Band Insertion Research Articles

Comparative clinical evaluation of correct anatomic contour and tight contact in Class II direct composite restoration using two newer contact forming instruments

Aim: The aim of the study was to compare and evaluate proximal contact tightness and contours using two newer contact-forming systems in Class II composite restorations. Materials and Methods: After institutional ethical approval and Clinical Trials Registry-India registration, patients were chosen according to the inclusion-exclusion criteria with informed consent. A total of 60 patients were randomly assigned to two groups. Group A: LM Arte contact former (n = 30) and Group B: The design village (TDV) contact former (n = 30). Quadrant isolation was performed after the complete elimination of dental caries, preceded by the insertion of a matrix band and retainer with the proper wedging system. The LM Arte with the appropriate tip was selected for Group A, whereas the TDV contact former was selected for Group B based on the cavity size. Following the conversion of Class II cavities to Class I, nanohybrid resin composite restoration was done by cuspal layering. It was followed by finishing and polishing. E. B. Hencock criteria were used to evaluate gingival index, pocket depth, interproximal calculus, overhangs, food impaction, and contact integrity in both groups at baseline, 6 months, and 1 year. Statistical Methods: The data were analyzed using the Chi-Square test with SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) software version 18.0, IBM. Results: A statistically significant reduction in gingival index score was observed in both groups 6 months and 1 year after the procedure. However, the values revealed in terms of gingival index (P < 0.05) and (P > 0.05) for pocket depth, interproximal calculus, overhangs, food impaction, and contact integrity in both groups for 6 months (P > 0.05) and (P > 0.05) after the procedure. Conclusion: Both the LM Arte and TDV contact-forming systems are effective in establishing perfect proximal contacts and contours. However, the LM Arte contact-forming system edges out the TDV contact-forming system.

Weight loss and health status 10 years after laparoscopic adjustable gastric band insertion in adolescents: a follow-up report from Teen-LABS

BackgroundMetabolic and bariatric surgery is a safe and effective treatment strategy for severe childhood obesity, affecting 10% of US adolescents. ObjectivesThis prospective observational study addresses knowledge gaps related to changes in weight, cardiometabolic risk, and weight-related quality of life (WRQOL) in adolescents 10 years after laparoscopic adjustable gastric band (LAGB) insertion. SettingFive Teen-Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery (Teen-LABS) US centers. MethodsAnthropometric, micronutrient, cardiometabolic risk, and WRQOL data were collected on 274 adolescents undergoing metabolic and bariatric surgery, of which 14 participants underwent LAGB insertion (2008–2011). Descriptive analyses compared outcomes from baseline to 10 years. ResultsParticipants were mostly female (86%), White (71%), with a median age of 18.5 years and preoperative median BMI of 49. Baseline prevalence of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia were 1 of 14 (7%), 8 of 14 (57%), and 8 of 13 (62%), respectively, versus 10-year prevalence of 1 of 8 (13%), 4 of 10 (40%), and 3 of 9 (33%), respectively. Two participants underwent LAGB removal (years 2 and 3), whereas two converted from LAGB to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (years 2 and 6). Following initial BMI reduction (−10%) at year 1, 10-year median BMI in the LAGB retention group was 51, representing a 9.2% increase versus baseline. Micronutrient abnormalities and WRQOL remained similar between baseline and 10 years. One participant (1 of 14) withdrew from the study at year 7. ConclusionsLong-term follow-up of this cohort reveals that LAGB had minimal impact on BMI, cardiometabolic risk factors, and WRQOL among adolescents. These results confirm the limited efficacy of LAGB in the pediatric population.

RETRACTION: Antisense inhibition of Bcr-Abl/c-Abl synthesis promotes telomerase activity and upregulates tankyrase in human leukemia cells.

