Chuanwei Xu¹, Renju Ding², Chuanping Xu^3,*

Oncologie, Vol.22, No.1, pp. 43-51, 2020, DOI:10.32604/oncologie.2020.012445

Abstract To analyze the effects of different surgical procedures for the treatment of thyroid cancer on the expression levels of serum interleukin-17 (IL-17), IL-35, soluble interleukin-2 receptor (SIL-2R), and the prognostic factors. Seventy-eight patients with differentiated thyroid cancer were selected and grouped as control group (CG) (n = 39, underwent subtotal thyroidectomy) and observation group (OG) (n = 39, underwent total thyroidectomy). The serum IL-17, IL-35, and SIL- 2R expression levels; the incidence of complications; and the differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) relapse rate were compared between the two groups. The serum IL-17 and SIL-2R levels were lower in the OG than… More >

Katharina Müller^1,*, Walter Sonderegger², Oliver Kläusler², Michael Klippel¹, Edwin Zea Escamilla^3,4

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.8, No.9, pp. 1091-1109, 2020, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2020.09483

Abstract The demand for high-performance, yet eco-friendly materials is increasing on all scales from small applications in the car industry, instrument or furniture manufacturing to greater dimensions like floorings, balcony furnishings and even construction. Wood offers a good choice on all of these scales and can be modified and improved in many different ways. In this study, two common European hardwood species, Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and Ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) were densified in radial direction by thermo-mechanical treatment and the densified product was investigated in an extensive characterisation series to determine all relevant mechanical properties. Compression in the three main… More >

Thiresia-Teresa Tzatzani¹, Evangelia Basdeki², Evangelia-Vasiliki Ladikou³, Marios-Ioannis N. Sotiras³, Georgios Panagiotakis⁴, Sryridon Lionakis⁴, Ioannis E. Papadakis^3,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.89, No.3, pp. 645-656, 2020, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2020.010532

Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of various presowing treatments on the germinability (final germination percentage) and germination rate of loquat seeds in order to increase seedling production in nurseries (applied research) as well as provide answers for important physiological issues related to loquat seeds and their seed coat (basic research). Three experiments were carried out with various pre-sowing treatments. These treatments included full or partial removal of seed coat (perisperm), partial cutting of cotyledons as well as moist chilling at 5°C for 13 days and/or soaking the seeds in water or 250 ppm gibberellic acid… More >

Rashid Iqbal Khan^1,*, Mazhar Abbas¹, Khurram Goraya², Muhammad Zafar-ul-Hye³, Subhan Danish³

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.89, No.3, pp. 438-452, 2020, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2020.010972

Abstract COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 is declared global pandemic. The virus owing high resemblance with SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV has been placed in family of beta-coronavirus. However, transmission and infectivity rate of COVID-19 is quite higher as compared to other members of family. Effective management strategy with potential drug availability will break the virus transmission chain subsequently reduce the pressure on the healthcare system. Extensive research trials are underway to develop novel efficient therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2. In this review, we have discussed the origin and family of coronavirus, structure, genome and pathogenesis of virus SARS-CoV-2 inside human host cell; comparison among SARS,… More >

Richard D. Mainwaring, Frank L. Hanley

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.4, pp. 504-510, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12826

Abstract Objective: Anomalous left main coronary artery (LMCA) with an intraconal course is a relatively rare form of anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery (AAOCA) from the wrong sinus of Valsalva. There is currently a paucity of information regarding this entity. The purpose of this article is to review our surgical experience with repair of anomalous LMCA with an intraconal course.
Methods: This was a retrospective review of 12 patients with an anomalous LMCA and an intraconal course who underwent surgical repair. The median age at surgery was 15 years (range 2‐47). The seven oldest patients all had preoperative symptoms… More >

Michael V. Di Maria¹, Cindy Barrett¹, Carey Rafferty¹, Kelly Wolfe¹, Sarah L. Kelly¹, Deborah R. Liptzin², Dania Brigham³, Adel Younoszai¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.4, pp. 590-599, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12769

