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A successful hexagonal Cu 2 S p-type semiconductor thin film using DC magnetron sputtering is reported. Films with thickness gradients were deposited by taking advantage of deposition geometry and target dimensions. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the exclusive formation of the hexagonal Cu 2 S phase. Elemental composition and thickness dependence with the sample position were determined using energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. Optical properties, including the optical bandgap, refractive index, and extinction coefficient, were assessed by modeling transmittance spectra. The Tauc–Lorentz oscillator and Drude models were employed for this purpose. XRD data analysis successfully determined the film thickness (t X R D ) as a function of the sample position, aligning well with thickness values (t T) derived from transmittance spectra analyses. These results were further supported by film thickness values (t S E M ) obtained from cross-sectional SEM images. Charge carrier density and mobility, extracted from the optical models, were found to be consistent with DC electrical measurements. AC impedance curves were effectively modeled with RL–RC parallel circuits. The results indicate that the inductance (L) and capacitance (C) components of the films increase with decreasing film thickness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gustavo A Cruz-Suárez,1,2 David E Rebellón Sánchez,3,4 Daniela Torres-Salazar,2 Akemi Arango Sakamoto,4 Leidy Jhoanna López-Erazo,1,2 Iván F Quintero-Cifuentes,1,2 María A Vélez-Esquivia,2 Sergio A Jaramillo-Valencia,1 Antonio JT Suguimoto-Erasso1,2 1Fundación Valle del Lili, Anesthesiology Department, Cali, 760032, Colombia; 2Universidad Icesi, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Departamento de Ciencias Clínicas, Cali, Colombia; 3Centro Internacional de Entrenamiento e Investigaciones Médicas (CIDEIM), Universidad Icesi, Cali, Colombia; 4Fundación Valle del Lili, Centro de Investigaciones Clínicas, Cali, 760032, ColombiaCorrespondence: Gustavo A Cruz-Suárez, Fundación Valle del Lili, Anesthesiology Department, Cra. 98 &num; 18-49, Cali, 760032, Colombia, Tel +576023319090; Ext 4022, Email gustavo.cruz@fvl.org.coIntroduction: There is limited evidence on the impact of erector spinae plane block (ESPB) as part of multimodal analgesia in pediatric population undergoing cardiac surgery.Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in patients under 18 years of age, who underwent cardiac surgery Risk Adjusted classification for Congenital Heart Surgery (RACHS-1) ≤ 3 by sternotomy. The study aims to evaluate the effect of ESPB as part of multimodal analgesia in pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery compared to conventional analgesia (CA) on relevant clinical outcomes: length of hospital stay, length of ICU stay, opioid consumption, time to extubation, mortality, and postoperative complications. The participants included were treated in a reference hospital in Colombia from July 2019 to June 2022.Results: Eighty participants were included, 40 in the ESPB group and 40 in the CA group. There was a significant decrease (Log rank test p = 0.007) in days to length of hospital stay in ESPB group (median 6.5 days (IQR: 4– 11)) compared to the CA group (median 10.5 days (IQR: 6– 25)). Likewise, there was a higher probability of discharge from the ICU in the ESPB group (HR 1.71 (95% CI: 1.05– 2.79)). The ESPB group had lower opioid consumption (p < 0.05). There were no differences in time to extubation, mortality, and postoperative complications.Conclusion: ESPB as part of multimodal analgesia in pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery is feasible and associated with shorter hospital length of stay, faster ICU discharge and lower opioid consumption.Keywords: erector spinae plane block, cardiac surgery procedures, pediatric age group, anesthesia, perioperative, pediatric anesthesia

Abstract Background Low Magnesium (Mg) dietary intake has been associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Furthermore, in patients with T2DM, hypomagnesemia is associated with worst glycaemic control. Bariatric surgery (BS) remains the most effective treatment in severe obesity and also provides resolution/improvement of T2DM. Our aim is to evaluate the association between Mg supplementation post-BS and Mg serum levels with diabetes status after BS. Methods We performed an observational study on patients with obesity and T2DM who underwent BS. Data was assessed pre-BS and one-year post-BS. Results We included a total of 403 patients with T2DM. At baseline, 43.4% of the patients had Mg deficiency. Pre-BS, patients with Mg deficiency had poorer glycaemic control – HbA1c 7.2 ± 1.6% vs 6.4 ± 1.0% (p