R. Bakalova, H. Ohba, Z. Zhelev, T. Kubo, M. Fujii, M. Ishikawa, Y. Shinohara, and Y. Baba, 'Antisense inhibition of Bcr-Abl/c-Abl synthesis promotes telomerase activity and upregulates tankyrase in human leukemia cells,' FEBS Letters 564, no. 1-2 (2004): 73-84, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0014-5793(04)00318-7. The above article, published online on 9 April 2004 in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com), has been retracted by agreement between the authors; the journal Editor-in-Chief, Michael Brunner; FEBS Press; the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST); and John Wiley and Sons Ltd. Following publication, concerns were raised by a third-party regarding several figures in the article. The subsequent institutional investigation conducted by the AIST revealed: Inappropriate duplication of image panels within the article, between the β-actin loading controls for 4 and 6 days in the Western blot of Fig. 2A K-562; between the subpanels of the electrophoresis blots in Fig. 4A K-562 and Jurkat cells; and between the subpanels of the electrophoresis blots in Fig. 6B. Band insertion in the Western blot of Fig. 6A p210 Bcr-Ab lane. Inappropriate duplication of images between this article (Fig. 2A K562 β-actin and Fig. 4B K562 6 days treatment bands) and an earlier publication from 2003 by an overlapping group of authors representing different experimental conditions. Inappropriate duplication and modification of an image between this article (Figure 3A2) and an earlier publication from 2004 by an overlapping group of authors representing different experimental conditions. Therefore, the conclusions of the paper are substantially compromised and the institute has recommended the paper to be retracted. The editors of the journal agree with the retraction based on the institutional investigation.

327. INCIDENCE OF GASTRIC BAND REMOVAL: A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Abstract Purpose In the wake of the global obesity epidemic, bariatric surgery has become critical to prevent the complications of obesity and reduce the impact across health care systems. Laparoscopic Gastric Band insertion was at one point the most performed bariatric operation for obesity. In Australia, due to the limited publicly funded bariatric units, LAGB insertion is often performed in the private health sector. However, the post operative course for many of these patients who underwent LAGB has been fraught with complications often resulting in presentation to emergency, explantation of the LAGB and further surgical intervention. and is considered unfavourable in management of obesity. Methodology We performed a search of medical subject headings within PubMed, Medline and Embase for the terms ‘Gastric Band*’, ‘remov*’, ‘explant*. Following removal of duplicates, a total of 46 articles detailing the incidence of gastric band removals. Studies were included if they included discrete cohorts of patients who have undergone LAGB insertion, reported data on incidence of removal and median follow up >3 years. Results Results of the literature review will be discussed. Conclusion While it is considered unfavourable as a surgical option for management of obesity, public hospitals continue to absorb many patients who have undergone this procedure placing stress on an already stretched system. The incidence of LAGB varies in the literature. The authors would like to provide an updated review of the literature to determine the incidence of LAGB to better inform patients and health care providers.

Tunable liquid crystal double-layer frequency selective surface with wide transmission band and small insertion loss

ABSTRACT In this paper, a tunable Frequency Selective Surface (FSS) based on liquid crystal (LC) with a wide transmission band, large tuning range, high tuning rate, and miniaturization is designed. First, a single-layer FSS is developed with two frequency selective layers and one LC tunable layer. The simulation and experiment results show that the single-layer FSS has a transmission bandwidth greater than 4.25 GHz, and the LC change can make the center frequency of the transmitted band shift to the lower frequency by 576 MHz, with a tuning rate of 4.2%. Subsequently, a double-layer FSS is designed by adding a coupling layer to the single-layer FSS, achieving a flat-top passband and enhancing the tuning rate. Simulation and experimental validation show that altering the LC state enables continuous tuning of the center frequency of the double-layer FSS from 14.95 GHz to 13.86 GHz, with a tuning rate of 7.2%. This structure exhibits a flat-top passband wider than 5.7 GHz, a relative bandwidth of 41%, and a rectangular coefficient below 1.877. Moreover, the double-layer FSS demonstrates favorable polarization stabilization and wide incidence angle stabilisation properties in various states.

Prevertebral Anchored Kevlar Band to Recover Intact Spine Movement Ranges in Lumbar Disc Arthroplasty

Anterior longitudinal ligament and annulus fibrosus removal in total disc replacement induces excessive spinal mobility with zygapophyseal joint overload and osteoarthritic changes causing chronic back pain. To control disc arthroplasty-induced hypermobility with a Kevlar® band. A 3 × 3 cm Kevlar® band implanted in twelve human lumbar cadaveric spines substituted the anterior longitudinal ligament and annulus in disc arthroplasty. Biomechanical studies compared the intact spine, after discectomy, post-disc arthroplasty, and with the Kevlar® band inserted. The Kevlar® band recovered the extension and axial rotation movement ranges without regaining the intact status. Improvement was moderate in lateral bending. The Instantaneous Axis of Rotation improved the discectomy and total disc prosthesis conditions without recovering the initial state. The disc above the operated one also showed increased mobility, particularly in extension and axial rotation, improved by Kevlar® band insertion without recovering the intact spine values. The Kevlar® band improves excess mobility ranges induced by anterior longitudinal ligament and anterior annulus removal in disc arthroplasty in the operated and supra-adjacent discs without recovering the baseline status.

