Search

Introduction: In patients with cardiac sarcoidosis (CS), implantable cardioverter‐defibrillators (ICDs) are important for preventing sudden cardiac death. This study aimed to investigate sex disparities in CS patients undergoing ICD implantation. Methods: The 2016–2020 National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database compared the characteristics and outcomes of males and females with CS receiving ICDs. Results: Among 760 CS patients who underwent inpatient ICD implantation, 66.4% were male. Males were younger (55.0 vs. 56.9 years, p <.01), had higher rates of diabetes (31.7% vs. 21.6%, p <.01) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) (16.8% vs. 7.8%, p <.01) but lower prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) (11.9% vs. 23.5%, p <.01), sick sinus syndrome (4.0% vs. 7.8%, p =.024), ventricular fibrillation (VF) (9.9% vs. 15.7%, p =.02), and black ancestry (31.9% vs. 58.0%, p <.01). Unadjusted major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), defined as a composite of in‐hospital death, myocardial infarction (MI), and ischemic stroke, was higher in females (11.8% vs. 6.9%, p =.024), but when adjusted for age and tCharlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), females demonstrated significantly lower odds of experiencing MACE (aOR: 0.048, 95% CI: 0.006–0.395, p =.005). Incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) post‐ICD was significantly lower in females (15.7% vs. 23.8%, p =.01) as was the adjusted odds (aOR: 0.282, 95% CI: 0.146–0.546, p <.01). There was comparable mean length of stay and hospital charges. Conclusion: ICD utilization in CS patients is more common among males, who have a higher prevalence of diabetes and CKD but a lower prevalence of AF, sick sinus syndrome, and VF. Adjusted MACE and AKI were significantly lower in females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) is a potentially fatal condition that varies in its clinical presentation. Here, we describe baseline characteristics at presentation along with prognosis and predictors of outcome in a sizable and deeply phenotyped contemporary cohort of CS patients. Methods and results: Consecutive CS patients seen at one institution were retrospectively enrolled after undergoing laboratory testing, electrocardiogram, echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging and 18F‐flourodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG‐PET) at baseline. The composite endpoint consisted of all‐cause mortality, aborted sudden cardiac death, major ventricular arrhythmic events, heart failure hospitalization and heart transplantation. A total of 319 CS patients were studied (67% male, 55.4 ± 12 years). During a median follow‐up of 2.2 years (range: 1 month–11 years), 8% of patients died, while 33% reached the composite endpoint. The annualized mortality rate was 2.7% and the 5‐ and 10‐year mortality rates were 6.2% and 7.5%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed serum brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels (hazard ratio [HR] 2.41, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.34–4.31, p = 0.003), CMR left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (HR 0.96, 95% CI 0.94–0.98, p < 0.0001) and maximum standardized uptake value of FDG‐PET (HR 1.11, 95% CI 1.04–1.19, p = 0.001) to be independent predictors of outcome. These findings remained robust for different patient subgroups. Conclusion: Cardiac sarcoidosis is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, particularly in those with cardiac involvement as the first manifestation. Higher BNP levels, lower LVEF and more active myocardial inflammation were independent predictors of outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conversion of shea butter shell charcoal to briquettes solid fuel is a means to reduce environmental pollution. This study investigated the potential of converting shea butter shell char to briquettes with cassava starch solution. The shell was pretreated and carbonized at temperature of 450 °C for 45 min in a furnace. Five briquette samples were produced with constant weight mass of char and different masses of cassava starch binder was varied as 10 %, 30 %, 50 %, 70 % and 90 %. The briquettes produced were analyzed for moisture content, bulk density, shatter index, water resistance, calorific value and compressive strength. The effect of the different binder contents on quality of the briquette samples was also investigated. The result revealed moisture content varied from 9.12 % to 14.83 % and density varied from 0.61 g cm-3 to 0.85 g cm-3. The water resistance of the briquettes increased from 40.7 % to 75.5 % and shatter index increased from 71.7 % to 92.1 %., while compressive strength values ranged from 18.63 MPa to 24.46 MPa. The calorific values of the briquettes in their increasing amount of binder were found to be between 16.94 and 22.33 MJ/kg. The briquette with the highest amount of binder had compressive strength of 24.46 MPa and calorific value of 22.33 MJ/kg. The results showed the conversion of sheabutter shell to briquette can serve as an effective technique to bringing value and use to biomass wastes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study indicates that Ahoko kaolinite clay is an effective adsorbent for the uptake of both Cu (II) and Cr (VI) ions from wastewater. The adsorption process is studied with variation of time, temperature and adsorbent dosage at an effluent pH of 6. