Endovascular management is used to treat Takayasu arteritis (TA) involving the supra-aortic branches. However, the long-term outcome of this treatment remains unclear.  https://www.selleckchem.com/products/rgd-arg-gly-asp-peptides.html  Here, technical safety, outcomes, and restenosis management of supra-aortic arteries in TA patients receiving endovascular treatment were evaluated.
 
  TA patients with symptomatic supra-aortic stenosis who underwent percutaneous angioplasty and stenting between 2008 and 2018 at our institute were enrolled in this study. Pre- and post-procedural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evaluations, including high-resolution vessel wall imaging (HR-VWI), were performed. Technical efficacy, peri-procedural complications, early post-procedural MRI results, and stent patency were examined.
 
  All six patients successfully received stent placement or percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in a total of 22 treated arteries without neurologic complications. During follow-up (mean, 56.3 ± 41.1 months), no recurrent stroke occurred, yet significant restenosis deis helpful for pre-procedural selection of patients for percutaneous angioplasty and stenting and drug-eluting balloon angioplasty appears to be a promising treatment for refractory in-stent restenosis.
  Transgender individuals often require gender-affirming interventions, such as endogenous sex hormone inhibition or gender-affirming hormone therapy (HT), while there is discordance between their body and gender identity. However, a recent study found that the incidence of cardiovascular events is higher in transgender patients receiving cross-sex HT. The aim of this study was to investigate the metabolic effects of an altered sex hormone profile.
 
  This retrospective study, conducted in a referral center in Northern Taiwan, analyzed metabolic changes over time in 65 trans masculine and 45 trans feminine persons. The transgender individuals were examined at 4 time points before the gender affirming HT, as well as 3, 6, and 12 months following treatment.
 
  Compared with baseline measurements, the trans masculine patients showed significant increases in body mass index (BMI) (22.6 ± 0.3 vs 23.3 ± 0.4 kg/m2; p < 0.001; t = 3M), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (124.3 ± 3.7 vs 131.3 ± 3.9 mg/dL; p = 0.03; t = 12M), creatinine (0.75 ± 0.01 vs 0.83 ± 0.14 mg/dL; p < 0.001; t = 12M), and hemoglobin (13.5 ± 0.7 vs 15.2 ± 0.2 g/dL; p < 0.001; t = 12M), as well as decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (57 ± 2.1 vs 51 ± 2.0 mg/dL; p < 0.001; t = 12M). The trans feminine patients had reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (104.2 ± 3.2 vs 100.8 ± 3.5 mg/dL; p = 0.05; t = 3M), hemoglobin (14.0 ± 0.1 vs 13.5 ± 0.1 g/dL; p = 0.008; t = 12M), and creatinine (0.82 ± 0.01 vs 0.79 ± 0.14 mg/dL; p < 0.001; t = 3M) compared with baseline data. In addition, most of these metabolic effects persisted during the follow-up period.
 
  This observational, retrospective study revealed that gender-affirming HT increased the relative cardiovascular risk in trans masculine individuals.
 This observational, retrospective study revealed that gender-affirming HT increased the relative cardiovascular risk in trans masculine individuals.
  Endoscopes increase the expediency of transcanal middle ear surgery. However, the application of a 70° endoscope is limited and seldom discussed, mainly because of its large angle. We introduce our experiences with the 70° endoscope in transcanal middle ear surgery.
 
  This is a retrospective chart review of 127 patients with chronic otitis media who underwent middle ear surgery performed by the senior author in 2016 at a tertiary referral center. The types of eardrum perforation were classified as central, inferior, posterior, or anterior according to the main location of the hole. The demographics, surgical pictures, and operative records were reviewed.
 
  In 15 ears of the 127 patients, the ossicles were recognized directly by a microscope. In another 112 ears, the ossicles could not be identified under a microscope. Without elevating the tympanomeatal flap, the ossicles could be recognized in 72 of these 112 ears with endoscopes, especially the 70° endoscope. In 35 of these 112 ears, an incision to extende, normal tissue injuries to the ear canal can be minimized.
  A research project was conducted by the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Superfund remedial program to study radiological assessment models used for contaminated sites. Several models developed by regulatory agencies in different countries are studied to present overview and comparisons. These models are recommended by governmental agencies for radiological assessment of contaminated soil, inside buildings, and outdoor surfaces. The project also addressed the methodological consistency between the EPA and the United Kingdom Environment Agency (UK EA) for radiological and chemical assessment models. The main purpose of this project is to establish a common ground for cooperation between regulatory agencies by facilitating better understanding of each agency's modeling approach and identifying the similarities and differences between these agencies. The project produced five reports that are published at the EPA's website. This paper summarizes the content of each report and presents resung the similarities and differences between these agencies. The project produced five reports that are published at the EPA's website. This paper summarizes the content of each report and presents results of a survey distributed electronically following an EPA webinar about the research projects, including the familiarity of the respondents with these models. All findings were statistically analyzed.
  To study the content of radionuclides in coal and to assess its associated radiological impact on the environment for potential radiological risk assessment, a total of 40 coal samples were collected from various mining areas in eight provinces of China. The specific activities of 226Ra, 232Th, 40K, 210Pb, and 238U were measured in all samples using an HPGe gamma-ray spectrometer, and results were compared with available data from other similar studies. The results reveal that the radium equivalent activity was 74.20 Bq kg-1, external hazard index was 0.20, internal hazard index was 0.27, representative gamma index was 0.52, and indoor and outdoor annual effective dose rates were 0.16 nSv y-1 and 0.04 nSv y-1, respectively. Absorbed gamma dose rate in air was 32.87 nGy h-1. In general, these values are lower than the respective threshold limits recommended by UNSCEAR, and the radiation risk to the public is extremely small.
 To study the content of radionuclides in coal and to assess its associated radiological impact on the environment for potential radiological risk assessment, a total of 40 coal samples were collected from various mining areas in eight provinces of China.