The Effects of Preoperative Glycaemic Control (HbA1c) on Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery Outcomes: Data from a Tertiary-Referral Bariatric Centre in the UK

BackgroundCurrent recommendations advocate the achievement of an optimal glucose control (HbA1c < 69 mmol/mol) prior to elective surgery to reduce risks of peri- and post-operative complications, but the relevance for this glycaemic threshold prior to Bariatric Metabolic Surgery (BMS) following a specialist weight management programme remains unclear.MethodsWe undertook a retrospective cohort study of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who underwent BMS over a 6-year period (2016–2022) at a regional tertiary referral following completion of a specialist multidisciplinary weight management. Post-operative outcomes of interest included 30-day mortality, readmission rates, need for Intensive Care Unit (ICU) care and hospital length of stay (LOS) and were assessed according to HbA1c cut-off values of < 69 (N = 202) and > 69 mmol/mol (N = 67) as well as a continuous variable.ResultsA total of 269 patients with T2D were included in this study. Patients underwent primary Roux en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB, n = 136), Sleeve Gastrectomy (SG, n = 124), insertion of gastric band (n = 4) or one-anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB, n = 4). No significant differences in the rates of complications were observed between the two groups of pre-operative HbA1c cut-off values. No HbA1c threshold was observed for glycaemic control that would affect the peri- and post-operative complications following BMS.ConclusionsWe observed no associations between pre-operative HbA1C values and the risk of peri- and post-operative complications. In the context of a specialist multidisciplinary weight management programme, optimising pre-operative HbA1C to a recommended target value prior to BMS may not translate into reduced risks of peri- and post-operative complications.Graphical

Pseudoachalasia following insertion of a laparoscopic gastric band: a case report

Pseudoachalasia following insertion of a laparoscopic gastric band: a case report

Progress of injection sites of local infiltration analgesia in total knee arthroplasty

To review the research progress of injection sites of local infiltration analgesia (LIA) in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The relevant domestic and foreign literature in recent years was extensively reviewed. The neuroanatomy of the knee, and the research progress of the selection and the difference of effectiveness between different injection sites of LIA in clinical studies were summarized. Large concentrations of nociceptors are present throughout the various tissues of the knee joint. Patellar tendon, subpatellar fat pad, lateral collateral ligament insertions, iliotibial band insertions, suprapatellar capsule, and posterior capsule were more sensitive to pain. Most current studies support injections into the lateral capsule, collateral ligament, retinaculum, quadriceps tendon, fat pad, and subcutaneous tissue. Whether to inject into the back of the knee and subperiosteum is controversial. The relative difference of knee tissue sensitivity to pain has guiding significance for the selection of LIA injection site after TKA. Although researchers have conducted clinical trials on injection site and technique of LIA in TKA, there are certain limitations. The optimal scheme has not been determined yet, and further studies are needed.

Dispersive Box Section and Its Applications to Quasi-TEM Mode Monoblock Dielectric Filters

In this article, the comprehensive theory for synthesis of a dispersive box coupling Section for full control of two transmission zeros (TZs) is presented and applied to the design of high- <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$Q$ </tex-math></inline-formula> monoblock dielectric resonator (MDR) filters. Compared to the traditional cascaded quadruplet (CQ) MDR section, the dispersive box Section provides high flexibility in controlling TZs, a wide spurious free high rejection band, simplicity in physical realization, and higher unloaded <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$Q\text{s}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> . The analytic transformation for converting a traditional CQ Section with diagonal cross coupling to a dispersive box is given to facilitate the direct synthesis and justifies the uniqueness of the realizable solution to all possible TZ arrangements. Circuit realizations of all possible TZ arrangements are discussed with synthesized coupling matrices. A practical eight-pole MDR filter with an asymmetric response is synthesized and prototyped. Excellent agreement between the synthesized and measured narrowband responses as well as the EM simulated and measured wideband responses affirms the great flexibility in controlling TZs and demonstrates a wide spurious-free high rejection band with the proposed dispersive box structure. The low in- band insertion loss demonstrates that the MDR filter using the dispersive box can be potentially applied in 5G and future wireless communication systems.

