Functional evaluation of sublingual microcirculation indicates successful weaning from VA-ECMO in cardiogenic shock

Background: Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) is increasingly adopted for the treatment of cardiogenic shock (CS). However, a marker of successful weaning remains largely unknown. Our hypothesis was that successful weaning is associated with sustained microcirculatory function during ECMO flow reduction. Therefore, we sought to test the usefulness of microcirculatory imaging in the same sublingual spot, using incident dark field (IDF) imaging in assessing successful weaning from VA-ECMO and compare IDF imaging with echocardiographic parameters. Methods: Weaning was performed by decreasing the VA-ECMO flow to 50% (F50) from the baseline

Preoperative right heart hemodynamics predict postoperative acute kidney injury after heart transplantation

Purpose: Acute kidney injury (AKI) frequently occurs after heart transplantation (HTx), but its relation to preoperative right heart hemodynamic (RHH) parameters remains unknown. Therefore, we aimed to determine their predictive properties for postoperative AKI severity within 30 days after HTx. Methods: From 1984 to 2016, all consecutive HTx recipients (n = 595) in our tertiary referral center were included and analyzed for the occurrence of postoperative AKI staged by the kidney disease improving global outcome criteria. The effects of preoperative RHH parameters on postoperative AKI were calculated using logistic regression, and predictive accuracy was assessed using integrated discrimination improvement (IDI), net reclassification improvement (NRI), and area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC). Results: Postoperative AKI occurred in 430 (72%) patients including 278 (47%) stage 1, 66 (11%) stage 2, and 86 (14%) stage 3 cases. Renal replacement therapy (RRT) was administered in 41 (7%) patients. Patients with higher AKI stages had also higher baseline right atrial pressure (RAP; median 7, 7, 8, and in RRT 11 mmHg, p trend = 0.021), RAP-to-pulmonary capillary wedge pressure ratio (median 0.37, 0.36, 0.40, 0.47, p trend = 0.009), and lower pulmonary artery pulsatility index (PAPi) values (median 2.83, 3.17, 2.54, 2.31, p trend = 0.012). Higher RAP and lower PAPi values independently predicted AKI severity [adjusted odds ratio (OR) per doubling of RAP 1.16 (1.02–1.32), p = 0.029; of PAPi 0.85 (0.75–0.96), p = 0.008]. Based on IDI, NRI, and delta AUC, inclusion of these parameters improved the models’ predictive accuracy. Conclusions: Preoperative PAPi and RAP strongly predict the development of AKI early after HTx and can be used as early AKI predictors

Effects of pellet and extruded feed on fatty acid composition of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) using HRGC-MS

Total lipid amount and fatty acid composition were determined and compared for cultivated European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) from Turkey, which were fed with pellet and extruded commercial feed two or three times a day. Fatty acid analyses were carried out by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Among total fatty acids, palmitic (16:0), palmitoleic (16:1n-7), oleic (18:1n-9), linoleic (18:2n-6), eicosapentaenoic acid = EPA (20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid = DHA (22:6«-3) were found to be the predominant fatty acids. The fish which received extruded feed (three times a day) had a slightly higher n-3/n-6 ratio of 1.41 compared to the other feeding types. It was found that the extruded feed given two times a day as fish diet resulted in the highest amounts of EPA, DHA, and total n-3 fatty acids

HHCP contamination in marine alga laurencia pyramidalis bory de saint-vincent ex Kützing

This paper describes isolation and indentification of HHCP (Galaxolide®) as pollutant in red alga Laurencia pyramidalis Bory de Saint-Vincent ex Kützing (Syn. Laurencia obtusa var. pyramidata Bory ex J. Agardh) collected from Igneada (Black Sea coast) by GC/MS analysis. It was previously found as a pollutant in Danube River which consequently contaminates the Black Sea. It was suggested that this is a contamination of alga because it was not found in the same species collected from Assos (Çanakkale). This is the first record of HHCP contamination in algae. © by PSP