Endothelial shear stress enhancements: a potential solution for critically ill Covid-19 patients.

Most critically ill Covid-19 patients succumb to multiple organ failure and/or sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) as a result of comorbid endothelial dysfunction disorders which had probably aggravated by conventional mechanical assist devices. Even worse, mechanical ventilators prevent the respiratory pump from performing its crucial function as a potential generator of endothelial shear stress (ESS) which controls microcirculation and hemodynamics since birth. The purpose of this work is to bring our experience with ESS enhancement and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) management as a potential therapeutic solution in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

T2-signal intensity, SSTR expression, and somatostatin analogs efficacy predict response to pasireotide in acromegaly.

Objective: T2-signal intensity and somatostatin (SST) receptor expression are recognized predictors of therapy response in acromegaly. We investigated the relationship between these predictors and the hormonal and tumoral responses to long-acting pasireotide (PAS-LAR) therapy, which were also compared with responsiveness to first-generation somatostatin receptor ligands (SRLs).

Design: The PAPE study is a cohort study.

Soluble Klotho: a possible predictor of quality of life in acromegaly patients.

Purpose: Although quality of life (QoL) is improved in patients with acromegaly after disease control, QoL correlates only weakly with traditional biomarkers. Our objective is to investigate a potential relation between the new serum biomarker soluble Klotho (sKlotho), GH and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels, and QoL.

Methods: In this prospective cohort study, we investigated 54 acromegaly patients biochemically well-controlled on combination treatment with first-generation somatostatin receptor ligands (SRLs) and pegvisomant (PEGV) at baseline and 9 months after switching to pasireotide LAR (PAS-LAR; either as monotherapy, n = 28; or in combination with PEGV, n = 26).

Circulatory Flow Restoration Versus Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: New Therapeutic Approach in Sudden Cardiac Arrest.

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) remains a major problem for health authorities worldwide. Insufficiencies of current cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) are most probably related to an inappropriate concept and applied methods that still concentrate on heartbeat as priority, instead of blood circulation to maintain organs' perfusions. The aim of this works is to propose a new therapeutic approach for SCA in a more effective and secure manner compared with current CPR methods.

WITHDRAWN: Creative activity aid using active tremor cancellation.

Ahead of Print article withdrawn by publisher.

Novel spectrophotometric determination of flumethasone pivalate and clioquinol in their binary mixture and pharmaceutical formulation.

This work is concerned with development and validation of three simple, specific, accurate and precise spectrophotometric methods for determination of flumethasone pivalate (FP) and clioquinol (CL) in their binary mixture and ear drops. Method A is a ratio subtraction spectrophotometric one (RSM). Method B is a ratio difference spectrophotometric one (RDSM), while method C is a mean center spectrophotometric one (MCR).

Shear stress, energy losses, and costs: a resolved dilemma of pulsatile cardiac assist devices.

Cardiac assist devices (CAD) cause endothelial dysfunction with considerable morbidity. Employment of pulsatile CAD remains controversial due to inadequate perfusion curves and costs. Alternatively, we are proposing a new concept of pulsatile CAD based on a fundamental revision of the entire circulatory system in correspondence with the physiopathology and law of physics.

Intrapulmonary shear stress enhancement: a new therapeutic approach in acute myocardial ischemia.

Objective: Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is a leading cause of mortality with insufficient results of current therapies, most probably due to maintained endothelial dysfunction conditions. Alternatively, we propose a new treatment that promotes endothelial shear stress (ESS) enhancement using an intrapulmonary pulsatile catheter.

Methods: Twelve piglets, divided in equal groups of 6: pulsatile (P) and non-pulsatile (NP), underwent permanent left anterior descending coronary artery ligation through sternotomy.

Forgotten driving forces in right heart failure (Part II): experimental study.

Background: Cardiac-assist devices for right ventricular failure remain controversial with poor results. This study evaluated a pulsatile cardiac-assist device in an acute right ventricular failure model vs. current therapies.

Functional and structural insights of a Staphylococcus aureus apoptotic-like membrane peptide from a toxin-antitoxin module.

We report a functional type I toxin-antitoxin (TA) module expressed by a human pathogen, Staphylococcus aureus. TA systems consist of stable toxins and labile antitoxins encoded within small genetic modules widespread in eubacteria and archaea. TA genes provide stress adaptation and protection against DNA loss or invasion.

Intrapulmonary shear stress enhancement: a new therapeutic approach in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Objective: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a dysfunctional endothelium disease with increased pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and poor prognosis. Current therapies are still insufficient. Here we propose a new pulsatile device as a more effective tool for PAH management compared with traditional treatments.

A cis-antisense RNA acts in trans in Staphylococcus aureus to control translation of a human cytolytic peptide.

Antisense RNAs (asRNAs) pair to RNAs expressed from the complementary strand, and their functions are thought to depend on nucleotide overlap with genes on the opposite strand. There is little information on the roles and mechanisms of asRNAs. We show that a cis asRNA acts in trans, using a domain outside its target complementary sequence.

The forgotten driving forces in right heart failure: new concept and device.

Background: Right heart failure is a frequent hemodynamic disturbance in pediatric cardiac patients. Besides inotropic and chronotropic drugs, fluid administration and inhaled nitric oxide, right ventricular mechanical assistance remains difficult to perform. A circulatory assist device adapted for the right heart biophysics and physiology might be more efficient.