BS P04 Global Level of Harm experienced by Bariatric Surgeons for Bariatrics surgical interventions: An exploration of predictors

Abstract Background COVID-19 pandemic has taken the world by surprise with the depth and breadth of its effect on all walks of life, bariatric surgery being no exception. With the scientific literature hitherto unable to comment and ascertain the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on bariatric surgery and the level of harm experienced by bariatric surgeons, we- TUGS ‘Level of Harm’ collaborative group- attempted to gauge the effect of the said pandemic on bariatrics surgery specifically vis a vis the level of harm experienced by bariatric surgeons due to the pandemic. Methods A virtual questionnaire- developed on both: Google forms and Survey Monkey- was circulated via TUGS social media platforms to reach bariatric consultant surgeons, fellows and residents practising throughout the world in a bid to explore the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on their surgical practice including but not limited to the annual surgical volume including re-do surgeries volume and postoperative complications. Moreover, they were also requested to categorise their respective level of harm vis a vis bariatric surgical interventions they undertake. After de-identification of the data, SPSS (V.26) was adopted to undergo statistical analysis. After exploring the dataset by descriptive analyses, the Chi-square test was applied to pursue the association of categorical variables with the reported level of harm. A double-sided p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results 16.8% of the respondents (21/125) indicated no harm vis a vis bariatrics surgery work whereas a comparative 18.4% of the respondents (23/125) reported moderate harm with significant worsening of symptoms. None of those who indicated less than 10% increase in surgery waitlisted patients being subjected to endoscopic interventions (0/14) reported Moderate Harm for bariatrics surgery work with significant worsening of symptoms whereas 1 in every 3 of those who indicated between 10% to 25% increase in surgery waitlisted patients being subjected to endoscopic interventions (5/15) reported such level of harm for bariatrics surgery work. (p &amp;lt; 0.001) Upon exhaustive sub-group analysis, it was uncovered that 33.6% of bariatrics surgical professionals perceived no harm (no evidence of change in clinical condition) during gastric band or related surgery work with only 4% perceiving Moderate Harm (significant worsening of symptoms/ comorbidities control/ minor increase in medications) for such surgical interventions. All of those who reported No harm for gastric band or related surgical work reported that Single anastomosis duodeno–ileal bypass (SADI-S) accounts for 10% of their practice whereas none of those who indicated that SADI-S accounts for more than 10% of their practice reported No harm for such surgical work. (p = 0.019) Conclusions The global snapshot illustrates a trend of low harm vis a vis bariatrics surgery work in surgical professionals practising in the private sector with a lesser number of patients developing COVID-19 postoperatively and no postoperative COVID-19 related mortality. The patient being subjected to endoscopic intervention portends a higher level of harm for bariatrics surgical work- strict adherence to criteria and safety protocols being a logical inference. For gastric band and related surgery work, preoperative COVID-19 testing appears to be influenced by confounders in its effect on the surgeon's level of harm for the said interventions warranting further exploration. SADI-S, at a cut-off of 10%, exhibits strong interaction with the surgeon's level of harm for gastric band insertion and relation surgery work. Women surgical professionals came out to exhibit equivalent mental resilience and technical prowess at par with their male colleagues when it came to bariatrics surgical intervention.

Is There a Correlation Between Reported Knee Pain and Fluid at the Distal Insertion of the Iliotibial Band in Runners?

