled atmosphere storage.

Background: This study highlights the effect of removing different plant parts on the biochemical changes in the garlic scape of cultivars G064 and G025 during controlled atmosphere storage (O = 2%-5%, CO = 3%-6%) at temperature = 0 ± 0.5 °C, Relative Humidity (RH) RH = 85%-95%, for 168 day. Total polyphenols (TP), total flavonoids (TF), the concentration of allicin, ethylene production and the antioxidant potential were evaluated and analyzed by using four different assays.

Aortic Involvement in Pediatric Marfan syndrome: A Review.

Outlining specific protocols for the management of pediatric patients with Marfan syndrome has been challenging. This is mostly due to a dearth of clinical studies performed in pediatric patients. In Marfan syndrome, the major sources of morbidity and mortality relate to the cardiovascular system.

Chest pain in adolescent Japanese male mimicking acute coronary syndrome.

Acute chest pain with very elevated troponin level and abnormal EKG in adult population is considered sine qua non to acute coronary syndrome (ACS) unless proved otherwise. Similar presentation in adolescent population is seen less often but raises suspicion for ACS. Most common etiology for chest pain with cardiac enzyme elevation in adolescent population is usually viral myopericarditis.

Chest pain in two athletic male adolescents mimicking myocardial infarction.

Acute chest pain with elevated troponin and CK-MB levels and focal ST elevation on electrocardiogram is considered to be myocardial infarction unless proven otherwise. The cardiac enzymes can be elevated in other etiologies of chest pain including myopericarditis, pulmonary embolism, acute rheumatic fever, and trauma. Therefore, patients presenting with chest pain and elevated cardiac enzymes should be carefully evaluated for other etiologies after ruling out acute coronary process.

Isolated left bundle branch block in a toddler.

Left bundle branch block (LBBB) usually occurs as a postoperative complication from surgical correction of congenital heart disease and can be associated with hypertensive heart disease, coronary artery disease, myocarditis, and aortic valvular disease. Although isolated LBBB is a conduction abnormality found in some healthy adults, it has not been reported in pediatric population. We report a 2-year-old, healthy African American female who was incidentally discovered to have isolated LBBB that has persisted in a follow-up of 3 years.

An Unusual Case of Early Onset Persistent Escherichia coli Septicemia Associated with Endocarditis.

Escherichia coli infection is very common cause of early onset septicemia especially in very low-birth-weight newborns, but E. coli endocarditis has not been described in newborns. E.

Double-outlet right ventricle with an intact ventricular septum: a unique stage 1 palliation.

This report describes a case of double-outlet right ventricle with intact ventricular septum diagnosed in a newborn male. The initial diagnosis was made by echocardiography. The baby underwent a hybrid procedure including pulmonary artery banding and stenting of the patent ductus arteriosus.

T-wave inversion in diabetic ketoacidosis with normokalemia in an adolescent.

Myriad electrocardiographic changes, such as ST-segment elevation/depression, altered T-wave morphology, and QT prolongation, have been described with hyperkalemia in the setting of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) [2, 3]. We present an adolescent with DKA in whom T-wave inversions was seen despite his having normal serum potassium level.

Natural history of conduction abnormalities in a patient with Kearns-Sayre syndrome.

Kearns-Sayre syndrome is a rare mitochondrial disorder characterized by large-scale deletion or rearrangement of mitochondrial DNA, which is usually not inherited but occur spontaneously probably at the germ cell level or very early in embryonic development by Mehndiratta et al. (Neurol India 50:162-167, 2002). Neuromuscular and cardiac conduction abnormalities are most commonly involved in these patients, which may have subtle presenting signs.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: role of current recommendations by the american heart association for infective endocarditis.

In the past decade, there has been evolution in the diagnosis, management, and long-term care of patients with infective endocarditis and its complications. This includes the relatively new but contentious prophylactic antibiotic regimen. However, these cases still continue to pose a challenge in the adult and pediatric populations.

Atrial fibrillation in two adolescents.

Idiopathic atrial fibrillation (AF) in adolescents is extremely rare and has usually been associated with structural heart disease. We present two cases of symptomatic AF in adolescents without any identifiable etiology. No definitive guidelines are available for management of such patients.

Is surgical ligation of an accessory left superior vena cava always safe?

In patients considered for bidirectional Glenn or Fontan procedures, the association of left superior vena cava (LSVC) with ostial atresia of the coronary sinus should be diagnosed preoperatively in order to avoid surgical division or ligation of the LSVC and the negative effect of resulting coronary venous hypertension on myocardial perfusion. This report discusses the angiographic and hemodynamic features of LSVC when it is the only drainage route from a blind coronary sinus. A retrograde flow in the LSVC seen by Doppler ultrasonography should raise the suspicion of this diagnosis.

Fetal tachycardia: mechanisms and predictors of hydrops fetalis.

Objectives: This study had three objectives: 1) to determine the electrophysiologic mechanisms of fetal supraventricular tachycardia at presentation and postnatally; 2) to identify the clinical and electrophysiologic predictors of hydrops fetalis; and 3) to describe the medium-term follow-up (1 to 7 years) of patients with fetal supraventricular tachycardia.

Background: Fetal supraventricular tachycardia causes significant fetal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Prenatal analysis and postnatal confirmation of fetal supraventricular tachycardia mechanisms have been limited.

Ventricular relaxation in the stage 24 chick embryo following changes in volume and blockade of Na+ and Ca2+ channels.

Objective: Early in cardiac development, regulation of cytosolic Ca2+ has been thought to depend primarily on sarcolemmal Ca2+ transport. We hypothesized that perturbation of cytosolic Ca2+ in the embryonic ventricle would result in a change in ventricular relaxation which could be quantified by a monoexponential model. We reasoned that since it has been difficult to selectively block the Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger in vivo, that blockade of Na+ (lidocaine) or Ca2+ (verapamil) channels in the embryonic heart may perturb cytosolic Ca2+ and thereby alter ventricular relaxation.