Transcatheter aortic valve implantation versus sutureless aortic valve replacement: a single-centre cost analysis.

Aims: Sutureless aortic valve replacement (SU-AVR) and transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) are both viable therapeutic interventions for aortic stenosis in elderly patients. Meta-analyses show similar all-cause mortality for both techniques albeit with a different pattern of adverse effects. This study means to compare costs and, to a lesser extent, clinical outcomes of both techniques.

Comparison of typical nitrite oxidizing bacteria suppression strategies and the effect on nitrous oxide emissions in a biofilm reactor.

In mainstream partial nitritation/anammox (PN/A), suppression of nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB) and mitigation of NO emissions are two essential operational goals. The NO emissions linked to three typical NOB suppression strategies were tested in a covered rotating biological contactor (RBC) biofilm system at 21 °C: (i) low dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations, and treatments with (ii) free ammonia (FA), and (iii) free nitrous acids (FNA). Low emerged DO levels effectively minimized NOB activity and decreased NO emissions, but NOB adaptation appeared after 200 days of operation.

Continuous cultivation of microalgae yields high nutrient recovery from nitrified urine with limited supplementation.

Microalgae can play a key role in the bioeconomy, particularly in combination with the valorisation of waste streams as cultivation media. Urine is an example of a widely available nutrient-rich waste stream, and alkaline stabilization and subsequent full nitrification in a bioreactor yields a stable nitrate-rich solution. In this study, such nitrified urine served as a culture medium for the edible microalga Limnospira indica.

Inclusion of soil organic carbon changes can reverse results of historical energy flux quantifications of Pampean agriculture.

The questions that guided this work were: 1) How do energy inputs, outputs, and energy indices evolve during the last four decades along the rainfall gradient of the Pampas, 2) How does present agrochemical and fertilizer use in Argentina resemble, or differ, from other main grain producing regions with large no-till surfaces?, and 3) How do energy fluxes vary when soil organic carbon (SOC) changes during the last four decades are included? Energy balances (outputs - inputs), energy efficiencies (outputs/inputs) and energy intensities (inputs/yield) were calculated. Inputs comprised agrochemicals and fertilizers, machinery used for soil tillage and fuel use and gathered from different information sources. Outputs included yield of main crops from national statistics.

Root-Associated Bacterial Community Shifts in Hydroponic Lettuce Cultured with Urine-Derived Fertilizer.

Recovery of nutrients from source-separated urine can truncate our dependency on synthetic fertilizers, contributing to more sustainable food production. Urine-derived fertilizers have been successfully applied in soilless cultures. However, little is known about the adaptation of the plant to the nutrient environment.

Electrochemical In Situ pH Control Enables Chemical-Free Full Urine Nitrification with Concomitant Nitrate Extraction.

Urine is a valuable resource for nutrient recovery. Stabilization is, however, recommended to prevent urea hydrolysis and the associated risk for ammonia volatilization, uncontrolled precipitation, and malodor. This can be achieved by alkalinization and subsequent biological conversion of urea and ammonia into nitrate (nitrification) and organics into CO.

Bio-electrochemical COD removal for energy-efficient, maximum and robust nitrogen recovery from urine through membrane aerated nitrification.

Resource recovery from source-separated urine can shorten nutrient cycles on Earth and is essential in regenerative life support systems for deep-space exploration. In this study, a robust two-stage, energy-efficient, gravity-independent urine treatment system was developed to transform fresh real human urine into a stable nutrient solution. In the first stage, up to 85% of the COD was removed in a microbial electrolysis cell (MEC), converting part of the energy in organic compounds (27-46%) into hydrogen gas and enabling full nitrogen recovery by preventing nitrogen losses through denitrification in the second stage.

Electrochemically Induced Precipitation Enables Fresh Urine Stabilization and Facilitates Source Separation.

Source separation of urine can enable nutrient recycling, facilitate wastewater management, and conserve water. Without stabilization of the urine, urea is quickly hydrolyzed into ammonia and (bi)carbonate, causing nutrient loss, clogging of collection systems, ammonia volatilization, and odor nuisance. In this study, electrochemically induced precipitation and stabilization of fresh urine was successfully demonstrated.

Electrochemical tap water softening: A zero chemical input approach.

Electrochemical water softening was proposed as a sustainable alternative for ion exchange softening, avoiding the input of salt to drinking water and the production of a concentrated brine. Here we demonstrated two novel modes of operation combining an electrochemical cell with a fluidized bed crystallizer. The first approach relied on an electrochemical cell consisting of an anode and cathode separated by a cation or anion exchange membrane.

Urine nitrification with a synthetic microbial community.

During long-term extra-terrestrial missions, food is limited and waste is generated. By recycling valuable nutrients from this waste via regenerative life support systems, food can be produced in space. Astronauts' urine can, for instance, be nitrified by micro-organisms into a liquid nitrate fertilizer for plant growth in space.

Ear- and hearing-related impact on quality of life in children with cleft palate: Development and pretest of a health-related quality of life (HRQOL) instrument.

Objectives: To investigate to what extent middle ear problems and associated hearing loss affect quality of life (QoL) of children born with a cleft palate.

