Outcomes of patients with infective endocarditis-associated acute kidney injury: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: The outcomes of patients with infective endocarditis (IE)-associated acute kidney injury (AKI) are poorly understood.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted in a tertiary hospital in China to analyze the short- and long-term outcomes among patients with IE-associated AKI. The risk factors for 90-day mortality, long-term outcomes and kidney non-recovery were analyzed via multivariable logistic regression, the Cox regression, and the Fine-Gray competing risk model, respectively.

Development and evaluation of a machine learning model for post-surgical acute kidney injury in active infective endocarditis.

Introduction: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is notably prevalent after cardiac surgery for patients with active infective endocarditis. This study aims to create a machine learning model to predict AKI in this high-risk group, improving upon existing models by focusing specifically on endocarditis-related surgeries.

Methods: We analyzed medical records from 527 patients who underwent cardiac surgery for active infective endocarditis from January 2012 to December 2023.

Improving Prediction Accuracy of Residual Axillary Lymph Node Metastases in Node-Positive Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: A Radiomics Analysis of Ultrasound-Guided Clip Locations Using the SHAP Method.

Rationale And Objectives: To construct a radiomics nomogram derived from multiparametric ultrasound (US) imaging using the SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) method for the accurate identification of residual axillary lymph node metastases post-neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) among patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

Methods: A total of 405 consecutive patients with pathologically confirmed TNBC between 2016 and 2023 were recruited in the study and were divided into training (n = 284) and validation cohorts (n = 121). Radiomics features capturing detailed tumor characteristics were extracted from pre-NAC gray-scale US images at the locations of US-guided clip placement.

Mechanical Properties and Cooperation Mechanism of Corroded Steel Plates Retrofitted by Laser Cladding Additive Manufacturing under Tension.

As a metal additive manufacturing process, laser cladding (LC) is employed as a novel and beneficial repair technology for damaged steel structures. This study employed LC technology with 316 L stainless steel powder to repair locally corroded steel plates. The influences of interface slope and scanning pattern on the mechanical properties of repaired specimens were investigated through tensile tests and finite element analysis.

Differential reinforcement of cGAS-STING pathway-involved immunotherapy by biomineralized bacterial outer membrane-sensitized EBRT and RNT.

Radiotherapy (RT), including external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) and radionuclide therapy (RNT), realizes physical killing of local tumors and activates systemic anti-tumor immunity. However, these effects need to be further strengthened and the difference between EBRT and RNT should be discovered. Herein, bacterial outer membrane (OM) was biomineralized with manganese oxide (MnO) to obtain OM@MnO-PEG nanoparticles for enhanced radio-immunotherapy via amplifying EBRT/RNT-induced immunogenic cell death (ICD) and cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes (STING) activation.

Prediction of pathological complete response of breast cancer patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy with a nomogram based on clinicopathologic variables, ultrasound, and MRI.

Objective: To establish a nomogram for predicting the pathologic complete response (pCR) in breast cancer (BC) patients after NAC by applying magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound (US).

Methods: A total of 607 LABC women who underwent NAC before surgery between January 2016 and June 2022 were retrospectively enrolled, and then were randomly divided into the training (n = 425) and test set (n = 182) with the ratio of 7:3. MRI and US variables were collected before and after NAC, as well as the clinicopathologic features.

Quadruple valve replacement for patient with infective endocarditis 16 years after Fallot's Tetralogy Repair procedure: A case report.

A 33-year-old man, who had previously undergone repair for Tetralogy of Fallot, presented with extensive infective endocarditis. Following thorough preoperative preparation and evaluation, we performed a simultaneous quadruple valve replacement alongside the repatching of the remaining defect. We posit that this comprehensive one-stage surgical intervention not only enhanced the patient's quality of life but also reduced the necessity for future reoperations.

Case Report: Pericardial patch repair of mitral annulus and mitral valve for a left atrial dissection caused by parasitic infective endocarditis.

