Phosphoric acid-modified bentonite-chitosan composite beads: a novel and cost-effective adsorbent for multi-metal wastewater treatment.

This study introduces a novel, cost-effective adsorbent made from phosphoric acid-modified bentonite-chitosan composite beads, designed to remove Cu⁺, Ni⁺, and Zn⁺ from aqueous solutions. Characterization of the composite revealed a mesoporous structure and the presence of functional groups that enhance its adsorption properties. Using response surface methodology, the adsorption capacities were determined as 362.

Regional variation in donation after circulatory death heart allograft utilization.

Objective: Randomized data support transplantation of hearts from donors after circulatory death. This may lead to a sizeable increase in the donor pool. Regional variations in donors after circulatory death heart use were examined to help elucidate barriers to donor pool expansion.

A Novel Approach to Identifying Hibernating Myocardium Using Radiomics-Based Machine Learning.

Background To assess the feasibility of a machine learning (ML) approach using radiomics features of perfusion defects on rest myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) to detect the presence of hibernating myocardium. Methodology Data of patients who underwent 99mTc-sestamibi MPI and 18F-FDG PET/CT for myocardial viability assessment were retrieved. Rest MPI data were processed on ECToolbox, and polar maps were saved using the NFile PMap tool.

Multimodal Evaluation and Management of Wagner Syndrome-Three Patients from an Affected Family.

Wagner syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant vitreoretinopathy caused by mutations in chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan 2 (CSPG2)/Versican (VCAN). Here, we present a retrospective case series of a family pedigree with genetically confirmed Wagner syndrome (heterozygous VCAN exon 8 deletion), as follows: a 34-year-old mother (P1), 12-year-old daughter (P2), and a 2-year-old son (P3). The phenotype included early-onset cataract (P1), optically empty vitreous with avascular membranes (P1, 2), nasal dragging of optic nerve heads associated with foveal hypoplasia (P1, 2), tractional retinoschisis on optical coherence tomography (P2), and peripheral circumferential vitreo-retinal interface abnormality resembling white-without-pressure (P3) progressing to pigmented chorio-retinal atrophy (P1, 2).

Late follow-up for a randomized trial of surgical treatment of tricuspid valve regurgitation in patients undergoing left ventricular assist device implantation.

Background: We previously reported that concurrent tricuspid valve surgery (TVS) was not associated with a lower incidence of early right heart failure (RHF) in patients undergoing durable left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. This follow-up analysis aimed to further define the clinical impact of concurrent TVS after 2 months of follow-up.

Methods: Patients with moderate or severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR) on preoperative echocardiography (n = 71) were randomized to LVAD implantation either alone (no TVS group; n = 34) or with concurrent TVS (TVS group; n = 37).

Early U.S. Heart Transplant Experience With Normothermic Regional Perfusion Following Donation After Circulatory Death.

Background: Heart transplantation following donation after circulatory death (DCD HT) has short-term survival outcomes comparable to donation after brain death and has led to a significant increase in transplantation volume. The U.S.

Normative Data of Liquid Gastric Emptying and Small-bowel Transit: A Prospective Cross-sectional Study.

Purpose Of The Study: The primary objective was to establish the reference values for liquid gastric emptying and small bowel. The secondary objectives encompassed comparing the anterior view and geometric mean methods, assessing gender differences, and exploring potential correlations with age.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-five consecutive healthy participants (28 females and 7 males) with a mean age of 42 ± 11 years (median, 42; range, 23-65) underwent liquid gastric emptying scintigraphy at five intervals (0, 0.

Assessment of Small-bowel and Colonic Transit on Routine Gastric Emptying Scintigraphy: Establishment of Reference Values.

Purpose Of The Study: The primary objective was to establish the reference values for small-bowel and colonic transit within the context of the routine standard solid meal gastric emptying scintigraphy (GES). The secondary objective was to compare the small-bowel and colonic transit between the anterior view and geometric mean methods.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-nine healthy controls underwent routine GES, with additional imaging at 24 h if feasible.

Early Outcomes in Patients With LVAD Undergoing Heart Transplant via Use of the SherpaPak Cardiac Transport System.

Background: Heart transplant (HT) in recipients with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) is associated with poor early post-HT outcomes, including primary graft dysfunction (PGD). As complicated heart explants in recipients with LVADs may produce longer ischemic times, innovations in donor heart preservation may yield improved post-HT outcomes. The SherpaPak Cardiac Transport System is an organ preservation technology that maintains donor heart temperatures between 4 °C and 8 °C, which may minimize ischemic and cold-induced graft injuries.

Morphological and functional parameters in X-linked retinoschisis patients-A multicentre retrospective cohort study.