Methods: Fifty-five children aged between 6 and 18 years, born with non-syndromic cleft palate ± cleft lip (CP/L) were included. A new health-related quality of life (HRQOL) questionnaire was generated with consideration of the following domains of QoL: communication, hearing loss, physical symptoms, limitation of activities and socio-emotional impact.

Refinery and concentration of nutrients from urine with electrodialysis enabled by upstream precipitation and nitrification.

Human urine is a valuable resource for nutrient recovery, given its high levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, but the compositional complexity of urine presents a challenge for an energy-efficient concentration and refinery of nutrients. In this study, a pilot installation combining precipitation, nitrification and electrodialysis (ED), designed for one person equivalent (1.2 L d), was continuously operated for ∼7 months.

Do acid volatile sulfides (AVS) influence the accumulation of sediment-bound metals to benthic invertebrates under natural field conditions?

The present study evaluates the influence of acid volatile sulfides (AVS) on accumulation of sediment-bound metals in benthic invertebrates under natural field conditions. Natural sediments, pore water, surface water, and two species of widespread benthic invertebrates (Chironomus gr. thummi and Tubifex tubifex) were collected from 17 historical polluted Flemish lowland rivers and measured for metal concentrations.

Postpartum ovarian veins thrombophlebitis.

Puerperal ovarian vein thrombophlebitis (POVT) is a rare postpartal complication. Its incidence is about 0.05%.

Improved exposure for complex left main coronary artery reconstruction.

Direct surgical repair of left main coronary artery (LMCA) stenosis by either the right (posterior) or left (anterior) approach can be difficult in case of complex, extensive atheromatous lesions. Complete transsection of both great vessels allows rotation of the heart, with its base facing the surgeon. Patch repair then becomes safe, precise and expedicious.

Evaluation of membranous subaortic stenosis using biplane transesophageal echocardiography. Report of two cases.

A biplane transesophageal echocardiography was performed in two young adult patients with discrete subvalvular aortic stenosis. The combined information obtained in the transverse and in the longitudinal plane allows in these instances an accurate diagnosis and the choice of an optimal approach.

Pulmonary artery banding. Experience with 69 patients.

Between 1976 and 1985, 69 patients underwent pulmonary artery banding (PAB) at an average age of 2.2 months (mo) (range 2 days-18 mo) weighing 3.8 kg (2.

Leaflet escape of a mitral Duromedics prosthesis. Case report.

This article reports a case of leaflet embolization of a mitral Edwards-Duromedics prosthesis. The patient had abrupt onset of acute pulmonary edema and was initially treated medically for 3 days. Fluoroscopy showed only one freely moving leaflet and the other was (incorrectly) assumed to be blocked in the closed position.

Transaortic saphenous patch angioplasty for left main coronary artery stenosis. An alternative to coronary artery bypass.

We present two cases of isolated proximal left main coronary artery stenosis treated by direct transaortic angioplasty. In selected patients this technique offers a valuable alternative to CAB graft with the advantage of restoring unobstructed antegrade flow.

Spontaneous rupture of the esophagus after coronary artery bypass.

Spontaneous rupture of the esophagus (Boerhaave's syndrome) is a very rare but the most lethal perforation of the gastro-intestinal tract. A 62-year old male was successfully treated for this condition developing on the second post-operative day after coronary artery bypass. Two hours after extubation respiratory insufficiency and circulatory collapse necessitated reintubation and energetic resuscitation with prompt drainage of a massive pleural effusion.

[Renal transplantation and Bourneville's tuberous sclerosis].

A kidney transplantation was performed in July 1981 on a 29 year old woman who presented the signs of tuberous sclerosis and suffered from chronic renal failure. The frequency and the genetic transmission of Bourneville's disease are explained. The signs of the disease are exposed with special emphasis on the renal lesions.

Poststernotomy arteriovenous fistula of internal mammary origin with pseudoaneurysmal subcutaneous extension.

We describe a very rare subcutaneous pseudoaneurysmal development of an internal mammary arteriovenous fistula supervening after sternal wire closure. The lesion underwent progressive thrombosis and was resected.

Thrombosis of the Saint Jude Medical valve prosthesis in the aortic position: a diagnostic and surgical emergency.

Three cases of prosthetic thrombosis with the SJM mechanical bileaflet pyrolitic valve in the aortic position occurred in a series of 355 patients operated on over a four-year period (October 1978-September 1982). Symptoms and signs of inadequate left ventricular flow (with various degrees of aortic regurgitation) were marked and developed rapidly. The patient is usually aware of muffling of the valve sounds.

Left-sided cervical aortic arch.

The authors report a case of cervical aortic arch. Left-sided cervical aortic arch is a very rare congenital anomaly which may or not be associated with clinical symptoms. Diagnosis, suspected on chest X-ray or clinical examination, must be confirmed by angiographic studies.

[Coronary surgery in patients with poor ventricular function].

The surgical indication of coronary by-pass surgery in patients with bad ventricular function is difficult. We analysed retrospectively 87 patients operated on between February 1982 and November 1983. We show the benefit of this surgery even in patients without angina pectoris.