Emerging Trends in the Integration of Smart Sensor Technologies in Structural Health Monitoring: A Contemporary Perspective.

In recent years, civil engineering has increasingly embraced communication tools for automation, with sensors playing a pivotal role, especially in structural health monitoring (SHM). These sensors enable precise data acquisition, measuring parameters like force, displacement, and temperature and transmit data for timely interventions to prevent failures. This approach reduces reliance on manual inspections, offering more accurate outcomes.

Endovascular thrombectomy vs best medical management for late presentation acute ischaemic stroke with large vessel occlusion without CT perfusion or MR imaging selection: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The efficacy and safety of endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) beyond 6 hours from stroke onset for patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO) selected without CT perfusion(CTP) or MR imaging(MRI) is undetermined. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the current literature comparing outcomes for late presenting patients with LVO treated by best medical management (BMM) with those selected for EVT based only on non-contrast CT(NCCT)/CT angiography(CTA) (without CTP or MRI).

Methods: PRISMA guidelines were employed.

Urgent Direct Access to Diagnostic Services for General Practitioners: Bridging the Gap in Cancer Diagnosis.

Urgent direct access to diagnostic services for general practitioners (GPs) is a new pathway to capture any cancer diagnoses that may have been missed due to vague symptom presentations. Hence, GPs should look out for the key symptoms mentioned by NHS England that should prompt urgent direct access referrals for chest X-ray (CXR), computed tomography (CT) chest, MRI brain, ultrasound (US) abdomen and pelvis, and CT abdomen and pelvis. By implementing this approach, we can significantly reduce the time to diagnosis, while minimizing the number of visits to GP and specialist appointments prior to initiating investigations.

Outcomes in acute carotid-related stroke eligible for mechanical reperfusion: SAFEGUARD-STROKE Registry.

Background: Carotid-related strokes (CRS) are largely unresponsive to intravenous thrombolysis and are often large and disabling. Little is known about contemporary CRS referral pathways and proportion of eligible patients who receive emergency mechanical reperfusion (EMR).

Methods: Referral pathways, serial imaging, treatment data, and neurologic outcomes were evaluated in consecutive CRS patients presenting over 18 months in catchment area of a major carotid disease referral center with proximal-protected CAS expertise, on-site neurology, and stroke thrombectomy capability (Acute Stroke of CArotid Artery Bifurcation Origin Treated With Use oF the MicronEt-covered CGUARD Stent - SAFEGUARD-STROKE Registry; companion to SAFEGUARD-STROKE Study NCT05195658).

Mobility of Zn and Cu in Bentonites: Implications for Environmental Remediation.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the mobility of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) and their impact on the properties of bentonites and unfrozen water content. Limited research in this area necessitates further analysis to prevent the negative effects of metal interactions on bentonite effectiveness. Tests involved American (SWy-3, Stx-1b) and Slovak (BSvk) bentonite samples with Zn or Cu ion exchange.

Potentially toxic elements (PTEs) and ecological risk at waste disposal sites: An analysis of sanitary landfills.

This study presents an analysis of soil contamination caused by Ni, Zn, Cd, Cu, and Pb at municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills, with a focus on ecological risk assessment. The approach aims to assess how different landfill practices and environmental conditions affect soil contamination with potentially toxic elements (PTEs) and associated environmental risks. Soil samples were collected from MSW landfills in Poland and the Czech Republic.

A comprehensive investigation of geoenvironmental pollution and health effects from municipal solid waste landfills.

This study investigates human health risks associated with heavy metals (HMs) occurrence in municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills. For testing of selected MSW landfills steps were involved, including site characterization, soil sampling and chemical testing, statistical analysis, as well as health risk assessment, carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic effects. For the Polish landfill (Radiowo) the average HMs concentrations were found in the following order: Zn (52.

Can Short Tau Inversion Recovery (STIR) Imaging Be Used as a Stand-Alone Sequence To Assess a Perianal Fistulous Tract on MRI? A Retrospective Cohort Study Comparing STIR and T1-Post Contrast Imaging.

Introduction: Perianal fistulas demand precise preoperative assessment for optimal surgical outcomes. MRI, using Short Tau Inversion Recovery (STIR) and T1-post contrast sequences, plays a crucial role in this evaluation.This retrospective cohort study compared STIR imaging's diagnostic efficacy with T1-post contrast sequences in identifying perianal fistulous tracts.

