Bilateral complete ureter duplication presenting with hydronephrosis and spontaneous stone passage in a 25-year-old male: A rare case report.

Ureteric duplication is a rare anomaly in the urinary tract, with an incidence of 0.5% to 3%. Bilateral double ureters are even rarer, occurring in 1 of 500 individuals.

A case report of recurrent primary posterior mediastinal perivascular epithelioid cell tumour compressing the right inferior pulmonary vein, atria, and inferior vena cava.

Background: Perivascular epithelioid cell tumours (PEComas) are rare soft tissue neoplasms that commonly occur in the uterus, skin, and liver and less commonly in the retroperitoneum, colon, and mediastinum.

Case Summary: A 36-year-old male patient with a history of mediastinal PEComa status post resection, essential hypertension, and atrial fibrillation status post appendage ligation currently not on anticoagulation presented with a 1-week history of fevers, chills, productive cough, chest pain, dyspnoea on exertion, loss of appetite, and general weakness. Vital signs, physical exam, laboratory data, electrocardiogram, and chest radiograph were grossly unremarkable.

Total arch replacement using frozen elephant trunk and repair of bilateral subclavian artery aneurysms in a patient with type 2 Loeys-Dietz syndrome.

Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS) is a rare connective tissue disorder. Vessel tortuosity and aneurysms throughout the vasculature are unique to LDS. Aortic root enlargement is ubiquitous, with most patients undergoing root replacement at some point in their lifetime.

A Comprehensive Review on Modification of Titanium Dioxide-Based Catalysts in Advanced Oxidation Processes for Water Treatment.

It has become necessary to develop effective strategies to prevent and reduce water pollution as a result of the increase in dangerous pollutants in water reservoirs. Consequently, there is a need to design new catalyst materials to promote the efficiency of advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) in the field of wastewater treatment plant to ensure the mineralization of trace organic contaminants. A notable approach gaining attention involves the coupling of sulfate radicals-based AOPs to photocatalysis or electrocatalysis processes, aiming to achieve the complete removal of refractory contaminants into water and carbon dioxide.

Does the External Pericardial Lateral Tunnel Fontan Pathway Enlarge to Accommodate Somatic Growth? A Preliminary Analysis.

An ideal Fontan pathway should be capable of adapting to changes in circulatory demands. The external pericardial lateral tunnel Fontan (EPLTF) is constructed of viable, autologous tissue and may be capable of changing in size. We investigated the ability of the EPLTF to enlarge with increasing physiologic demands of somatic growth.

Giant Aneurysm of Left Main Coronary Artery in a Patient With Prior Operation for 4-Valve Endocarditis.

Left main coronary artery aneurysm is an unusual complication of infective endocarditis. Although this type of aneurysm is often asymptomatic, rupture and thrombus formation that result in myocardial infarction are known complications; therefore, prompt recognition and surgical intervention are warranted. This report describes a patient who presented with a giant left main coronary artery aneurysm 3.

Atherosclerotic Coronary Artery Disease in a Younger Adult With Transseptal Anomalous Left Coronary Artery.

We present a case of extensive coronary atherosclerotic disease in a younger patient with an anomalous left coronary artery with transseptal course and show the utility of multimodality evaluation to determine the culprit lesion in patients presenting with this rare association. ().

Extrinsic Circumflex Coronary Artery Compression and Occlusion by Mycotic Aneurysm of Left Aortic Sinus.

• Mycotic aneurysm of the aortic sinus is a rare complication of aortic valve endocarditis. • Mycotic aneurysm of left sinus causing LM compression and circumflex occlusion is shown. • We present TTE and TEE approaches to making the diagnosis of this complex lesion.

Pediatric Surgical Pulmonary Valve Replacement Outcomes After Implementation of a Clinical Pathway.

Background: Standardization of perioperative care can reduce resource utilization while improving patient outcomes. We sought to describe our outcomes after the implementation of a perioperative clinical pathway for pediatric patients undergoing elective surgical pulmonary valve replacement and compare these results to previously published national benchmarks.

Methods: A retrospective single-center descriptive study was conducted of all pediatric patients who underwent surgical pulmonary valve replacement from 2017 through 2020, after the implementation of a clinical pathway.

Tunable TiO-BN-Pd nanofibers by combining electrospinning and atomic layer deposition to enhance photodegradation of acetaminophen.

The demand for fresh and clean water sources is increasing globally, and there is a need to develop novel routes to eliminate micropollutants and other harmful species from water. Photocatalysis is a promising alternative green technology that has shown great performance in the degradation of persistent pollutants. Titanium dioxide is the most used catalyst owing to its attractive physico-chemical properties, but this semiconductor presents limitations in the photocatalysis process due to the high band gap and the fast recombination of the photogenerated carriers.

A case report of right ventricular outflow tract obstruction caused by B-cell lymphoma: a rare presentation in an adult patient with pulmonary atresia.

Background: Right ventricle outflow tract (RVOT) dysfunction is a common long-term complication in adult patients with pulmonary atresia/ventricular septal defect (PA/VSD). Common causes include valve thrombosis, stent fractures, and graft calcification. We present, to the best of our knowledge, the first case of malignant invasion of a Gore-Tex conduit, causing severe right ventricle (RV) failure.

3D Self-Supported Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Nanofiber Electrodes Incorporated Co/CoO Nanoparticles: Application to Dyes Degradation by Electro-Fenton-Based Process.

