Prenatal detection of aortic coarctation in a well-organized screening setting: Are we there yet?

Objective

We aimed to assess current prenatal detection rate (DR) of aortic coarctation (CoA) and its impact on neonatal outcome in the Netherlands to evaluate the efficacy of the Dutch screening protocol in which the cardiac four-chamber view, outflow tracts and three-vessel view are compulsory.

Methods

All prenatally and postnatally diagnosed CoA cases between 2012 and 2021 were extracted from our PRECOR-registry. Annual DRs were calculated with a focus on the trend over time and attributing factors for detection. Postnatal outcome was compared between prenatally detected and undetected cases.

Results

49/116 cases (42.2%) were detected prenatally. A higher chance of detection was found for cases with extracardiac malformations (71.4%; p = 0.001) and the more severe cases with an aortic arch hypoplasia and/or ventricular septal defect (63.2%; p = 0.001). Time-trend analysis showed no improvement in DR over time (p = 0.33). Undetected cases presented with acute circulatory shock in 20.9% and were more likely to have severe lactic acidosis (p = 0.02) and impaired cardiac function (p < 0.001) before surgery.

Conclusion

Even in a well-organized screening program, the DR of CoA still requires improvement, especially in isolated cases. The increased risk of severe lactic acidosis in undetected cases stresses the need for urgent additions to the current screening program, such as implementation of the three-vessel trachea view and measurement of outflow tracts.     

Adsorption behavior of ammonium by a bioadsorbent – Boston ivy leaf powder

The adsorption behaviors of ammonium ions from aqueous solution by a novel bioadsorbent, the Boston ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata) leaf powder (BPTL) were investigated. The SEM images and FT-IR spectra were used to characterize BPTL. The mathematical models were used to analyze the adsorption kinetics and isotherms. The optimum pH range for ammonium adsorption by BPTL was found to be 5–10. The adsorption reached equilibrium at 14 hr, and the kinetic data were well fitted by the Logistic model. The intraparticle di usion was the main rate-controlling step of the adsorption process. The high temperature was favorable to the ammonium adsorption by BPTL, indicating that the adsorption was endothermic. The adsorption equilibrium fitted well to both the Langmuir model and Freundlich model, and the maximum monolayer adsorption capacities calculated from Langmuir model were 3.37, 5.28 and 6.59 mg N/g at 15, 25 and 35°C, respectively, which were comparable to those by reported minerals. Both the separation factor (RL) from the Langmuir model and Freundlich exponent (n) suggested that the ammonium adsorption by BPTL was favorable. Therefore, the Boston ivy leaf powder could be considered a novel bioadsorbent for ammonium removal from aqueous solution.     

Astaxanthin and papilioerythrinone in the skin of birds: a chromatic convergence of two metabolic routes with different precursors?

Carotenoids are organic pigments involved in several important physiological functions and may serve as indicators of individual quality in animals. These pigments are only obtained by animals from the diet, but they can be later transformed into other carotenoids by specific enzymatic reactions. The diet of farm-reared and probably wild red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa) is mainly based on cereals that contain high levels of lutein and zeaxanthin. These two carotenoids are also predominant in internal tissues and blood of red-legged partridges. However, in their integuments, astaxanthin and papilioerythrinone (the last one identified in this work) are mainly present in their free form and esterified with fatty acids. According to available literature about carotenoid metabolism in animals, we propose that astaxanthin (λ _max?=?478 nm) and papilioerythrinone (λ _max?=?452–478 nm) are the result of a chromatic convergence of the transformation of dietary zeaxanthin and lutein, respectively. Moreover, the results obtained in this work provide the first identification by liquid chromatography coupled to accurate mass quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer system of papilioerythrinone (m/z 581.3989 [M?+?H]⁺) in the skin (i.e., not feathers) of a vertebrate. Astaxanthin and papilioerythrinone are very close in terms of chemical structure and coloration, and the combination of these two keto-carotenoids is responsible for the red color of the ornaments in red-legged partridges.     

