Snuffbox distal transradial access (dTRA) for arteriovenous fistuloplasty in Singapore: Going distal is safe.

Aim: Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) dysfunction resulting from stenosis or occlusion, is a prevalent issue in end-stage renal failure patients reliant on autogenous AVFs for dialysis. Recently, a distal transradial approach (dTRA) has emerged, offering advantages such as diminished access site complications, better patient comfort and reduced risk of radial artery occlusion. Our study seeks to assess the effectiveness, outcomes and complication rates of employing dTRA for arteriovenous fistuloplasty in Singaporean patients.

Use of Wallstent device as an embolic protection device during stenting of aortic thrombus.

Blue toe syndrome can occur due to distal embolization from proximal lesions such as an aortic thrombus. We describe the case of a patient who presented with chronic limb threatening ischemia due to a flow-limiting infrarenal aortic thrombus, with gangrene from distal embolization to the left fifth toe, and was successfully treated with endovascular aortic stent graft insertion. Distal embolization during instrumentation was successfully prevented by using a partially deployed Wallstent (Boston Scientific) as an embolic protection device.

N,Si co-doped GQDs: Facile green preparation and application in visual identifying dihydroxybenzene isomers and selective quantification of catechol, hydroquinone and antioxidants.

A green economical procedure for preparing N,Si co-doped graphene quantum dots (N,Si-GQDs) using waste toners and ethylene diamine was reported, which not only minimizes waste and promotes recycling but also offers an alternative method for producing N,Si-GQDs. At a pH of 8.5, hydroquinone and catechol underwent oxidation in the presence of air, resulting in the formation of diquinones, specifically p-phenyldiquinone and o-phenyldiquinone.

The Utility of Ultrasound Guidance to Improve the Safety of Closure of Antegrade Common Femoral Artery Access after Lower Limb Revascularization.

This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of ultrasound (US)-guidance in reducing adverse event (AE) rates when using Angioseal device during antegrade lower limb angioplasty via common femoral artery access. From December 2016 to November 2022, 1,322 patients were identified, including 1,131 (85.6%) patients who underwent US-guided closure and 191 (14.

Evaluation of Copper Levels in Dental Calculus of OSF Patients with Chewing Dried Areca-Nut Quids in Hunan Province of Mainland China.

Dental calculus is a potential material that can be used for assessing chronic exposure to trace heavy metals in oral cavity as it is a long-term reservoir. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between dental calculus copper levels and risk of oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) due to chewing dried areca-nut quids in Mainland China. This study included 34 OSF (grade 1) sufferers with dried areca-nut quids chewing as the patient group and 23 healthy individuals without areca-nut chewing as the control group.

Combined Biopsy and Imaging-Guided Microwave Ablation by Using a Coaxial Guiding Needle.

This article demonstrates the technique of using a coaxial guiding needle to perform combined percutaneous biopsy and microwave ablation via a single tract. From May 2019 to July 2020, 14 patients underwent combined biopsy and microwave ablation by using a coaxial guiding cannula. Tumors were in the kidney of six patients (43%), the liver of six patients (43%), and the lung in two patients (14%).

Single-Setting Superior Vena Cava Biopsy and Stenting Utilizing Cone Beam Computed Tomography as an Additional Tool.

BACKGROUND Malignant disease is a common etiology of superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS). Being a medical emergency, it often requires rapid diagnostic evaluation and therapy. Transcaval biopsy and endovascular stenting in a single-setting has been described, but only in a handful of cases.

Role of Vacancies in Photocatalysis: A Review of Recent Progress.

Photocatalysis via direct solar-to-chemical energy conversion is an intriguing approach for alleviating the pressure of high energy consumption caused by social development. However, photocatalytic efficiency is greatly restricted by unsatisfactory light-harvesting capacity, high carrier recombination rates, and sluggish reaction kinetics. Indeed, vacancy engineering is an attractive strategy to regulate photocatalytic reaction performance to maximize the utilization and storage of solar energy.

Imaging Features Differentiating Vestibular Ganglion from Intracanalicular Schwannoma on Single-Sequence Non-Contrast Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study.