ObjectiveTo determine whether there is a correlation between pain and the amount of fluid present at the distal insertion of the iliotibial band (ITB) in runners, as measured by USG.MethodOur retrospective cross-sectional study evaluated 100 male and female runners prior to the start of a race. A valid and reliable questionnaire collected demographic, pain, and training data. If a runner reported knee pain, a numeric pain rating scale was used to record the degree of pain. Participants then underwent USG on both knees to determine the presence or absence of fluid at the distal insertion of the ITB.ResultWe found no statistically significant correlations of fluid measurements with pain score, running experience in years, or age. In addition, we found no other differences in fluid measurements between those with and without knee pain or between the sexes.ConclusionsOur findings indicate that the presence or absence of fluid at the distal insertion of the ITB does not correlate with knee pain in runners, regardless of age, running experience, or sex.

SP2.1.2 Increasing Burden of Complications of Gastric bands on NHS Bariatric Services

Abstract Background Approximately 40% of patients that undergo laparoscopic adjustable gastric band (LAGB) insertion for obesity experience long-term complications and a lack of weight loss. This has caused a surge in LAGB removal procedures under the NHS. We review patient outcomes for these procedures at our tertiary bariatric centre. Methods All LAGB removals performed between October 2012 and August 2021 were reviewed. Data was collected prospectively &amp; analysed retrospectively for demographics, body mass index (BMI), surgical indications and postoperative complications. Results During the study period, a total of 178 patients underwent LAGB removal (93.8% female). Most bands were inserted out of province, done privately and patients’ mean BMI pre-operatively was 41.6. Indications for band removal included dysphagia (41.1%), band slippage or tubing damage (25.8%), pain (15.2%), obesity-related health condition (11.2%), infected/ leaking band (3.9%), and band erosion (2.8%). At LAGB removal, patients’ mean BMI was 37.0 – thus there was a mean decrease of 4.6 in BMI between index and removal operations. One LAGB removal case was converted to open. The mean length of stay for LAGB removal patients was 2.9 days. 12 patients had post-operative complications: wound infection (58.3%), peritonitis (25.0%), pneumonia (8.3%) and food ball in stomach (8.3%). 38 out of 178 (21.3%) patients then underwent revision bariatric surgery in the form of laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass procedures. Conclusion Although most primary gastric banding procedures are performed privately, the number of removals under NHS services is increasing. LAGB removal can be successfully performed to ease debilitating symptoms with excellent symptom resolution and minimal peri-operative complications.

TU1.3 A pilot survey of surgeons’ knowledge regarding vagus nerve injury

Abstract Aims Vagus nerve injuries occur in up to 42% of patients following anti-reflux operations. Vagal nerve injuries may have a significant impact on patients’ quality of life after benign Upper GI hiatal surgery, and may go unrecognised. We aimed to explore surgeons’ knowledge and practice regarding consenting, identifying the vagus nerve intraoperatively, and managing vagus nerve injuries. Methods A pilot survey was distributed to General Surgical Trainees and Consultants in South East England via social media groups and Twitter. Respondents from other regions were permitted. Results Nineteen respondents comprised 1 SHO, 14 Registrar grades/fellows and 4 Consultants. Seventy-four percent reported routinely discussing vagus nerve injury, of whom over 70% discussed symptoms of fullness and/or bloating, but only 36% discussed the need for further procedures. Eighteen respondents were involved in anti-reflux and paraoesophageal hernia procedures, of whom 94% routinely visualised the posterior vagus nerve during these procedures, whilst around 60% visualised the anterior vagus nerve. Ten respondents were involved in gastric band insertion, of whom 60% did not identify either vagus nerve. Only 7 respondents had experience of managing patients with vagus nerve injury. Conclusions Work is required to guide education around informing patients of the risk of vagus nerve injury, and around managing this complication. This pilot survey informs wider national work to explore this topic.

Dual Pass Band Filter using Quad Stub Loaded Uniform Impedance Resonator

A low loss, highly selective and miniaturized dual pass band filter for the wireless (WiMAX, WLAN) application is proposed in this paper. The filter is designed with Multimode resonators, constructed with Uniform Impedance Resonator (UIR) and multiple open stubs. Two different coupling schemes (electronic and magnetic) are observed for the said dual pass bands. A detail analysis about the dimension of the resonators, resonating conditions and frequency calculations are presented in this paper. The dual pass bands are achieved at 3.45 GHz and 5.4 GHz with minimum pass band insertion loss (|IL|) 0.1 and 0.18 dB and the pass band Fractional Band widths (FBW) 4% and 8% respectively. With proper optimizations, Transmission Zeros (TZ) are achieved on both sides of the dual pass bands and the spurious pass band are kept around -20dB level and hence good selectivity is achieved. The overall size of the filter is optimized for the best possible results in terms of Insertion Loss, Return Loss and selectivity, is found to be (24.2 x 21)mm = (0.28 x 0.24)λg = 0.06 λg2.

