Cerebral microhemorrhages in children with congenital heart disease: Prevalence, risk factors, and impact on neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Background: Infants with complex congenital heart disease (CHD) require life-saving corrective/palliative heart surgery in the first weeks of life. These infants are at risk for brain injury and poor neurodevelopmental outcomes. Cerebral microhemorrhages (CMH) are frequently seen after neonatal bypass heart surgery, but it remains unknown if CMH are a benign finding or constitute injury. Herein, we investigate the risk factors for developing CMH and their clinical significance. Methods: 192 infants with CHD undergoing corrective cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) at a single institution were prospectively evaluated with pre-(n = 183) and/or postoperative (n = 162) brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). CMH severity was scored based on total number of microhemorrhages. Antenatal, perioperative, and postoperative candidate risk factors for CMH and neurodevelopmental (ND) outcomes were analyzed. Eighteen-month neurodevelopmental outcomes were assessed using the Bayley-III Scales of Infants and Toddler Development in a subset of patients (n = 82). Linear regression was used to analyze associations between risk factors or ND outcomes and presence/number of CMH. Results: The most common CHD subtypes were hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) (37%) and transposition of the great arteries (TGA) (33%). Forty-two infants (23%) had CMH present on MRI before surgery and 137 infants (85%) post-surgery. No parameters evaluated were significant risk factors for preoperative CMH. In multivariate analysis, cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) duration (p < 0.0001), use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support (p < 0.0005), postoperative seizure(s) (p < 0.03), and lower birth weight (p < 0.03) were associated with new or worsened CMH postoperatively. Higher CMH number was associated with lower scores on motor (p < 0.03) testing at 18 months. Conclusion: CMH is a common imaging finding in infants with CHD with increased prevalence and severity after CPB and adverse impact on neurodevelopmental outcomes starting at a young age. Longer duration of CPB and need for postoperative ECMO were the most significant risk factors for developing CMH. However, presence of CMH on preoperative scans indicates non-surgical risk factors that are yet to be identified. Neuroprotective strategies to mitigate risk factors for CMH may improve neurodevelopmental outcomes in this vulnerable population.

Analysis of the Influencing Factors of Delirium after PCI for Acute Myocardial Infarction and its Impact on the Quality of Life of Patients.

Objective: Delirium is a common and serious issue in patients recovering from percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). It can lead to longer hospital stays, increased mortality, and decreased quality of life. This study aims to investigate different nursing interventions to improve care for post-PCI patients by reducing the incidence and duration of delirium. Methods: Between December 2021 and April 2023, we enrolled patients who underwent PCI surgery for acute myocardial infarction at our hospital as study participants. Utilizing a clinical randomized controlled trial design, we allocated these patients randomly into either the intervention group or the control group. The control group received conventional nursing care, while the intervention group received routine nursing care augmented by family visit nursing care, encompassing emotional support, education, and enhanced communication with family members. Upon the completion of all intervention measures, we assessed the incidence of delirium in post-PCI patients using the Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale (RASS) and the ICU Ambiguity Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU). Furthermore, we evaluated the patients' quality of life using the US Medical Bureau's Quality of Life Health Survey (SF-36). Result: Significant differences were observed in Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale (RASS) scores at 24 and 48 hours post-PCI, favoring the intervention group (P < .05). The intervention group also exhibited a lower incidence of delirium at 24 hours (P < .05) and a significantly shorter delirium duration (P < .05). While baseline quality of life scores did not differ significantly between the groups, post-intervention, the intervention group demonstrated significantly higher quality of life scores. These results underscore the positive impact of combined nursing interventions on sedation levels, delirium incidence and duration, and overall quality of life for post-PCI patients. Conclusion: The combined approach of routine nursing care and home visit interventions significantly reduced delirium incidence and duration in post-PCI patients. This personalized care strategy emphasizes patient well-being and is indicative of a broader shift towards individualized healthcare. It highlights the potential for enhanced patient outcomes and improved quality of life in the context of post-PCI patient management.

Role of organic nanoparticles on transport and fate of various dyes in aqueous solution.

This work studies the interaction of organic nanoparticles (ON) with various dyes in aqueous solution, to elucidate the role of ON on transport and fate of dyes in the environment, and on dyes removal from wastewater. Studied dyes are Acid Red 66 (AR66), Methylene Blue (MB), Reactive Black 5 (RB5), and Reactive Violet 5 (RV5). ON are extracted from organic matter of anthropogenic origin through resuspension of its colloidal fraction, and successive filtration and dialysis of the obtained suspension. Mechanisms of interaction are investigated initially through three-dimensional excitation emission matrix (3DEEM) analysis. Obtained data indicate that dynamic interactions occur strongly between dye molecules and ON aggregates. 3DEEM spectra of mixed samples containing ON together with one of the tested dyes, present a shape similar to the one of ON alone, but each of them is characterized by specific differences in terms of peaks quenching and shift. The analysis of these singularities suggests that dye molecules are bound to the functional groups of ON through H-bonds, according to the following steps: i) dyes reach the surface of ON aggregates; ii) the molecules pass through the hydrophilic surface of ON aggregates, and reach their hydrophobic core; iii) the dyes are sequestrated into the hydrophobic core of ON aggregates. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopies analysis confirm the formation of supramolecular aggregates with stable micellar hydrophobic structure, mainly consisting of aliphatic fractions of ON, which explain the disappearance of aromatic groups signals from dyes.

De novo design and directed folding of disulfide-bridged peptide heterodimers.

