Thermal damage to the skin from 8.2 and 95 GHz microwave exposures in swine.

A study of burn thresholds from superficially penetrating radio-frequency (RF) energy at 8.2 and 95 GHz for swine skin was conducted. The study determined the thresholds for superficial, partial-thickness, and full-thickness burn severities after 5 seconds of exposure at power densities of 4-30 W/cm2and 2-15~W/cm2at 8.2 and 95 GHz, respectively. There were significant differences in the burn thresholds at the different severities between the two frequencies due to the large difference in energy penetration depths. Biopsies were collected from each burn site at 1, 24, 72, and 168 hr post-exposure. Each sample was assessed by a burn pathologist against 20 histological factors to characterize the damage resulting from these RF overexposures. A one-dimensional, layered digital phantom that utilized realistic values for dielectric and thermal properties was used to explain some observed thresholds. The results of the heating and cooling response of the animal model, and histology scores of each exposure are provided to enhance future efforts at simulation of RF overexposures and to establish damage thresholds.

Impact of coronary artery disease and revascularization on outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve replacement for severe aortic stenosis.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of coronary artery disease (CAD), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and coronary lesion complexity on outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for aortic stenosis. METHODS/MATERIALS: This retrospective study included 1042 patients divided into two groups by the presence or absence of CAD (SYNTAX score 0, no history of revascularization). Propensity score matching was used to compare the two groups. The effect of PCI, SYNTAX score, and residual SYNTAX score was also analyzed. RESULTS: The median age of the cohort was 82 years, and 641 patients had CAD. After propensity score matching, 346 pairs were analyzed. During 5 years of follow-up (median: 25, range 0-72 months), the rate of coronary intervention was significantly higher in CAD patients (p = 0.018). However, all-cause mortality, composite of all-cause mortality, stroke, and coronary intervention, and overt bleeding defined by VARC-3 were comparable. After stratification, in patients with creatinine ≥1.5 mg/dl, CAD was associated with a worse composite outcome (p = 0.016). Neither PCI nor SYNTAX score was associated with all-cause mortality in CAD patients. Similarly, residual SYNTAX score showed no association with mortality in patients undergoing PCI (all p values >0.7). PCI did not reach a significant difference in overt bleeding in CAD patients (adjusted p = 0.06). CONCLUSIONS: Despite a higher incidence of coronary interventions, major clinical outcomes were similar between patients with and without CAD after TAVR. In patients with chronic kidney disease, CAD may be associated with an adverse composite outcome. Neither PCI nor SYNTAX/residual SYNTAX score influenced all-cause mortality.

Acute Transient Contrast-Induced Neurologic Deficit as a Complication of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Acute transient contrast-induced neurologic deficit is an uncommon condition triggered by the administration of intra-arterial contrast during angiography. It can present with encephalopathy, cortical blindness, seizures, or focal deficits. This report describes a patient who presented with severe neurologic deficits after percutaneous coronary intervention, with complete symptom resolution within 72 hours.

Impact of prior coronary artery bypass grafting and coronary lesion complexity on outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve replacement for severe aortic stenosis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of prior coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and coronary lesion complexity on transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) outcomes for aortic stenosis. METHODS: Clinical outcomes of TAVR were retrospectively compared between patients with and without prior CABG, and between patients with prior CABG and without coronary artery disease (CAD). The impact of the CABG SYNTAX score was also evaluated in patients with prior CABG. RESULTS: The study included 1042 patients with a median age and follow-up of 82 years and 25 (range: 0-72) months, respectively. Of these, 175 patients had a history of CABG, while 401 were free of CAD. Patients with prior CABG were more likely to be male and had higher rates of diabetes, peripheral artery disease and atrial fibrillation compared with patients without prior CABG. After 2 : 1 propensity score matching, all-cause mortality (P = 0.17) and the composite of all-cause mortality, stroke and coronary intervention (P = 0.16) were similar between patients with (n = 166) and without (n = 304) prior CABG. A 1 : 1 propensity score-matched analysis, however, showed lower rates of all-cause mortality (P = 0.04) and the composite outcome (P = 0.04) in patients with prior CABG (n = 134) compared with patients without CAD (n = 134). The median CABG SYNTAX score was 16 (interquartile range: 9.0-23), which was not associated with better/worse clinical outcomes in patients with prior CABG. CONCLUSION: Prior CABG may positively affect mid-term TAVR outcomes for aortic stenosis compared with no CAD when adjusted for other comorbidities. The CABG SYNTAX score did not influence the prognosis after TAVR.

