Gene therapy clinical trials worldwide to 2023-an update.

To date, 3,900 gene therapy clinical trials have been completed, are ongoing or have been approved worldwide. Our database brings together global information on gene therapy clinical activity from trial databases, official agency sources, published literature, conference presentations and posters kindly provided to us by individual investigators or trial sponsors. This review presents our analysis of clinical trials that, to the best of our knowledge, have been or are being performed worldwide. As of our March 2023 update, we have entries on 3,900 trials undertaken in 46 countries. We have analyzed the geographical distribution of trials, the disease indications (or other reasons) for trials, the proportions to which different vector types are used, and which genes have been transferred. Details of the analyses presented, and our searchable database are on The Journal of Gene Medicine Gene Therapy Clinical Trials Worldwide website at https://a873679.fmphost.com/fmi/webd/GTCT. We also provide an overview of the progress being made around the world, and discuss key trends since the previous review, namely the unprecedented increase in gene therapy clinical trial activity, including the implementation of genome editing technology with the potential to transform the field moving forward.

Synthesis and comparison of three photocatalysts for degrading tramadol as an analgesic and widely used drug in water samples.

Tramadol is an analgesic drug that is mainly excreted in the urine. The entry of Tramadol into water samples causes their biological contamination. Therefore, three catalysts such as bismuth ferrite, cobalt-doped bismuth ferrite, and a magnetized Keggin type of polyoxometalate (α-Fe2O3@phosphotungstic acid), were synthesized as photocatalysts to degrade Tramadol in water samples. The morphology and properties of the prepared photocatalysts were evaluated using several techniques. Effects of several factors, including tramadol concentration, pH, hydrogen peroxide concentration, and photocatalyst amount, were studied and optimized by a design experiment procedure based on Box-Behnken design for reducing the number of experiments and cost and investigating the interactions between factors in the photocatalytic degradation process of Tramadol. These factors were optimized for each prepared photocatalyst individually. Under the optimum conditions, the percentages of tramadol degradation and kinetics of the degradation process were evaluated in the presence of each photocatalyst. The tramadol degradation percentages using bismuth ferrite, cobalt-doped bismuth ferrite, and α-Fe2O3 @phosphotungstic acid were 81.10% for 120 min, 90.63% for 80 min, and 91.32% for 80 min, respectively. The rate constants of tramadol degradation were 0.0145, 0.0329, and 0.0312 min-1 for bismuth ferrite, cobalt-doped bismuth ferrite, and α-Fe2O3 @phosphotungstic acid, respectively. The results indicated the highest percentage of tramadol degradation and rate of the degradation process were obtained using α-Fe2O3 @phosphotungstic acid and cobalt-doped bismuth ferrite, respectively.

High fragmentation in platelet concentrates impacts the activation, procoagulant, and aggregatory capacity of platelets.

Platelets are transfused to patients to prevent bleeding. Since both preparation and storage can impact the hemostatic functions of platelets, we studied platelet concentrates (PCs) with different initial composition in regard to platelet fragmentation and its impact on storage-induced changes in activation potential. Ten whole blood derived PCs were assessed over 7 storage days. Using flow cytometry, platelet (CD41+) subpopulations were characterized for activation potential using activation markers (PAC-1, P-selectin, and LAMP-1), phosphatidylserine (Annexin V), and mitochondrial integrity (DiIC1(5)). Aggregation response, coagulation, and soluble activation markers (cytokines and sGPVI) were also measured. Of the CD41+ events, the PCs contained a median of 82% normal-sized platelets, 10% small platelets, and 8% fragments. The small platelets exhibited procoagulant hallmarks (increased P-selectin and Annexin V and reduced DiIC1(5)). Normal-sized platelets responded to activation, whereas activation potential was decreased for small and abolished for fragments. Five PCs contained a high proportion of small platelets and fragments (median of 28% of CD41+ events), which was significantly higher than the other five PCs (median of 9%). A high proportion of small platelets and fragments was associated with procoagulant hallmarks and decreased activation potential, but, although diminished, they still retained some activation potential throughout 7 days storage.