Introduction: X-linked retinoschisis (XLRS) is a potential target for gene supplementation approaches. To establish potential structural and functional endpoints for clinical trials, a comprehensive understanding of the inter-eye symmetry, relationship between structural and functional parameters, and disease progression is vital.

Methods: In this retrospective multicentre study, 118 eyes of 59 XLRS patients with mutations were assessed.

Metabolomic profiling during ex situ normothermic perfusion before heart transplantation defines patterns of substrate utilization and correlates with markers of allograft injury.

Background: Cardiac metabolism is altered in heart failure and ischemia-reperfusion injury states. We hypothesized that metabolomic profiling during ex situ normothermic perfusion before heart transplantation (HT) would lend insight into myocardial substrate utilization and report on subclinical and clinical allograft dysfunction risk.

Methods: Metabolomic profiling was performed on serial samples of ex situ normothermic perfusate assaying biomarkers of myocardial injury in lactate and cardiac troponin I (TnI) as well as metabolites (66 acylcarnitines, 15 amino acids, nonesterified fatty acids [NEFA], ketones, and 3-hydroxybutyrate).

Near-lossless Compression of Tc-99 m DMSA Scan Images Using Discrete Cosine Transformation.

Aim And Objective: The objective of this study was to optimize the threshold for discrete cosine transform (DCT) coefficients for near-lossless compression of Tc-99 m Dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scan images using discrete cosine transformation.

Materials And Methods: Two nuclear medicine (NM) Physicians after reviewing several Tc-99 m DMSA scan images provided 242 Tc-99 m DMSA scan images that had scar. These Digital imaging and communication in medicine (DICOM) images were converted in the Portable Network Graphics (PNG) format.

Utility of Tc-Sulfur Colloid Lymphoscintigraphy and SPECT/CT in Chylothorax and Chylous Ascites.

Purpose: To assess the diagnostic efficacy of Tc-sulfur colloid lymphoscintigraphy in chylothorax and chylous ascites, and the utility of single-photon emission computed tomography-computed tomography (SPECT/CT) in localizing the sites of leaks.

Methods: Data from patients who underwent lymphoscintigraphy for clinical suspicion of chylothorax or chylous ascites were retrospectively analyzed. Biochemical fluid analysis was taken as the reference standard.

The Role of Recipient Thyroid Hormone Supplementation in Primary Graft Dysfunction After Heart Transplantation: A Propensity-Adjusted Analysis.

Objectives: To investigate whether recipient administration of thyroid hormone (liothyronine [T3]) is associated with reduced rates of primary graft dysfunction (PGD) after orthotopic heart transplantation.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Single-center, university hospital.

Utility of F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography in Cardiac Infections.

Diagnosis of cardiac infections, which includes infective endocarditis (IE) and cardiac device infections, despite having a high death rate, is still challenging. Frequently used modalities such as echocardiography, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging cannot confirm the presence of an active infection or extracardiac findings. Taking these things to consideration, newer guidelines have suggested the inclusion of F fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/CT (F FDG PET/CT) in the workup of patients with suspected prosthetic valve IE.

99m-Tc TRODAT Single-Photon Emission Computerized Tomography Scan Image Compression using Singular Value Decomposition.

Introduction: The objective of the study was to compress 99m-Tc TRODAT single-photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) scan image using Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) into an acceptable compressed image and then calculate the compression factor.

Materials And Methods: The SVD of every image from the image dataset of 2256 images (of forty-eight 99m-Tc TRODAT SPECT studies [48 studies X 47 trans-axial images = 2256 trans-axial images]) was computed and after truncating singular values smaller than a threshold, the compressed image was reconstructed. The SVD computation time and percentage compression achieved were calculated for each image.

Inhaled Epoprostenol Compared With Nitric Oxide for Right Ventricular Support After Major Cardiac Surgery.

Background: Right ventricular failure (RVF) is a leading driver of morbidity and death after major cardiac surgery for advanced heart failure, including orthotopic heart transplantation and left ventricular assist device implantation. Inhaled pulmonary-selective vasodilators, such as inhaled epoprostenol (iEPO) and nitric oxide (iNO), are essential therapeutics for the prevention and medical management of postoperative RVF. However, there is limited evidence from clinical trials to guide agent selection despite the significant cost considerations of iNO therapy.

A Carrier Female Manifesting an Unusual X-Linked Retinoschisis Phenotype Associated with the Pathogenic Variant c.266delA, p.(Tyr89LeufsTer37) in , and Skewed X-Inactivation.

X-linked retinoschisis (XLRS) is the most common juvenile macular degeneration in males. Unlike most other X-linked retinal dystrophies, carrier heterozygous females are very rarely reported to show clinical features of the disease. Herein, we describe unusual retinal features in a 2-year-old female infant with family history and genetic testing consistent with XLRS.