Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

Synthesis of a novel polyetheramide-polyaniline composite anticorrosive coating from PET waste and jatropha oil

Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) has been depolymerized by aminolysistechnique using ethanolamine to bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalamide (BHETA). BHETA is a diol along with additional amide linkage as a structural part. It is used as hydroxyl precursor for the synthesis of polyetheramide resin. The conventional polyetheramide resin has been prepared by jatropha oil fatty acid amide and resorcinol. The modification is done in conventional resin with addition of BHETA by replacing fatty amide of oil on 50:50 molar basis. The synthesized resin was characterized by FTIR, 1HNMR and hydroxyl value. The synthesized resins are cured with Melamine Formaldehyde (MF) resin as a hardener and coating is prepared. The coating is evaluated for chemical, mechanical and anticorrosive properties. The anticorrosive performance of BHETA based polyetheramide is further improved by addition of polyaniline at various concentrations in coating system. 3wt% addition of polyaniline in BHETA based polyetheramide resin was shows best anticorrosive properties among all studied formulations

Synthesis of a novel polyetheramide-polyaniline composite anticorrosive coating from PET waste and jatropha oil

539-545Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) has been depolymerized by aminolysistechnique using ethanolamine to bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalamide (BHETA). BHETA is a diol along with additional amide linkage as a structural part. It is used as hydroxyl precursor for the synthesis of polyetheramide resin. The conventional polyetheramide resin has been prepared by jatropha oil fatty acid amide and resorcinol. The modification is done in conventional resin with addition of BHETA by replacing fatty amide of oil on 50:50 molar basis. The synthesized resin was characterized by FTIR, 1HNMR and hydroxyl value. The synthesized resins are cured with Melamine Formaldehyde (MF) resin as a hardener and coating is prepared. The coating is evaluated for chemical, mechanical and anticorrosive properties. The anticorrosive performance of BHETA based polyetheramide is further improved by addition of polyaniline at various concentrations in coating system. 3wt% addition of polyaniline in BHETA based polyetheramide resin was shows best anticorrosive properties among all studied formulations

Synthesis of a novel polyetheramide-polyaniline composite anticorrosive coating from PET waste and jatropha oil

539-545Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) has been depolymerized by aminolysistechnique using ethanolamine to bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalamide (BHETA). BHETA is a diol along with additional amide linkage as a structural part. It is used as hydroxyl precursor for the synthesis of polyetheramide resin. The conventional polyetheramide resin has been prepared by jatropha oil fatty acid amide and resorcinol. The modification is done in conventional resin with addition of BHETA by replacing fatty amide of oil on 50:50 molar basis. The synthesized resin was characterized by FTIR, 1HNMR and hydroxyl value. The synthesized resins are cured with Melamine Formaldehyde (MF) resin as a hardener and coating is prepared. The coating is evaluated for chemical, mechanical and anticorrosive properties. The anticorrosive performance of BHETA based polyetheramide is further improved by addition of polyaniline at various concentrations in coating system. 3wt% addition of polyaniline in BHETA based polyetheramide resin was shows best anticorrosive properties among all studied formulations

Methanolic extract of Euchelus asper exhibits in-ovo anti-angiogenic and in vitro anti-proliferative activities

Abstract Background The marine environment is a rich source of bioactive natural products. Many of the marine bioactive compounds have been derived successfully from molluscs. Euchelus asper is a marine mollusc which is commonly found in the intertidal rocky regions of the Mumbai coast. The present study was focused on evaluating the anti-angiogenic and anti- proliferative activities of methanolic extract of Euchelus asper (EAME). Methods The anti-angiogenic activity of EAME (50–800 μg/mL) was assessed by chick chorio-allantoic membrane (CAM) model wherein multiple parameters in the CAM blood vessels were analysed through morphometric and histological investigations. In vitro testing of EAME (5–20 μg/mL) included its cytotoxicity against three different cancer cell lines, its effect on cell proliferation by wound healing assay as well as their relevant molecular mechanisms. Statistical analysis was carried out by two-tailed student’s t test for two unpaired groups. Results Analysis of CAM revealed that the extract is effective in reducing the branching points of the 1st order blood vessels or capillaries of CAM. Histological analysis of CAM showed significant decrease in capillary plexus and compartmentalization along with increase in mesodermal blood vessels, thus establishing its anti-angiogenicity. Further, EAME exhibited moderate but significant cytotoxicity against A549 non-small cell lung carcinoma cell line. We also demonstrated that the cytotoxicity of EAME in A549 was associated with its apoptotic activity by subG1 phase arrest. Lastly, EAME significantly reduced A549 proliferation by reducing the expression of Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9). Conclusion Overall, our study suggested that EAME has potential to inhibit tumour angiogenic and proliferative activity and may be a potential source for development of new anti-cancer pharmaceuticals