What is the context?● Platelets are necessary to prevent and stop bleeding.● Conditions associated with a low platelet count in the circulation, such as during chemotherapy treatment for hematologic cancer, can result in life-threatening bleeding. To prevent this, platelets from blood donors are transfused to these patients.● The collection and preparation of platelet concentrates and subsequent storage before transfusion can affect the ability of the platelets to prevent bleeding.● In this study, we investigated platelet concentrates prepared from whole blood and how their activation capacity was affected by the preparation and storage period.What is new?● We found that the platelet concentrates contained mainly low activated platelets of normal size, but also smaller platelets and platelet fragments.● Unlike normal-sized platelets, small platelets and fragments exhibited hallmarks that are characteristic of pre-activation.● Some platelet concentrates contained a relatively high proportion of small platelets and fragments already directly following preparation.● Investigating several platelet activation markers, we found that platelet concentrates containing a high proportion of small platelets and platelet fragments showed lower activation capacity throughout the storage period.What is the impact?● We show that some platelet concentrates show lower activation capacity and might contain a substantial fraction of platelets with characteristics that might potentially trigger spontaneous blood coagulation. The variation between different concentrations is high, even though the preparation procedure is the same.● If these differences will affect the efficacy of platelet transfusion is an important area for future studies.

Surgical anatomic findings of sphenoid sinus in 1009 Iranian patients with pituitary adenoma undergoing endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery.

OBJECTIVE: The most common surgical technique for the management of pituitary adenomas is the endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach (EEA). preoperative neuroimaging along with detecting surgical landmarks of the sphenoid sinus during surgery is important for making a successful operation. METHOD: This study includes 1009 patients with pituitary adenomas who underwent EEA between 2013 and 2020. We evaluated the anatomical features of the sphenoid sinus through a panel of items obtained from imaging and intra-operative findings. RESULTS: Our result includes 57.38% nonfunctional, 8.42% cushing, 12.39% prolactinoma, and 21.8% acromegaly patients who had undergone endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery. The mean age of the patients was 45 with a male to female ratio of 1.2:1. Sellar sphenoid type was the most common (91.8%) with only 12% symmetrical inter sphenoid septa, Internal carotid artery dehiscence was found in 1.7% of the cases. Apoplexy was present in 6.3% of patients, which was found more prevalent in nonfunctional adenomas (9.67%, Odds ratio: 4.85, 95% CI 2.24-11.79) and further investigation revealed a significant association between apoplexy and sphenoid mucosal edema and hemorrhage (Odds ratio: 43.0, 95% CI 22.50-84.26), and between apoplexy and cystic lesions (OR = 4.14, 95% CI 1.87-8.45, P-value < 0.0001). Acromegaly is associated with the increased number of lateral recces (Odds ratio: 11.41, 95% CI 7.54-17.52), septation of the sphenoid sinus (Marginal mean: 3.92, 95% CI 3.69-4.14), edematous sinonasal mucosa (Odds ratio: 6.7; 95% CI 4.46-10.08), and higher bony (OR: 4.81, 95% CI 2.60-8.97, P-value < 0.001) and cavernous (OR: 1.7, 95% CI 1.13-2.46, P-value < 0.01) invasion. CONCLUSION: The present study provides anatomical data about the sphenoid sinus and its adjacent vital structures with adenomal specific changes that are necessary to prevent complications during endoscopic advanced transsphenoidal surgery.

Highly sensitive voltammetric determination of NADH based on N-CQDs decorated SnO2/ionic liquid/carbon paste electrode.

A highly sensitive and selective modified electrode was successfully developed for the monitoring of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) in the presence of folic acid. In this regard, a carbon paste electrode (CPE) was functionalized by the nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots/tin oxide (N-CQDs/SnO2) nanocomposite and 1-butyl-2,3-dimethyl imidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([C4DMIM][PF6]) ionic liquid (IL). The structure and surface morphology of the nanocomposite were characterized by various methods, including field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), and x-ray diffraction (XRD). The modified electrode displayed powerful and long-lasting electron mediating activity, with well-separated NADH and folic acid oxidation peaks. The sensing response of the developed [C4DMIM][PF6]/N-CQDs/SnO2/CPE platform was evaluated by determining NADH via the voltammetric technique under the optimized operating conditions. The current peaks of the square wave voltammograms of NADH and folic acid increased linearly with enhancing its concentrations within the ranges of 0.003-275µM NADH and 0.4-380µM folic acid. The detection limits for NADH and folic acid were obtained at 0.8 nM and 0.1µM, respectively. Interference species such as glucose, urea, tryptophan, glycine, methionine, and vitamin B12had no influence on the ability of the fabricated modified electrode to detect the target species. The low detection limit, high sensitivity, excellent selectivity, superior stability, and cost-effectiveness made it suitable for the quantification of NADH in the real biological samples with the recovery percent values in the range of 97.5%-103%.

