SQUIDs in biomagnetism : A roadmap towards improved healthcare

This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 686865.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Polyurethane/Nanosilver-Doped Halloysite Nanocomposites: Thermal, Mechanical Properties, and Antibacterial Properties

In this study, the researchers successfully embellished the surface of halloysite (Ag/HNTs) with silver using halloysite, silver nitrate (AgNO3), and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). The researchers then prepared polyurethane that contained pyridine ring by using 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) and polytetramethylene glycol (PTMG) as the hard chain segment and the soft chain segment of polyurethane (PU), as well as 2,6-pyridinedimethanol (2,6-PDM) as the chain extension agent. This was followed by the preparation of Ag/HNTs/PUs nanocomposite thin films, achieved by mixing Ag/HNTs with different ratios into polyurethane that contains pyridine ring. First, the Ag/HNTs powders were analyzed using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. Subsequently, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy was used to examine the dispersibility of Ag/HNTs in PU, whereas the thermal stability and the viscoelasticity of Ag/HNTs/PU were examined using thermal gravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and dynamic mechanical analysis. When the mechanical properties of Ag/HNTs/PU were tested using a universal strength tester, the results indicated a maximum increase of 109.5% in tensile strength. The researchers then examined the surface roughness and the hydrophobic ability of the Ag/HNTs/PU thin films by using atomic force microscopy and water contact angle. Lastly, antibacterial testing on Escherichia coli revealed that when the additive of Ag/HNTs reached 2.0 wt%, 99.3% of the E. coli were eliminated. These results indicated that the addition of Ag/HNTs into PU could enhance the thermal stability, mechanical properties, and antibacterial properties of PU, implying the potential of Ag/HNTs-02 as biomedicine material

Safety and feasibility of coronary stenting in unprotected left main coronary artery disease in the real world clinical practice--a single center experience.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the feasibility, safety, and prognostic outcome in patients with significant unprotected left main coronary artery (ULMCA) disease undergoing stenting. METHOD AND RESULTS: Between January 2010 and December 2012, totally 309 patients, including those with stable angina [13.9% (43/309)], unstable angina [59.2% (183/309)], acute non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) [24.3% (75/309)], and post-STEMI angina (i.e., onset of STEMI50%) undergoing stenting using transradial arterial approach, were consecutively enrolled. The patients' mean age was 68.9±10.8 yrs. Incidences of advance congestive heart failure (CHF) (defined as ≥ NYHA Fc 3) and multi-vessel disease were 16.5% (51/309) and 80.6% (249/309), respectively. Mechanical supports, including IABP for critical patients (defined as LVEF <35%, advanced CHF, or hemodynamically unstable) and extra-corporeal membrane oxygenator (ECMO) for hemodynamically collapsed patients, were utilized in 17.2% (53/309) and 2.6% (8/409) patients, respectively. Stent implantation was successfully performed in all patients. Thirty-day mortality rate was 4.5% (14/309) [cardiac death: 2.9% (9/309) vs. non-cardiac death: 1.6% (5/309)] without significant difference among four groups [2.3% (1) vs. 2.7% (5) vs. 9.3% (7) vs. 12.5% (1), p = 0.071]. Multivariate analysis identified acute kidney injury (AKI) as the strongest independent predictor of 30-day mortality (p<0.0001), while body mass index (BMI) and white blood cell (WBC) count were independently predictive of 30-day mortality (p = 0.003 and 0.012, respectively). CONCLUSION: Catheter-based LM stenting demonstrated high rates of procedural success and excellent 30-day clinical outcomes. AKI, BMI, and WBC count were significantly and independently predictive of 30-day mortality

County-Wide Mortality Assessments Attributable to PM2.5 Emissions from Coal Consumption in Taiwan

