Short-term air pollution and greenness exposures on oxidative stress in urban and peri-urban residents in Beijing: A part of AIRLESS study.

Background: Exposure to air pollution has been associated with increased risks of cardiopulmonary diseases, cancer, and mortality, whereas residing near green spaces may reduce the risks. However, limited research explores their combined effect on oxidative stress.

Methods: A total of 251 participants with multi-time measurements were included in the longitudinal-designed study.

Automatic segmentation of the great arteries for computational hemodynamic assessment.

Background: Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is increasingly used for the assessment of blood flow conditions in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD). This requires patient-specific anatomy, typically obtained from segmented 3D cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) images. However, segmentation is time-consuming and requires expert input.

Difference in ambient-personal exposure to PM and its inflammatory effect in local residents in urban and peri-urban Beijing, China: results of the AIRLESS project.

Measurement of ambient fine particulate matter (PM) is often used as a proxy of personal exposure in epidemiological studies. However, the difference between personal and ambient exposure, and whether it biases the estimates of health effects remain unknown. Based on an epidemiological study (AIRLESS) and simultaneously launched intensive monitoring campaigns (APHH), we quantified and compared the personal and ambient exposure to PM and the related health impact among residents in Beijing, China.

Mobility of arsenic, chromium and copper arising from soil application of stabilised aggregates made from contaminated wood ash.

Stabilized cementitious aggregates AG were produced from wood ashes containing ∼10,000 mg kg As, Cr and Cu, then amended to two agricultural pasture soils. Metal(loid) leaching (column tests), mobility (pore water extracts) and uptake to ryegrass was determined, comparing raw ashes with aggregates. Risk modeling was applied to selected data to inform wider discussion of the experimental results.

Multiparametric mapping in post-mortem perinatal MRI: a feasibility study.

Objectives: To demonstrate feasibility of a 3 T multiparametric mapping (MPM) quantitative pipeline for perinatal post-mortem MR (PMMR) imaging.

Methods: Whole body quantitative PMMR imaging was acquired in four cases, mean gestational age 34 weeks, range (29-38 weeks) on a 3 T Siemens Prisma scanner. A multicontrast protocol yielded proton density, T and magnetic transfer (MT) weighted multi-echo images obtained from variable flip angle (FA) 3D fast low angle single-shot (FLASH) acquisitions, radiofrequency transmit field map and one B field map alongside four MT weighted acquisitions with saturation pulses of 180, 220, 260 and 300 degrees were acquired, all at 1 mm isotropic resolution.

Is traditional perinatal autopsy needed after detailed fetal ultrasound and post-mortem MRI?

Objective: To determine the additional yield from autopsy following prenatal ultrasound and post-mortem magnetic resonance imaging (PMMR) for structural abnormalities.

Method: PMMR was performed on consecutive fetuses over a 6-year period. Prenatal ultrasound and PMMR findings were categorised as concordant, partially concordant or discordant findings.

Learning effect on perinatal post-mortem magnetic resonance imaging reporting: single reporter diagnostic accuracy of 200 cases.

Objective: The objective of the study is to compare diagnostic accuracy of perinatal post-mortem magnetic resonance (PMMR) imaging against conventional autopsy, when reported by a single-blinded observer for all organ systems following a period of initial experience.

Methods: We compared pre-autopsy PMMR with conventional autopsy for the detection of (1) major pathological abnormalities related to the cause of death and (2) all diagnostic findings in five different body organ systems. PMMR was reported blinded to autopsy findings.

Can finite element models of ballooning procedures yield mechanical response of the cardiovascular site to overexpansion?

Patient-specific numerical models could aid the decision-making process for percutaneous valve selection; in order to be fully informative, they should include patient-specific data of both anatomy and mechanics of the implantation site. This information can be derived from routine clinical imaging during the cardiac cycle, but data on the implantation site mechanical response to device expansion are not routinely available. We aim to derive the implantation site response to overexpansion by monitoring pressure/dimensional changes during balloon sizing procedures and by applying a reverse engineering approach using a validated computational balloon model.

Numerical model of a valvuloplasty balloon: in vitro validation in a rapid-prototyped phantom.

Background: Patient-specific simulations can provide insight into the mechanics of cardiovascular procedures. Amongst cardiovascular devices, non-compliant balloons are used in several minimally invasive procedures, such as balloon aortic valvuloplasty. Although these balloons are often included in the computer simulations of these procedures, validation of the balloon behaviour is often lacking.

Perinatal and paediatric post-mortem magnetic resonance imaging (PMMR): sequences and technique.

As post-mortem MRI (PMMR) becomes more widely used for investigation following perinatal and paediatric deaths, the best possible images should be acquired. In this article, we review the most widely used published PMMR sequences, together with outlining our acquisition protocol and sequence parameters for foetal, perinatal and paediatric PMMR. We give examples of both normal and abnormal appearances, so that the reader can understand the logic behind each acquisition step before interpretation, as a useful day-to-day reference guide to performing PMMR.

Integrating modelling and smart sensors for environmental and human health.

Sensors are becoming ubiquitous in everyday life, generating data at an unprecedented rate and scale. However, models that assess impacts of human activities on environmental and human health, have typically been developed in contexts where data scarcity is the norm. Models are essential tools to understand processes, identify relationships, associations and causality, formalize stakeholder mental models, and to quantify the effects of prevention and interventions.

Comparison of diagnostic performance for perinatal and paediatric post-mortem imaging: CT versus MRI.