Stem cell transplantation before birth – a realistic option for treatment of osteogenesis imperfecta?

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is characterized by severe bone deformities, growth retardation and bones that break easily, often from little or no apparent cause. OI is a genetic disorder primarily with defective type I collagen with a wide spectrum of clinical expression. In the more severe cases, it can be diagnosed before birth. Transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) has the potential to improve the bone structure and stability, growth and fracture healing. Prenatal and postnatal cell transplantation has been investigated in preclinical and clinical studies of OI and suggests that this procedure is safe and has positive effects. Cell transplantation resulted in improved linear growth, mobility and reduced fracture incidence. However, the effect is transient and for this reason re-transplantation may be needed. So far there is limited experience in this area, and proper studies are required to accurately determine if MSC transplantation is of clinical benefit in the treatment of OI. In this review, we summarize what is currently known in this field. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of a new nitrification inhibitor 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate （DMPP） on nitrate and potassium leaching in two soils

In this study, soil column was used to study the new nitrification inhibitor 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate （DMPP） on nitrate （NO3^-- N） and potassium （K） leaching in the sandy loam soil and clay loam soil. The results showed that DMPP with ammonium sulphate nitrate （ASN） （（NH4）2SO4 and NHaNO3） or urea could reduce NO3^--N leaching significantly, whereas ammonium （NH4^＋-N） leaching increased slightly. In case of total N （NO3^--N＋NH4^＋-N）, losses by leaching during the experimental period （40 d） were 37.93 mg （urea）, 31.61 mg （urea＋DMPP）, 108.10 mg （ASN）, 60.70 mg （ASN＋DMPP） in the sandy loam soil, and 30.54 mg （urea）, 21.05 mg （urea＋DMPP）, 37.86 mg （ASN）, 31.09 mg （ASN＋DMPP） in the clay loam soil, respectively. DMPP-amended soil led to the maintenance of relatively high levels of NH4^＋ -N and low levels of NO3^--N in soil, and nitrification was slower. DMPP supplementation also resulted in less potassium leached, but the difference was not significant except the treatment of ASN and ASN＋DMPP in the sandy loam soil. Above results indicate that DMPP is a good nitrification inhibitor, the efficiency of DMPP seems better in the sandy loam soil than in the clay loam soil and lasts longer.     

Enhanced removal of organics by permanganate preoxidation using tannic acid as a model compound – Role of in situ formed manganese dioxide

The effect of permanganate preoxidation on organic matter removal during the coagulation with aluminum chloride was investigated using tannic acid as a model compound. Results showed that a small amount of KMnO4 (0.75 mg/L) increased the removal efficiency of tannic acid up to 20%, as compared to the process of coagulation by aluminum chloride alone. The key factor enhancing the removal efficiency of tannic acid in preoxidation process was the in situ formation of a reductant manganese dioxide. The complexation model was used to describe the reaction between MnO2 and tannic acid. Under weak pH condition, tannic acid was difficult to be adsorbed by MnO2 due to the static electrical repulsive forces. The presence of Ca2+ served as a bridge to hold the negative charged MnO2 and tannic acid together, which could be a crucial factor influencing tannic acid adsorption by in-situ manganese dioxide.     

First report of microcystin production in Microcystis smithii Komrek and Anagnostidis(Cyanobacteria) from a water bloom in Eastern China

A water bloom sample collected from Lake Dishui in Shanghai was characterized.The morphological identification showed that Micorcystis wesenbergii and Micorcystis smithii were the main component of the bloom.Five strains of M.smithii were successfully isolated.Their 16S rRNA gene sequences based phylogenetic tree showed that the five strains of M.smithii intermixed with strains of other morphospecies in Microcystis.A fragment of mcy gene encoding for microcystin synthetase was detected in one of the five M....