Impact of Early Intervention on Health Status Outcomes in Peripheral Artery Disease Patients with Chronic Total Occlusion Lesions Using the PORTRAIT Registry.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the impact of non-invasive and early invasive treatments on health status in patients with lower extremity peripheral arterial disease (PAD) without and with chronic total occlusions (CTO) after 12 months of follow-up. METHODS: Using the international (U.S., Netherlands, and Australia) observational longitudinal PORTRAIT registry, we included patients with recent PAD symptoms between June 2011 and December 2015. We assessed the PAD-specific health status at initial visit, 3-, 6- and 12-month follow-up using the Peripheral Arterial Questionnaire (PAQ). On a propensity matched-weighted cohort, we compared patients' characteristics by CTO status and treatment groups as early invasive (revascularization in the 3 months) vs. non-invasive (exercise, medical therapies, or smoking cessation). We then assessed the health status trajectory over 12 months, as 3-way interaction between CTO status, and treatment groups, and months, using a multilevel generalized linear regression model for repeated measures adjusted for baseline health status with random effects at sites- and patients-level. RESULTS: We included 581 participants, with mean age of 66.62±9.33 years, 34.3% female, and 90.8% White, of whom 353 (60.8%) without and 228 (39.2%) with a CTO lesion. Respectively, 96 (27.2%) and 70 (30.7%) patients underwent early invasive treatment (d=0.07). While patients with CTO were more likely to have lower resting ABI, multilevel disease, and to experience severe claudication vs. their counterparts (|d|≥0.20); the patients' health status at baseline with CTO was not different from those without CTO, with mean Summary scores of 45.14±20.26 vs. 45.90±21.24 (d=0.04), respectively. The trajectory did not differ by CTO status (interaction CTO status*month: p=0.517) and was higher in early invasive vs. non-invasive treatment (treatment*month: p<0.001), regardless of CTO status (CTO status*treatment: p=0.981 and CTO status*treatment*month: p=0.264). The score increased over time with the largest improvement occurring at 3 months in both non-invasive (non-CTO: +7.82 95%CI 4.03;11.60 and CTO: +9.27 95%CI 4.45;14.09) and early invasive (non-CTO: +26.17 95%CI 20.06; 32.28 and CTO: +24.52 95%CI 17.40;31.64) groups. The mean score in CTO vs. non-CTO did not differ at each timepoint, with the 12-month mean score of 70.26 (95%CI 67.87; 74.65) vs. 71.17 (95% CI 65.91; 76.44) (p=0.99) in the non-invasive treatment and 84.93 (95%CI 78.90;90.97) vs. 79.20 (95%CI 72.77;86.14) (p=0.31) in the early invasive treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with symptomatic PAD undergoing early revascularization exhibited higher health status over time vs. those undergoing non-invasive treatment strategy, irrespective of the presence of CTOs. The degree of the improvement was greater in the 3 months following the initial visit, especially in patients undergoing early revascularization.

Improved Hemodynamics With Self-Expanding Compared to Balloon-Expandable Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation in Small Annulus Patients: A Propensity-Matched Analysis.

