A Comprehensive Review of Incorporating Steel Fibers of Waste Tires in Cement Composites and Its Applications.

Accumulating vast amounts of pollutants drives modern civilization toward sustainable development. Construction waste is one of the prominent issues impeding progress toward net-zero. Pollutants must be utilized in constructing civil engineering structures for a green ecosystem. On the other hand, large-scale production of industrial steel fibers (ISFs) causes significant damage to the goal of a sustainable environment. Recycled steel fibers (RSFs) from waste tires have been suggested to replace ISFs. This research critically examines RSF's application in the mechanical properties' improvement of concrete and mortar. A statistical analysis of dimensional parameters of RSFs, their properties, and their use in manufacturing various cement-based composites are given. Furthermore, comparative assessments are carried out among the improvements in compressive, split tensile, and flexural strengths of plain and RSF-incorporated concrete and mortar. In addition, the optimum contents of RSF for each strength property are also discussed. The influence of RSFs parameters on various strength properties of concrete and mortars is discussed. The possible applications of RSF for various civil engineering structures are reviewed. The limitations and errors noticed in previous review papers are also outlined. It is found that the maximum enhancement in compressive strength (CS), split tensile strength (STS), and flexure strength (FS) are 78%, 149%, and 157%, respectively, with the addition of RSF into concrete. RSF increased cement mortars' CS, STS, and FS by 46%, 50.6%, and 69%, respectively. The current study encourages the building sector to use RSFs for sustainable concrete.

Successful ablation of acardiac twin with Histoacryl.

OBJECTIVE: Acardiac twin occurs in 1:35,000 pregnancies. Several techniques have been described to treat this condition. Some techniques have been suggested as golden standard; however, new are still being tried. CASE REPORT: This is a case of a 32-year-old patient who had successful ablation of the acardiac twin with Histoacryl. The diagnosis of the acardiac twin was made in the 11 weeks + 3 weeks of pregnancy. Due to the development of myocardial hypertrophy and pericardial transudate of the pumping fetus, we had performed ablation of the acardiac twin with Histoacryl in the 21 weeks' +5 weeks' gestation. The procedure was uneventful, and the healthy fetus had no signs of distress. In the 33 weeks' +5 weeks' gestation, she had Cesarean section due to distress of the healthy fetus. The female baby was healthy, weighing 2380 g, Apgar score 9/10. The mummified mass of acardiac fetus weighted 300 g. Nine months later, the child is doing well. CONCLUSION: Histoacryl is suitable for the ablation of an acardiac twin. Further studies are needed to prove the efficacy of this technique.

Amniopatch - possibility of successful treatment of spontaneous previable rupture of membranes in the second trimester of pregnancy by transabdominal intraamiotic application of platelets and cryoprecipitate.

OBJECTIVE: To outline possibility of successful treatment of spontaneous previable rupture of membranes in the second trimester of pregnancy. INTRODUCTION: Spontaneous previable rupture of membranes (SPROM) in the second trimester of pregnancy is one of the most alarming problems in current obstetrics. Perinatal mortality is about 60 %, one third of which represents intrauterine fetal demise. Surviving neonates suffer from various complications. There are different clinical approaches regarding treatment of SPROM. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We present a case of a 30 year old secundigravida with a history of SPROM at 19+1 weeks gestation. Ultrasonographic examination revealed anhydramnios. Genital cultures and laboratory studies ruled out infectious etiology of SPROM. Due to expected poor neonatal outcome, decision to attempt amniopatch as an experimental therapeutic alternative was made at 21+1 weeks gestation (two weeks after SPROM had occurred). Autologous concentrated platelets followed by autologous cryoprecipitate were administered into the amniotic cavity transabdominally under ultrasound guidance. After 3 days sonographic examination showed normal volume of amniotic fluid. On 22 postoperative day, patient notice some leaking of fluid vaginally. Fetal growth was appropriate, amniotic fluid volume was decreased, however, oligohydramnios never progressed to anhydramnios. Pregnancy ended with primary cesarean delivery at 33+1 weeks gestation. Live born male infant with 1750 g birth weight was delivered. Postnatal development was within normal limits. CONCLUSION: Intraamniotic application of "amniopatch" may represent a possibly successful treatment of spontaneous previable rupture of membranes. This case reports the longest stop of the leaking of amniotic fluid and total prolongation of pregnancy with favorable perinatal outcome after "amniopatch" treatment of spontaneous previable rupture of membranes in the second trimester so far published in available literature.

An alternative management for growth retarded fetus with absent end-diastolic velocity in umbilical artery and normal cardiotocography.

OBJECTIVES: Intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) is associated with fetal adverse conditions. The most important cause of growth restriction and poor perinatal outcome is chronic fetal hypoxemia (CFH). Adaptation to CFH can be studied by Doppler velocity waveform on umbilical and fetal arteries and cardiotocography (CTG). METHODS: Preterm delivery, as an elimination of CFH, has to be confronted with the risks of prematurity. A special situation may occur when CTG is normal at the absence of end-diastolic velocity (AEDV). AEDV in the umbilical artery precedes the onset of abnormal CTG, whose duration differs considerably among the fetuses. The time after the onset of AEDV in pregnancy may be utilized for performing exact diagnosis by fetal blood analysis. CASE: Primigravida at 30 gestational weeks was referred because of IUGR. IUGR, AEDV, oligohydramnion, and normal fetal anatomy were revealed. CTG was normal. Indication for cordocentesis was to perform cord blood gases analysis and to obtain fetal caryotype. Cordocentesis revealed normal caryotype, values of pH, and fetal blood gases were considered satisfactory. Continuation of pregnancy was decided in spite of persistent AEDV. At 33 gestational weeks pathological CTG was an indication for induction of labor. Labor, delivery, umbilical blood gases, postpartal and neonatal outcome were normal. CONCLUSION: In the case of fetal monitoring controversy assessment of umbilical blood analysis may be crucial. This examination is significant and independent of the interval between cordocentesis and the onset of CTG pathology. This interval may be utilized for intrauterine treatment and for optimizing obstetric management.