Bioinspired Asymmetric-Anisotropic (Directional) Fog Harvesting Based on the Arid Climate Plant Eremopyrum orientale

Asymmetric-anisotropic (directional) fog collection behaviour is observed for leaves of the arid climate plant species Eremopyrum orientale. This is underpinned by a hierarchical surface structure comprising macroscale grooves, microscale tilted cones (in the direction of water flow), and nanoscale platelets. Soft lithography combined with either nanocoating deposition or functional nanoimprinting has been used to replicate this highly-efficient directional water collection mechanism

The evaluation of vitamin D levels in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome

PubMed ID: 26939675The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels and carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). 25(OH)D levels were checked in 108 consecutive patients with CTS symptoms and 52 healthy controls. All patients underwent nerve conduction studies and completed Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BQ) symptom severity and functional status scales to quantify symptom severity, pain status and functional status. There were 57 patients with electrophysiological confirmed CTS (EP+ group) and 51 electrophysiological negative symptomatic patients (EP- group). 25(OH) D deficiency (25(OH)D < 20 ng/ml) was found in 96.1 % of EP- group, in 94.7 % of EP+ group and in 73.8 % of control group. 25(0H) D level was found significantly lower both in EP+ and EP- groups compared to control group (p = 0.006, p < 0.001, respectively). Although mean vitamin D level in EP- group was lower than EP+ group, statistically difference was not significant between EP+ and EP- groups (p = 0.182). BQ symptom severity and functional status scores and BQ pain sum score were not significantly different between EP+ and EP- groups. We found no correlation with 25(OH) D level for BQ symptom severity, functional status and pain sum scores. 25(OH) D deficiency is a common problem in patients with CTS symptoms. As evidenced by the present study, assessment of serum 25(OH)D is recommended in CTS patients even with electrophysiological negative results. © 2016, Springer-Verlag Italia

Bioinspired fog capture and channel mechanism based on the arid climate plant Salsola crassa

Salsola crassa plant hairs collect fog in their natural arid climate habitat through the capture and growth of water droplets. These then, either drip onto the ground below due to gravity, or coalesce into larger attached water droplets, whilst concurrently rolling downwards along the curvature of the Salsola crassa leaf (fog collection and water channelling mechanism). Non-woven and cotton fibrous materials are shown to mimic the fog harvesting behaviour of Salsola crassa hairs, where the overall mist collection efficiency can be enhanced by over 300 percent through the incorporation of multiple length scale (hierarchical) channel structures in conjunction with hydrophobic surface functionalisation

Cystic fibrosis in Turkey: First data from the national registry

Background: Cystic fibrosis (CF) care has been implemented in Turkey for a long time; however, there had been no patient registry. For this purpose, the Turkish National CF Registry was established. We present the first results of registry using data collected in 2017. Methods: The data were collected using a data-entry software system, which was accessed from the internet. Demographic and annually recorded data consisted of 15 and 79 variables, respectively. Results: There were 1170 patients registered from 23 centers; the estimated coverage rate was 30%. The median age at diagnosis was 1.7 years (median current age: 7.3 years); 51 (4.6%) patients were aged over 18 years. Among 293 patients who were under 3 years of age, 240 patients (81.9%) were diagnosed through newborn screening. Meconium ileus was detected in 65 (5.5%) patients. Genotyping was performed in 978 (87.4%) patients and 246 (25.2%) patients' mutations were unidentified. The most common mutation was deltaF508 with an allelic frequency of 28%, followed by N1303K (4.9%). The median FEV1% predicted was 86. Chronic colonization with Pseudomonas aeruginosa was seen in 245 patients. The most common complication was pseudo-Bartter syndrome in 120 patients. The median age of death was 13.5 years in a total of 15 patients. Conclusions: Low coverage rate, lack of genotyping, unidentified mutations, and missing data of lung functions are some of our greatest challenges. Including data of all centers and reducing missing data will provide more accurate data and help to improve the CF care in Turkey in the future. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Patients eligible for modulator drugs: Data from cystic fibrosis registry of Turkey

Background: A better understanding of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator biology has led to the development of modulator drugs such as ivacaftor, lumacaftor-ivacaftor, tezacaftor-ivacaftor, and elexacaftor-tezacaftor-ivacaftor. This cross-sectional study evaluated cystic fibrosis (CF) patients eligible for modulator drugs. Methods: Data for age and genetic mutations from the Cystic Fibrosis Registry of Turkey collected in 2018 were used to find out the number of patients who are eligible for modulator therapy. Results: Of registered 1488 CF patients, genetic analysis was done for 1351. The numbers and percentages of patients and names of the drugs, that the patients are eligible for, are as follows: 122 (9.03%) for ivacaftor, 156 (11.54%) for lumacaftor-ivacaftor, 163 (11.23%) for tezacaftor-ivacaftor, and 57 (4.21%) for elexacaftor-tezacaftor-ivacaftor. Among 1351 genotyped patients total of 313 (23.16%) patients are eligible for currently licensed modulator therapies (55 patients were shared by ivacaftor and tezacaftor-ivacaftor, 108 patients were shared by lumacaftor-ivacaftor and tezacaftor-ivacaftor, and 22 patients were shared by tezacaftor-ivacaftor and elexacaftor-tezacaftor-ivacaftor groups). Conclusions: The present study shows that approximately one-fourth of the registered CF patients in Turkey are eligible for modulator drugs. As, frequent mutations that CF patients have in Turkey are different from North American and European CF patients, developing modulator drugs effective for those mutations is necessary. Furthermore, as modulator drugs are very expensive currently, financial support of the government in developing countries like Turkey is noteworthy. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals LL

Safety of hospital discharge before return of bowel function after elective colorectal surgery

© 2020 BJS Society Ltd Published by John Wiley & Sons LtdBackground: Ileus is common after colorectal surgery and is associated with an increased risk of postoperative complications. Identifying features of normal bowel recovery and the appropriateness for hospital discharge is challenging. This study explored the safety of hospital discharge before the return of bowel function. Methods: A prospective, multicentre cohort study was undertaken across an international collaborative network. Adult patients undergoing elective colorectal resection between January and April 2018 were included. The main outcome of interest was readmission to hospital within 30 days of surgery. The impact of discharge timing according to the return of bowel function was explored using multivariable regression analysis. Other outcomes were postoperative complications within 30 days of surgery, measured using the Clavien–Dindo classification system. Results: A total of 3288 patients were included in the analysis, of whom 301 (9·2 per cent) were discharged before the return of bowel function. The median duration of hospital stay for patients discharged before and after return of bowel function was 5 (i.q.r. 4–7) and 7 (6–8) days respectively (P < 0·001). There were no significant differences in rates of readmission between these groups (6·6 versus 8·0 per cent; P = 0·499), and this remained the case after multivariable adjustment for baseline differences (odds ratio 0·90, 95 per cent c.i. 0·55 to 1·46; P = 0·659). Rates of postoperative complications were also similar in those discharged before versus after return of bowel function (minor: 34·7 versus 39·5 per cent; major 3·3 versus 3·4 per cent; P = 0·110). Conclusion: Discharge before return of bowel function after elective colorectal surgery appears to be safe in appropriately selected patients