Balloon atrioseptostomy for transposition of the great arteries in Europe: characteristics and outcomes.

Introduction And Objectives: Balloon atrial septostomy (BAS) improves oxygenation in neonates with transposition of the great arteries (TGA) and restrictive foramen ovale. Currently, there is a global shortage of dedicated BAS catheters, while new unmarked catheters have recently become available at some European centers. This study aimed to characterize BAS outcomes using the currently available BAS catheters in Europe.

Characterization of the aromatic profile of Ruché wine from Piedmont (Italy) with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and unsupervised machine learning techniques.

Background: The volatile composition of Ruché, a red wine produced from a native grape in Piedmont (Italy), was investigated using headspace-solid phase microextraction (SPME) coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The main volatile compounds of the wine were identified and quantified. Chemometric techniques were applied to identify features and possible clusters among the different samples.

Effect of Rurality on Type of Clinicians Delivering Psychotherapy and Prescribing Antidepressants to Veterans.

Objective: Mental health care is delivered by teams that include social workers, psychologists, nonphysician prescribing clinicians (NPPCs), and physicians. The objective of this study was to determine whether patient rurality has an effect on the types of U.S.

Intrinsic nonlinear geometric phase in SHG from zincblende crystal symmetry media.

We demonstrate that AlGaAs thin films and metasurfaces generate a distinct intrinsic nonlinear geometric phase in their second harmonic signals, differing significantly from previous studies on nonlinear dielectric, plasmonic, or hybrid metasurfaces. Unlike conventional observations, our study reveals that the second harmonic phase remains unaffected by the linear optical response at both pump and harmonic wavelengths, introducing a novel realm of achievable phase functions yet to be explored. Furthermore, we explore the interplay between this intrinsic nonlinear geometric phase and the geometric phase induced by rotations of nanoresonators within metasurface arrangements.

From high- to low-contrast: the role of asymmetries in dielectric gratings supporting bound states in the continuum.

One-dimensional sub-wavelength gratings are versatile photonic platforms supporting diverse resonances, including symmetry-protected bound states in the continuum. However, practical access to these bound modes relies on their quasi-bound form, which necessitates the introduction of perturbations in either geometry or material properties. Despite having a large, finite quality factor, quasi-bound modes retain their characteristically strong field confinement.

Harnessing the Natural Resonances of Time-Varying Dispersive Interfaces.

Space-time modulation of electromagnetic parameters offers novel exciting possibilities for advanced field manipulations. In this study, we explore wave scattering from a time-varying interface characterized by a Lorentz-type dispersion with a steplike temporal variation in its parameters. Our findings reveal a new process: an unconventional frequency generation at the natural resonances of the system.

Quantitative determination by UHPLC-MS/MS of 18 common drugs of abuse and metabolites, including THC and OH-THC, in volumetric dried blood spots: a sustainable method with minimally invasive sampling.

The increased use of drugs of abuse urges forensic toxicologists to create quick, simple, minimally invasive sampling techniques for biological fluids combined with analytical methods assuring accurate results. To this purpose, a method was developed aimed at quantifying 18 drugs of abuse and metabolites in DBS. Validation of the method was conducted by spiking blank whole blood with the analytes on Capitainer® B cards.

The G Protein-Coupled Receptor GPR56 Is an Inhibitory Checkpoint for NK Cell Migration.

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) represent the largest family of surface receptors and are responsible for key physiological functions, including cell growth, neurotransmission, hormone release, and cell migration. The GPCR 56 (GPR56), encoded by ADGRG1, is an adhesion GPCR found on diverse cell types, including neural progenitor cells, melanoma cells, and lymphocytes, such as effector memory T cells, γδ T cells, and NK cells. Using RNA-sequencing and high-resolution flow cytometry, we found that GPR56 mRNA and protein expression increased with NK cell differentiation, reaching its peak in adaptive NK cells.

