Dissolution of Portlandite in Pure Water: Part 1 Molecular Dynamics (MD) Approach

The current contribution proposes a multi-scale bridging modeling approach for the dissolution of crystals to connect the atomistic scale to the (sub-) micro-scale. This is demonstrated in the example of dissolution of portlandite, as a relatively simple benchmarking example for cementitious materials. Moreover, dissolution kinetics is also important for other industrial processes, e.g., acid gas absorption and pH control. In this work, the biased molecular dynamics (metadynamics) coupled with reactive force field is employed to calculate the reaction path as a free energy surface of calcium dissolution at 298 K in water from the different crystal facets of portlandite. It is also explained why the reactivity of the (010), (100), and (11¯0) crystal facet is higher compared to the (001) facet. In addition, the influence of neighboring Ca crystal sites arrangements on the atomistic dissolution rates is explained as necessary scenarios for the upscaling. The calculated rate constants of all atomistic reaction scenarios provided an input catalog ready to be used in an upscaling kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) approach.     

Comparison of chest CT scan findings between COVID-19 and pulmonary contusion in trauma patients based on RSNA criteria: Established novel criteria for trauma victims

ProposeIn this study, we re-assessed the criteria defined by the radiological society of North America (RSNA) to determine novel radiological findings helping the physicians differentiating COVID-19 from pulmonary contusion.MethodsAll trauma patients with blunt chest wall trauma and subsequent pulmonary contusion, COVID-19-related signs and symptoms before the trauma were enrolled in this retrospective study from February to May 2020. Included patients (Group P) were then classified into two groups based on polymerase chain reaction tests (Group Pa for positive patients and Pb for negative ones). Moreover, 44 patients from the pre-pandemic period (Group PP) were enrolled. They were matched to Group P regarding age, sex, and trauma-related scores. Two radiologists blindly reviewed the CT images of all enrolled patients according to criteria defined by the RSNA criteria. The radiological findings were compared between Group P and Group PP; statistically significant ones were re-evaluated between Group Pa and Group Pb thereafter. Finally, the sensitivity and specificity of each significant findings were calculated. The Chi-square test was used to compare the radiological findings between Group P and Group PP.ResultsIn the Group PP, 73.7% of all ground-glass opacities (GGOs) and 80% of all multiple bilateral GGOs were detected (p < 0.001 and p = 0.25, respectively). Single bilateral GGOs were only seen among the Group PP. The Chi-square tests showed that the prevalence of diffused GGOs, multiple unilateral GGOs, multiple consolidations, and multiple bilateral consolidations were significantly higher in the Group P (p = 0.001, 0.01, 0.003, and 0.003, respectively). However, GGOs with irregular borders and single consolidations were more significant among the Group PP (p = 0.01 and 0.003, respectively). Of note, reticular distortions and subpleural spares were exclusively detected in the Group PP.ConclusionWe concluded that the criteria set by RSNA for the diagnosis of COVID-19 are not appropriate in trauma patients. The clinical signs and symptoms are not always useful either. The presence of multiple unilateral GGOs, diffused GGOs, and multiple bilateral consolidations favor COVID-19 with 88%, 97.62%, and 77.7% diagnostic accuracy.     

Giant multilocular prostatic cystadenoma in a young man: A case report from Jordan

Giant Multilocular Prostatic Cystadenoma (GMPC) is one of the rare benign tumors of the prostate. This report presents a case of a young man who has been recently diagnosed with GMPC. Our report highlights the importance of timely diagnosis and treatment, considering the overlapping symptoms with other common urinary conditions.     

The effects of cognitive loading on balance control in patients with multiple sclerosis

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of concurrent cognitive task (silent backward counting) on balance performance between two groups of multiple sclerosis (MS) (n = 23) and healthy (n = 23) participates. Three levels of postural difficulty were studied on a force platform, i.e. rigid surface with eyes open, rigid surface with eyes closed, and foam surface with eyes closed. A mixed model analysis of variance showed that under difficult sensory condition of foam surface with eyes closed, execution of concurrent cognitive task caused a significant decrement in variability of sway velocity in anteroposterior direction for the patient group (P < 0.01) while this was not the case for healthy participants (P = 0.22). Also, the variability of sway velocity in mediolateral direction was significantly decreased during concurrent execution of cognitive task in patient group (P < 0.01) and not in healthy participants (P = 0.39). Furthermore, in contrast to single tasking, dual tasking had the ability to discriminate between the 2 groups in all conditions of postural difficulty. In conclusion, findings of variability in sway velocity seem to confirm the different response to cognitive loading between two groups of MS and healthy participants.     

The safety,efficacy, and cost-effectiveness of intraoperative cell salvage in metastatic spine tumor surgery

Background Context

Metastatic spine tumor surgery (MSTS) is associated with substantial blood loss, therefore leading to high morbidity and mortality. Although intraoperative cell salvage with leukocyte depletion filter (IOCS-LDF) has been studied as an effective means of reducing blood loss in other surgical settings, including the spine, no study has yet analyzed the efficacy of reinfusion of salvaged blood in reducing the need for allogenic blood transfusion in patients who have had surgery for MSTS.

Avocado/soybean unsaponifiables: a novel regulator of cutaneous wound healing,modelling and remodelling

We investigated the effects of avocado/soybean unsaponifiables (ASU) on the healing response of cutaneous wound defect in rats. Sixty male rats were randomly divided into three groups including control, vehicle and treatment (n = 20 in each group). A 2 × 2 cm² wound defect was made on the dorsum. The control, vehicle and treatment groups were treated daily with topical application of saline, cream and cream/ASU for 10 days, respectively. The wounds were monitored daily. The animals were euthanised at 10, 20 and 30 days post injury (D). The dry matter, hydroxyproline, collagen, n‐acetyl glucosamine (NAGLA) and n‐acetyl galactosamine (NAGAA) contents of the skin samples were measured and the histopathological and biomechanical characteristics of the samples were investigated. Statistics of P < 0·05 was considered significant. Treatment significantly increased tissue glycosaminoglycans and collagen contents at various stages of wound healing compared to controls. Treatment modulated inflammation, improved fibroplasia and produced high amounts of scar tissue at short term. At long term, treatment reduced the scar tissue size and increased the quality and rate of wound contraction and reepithelisation compared to controls. The treated lesions were more cosmetically pleasing and had significantly higher biomechanical characteristics than controls. ASU was effective in rat wound healing.     

Clinical value of cholinesterase in the prediction of biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy

Purpose

To evaluate the predictive and prognostic role as well as the clinical impact on decision-making of serum cholinesterase (ChoE) levels in patients treated with radical prostatectomy for clinically nonmetastatic prostate cancer.