Beyond a traumatic loss: The experiences of mourning alone after parental death during COVID-19 pandemic.

Millions of adolescents around the world lost their loved ones due to the COVID-19 pandemic; at the same time, health protocols in many countries do not allow mourners to practice their familiar rituals around death and dying. This study explored the experience of 15 Iranian adolescents who had lost their parent(s) during the pandemic through a phenomenological approach. Two main themes including distress in a shattered life and crisis in crisis were extracted from the interviews. Findings highlight the importance of immediate and alternative ways of support for adolescents who lost their parents during the pandemic.

Death and Dying in a Digitalized World.

The impact of digitalization on the topic of death and dying seems to be accelerated in recent years. This study aimed to explore the online ways people used to overcome grief and used the COVID-19 restrictions as an example. Thirty-two bereaved participants were interviewed and the data were analyzed using the constructive grounded theory method. Three main themes were extracted from the data: 1) an online way to remember; 2) digitalization of social support, and 3) continuing the bonds. Findings highlighted the important and inevitable role of the digital world in the grief process when there is a restriction in holding usual ceremonies.

Psychometric evaluation of a questionnaire for measuring factors related to mental health of women in an earthquake.

The current study was performed with the aim of the psychometric evaluation of a questionnaire for measuring factors related to women's mental health in an earthquake. This descriptive instrumental study was carried out on a population of 378 women with an earthquake experience in Kerman Province, Iran, in 2017-2018. The formal validity, content validity, criterion validity, factor analysis, and reliability of the questionnaire were measured using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Moreover, descriptive statistics and Pearson's correlation coefficient were used to report data. In the content validity stage, 34out of 85 items of the questionnaire were eliminated. In the exploratory factor analysis (EFA) stage, 2 items out of the remaining 51 items were removed due to weak factor loading and 49 items were defined in 6 factors. The convergent and divergent validities of the questionnaire were confirmed in relation to the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) (r = -0.23; P = .030) and World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) (r = 0.32;P = .001). Using Cronbach's alpha coefficient, the reliability of the questionnaire was obtained to be 0.91. The reliability and validity of the study questionnaire were at an appropriate level, and thus, it can be used to perform extensive surveys among women who have experienced earthquake.

Entropic Dynamics of Exchange Rates and Options.

An Entropic Dynamics of exchange rates is laid down to model the dynamics of foreign exchange rates, FX, and European Options on FX. The main objective is to represent an alternative framework to model dynamics. Entropic inference is an inductive inference framework equipped with proper tools to handle situations where incomplete information is available. Entropic Dynamics is an application of entropic inference, which is equipped with the entropic notion of time to model dynamics. The scale invariance is a symmetry of the dynamics of exchange rates, which is manifested in our formalism. To make the formalism manifestly invariant under this symmetry, we arrive at choosing the logarithm of the exchange rate as the proper variable to model. By taking into account the relevant information about the exchange rates, we derive the Geometric Brownian Motion, GBM, of the exchange rate, which is manifestly invariant under the scale transformation. Securities should be valued such that there is no arbitrage opportunity. To this end, we derive a risk-neutral measure to value European Options on FX. The resulting model is the celebrated Garman-Kohlhagen model.

Entropic Dynamics of Stocks and European Options.

We develop an entropic framework to model the dynamics of stocks and European Options. Entropic inference is an inductive inference framework equipped with proper tools to handle situations where incomplete information is available. The objective of the paper is to lay down an alternative framework for modeling dynamics. An important information about the dynamics of a stock's price is scale invariance. By imposing the scale invariant symmetry, we arrive at choosing the logarithm of the stock's price as the proper variable to model. The dynamics of stock log price is derived using two pieces of information, the continuity of motion and the directionality constraint. The resulting model is the same as the Geometric Brownian Motion, GBM, of the stock price which is manifestly scale invariant. Furthermore, we come up with the dynamics of probability density function, which is a Fokker-Planck equation. Next, we extend the model to value the European Options on a stock. Derivative securities ought to be prices such that there is no arbitrage. To ensure the no-arbitrage pricing, we derive the risk-neutral measure by incorporating the risk-neutral information. Consequently, the Black-Scholes model and the Black-Scholes-Merton differential equation are derived.

Gene therapy clinical trials worldwide to 2017: An update.

