Here, a model lab-scale solution blowing setup was developed. Experiments were carried out in a model situation of two needles at several inter-needle distances and air velocities to investigate jet roping. Polymer jets issued from two needles were employed at the inter-needle distances of L = 4.5, 4, 3.5, 3, and 2.5 mm. Polymer jet intersections and merging near the needle tip and at a distance of ∼150 mm from the needle tip and near the collector were recorded employing a high-speed camera. The laydown images captured for each inter-needle distance were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy to link the laydown morphology to roping, which stems from the polymer jet–jet intersection in flight.

This study describes the development and implementation of a lab‐scale four‐needle nosepiece for solution blowing, which enabled the investigation of the roping probability of four polymer jets at different inter‐needle distances and air velocities. The roping probabilities of the four jets were compared to the corresponding roping probabilities of two jets previously established by the present group. The comparison revealed that at the relatively low air velocities (pressures), the four‐jet configuration reduces roping relative to the two‐jet case, which stems from the reduction of the end effect. However, at relatively high air velocities (pressures), turbulent pulsations in the surrounding air become more dominant than the end effect. Accordingly, the four‐jet case reveals a higher probability of roping at higher air velocities (pressures). The findings shed light on the behavior of multiple solution‐blown jets and the impact of the end effect on roping. The severity of roping in the case of four jets at diminishing inter‐needle distances and increasing air velocity was analyzed using recordings of polymer jets in flight by a high‐speed camera and scanning electron microscopy of the corresponding laydown structure.

AimTransfemoral Trans-catheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TF-TAVR) is a safe and effective therapy compared with surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in patients across all risk profiles using balloon-expandable valves (BEV) and self-expanding valves (SEV). Our aim was to compare safety and efficacy of BEV vs. SEV in high-risk patients undergoing TF-TAVR.Methods and resultsWe searched PubMed, EMBASE, Clinicaltrials.gov, Scopus, and Web of sciences for studies on patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing TAVR. Primary outcome was 30-day all-cause mortality. Secondary outcomes defined by Valve Academic Research Consortium 2 (VARC-2) criteria were also examined. Six studies with 2,935 patients (1,439 to BEV and 1,496 to SEV) were included. BEV was associated with lower risk of all-cause mortality (2.2% vs. 4.5%; RR: 0.51; 95% CI: 0.31–0.82; p < 0.006) and cardiovascular mortality [(2.5% vs. 4.3%; RR: 0.54; 95% CI: 0.32–0.90; p = 0.01) at 30 days compared with SEV. Implantation of more than one valve per procedure (0.78% vs. 5.11%; RR: 0.15; 95% CI: 0.07–0.31; p < 0.00001), and moderate/severe AR/PVL (2.5% vs. 9.01%; RR: 0.3; 95% CI: 0.17–0.48); p < 0.00001) were also lower in the BEV arm.ConclusionBEV TAVR is associated with reduced all-cause mortality (High level of GRADE evidence), cardiovascular mortality (very low level) at 30 days compared with SEV TAVR in high surgical risk patients. Data are necessary to determine if the difference in outcomes persists in longer-term and if the same effects are seen in lower-risk patients.Systematic Review Registrationidentifier, CRD42020181190.

The reported incidence of liposarcomas in ~2,000 cases annually results in about 30% of myxoid liposarcomas. Cardiac myoxid liposarcomas are very rare; their presentation could be cardiac tamponade, due to direct compression of the tumor and/or pericardial effusion. In this report, we describe a patient who presented with pericardial effusion secondary to myoxid liposarcomas from the right atrium, an extremely rare presentation of liposarcomas in the heart. We also present non-invasive imaging through echocardiography, CECT thorax and FDG PET scans, followed by a CT-guided mass biopsy. Histopathology of the right atrial mass demonstrated myxoid liposarcoma positive for the S100 tumor marker.

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