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 62-year-old female with a history of arterial hypertension, attended the emergency department due to pain in the left flank. On physical examination no showed signs of peritoneal irritation. Urinalysis was indicated, that reported microscopic hematuria and negative abdominal ultrasound.

The Injection of autologous Adipose-Derived Stem Cells (ADSCs) and Stromal Vascular Fraction (SVF) into dermal and subdermal layers can improve skin volume and rejuvenation. The SEFFI (Superficial Enhanced Fluid Fat Injection) technique, which involves minimal manipulation of autologous microfragmented adipose tissue, was utilized for harvesting and re-injection, using the SEFFILLER™ disposable medical device. Mechanical fragmentation of adipose tissue is a well-established surgical technique that stimulates tissue regeneration, filler, and biological activity. The study evaluated the biological properties (regenerative and anti-aging) of different harvest and processing fat graft methods among which the fragmented adipose tissue, specifically focusing on the presence of exosomes. Exosomes, nanometer-sized vesicles produced by cells for cellular communication, were found to contain miRNAs with anti-inflammatory, regenerative, and vascular content. The products’ contained exosomes were confirmed in the study through electron microscopy, Western Blotting, gene expression, and sequencing of miRNA content. 

In gamma-ray spectrometry, the analysis of the environmental radioactivity samples (soil, sediment and ash of a living organism) needs to know the linear attenuation coefficient of the sample matrix. This coefficient is required to calculate the self-absorption correction factor through the sample bulk. In addition, these parameters are very important because the unidentified samples can be different in the composition and density from the reference liquid sources which are usually used for efficiency calibration in the radioactive monitoring process. The present work is essentially concerned to introduce a mathematical method to calculate the linear attenuation coefficient without using any collimator. This method was based mainly on the calculations of the effective solid angle subtended by the source-to-the detector configurations, the efficiency transfer technique and the average path lengths through the samples itself. The method can be used as a tool for the calculation of the linear attenuation coefficient of unidentified materials with good facility to use it in the calibration process of γ-ray detectors, particularly in the study of soil samples. The results are compared with the data from NIST-XCOM to show how much the results are in close agreement and to give the validity of the approach.

As a vital index of the mitochondrial micro-environment, mitochondrial micro-viscosity plays a fundamental role in cell life activities. Normal mitochondrial viscosity is a necessary condition for the maintenance of normal life activities of mitochondria. Abnormal mitochondrial viscosity can lead to a series of mitochondria-related diseases. Therefore, it is essential to observe mitochondrial viscosity for physiological and pathological processes. Given the conventional viscosity measurement methods (viscometer, etc.) cannot monitor the changes in mitochondrial viscosity, the fluorescence method supplemented with the fluorescent probe is widely used to observe the changes in mitochondrial viscosity. In view of the booming development in this area, this review describes the applications of viscosity-responsive mitochondrial fluorescent probes in biological samples from the cellular and tissue levels. We hope that this review will deepen our understanding of mitochondrial viscosity and related fields, and promote the development of viscosity-sensitive mitochondrial probes and other organelle fluorescence probes.

Determination of the detector efficiency using volumetric cylindrical sources is very important in various scientific and industrial fields, especially in the field of quantitative analysis. To calculate the absolute activity of any sample, the full-energy peak efficiency (FEPE) of the detector is needed. By applying the efficiency transfer method, the FEPE of the detector would be determined easily without using the standard sources. This approach depends on two main factors. The first one, is the reference efficiency of the reference source, which is determined experimentally, and the second one, is the calculation of the effective solid angle ratio between the sample and the reference source geometries. This work introduces an empirical formula for calculating the second factor for using two different sizes of NaI(Tl) detectors. The validity of this empirical formula was successfully demonstrated by comparing the calculating values with the experimental values.

The choice of anesthesia for cesarean section should depend on the urgency of the procedure, in addition to the condition of the mother and fetus. It is widely accepted that regional anesthesia for cesarean section is preferable to general anesthesia. Regional techniques have several advantages. They lessen the risk of gastric aspiration, avoid the use of depressant anesthetic drugs and allow the mother to remain awake during delivery. The most common type of regional anesthesia for cesarean section is spinal anesthesia because of its simplicity, cost-effectiveness and speed of onset. It is suitable for cases of an emergent cesarean delivery. Hypotension during spinal anesthesia is a common that is associated with morbidity for both mother and fetus. Epidural anesthesia is preferred when physicians want to minimize the maternal hypotension or when intense motor blockage of the thoracoabdominal segments is not desired. General anesthesia still leads to a higher maternal mortality and should be reserved for absolute emergencies and cases where neuroaxial blockade is contraindicated.