Introduction: Left atrial dissection is a rare event, typically associated with cardiac manipulation. We report the first case of a left atrial dissection caused by parasitic infectious endocarditis, which required the use of patch repair for the damaged mitral annulus and valve.

Case Presentation: To treat heart failure in a 43-year-old man with left atrial dissection, we performed a patch repair of the mitral annulus and valve using autologous pericardium.

Case report: Open-heart removal for a cement embolism formed 10 years ago in the right ventricle and pulmonary artery.

Bone cement embolism is a known complication after a kyphoplasty operation. Cement embolisms without immediate fatal complication such as cardiac perforation or hypoxemia were often stable during observation. We report a case of a large volume bone cement embolism involving the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery system.

Ultrasound radiomics-based nomogram to predict lymphovascular invasion in invasive breast cancer: a multicenter, retrospective study.

Objectives: To develop and validate an ultrasound (US) radiomics-based nomogram for the preoperative prediction of the lymphovascular invasion (LVI) status in patients with invasive breast cancer (IBC).

Materials And Methods: In this multicentre, retrospective study, 456 consecutive women were enrolled from three institutions. Institutions 1 and 2 were used to train (n = 320) and test (n = 136), and 130 patients from institution 3 were used for external validation.

Tumor Vascular Destruction and cGAS-STING Activation Induced by Single Drug-Loaded Nano-Micelles for Multiple Synergistic Therapies of Cancer.

Cancer and its metastasis/recurrence still threaten human health, despite various advanced treatments being employed. It is of great significance to develop simple drug formulations to enhance the efficacy and synergistic integration of various monotherapies. Herein, DMXAA, a vasodestructive agent with cGAS-STING stimulation capacity, is integrated with polyethylene glycol grafted poly (lactic-co-glycolic) acid co-polymer (PLGA-PEG), obtaining PLGA-PEG/DMXAA (PPD) nanoparticles to induce the tumor-specific vascular destruction for multiple synergistic therapies of cancer.

Surgery for angiosarcoma and other cardiac sarcomas: A single-institution experience.

Background: Cardiac sarcomas are rare malignancies with a poor prognosis. Although angiosarcoma is the most common histological subtype, its features are poorly characterized. This study aimed to compare the clinical characteristics of the various cardiac sarcomas and the surgical techniques used and to identify factors influencing the prognosis.

Intra-atrial coronary artery reconstruction during surgery for cardiac angiosarcoma.

A cardiac angiosarcoma is usually located in the right atrium and tends to involve the right coronary artery. Our goal was to report a novel reconstruction technique after en bloc resection of a cardiac angiosarcoma with right coronary artery invasion. This technique includes orthotopic reconstruction of the invaded artery and atrial patch suturing onto the epicardium lateral to the reconstructed right coronary artery.

Construction and validation of a personalized nomogram of ultrasound for pretreatment prediction of breast cancer patients sensitive to neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Objective: To construct a combined radiomics model based on pre-treatment ultrasound for predicting of advanced breast cancers sensitive to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC).

Methods: A total of 288 eligible breast cancer patients who underwent NAC before surgery were enrolled in the retrospective study cohort. Radiomics features reflecting the phenotype of the pre-NAC tumors were extracted.

Repair versus replacement for active endocarditis of the mitral valve: 9 years of experience.

Background And Aim: To determine the factors contributing to successful mitral valve repair (MVP) and to discuss the effect of complex techniques on the durability of MVP for active infective endocarditis (IE) affecting the mitral valve.

Methods: One hundred and eighty-seven patients were enrolled; 39.6% underwent mitral valve replacement (MVR) and 60.

Anode modification of sediment microbial fuel cells (SMFC) towards bioremediating mariculture wastewater.

Remediation of mariculture wastewater is of great practical importance. In this study, sediment microbial fuel cells (SMFCs) were adopted and carbon felt anodes were modified to enhance COD and ammonia removal in mariculture system. The results showed that the SMFC anode with 5 % (w/w) graphene oxide (GO) coating performed best in pollutants removal and electricity generation.