Patients with small aortic annuli (SAAs) pose a challenge in patients who underwent aortic valve replacement because of the potential for prosthesis-patient mismatch (PPM). This study aimed to compare the clinical and hemodynamic outcomes of self-expandable valve (SEV) versus balloon-expandable valve (BEV) transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in patients with severe aortic stenosis and SAAs. All patients who underwent TAVI for severe native aortic stenosis with an SAA between January 2018 and December 2022 were retrospectively included in the study from a single center. Propensity score matching was performed to balance the baseline characteristics. Bioprosthesis valve dysfunction was based on modified Valve Academic Research Consortium 3 criteria. A total of 1,170 TAVI procedures were performed between 2018 and 2022. After applying the exclusion criteria, 332 patients reported an SAA at computed tomography scan, and the matching created 109 balanced pairs. Echocardiographic data at discharge showed higher mean transvalvular gradients (p <0.001), higher grades of mitral regurgitation (p = 0.029), and lower ejection fraction (p <0.043) in BEVs than SEVs. At follow-up, significant differences favoring the SEV group regarding bioprosthesis valve dysfunction were observed (p = 0.002), especially in terms of severe PPM (p = 0.046) and at least moderate structural valve deterioration (p = 0.040). In conclusion, TAVI in patients with SAAs using a BEV was associated with lower valve areas, higher mean pressure gradients, and PPM (including severe) than a SEV. Short- and midterm all-cause and cardiac-related mortality did not differ between the 2 groups. Future randomized studies with extended follow-ups are warranted to validate these outcomes.

Chronological pattern of venous thromboembolism (VTE) occurrence impacts in survival of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

BACKGROUND: Limited data exist on the prognostic significance of the chronology of VTE in patients with PDAC. METHODS: Medical data and survival characteristics of patients treated for PDAC from 2019 to 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Early VTE was defined as occurring within the three months of PDAC diagnosis. RESULTS: 197 patients were included, 54 (27.4%) developed a VTE. Early appearance of VTE was associated with worse prognosis: median overall survival (mOS) VTE < 3 months 8.5 months (HR 1.65, 95% CI 1.11-2.46; p = 0.014), mOS VTE > 3 months 12.8 months (HR 0.78, 95% CI 0.39-1.54; p = 0.5) and mOS patients without VTE 11.4 months (95% CI 10.1-15.4). There was no significant association between the patient's VTE risk according to the Khorana risk score (KRS) (chi2 test p-value = 0.9). CONCLUSION: Early VTE is a prognostic factor in PDAC, which may identify a more aggressive subtype.

Direct aortic cannulation versus femoral arterial cannulation for early outcomes in acute type A aortic dissection: A study-level meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: To investigate the impact of direct aortic cannulation (DAC) versus femoral arterial cannulation (FAC) on clinical outcomes of surgery for acute type A aortic dissection. METHODS: PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched until August 25, 2023, to conduct a meta-analysis. Primary endpoints of the study were operative mortality and postoperative stroke. Secondary endpoints were cardiopulmonary bypass time, myocardial ischemic time, hypothermic circulatory arrest time, temporary neurological dysfunction (TND), combined stroke and TND, re-exploration for bleeding, and need for renal replacement therapy. A random-effect model was used to estimate the pooled effect size, and a leave-one-out method was used for the primary endpoints for sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: 15 studies met our eligibility criteria, including a total of 7941 samples. Operative mortality was significantly lower in the DAC group with a pooled odds ratio (OR) of 0.72 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.61-0.85)]. Incidence of postoperative stroke was also lower in the DAC group with a pooled OR of 0.79 (95% CI: 0.66-0.94). However, after excluding one study with the greatest weight, the difference became nonsignificant. DAC was also associated with a lower incidence of postoperative TND, and re-exploration for bleeding with a pooled OR of 0.52 (95% CI: 0.37-0.73), and 0.60 (95% CI: 0.47-0.77), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis showed that patients who underwent ATAAD repair with DAC had a lower incidence of operative mortality, postoperative stroke, TND, and re-exploration for bleeding compared to those who underwent FAC.

Selective CW Laser Synthesis of MoS2 and Mixture of MoS2 and MoO2 from (NH4)2MoS4 Film.

Very recently, the synthesis of 2D MoS2 and WS2 through pulsed laser-directed thermolysis can achieve wafer-scale and large-area structures, in ambient conditions. In this paper, we report the synthesis of MoS2 and MoS2 oxides from (NH4)2MoS4 film using a visible continuous-wave (CW) laser at 532 nm, instead of the infrared pulsed laser for the laser-directed thermolysis. The (NH4)2MoS4 film is prepared by dissolving its crystal powder in DI water, sonicating the solution, and dip-coating onto a glass slide. We observed a laser intensity threshold for the laser synthesis of MoS2, however, it occurred in a narrow laser intensity range. Above that range, a mixture of MoS2 and MoO2 is formed, which can be used for a memristor device, as demonstrated by other research groups. We did not observe a mixture of MoS2 and MoO3 in the laser thermolysis of (NH4)2MoS4. The laser synthesis of MoS2 in a line pattern is also achieved through laser scanning. Due to of the ease of CW beam steering and the fine control of laser intensities, this study can lead toward the CW laser-directed thermolysis of (NH4)2MoS4 film for the fast, non-vacuum, patternable, and wafer-scale synthesis of 2D MoS2.