Safety and efficacy of adjunctive intra-arterial antithrombotic therapy during endovascular thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Half of patients who achieve successful recanalization following endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) for acute ischemic stroke experience poor functional outcome. We aim to investigate whether the use of adjunctive intra-arterial antithrombotic therapy (AAT) during EVT is safe and efficacious compared with standard therapy (ST) of EVT with or without prior intravenous thrombolysis.

Methods: Electronic databases were searched (PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library) from 2010 until October 2023.

Spinal medial branch nerve root block (MBNB) intervention compared to standard care-vertebroplasty (VP) for the treatment of painful osteoporotic vertebral fractures in frail, older hospitalised patients: a feasibility study.

Unlabelled: Our study aimed to assess the feasibility outcomes comparing spinal medial branch nerve root block intervention to standard care vertebroplasty for the treatment of painful osteoporotic vertebral fractures in frail, hospitalised older patients. We found the study to be feasible and now propose a clinical effectiveness, cost effectiveness and safety evaluation.

Introduction: Vertebroplasty (VP) is a key-hole procedure involving injection of bone cement into a fractured vertebral body, to reduce pain and increase vertebral body stability, although it is associated with a small risk of complications, particularly in frail, older hospitalised patients.

Endovascular Popliteal Artery Aneurysm Repair Using an "Off-Label" Abdominal Endograft Limb-Module with Nitinol-Ring Structure: A Single Centre Experience.

Purpose: To evaluate endovascular popliteal artery aneurysm repair using a an "off-label" abdominal endograft limb-module with nitinol-ring structure.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective observational study of 14 popliteal artery aneurysms in 12 male patients (mean age 76 years and median ASA grade 3) treated electively using the Anaconda™ endograft limb (Terumo Aortic) at a single teaching hospital. Eight limbs were treated percutaneously and 6 limbs required surgical arterial exposure.

Stroke risk management in carotid atherosclerotic disease: A Clinical Consensus Statement of the ESC Council on Stroke and the ESC Working Group on Aorta and Peripheral Vascular Diseases.

Carotid atherosclerotic disease continues to be an important cause of stroke, often disabling or fatal. Such strokes could be largely prevented through optimal medical therapy and carotid revascularization. Advancements in discovery research and imaging along with evidence from recent pharmacology and interventional clinical trials and registries and the progress in acute stroke management have markedly expanded knowledge base for clinical decisions in carotid stenosis.

Antiplatelet Therapy in Neurointervention.

The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the use of antiplatelet medication in neurointervention, with a focus on the clinical indications for antiplatelet use in both preventing and reducing platelet aggregation. This review will cover current antiplatelet medications, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics. We will provide an overview of different endovascular devices and discuss the antiplatelet regimes in neurointervention, highlighting gaps in evidence and scope for future studies.

Recent Advances in Locoregional Therapy of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is responsible for 90% of primary hepatic cancer cases, and its incidence with associated morbidity and mortality is growing worldwide. In recent decades, there has been a revolution in HCC treatment. There are three main types of locoregional therapy: radiofrequency ablation, transarterial chemoembolisation, and transarterial radioembolisation.

Systematic review and meta-analysis investigating nicotine, cotinine and carbon monoxide exposures in people who both smoke and use nicotine replacement therapy.

Aims: To determine effects of concurrent smoking and nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) use on reported heaviness of smoking, nicotine (cotinine) body fluid and exhaled air carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations.

Methods: Systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs, which test interventions permitting concurrent NRT use and smoking and comparing, within participants, outcomes when smoking with those when smoking and using NRT concurrently. Measurements included reported number of cigarettes smoked per day (CPD), body fluid cotinine and expired air CO concentrations.

Closing the loop: A case study on pathways for promoting sustainable waste management on university campuses.

The implementation of circular economy (CE) strategies has facilitated a comprehensive approach to waste management (WM) in university campuses. Composting food waste (FW) and biomass can mitigate negative environmental impacts and be part of a closed-loop economy. The compost can be used as a fertilizer, thereby closing the waste cycle.

Effect of proximal blood flow arrest during endovascular thrombectomy (ProFATE): Study protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial.

Background: Observational studies have demonstrated improved outcomes with the adjunctive use of balloon guide catheters (BGC) during endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) for anterior circulation acute ischaemic stroke (AIS). However, the lack of high-level evidence and global practice heterogeneity justifies a randomised controlled trial (RCT) to investigate the effect of transient proximal blood flow arrest on the procedural and clinical outcomes of patients with AIS following EVT.

Hypothesis: Proximal blood flow arrest in the cervical internal carotid artery during EVT for proximal large vessel occlusion is superior to no flow arrest in achieving complete vessel recanalisation.