Correlation of Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) with Invasive Arterial Pressure Monitoring during Aortic Coarctation Surgery in Pediatric Patients.

Aortic coarctation surgery in pediatric patients requires the placement of two arterial cannulas to monitor pressure gradients and surgical correction adequacy. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) monitoring provides insight into regional blood flow. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between NIRS values and invasive arterial pressures, exploring NIRS monitoring as a potential substitute for arterial cannulation.

Difficult Airway Prediction in Infants with Apparently Normal Face and Neck Features.

: Prediction of a difficult airway during pre-anesthetic evaluation is of great importance because it enables an adequate anesthetic approach and airway management. As there is a scarcity of prospective studies evaluating the role of anthropometric measures of the face and neck in predicting difficult airways in infants with an apparently normal airway, we aimed to identify the aforementioned predictors of difficult facemask ventilation and intubation in infants. : A prospective, observational study that included 97 infants requiring general endotracheal anesthesia was conducted.

Nurses' Perception of Tension, Stress, and Pressure before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Multicenter Serbian Study.

The mental health of healthcare workers, especially the nursing staff in intensive care units, is crucial for the optimal functioning of healthcare systems during medical emergencies. This study implements a cross-sectional design to investigate the associations between nurses' personal characteristics, workplace challenges, and job satisfaction with the increased perception of tension, stress, and pressure at the workplace (TSPW) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, we surveyed 4210 nurses from 19 intensive healthcare facilities in the capital of Serbia, Belgrade, and, at that time, collected data about their perceived TSPW before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Immediate results of primary balloon dilation for congenital aortic valve stenosis predict the mid-term outcome.

Background: Balloon valvuloplasty is the primary treatment for congenital aortic valve stenosis in our centre. We sought to determine independent predictors of reintervention (surgical repair or repeated balloon dilation) after primary valvuloplasty.

Methods: We retrospectively studied patients with congenital aortic valve stenosis who underwent balloon valvuloplasty during 2004-2018.

A Deep Learning Model for Automatic Detection and Classification of Disc Herniation in Magnetic Resonance Images.

Localization of lumbar discs in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a challenging task, due to a vast range of shape, size, number, and appearance of discs and vertebrae. Based on a review of the cutting-edge methods, the majority of applied techniques are either semi-automatic, extremely sensitive to change in parameters, or involve further modification of the results. All of the above represents a motivation for implementing deep learning-based approaches for automatic segmentation and classification of disc herniation in MR images.

Exploitation Characteristics of Teeth Flanks of Gears Regenerated by Three Hard-Facing Procedures.

Numerous phenomena that occur during the process of machine parts' regeneration have a significant impact on the loss of their working ability. Therefore, the properties of the working surfaces of the teeth flanks of repaired gears were analyzed in this research. The hereditary properties of the gear teeth are expressed by the interdependence of their geometric and physical-mechanical-metallurgical parameters created during the technological operations of regeneration of worn teeth by welding/hard-facing.

MTT based L-aminoacid oxidase activity test for determination of antivenom potency against Vipera ammodytes envenomation.

The MTT assay is routinely used to detect the activity of living cells. While working with Vipera ammodytes venom we detected the reduction of MTT without the presence of cells, in a concentration-dependent manner. By combining non-reducing PAGE, L-amino acid oxidase (LAAO) assays, and standard MTT assays, we established and confirmed that venom MTT reduction is catalyzed by only one enzyme, the LAAO.

Semiconductor Gas Sensors: Materials, Technology, Design, and Application.

This paper presents an overview of semiconductor materials used in gas sensors, their technology, design, and application. Semiconductor materials include metal oxides, conducting polymers, carbon nanotubes, and 2D materials. Metal oxides are most often the first choice due to their ease of fabrication, low cost, high sensitivity, and stability.

A comparison of classifiers in biomedical signal processing as a decision support system in disc hernia diagnosis.

The aim of this research was to investigate the best methodology for disc hernia diagnosis using foot force measurements from the designed platform. Based on the subjective neurological examination that examines muscle weakness on the nerve endings of the skin area on feet and concludes about origins of nerve roots between spine discs, a platform for objective recordings of the aforementioned muscle weakness has been designed. The dataset included 33 patients with pre-diagnosed L4/L5 and L5/S1 disc hernia on the left or the right side, confirmed with the MRI scanning and neurological exam.

Reevaluating the Importance of Modified Ultrafiltration in Contemporary Pediatric Cardiac Surgery.

Objective(s): Modified ultrafiltration has gained wide acceptance as a powerful tool against cardiopulmonary bypass morbidity in pediatric cardiac surgery. The aim of our study was to assess the importance of modified ultrafiltration within conditions of contemporary cardiopulmonary bypass characteristics.