Development and validation of the UHPLC-MS/MS method for the quantitative determination of 25 PFAS in dried blood spots.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are anthropogenic fluorine-containing compounds largely used in industrial and consumer applications. They tend to bioaccumulate in the human body after intake from various sources in daily life. Following repeated exposure to PFAS, a broad range of adverse health outcomes has been reported.

Influence of a Solid Surface on PNIPAM Microgel Films.

Stimuli-responsive microgels have attracted great interest in recent years as building blocks for fabricating smart surfaces with many technological applications. In particular, PNIPAM microgels are promising candidates for creating thermo-responsive scaffolds to control cell growth and detachment via temperature stimuli. In this framework, understanding the influence of the solid substrate is critical for tailoring microgel coatings to specific applications.

Cardiac rehabilitation in children and adolescents with long QT syndrome: the RYTHMO'FIT pilot study.

Background: To assess the feasibility, acceptability, safety, and short-term benefits of a tailored cardiac rehabilitation program for children and adolescents with long QT syndrome (LQTS).

Methods: Eight participants, aged between 6 and 18, with a positive LQTS genotype and impaired cardiorespiratory fitness, were enrolled in a 12-week centre-based cardiac rehabilitation program. The program included supervised exercise training group sessions (aerobic, resistance, and outdoor activities) and patient education workshops.

Implications of right aortic arch prenatal diagnosis: the multicentric nationwide ARCADE cohort.

Objectives: This study aims to describe the various presentations of the prenatally diagnosed isolated right aortic arch (RAA), that is, without associated congenital heart defect and to evaluate the impact of prenatal diagnosis of isolated RAA in terms of postnatal outcome.

Method: In this multicentric retrospective study, from 2010 to 2019, all live births with a prenatal ultrasound diagnosis of isolated RAA were included, with a 1-year postnatal follow-up. The concordance between the different diagnostic steps (prenatal ultrasound, postnatal ultrasound and postnatal CT scan) was evaluated using Gwet's AC1 coefficient.

Determination of time since deposition of bloodstains through NIR and UV-Vis spectroscopy - A critical comparison.

Time elapsed since bloodstain deposition is a crucial aspect in forensic investigations, where non-destructive spectroscopic methods play a pivotal role. While extensive research has been conducted by UV-Vis spectroscopy, showcasing its utility in specific cases, there is still a paucity of studies based on NIR spectroscopy, which has the potential to overcome the limitations of the UV-Vis-based methods. To compensate for this disequilibrium, the present study aimed to evaluate the NIR applicability for estimating the age of forensic bloodstains and develop a performance comparison with UV-Vis spectroscopy methods.

Detecting novel psychoactive substances around the world.

Purpose Of Review: The worldwide spread of novel psychoactive substances (NPS) in the illicit drug market and their continuous increase in number and type, for the purpose of bypassing controlled substance legislation, represents a continuing challenge for forensic scientists, clinicians and enforcement authorities. We aim to provide information regarding the most urgent harms related to NPS consumption in different world regions and the current state of the art for NPS analysis.

Recent Findings: Unfortunately, the identification of NPS in biological samples is controversial, especially when samples are limited, or the drug is promptly and extensively metabolized.

Nonlinear asymmetric imaging with AlGaAs metasurface.

Nowadays, dielectric metasurfaces are a promising platform in many different research fields such as sensing, lasing, all-optical modulation and nonlinear optics. Among all the different kinds of such thin structures, asymmetric geometries are recently attracting increasing interest. In particular, nonlinear light-matter interaction in metasurfaces constitutes a valid approach for achieving miniaturized control over light.

Enhancing breast cancer screening with urinary biomarkers and Random Forest supervised classification: A comprehensive investigation.

Objectives: Urinary sex hormones are investigated as potential biomarkers for the early detection of breast cancer, aiming to evaluate their relevance and applicability, in combination with supervised machine-learning data analysis, toward the ultimate goal of extensive screening.