Fronthaul Optical Links Using Sub-Nyquist Sampling Rate ADC for B5G/6G Sub-THz Ma-MIMO Beamforming

This paper details fronthaul optical links using sub-Nyquist sampling rate analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) for Beyond fifth generation (B5G) and 6G sub-THz massive multiple-input multiple-output (Ma-MIMO) beamforming. Unlike Common Public Radio Interface (CPRI) using high speed ADCs in current fronthaul link, the proposed scheme involves ADCs operating at sub-Nyquist sampling rate for each antenna element. Based on pre-allocated relative time delays, pre-processed orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) signals sent from a baseband unit (BBU) can be deaggregated to different Ma-MIMO OFDM signals by sub-Nyquist sampling rate ADCs. In experiments, we assume that each remote radio unit (RRU) is equipped with 32/64 antenna elements and 32/64 ADCs operating at 1/32 and 1/64 of the Nyquist sampling rate. Furthermore, the received Ma-MIMO OFDM signal is then up-converted to 100-GHz for wireless transmission and defined as Ma-MIMO RF OFDM signal. We simulate the 32/64 antenna elements transmission scenario by individually transmit and demodulate each Ma-MIMO RF OFDM signal with 32/64 times of point-to-point antenna transmission. The error vector magnitude (EVM) and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of each received Ma-MIMO RF OFDM signal are less than 8&#x0025; and 26 dB, respectively. And the total received 64 Ma-MIMO RF OFDM signals will require line rate as high as 393.6374 Gb/s according to CPRI option-7. Notably, the proposed scheme reduces the requirement of sampling rate and enables all the Ma-MIMO OFDM signals at baseband without the insertion of guard band. Thus, the proposed scheme can reduce the complexity of signal deaggregation and power consumption in the demodulation process, leading to an improvement in cost efficiency.

Bragg gratings and BIO-Bragg-gratings in tapered optical fibers

Tapered optical fibres are well-established devices for different applications, in order to exploit nonlinear effects, manage dispersion, excite azimuthal resonances in microresonators (so-called Whispering Gallery Modes). Also, the micro- or nanofibres guide optical-fields with large evanescent fields. In this talk, we will focus on the combination of tapers and Bragg gratings to perform novel optical devices. We will present two applications: the first, the fabrication of single-mode Bragg gratings in commercial multimode or few-mode tapered fibres by means of UV-photoinscription. The result is a grating that exhibits a single-mode reflection band and low insertion loss. The second application is the fabrication of Bio Bragg Gratings in micrometric tapers of single-mode fibres. In this case, the Bragg Grating is formed by a periodic pattern of biomolecules microstamped on the surface of the taper waist. As the molecules binds to its specific antibody, the reflectivity of this Bio Bragg Grating will increase, allowing quantification of the antibody concentration.

Mixed metal ferrite (Mn0.6Zn0.4Fe2O4) intercalated g-C3N4 nanocomposite: efficient sunlight driven photocatalyst for methylene blue degradation

Visible active mixed metal ferrite intercalated semiconductor photocatalyst Mn0.6Zn0.4Fe2O4/g-C3N4 was prepared via facile hydrothermal and liquid assembly method for methylene blue (MB) dye degradation. The prepared samples were well characterized in term of their functional groups, crystallinity, elemental analysis, surface morphology using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction spectroscopy, energy dispersive x-ray, and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. The optical response of catalysts was checked by estimating the energy band gap (E g) of semiconductor photocatalysts using UV–vis spectroscopy. The photoluminescence spectroscopy was also performed to estimate the reduction in emission intensity after insertion of g-C3N4 into Mn0.6Zn0.4Fe2O4. The novel composition of Mn0.6Zn0.4Fe2O4 with g-C3N4, improved the optical response of pristine photocatalysts due to the reduction in the energy band gap and insertion of heterojunction. The surface area analysis of Mn0.6Zn0.4Fe2O4 and Mn0.6Zn0.4Fe2O4/g-C3N4 were acquired by Brunauer–Emmett–Teller. Point zero charge was also determined to observe the surface behavior of composite under different solution pH. Various parameters such as pH, catalyst dose, oxidant dose, irradiation time and initial dye concentration were optimized, and their effects were studied in photo-Fenton process. It was observed that 98% MB dye was degraded under optimized conditions (pH = 8, composite dose = 50 mg/100 ml, oxidant dose = 7 mM, initial dye conc. = 10 ppm, and irradiation time = 120 min). The results showed that when the ferrites of mixed metals (Mn, Zn) were used with g-C3N4 their photocatalytic activity enhanced due to mutual effect of both mixed metals ferrite and g-C3N4, which is considerably higher than their individual effect already reported. Furthermore, the combined effect of independent variables was evaluated by response surface methodology.