To date, almost 2600 gene therapy clinical trials have been completed, are ongoing or have been approved worldwide. Our database brings together global information on gene therapy clinical activity from trial databases, official agency sources, published literature, conference presentations and posters kindly provided to us by individual investigators or trial sponsors. This review presents our analysis of clinical trials that, to the best of our knowledge, have been or are being performed worldwide. As of our November 2017 update, we have entries on 2597 trials undertaken in 38 countries. We have analysed the geographical distribution of trials, the disease indications (or other reasons) for trials, the proportions to which different vector types are used, and the genes that have been transferred. Details of the analyses presented, and our searchable database are available via The Journal of Gene Medicine Gene Therapy Clinical Trials Worldwide website at: http://www.wiley.co.uk/genmed/clinical. We also provide an overview of the progress being made in gene therapy clinical trials around the world, and discuss key trends since the previous review, namely the use of chimeric antigen receptor T cells for the treatment of cancer and advancements in genome editing technologies, which have the potential to transform the field moving forward.

Effects of Positive Psychology Interventions on Risk Biomarkers in Coronary Patients: A Randomized, Wait-List Controlled Pilot Trial.

BACKGROUND: Among cardiac patients, positive psychologic factors are consistently linked with superior clinical outcomes and improvement in key markers of inflammation and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis functioning. Further, positive psychology interventions (PPI) have effectively increased psychologic well-being in a wide variety of populations. However, there has been minimal study of PPIs in cardiac patients, and no prior study has evaluated their effect on key prognostic biomarkers of cardiac outcome. Accordingly, we investigated the effect of 3 distinct PPIs on risk biomarkers in cardiac patients. METHODS: In an exploratory trial, 69 patients with recent coronary artery bypass graft surgery or percutaneous intervention were randomized to (1) one of three 6-week in-person PPIs (based on the work of Seligman, Lyubomirsky, or Fordyce) or (2) a wait-list control group. Risk biomarkers were assessed at baseline, postintervention (7 weeks), and at 15-week follow-up. Between-group differences in change from baseline biomarker levels were examined via random effects models. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, participants randomized to the Seligman (B = -2.06; p = 0.02) and Fordyce PPI (B = -1.54; p = 0.04) had significantly lower high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels at 7 weeks. Further, the Lyubomirsky PPI (B = -245.86; p = 0.04) was associated with a significantly lower cortisol awakening response at 7 weeks when compared with control participants. There were no other significant between-group differences. CONCLUSION: Despite being an exploratory pilot study with multiple between-group comparisons, this initial trial offers the first suggestion that PPIs might be effective in reducing risk biomarkers in high-risk cardiac patients.

Positive Psychology Interventions for Patients With Heart Disease: A Preliminary Randomized Trial.

BACKGROUND: Positive psychologic characteristics have been linked to superior cardiac outcomes. OBJECTIVE: Accordingly, in this exploratory study, we assessed positive psychology interventions in patients who had recently undergone a procedure to treat cardiovascular disease. METHOD: Participants were randomly assigned to receive 1 of 3 different 6-week face-to-face interventions or a wait-list control condition. We assessed intervention feasibility and compared changes in psychologic outcome measures postintervention (7wk) and at follow-up (15wk) between intervention and control participants. Across the interventions, 74% of assigned sessions were completed. RESULTS: When comparing outcomes between interventions and control participants (N = 55 total), there were no between-group differences post-intervention, but at follow-up intervention participants had greater improvements in happiness (ß = 14.43, 95% CI: 8.66-20.2, p < 0.001), depression (ß = -3.87, 95% CI: -7.72 to 0.02, p = 0.049), and hope (ß = 7.12, 95% CI: 1.25-13.00, p =0.017), with moderate-large effect sizes. Efficacy of the 3 interventions was similar. CONCLUSIONS: Future studies are needed to identify an optimal positive psychology intervention for cardiac patients.

Effect of neurofeedback training on depression and fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Depression and fatigue are common symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS) and are the primary determinants of impaired quality of life in this demyelinating neurological disease. Untreated depression is associated with suicidal ideation, impaired cognitive function and poor adherence to immunomodulatory treatment. For these reasons, systematic screening and management of depressive symptoms and fatigue is recommended for all patients with MS. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of neurofeedback in treating depression and fatigue in persons with MS. We conducted a randomized trial with 24 MS patients with primary fatigue and depression. Participants were randomized into two groups: neurofeedback training group (16 sessions of NFB) or treatment as usual. Participants were evaluated at 3 time points (baseline, end of the treatment, and 2-month follow-up) using the Fatigue Severity Scale and Depression subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale as outcome measures. A repeated measures analysis of variance was used to examine differences between the groups. NFB significantly reduced symptoms of depression and fatigue in patients with MS patients, compared to treatment as usual (p < .05), and these effects were maintained the 2-month follow-up (p < .05).

