A COVID-19 pregnant patient with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura: a case report

Background: Pregnancy seems to increase the risk of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) relapses and make the TTP more severe in any of the pregnancy trimesters, or even during the postpartum period. Case presentation: This study highlights details of treating a COVID-19 pregnant patient who survived. This 21-year addicted White woman was admitted at her 29th week and delivered a stillbirth. She was transferred to another hospital after showing signs of TTP, which was caused by a viral infection. Conclusion: This viral infection caused fever and dyspnea, and the patient was tested positive for COVID-19 infection. A chest computed tomography scan showed diffuse multiple bilateral consolidations and interlobar septal thickening. She stayed at the Intensive Care Unit for 20 days and treated with plasmapheresis. As far as we know, this is the first report of a TTP pregnant patient with COVID-19 infection. © 2021, The Author(s)

Design Impact on Airflow Patterns in Fluidization Units

The airflow behavior in a fluidization unit was integrally studied by means of experimental work and computational fluid dynamics simulation. The computational domain included the gas inlet pipe, plenum, perforated plate, fluidization chamber, and air outlet pipe. Different scenarios were simulated to allow distinguishing the best way to represent perforated-plate distributors and elucidate the impact of the grid design on the fluidization performance. The simulated pressure drop across the distributor and the plenum flow pattern were in concordance with the experimental data. It was found that the distance between the peripheral holes and walls has a great impact on the airflow downstream the distributor.Fil: Renaudo, Carlos Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química; ArgentinaFil: Bertin, Diego Esteban. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química; ArgentinaFil: Bucala, Veronica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química; Argentin

Hydrogen enhanced cracking studies on Fe-3wt%Si single and bi-crystal microcantilevers

© 2017 The Author(s) Published by the Royal Society. All rights reserved. Hydrogen (H) enhanced cracking was studied in Fe-3wt%Si by means of in situ electrochemical microcantilever bending test. It was clearly shown that the presence of H causes hydrogen embrittlement (HE) by triggering crack initiation and propagation at the notch where stress concentration is existing. Additionally, the effect of carbon content and the presence of a grain boundary (GB) in the cantilever were studied. It was shown that in the presence of H the effect of carbon atom on pinning the dislocations is reduced. On the other hand, the presence of a GB, while the chemical composition of material kept constant, will promote the HE. Crack initiation and propagation occur in the presence of H, while the notch blunting was observed for both single and bicrystalline beams bent in air. Post-mortem analysis of the crack propagation path showed that a transition from transgranular fracture to intragranular fracture mechanism is highly dependent on the position of the stress concentration relative to the GB

Tissue-Based Planning and Technique for Breast Augmentation with Anatomical Implants

Breast augmentation with anatomical implants offers several potential advantages. Tissue-based planning is patient specific and essential in choosing the correct dimensions of an implant, thereby providing greater control in breast shape following augmentation. This video vignette demonstrates tissue-based planning in a patient with a constricted breast, allowing the surgeon to accurately choose the proper implant dimensions, which correct the constriction while providing aesthetic control of breast shape. Operative techniques of precise pocket formation, prospective hemostasis, and judging the aesthetic contour following implant insertion are demonstrated

Distractors: Do we need a policy safeguarding sonographers' working conditions during obstetric ultrasound examinations?

Introduction: Distraction during obstetric scanning is a concern to sonographers, impacting on the safety of ultrasound for the pregnant patient, observers, and themselves. Our objective was to survey obstetric ultrasound practitioners to determine the formulation of policy in this area to mitigate the potential negative impacts of distractors. Methods: An online survey was disseminated through professional bodies to study the views of Australian and New Zealand obstetric sonographers/sonologists on policy to combat distractors. Results: Seventy‐eight percent of the surveyed sonographers (n = 393) responded to the closed‐ended questions on policy, with ~1/3 offering qualitative data/comments on workplace policy. Current policy direction was aimed at: the number of observers, the presence of children, separation of the medical and social bonding components of the scan, use of electronic devices, and the concept of “sonographer discretion.” Predominantly, (~66% of responses) policy was not adhered to due to multiple factors including fear of patient complaints if the policy was enforced. Conclusion: The tension in obstetric sonography between medical diagnostics and social bonding is of concern to sonographers in our study. The way forward may involve a combination of patient education and a policy backed up by a professional authority, which is implemented and enforced by an employer

In situ electrochemical microcantilever bending test: A new insight into hydrogen enhanced cracking

© 2017 Elsevier Ltd Single crystalline microcantilevers of Fe–3wt% Si were bent while electrochemically hydrogen (H) charged in situ inside a miniaturized electrochemical cell and are compared with cantilevers bent in air. Yield point decreases, crack initiation and propagation were observed for the cantilevers bent in the presence of H, while notch blunting occurred for the cantilevers bent in air. The results show H enhanced dislocation nucleation and H pinning of dislocation at the crack tip are responsible for embrittlement

Distractors in obstetric ultrasound: Do sonographers have safety concerns?

Introduction: Obstetric sonography is a highly skilled diagnostic medical examination. Pregnant women like to socialise their ultrasound experience with family, introducing distractions for the sonographer. Our objective was to survey ultrasound practitioners to identify concerns regarding interruptions and their opinions about socialisation during the examination. Methods: An online questionnaire was disseminated to study the views of Australian and New Zealand obstetric sonographers/sonologists. It was informed by a pilot study of possible distractors with quality and safety concerns and operator opinions regarding family bonding. Results: The opinions of 393 obstetric sonographers/sonologists informed our results. Distractors with the most negative aspects included disruptive children (93.3%) and mobile phone conversations (84.3%). Most respondents (62%) believed that a distractor only had to be present for 5 min or less to have an impact. Small children were identified by 87.5% of respondents as safety risks to themselves, to the patient and to sonographers. Sonographers were concerned that distractors caused a loss of concentration, interruption to a systematic scanning approach and increased false negatives in screening, missing important diagnoses. Sonographers strongly agreed that obstetric sonography facilitated maternal–fetal bonding, but only 15% thought that siblings bond with the fetus during the scan. Conclusion: Obstetric sonographers in our study are concerned that distractors pose a negative impact on the quality and safety of ultrasound. They also recognise the importance of family bonding. Strategies to bridge the medical and social components of obstetric sonography should be developed to reduce quality and safety threats