Cryopreservation of mammalian cells using protic ionic liquid solutions.

Cryopreservation has facilitated considerable advances in both medical technology and scientific research. However, further developments have been limited by the relatively low number of effective cryoprotective agents. Even after fifty years of research, most protocols rely on the same two toxic agents, i.

The need for novel cryoprotectants and cryopreservation protocols: Insights into the importance of biophysical investigation and cell permeability.

Background: Cryopreservation is a key method of preservation of biological material for both medical treatments and conservation of endangered species. In order to avoid cellular damage, cryopreservation relies on the addition of a suitable cryoprotective agent (CPA). However, the toxicity of CPAs is a serious concern and often requires rapid removal on thawing which is time consuming and expensive.

Interactions of cryoprotective agents with phospholipid membranes - A Langmuir monolayer study.

The influence of four common cryoprotectants (dimethyl sulfoxide, glycerol, ethylene glycol and dimethylformamide) on monolayers of four common phospholipids (DPPC, DOPC, POPC and POPE) have been studied using Langmuir isotherms and monolayer insertion experiments. The cryoprotectant concentrations were chosen to be directly relevant to cryoprotection. We show that DMSO causes an expansion of the DPPC area per lipid (in contrast to previous work at higher concentrations).

Efficacy of triphala extract and chlorhexidine mouth rinse against plaque accumulation and gingival inflammation among female undergraduates: A randomized controlled trial.

Aim: To know the efficacy of Triphala extract and Chlorhexidine mouth rinse against plaque and gingival inflammation.

Materials And Methods: A double blinded parallel arm randomised control trial was done among 60 participants aged 18-24 years. Participants were randomly allotted to three groups with 20 participants in each group of 0.

Findings on Thoracic Computed Tomography Scans and Respiratory Outcomes in Persons with and without Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

Background: Thoracic computed tomography (CT) scans are widely performed in clinical practice, often leading to detection of airway or parenchymal abnormalities in asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic individuals. However, clinical relevance of CT abnormalities is uncertain in the general population.

Methods: We evaluated data from 1361 participants aged ≥40 years from a Canadian prospective cohort comprising 408 healthy never-smokers, 502 healthy ever-smokers, and 451 individuals with spirometric evidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who had thoracic CT scans.

Effectiveness of Peer Group and Conventional Method (Dentist) of Oral Health Education Programme Among 12-15 year Old School Children - A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Introduction: Oral Health Education (OHE) in schools is routinely delivered by the dentist. Another approach which can be cost-effective, easily accessible and equally effective is the trained group of peer students.

Aim: The objective of the present study was to assess and compare the effectiveness of peer-led and conventional method (dentist-led), OHE on oral health status, oral health knowledge, attitude and practices among 12-15 year old government school children in Bengaluru South Zone-I at baseline, 3 months and 6 months.

Comparison of Rates of Coronary Angiography and Combined Testing Procedures in Patients Seen in the Emergency Room With Chest Pain (But No Objective Acute Coronary Syndrome Findings) Having Coronary Computed Tomography Versus Exercise Stress Testing.

Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) appears comparable to standard care, including exercise stress testing (EST), in diagnosing acute coronary syndrome in emergency department (ED) patients with chest pain but may increase downstream testing. The objective of this study was to investigate rates of post-CCTA versus post-EST testing for (1) invasive angiography and (2) all combined cardiac testing. This was a retrospective cohort study performed at 2 urban Canadian EDs involving patients aged up to 65 years with chest pain but no objective ACS findings that were evaluated with CCTA or EST at the physician's discretion.

Sequential Right and Left Ventricular Assessment in Posttetralogy of Fallot Patients with Significant Pulmonary Regurgitation.

Background: The natural history of right ventricular (RV) and left ventricular (LV) size and function among adults with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) repair and hemodynamically significant pulmonary regurgitation (PR) is not known. The main aim of this study was to determine changes in RV and LV size and function over time in an adult population with TOF repair and hemodynamically significant pulmonary regurgitation.

Methods: Forty patients with repaired TOF and hemodynamically significant PR were included.

Comparison of image quality, and diagnostic interpretability of a new volumetric high temporal resolution scanner versus 64-slice MDCT.

We evaluated the performance of a new volume computed tomographic (CT) scanner with regards to image quality and signal homogeneity. Twenty-four subjects were prospectively enrolled. Subjects had prior imaging with rate control.

Dental pain among 10-15 year old children attending oral health promoting schools: A cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Dental pain is a major public health problem and one of the consequences of oral diseases which requires significant adjustments in life management leading to decreased quality of life.

Objective: To assess prevalence of dental pain and its impact on daily life and to explore its relationship with oral health behavior and clinical oral status among 10-15 year old school children attending oral health promoting schools.

Method: This cross sectional study was conducted in 6 schools serving low -middle socio economic strata in Bangalore, India.

Safety and efficiency of outpatient versus emergency department-based coronary CT angiography for evaluation of patients with potential ischemic chest pain.

Background: While coronary CT angiography (coronary CTA) may be comparable to standard care in diagnosing acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in emergency department (ED) chest pain patients, it has traditionally been obtained prior to ED discharge and a strategy of delayed outpatient coronary CTA following an ED visit has not been evaluated.

Objective: To investigate the safety of discharging stable ED patients and obtaining outpatient CCTA.

Methods: At two urban Canadian EDs, patients up to 65 years with chest pain but no findings indicating presence of ACS were further evaluated depending upon time of presentation: (1) ED-based coronary CTA during normal working hours, (2) or outpatient coronary CTA within 72 hours at other times.

Dynamism of the aortic annulus: Effect of diastolic versus systolic CT annular measurements on device selection in transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

Background: Annular dimensions, including cross-sectional area, perimeter and subsequently derived diameters, are subject to dynamic changes throughout the cardiac cycle. There is ongoing controversy as to whether perimeter measurement changes between systole and diastole are too small to impact on valve sizing.

