Plasma generated ozone and reactive oxygen species for point of use PPE decontamination system.

This paper reports a plasma reactive oxygen species (ROS) method for decontamination of PPE (N95 respirators and gowns) using a surface DBD source to meet the increased need of PPE due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A system is presented consisting of a mobile trailer (35 m3) along with several Dielectric barrier discharge sources installed for generating a plasma ROS level to achieve viral decontamination. The plasma ROS treated respirators were evaluated at the CDC NPPTL, and additional PPE specimens and material functionality testing were performed at Texas A&M. The effects of decontamination on the performance of respirators were tested using a modified version of the NIOSH Standard Test Procedure TEB-APR-STP-0059 to determine particulate filtration efficiency. The treated Prestige Ameritech and BYD brand N95 respirators show filtration efficiencies greater than 95% and maintain their integrity. The overall mechanical and functionality tests for plasma ROS treated PPE show no significant variations.

The spatiotemporal trend of renal involvement in COVID-19: A pooled analysis of 17 134 patients.

BACKGROUND: The spatiotemporal trend of renal involvement in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients is still unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to reveal the dynamics of renal involvement superimposed COVID-19 according to time and space. METHODS: COVID-19 patients reporting renal involvement were included in this study. The following information was collected from relevant articles: first author, patient demographics, patient enrollment period, location, definition of acute kidney injury (AKI), prevalence of AKI, and use of renal replacement therapy (RRT). RESULTS: A total of 17 134 patients were finally included. The overall prevalence of AKI in COVID-19 patients was 19%, with 7% of them undergoing RRT. The overall risk of AKI in patients enrolled before March 1, 2020 (9%) was significantly lower than that after March 1, 2020 (36%) (P < 0.00001). Moreover, the overall risk of AKI outside Asia (35%) was significantly higher than that in Asia (10%) (P < 0.00001). Additionally, similar to patients requiring RRT, AKI patients were more likely to become seriously ill or even to die (P < 0.00001). CONCLUSIONS: This study found that renal involvement superimposed COVID-19, a comorbidity portending a poor prognosis, has become an increasingly serious problem over time and is more common outside Asia. Thus, more attention should be paid to the management of this specific group of patients.

TAE Combined with Microwave Ablation in the Treatment of Rare Giant Hepatic Hemangioma:Case Report and Literature Review (preprint)

Background: hepatic hemangioma is the most common benign tumor of the liver. However, patients with large hemangiomas that cause compression symptoms or that are at risk of rupture may need further intervention. It is necessary to explore additional minimally invasive and personalized treatment options.Case presentation: A 47-year-old female was diagnosed with right hepatic hemangioma for more than 10 years. Abdominal contrast-enhanced CT and CEUS revealed that there was a large hemangioma in the right liver, with a size of approximately 95x97x117 mm. Due to the patient's refusal of surgical treatment, hepatic artery embolization was performed in the first stage, then after 25 days of liver protection treatment, the liver function indexes decreased to normal levels. Then, B-ultrasound-guided microwave ablation of the giant hepatic hemangioma was performed. Ten days after the surgery, hepatobiliary ultrasonography showed that the hemangioma of the right liver was smaller than the previous size (the volume was reduced by approximately 30%). Then the patient was discharged from the hospital, and CT suggested that the hepatic hemangioma is significantly smaller two months after discharge. Because of COVID-19, the patient's CT examination was delayed.Conclusions: TAE combined with microwave ablation is a safe and effective minimally invasive treatment for hepatic hemangioma.