Living Donor Liver Transplantation for Budd-Chiari Syndrome: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: There are unique technical and management challenges associated with living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) for Budd-Chiari Syndrome (BCS). The outcomes of LDLT for BCS in comparison to other indications remain unclear and warrant elucidation. METHODS: Data of 24 BCS patients who underwent LDLT between January 2012 and June 2019 were analyzed. There were 20 adults and 4 children. The early and long-term outcomes of adult LDLT BCS patients were compared to a control group of LDLT patients for other indications and matched using propensity scoring methodology. RESULTS: Primary BCS was observed in 18 (90%) patients. Caval replacement was performed in 7 (35%) patients. Early and late hepatic venous outflow tract (HVOT) complications were seen in 1 (5%) and 3 (15%) patients. Preoperative acute kidney injury was identified as a risk factor for mortality in the BCS cohort (p = 0.013). On comparison, BCS recipients were younger with fewer comorbidities, more large volume ascites and higher rates of PVT. They also had longer cold ischemia time, increased blood loss and transfusion requirements, increased hospital stay, and higher late outflow complications. The 1-year and 3-year survivals were similar to non-BCS cohort (84.2% vs. 94% and 71.3% vs. 91.9%, respectively, log rank test p = 0.09). CONCLUSION: LDLT is a good option for symptomatic BCS who have failed non-transplant interventions. The clinical and risk factor profile of BCS recipients is distinct from non-BCS recipients. By following an algorithmic management protocol, we show on propensity-score matched analysis that outcomes of LDLT for BCS are similar to non-BCS indications.

Development and validation of Lenalidomide in human plasma by LC-MS/MS.

A highly sensitive and ultra-fast high performance liquid chromatography- tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) assay is developed and validated for the quantification of Lenalidomide in human plasma. Lenalidomide is extracted from human plasma by Liquid- Liquid Extraction by Ethyl Acetate and analyzed using a reversed phase isocratic elution on a XTerra RP18, (4.6 × 50 mM, 5 µm) column. A 0.1% Formic acid: Methanol (10:90% v/v), is used as mobile phase and detection was performed by Triple quadrupole mass spectrometry LC-MS/MS using electrospray ionization in positive mode. Fluconazole is used as the internal standard. The lower limit of quantification is 9.999 ng/mL for Lenalidomide. The calibration curves are consistently accurate and precise over the concentration range of 9.999 to 1010.011 ng/mL in plasma for Lenalidomide. This novel LC-MS/MS method competes with all the regulatory requirements and shows satisfactory accuracy and precision and is sufficiently sensitive for the performance of pharmacokinetic and bioequivalence studies in humans.

Origin of relationship between ferromagnetic response and damage in stretched systems.

This article presents a study whose purpose is to elucidate the damage effects in thin films on their magnetic response. Co40Fe40B20 and Ni80Fe20 films of different nanometric thicknesses were stretched by more than 10% and in situ probed by atomic force microscopy measurements to determine their irreversible mechanical behavior (multi-cracking, buckling). Once these phenomena have been well identified, magnetic behavior of these stretched systems has been studied by ferromagnetic resonance to measure resulting magnetic anisotropy and damping evolutions. All of these experimental studies show that the magnetic properties are mainly affected by the stresses generated during the damage but not by the local discontinuities induced by the numerous cracks and buckles. This is in particular confirmed by the almost zero sensitivity to the damage of the magnetic properties of Ni80Fe20 alloy which is known for its vanishing magnetostriction.

Cytotoxicity and Antibacterial Characteristics of Graphene-Oxide Nanosheets Toward Human Pathogens.

Nanomaterials show great opportunities in the development of electronics, biosensors, chemical and industrial applications. In this article, we are reporting the cytotoxicity and antibacterial characteristics of graphene-oxide (GO) nanosheets toward selected human pathogens. GO is prepared by using modified Hummers method. The prepared GO is characterized using X-ray diffraction, Raman analysis and transmission electron microscopy. Our studies confirmed the antimicrobial activity of GO against various human pathogens. The cytotoxicity effects of GO nanosheets are investigated using MTT assay which confirms that GO nanosheets are non-toxic and eco-friendly. These results ensure that GO nanosheets can be a potential antibacterial agent in the biological, health related industry development and applications.

Effect of Surfactants on Electrochemical Properties of Vanadium-Pentoxide Nanoparticles Synthesized via Hydrothermal Method.

Vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) nanoparticles were synthesized via an anionic, cationic and non-ionic surfactant assisted hydrothermal method in which Ammonium metavanadate (NH4VO3) was used as precursor. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by using powder X-Ray Diffractometer, Scanning Electron Microscopy and UV-Vis spectroscopy. Crystalline nanoparticles were formed using different surfactants like Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate (SDS), Cetyltrimethylammonium Bromide (CTAB), Polyvenylpyrollidone (PVP) and Sodium Dodecyl Benzene Sulfonate (SDBS). The specific capacitance of V2O5 was calculated in 0.5 M KCl and 0.5 M Na2SO4 aqueous electrolyte by using cyclic voltammetry (CV). Electrochemical impedance, and Chronocoulommetry studies revealed a good capacitive and charge-discharge behavior of the prepared V2O5, which is very promising for the application for next-generation high-performance electro-chemical supercapacitors.

Influence of calcination temperature on the luminescent properties of Eu³âº doped CaAl4O7 phosphor prepared by Pechini method.

Motivated by the need for new phosphor for white light emitting diode (WLED) applications, CaAl4O7 phosphors activated by Eu(3+) rare earth ion was synthesized using the Pechini method at different calcination temperatures. The crystal structure and luminescent properties were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL). The XRD and SEM patterns confirm the presence of a single grossite monoclinic phase (311) and the particles exhibit good crystallinity and the particle size varies with calcination temperature. Absorption peak of FT-IR shows the decomposition of citrate ethylene glycol complex and the formation of CaAl4O7:Eu(3+) phosphor. Diffuse reflectance spectra indicate an absorption in the UV-region. The photoluminescence excitation spectrum exhibited a broad band covering from 340 to 420 nm with a sharp band at 395 nm. CaAl4O7:Eu(3+) phosphor excited by near UV (395 nm) light showed a strong red emission at 611 nm. The emission band is due to f-f transitions within the 4f(6) configuration of Eu(3+) ions, respectively. The photoluminescence properties were found to be strongly dependent on the calcination temperature and the PL properties are superior for sample calcined at 950 °C.

Enhanced photocatalytic efficacy of hetropolyacid pillared TiO2 nanocomposites.

The removal of dye from industrial effluents is prime important, photo-catalysis is a finest method to combat dye from effluents. This study concerns about the investigation of photocatalytic activity of TiO2-HPAs (Hetropolyacids) nanocomposite namely TiO2-Phosphomolybdic nanocomposite [TiO2-HMA] and TiO2-Phosphotungstic nanocomposite [TiO2-HWA] which were prepared by Sol-gel method and the same were characterized by using XRD, SEM-EDAX. The photocatalytic activity of prepared photo-catalysts were evaluated and compared by the degradation of Methylene Blue dye in water solution under UV irradiation. In that TiO2-HMA nanocomposite showed superior photocatalytic activity than TiO2-HWA.

Acute eosinophilic glomerulonephritis with Bancroftian filariasis.

A case is reported of Bancroftian filariasis and acute immune complex glomerulonephritis in a 44-year-old man. Renal biopsy showed microfilariae and large numbers of eosinophils in the glomeruli (eosinophilic glomerulonephritis). The absence of other aetiological factors suggests that the glomerulonephritis may have been of filarial origin.