Factors Associated with SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Fully Vaccinated Nursing Home Residents and Workers.

Persons living or working in nursing homes faced a higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infections during the pandemic, resulting in heightened morbidity and mortality among older adults despite robust vaccination efforts. This prospective study evaluated the humoral and cellular immunity in fully vaccinated residents and workers from two nursing homes in Madrid, Spain, from 2020 to 2021. Measurements of IgG levels were conducted in August 2020 (pre-vaccination) and June and September 2021 (post-vaccination), alongside assessments of neutralizing antibodies and cellular responses in September 2021 among the most vulnerable individuals. Follow-up extended until February 2022 to identify risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection or mortality, involving 267 residents (mean age 87.6 years, 81.3% women) and 302 workers (mean age 50.7 years, 82.1% women). Residents exhibited a significantly higher likelihood of experiencing COVID-19 before June 2021 compared with nursing staff (OR [95% CI], 7.2 [3.0 to 17.2], p < 0.01). Participants with a history of previous COVID-19 infection showed more significant increases in IgG levels in August 2020, June 2021 and September 2021, alongside an increased proportion of neutralizing antibodies in the most vulnerable individuals. However, IgG decay remained the same between June and September 2021 based on the previous COVID-19 status. During the Omicron variant wave, residents and staff showed a similar rate of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Notably, preceding clinical or immunological factors before receiving three vaccination doses did not demonstrate associations with COVID-19 infection or overall mortality in our participant cohort.

Aortic versus axillary cannulation in acute type A aortic dissection repair: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Research comparing the effectiveness of central aortic cannulation to axillary artery cannulation in repairing acute type A aortic dissection is limited and controversial. This meta-analysis aimed to compare early outcomes of central aortic cannulation versus axillary artery cannulation for surgery for acute aortic dissection type A. METHODS: A comprehensive systematic search was conducted across PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials up to September 1, 2023. The primary endpoints were operative mortality and incidence of postoperative stroke. Secondary endpoints encompassed cardiopulmonary bypass time, myocardial ischemic time, hypothermic circulatory arrest time, postoperative temporary neurological dysfunction, combination of stroke and temporary neurological dysfunction, as well as the need for reexploration for bleeding, renal replacement therapy, and tracheotomy. A random-effect model was utilized to calculate the pooled effect size. RESULTS: Eleven studies met our eligibility criteria, enrolling a total of 7204 patients (2760 underwent aortic cannulation and 4444 underwent axillary cannulation). The operative mortality and incidence of postoperative stroke did not show statistical differences between the two groups, with a pooled odds ratio of 1.07 (95% confidence interval: 0.73-1.55) and 1.17 (0.95-1.42), respectively. Similarly, none of the secondary endpoints exhibited significant statistical differences between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Aortic cannulation can be a viable alternative to axillary artery cannulation for repair of acute aortic dissection type A, as both approaches present similar early clinical outcomes.

When Two Syndromes Collide: Managing Fanconi and Refeeding Syndrome in a Single Patient.

Refeeding syndrome is the potentially fatal shift in fluids and electrolytes that may occur in malnourished patients after receiving artificial refeeding. Its hallmark feature is hypophosphatemia, although other electrolytes might also be affected. Fanconi syndrome is a generalized dysfunction of the proximal tubule characterized by proximal renal tubular acidosis (RTA), phosphaturia, glycosuria, aminoaciduria, and proteinuria. The etiology of Fanconi syndrome can be either acquired or inherited, and drugs, among them tenofovir, are a common acquired cause of this disease. We present the case of a patient with AIDS and polysubstance abuse who was admitted due to pneumonia, completed treatment, was then started on antiretroviral medication (ART) that included tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) and began presenting severe episodes of hypophosphatemia along with other electrolyte imbalances, leading the workup denoted in the case, severe complications and finally to the patient's demise. Most cases of tenofovir-related Fanconi syndrome are related to tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, but very few cases have been reported with TAF. Our case highlights this rare complication of therapy with TAF and how artificial feeding can contribute to severe electrolyte abnormalities and worsen outcomes.