Characteristics and Diagnostic Challenge of Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody Positive Infective Endocarditis.

Objective: Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) has been reported in patients with infective endocarditis. Whether ANCA is associated with certain characteristics of infective endocarditis is unclear. The principal aim of this study is to investigate the clinical implications of ANCA in infective endocarditis and highlight the diagnostic challenge in ANCA-positive patients with infective endocarditis.

Outcomes of surgical treatment for active infective endocarditis under COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been and will continue to be a challenge to the healthcare system worldwide. In this context, we aimed to discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the diagnosis, timing, and prognosis of surgical treatment for active infective endocarditis (IE) during the pandemic and share our coping strategy.

Methods: A total of 39 patients were admitted for active IE in the year 2020.

Ultrasound-based radiomics nomogram for differentiation of triple-negative breast cancer from fibroadenoma.

Objective: This study aimed to develop a radiomics nomogram that incorporates radiomics, conventional ultrasound (US) and clinical features in order to differentiate triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) from fibroadenoma.

Methods: A total of 182 pathology-proven fibroadenomas and 178 pathology-proven TNBCs, which underwent preoperative US examination, were involved and randomly divided into training ( = 253) and validation cohorts ( = 107). The radiomics features were extracted from the regions of interest of all lesions, which were delineated on the basis of preoperative US examination.

Photo-Driven Delivery of I-Labeled Nanomicelles for Nucleus-Targeted Internal Conversion Electron-Based Cancer Therapy.

As a kind of high linear energy transfer (LET) radiation, internal conversion electrons are emitted from some radionuclides, such as I, triggering severe DNA damage to tumor cells when transported into the nucleus. Herein, we develop a curcumin-loaded nanomicelle composed of a photosensitizer chlorin e6 (Ce6) and amphiphilic poly(ethylene glycol) (poly(maleic anhydride--1-octadecene)-poly(ethylene glycol) (C-PMH-PEG)) to deliver I into the nucleus under 660 nm laser irradiation, leading to the optimized imaging-guided internal conversion electron therapy of cancer. Ce6-containing nanomicelles (Ce6-C-PEG) self-assemble with nucleus-targeted curcumin (Cur), obtaining Ce6-C-PEG/Cur nanoparticles.

Emerging strategies based on nanomaterials for ionizing radiation-optimized drug treatment of cancer.

Drug-radiotherapy is a common and effective combinational treatment for cancer. This study aimed to explore the ionizing radiation-optimized drug treatment based on nanomaterials so as to improve the synergistic efficacy of drug-radiotherapy against cancer and limit the adverse effect on healthy organs. In this review, these emerging strategies were divided into four parts.

Diagnostic Radionuclides Labeled on Biomimetic Nanoparticles for Enhanced Follow-Up Photothermal Therapy of Cancer.

Imaging-guided local therapy is the most effective strategy to treat primary cancers in patients. However, the local therapeutic effect should be further improved under the premise of absence of induction of additional side effects. It would be meaningful to analyze the potential assistance of nuclear imaging to the follow-up treatments.

Interleukin-33-Dependent Accumulation of Regulatory T Cells Mediates Pulmonary Epithelial Regeneration During Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) triggered mostly by infection, is a syndrome that involves respiratory failure. ARDS induces strong local infiltration of regulatory T cells (Treg cells) in the lungs, and Treg cells were recently highlighted as being related to the repair of various tissue. However, at present, there is still a lack of adequate evidence showing the impact of Treg cells on pulmonary regeneration during ARDS.

Preoperative ultrasound-based radiomics score can improve the accuracy of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center nomogram for predicting sentinel lymph node metastasis in breast cancer.

Purpose: To develop a combined nomogram by incorporating the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) nomogram and ultrasound (US)-based radiomics score (Radscore) for predicting sentinel lymph node (SLN) metastasis in invasive breast cancer.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study was approved by the ethics committee of our institution, and written informed consent was waived. A total of 452 patients with invasive breast cancer who received SLN Biopsy in a single center were included between January 2016 and December 2019.