Administration of aVEGFR‑2-specific MRI contrast agent to assess orthodontic tooth movement : Apilot study.

PurposeIt is thought that orthodontic forces initially reduce periodontal blood flow during orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) via tissue compression with cells responding to concomitant oxygen deprivation with expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) triggering angiogenesis via binding to its receptor VEGFR‑2. To test this hypothesis, we performed a pilot study to establish a protocol for molecular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of rat jaws administering a VEGFR-2-specific contrast agent.MethodsMesial OTM of a first upper left rat molar was initiated in one male Fischer 344 rat 4 days prior to MRI by insertion of an elastic band between the first and second upper molars with the contralateral side left untreated (internal control). T1-weighted MRI sequences including dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) were recorded before and after administration of a molecular VEGFR‑2 MRI marker with a 7 T MRI dedicated for small animal use.ResultsAfter injection of anti-VEGFR2-albumin-gadolinium-DTPA, volume enhancement on T1-weighted images was increased at the OTM side distally of the moved first upper molar (M1) compared to the control side, whereas the T1 relaxation time was reduced on the OTM side. DCE-MRI resulted in an increased area under the curve (AUC), whereas time-to-peak (TTP) and washout rate were reduced during OTM distally of the moved M1 compared to the contralateral side.ConclusionsOTM resulted in uptake of the VEGFR-2-specific MRI contrast agent in tension areas of the periodontal ligament. The imaging protocol presented here is useful for the assessment of VEGFR‑2 expression in tension areas of the periodontal ligament in vivo.

A Novel Pulmonary Valve Replacement Surgery Strategy Using Contracting Band for Patients With Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot: An MRI-Based Multipatient Modeling Study.

Patients with repaired Tetralogy of Fallot (ToF), a congenital heart defect which includes a ventricular septal defect and severe right ventricular outflow obstruction, account for the majority of cases with late-onset right ventricle (RV) failure. Current surgery procedures, including pulmonary valve replacement (PVR) with right ventricle remodeling, yield mixed results. PVR with active band insertion was hypothesized to be of clinical usage on improving RV function measured by ejection fraction (EF). In lieu of risky open-heart surgeries and experiments on animal and human, computational biomechanical models were adapted to study the impact of PVR with five band insertion options. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) images were acquired from seven TOF patients before PVR surgery for model construction. For each patient, five different surgery plans combined with passive and active contraction band with contraction ratio of 20, 15, and 10% were studied. Those five plans include three single-band plans with different band locations; one plan with two bands, and one plan with three bands. Including the seven no-band models, 147 computational bi-ventricle models were constructed to simulate RV cardiac functions and identify optimal band plans. Patient variations with different band plans were investigated. Surgery plan with three active contraction bands and band active contraction ratio of 20% had the best performance on improving RV function. The mean ± SD RV ejection fraction value from the seven patients was 42.90 ± 5.68%, presenting a 4.19% absolute improvement or a 10.82% relative improvement, when compared with the baseline models (38.71 ± 5.73%, p = 0.016). The EF improvements from the seven patients varied from 2.87 to 6.01%. Surgical procedures using active contraction bands have great potential to improve RV function measured by ejection fraction for patients with repaired ToF. It is possible to have higher right ventricle ejection fraction improvement with more bands and higher band active contraction ratio. Our findings with computational models need to be further validated by animal experiments before clinical trial could become possible.