Dora Janeth Fonseca,1,* Adrien Morel,1,* Kevin Llinás-Caballero,1 David Bolívar-Salazar,1 Paul Laissue1,2 1Center for Research in Genetics and Genomics-CIGGUR, GENIUROS Research Group, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad Del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia; 2BIOPAS Laboratoires, Orphan Diseases Unit, BIOPAS GROUP, Bogotá, Colombia*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Paul LaissueBIOPAS Laboratoires, BIOPAS Group, Calle 127A #53ª-45, Bogotá, CP, 11001, ColombiaTel +57 3212010179Email paullaissue@yahoo.comBackground: Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are frequent occurring events that can essentially be defined as harmful or unpleasant symptoms secondary to the use of a medicinal product. ADRs involve a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations ranging from minor itching and rash to life-threatening reactions. Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are rare ADRs. SJS-TEN may be considered a polygenic pathology due to additive/epistatic effects caused by sequence variants in numerous genes. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) represents a potentially interesting exploration tool in such scenario as it facilitates the simultaneous analysis of large genomic regions and genes at affordable cost.Methods: The present study has involved using whole-exome sequencing (WES) for the first time on SJS-TEN patients. It involved robust and innovative multistep bioinformatics analysis focusing on 313 candidate genes potentially participating in the disease’s aetiology, specific drugs’ metabolism and gene regulation.Results: We identified combinations of frequently occurring and rare variants that may contribute to the disease’s pathogenesis. Depending on the specific drug being taken, different variants (and alleles) in NAT2, CYP2D8, CYP2B6, ABCC2, UGT2B7 and TCF3 were identified as coherent candidates representing potential future markers for SJS-TEN.Conclusion: The present study proposed and has described (for the first time) a large-scale genomic analysis of patients affected by SJS-TEN. The genes and variants identified represent relevant candidates potentially participating in the disease’s pathogenesis. Corroborating that proposed by others, we found that complex combinations of frequently occurring and rare variants participating in particular drug metabolism molecular cascades could be associated with the phenotype. TCF3 TF may be considered a coherent candidate for SJS-TEN that should be analysed in new cohorts of patients having ADRs.Keywords: whole-exome sequencing, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, molecular aetiology

Marta Borges-Canha,1,2 João Sérgio Neves,1,2 Fernando Mendonça,1 Maria Manuel Silva,1 Cláudia Costa,3 Pedro M Cabral,4 Vanessa Guerreiro,1 Rita Lourenço,5 Patrícia Meira,5 Daniela Salazar,1 Maria João Ferreira,1 Jorge Pedro,1 Ana Rita Leite,2 Madalena von-Hafe,2 Catarina Vale,2 Sara Viana,1 Ana Sande,1 Sandra Belo,1 Eva Lau,1 Paula Freitas,1,6 Davide Carvalho1,6 1Serviço de Endocrinologia, Diabetes e Metabolismo do Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João, Porto, Portugal; 2Departamento de Cirurgia e Fisiologia, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal; 3Serviço de Endocrinologia do Instituto Português de Oncologia do Porto, Porto, Portugal; 4Serviço de Patologia Clínica do Centro Hospitalar Universitário Cova da Beira, Covilhã, Portugal; 5Faculdade de Ciências da Nutrição e Alimentação da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal; 6Investigação e Inovação Em Saúde (I3s), Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto, Porto, PortugalCorrespondence: Marta Borges-CanhaServiço de Endocrinologia, Diabetes e Metabolismo do Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João, Alameda Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, Porto, 4200-319, PortugalTel +351918935390Email marta.canha@gmail.comPurpose: We aimed to evaluate the association between vitamin D status and hepatic function parameters and scores: Fatty Liver Index (FLI, predictor of hepatic steatosis) and BARD (BMI, AST/ALT ratio and DM, predictor of hepatic fibrosis) in patients with morbid obesity.Patients and Methods: Cross-sectional study including patients with morbid obesity followed in our centre between January 2010 and July 2018. Patients with missing vitamin D levels or hepatic profile parameters were excluded. We divided the population according to two cut-offs of vitamin D levels (12ng/mL and 20ng/mL).Results: The included population (n=1124) had an average age of 43.3± 10.7 years and 84.3% were female. Seventy-point eight percent of the population had vitamin D levels lower than 20ng/mL and 34.8% lower than 12ng/dL. Patients with lower vitamin D levels (< 12ng/mL) had higher BMI, hip and waist circumferences and higher prevalence of hypertension. Higher FLI scores [OR= 0.77 (0.07), p< 0.01] and ALP levels [β= − 0.03 (− 0.06, − 0.01), p< 0.01] associated to lower vitamin D levels.Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency is associated with a higher risk of hepatic steatosis in individuals with morbid obesity. Correction of vitamin D deficiency may have a beneficial role in the management of NAFLD in patients with morbid obesity.Keywords: vitamin D, fatty liver, NAFLD, obesity