Complete Heart Block Induced Torsades de Pointes.

High-degree atrioventricular node block is a known cause of bradycardia. Heart rate and QT interval have an inverse relation. Therefore, bradycardia can lead to prolonged QT interval, which can predispose patients to Torsades de Pointes, a life-threatening arrhythmia. Correcting the underlying etiology can often reverse the arrhythmia and prevent recurrence. For this reason, recognizing the etiology of this arrhythmia plays an essential role in management.

Reduced Graphene Oxide/Barium Ferrite Ceramic Nanocomposite Synergism for High EMI Wave Absorption.

The developed nanocomposite exhibits significantly enhanced shielding performance due to the synergistic effect of high dielectric and magnetic loss materials, which modifies the material's impedance and improves its absorption ability. Different weight percentages (0, 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 wt %) of thermally treated chemically reduced graphene oxide (TCRGO) were combined with two types of magnets, barium hexaferrite (BF) and magnetite (MAG), using a dry powder compaction technique to produce binary ceramic nanocomposite sheets. The shielding performance of a 1 mm thick compressed nanoceramic sheet over the X-band was evaluated using a vector network analyzer. The 25% TCRGO showed high shielding performance for both BF and MAG, while BF had a total shielding efficiency (SET) that exceeded MAG by 130%. The SET of 25 wt % TCRGO/BF was 52 dB, with a 41 dB absorption shielding efficiency (SEA). Additionally, the effect of different levels of incident electromagnetic wave power (0.001-1000 mW) at various thicknesses (1, 2, and 5 mm) was explored. At 1000 mW, the 5 mm TCRGO/BF had an SET of 99 dB, an SEA of 91 dB, and a reflection shielding efficiency (SER) of 8 dB. The use of BF as a hard magnet paired with TCRGO exhibited excellent and stable electromagnetic shielding performance.

Superior quality chemically reduced graphene oxide for high performance EMI shielding materials.

The chemical reduction process of graphene oxide combined with a mild and controllable thermal treatment under vacuum at 200 °C for 4 hours provided a cost-effective, scalable, and high-yield route for Reduced Graphene Oxide (RGO) industrial production and became a potential candidate for producing electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding. We investigated graphite, and RGO using l-ascorbic acid and Sodium borohydride before and after thermal treatment by carefully evaluating the chemical and morphological structures. The thermally treated l-ascorbic Acid reduction route (TCRGOL) conductivity was 2.14 × 103 S m-1 and total shielding efficiency (SET) based on mass loadings per area of shielding was 94 dB with about one-tenth less graphite weight and surpassing other graphene reduction mechanisms in the frequency range of 8.2-12.4 GHz, i.e., X-band, at room temperature while being tested using the waveguide line technique. The developed treatment represents valuable progress in the path to chemical reduction using a safe reducing agent and offering superior quality RGO rarely achieved with the top-down technique, providing a high EMI shielding performance.

The Role of IL-13, IL-15 and Granulysin in the Pathogenesis of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome/Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis.

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are Severe Cutaneous Adverse Reactions (SCARS) characterized by fever and mucocutaneous lesions leading to necrosis and sloughing of the epidermis. Conjunctival lesions are reported in 85% of patients. The pathogenesis of SJS/TEN/SCARS is not completely understood. It is hypothesized that IL-13, IL-15 and Granulysin expressed in plasma and skin may play a role. We measured the circulating levels of these cytokines in the plasma using ELISA and their expression in the skin using immunofluorescence microscopy. A total of 12 SJS/TEN skin biopsy samples (8 SJS, 2 SJS/TEN overlap and 2 TEN) were analyzed. Biopsy samples from patients with Lichen Planus (an inflammatory condition of the skin and mucous membranes) served as controls. Studies were also performed in human corneal epithelial cells where expression of these cytokines were measured following a challenge with TNF-α (0, 1, 10 and 100 ng/ml). The intensity of immunofluorescence was measured Using Imaris® software. The results showed significantly increased expression of these cytokines in the skin biopsy samples as measured by the average intensities of IL-13 (6.1 x 133.0 ± 4.231 x 10^8), and Granulysin (4.2 x 123.0 ± 4.231 x 10^8) compared to Lichen planus control (3.0 x 123.0 ±1.62 x 10^5). Increased expression of IL-13 and IL-15 were noted in cell culture studies and in the plasma samples when compared to Normal Human Plasma as controls. It is concluded that IL-13, IL-15 and Granulysin play a role in the pathogenesis of SJS/TEN.