Impact of mitral stenosis on early and late outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis: a single-center analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the impact of concomitant mitral stenosis (MS) on early and late outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for aortic stenosis. METHODS: This study involved 952 patients undergoing TAVR for severe tricuspid aortic stenosis. The patients were classified into 3 groups: without MS, with progressive MS, and severe MS (mitral valve area ≤ 1.5 cm2). Clinical outcomes between these groups were compared. RESULTS: The median age of the overall cohort was 82 years, and patients in the progressive (n = 49) and severe (n = 24) MS groups were more likely to be female than those in the no-MS group (n = 879). Periprocedural mortality rate was lowest in the no-MS group (1.8%) compared with the progressive (4.1%) and severe (4.2%) MS groups, which were not significantly different (P = .20). During 5 years of follow-up (median: 27, range: 0-72 months), there was no significant difference in all-cause mortality (log-rank P = .99), a composite of all-cause mortality or rehospitalization for heart failure (log-rank P = .84), or cardiovascular death (log-rank P = .57) between groups. Although crude analysis showed a significant difference in rehospitalization for heart failure in the severe MS group compared with the no-MS group (P = .049), the difference was not significant in the multivariate analysis (adjusted hazard ratio: 1.36 [95% CI, 0.66-2.80], P = .41). CONCLUSIONS: TAVR can be safely performed in patients with severe tricuspid aortic stenosis and concomitant MS, with early and mid-term outcomes comparable to those in patients without MS.

COVID-19 epidemic in Panama.

Objective: It is necessary to establish the evolution that the pandemic has had in Panama by weeks and months and to clearly establish the existence of surges or peaks, according to cases and deaths and the relationship with age groups. Methodology: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all confirmed COVID-19 cases reported by the Ministry of Health of Panama during the first 3 years of the epidemic (March 9, 2020, March 11, 2023). All cases were obtained from information provided by the Ministry of Health. We obtained daily information of the population at the national level reported as new cases, deaths, admission to hospitals, admission to intensive care units and by age groups. The information is classified by epidemiological week and by month from the diagnosis of the first case until March 2023. Results: During the three years of the study, 1,032,316 cases of COVID-19 were registered in the Republic of Panama, and the number of deaths reported was 8,621, for a fatality rate of 0.83 % throughout that period. The number of deaths decreased over the 3 years of the pandemic; however, similar to the cases, there were periods of surges (peaks) per year in June/July and in December/January. The lethality progressively increased according to the age of the affected patients. During the first year, the lethality in those under 20 years of age was 0.05 %, and in those over 80 years old, it was 17.54 %. This pattern was maintained during the second year; however, there was a large decrease in all age groups. Conclusion: the highest lethality rate in Panama occurred in the first year of the pandemic, with a great decrease in the third year; the impact of lethality is proportional to the age of the individual, with a high possibility of death in those over 80 years of age. During each pandemic year, there are two peaks (surges of new cases and deaths) per year, which are important times to take into account to generate strategies aimed at reducing the impact.

Clinical and Echocardiographic Outcomes of Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair for Functional vs Degenerative Mitral Valve Regurgitation.