Abstract Background: Children with single ventricle (SV) heart disease who undergo Fontan operation are at risk for developing multiorgan dysfunction. Although survival has improved, significant comorbidities involving multiple organ systems may develop, requiring evaluation and management by many subspecialists. Using data from an internal survey, we documented high care variability for our Fontan population. We then developed a multidisciplinary clinic, designed and implemented a clinical care pathway to decrease variability of patient assessment.
Methods: After creating a multidisciplinary team and a clinical care pathway, we initiated a multidisciplinary clinic (MDC) where patients could see multiple subspecialists during a single encounter. We… More >

Jenny Alenius Dahlqvist¹, Jan Sunnegårdh², Katarina Hanséus³, Eva Strömvall Larsson², Anders Nygren², Magnus Dalén^4,5, Håkan Berggren⁶, Jens Johansson Ramgren⁷, Urban Wiklund⁸, Annika Rydberg¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.4, pp. 582-589, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12766

Abstract Objective: Fontan surgery is performed in children with univentricular heart defects. Previous data regarding permanent pacemaker implantation frequency and indica‐ tions in Fontan patients are limited and conflicting. We examined the prevalence of and risk factors for pacemaker treatment in a consecutive national cohort of patients after Fontan surgery in Sweden.
Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all Swedish patients who underwent Fontan surgery from 1982 to 2017 (n = 599).
Results: After a mean follow‐up of 12.2 years, 13% (78/599) of the patients with Fontan circulation had received pacemakers. Patients operated with the extracardiac conduit (EC) type of total cavopulmonary connection… More >

YONGLU WANG^1,2,*, WEI YOU¹, XUEMING LI^3,4,*

BIOCELL, Vol.44, No.2, pp. 167-174, 2020, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2020.09023

Abstract Melanoma is the deadliest type of skin cancer and which has a high ability of metastasis. Surgery is an effective method to treat I or II stage melanoma patients. However, there are few treatment options for metastatic melanoma. Gene therapy is one of the attractive options and is considered as the future direction for treating melanoma. This review mainly discusses the properties and challenges of the various gene therapies in melanoma, especially the delivery systems and gene targeting. More >

Amir-Reza Hosseinpour¹, Mathieu van Steenberghe¹, Marc-André Bernath², Stefano Di Bernardo³, Marie-Hélène Pérez⁴, David Longchamp⁴, Mirko Dolci², Yann Boegli², Nicole Sekarski³, Javier Orrit¹, Michel Hurni¹, René Prêtre¹, Jacques Cotting⁴

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.12, No.5, pp. 570-577, 2017, DOI:10.1111/chd.12485

Abstract Objective: An important aspect of perioperative care in pediatric cardiac surgery is maintenance of optimal hemodynamic status using vasoactive/inotropic agents. Conventionally, this has focused on maintenance of cardiac output rather than perfusion pressure. However, this approach has been abandoned in our center in favor of one focusing primarily on perfusion pressure, which is presented here and compared to the conventional approach.
Design: A retrospective study.
Setting: Regional center for congenital heart disease. University Hospital of Lausanne, Switzerland.
Patients: All patients with Aristotle risk score ≥8 that underwent surgery from 1996 to 2012 were included. Patients operated between 1996 and 2005… More >

Katlyn Elizabeth McGrattan^1,2,3,4, Heather McGhee^2,3, Allan DeToma⁵, Elizabeth G. Hill⁵, Sinai C. Zyblewski⁶, Maureen Lefton-Greif^7,8,9, Lucinda Halstead^1,2, Scott M. Bradley¹⁰, Bonnie Martin-Harris^1,2,3,4

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.12, No.3, pp. 382-388, 2017, DOI:10.1111/chd.12456

Abstract Background: Deficits in swallowing physiology are a leading morbidity for infants with functional single ventricles and systemic outflow tract obstruction following stage 1 palliation. Despite the high prevalence of this condition, the underlying deficits that cause this post-operative impairment remain poorly understood.
Objective: Identify the physiologic correlates of dysphagia in infants with functional single ventricles and systemic outflow tract obstruction following stage 1 palliative surgery.
Methods: Postoperative fiberoptic laryngoscopies and videofluoroscopic swallow studies (VFSS) were conducted sequentially on infants with functional single ventricles following stage 1 palliative surgery. Infants were dichotomized as having normal or impaired laryngeal function based on… More >