Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return in the Time of SARS-CoV-2-Case Report.

The management of children with complex and life-threatening heart malformations became a clinical conundrum during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The pathophysiological features of the new coronavirus infection have raised major dilemmas regarding the postoperative evolution of an infected patient, and the epidemiological limitations have tightened the criteria for selecting cases. We present the case of a newborn diagnosed with total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR) who underwent surgical repair of the defect with favorable outcome, despite a prior diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. We discuss the medical and surgical management of TAPVR, highlighting possible management difficulties brought by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Difficulties in Diagnosis and Therapy of Infective Endocarditis in Children and Adolescents-Cohort Study.

Despite the progress in management and prophylaxis measures, infective endocarditis (IE) is still a condition associated with high mortality rates and severe complications. Fortunately, the incidence of IE is much lower in children and adolescents, with only 0.05-0.12/1000 cases being reported in hospitalized pediatric patients. According to recent data, IE is, in most cases, a complication of pre-existing congenital heart disorders, in up to 75-90% of cases. About 8-10% of all IE cases occur in children without a pre-existing heart condition, due to the widespread use of catheters and invasive procedures, or are associated with immunosuppression. The overall mortality rate due to IE among children and adolescents is 16-25%, a fairly high incidence despite advances made in management and treatment methodologies. We present a retrospective case study conducted in the Pediatric Cardiology Department of 'St. Maria' Emergency Children's Hospital of Iași between February 2007 and February 2020, including 54 children aged between 23 days and 17 years. Our study was aimed at revealing the evolution of IE in recent years in the pediatric population, at identifying the main causes leading to the onset and progress of the disease, at assessing the incidence of clinical and paraclinical manifestations and at determining efficient diagnosis and therapy approaches for the population under survey.

Preparation and Characterization of Silica Nanoparticles and of Silica-Gentamicin Nanostructured Solution Obtained by Microwave-Assisted Synthesis.

In this research work, silica nanoparticles and silica-gentamicin nanostructured solution were synthesized by using the microwave-assisted synthesis, in basic medium, using two silane precursors (tetraethylorthosilicate and octyltriethoxysilane) and the antibiotic (gentamicin sulfate). The prepared materials were characterized through Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, TGA analysis, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) to investigate the morphology and structure. Antimicrobial studies of the silica-gentamicin nanostructured solution versus silica nanoparticles were performed against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli. FTIR spectra showed that the gentamicin has been loaded to the silica nanoparticles. AFM analysis showed that the morphology of the silica-gentamicin nanostructured solution has changed, and agglomerations of particles are present at the surface. Antimicrobial testing, performed using the diffusion method through spot inoculation, indicates that the silica-gentamicin nanostructured solution exhibited activity against the resistant strain. The obtained silica-gentamicin solution can be used as biochemical agent for the prevention and treatment of microorganisms which are deposited on different surfaces (e.g., glass, plastic, ceramic).

Iron Oxide/Phosphatic Materials Composites with Potential Applications in Environmental Protection.

Currently, hydroxyapatite is probably the most researched material, due to its multiple applications in medical, environmental, or cultural heritage, when the classical structure is modified and calcium is displaced partially or totally with different metals. By changing the classical structure of the hydroxyapatite, new morphologies can be obtained, thus allowing final applications different from those of the initial hydroxyapatite material. However, their properties should be tuned for the desired application. In this context, the present paper describes the synthesis and characterization (through energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, FTIR, thermal analysis, and transmission electron microscopy) of iron oxide/manganese-containing phosphatic phase composite materials, developed in order to obtain the enhancement of final environmental applications (photodegradation of dyes, adsorption of organic compounds). The composite material was tested for photocatalytic properties, after embedding in hydrosoluble film-forming materials. Photocatalytic coatings show different activity during the photodecomposition of Methylene Blue, used as a model of a contaminant. The photocatalytic activities of the materials were discussed in relationship with both the phosphatic materials and the magnetic components. Finally, other environmental applications were studied for the developed materials (adsorption of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs-paracetamol and ibuprofen), revealing an enhancement of the adsorption capacity of the phosphatic material upon addition of the magnetic phase.