To analyze clinical and echocardiographic outcomes after transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) with mitral valve clip device (MitraClip-TM) for functional vs degenerative mitral valve regurgitation (MR). All consecutive 185 patients undergoing TEER between January 2019 and March 2023 were included in the study. A propensity-adjusted analysis investigated differences among functional vs degenerative MR mechanism groups. Preoperatively, functional vs degenerative MR included 43 vs 142 patients, respectively. Mean ejection fraction (EF) values were 37% vs 57.8%, mean STS-PROM risk score was 7% vs 4% while patients with severe MR included 29 (67.4%) vs 129 (90.9%) patients, respectively. Postoperatively, functional MR patients experienced a higher incidence of prolonged postoperative length of stay (LOS), reduced creatinine clearance, and EF<50% compared to the degenerative MR group. Mean EF was 35.9% vs 56.2% (P < 0.0001) and 1 (2.3%) vs 16 (11.3%) patients had residual severe MR (P = 0.01) in functional vs degenerative MR groups, respectively. At 30-days follow-up, all-cause death incidence was 1 (2.3%) vs 3 (2.1%) patients in functional vs degenerative MR, respectively (P = 0.9). At a mean of 1.6-years follow-up, all-cause death (P = 0.01), major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) (P = 0.02), cardiac death (P = 0.01) and hazard ratio for all-cause death higher in functional vs degenerative MR group. Mean EF was 39.7% vs 56% (P < 0.001) while residual severe MR was 4 (9.3%) vs 34 (24.5%) (P = 0.1) in functional vs degenerative MR groups, respectively. TEER with MitraClip device showed a higher incidence of all-cause death, cardiac death, and MACCE at follow-up for functional compared to degenerative MR after TEER.

In Vitro Prostate Cancer Treatment via CRISPR-Cas9 Gene Editing Facilitated by Polyethyleneimine-Derived Graphene Quantum Dots.

CRISPR-Cas9 is a programmable gene editing tool with a promising potential for cancer gene therapy. This therapeutic function is enabled in the present work via the non-covalent delivery of CRISPR ribonucleic protein (RNP) by cationic glucosamine/PEI-derived graphene quantum dots (PEI-GQD) that aid in overcoming physiological barriers and tracking genes of interest. PEI-GQD/RNP complex targeting the TP53 mutation overexpressed in ~50% of cancers successfully produces its double-stranded breaks in solution and in PC3 prostate cancer cells. Restoring this cancer "suicide" gene can promote cellular repair pathways and lead to cancer cell apoptosis. Its repair to the healthy form performed by simultaneous PEI-GQD delivery of CRISPR RNP and a gene repair template leads to a successful therapeutic outcome: 40% apoptotic cancer cell death, while having no effect on non-cancerous HeK293 cells. The translocation of PEI-GQD/RNP complex into PC3 cell cytoplasm is tracked via GQD intrinsic fluorescence, while EGFP-tagged RNP is detected in the cell nucleus, showing the successful detachment of the gene editing tool upon internalization. Using GQDs as non-viral delivery and imaging agents for CRISPR-Cas9 RNP sets the stage for image-guided cancer-specific gene therapy.

The prognostic impact of SIGLEC5-induced impairment of CD8+ T cell activation in sepsis.

BACKGROUND: Sepsis is associated with T-cell exhaustion, which significantly reduces patient outcomes. Therefore, targeting of immune checkpoints (ICs) is deemed necessary for effective sepsis management. Here, we evaluated the role of SIGLEC5 as an IC ligand and explored its potential as a biomarker for sepsis. METHODS: In vitro and in vivo assays were conducted to both analyse SIGLEC5's role as an IC ligand, as well as assess its impact on survival in sepsis. A multicentre prospective cohort study was conducted to evaluate the plasmatic soluble SIGLEC5 (sSIGLEC5) as a mortality predictor in the first 60 days after admission in sepsis patients. Recruitment included sepsis patients (n = 346), controls with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (n = 80), aneurism (n = 11), stroke (n = 16), and healthy volunteers (HVs, n = 100). FINDINGS: SIGLEC5 expression on monocytes was increased by HIF1α and was higher in septic patients than in healthy volunteers after ex vivo LPS challenge. Furthermore, SIGLEC5-PSGL1 interaction inhibited CD8+ T-cell proliferation. Administration of sSIGLEC5r (0.8 mg/kg) had adverse effects in mouse endotoxemia models. Additionally, plasma sSIGLEC5 levels of septic patients were higher than HVs and ROC analysis revealed it as a mortality marker with an AUC of 0.713 (95% CI, 0.656-0.769; p < 0.0001). Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed a significant decrease in survival above the calculated cut-off (HR of 3.418, 95% CI, 2.380-4.907, p < 0.0001 by log-rank test) estimated by Youden Index (523.6 ng/mL). INTERPRETATION: SIGLEC5 displays the hallmarks of an IC ligand, and plasma levels of sSIGLEC5 have been linked with increased mortality in septic patients. FUNDING: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) and "Fondos FEDER" to ELC (PIE15/00065, PI18/00148, PI14/01234, PI21/00869), CDF (PI21/01178), RLR (FI19/00334) and JAO (CD21/00059).