The role of urinary TIMP1 and MMP9 levels in predicting vesicoureteral reflux in neonates with antenatal hydronephrosis.

BACKGROUND: Antenatal hydronephrosis (AH) is commonly found on evaluation of pregnant women and 20-30 % of neonates have vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). In order to diagnose VUR, we required invasive testing and exposure of the neonate to radiation. The concentrations of a matrix metalloproteinase, MMP9, and its inhibitor TIMP1, were analyzed in hydronephrotic newborns with VUR and were compared to those without reflux. METHODS: The neonates with a history of prenatal hydronephrosis were enrolled in two groups based on imaging study results, the neonates with VUR and without VUR. Neonates with a normal prenatal history and postnatal ultrasound were placed in a third group. We measured the random urinary levels of MMP9, TIMP1, and creatinine, their cut-off values and the MMP9/Cr and MMP9/TIMP1/Cr ratio was calculated, and an ROC curve was drawn. RESULTS: Sixty-nine neonates were enrolled in three groups; 27 patients (20 male, seven female) with AH and VUR were in group 1, 23 neonates (19 male, four female) without VUR were placed in group 2, and 19 (15 male, four female) acted as controls in group 3. The differences between the three groups and the normal and total hydronephrotic groups were statistically significant for MMP9, the MMP9/Cr, MMP9/TIMP1, and MMP9/TIMP1/Cr ratios. The urinary TIMP1 and TIMP1/Cr ratios were not significantly different between the groups. A cut-off value of MMP9 was measured as 358.5 ng/ml (sensitivity [sens] 74 %, specificity [spec] 78 %) and was used to compare groups 1 and 2. For groups 2 and 3, this cut-off was 181.00 pg/ml (sens 91 %, spec 89 %). The cut-off values measured for the MMP9/TIMP1 ratio were 30.32 (sens 70 %, spec 61 %) and 9.85 (sens 96 %, spec 89 %) to compare groups 1 and 2, and 2 and 3, respectively. We found no valuable cut-offs for the TIMP1 and TIMP1/Cr values. There was no difference between neonates with mild, moderate, and severe VUR according to urinary biomarker concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: Evaluation of urinary levels of MMP9, or the MMP9/Cr, MMP9/TIMP1, or MMP9/TIMP1/Cr ratios may help us to differentiate the newborns with hydronephrosis and VUR from those without reflux.

Extraction and characterization of anthocyanin pigments from Iris flowers and metal complex formation.

Exploring the chemical processes and factors influencing the stability of the blue color derived from anthocyanins is a crucial objective in agricultural and food chemistry research. The ability of these compounds to bind with metals could potentially stabilize anthocyanins extracted from plant-based foods or enable modifying their hues for application as natural food colorants. This study had two core objectives - first, to extract and identify the major anthocyanin pigments responsible for iris flower coloration. Second, to selectively complex purified iris anthocyanins with aluminum (Al3+) and copper (Cu2+) ions, probing the coordination chemistry underlying synthetic metalloanthocyanin formation. Fresh iris flowers were collected and anthocyanins extracted using an optimized acidic solution. After separation, anthocyanins were complexed with metals Al3+ and Cu2+ at pH 5-6 to understand better the evolution of blue and green colors in anthocyanin-metal chelates. Characterization of anthocyanins and their metal complexes utilized UV-visible spectrometry, colorimetry (L\* a\*b\* values), FTIR spectroscopy, and LC-MS. Metal complexation of anthocyanins exhibited bathochromic shifts of visible absorption maxima from 538 to 584 nm for Al-complex and 538-700 nm for Cu-complex. Color changes were accompanied by decreased lightness (L\*, from 87 to 81) and color coefficients a\* (+5.4 to -6.8) and b\* (-12.2 to -4.8). LC-MS analysis identified five major anthocyanin aglycones: cyanidin (Cyd, m/z 289), delphinidin (Dpd, m/z 305), petunidin (Ptd, m/z 229), malvidin (Mv, m/z 329) and pelargonidin (m/z 273), along with various glycosylated derivatives. This work successfully isolated key iris anthocyanin pigments and elucidated their metal chelation interactions underlying expanded floral color production, bridging knowledge gaps about this underexplored genus.