Objectives: To compare the diagnostic yield of whole-body post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT) imaging to post-mortem magnetic resonance (PMMR) imaging in a prospective study of fetuses and children.

Methods: We compared PMCT and PMMR to conventional autopsy as the gold standard for the detection of (a) major pathological abnormalities related to the cause of death and (b) all diagnostic findings in five different body organ systems.

Results: Eighty two cases (53 fetuses and 29 children) underwent PMCT and PMMR prior to autopsy, at which 55 major abnormalities were identified.

Diffusion-weighted perinatal postmortem magnetic resonance imaging as a marker of postmortem interval.

Objective: To evaluate perinatal body organ apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values at postmortem magnetic resonance imaging (PMMR) in order to evaluate postmortem changes.

Methods: Postmortem diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) of the thorax and abdomen were performed with diffusion gradient values b = 0, 500, and 1000 s/mm(2) on 15 foetal and childhood cases (mean 33.3 ± 7.

Diagnostic accuracy of post-mortem MRI for thoracic abnormalities in fetuses and children.

Objectives: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of post-mortem magnetic resonance imaging (PMMR) specifically for non-cardiac thoracic pathology in fetuses and children, compared with conventional autopsy.

Methods: Institutional ethics approval and parental consent was obtained. A total of 400 unselected fetuses and children underwent PMMR before conventional autopsy, reported blinded to the other dataset.

Diagnostic accuracy of postmortem MRI for musculoskeletal abnormalities in fetuses and children.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of postmortem magnetic resonance (PMMR) imaging specifically for musculoskeletal pathology in fetuses and children, compared with conventional autopsy, with radiographic and histopathology assessment.

Methods: Institutional ethics approval and parental consent was obtained. A total of 400 cases underwent PMMR using a 1.

Post-mortem MRI versus conventional autopsy in fetuses and children: a prospective validation study.

Background: Post-mortem MRI is a potential diagnostic alternative to conventional autopsy, but few large prospective studies have compared its accuracy with that of conventional autopsy. We assessed the accuracy of whole-body, post-mortem MRI for detection of major pathological lesions associated with death in a prospective cohort of fetuses and children.

Methods: In this prospective validation study, we did pre-autopsy, post-mortem, whole-body MRI at 1·5 T in an unselected population of fetuses (≤24 weeks' or >24 weeks' gestation) and children (aged <16 years) at two UK centres in London between March 1, 2007 and Sept 30, 2011.

Molecular composition of boreal forest aerosol from Hyytiälä, Finland, using ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry.

Organic compounds are important constituents of fine particulate matter (PM) in the troposphere. In this study, we applied direct infusion nanoelectrospray (nanoESI) ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry (UHR-MS) and liquid chromatography LC/ESI-UHR-MS for the analysis of the organic fraction of PM1 aerosol samples collected over a two week period at a boreal forest site (Hyytiälä), southern Finland. Elemental formulas (460-730 in total) were identified with nanoESI-UHR-MS in the negative ionization mode and attributed to organic compounds with a molecular weight below 400.

Effect of storage and cooking on beta-carotene isomers in carrots ( Daucus carota L. cv. 'Stefano').

Carrots are one of the highest dietary sources of beta-carotene and are naturally high in the (all-E)-beta-carotene isomer, which has higher bioavailability, provitamin A activity, and antioxidant capacity compared to Z (cis) isomers. The objectives of the present study were to investigate the effects of storage temperature, time, and cooking (boiling for 15 min) on the levels of carotene isomers in 'Stefano' carrots. Storing carrots at either 4 degrees C to simulate long-term storage or 20 degrees C to simulate marketing practices resulted in increases in (all-E)-beta-carotene of 20.

Class targeted metabolomics: ESI ion trap screening methods for glucosinolates based on MSn fragmentation.

Glucosinolates are naturally occurring anionic secondary plant metabolites incorporating a thioglucosidic link to the carbon of a sulphonated oxime. There are a large number of naturally occurring glucosinolates and they are found in relatively large quantities in many plant species within the family Crucifereae. These metabolites are of interest for both their anticancer and flavour properties and in the study of nitrogen and sulphur metabolism in model plants such as Arabidopsis.

Physiological consequences of percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation: the different behaviour of volume- and pressure-overloaded ventricles.

Aims: To investigate the early clinical and physiological consequences of relieving chronic right ventricular (RV) volume overload with percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation (PPVI).

Methods And Results: We selected 17 patients (age 21.2 +/- 8.

Magnetic resonance imaging protocols for paediatric neuroradiology.

Increasingly, radiologists are encouraged to have protocols for all imaging studies and to include imaging guidelines in care pathways set up by the referring clinicians. This is particularly advantageous in MRI where magnet time is limited and a radiologist's review of each patient's images often results in additional sequences and longer scanning times without the advantage of improvement in diagnostic ability. The difficulties of imaging small children and the challenges presented to the radiologist as the brain develops are discussed.

Characterization of flavonol conjugates in immature leaves of pak choi [Brassica rapa L. Ssp. chinensis L. (Hanelt.)] by HPLC-DAD and LC-MS/MS.

The flavonoid composition of immature leaves of pak choi [Brassica rapa L. ssp. chinensis L.

Physiological and clinical consequences of relief of right ventricular outflow tract obstruction late after repair of congenital heart defects.

Background: Right ventricular outflow tract obstruction (RVOTO) is a common problem after repair of congenital heart disease. Percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation (PPVI) can treat this condition without consequent pulmonary regurgitation or cardiopulmonary bypass. Our aim was to investigate the clinical and physiological response to relieving RVOTO.