Peptide heterodimers are prevalent in nature, which are not only functional macromolecules but molecular tools for chemical and synthetic biology. Computational methods have also been developed to design heterodimers of advanced functions. However, these peptide heterodimers are usually formed through noncovalent interactions, which are prone to dissociate and subject to concentration-dependent nonspecific aggregation. Heterodimers crosslinked with interchain disulfide bonds are more stable, but it represents a formidable challenge for both the computational design of heterodimers and the manipulation of disulfide pairing for heterodimer synthesis and applications. Here, we report the design, synthesis and application of interchain disulfide-bridged peptide heterodimers with mutual orthogonality by combining computational de novo designs with a directed disulfide pairing strategy. These heterodimers can be used as not only scaffolds for generating functional molecules but chemical tools or building blocks for protein labeling and construction of crosslinking hybrids. This study thus opens the door for using this unexplored dimeric structure space for many biological applications.

Characterization of anthropogenic organic matter and its interaction with direct yellow 27 in wastewater: Experimental results and perspectives of resource recovery.

The concept of natural organic matter of anthropogenic origin is introduced and its characteristics and interaction with chemical pollutants are investigated by adopting several distinct analytic methodologies. Scanning electron microscopy indicates that the used sample of anthropogenic organic matter (AOM) has an amphiphilic nature, which allows its supramolecular organization in water. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, in turn, gives a clear indication about the presence of polysaccharide markers, lipidic and amidic fractions, and suggests the absence of free organic acid. AOM sample and AOM mixed with dye sample were examined by the three-dimensional excitation-emission matrix fluorescence spectra and the nuclear magnetic resonance mono-dimensional spectra. The results highlighted the interactions occurring between the AOM and the reactive dye, selected as a representative chemical pollutant. Electron Spin Resonance confirms that the used AOM is able to completely include the dye in its structure. Overall, the obtained results indicate that the fate, transport, and toxicity of pollutants in the environment can be drastically influenced by the presence of AOM.

Simultaneous removal of NH3-N and COD from shale gas distillate via an integration of adsorption and photo-catalysis: A hybrid approach.

In view of the circulation cooling water (CCW) quality for refining and petrochemical enterprises, distillates obtained from shale gas produced water after alkali precipitation, filtration and multi-effect evaporation required further purification to remove NH3-N and COD. Illumination, adsorption, photocatalysis after adsorption equilibrium (AP) and integration of adsorption and photocatalysis (IOAP) were carried out to optimize the distillates treatment. AP and IOAP treatments were feasible for the simultaneous removal of NH3-N and COD from the target distillate, while IOAP treatment had much better adaptability and practicability due to its economic cost and easy operation. In IOAP, the removal rate of COD and NH3-N was high up to 59.0% and 88.9%, respectively, under Xenon lamp illumination (25 A) for 60 min with 10 g/L zeolite. The residual concentration of COD and NH3-N were 73.9 mg/L and 23.0 mg/L, respectively, which could well meet the CCW quality. Furthermore, the results of zeolites characterization (SEM-EDX, BET and FTIR) and kinetics analysis showed that the removal of COD in IOAP process mainly depended on the effect of photocatalysis excited by zeolite, while the removal of NH3-N was in virtue of the synergistic effect of photocatalysis and adsorption.

Ultrafast preparation of a polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane-based ionic liquid hybrid monolith via photoinitiated polymerization, and its application to capillary electrochromatography of aromatic compounds.

An ionic liquid hybrid monolithic capillary column was prepared within 7 min via photoinitiated free-radical polymerization of an ionic liquid monomer (1-butyl-3-vinylimidazolium-bis[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]imide); VBIMNTF2) and a methacryl substituted polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS-MA) acting as a cross-linker. The effects of composition of prepolymerization solution and initiation time on the porous structure and electroosmotic flow (EOF) of monolithic column were investigated. The hybrid monolith was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and FTIR. Owing to the introduction of a rigid nanosized POSS silica core and ionic liquids with multiple interaction sites, the monolithic column has a well-defined 3D skeleton morphology, good mechanical stability, and a stable anodic electroosmotic flow. The hybrid monolithic stationary phase was applied to the capillary electrochromatographic separation of various alkylbenzenes, phenols, anilines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The column efficiency is highest (98,000 plates/m) in case of alkylbenzenes. Mixed-mode retention mechanisms including hydrophobic interactions, π-π stacking, electrostatic interaction and electrophoretic mobility can be observed. This indicates the potential of this material in terms of efficient separation of analytes of different structural type. Graphical Abstract Preparation of a mixed-mode ionic liquid hybrid monolithic column via photoinitiated polymerization of methacryl substituted polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS-MA) and 1-butyl-3-vinylimidazolium-bis[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]imide (VBIMNTF2) ionic liquid for use in capillary electrochromatography.

Characteristics and adsorption study of the activated carbon derived from municipal sewage sludge.

Sewage sludge-based activated carbon is proved to be an efficient and low-cost adsorbent in treatment of various industrial wastewaters. The produced carbon had a well-developed pore structure and relatively low Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area. Adsorptive capacity of typical pollutants, i.e. copper Cu(II) and methylene blue (MB) on the carbon was studied. Adsorptions were affected by the initial solution pH, contact time and adsorbent dose. Results showed that adsorption of Cu(II) and MB on the produced carbon could reach equilibrium after 240 min. The average removal rate for Cu(II) on the carbon was high, up to 97% in weak acidic conditions (pH = 4-6) and around 98% for MB in a very wide pH range (pH = 2-12). The adsorption kinetics were well fitted by the pseudo-second order model, and both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models could well describe the adsorption process at room temperature. The theoretical maximum adsorption capacities of Cu(II) and MB on sewage sludge-based activated carbon were 114.94 mg/g and 125 mg/g, respectively. Compared with commercial carbon, the sewage sludge-based carbon was more suitable for heavy metal ions' removal than dyes'.