Methods: Sex hormones were determined on urine samples collected from 250 post-menopausal women (65 healthy - 185 with breast cancer, recruited among the clinical patients of Candiolo Cancer Institute FPO-IRCCS (Torino, Italy). Two analytical procedures based on UHPLC-MS/HRMS were developed and comprehensively validated to quantify 20 free and conjugated sex hormones from urine samples.

Aerobic physical capacity and health-related quality of life in children with sickle cell disease.

Background: Aerobic fitness is a predictor of cardiovascular health which correlates with health-related quality of life in the general population. The aim is to evaluate the aerobic capacity by cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) in children with sickle cell disease in comparison with healthy matched controls.

Methods: Controlled cross-sectional study.

Early hybrid cardiac rehabilitation in congenital heart disease: the QUALIREHAB trial.

Background And Aims: Cardiopulmonary fitness in congenital heart disease (CHD) decreases faster than in the general population resulting in impaired health-related quality of life (HRQoL). As the standard of care seems insufficient to encourage and maintain fitness, an early hybrid cardiac rehabilitation programme could improve HRQoL in CHD.

Methods: The QUALIREHAB multicentre, randomized, controlled trial evaluated and implemented a 12-week centre- and home-based hybrid cardiac rehabilitation programme, including multidisciplinary care and physical activity sessions.

Nonlinear spin-orbit coupling in optical thin films.

Tunable generation of vortex beams holds relevance in various fields, including communications and sensing. In this paper, we demonstrate the feasibility of nonlinear spin-orbit interactions in thin films of materials with second-order nonlinear susceptibility. Remarkably, the nonlinear tensor can mix the longitudinal and transverse components of the pump field.

Visible proton Bragg curve imaging by colour centre photoluminescence in radiation detectors based on lithium fluoride films on silica.

Passive solid-state radiation detectors, based on the visible photoluminescence (PL) of radiation-induced colour centres in optically transparent lithium fluoride (LiF), polycrystalline thin films are under investigation for proton beam advanced diagnostics. After proton exposure, the latent images stored in LiF as local formations of stable Fand Faggregate defects, are directly read with a fluorescence microscope under illumination in the blue spectral range. Adopting a suitable irradiation geometry, the energy density that protons deposit in the material can be recorded as a spatial distribution of these light-emitting defects, from which a luminous replica of the proton Bragg curve can be thereafter extracted and analysed to reconstruct the proton beam energy spectrum.

Advanced spectroscopic investigation of colour centres in LiF crystals irradiated with monochromatic hard x-rays.

Nominally-pure lithium fluoride (LiF) crystals were irradiated with monochromatic hard x-rays of energy 5, 7, 9 and 12 keV at the METROLOGIE beamline of the SOLEIL synchrotron facility, in order to understand the role of the selected x-ray energy on their visible photoluminescence (PL) response, which is used for high spatial resolution 2D x-ray imaging detectors characterized by a wide dynamic range. At the energies of 7 and 12 keV the irradiations were performed at five different doses corresponding to five uniformly irradiated areas, while at 5 and 9 keV only two irradiations at two different doses were carried out. The doses were planned in a range between 4 and 1.

Method development for the quantification of nine nitazene analogs and brorphine in Dried Blood Spots utilizing liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry.

The detection of nitazenes in biological fluids is increasingly needed as they are repeatedly reported in intoxication and overdose cases. A simple method for the quantification of low levels of nine nitazene analogs and brorphine in Dried Blood Spots (DBS) was developed and validated. 10 μL of spiked whole blood is deposited on a Capitainer®B card and allowed to dry.

Use of T1 mapping in cardiac MRI for the follow-up of Fabry disease in a pediatric population.

Background: Fabry disease (FD) is a rare X-linked lysosomal disorder caused by pathogenic variants in the alpha-galactosidase-A gene (). Life threatening complications in adulthood include chronic kidney failure, strokes and the cardiac involvement which is the leading cause of mortality. Usually, it presents with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, together with arrhythmia and conduction abnormalities.