Gene therapy clinical trials worldwide to 2012 - an update.

To date, over 1800 gene therapy clinical trials have been completed, are ongoing or have been approved worldwide. Our database brings together global information on gene therapy clinical trials from official agency sources, published literature, conference presentations and posters kindly provided to us by individual investigators or trial sponsors. This review presents our analysis of clinical trials that, to the best of our knowledge, have been or are being performed worldwide. As of our June 2012 update, we have entries on 1843 trials undertaken in 31 countries. We have analysed the geographical distribution of trials, the disease indications (or other reasons) for trials, the proportions to which different vector types are used, and which genes have been transferred. Details of the analyses presented, and our searchable database are available on The Journal of Gene Medicine Gene Therapy Clinical Trials Worldwide website at: http://www.wiley.co.uk/genmed/clinical. We also provide an overview of the progress being made in clinical trials of gene therapy approaches around the world and discuss the prospects for the future.

Spouse's coping strategies mediate the relationship between women's coping strategies and their psychological health among infertile couples.

Social problems and suffering from the treatment process for infertile couples, especially for women, require the couples to cope with them to balance the infertility crisis. According to the close interactions of the couples with each other, the objective of the present study was to explore a theoretical framework for the relationships between women's coping strategies, spouses' coping strategies, and women's psychological health in infertile couples who were candidates for assisted reproductive technology (ART). This cross-sectional study was carried out on 212 couples undergoing ART. The couples' coping strategies were evaluated using a validated self-report questionnaire. The women's psychological health was assessed using a 21-item stress, anxiety, and depression scale (DASS-21). Statistical analysis was performed using the plug-in application PROCESS macro for SPSS. The direct effect of the women's self-blame and self-focused rumination strategies (p < .0001), and the indirect effect of the women's self-blame on stress and depression by mediating spouses' self-blame and self-focused rumination strategies, was significant. The indirect effect of the women's self-focused rumination on the anxiety and depression levels by mediating spouses' self-blame strategy was significant. The women's self-blame and self-focused rumination strategies had a negative effect on the women's psychological health who were undergoing ART. This negative effect was mediated by the spouse's coping strategies.

Combustion Synthesis of Magnesium-Aluminum Oxynitride MgAlON with Tunable Composition.

Magnesium-aluminum oxynitride MgAlON has garnered significant attention in recent years due to its unique properties and potential applications. Herein, we report a systematic study on the synthesis of MgAlON with tunable composition by employing the combustion method. The Al/Al2O3/MgO mixture was combusted in nitrogen gas, and the effects of Al nitriding and oxidation by Mg(ClO4)2 on the exothermicity of the mixture, combustion kinetics, and phase composition of combustion products were investigated. Our results demonstrate that the MgAlON lattice parameter can be controlled by varying the AlON/MgAl2O4 ratio in the mixture, which corresponds to the MgO content in the combustion products. This work provides a new pathway for tailoring the properties of MgAlON, which may have significant implications in various technological applications. In particular, we reveal the dependence of the MgAlON lattice parameter on the AlON/MgAl2O4 ratio. The limitation of the combustion temperature by 1650 °C resulted in obtaining submicron powders with a specific surface area of about 3.8 m/g2.

Transarterial coil embolization in treatment of gross hematuria following self-inflicted stab wound in a horseshoe kidney.

Horseshoe kidney is an uncommon anomaly of the urinary system with an increased risk of injury during penetrating and blunt abdominal traumas. Self-inflicted abdominal stab wound, a rare type of abdominal injury, accounts for only a small percentage of suicidal attempts and may be infrequently encountered by physicians in trauma centers. Psychiatric disorders and alcohol or drug abuse are common risk factors in cases of self-stabbing. Here we report a rare case of self-stabbing of a horseshoe kidney. The case was a 19-year-old man with self-inflicted abdominal stab wound who was referred to our department of radiology due to re-occurred gross hematuria three days after exploratory laparotomy and surgical repair of injured abdominal organs. A horseshoe kidney was incidentally found in the patient's abdominal computed tomography. Renal angiography revealed active contrast extravasation from one of the segmental arteries. Selective transarterial embolization with a coil was successfully performed to control the hematuria.