Reduction of cardiac imaging tests during the COVID-19 pandemic: The case of Italy. Findings from the IAEA Non-invasive Cardiology Protocol Survey on COVID-19 (INCAPS COVID)

Background: In early 2020, COVID-19 massively hit Italy, earlier and harder than any other European country. This caused a series of strict containment measures, aimed at blocking the spread of the pandemic. Healthcare delivery was also affected when resources were diverted towards care of COVID-19 patients, including intensive care wards. Aim of the study: The aim is assessing the impact of COVID-19 on cardiac imaging in Italy, compare to the Rest of Europe (RoE) and the World (RoW). Methods: A global survey was conducted in May–June 2020 worldwide, through a questionnaire distributed online. The survey covered three periods: March and April 2020, and March 2019. Data from 52 Italian centres, a subset of the 909 participating centres from 108 countries, were analyzed. Results: In Italy, volumes decreased by 67% in March 2020, compared to March 2019, as opposed to a significantly lower decrease (p &lt; 0.001) in RoE and RoW (41% and 40%, respectively). A further decrease from March 2020 to April 2020 summed up to 76% for the North, 77% for the Centre and 86% for the South. When compared to the RoE and RoW, this further decrease from March 2020 to April 2020 in Italy was significantly less (p = 0.005), most likely reflecting the earlier effects of the containment measures in Italy, taken earlier than anywhere else in the West. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic massively hit Italy and caused a disruption of healthcare services, including cardiac imaging studies. This raises concern about the medium- and long-term consequences for the high number of patients who were denied timely diagnoses and the subsequent lifesaving therapies and procedures

International Impact of COVID-19 on the Diagnosis of Heart Disease

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has adversely affected diagnosis and treatment of noncommunicable diseases. Its effects on delivery of diagnostic care for cardiovascular disease, which remains the leading cause of death worldwide, have not been quantified. Objectives: The study sought to assess COVID-19's impact on global cardiovascular diagnostic procedural volumes and safety practices. Methods: The International Atomic Energy Agency conducted a worldwide survey assessing alterations in cardiovascular procedure volumes and safety practices resulting from COVID-19. Noninvasive and invasive cardiac testing volumes were obtained from participating sites for March and April 2020 and compared with those from March 2019. Availability of personal protective equipment and pandemic-related testing practice changes were ascertained. Results: Surveys were submitted from 909 inpatient and outpatient centers performing cardiac diagnostic procedures, in 108 countries. Procedure volumes decreased 42% from March 2019 to March 2020, and 64% from March 2019 to April 2020. Transthoracic echocardiography decreased by 59%, transesophageal echocardiography 76%, and stress tests 78%, which varied between stress modalities. Coronary angiography (invasive or computed tomography) decreased 55% (p &lt; 0.001 for each procedure). In multivariable regression, significantly greater reduction in procedures occurred for centers in countries with lower gross domestic product. Location in a low-income and lower–middle-income country was associated with an additional 22% reduction in cardiac procedures and less availability of personal protective equipment and telehealth. Conclusions: COVID-19 was associated with a significant and abrupt reduction in cardiovascular diagnostic testing across the globe, especially affecting the world's economically challenged. Further study of cardiovascular outcomes and COVID-19–related changes in care delivery is warranted