We developed free-standing nitrogen-doped carbon nanofiber (CNF) electrodes incorporating Co/CoO nanoparticles (NPs) as a new cathode material for removing Acid Orange 7 (AO7; a dye for wool) from wastewater by the heterogeneous electro-Fenton reaction. We produced the free-standing N-doped CNF electrodes by electrospinning a polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and cobalt acetate solution followed by thermal carbonation of the cobalt acetate/PAN nanofibers under a nitrogen atmosphere. We then investigated electro-Fenton-based removal of AO7 from wastewater with the free-standing N-doped-CNFs-Co/CoO electrodes, in the presence or not of Fe ions as a co-catalyst.

Impact of transplant center volume on donor heart offer utilization rates in the United States.

Background: We tested the hypothesis that transplant centers (TCs) with higher volumes have higher donor heart (DH) offer utilization rates.

Methods: Using the Annual Data reports of the US Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network and the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR) we reviewed all adult heart transplant offers between July 1, 2016 and June 29, 2019. Unadjusted donor offer utilization rates and observed to expected (O/E) DH utilization ratios adjusted using the SRTR model were calculated for each TC for all DH offers and for the following sub-categories: DH with left ventricular ejection fraction <60%, DH >40 years, DH >500 miles from TC, "hard-to-place hearts" (defined as those offered to >50 TCs) and DH designated as increased infectious risk.

A Multidisciplinary Approach to Electrical Instability and Cardiogenic Shock in Acute Myocardial Infarction.

New cardiogenic shock classifications allow prompt recognition and management of complications of acute coronary syndrome. A 59-year-old man presented after a delayed left anterior descending coronary artery ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction in Society of Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions stage E cardiogenic shock and ventricular tachycardia storm. He underwent revascularization of the left anterior descending artery, percutaneous left ventricular assist device bridged to permanent assist device placement, epicardial and endocardial ventricular tachycardia ablation, and iatrogenic closure of an atrial septal defect.

Mortality and Reoperation Risk After Bioprosthetic Aortic Valve Replacement in Young Adults With Congenital Heart Disease.

Bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement (bAVR) in patients with congenital heart disease is challenging due to age, size and complexity. Our objective was to assess survival and identify predictors of re-operation. Data were retrospectively collected for 314 patients undergoing bAVR at 8 centers from 2000-2014.

Perioperative Individualized Goal Directed Therapy for Cardiac Surgery: A Historical-Prospective, Comparative Effectiveness Study.

Introduction: Cardiac surgery patients are at increased risk for post-operative complications and prolonged length of stay. Perioperative goal directed therapy (GDT) has demonstrated utility for non-cardiac surgery, however, GDT is not common for cardiac surgery. We initiated a quality improvement (QI) project focusing on the implementation of a GDT protocol, which was applied from the immediate post-bypass period into the intensive care unit (ICU).

Reintervention rates after bioprosthetic pulmonary valve replacement in patients younger than 30 years of age: A multicenter analysis.

Objectives: To assess the difference in time to and predictors of reintervention according to valve type in surgical bioprosthetic pulmonary valve replacement (PVR) in patients younger than 30 years of age from multiple centers.

Methods: Data were retrospectively collected for 1278 patients <30 years of age undergoing PVR at 8 centers between 1996 and 2015.

Results: Mean age at PVR was 19.

Likelihood of Aortic Valve Preservation During Repair of Acute Type A Aortic Dissection.

Background: We sought risk factors for replacement of the aortic valve with or without the root (AVR/root) in the setting of acute type A aortic dissection (ATAD) repair.

Methods: All ATAD repairs at our institution from January 2005 to June 2018 were reviewed. Baseline characteristics were recorded.

Likelihood of Aortic Valve Preservation During Repair of Acute Type A Aortic Dissection.

Background: We sought risk factors for replacement of the aortic valve with or without the root (AVR/root) in the setting of acute type A aortic dissection (ATAD) repair.

Methods: All ATAD repairs at our institution from January 2005 to June 2018 were reviewed. Baseline characteristics were recorded.

Pulmonary Artery Banding for Children With Dilated Cardiomyopathy: US Experience.

Pulmonary artery band placement is a recently described therapeutic strategy for dilated cardiomyopathy with preserved right ventricular function, originally reported from Germany.1 We present the results of the multicenter retrospective study of pulmonary artery band experience in the United States, with comparison to the German experience. Five centers contributed a total 14 patients (median age 5 months, interquartile range 3.

Palladium/Carbon Nanofibers by Combining Atomic Layer Deposition and Electrospinning for Organic Pollutant Degradation.

As organic dyes are a major source of pollution, it is important to develop novel and efficient heterogeneous catalysts with high activity for their degradation. In this work, two innovative techniques, atomic layer deposition and electrospinning, were used to prepare palladium nanoparticles (Pd NPs) supported on carbon nanofibers (CNFs). The sample morphology was investigated using scanning and transmission electron microscopy.

A case report of heart transplant for ischaemic cardiomyopathy from lupus coronary vasculitis.

Background: Coronary vasculitis is a rare, life-threatening complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Case Summary: A 23-year-old woman with SLE presented with typical angina and worsening dyspnoea on exertion. Coronary angiography revealed severe triple vessel disease with a 'string of beads' appearance classic for coronary vasculitis.