To assess the feasibility and early outcome of continuous cerebral and myocardial selective perfusion (CCMSP) during aortic arch surgery in neonates.
 
  We performed a single-center retrospective study between 2008 and 2019 on neonates who underwent aortic arch surgery with or without associated heart lesion repair. CCMSP with moderate hypothermia levels (28°C) was achieved using selective brachiocephalic artery and ascending aorta cannulation. Target rates of cerebral and myocardial perfusion were 25 to 35 mL/kg/min and 150 ml/m2/min. Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) variables and clinical outcomes were analyzed.
 
  Overall, 69 neonates underwent either isolated aortic arch repair (n = 31) or aortic arch repair with ventricular septal defect (VSD) closure (n = 38). Age and weight medians were 8 [6 to 15] days and 3.4 [2.9-3.5] kg, respectively. Mean CPB and aortic clamping times were 134 ± 47 and 26 ± 5 minutes for isolated aortic arch repair, and 159 ± 47 and 75 ± 30 minutes for aortoplasty accompanied by VSD closure. Mean CCMSP time was 52 ± 21 minutes with cerebral rate of 32.6 ± 10 mL·kg
  ·min
  . Overall in hospital survival was 98.5% (68/69). Major complications were postoperative cardiac failure requiring mechanical support followed by stroke (n = 1; 1.44%) and transient renal failure requiring dialysis (n = 2; 2.89%). Neither myocardial nor digestive complication occurred.
 
  CCMSP is a safe and reproducible strategy for cerebral, myocardial and visceral protection in neonatal aortic arch repair, with or without VSD closure, resulting in low complication and mortality.
 CCMSP is a safe and reproducible strategy for cerebral, myocardial and visceral protection in neonatal aortic arch repair, with or without VSD closure, resulting in low complication and mortality.Persistent infection of left ventricular-assisted devices are challenging to treat. We describe a case of a middle-aged man who presented with cardiogenic shock and profound heart failure from sarcoid myocarditis, necessitating the placement of a left ventricular assist device. After recovery of cardiac function, the device was decommissioned but complicated by infection in the implant bed, chest wall, and of the titanium plug left in situ. This to our knowledge is the first report of an infected titanium plug and we describe an option of using a latissimus dorsi flap using its vascularized tissues to treat the infected plug. This is another example where a multidisciplinary approach can yield rewarding results in cases such as these.The authors present a case report about the elective replacement of a mechanical Bentall with a bioprosthetic valve. The authors describe a technique whereby the mechanical valve is "broken" off its mechanism and the new valve is sutured in the old cuff.Conservationists need to measure human behavior to guide decisions and evaluate their impact. However, activities can be misreported and reporting accuracy may change following conservation interventions, making it hard to verify any apparent changes. Techniques for asking sensitive questions are increasingly integrated into survey designs to improve data quality, but some can be costly or hard for nonexperts to implement. We demonstrate a straightforward, low-cost approach, the bean method in which respondents give anonymous answers by adding a colored bean to a jar to denote a yes or no response. We applied the bean method to measure wild-meat hunting and trading over 2 years at a conservation-project (hunting reduction) site in Gola Forest, Liberia. We extended the technique to accommodate questions about hunting and meat-selling frequency. We compared responses given using the bean method and direct questioning for groups that did and did not participate in conservation interventions. Results from the bean method corresponded to those from direct questioning, and there was no indication of change in question sensitivity following conservation interventions. Estimates from both methods indicated that wild-meat trading decreased in project and nonproject households (from 36% to 20%) and that hunting decreased in 1 project group (38-28%). Where inconsistent answers were given (2-6% of respondents), differences were in both directions and were most likely attributable to measurement error. The bean method was quick and straightforward to administer in a low-literacy setting. We showed how it can be modified for answers of more than 2 categories and consider it a valuable tool that could be adapted for a wide range of conservation settings.This program director survey attempts to determine how coronavirus 2019 pandemic is impacting current training in cardiothoracic surgery. A transition to virtual didactic sessions may prove beneficial with increasing attendance. On the other hand, decreasing live simulation and case volumes may jeopardize achieving competency in surgical skills.Thermally activated delayed-fluorescent (TADF) materials are anticipated to overcome triplet-related losses towards electrically driven organic lasers. Thus far, contributions from triplets to lasing have not yet been experimentally demonstrated owing to the limited knowledge about the excited-state processes.  https://www.selleckchem.com/products/reacp53.html  Herein, we experimentally achieve reverse intersystem crossing (RISC)-boosted lasing in organic microspheres with uniformly dispersed TADF emitters. In these materials, triplets are continuously converted to radiative singlets through RISC, giving rise to reduced losses in stimulated emission. The involvement of regenerated singlets in population inversion results in a thermally activated lasing; that is, the lasing intensity increases with increasing temperature, accompanied by accelerated depletion of the excited-state population. Benefiting from the suppression of triplet accumulations by RISC processes, a high-repetition-rate microlaser was achieved.
  The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic gripped every nation's health care system and provisions on all levels. In cardiac and aortic surgery, as it is with most specialities, elective surgeries were halted.
 
  We captured reflections, contingencies, and current practices across of high-volume centers in cardiac and aortic surgery globally. We also aimed this study to assess decision on prioritization of the surgical patients, the need for personal protection equipment, and the choice of preoperative investigations in current dynamic and fluid climate.
 
  A validated web-based questionnaire was constructed and was circulated to the international surgeons amongst high volume cardiac and aortic surgery centers. Their intrinsic feedback on decision making, the impact of the lockdown, and perspectives for the future ahead of us all were noted. A mixed-method approach was constructed. Qualitative data analysis was introduced to signify the impact globally.
 
  Overall, 23 centers from 18 countries participated in this international study.