Introduction: This study aimed to identify imaging features on single-sequence noncontrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that differentiate the vestibular ganglion from small intracanalicular schwannomas.

Materials And Methods: Ninety patients (42 men and 48 women; age: 24‒87 years old) with 102 internal auditory canal (IAC) nodules (59 vestibular ganglia and 43 intracanalicular schwannoma) who underwent both single-sequence T2-weighted (T2W) non-contrast enhanced MRI studies and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted (T1W) MRI studies between May 2012 and April 2017 were evaluated. The length, width, distance to the IAC fundus and length/width ratios for all lesions were obtained and compared among groups.

FEN1 inhibitor increases sensitivity of radiotherapy in cervical cancer cells.

Background: Cervical cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer-associated mortality among affected women in the world. At present, treatment with weekly cisplatin plus ionizing radiation (IR) therapy is the standard regimen for cervical cancer, especially for locally advanced cervical cancer. The purpose of this study is to determine whether FEN1 inhibitors could enhance the therapeutic effect of IR therapy.

Type 2 myocardial infarction among critically ill elderly patients in the Intensive Care Unit: the clinical features and in-hospital prognosis.

Background: Type 2 myocardial infarction (T2MI) refers to myocardial ischemic necrosis as a result of myocardial oxygen supply/demand mismatch, which are common comorbidities of critically ill patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence rate and risks of T2MI in critically ill elderly patients and further elucidate in-hospital prognostic factors.

Methods: A total of 223 critically ill elderly patients admitted to our hospital from October 2016 to September 2018 were recruited.

Cortical Activation Changes in Hirayama Disease After Anterior Cervical Decompression and Fusion.

Background: Spinal cord injury may cause cortical reconstruction. We, therefore explored the changes in cortical activation before and after anterior cervical decompression and fusion surgery in patients with Hirayama disease (HD).

Methods: In total, 17 cases with HD underwent anterior cervical decompression and fusion surgery.

[Interforaminal regions of 287 Han adults evaluated by cone-beam computed tomography].

Purpose: The mandibular anatomical structures including mental foramen, accessory mental foramina, anterior loop were measured and analyzed by cone-beam CT (cone-beam computed tomography, CBCT) , in order to provide some information during surgical procedures in interforaminal regions.

Methods: Two hundred and eighty-seven Chinese Han patients who visited Stomatological Department of Xiangya Hospital were included in this study. Patients were scanned by cone-beam computed tomography, and the information of interforaminal region was collected from the images.

Prevention and Management of Adverse Reactions Induced by Iodinated Contrast Media.

Iodinated radiocontrast media (IRCM) is widely used in current clinical practice. Although IRCM is generally safe, serious adverse drug reactions (ADRs) may still occur. IRCM-induced ADRs may be subdivided into chemotoxic and hypersensitivity reactions.

Evaluation of the early response and mechanism of treatment of Parkinson's disease with L-dopa using F-fallypride micro-positron emission tomography scanning.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the use of F-fallypride micro-positron emission tomography (micro-PET) imaging in the evaluation of the early therapeutic efficacy of L-dopa in the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD) and the underlying mechanism. F-fallypride was synthesized and its specific binding with dopamine (DA) receptors in normal mouse brain was studied. Following the establishment of a mouse model of PD, the animals were divided into normal control, PD model and L-dopa treatment groups.

Determination of a cutoff attenuation value on single-phase contrast-enhanced CT for characterizing adrenal nodules via chemical shift MRI.

Purpose: This study aims to determine the optimal cutoff attenuation value on single-phase contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) at which chemical shift MRI (CSMRI) yields sufficient accuracy to replace the standard CT adrenal protocol for the diagnosis of adrenal adenomas.

Methods: Between January 2010 and December 2014, a total of 49 patients (age: 20-81 years; 23 men and 26 women) with 60 adrenal tumors (48 adenomas and 12 non-adenomas) who underwent both CECT in portal venous phase and CSMRI were included in the study. Attenuation on portal venous phase CECT, adrenal-to-spleen chemical shift ratio (ASR), and signal-intensity index (SII) were obtained for each adrenal mass.