Over one-third of energy is generated from coal consumption in Taiwan. In order to estimate the health impact assessment attributable to PM2.5 concentrations emitted from coal consumption in Taiwan. We applied a Gaussian trajectory transfer-coefficient model to obtain county-wide PM2.5 exposures from coal consumption, which includes coal-fired power plants and combined heat and power plants. Next, we calculated the mortality burden attributable to PM2.5 emitted by coal consumption using the comparative risk assessment framework developed by the Global Burden of Disease study. Based on county-level data, the average PM2.5 emissions from coal-fired plants in Taiwan was estimated at 2.03 &plusmn; 1.29 (range: 0.32&ndash;5.64) &mu;g/m3. With PM2.5 increments greater than 0.1 &mu;g/m3, there were as many as 16 counties and 66 air quality monitoring stations affected by coal-fired plants and 6 counties and 18 monitoring stations affected by combined heat and power plants. The maximum distances affected by coal-fired and combined heat and power plants were 272 km and 157 km, respectively. Our findings show that more counties were affected by coal-fired plants than by combined heat and power plants with significant increments of PM2.5 emissions. We estimated that 359.6 (95% CI: 334.8&ndash;384.9) annual adult deaths and 124.4 (95% CI: 116.4&ndash;132.3) annual premature deaths were attributable to PM2.5 emitted by coal-fired plants in Taiwan. Even in six counties without power plants, there were 75.8 (95% CI: 60.1&ndash;91.5) deaths and 25.8 (95%CI: 20.7&ndash;30.9) premature deaths annually attributable to PM2.5 emitted from neighboring coal-fired plants. This study presents a precise and effective integrated approach for assessing air pollution and the health impacts of coal-fired and combined heat and power plants

30-Day Cardiac and Non-Cardiac Mortality among Four Groups.

<p>Group 1 = angina pectoris, Group 2 = unstable angina, Group 3 = non ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, Group 4 = post-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction angina.</p><p>*All non-cardiac death was due to sepsis.</p><p>30-Day Cardiac and Non-Cardiac Mortality among Four Groups.</p

30-Day Outcome of 8 Patients Supported by ECMO^*.

<p>ECMO = extra-corporeal membrane oxygenator.</p><p>*ECMO support for profound cardiogenic shock. These 8 patients also received intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) support.</p>†<p>death due to sepsis.</p><p>30-Day Outcome of 8 Patients Supported by ECMO^{<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0109281#nt119" target="_blank">*</a>}.</p

Angiographic Findings and PCI Results among 342 Patients.

<p>Data are expressed as % (n) or mean ± SD.</p><p>*Group 1 = angina pectoris, Group 2 = unstable angina, Group 3 = non ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, Group 4 = post-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction angina.</p><p>PCI = percutaneous coronary intervention; LM = left main; MLD = minimal lumen diameter; RLD = reference lumen diameter; TIMI = thrombolisis in myocardial infarction; LAD = left anterior descending artery; LCX = left circumflex.</p><p>IVUS = intra-vascular ultra-sound.</p><p>Letters (^a,b) indicate significant difference (at 0.05 level) by Bonferroni multiple-comparison post hoc test.</p><p>Angiographic Findings and PCI Results among 342 Patients.</p

Multivariate Analysis for Independent Predictors of 30-Day Mortality.

<p>CI = confidence interval.</p><p>*indicated data were used as continuity.</p><p>Multivariate Analysis for Independent Predictors of 30-Day Mortality.</p

Baseline Characteristics of 309 Patients.

<p>Data are expressed as % (n) or mean ± SD.</p><p>*Group 1 = angina pectoris, Group 2 = unstable angina, Group 3 = non ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, Group 4 = post-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction angina.</p><p>LDL = Low-density lipoprotein; HLD = high-density lipoprotein; CABG = coronary artery bypass surgery; LM = left main; PCI = percutaneous coronary intervention; COPD = chronic obstructive lung disease; PAOD = peripheral arterial obstructive disease; ARB/ACEI = angiotensin II type I receptor blcoker/angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor; HBA1C = hemoglobin A1C; ESRD = end-stage renal disease; CK = Creatine phosphokinase.</p>†<p>indicated measurement upon presentation.</p>‡<p>indicated therapy ≥5 week prior to be recorded.</p><p>Letters (^a,b) indicate significant difference (at 0.05 level) by Bonferroni multiple-comparison post hoc test.</p><p>Baseline Characteristics of 309 Patients.</p

30-Day Outcome of 45 Patients Supported by IABP^*.

<p>IABP = intra-aortic balloon pump.</p><p>*death due to sepsis.</p><p>30-Day Outcome of 45 Patients Supported by IABP^{<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0109281#nt122" target="_blank">*</a>}.</p