Methods: Ninety⁻eight patients (overall cohort) weighing less than 12 kg undergoing surgical repair with cardiopulmonary bypass were prospectively enrolled in a randomized protocol to receive modified and conventional ultrafiltration (MUF group) or just conventional ultrafiltration (non-MUF group).

Tricuspid atresia associated with aortopulmonary window: diagnostic and therapeutic dilemmas.

The association of tricuspid atresia with aortopulmonary window is exceptionally rare. We report a patient with tricuspid atresia, normally related great arteries, non-restrictive ventricular septal defect, and no pulmonary stenosis (type IC) with an aortopulmonary window who underwent successful initial surgical palliation. The unique anatomical feature of this case, other than the presence of the aortopulmonary window, was the absence of pulmonary stenosis at the level of either the ventricular septal defect or the pulmonary valve.

Comparison of high glucose concentration blood and crystalloid cardioplegia in paediatric cardiac surgery: a randomized clinical trial.

Objectives: This study investigates the effects of high glucose content on patients undergoing cold crystalloid versus cold blood cardioplegia in terms of early clinical results, functional myocardial recovery and ischaemia-reperfusion injury in patients undergoing repair of acyanotic cardiac lesions.

Methods: Patients were randomly assigned to receive either crystalloid (n = 31) or blood cardioplegia (n = 31). Early clinical results were assessed.

[The Role of Two-Dimensional Echocardiography in Diagnostics of Coarctation of the Aorta in Newborns].

Introduction: Diagnosis of neonatal coarctation of the aorta (CoA) still presents a challenge in routine practice because of absence of reliable morphologic and functional parameters for early detection of this congenital heart defect in newborns.

Objective: The aim of this study is to identify easy obtainable two-dimensional echocardiographic parameters for detection of the CoA in newborns.

Methods: Echocardiographic evaluation was performed in 30 newborns with CoA and 20 healthy neonates (control group).

[Mid-term results after complete surgical correction of transposition of the great arteries].

Introduction: Arterial switch operation (ASO) is a cardiosurgical method of choice for complete anatomical correction of transposition of great arteries. Improvement of this procedure has made considerably improved the outcome and long-term prognosis of children born with this complex congenital heart disease.

Objective: The aim of this study was to estimate the success rate of ASO through retrospective analysis of mortality and late complications.

[Outcomes of surgery for total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage].

Introduction: Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) is a rare congenital heart disease and in some variants represents the only true surgical emergency in congenital heart surgery. Basic anatomical characteristic of this anomaly is an abnormal connection of pulmonary veins with systemic venous circulation. Although the results of TAPVC repair in infancy have been markedly improved in recent years, the recurrent pulmonary venous obstruction (RPVO) remains relatively frequent complication of surgical treatment.

L-FABP can be an early marker of acute kidney injury in children.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common postoperative complication following cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) surgery. New biomarkers to identify patients with early AKI (before increases in serum creatinine) are needed to facilitate appropriate treatment. This study aimed to test the role of urinary liver fatty-acid-binding protein (L-FABP) as an early biomarker for AKI in children undergoing CPB surgery.

Intrapericardial immature teratoma in a newborn: a case report.

Intrapericardial teratomas are extremely rare and most often benign tumours. In this paper, we have described a case of intrapericardial teratoma diagnosed prenatally and successfully operated. The presented case is noteworthy as an example of potentially catastrophic cardiorespiratory distress caused by the space-occupying nature of the tumour.

Age-related role of ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring in risk stratification of patients with complete congenital atrioventricular block.

Aims: The aim of the paper was to assess the importance of 24 h electrocardiographic Holter monitoring in determining predictive factors for Adams-Stokes (AS) attacks and heart failure (HF) in children and adolescents with complete congenital atrioventricular block (CCAVB).

Methods And Results: Forty-five patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of AS attacks and HF and six age-related subgroups. The following parameters of 24 h electrocardiographic Holter monitoring were analysed: (i) minimum heart rate (HR), (ii) maximum HR, (iii) average HR, (iv) daytime HR (v) rhythm and conduction disturbance.

Echocardiographic analysis of the subtypes of right ventricular restrictive physiology in surgically treated patients with tetralogy of Fallot.

Background: Our study focuses on echocardiographic assessment of the right ventricular diastolic function and adaptive right ventricular response to volume overload resulting from pulmonary and tricuspid regurgitation in surgically treated patients with tetralogy of Fallot.

Method And Results: We included 60 patients subsequent to surgical correction of tetralogy of Fallot, dividing them into two groups - a group of 18 patients with restrictive physiology, having antegrade flow to the pulmonary arteries greater than 30 centimetres per second in late diastole in five consecutive beats, and a group of 42 patients with non-restrictive physiology. Based on the cardiothoracic ratio, being more or equal to, or less than 0.