Objectives: To assess both the variability of aortic annular dimensions throughout the cardiac cycle across a range of sub-annular calcification using computed tomography (CT) and the impact of this variability on device size selection for balloon-expandable valves in a large, all-comer multi-center cohort.

The impact of calcium volume and distribution in aortic root injury related to balloon-expandable transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Background: A detailed assessment of calcium within the aortic root may provide important additional information regarding the risk of aortic root injury during transcatheter heart valve replacement (TAVR).

Objective: We sought to delineate the effect of calcium volume and distribution on aortic root injury during TAVR.

Methods: Thirty-three patients experiencing aortic root injury during TAVR with a balloon-expandable valve were compared with a control group of 153 consecutive TAVR patients without aortic root injury (as assessed by post-TAVR multidetector CT).

Absolute leukocyte telomere length in HIV-infected and uninfected individuals: evidence of accelerated cell senescence in HIV-associated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) has extended the longevity of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals. However, this has resulted in greater awareness of age-associated diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Accelerated cellular senescence may be responsible, but its magnitude as measured by leukocyte telomere length is unknown and its relationship to HIV-associated COPD has not yet been established.

Diagnostic accuracy and discrimination of ischemia by fractional flow reserve CT using a clinical use rule: results from the Determination of Fractional Flow Reserve by Anatomic Computed Tomographic Angiography study.

Background: Fractional flow reserve (FFR) is the gold standard for determining lesion-specific ischemia. Computed FFRCT derived from coronary CT angiography (coronary CTA) correlates well with invasive FFR and accurately differentiates between ischemia-producing and nonischemic lesions. The diagnostic performance of FFRCT when applied in a clinically relevant way to all vessels ≥ 2 mm in diameter stratified by sex and age has not been previously examined.

Right Ventricular Assessment in Adult Congenital Heart Disease Patients with Right Ventricle-to-Pulmonary Artery Conduits.

Background: There is little data on right ventricular (RV) remodeling patterns in complex congenital heart disease (CHD) patients with right ventricle to pulmonary artery (PA) conduits, and novel RV imaging modalities have not been explored in this population. Knowledge of the RV remodeling process is an important first step to future understanding and tracking of the RV response to pressure and volume overload in this diverse population. Three-dimensional knowledge-based reconstruction (3DKBR) derived from two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (TTE-3DKBR) is a novel approach to RV assessment.

Reduced iodine load with CT coronary angiography using dual-energy imaging: a prospective randomized trial compared with standard coronary CT angiography.

Background: There is concern regarding the administration of iodinated contrast to patients with impaired renal function because of the increased risk of contrast-induced nephropathy.

Objective: Evaluate image quality and feasibility of a protocol with a reduced volume of iodinated contrast and utilization of dual-energy coronary CT angiography (DECT) vs a standard iodinated contrast volume coronary CT angiography protocol (SCCTA).

Methods: A total of 102 consecutive patients were randomized to SCCTA (n = 53) or DECT with rapid kVp switching (n = 49).

Recent advances in thoracic x-ray computed tomography for pulmonary imaging.

The present article reviews recent advances in pulmonary computed tomography (CT) imaging, focusing on the application of dual-energy CT and the use of iterative reconstruction. Dual-energy CT has proven to be useful in the characterization of pulmonary blood pool in the setting of pulmonary embolism, characterization of diffuse lung parenchymal diseases, evaluation of thoracic malignancies and in imaging of lung ventilation using inhaled xenon. The benefits of iterative reconstruction have been largely derived from reduction of image noise compared with filtered backprojection reconstructions which, in turn, enables the use of lower radiation dose CT acquisition protocols without sacrificing image quality.

The determinants of poor respiratory health status in adults living with human immunodeficiency virus infection.

The increased longevity afforded by combination antiretroviral therapy in developed countries has led to an increased concern regarding senescence-related diseases in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Previous epidemiologic analyses have demonstrated an increased risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, as well as a significant burden of respiratory symptoms in HIV-infected patients. We performed the St.

Caseous calcification of the mitral annulus.

A 61-year-old asymptomatic woman was referred for echocardiography to evaluate recently detected systolic murmur. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed an echodense obstructive mass in the left ventricular outflow tract of unclear origin. Subsequent transesophageal echo suggested an intracardiac calcified tumor and recommended surgical excision.

Underexpansion and ad hoc post-dilation in selected patients undergoing balloon-expandable transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Objectives: This study sought to assess the clinical outcomes and hemodynamic performance associated with a strategy of underexpanding balloon-expandable transcatheter heart valves (THV) when excessive oversizing is a concern.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement depends on the selection of an optimally sized THV. An undersized THV may lead to paravalvular regurgitation, whereas excessive oversizing may lead to annular injury.

Anatomical and procedural features associated with aortic root rupture during balloon-expandable transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Background: Aortic root rupture is a major concern with balloon-expandable transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). We sought to identify predictors of aortic root rupture during balloon-expandable TAVR by using multidetector computed tomography.

Methods And Results: Thirty-one consecutive patients who experienced left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT)/annular/aortic contained/noncontained rupture during TAVR were collected from 16 centers.

The impact of integration of a multidetector computed tomography annulus area sizing algorithm on outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve replacement: a prospective, multicenter, controlled trial.

Objectives: This study prospectively investigated the impact of integration of a multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) annular area sizing algorithm on transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) outcomes.

Background: Appreciation of the 3-dimensional, noncircular geometry of the aortic annulus is important for transcatheter heart valve (THV) sizing.

Methods: Patients being evaluated for TAVR in 4 centers underwent pre-procedural MDCT.