Structure-Optical Properties Relationships in Cobalt-Based Purple Pigments Used by Robert Delaunay.

Following the industrial revolution and the modernization of chemistry, purple became one of the most popular colors in the palettes of late 19th- to 20th-century painters. Among them, Robert Delaunay (1885-1941) was one of the key artists of the avant-garde movement in France in the early 20th century. Although widely used in modern and contemporary paintings, inorganic purple pigments of the cobalt phosphate and cobalt arsenate families have been little studied chemically until now.

Does performing cardiac surgery after hours impact postoperative outcomes? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: There has been concern regarding the safety of cardiac surgical intervention during off-hours. Sleep deprivation, resource limitations, and an increased case urgency have been postulated to increase off-hours surgical risk, although outcomes are inconsistent in the existing literature. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we review the literature comparing patients undergoing cardiac surgery during on and off-hours.

Multi-Scale X-ray Imaging of the Pigment Discoloration Processes Triggered by Chlorine Compounds in the Upper Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi.

In this paper, the chromatic alteration of various types of paints, present on mural painting fragments derived from the vaults of The Upper Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi in Italy (12th-13th century), is studied using synchrotron radiation. Six painted mural fragments, several square centimeters in size, were available for analysis, originating from the ceiling paintings attributed to Cimabue and Giotto; they correspond to originally white, blue/green, and brown/yellow/orange areas showing discoloration. As well as collecting macroscopic X-ray fluorescence and diffraction maps from the entire fragments in the laboratory and at the SOLEIL synchrotron, corresponding paint cross-sections were also analyzed using microscopic X-ray fluorescence and powder diffraction mapping at the PETRA-III synchrotron.

Quantifying the immune response to a tissue-engineered porcine extracellular matrix.

Structural valvular deterioration of xenogenic heart valve replacements is thought to be due to a chronic immune response. We sought to engineer porcine extracellular matrix that elicits minimal inflammatory immune response. Whole blood, bone marrow and pericardium were collected from patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of coronary artery disease and revascularization in lung transplant patients.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is common in candidates for lung transplantation (LTx) and has historically been considered a relative contraindication to transplantation. We look to review the outcomes of LTx in patients with CAD and determine the optimum revascularization strategy in LTx candidates. PubMed, Medline and Web of Science were systematically searched by three authors for articles comparing the outcomes of LTx in patients with CAD and receiving coronary revascularization.

Coronary Artery Revascularization in Heart Transplant Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) is the primary cause of late mortality after heart transplantation. We look to provide a comprehensive review of contemporary revascularization strategies in CAV.

Methods: PubMed and Web of Science were systematically searched by 3 authors.

Novel optical photothermal infrared (O-PTIR) spectroscopy for the noninvasive characterization of heritage glass-metal objects.

Optical photothermal infrared (O-PTIR) is a recently developed molecular spectroscopy technique that allows to noninvasively obtain chemical information on organic and inorganic samples at a submicrometric scale. The high spatial resolution (≈450 nm), lack of sample preparation, and comparability of the spectral results to traditional Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy make it a promising candidate for the analysis of cultural heritage. In this work, the potential of O-PTIR for the noninvasive characterization of small heritage objects (few cubic centimeters) is demonstrated on a series of degraded 16th century brass and glass decorative elements.

Recellularization of xenograft heart valves reduces the xenoreactive immune response in an in vivo rat model.

Objectives: Our aim was to address the role of autologous mesenchymal stem cell recellularization of xenogenic valves on the activation of the xenoreactive immune response in an in vivo rat model.

Methods: Explanted aortic valve constructs from female Hartley guinea pigs were procured and decellularized, followed by recellularization with autologous Sprague-Dawley rat mesenchymal stem cells. Aortic valve xenografts were then implanted into the infrarenal aorta of recipient rats.

Removal of a Past Varnish Treatment from a 19th-Century Belgian Wall Painting by Means of a Solvent-Loaded Double Network Hydrogel.

Polymeric materials have been used by painting conservator-restorers as consolidants and/or varnishes for wall paintings. The application of these materials is carried out when confronting loose paint layers or as a protective coating. However, these materials deteriorate and cause physiochemical alterations to the treated surface.

Progressive Dyspnea With Recurrent Pneumothoraces.

A 34-year-old previously healthy man of Korean descent (height, 174 cm; weight, 47.4 kg) demonstrated dyspnea with cough and chest tightness. The patient had no relevant occupational exposures and no history of illicit drug or tobacco use.

Association between preoperative frailty and outcomes among adults undergoing cardiac surgery: a prospective cohort study.

Background: The identification of frailty before complex and invasive procedures may have relevance for prognostic and recovery purposes, to optimally inform patients, caregivers and clinicians about perioperative risk and postoperative care needs. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of frailty and describe the associated clinical course and outcomes of patients referred for nonemergent cardiac surgery.

Methods: A prospective cohort of patients aged 50 years and older referred for nonemergent cardiac surgery in Alberta, Canada, from November 2011 to March 2014 were screened preoperatively for frailty, defined as a Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) score of 5 or greater.