Background: Clinical practice guidelines recommend monitoring the depth of anesthesia during endoscopic examination of the gastrointestinal tract using sedation scales, despite their subjective nature, while the use of the bispectral index, an objective measure, during sedation, remains controversial. The main objective of this study was to assess the ability of bispectral index monitoring to characterize the depth of anesthesia during endoscopy.Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study to assess the performance of the bispectral index using data from a multicentre clinical trial with 180 patients undergoing scheduled colonoscopies. Sedation was monitored using the bispectral index and Ramsay Sedation Scale. Data on sedation were recorded at five-time points (t1 to t5) during the colonoscopy.Results: Bispectral values were significantly associated with Ramsay scores (rho, -0.73; p < 0.0001). In regression analysis, each unit increase in bispectral value was associated with a reduction in the risk of a high Ramsay score (> 3) at all points (OR 0.922; 95% CI: 0.865–0.979; p < 0.0001 at t1). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis found areas under the curve of 0.8272 for a bispectral index cut-off for deep sedation of 69.76 (sensitivity, 95.35%; negative predictive value, 97.53%) when reaching the colic flexure (t2) and 0.8399 for a cut-off of 69.29 (sensitivity, 96.15%; negative predictive value, 98.81%) at the end of the colonoscopy (t5).Conclusion: Bispectral index monitoring enables objective real-time reliable assessment of sedation. It enables easy continuous monitoring with a very good performance for detecting deep sedation and correlates with a clinical scale routinely used in endoscopic procedures.

Treatments via the minor papilla is effective where the deep cannulation via the major papilla is impossible in such cases as [1] the Wirsung’s duct is inflammatory narrowed, bent or obstructed by impacted stones [2] pancreatic duct divisum (complete or incomplete) [3], maljunction of pancreatico-biliary union with stones [4], pancreatic stones in the Santorini’s duct. In [1,2] cases, the pancreatic juice flow via the major papilla decreases, while that of the minor papilla increases. Then the size of minor papilla and its orifice shows corresponding enlargement. This substitutional mechanism is an advantage when undertaking our new method. Since the pancreatic juice flow is maintained via the minor papilla in these cases, accurate and careful endoscopic skills are necessary to prevent pancreatitis due to the occlusion of the Santorini’s duct after this procedure. We have experienced 135 cases treated via minor papilla in these 27 years, so we would like to report about its safety and efficacy.

A 60-year-old woman had central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) presented to the ophthalmology department with a sudden, painless loss of vision. Her initial visual acuity was light perception and she treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) 4 hours after the development of visual symptoms. Systemic risk factors were not found so she was diagnosed as having idiopathic CRAO. Her vision improved from light perception to 20/50 after the HBOT. Any complications such as neovascularization were not developed until the last follow up visit of 8th months.

Introduction: Endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) are involved in vascular repair and proliferation, contributing to the long-term outcomes of apheretic treatment. Aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between endothelial function, assessed by levels of bone marrow-derived progenitor cells and endothelial response to hyperaemia, and clinical and biohumoral parameters in high vascular risk patients before, immediately after, 24-hours and 72 hours after a single lipid apheresis procedure. Material and Methods: We evaluated lipid profile, endothelial function and endothelial progenitor cells before (T0), immediately after (T1), 24h after (T2) and 72h after (T3) a lipoprotein apheresis procedure, in 8 consecutive patients [Sex: 62.5% M; Age; 63.29(12), mean, (range) years] with a personal history of acute coronary syndrome, symptomatic peripheral arterial disease and elevated plasma levels of lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)]. Patients were on regularly weekly or biweekly lipoprotein apheresis, and they were treated with the FDA-approved Heparin-induced Extracorporeal LDL Precipitation (H.E.L.P.) (Plasmat Futura, B.Braun, Melsungen, Germany) technique. PAT values were expressed as the natural logarithm (Ln-RHI, normal values≥0.4) of the reactive hyperaemia index (RHI), which is the parameter automatically calculated by the device. Results: We found a reduction in the natural logarithm of reactive hyperaemia index (Ln-RHI), assessed immediately after the procedure (0.57±0.21 vs 0.72± 0.29); difference between T2 and T0 was statistically significant (0.43±0.24 vs 0.72±0.29; p=0.006). Reduction in Ln-RHI values was documented in all patients, two subjects showing a Ln-RHI<0.4 at T1, and four at T2. At T3, PAT values were increased significantly (0.91±0.18) in comparison to T1 and T2, showing a median value higher than at T0. Cd34+/Kdr+ and Cd133+/Kdr+ showed a minimum increase in median values at T1, and a higher increase at T2, in comparison to baseline. Differences in Cd34+/133+/Kdr+ values at different times were not statistically significant. A significant reduction in circulating endothelial cells (CEC) count at T2 in comparison to T0 was found (12.00±8.85 vs 23.86±12.39; p=0.024). Discussion: At 24h and 72h after procedures, we found an improvement in endothelial function, expressed by an increase in PAT values and EPC levels, and by a reduction in CEC.