Fetal aortic valvuloplasty as the first step in a complex therapeutic strategy.

Background: Fetal aortic valvuloplasty (FAV) is proposed to prevent hypoplastic left heart syndrome due to fetal critical aortic stenosis.

Objective: to report our experience on FAV as the first step in a complex therapeutic strategy.

Method: Series of patients with FAV over an 18-year period.

Local Diagnostic Reference Levels for Pediatric Interventional Cardiology Procedures in Argentina.

The aim of this work was to propose a preliminary local diagnostic reference levels (DRL) for pediatric interventional cardiology (PIC) procedures in Argentina, for different ranges of age and weight. This work has been conducted in the framework of the "Optimization of Protection in Pediatric Interventional Radiology in Latin America and the Caribbean" (OPRIPALC) program coordinated by the World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization in cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency to ensuring that radiation exposures of pediatric patients are the minimum necessary during fluoroscopy-guided interventional procedures. The local DRL values presented in this paper by weight group and age group were 7.

2-Arylmelatonin analogues: Probing the 2-phenyl binding pocket of melatonin MT and MT receptors.

In crystal structures of melatonin MT and MT receptors, a lipophilic subpocket has been characterized which accommodates the phenyl ring of the potent agonist 2-phenylmelatonin. This subpocket appears a key structural element to achieve high binding affinity and selectivity for the MT receptor. A series of 2-arylindole ligands was synthesized to probe the requirements for the optimal occupation and interaction with the 2-phenyl binding pocket.

Effects of Levofloxacin, Aztreonam, and Colistin on Enzyme Synthesis by Isolated from Cystic Fibrosis Patients.

(1) Background: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is characterized by chronic pulmonary inflammation and persistent bacterial infections. is among the main opportunistic pathogens causing infections in CF. is able to form a biofilm, decreasing antibiotic permeability.

Erdosteine enhances antibiotic activity against bacteria within biofilm.

Bacterial biofilms form on inert and living surfaces and display high levels of resistance to antibiotics, making it difficult to eradicate biofilm-related infections. Erdosteine, a thiol-based drug used in the treatment of acute and chronic respiratory diseases, has multiple pharmacodynamic properties (mucolytic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant), suggesting that it may have potential in controlling biofilm-related infections. This in vitro study aimed to evaluate the effects of erdosteine in combination with different antibiotics against methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA and MRSA) biofilms.