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Background: Coronary artery perforation (CAP) is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) due to the risk of cardiac tamponade. Strikingly, in contrast to numerous analyses of CAP predictors, only few studies were focused on the predictors of tamponade after PCI, once iatrogenic CAP has occurred. Our aim was to search for clinical and periprocedural characteristics, including the coronary artery involved, associated with the development of acute cardiac tamponade among patients experiencing CAP. Methods: From the medical records of nine centers of invasive cardiology in southern Poland, we retrospectively selected 81 patients (80% with acute myocardial infarction) who had iatrogenic CAP with a visible extravasation jet during angiography (corresponding to type III CAP by the Ellis classification, CAPIII) over a 15-year period (2005–2019). Clinical, angiographic and periprocedural characteristics were compared between the patients who developed acute cardiac tamponade requiring urgent pericardiocentesis in the cathlab (n = 21) and those with CAPIII and without tamponade (n = 60). Results: CAPIII were situated in the left anterior descending artery (LAD) or its diagonal branches (51%, n = 41), right coronary artery (RCA) (24%, n = 19), left circumflex coronary artery (LCx) (16%, n = 13), its obtuse marginal branches (7%, n = 6) and left main coronary artery (2%, n = 2). Acute cardiac tamponade occurred in 24% (10 of 41), 21% (4 of 19) and 37% (7 of 19) patients who experienced CAPIII in the territory of LAD, RCA and LCx, respectively. There were no significant differences in the need for urgent pericardiocentesis (37%) in patients with CAPIII in LCx territory (i.e., the LCx or its obtuse marginal branches) compared to CAPIII in the remaining coronary arteries (23%) (p = 0.24). However, when CAPIII in the LCx were separated from CAPIII in obtuse marginal branches, urgent pericardiocentesis was more frequently performed in patients with CAPIII in the LCx (54%, 7 of 13) compared to subjects with CAPIII in an artery other than the LCx (21%, 14 of 68) (p = 0.03). The direction of this tendency remained consistent regardless of CAP management: prolonged balloon inflation only (n = 26, 67% vs. 13%, p = 0.08) or balloon inflation with subsequent stent implantation (n = 55, 50% vs. 24%, p = 0.13). Besides LCx involvement, no significant differences in other characteristics were observed between patients according to the need of urgent pericardiocentesis. Conclusions: CAPIII in the LCx appears to lead to a higher risk of acute cardiac tamponade compared to perforations involving other coronary arteries. This association may possibly be linked to distinct features of LCx anatomy and/or well-recognized delays in diagnosis and management of LCx-related acute coronary syndromes.

The paper presents the impact of feed mixtures for poultry on their kinetic strength determined with Holmen's method. Research material came from a production line and 9 pelleted feed mixtures for poultry with diameter of 3.2 mm were accepted for the research. Feed was prepared, pelleted and cooled with the use of the same devices and their exploitation settings were comparable with regard to the investigated feed pellet. The obtained research results proved that kinetic strength of the investigated feed pellets was statistically significant in relation to the composition of the feed mixture. Relations of kinetic strength of pellets to the composition of the feed mixtures were determined with the multiple regression method. From the determined models the highest utilitarian value may occur in case of a model with four explanatory variables: corn (x1), wheat (x2), soya meal (x4) and fat (x5).

This paper presents the results of biocompatibility testing performed on several biomaterial variants for manufacturing a newly designed petal valve intended for use in a pulsatile ventricular assist device or blood pump. Both physical vapor deposition (PVD) and plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) were used to coat titanium-based substrates with hydrogenated tetrahedral amorphous carbon (ta-C:H) or amorphous hydrogenated carbon (a-C:H and a-C:H, N). Experiments were carried out using whole human blood under arterial shear stress conditions in a cone-plate analyzer (ap. 1800 1/s). In most cases, tested coatings showed good or very good haemocompatibility. Type a-C:H, N coating proved to be superior in terms of activation, risk of aggregation, and the effects of generating microparticles of apoptotic origin, and also demonstrated excellent mechanical properties. Therefore, a-C:H, N coatings were selected for further in vivo studies. In vivo animal studies were carried out according to the ISO 10993 standard. Intradermal reactivity was assessed in three rabbits and sub-acute toxicity and local effects after implantation were examined in 12 rabbits. Based on postmortem examination, no organ failure or wound tissue damage occurred during the required period of observation. In summary, our investigations demonstrated high biocompatibility of the biomaterials in relation to thrombogenicity, toxicity, and wound healing. Prototypes of the petal valves were manufactured and mounted on the pulsatile ventricular assist device. Hydrodynamic features and impact on red blood cells (hemolysis) as well as coagulation (systemic thrombogenicity) were assessed in whole blood.HighlightsThin coatings.Biocompatibility.Haemocompatibility.In vio test.Intradermal reactivity.Sub-acute toxicity.