Role of preoperative intravenous iron therapy to correct anemia before major surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Preoperative anemia is a common comorbidity that often necessitates allogeneic blood transfusion (ABT). As there is a risk associated with blood transfusions, preoperative intravenous iron (IV) has been proposed to increase the hemoglobin to reduce perioperative transfusion; however, randomized controlled trials (RCT) investigating this efficacy for IV iron are small, limited, and inconclusive. Consequently, a meta-analysis that pools these studies may provide new and clinically useful information.

The Impact of Preoperative Frailty on the Clinical and Cost Outcomes of Adult Cardiac Surgery in Alberta, Canada: A Cohort Study.

Background: There is limited information about the impact of frailty on public payer costs in cardiac surgery. This study aimed to determine quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) and costs associated with preoperative frailty in patients referred for cardiac surgery.

Methods: We retrospectively compared costs of frailty in a cohort of 529 patients aged ≥ 50 years who were referred for nonemergent cardiac surgery in Alberta.

Association between levosimendan, postoperative AKI, and mortality in cardiac surgery: Insights from the LEVO-CTS trial.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the association between levosimendan treatment and acute kidney injury (AKI) as well as assess the clinical sequelae of AKI in cardiac surgery patients with depressed left ventricular function (ejection fraction <35%).

Methods: Patients in the LEVO-CTS trial undergoing on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), valve, or CABG/valve surgery were stratified by occurrence and severity of postoperative AKI using the AKIN classification. The association between levosimendan infusion and AKI was modeled using multivariable regression.

Insights into the composition of ancient Egyptian red and black inks on papyri achieved by synchrotron-based microanalyses.

A hitherto unknown composition is highlighted in the red and black inks preserved on ancient Egyptian papyri from the Roman period (circa 100 to 200 CE). Synchrotron-based macro-X-ray fluorescence (XRF) mapping brings to light the presence of iron (Fe) and lead (Pb) compounds in the majority of the red inks inscribed on 12 papyrus fragments from the Tebtunis temple library. The iron-based compounds in the inks can be assigned to ocher, notably due to the colocalization of Fe with aluminum, and the detection of hematite (FeO) by micro-X-ray diffraction.

Azithromycin prophylaxis after lung transplantation is associated with improved overall survival.

Background: Azithromycin prophylaxis (AP) in lung transplant recipients has been shown to reduce the composite end-point of death or chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) onset but without a clear effect on overall survival. Our program began using AP in 2010. We sought to evaluate the association between AP and survival and the risk of CLAD and baseline lung allograft dysfunction (BLAD).

Effects of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation on Frailty and Quality of Life.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is an effective alternative to surgical valve replacement in high-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis. Although measures of frailty have been used to attempt to predict outcomes in this population, few studies have demonstrated changes in these measures.

Methods: We performed a prospective, observational study of 171 patients undergoing TAVI, of whom 44 had maximal follow-up of 1 month and 50 had maximal follow-up of 1 year.

Costs and consequences of acute kidney injury after cardiac surgery: A cohort study.

Objectives: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common after cardiac surgery. We quantified the mortality and costs of varying degrees of AKI using a population-based cohort in Alberta, Canada.

Methods: A cohort of patients undergoing cardiac surgery from 2004 to 2009 was assembled from linked Alberta administrative databases.

Success Begins With Failure: An Alternative Approach in Transfemoral Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Using an Antegrade Wire Crossing Technique.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement has transitioned from an experimental procedure to an important alternative therapy for patients with symptomatic aortic stenosis and high surgical risk. We present a case outlining an approach to deal with the issue of "failure to cross" the aortic valve in transcatheter aortic valve replacement from the transfemoral retrograde approach.

Concurrent Social Communication Predictors of Expressive Language in Minimally Verbal Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Numerous studies have investigated the predictors of language in pre-verbal toddlers and verbally fluent children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The present study investigated the concurrent relations among expressive language and a set of empirically-selected social communication variables-joint attention, imitation, and play-in a unique sample of 37 minimally verbal (MV) children and adolescents with ASD. Results revealed that imitation and play were significantly correlated with expressive language, even when controlling for non-verbal IQ, but joint attention was not.

Do minimally verbal and verbally fluent individuals with autism spectrum disorder differ in their viewing patterns of dynamic social scenes?

Attending preferentially to social information in the environment is important in developing socio-communicative skills and language. Research using eye tracking to explore how individuals with autism spectrum disorder deploy visual attention has increased exponentially in the past decade; however, studies have typically not included minimally verbal participants. In this study, we compared 37 minimally verbal children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder with 34 age-matched verbally fluent individuals with autism spectrum disorder in how they viewed a brief video in which a young woman, surrounded by interesting objects, engages the viewer, and later reacts with expected or unexpected gaze-shifts toward the objects.

SUPERIOR SVG: no touch saphenous harvesting to improve patency following coronary bypass grafting (a multi-Centre randomized control trial, NCT01047449).

Background: Single centre studies support No Touch (NT) saphenous vein graft (SVG) harvesting technique. The primary objective of the SUPERIOR SVG study was to determine whether NT versus conventional (CON) SVG harvesting was associated with improved SVG patency 1 year after coronary artery bypass grafting surgery (CABG).

Methods: Adults undergoing isolated CABG with at least 1 SVG were eligible.