Safety and efficacy of Amplatzer duct occluder II and konar-MF™ VSD occluder in the closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defects in children weighing less than 10 kg

IntroductionDevice closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defects (pmVSD) is a successful off-label treatment alternative. We aim to report and compare the outcomes of pmVSD closure in children weighing less than 10 kg using Amplatzer Duct Occluder II (ADOII) and Konar-MF VSD Occluder (MFO) devices.MethodsRetrospective clinical data review of 52 children with hemodynamically significant pmVSD, and sent for transcatheter closure using ADOII and MFO, between January 2018 and January 2023. Baseline, procedural, and follow-up data were compared according to the implanted deviceResultsADOII devices were implanted in 22 children with a median age of 11 months (IQR, 4.1–14.7) and weight of 7.4 kg (IQR, 2.7–9.7). MFO devices were implanted in 30 children with a median age of 11 months (IQR, 4.8–16.6) and weight of 8 kg (IQR, 4.1–9.6). ADOII were implanted (retrograde, 68.1%) in defects with a median left ventricular diameter of 4.6 mm (IQR, 3.8–5.7) and right ventricular diameter of 3.5 mm (IQR, 3.1–4.9) while MFO were implanted (antegrade, 63.3%) in defects with a median left ventricular diameter of 7 mm (IQR, 5.2–11.3) (p > 0.05) and right ventricular diameter of 5 mm (IQR, 2.0, 3.5–6.2) (p < 0.05). The procedural and fluoroscopy times were shorter with the MFO device (p < 0.05). On a median follow-up of 41.2 months (IQR, 19.7–49.3), valvular insufficiency was not observed. One 13-month-old child (6.3 kg) with ADOII developed a complete atrioventricular heart block (CAVB) six months postoperative and required pacemaker implantation. One 11-month-old child (5.9 kg) with MFO developed a CAVB 3 days postoperative and the device was removed. At 6 months post-procedure, only one child with MFO still experiences a minor residual shunt. There was one arterio-venous fistula that resolved spontaneously.ConclusionBoth the MFO and ADOII are effective closure devices in appropriately selected pmVSDs. CAVB can occur with both devices. The MFO is inherently advantageous for defects larger than 6 mm and subaortic rims smaller than 3 mm. In the literature, our series represents the first study comparing the mid-term outcomes of MFO and ADOII devices in children weighing less than 10 kg

Effects of ocean acidification on Cd-109, Co-57, and Cs-134 bioconcentration by the European oyster (Ostrea edulis): Biokinetics and tissue-to-subcellular partitioning

The uptake and depuration kinetics of dissolved Cd-109, Co-57 and Cs-134 were determined experimentally in the European flat oyster Ostrea edulis (Linnaeus, 1758) under different pH conditions (i.e., 8.1, 7.8 and 7.5) for 59 days. Uptake and depuration rates were variable within these elements; no effects were observed under different pH conditions for the uptake biokinetics of Cd-109 and Co-57 and depuration of Cd-109 and Cs-134 in oyster. The uptake and depuration rate constants of Cs-134 differed during the exposure phase between treatments, while the steady state concentration factors (CFss) were similar. The resulting Cs activity that was purged during short- and long-term depuration phases differed, while the remaining activities after thirty-nine days depuration phase (RA(39d)) were similar. Co-57 depuration was affected by pCO(2) conditions: RA(39d) were found to be significantly higher in oysters reared in normocapnia (pCO(2) = 350 mu atm) compared to high pCO(2) conditions. Co-57 tissue distribution did not differ among the variable pCO2 conditions, while Cd-109 and Cs-134 accumulated in soft tissue of oysters were found to be higher under the highest pCO(2). Additionally, Cd, Co and Cs were stored differently in various compartments of the oyster cells, i.e. cellular debris, metal-rich granules (MRG) and metallothionein-like proteins (MTLP), respectively. The subcellular sequestration of the elements at the end of the depuration phase did not differ among pH treatments. These results suggest that bioconcentration and tissue/subcellular distribution are element-specific in the oyster, and the effects of higher pCO(2) driven acidification and/or coastal acidification variably influence these processes

Biokinetics of 110mAg in Baltic shrimp Palaemon adspersus under elevated pCO2

© 2021 Elsevier B.V.Ocean acidification impacts the physiology of crustaceans as well as marine calcifiers although most of the hitherto studies has focused on calcifiers. Bioconcentration of elements in a marine animal depends on seawater chemistry and the animal's physiology. Here we studied biokinetics and body distribution of Ag in Baltic shrimp Palaemon adspersus for 47 days by using radiotracer method (110mAg). The bioconcentration of 110mAg was assessed under three pCO2 levels: 370, 795 and 1634 μatm. Uptake rate constants of 110mAg were inversely related to pH (3.1 at pH: 8.1, 4.2 at pH: 7.8 and 4.9 at pH: 7.5). A higher percentage of Ag accumulated in edible parts in the shrimps reared in acidified seawater compared to control. The moulting frequency was significantly higher in acidified seawater conditions compared to the control condition. The results of this study suggest that seawater acidification may partly modify Ag bioconcentration in Baltic shrimp Palaemon adspersus as well as energy-demanding physiological processes like moulting

DELINEATION OF RADIONUCLIDE BIOACCUMULATION IN GOLDEN HORN, ISTANBUL, USING BIOINDICATOR MUSSEL Passive Monitoring and Transplantation

The Golden Horn estuary in the centre of Istanbul, has been exposed to many pollutants from domestic and industrial waste effluent during the second half of the 20th century. In this study, Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis) was seasonally collected from eight sites in the Golden Horn estuary, Istanbul to determine the bioaccumulation of Cs-137, K-40, Po-210, and Pb-210 between 2013 and 2014. The averages activity concentrations of Cs-137, K-40, Po-210, and Pb-210 were determined to be 1.36, 463, 91.64, and 11.51 Bqkg(-1) at dry weight, respectively. Mussel samples were also transplanted between the middle and lower part of the estuary to investigate variations in the levels of radionuclides over the course of the year. Higher concentrations were observed except for Po-210, compared with their initial concentrations in the transplanted mussels. Besides, the average and range annual effective ingestion dose values were calculated to be 11.96 and 2.23-34.45 mu Sv due to Po-210 through consumption of mussels from the Golden Horn. According to obtained dose levels, there is no health risk in terms of Po-210 consumption of mussels