Datasets describing optimization of the cutting regime in the turning of AISI 316L steel for biomedical purposes based on the NSGA-II and NSGA-III multi-criteria algorithms.

There are several methods of analysis used in the metalworking industry for dry machining processes and with Minimum Quantity Lubrication (MQL). Evolutionary methods [1] have been used in the decision-making process in the machining process to select the optimal data and to analyze the behavior of variables such as cutting speed (V), feed rate (f) and cutting depth (ap). This work addresses the use of evolutionary algorithms of low dominance class II and III (NSGA-II and NSGA-III) to analyze from the multicriteria approach the initial wear of the cutting tool (VB), the energy consumption (E) and the machining time (t) in the turning process of the AISI 316L steel workpiece for biomedical purposes. As input variables to the algorithm with 54 records, there are: cutting speed (V: 200, 300, 400 m/min) and feed rate (f: 0.1, 0.15, 0.2 mm/rev). The experiment was developed for a dry (1) turning operation and with the use of MQL (-1). For the MQL lubrication regime, a TRI-COOL MD-1 lubricant was employed, a vegetable type used in ferrous and non-ferrous metal cutting operations. A BIDEMICS JX1 ceramic cutting tool was used.

Enhanced Photoluminescence and Prolonged Carrier Lifetime through Laser Radiation Hardening and Self-Healing in Aged MAPbBr3 Perovskites Encapsulated in NiO Nanotubes.

Organic-inorganic perovskites hold great promise as optoelectronic semiconductors for pure color light emitting and photovoltaic devices. However, challenges persist regarding their photostability and chemical stability, which limit their extensive applications. This paper investigates the laser radiation hardening and self-healing-induced properties of aged MAPbBr3 perovskites encapsulated in NiO nanotubes (MAPbBr3@NiO) using photoluminescence (PL) and fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM). After deliberately subjecting the MAPbBr3@ NiO to atmospheric conditions for two years, the sample remains remarkably stable. It exhibits no changes in PL wavelength during UV laser irradiation and self-healing. Furthermore, exposure to UV light at 375 nm enhances the PL of the self-healed MAPbBr3@NiO. FLIM analysis sheds light on the mechanism behind photodegradation, self-healing, and PL enhancement. The results indicate the involvement of many carrier-trapping states with low lifetime events and an increase in peak lifetime after self-healing. The formation of trapping states at the perovskite/nanotube interface is discussed and tested. This study provides new insights into the dynamics of photo-carriers during photodegradation and self-healing in organic-inorganic perovskites.

Doped Graphene Quantum Dots as Biocompatible Radical Scavenging Agents.

Oxidative stress is proven to be a leading factor in a multitude of adverse conditions, from Alzheimer's disease to cancer. Thus, developing effective radical scavenging agents to eliminate reactive oxygen species (ROS) driving many oxidative processes has become critical. In addition to conventional antioxidants, nanoscale structures and metal-organic complexes have recently shown promising potential for radical scavenging. To design an optimal nanoscale ROS scavenging agent, we have synthesized ten types of biocompatible graphene quantum dots (GQDs) augmented with various metal dopants. The radical scavenging abilities of these novel metal-doped GQD structures were, for the first time, assessed via the DPPH, KMnO4, and RHB (Rhodamine B protectant) assays. While all metal-doped GQDs consistently demonstrate antioxidant properties higher than the undoped cores, aluminum-doped GQDs exhibit 60-95% radical scavenging ability of ascorbic acid positive control. Tm-doped GQDs match the radical scavenging properties of ascorbic acid in the KMnO4 assay. All doped GQD structures possess fluorescence imaging capabilities that enable their tracking in vitro, ensuring their successful cellular internalization. Given such multifunctionality, biocompatible doped GQD antioxidants can become prospective candidates for multimodal therapeutics, including the reduction of ROS with concomitant imaging and therapeutic delivery to cancer tumors.