Cyclic [2]Catenane Dimers, Trimers, and Tetramers.

Dimeric, trimeric, and tetrameric cyclic [2]catenanes have been prepared directly through one-pot sodium-ion-templated dynamic imine formation from a diamine and a tetraaldehyde. NaBH4 mediated reduction of the labile imino bonds of these cyclic [2]catenane oligomers, followed by methylation of the resulting secondary amino groups enabled the isolation and characterization of oligomeric cyclic [2]catenanes as stable, covalently linked compounds.

Correlation between the Uptake of 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) and the Expression of Proliferation-Associated Antigen Ki-67 in Cancer Patients: A Meta-Analysis.

Objective: To study the correlation between 18F-FDG uptake and cell proliferation in cancer patients by meta-analysis of published articles.

Methods: We searched PubMed (MEDLINE included), EMBASE, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Review, and selected research articles on the relationship between 18F-FDG uptake and Ki-67 expression (published between August 1, 1994-August 1, 2014), according to the literature inclusion and exclusion criteria. The publishing language was limited to English.

Renal-related adverse effects of intravenous contrast media in computed tomography.

Renal-related adverse effects of intravascular contrast media (CM) include contrast-induced nephropathy in computed tomography and angiography. While large retrospective studies have been published, the exact pathogenesis of this condition is still unknown. We review the main international guidelines, including the American College of Radiology white paper and the guidelines of European Society of Urogenital Radiology, Royal College of Radiologists and Canadian Association of Radiologists, as well as their references, regarding this subject.

Synthesizing [2]Rotaxanes and [2]Catenanes through Na(+)-Templated Clipping of Macrocycles around Oligo(ethylene glycol) Units.

Di-, tri-, and tetra(ethylene glycol) units in both dumbbell-shaped and macrocyclic molecules can be used as primary recognition units for the clipping of macrocycles in the presence of templating Na(+) ions to form corresponding [2]rotaxanes and [2]catenanes. One such tri(ethylene glycol)-containing [2]catenane behaves as a Na(+) ion-controllable molecular switch.

Biodistribution characteristics and SPECT imaging of (99m)Tc-RET and (99m)Tc-REG in human lung cancer xenografts.

Objective: To investigate the biodistribution and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging of (99m)Tc-labeled arginine-glutamic acid-threonine (RET) and arginine-glutamic acid-glycine (REG) in nude mice bearing human lung cancer xenografts.

Materials And Methods: RET and REG were labeled directly with (99m)Tc and their binding efficiency to tumor cells was measured in human nonsmall cell lung cancer H1299 cells. After intravenously injecting (99m)Tc-RET and (99m)Tc-REG into normal mice and nude mice bearing human lung cancer xenografts, their biodistribution was measured at different postinjection times, and percentages of injected dose per gram tissue (% ID/g) of organs of interest were calculated.

Assessment of tumor response to chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer using (18)F-FLT: a meta-analysis.

Purpose: To determine the diagnostic performance of 3'-deoxy-3'-(18)F-fluorothymidine positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FLT PET/CT) and FLT PET for evaluating response to chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer.

Methods: Databases such as PubMed (MEDLINE included) and excerpta medica database (EMBASE), were searched for relevant original articles. The included studies were assessed for methodological quality with quality assessment of diagnosis accuracy studies (QUADAS) score tool.

Speciation of inorganic selenium in environmental water samples by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry after preconcentration by using a mesoporous zirconia coating on coal cinder.

A simple, novel, and selective flow-injection solid-phase extraction with inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry method was developed for the speciation of inorganic selenium in environmental water samples. A mesoporous zirconia film was simply introduced to coat coal cinder by means of the sol-gel technique, and the adsorptive performance of the coated material for Se(IV)/Se(VI) was investigated in different media. Both Se(IV) and Se(VI) can be retained quantitatively by the material in HCl/NaOH (pH 1.