Cardiovascular clamping procedures can cause tissue traumatization, leading to serious adverse events interrupting blood flow and causing life-threatening hemorrhage. The aim of the study is to evaluate the properties of 3D-printed, high-elasticity elastomeric materials—BioMed Flex 50A and 80A (Formlabs Inc., Sommerville, MA, USA)—in terms of their suitability for the fabrication of atraumatic inserts used for surgical clamping instruments. To show the importance of the elaboration of the new atraumatic materials, finite element simulations of blood vessel compression by a surgical tool were validated experimentally with porcine vessels, and histopathology assessed the tissue response. These results confirm that excessive clamping forces can cause vessel wall stratification and rupture. Specimens BioMed Flex 50A and 80A underwent surface, mechanical, and biological testing, including topography, wettability, acoustic microscopy for structural voids, cytotoxicity with human dermal fibroblasts, pro-inflammatory marker analysis, and bacterial biofilm assessment. The results of the testing of the 3D-printed BioMed Flex 50A and 80A materials show good potential for applications in safe atraumatic surgical instruments. Further research may include the possibilities to develop 3D-printed metamaterials with pressure adapting properties.

It is intractable to manage the vast majority of wounds in a classical surgical manner, however if silver, likewise gold and its representative nanoparticles, can lead to the amelioration of the wound healing process after extensive procedures, they should be employed in the current gynecological practice as promptly as possible. Most likely due to its antimicrobial properties, silver is usually applied as an additional component in the wound healing process. In wound management, we obtained various aspects that can lead to impaired wound healing; the crucial aspect for the wound milieu is to prevent the offending agents from occurring. The greatest barrier to healing is represented by the bacterial biofilm, which can occur naturally or in other ways. Biofilm bacteria can produce extracellular polymers, which can then resist concentrated anti-bacterial treatment. The published literature on the use of silver nanoparticles’ utilization in wound healing becomes slightly heterogenous and requires us in difficult moments to set up proper treatment guidelines.

Resin-based binders are one of the main materials used in foundry molding and core sands. Self-curing sand with furfuryl resin is one of the most popular technologies in the production of molds and cores for complex, critical castings made of iron and non-ferrous alloys. It has dominated small-batch production and the production of large-sized castings. This work is part of the research on new molding sands for mold additive manufacturing (3D printing). Three-dimensional printing technology in the production of sand-casting molds and cores is finding increasing industrial application in the production of castings from non-ferrous metal alloys. The aim of the research presented in this paper was to determine the influence of furfuryl resin type (classical and designed for 3D printing of sand molds) on cast iron casting properties. The pouring parameters were elaborated on the basis of the MAGMA software. Microscopic observations of castings, produced in classical and 3D-printed molds, were conducted, as well as an assessment of the roughness of the samples. The gas emissions from molding sands with both types of furfuryl resin were tested and analyzed in the context of the roughness of the castings obtained. It was proven that molding sand with furfuryl resin designed for 3D printing was characterized by lower gas emissions, which, in the case of molding sands with organic binders, is beneficial from an environmental point of view.

The goal of the work was to develop materials dedicated to spine surgery that minimized the potential for infection originating from the transfer of bacteria during long surgeries. The bacteria form biofilms, causing implant loosening, pain and finally, a risk of paralysis for patients. Our strategy focused both on improvement of antibacterial properties against bacteria adhesion and on wear and corrosion resistance of tools for spine surgery. Further, a ~35% decrease in implant and tool dimensions was expected by introducing ultrahigh-strength titanium alloys for less-invasive surgeries. The tested materials, in the form of thin, multi-layered coatings, showed nanocrystalline microstructures. Performed direct-cytotoxicity studies (including lactate dehydrogenase activity measurement) showed that there was a low probability of adverse effects on surrounding SAOS-2 (Homo sapiens bone osteosarcoma) cells. The microbiological studies (e.g., ISO 22196 contact tests) showed that implanting Ag nanoparticles into Ti/TixN coatings inhibited the growth of E. coli and S. aureus cells and reduced their adhesion to the material surface. These findings suggest that Ag-nanoparticles present in implant coatings may potentially minimize infection risk and lower inherent stress.

Endometriosis is an enigmatic disease, with no specific cause or trigger yet discovered. Major factors that may contribute to endometriosis in the pelvic region include environmental, epigenetic, and inflammatory factors. Most experts believe that the primary mechanism behind the formation of endometrial lesions is associated with Sampson’s theory of “retrograde menstruation”. This theory suggests that endometrial cells flow backward into the peritoneal cavity, leading to the development of endometrial lesions. Since this specific mechanism is also observed in healthy women, additional factors may be associated with the formation of endometrial lesions. Current treatment options primarily consist of medical or surgical therapies. To date, none of the available medical therapies have proven effective in curing the disorder, and symptoms tend to recur once medications are discontinued. Therefore, there is a need to explore and develop novel biomedical targets aimed at the cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for endometriosis growth. This article discusses a recent molecular pathophysiology associated with the formation and progression of endometriosis. Furthermore, the article summarizes the most current medications and surgical strategies currently under investigation for the treatment of endometriosis.

Formamidinium lead iodide (FAPbI3)-based perovskite solar cells have gained immense popularity over the last few years within the perovskite research community due to their incredible opto-electronic properties and the record power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) achieved by the solar cells. However, FAPbI3 is vulnerable to phase transitions even at room temperature, which cause structural instability and eventual device failure during operation. We performed post-treatment of the FAPbI3 surface with octyl ammonium iodide (OAI) in order to stabilize the active phase and preserve the crystal structure of FAPbI3. The formation of a 2D perovskite at the interface depends on the stoichiometry of the precursor. By optimizing the precursor stoichiometry and the concentration of OAI, we observe a synergistic effect, which results in improved power conversion efficiencies, reaching the best values of 22% on a glass substrate. Using physical and detailed optical analysis, we verify the presence of the 2D layer on the top of the 3D surface of the perovskite film.