Evaluation of the association between the optic nerve sheath diameter and extracorporeal life support time during cardiac surgery in newborns.

OBJECTIVE: Congenital heart disease (CHD), a birth defect, is a major cause of neonatal mortality; however, improvements in surgical procedures and medical treatments have resulted in decreased mortality rates. Nonetheless, postoperative morbidity, particularly cerebral dysfunction, remains an issue in patients receiving extracorporeal life support (ECLS) for cardiac surgeries. Herein, we aimed to assess the association between optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) and ECLS time in newborns receiving ECLS for cardiac surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We enrolled 25 newborn patients who received ECLS for cardiac surgery at our hospital. ONSD was measured at four different time points during the surgery: baseline (T1), 15 min after cross-clamping (T2), after displacement of cross-clamping (T3) and at the end of the surgery (T4). Furthermore, the ECLS time, aortic cross-clamp time, and surgery time were recorded. RESULTS: The regression analysis revealed a significant association between ONSD and ECLS time, cross-clamp time and surgery time. The correlation analysis showed strong associations between baseline ONSD and ONSD at T2, T3, and T4. Moreover, ONSDs significantly increased at T2 compared with those at baseline during cardiac surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest an association between ONSD and ECLS time in newborns receiving ECLS for cardiac surgery. Monitoring ONSD may provide valuable information about intracranial pressure changes in these patients.

A quinary WTaCrVHf nanocrystalline refractory high-entropy alloy withholding extreme irradiation environments.

In the quest of new materials that can withstand severe irradiation and mechanical extremes for advanced applications (e.g. fission & fusion reactors, space applications, etc.), design, prediction and control of advanced materials beyond current material designs become paramount. Here, through a combined experimental and simulation methodology, we design a nanocrystalline refractory high entropy alloy (RHEA) system. Compositions assessed under extreme environments and in situ electron-microscopy reveal both high thermal stability and radiation resistance. We observe grain refinement under heavy ion irradiation and resistance to dual-beam irradiation and helium implantation in the form of low defect generation and evolution, as well as no detectable grain growth. The experimental and modeling results-showing a good agreement-can be applied to design and rapidly assess other alloys subjected to extreme environmental conditions.

α' formation kinetics and radiation induced segregation in neutron irradiated 14YWT nanostructured ferritic alloys.

Nanostructured ferritic alloys are considered as candidates for structural components in advanced nuclear reactors due to a high density of nano-oxides (NOs) and ultrafine grain sizes. However, bimodal grain size distribution results in inhomogeneous NO distribution, or vice versa. Here, we report that density of NOs in small grains (<0.5 µm) is high while there are almost no NOs inside the large grains (>2 µm) before and after irradiation. After 6 dpa neutron irradiation at 385-430 °C, α' precipitation has been observed in these alloys; however, their size and number densities vary considerably in small and large grains. In this study, we have investigated the precipitation kinetics of α' particles based on the sink density, using both transmission electron microscopy and kinetic Monte Carlo simulations. It has been found that in the presence of a low sink density, α' particles form and grow faster due to the existence of a larger defect density in the matrix. On the other hand, while α' particles form far away from the sink interface when the sink size is small, Cr starts to segregate at the sink interface with the increase in the sink size. Additionally, grain boundary characteristics are found to determine the radiation-induced segregation of Cr.

Evaluation of the possible protective role of naringenin on gentamicin-induced ototoxicity: A preliminary study.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the possible protective role of naringenin in gentamicin-induced ototoxicity through an audiological, biochemical and histopathological evaluation. METHODS: This study was conducted on 32 adult male rats that were randomized into 4 groups(control, gentamicin, naringenin + gentamicin, and naringenin). Naringenin was given to the rats via oral gavage in a dose of 50 mg/kg/day during the 14 day study period. Gentamicin was given by the intraperitoneal route in a dose of 120 mg/kg/day. Audiological assessment was performed by the distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) and auditory brainstem response (ABR) measurements, applied to all rats at the beginning of the study, and also on day 14. Biochemical parameters were calculated on day 14 to evaluate the oxidative and antioxidative status. Their cochleae were removed and examined histopathologically, also on day 14. The cochlea of animals were evaluated with the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTPbiotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) method for apoptosis. RESULTS: On days 14, DPOAE values and ABR thresholds were preserved in group 3(naringenin + gentamicin) when compared with group 2(gentamicin)(p < 0.008). The total oxidant status values and oxidative stress index values were significantly higher in group 2(gentamicin) than in other groups (p < 0.008). The total antioxidant status value was significantly higher in group 3(naringenin + gentamicin) and group 4(naringenin) than in group 2(gentamicin)(p < 0.008). The number of TUNEL positive cells in both the organ of Corti and the stria vascularis were found to be statistically lower in group 3(naringenin + gentamicin) than in group 2(gentamicin)(p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our study has demonstrated that the ototoxic effect generated by gentamicin could be ameliorated with the concurrent use of naringenin.

[Glomuvenous malformations]. / Glomuvenöse Malformationen.

SYMPTOMS: A patient presented suffering from neural pain in the medial foot for a period of over 20 years. DIAGNOSIS: Diagnostic showed a widely spread soft-tissue tumor consisting of confluent glomuvenous malformations that was responsible for the immense pain syndrome.The solitary or multiform-appearing knots are not compressible and manifest as the characteristic syndromes of regional pain, sensitivity to coldness, or local pressure pain. Alternatively, the patient could also be completely symptom-free. TREATMENT: Because of the dimension of the tumor and the degree of suffering, a radical resection with simultaneous microsurgical reconstruction was carried out. Twelve weeks postoperatively, healing of the flap stabilized, the foot is fully weight-bearing, and the patient is pain-free.

Electrochemical study of the antiplatelet agent clopidogrel and its determination using differential pulse voltammetry in bulk form and pharmaceutical preparations with a glassy carbon electrode.

In the present study, the electroanalytical behaviour of clopidogrel (CLP) bisulfate, an antithrombotic drug, was investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) techniques using a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The anodic oxidation of clopidogrel bisulfate was investigated with a GCE to determine the oxidation conditions. The voltammograms of solutions having various concentrations of clopidogrel were recorded in order to obtain the optimum oxidation conditions of this drug on a GCE. To determine the effects of the nature of the supporting electrolyte, pH and scan rate on the anodic oxidation reactions, the experiments were performed in 0.2 M sulphuric acid, and in Britton-Robinson (BR) (pH 2-5) and acetate (pH 3.5-5.63) buffers with a 10-400 mVs(-1) scan rate interval. The oxidation of clopidogrel bisulfate was found to be diffusion-controlled over a concentration range of 0.08 mM-1.0 mM in pH 3.7 acetate buffer by an optimized DPV technique. The voltammetric method developed was applied to the tablet form of pharmaceutical preparation of this compound and the accuracy, precision, selectivity, sensitivity, repeatibility within and between days and reproducibility of the proposed method was investigated statistically. The results were compared with the spectrophotometric and HPLC methods developed in our laboratory and found to be in good agreement. No interference was observed from common pharmaceutical adjuvants.