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Brunauer Emmett and Teller (BET) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) are used to characterize the adsorbents. The XRD spectra show that the modification with KH2PO4 does not significantly change the crystal spacing of the clay mineral lattice structure; however, there are shifts in the intensity of the peaks for the modified kaolinite clay. The FTIR spectra show that certain functional groups are responsible for binding the metal ions from the solution. The SEM analysis indicates an increase of the porosity of the modified adsorbent as compared with that of the unmodified one enhancing the metal ion adsorption on the modified kaolinite clay. The BET study indicates that the phosphate modification increases the surface area and the total pore volume of the kaolinite clay. The kinetic study reveals that a pseudo-second order model shows a good fit in case of all reaction times and initial concentrations studied. The mechanism of the sorption process is evaluated using thermodynamic properties such as the enthalpy change (ΔH), the Gibbs free energy change (ΔG), and the entropy change (ΔS). The negative values of the free energy change (ΔG) suggest spontaneity and feasibility of the process. The positive values of the enthalpy change (ΔH) indicate an endothermic nature of the process. It is also noted that the Ahoko kaolinite clay has a higher affinity for adsorption of Cu (II) ions than that of Cr (VI) ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Argentina de Anatomía Clínica is the property of Asociacion Argentina de Anatomia Clinica (Revista Argentina de Anatomia Clinica) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Aim: The aim of the research was to investigate the relationship between body mass index and knee alignment angle using non-radiographic methods, and to propose a regression equation to define the relationship. Method: A total of 300 students (200 males, 100 females) of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi campus participated in the study. Knee alignment was measured using body landmarks (umbilicus, right knee and right second toe) with a goniometer and calliper; the body mass index was also determined. Result: The male subjects had a mean body mass index of 24.2 kg/m2 and knee alignment angle of 176.5o. The female participants had a mean body mass index of 22.7 kg/m2 and knee alignment angle of 180.9o. Body mass index had no significant relationship with knee alignment in both males and females respectively (r = 0.009, p > 0.05; r = 0.065, p > 0.05). Conclusion: The study showed no significant positive relationship between body mass index and knee alignment, and body mass index is therefore not a good determinant for the control of knee alignment-based knee osteoarthritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance and cardiac 18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) imaging play key roles in the diagnosis and management of cardiac sarcoidosis (CS), but the relative value of each modality in predicting outcomes has yet to be determined. This study sought to determine the prognostic importance of multimodality imaging data over and above demographic characteristics and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)., Methods: Consecutive patients newly diagnosed with CS were included. Parameters evaluated included echocardiographic regional wall motion abnormality (RWMA), myocardial strain, LVEF, right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF), late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) extent, SUVmax and RV FDG uptake. The primary endpoint was a composite of all-cause mortality and serious ventricular arrhythmia., Results: The study population consisted of 208 patients with mean age of 55±13 years and LVEF of 55±12%. During a median follow-up period of 46 (IQR: 18-55) months, 14 patients died and 28 suffered serious ventricular arrhythmias. On multivariable analysis, RWMA (HR for RWMA presence 2.55, 95% CI 1.27 to 5.28, p=0.008), LGE extent (HR per 1% increase 1.02, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.04, p=0.018), RVEF (HR per 1% decrease 0.97, 95% CI 0.94 to 0.99, p=0.008) and RV FDG uptake (HR for RV FDG presence 2.48, 95% CI 1.15 to 5.33, p=0.020) were independent predictors of the primary endpoint, while LVEF was not predictive. The risk of adverse events was significantly greater in those with LGE extent ≥15% (HR for ≥15% presence 3.96, 95% CI 2.17 to 7.23, p<0.001)., Conclusion: In our CS population, RWMA, LGE extent, RVEF and RV FDG uptake were strong independent predictors of an adverse outcome. These findings offer an important insight into the key multimodality imaging parameters that may be used in a future risk stratification model of patients with CS., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Cardiac Resynchronisation Therapy (CRT) has demonstrated short and long-term benefit in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), including ischaemic (ICM) and non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy. However, there is a paucity of evidence regarding its role in cardiac sarcoidosis (CS)., Methods: Consecutive CS patients with CRT and baseline left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF)≤40 referred to one specialist hospital in London between November 2008-March 2023 were retrospectively reviewed. The baseline characteristics, short-term echocardiographic, clinical parameters and long-term primary and secondary outcomes were compared against a cohort of ICM patients with CRT and baseline LVEF≤40. Patients with incomplete follow-up were excluded. The primary endpoint was a composite of all-cause mortality, cardiac transplantation or heart failure hospitalisation. Secondary endpoint included ventricular arrhythmic events., Results: 63 CS and 93 ICM patients were analysed. A greater proportion of ICM patients male with older ages overall (both p < 0.01), whereas a larger proportion of CS patients had atrioventricular block and heart failure hospitalisations (both p < 0.01). Both cohorts demonstrated significant serial increase in left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction and reduction in LV end-systolic and end-diastolic volumes (p < 0.01). After a mean follow up of 40.9 (±32.0) months, the primary and secondary endpoint was reached by significantly more CS patients (log-rank p = 0.008 and log-rank p = 0.004). Age (HR: 1.12 (95 %CI 1.06-1.17, p < 0.001) and presence of CS (HR: 8.33 (95 %CI 3.03-22.93, p < 0.001) were independent predictors of the primary endpoint on multivariable analysis., Conclusion: CS patients with CRT demonstrated reverse remodelling, but had adverse long-term primary and secondary outcomes when compared to ICM patients., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)