Hepatic venous pressure gradient: clinical use in chronic liver disease

Portal hypertension is a severe consequence of chronic liver diseases and is responsible for the main clinical complications of liver cirrhosis. Hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) measurement is the best available method to evaluate the presence and severity of portal hypertension. Clinically significant portal hypertension is defined as an increase in HVPG to >10 mmHg. In this condition, the complications of portal hypertension might begin to appear. HVPG measurement is increasingly used in the clinical fields, and the HVPG is a robust surrogate marker in many clinical applications such as diagnosis, risk stratification, identification of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who are candidates for liver resection, monitoring of the efficacy of medical treatment, and assessment of progression of portal hypertension. Patients who had a reduction in HVPG of ≥20% or to ≤12 mmHg in response to drug therapy are defined as responders. Responders have a markedly decreased risk of bleeding/rebleeding, ascites, and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, which results in improved survival. This review provides clinical use of HVPG measurement in the field of liver disease

Drug-induced liver injury: present and future

Liver injury due to prescription and nonprescription medications is a growing medical, scientific, and public health problem. Worldwide, the estimated annual incidence rate of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is 13.9-24.0 per 100,000 inhabitants. DILI is one of the leading causes of acute liver failure in the US. In Korea, the annual extrapolated incidence of cases hospitalized at university hospital is 12/100,000 persons/year. Most cases of DILI are the result of idiosyncratic metabolic responses or unexpected reactions to medication. There is marked geographic variation in relevant agents; antibiotics, anticonvulsants, and psychotropic drugs are the most common offending agents in the West, whereas in Asia, 'herbs' and 'health foods or dietary supplements' are more common. Different medical circumstances also cause discrepancy in definition and classification of DILI between West and Asia. In the concern of causality assessment, the application of the Roussel Uclaf Causality Assessment Method (RUCAM) scale frequently undercounts the cases caused by 'herbs' due to a lack of previous information and incompatible time criteria. Therefore, a more objective and reproducible tool that could be used for the diagnosis of DILI caused by 'herbs' is needed in Asia. In addition, a reporting system similar to the Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network (DILIN) in the US should be established as soon as possible in Asia

N-(Pyridin-2-ylmeth­yl)pyridin-2-amine

The title compound, C11H11N3, crystallizes with two mol­ecules (A and B) in the asymmetric unit. The geometries of both mol­ecules are very similar, with the exception of the torsion angles of the inter-ring chains; the values for C—N—C—C are 67.4 (5) and −69.3 (5)° for mol­ecules A and B, respectively. The dihedral angles between the pyridyl ring planes are 84.0 (2) and 83.2 (2)° for mol­ecules A and B, respectively. In the crystal, weak inter­molecular N—H⋯N hydrogen bonds and C—H⋯π inter­actions contribute to the stabilization of the packing

2011 International Design Exchange Project, Hidden Space Project. Volume 2, Urban rooftops

Urban Rooftops: Our cities are now having to rethink and redevelop the use of space more creatively and ingeniously than ever before. Space is precious in any context but the extra pressure cities’ face with the ever growing need to accommodate increasing populations mean that every open area is now a new possibility for spatial development. One of the most recent and fascinating trends is the use of rooftops. Their appeal lies in their surprise and undiscovered disposition. Their purpose might involve a large community or an individual but because of its elevated position, each journey to that roof space provides a chance for adventure. They are an addition to older established buildings but come with a new brief and therefore a new spirit, encouraging creativity and positive thinking, using a different energy. The master planners and the local communities need to consider a more responsible composition of ideas to our urban and earthly needs. Sustainable energy use and material choice are to be rewarded but what of the function? Is just viewing the simple horizon above the rooftops function enough? relieving us of our daily stresses and seeing the city as sleeping giant or should we be industrious, striking balances of nature, pulling it back from disaster, giving space to synergistic projects. The students were asked to design a Rooftop structure in a densely inhabited urban neighbourhood, namely Burbage House, Curtain Road, Shoreditch London E2. Aim: The aim of this lofty structure or series of structures sets out to encourage, inspire a community or an individual to cultivate positive practices. The rooftop should connect and bond visually or through metaphor within its surrounding neighbourhood. The space should take account of the social and cultural diversity that resides close by. Context: Shoreditch is weave of close knit streets with its former industrial context provide an area for those that want to step out of the norm and the corporate, it’s place to imagine new business. Innovative creative houses have set up home using space imaginatively, sharing with like minded disciplines. The narrowness of the streets encourages networking and enhances collective working practices. Warehouse constructions reveal their previous activity and function, reminding us of the busy people, the noise and the industry. The buildings allow a maximum of light though to the interior, the detail in the window frames and brickwork show a sense of pride. The Interiors are simple and true the outer structure, revealing angles and curves. The space is unattractive to the Multi-national corporations, and as there is little capacity for charging large rents makes this area economically suitable for young and emerging practices to set up. The rawness of the interior spaces, unadulterated by recent 20th century trends provide the perfect utilitarian and vacant habitat for the fresh ideas where pioneering and ground breaking professions materialize. View: In some respects the rawness of such a landscape, its lack of conformity compares well with an open landscape. When standing on the roof looking across London, its openness and horizontal neutrality engenders a sense of calm and invigoration. Suddenly there are possibilities and scope for living positively. Hurried life slows down and London becomes picturesque. Novalis wrote ‘Everything seen from a distance becomes poetry :distant mountains, distant people, distant events. Everything become romantic’

Bis[μ-N-(pyridin-2-ylmeth­yl)pyridin-2-amine-κ2 N:N′]disilver(I) bis(trifluoro­methane­sulfonate)

In the binuclear title compound, [Ag2(C11H11N3)2](CF3O3S)2, the complex cation is centrosymmetric, with the unique Ag+ cation coordinated by two pyridine N atoms from two symmetry-related N-(pyridin-2-ylmeth­yl)pyridin-2-amine ligands in a geometry slightly distorted from linear [N—Ag—N 161.02 (7)°]. This set-up leads to the formation of a 14-membered cyclic dimer. The two pyridine rings coordinated to the Ag+ cation are tilted by 80.19 (7)° with respect to each other. Inter­molecular N—H⋯O hydrogen-bonding inter­actions between the cyclic dimer and the anion exist. A two-dimensional network parallel to the ac plane is constructed by three weak Ag⋯(O,N) inter­actions as well as an F⋯F contact of 2.890 (4) Å

5,5′-Bis[(1H-imidazol-1-yl)meth­yl]-2,2′-bipyridine methanol disolvate

The title compound, C18H16N6·2CH3OH, was prepared by the reaction of 5,5′-bis­(bromo­meth­yl)-2,2′-bipyridine with imidazole. The main mol­ecule lies on an inversion center located at the mid-point of the C—C bond joining the two pyridine rings. The asymmetric unit therefore contains one half-mol­ecule and one methanol solvent mol­ecule. The dihedral angle between the pyridine and imidazole rings is 72.32 (5)°. In the crystal, weak inter­molecular O—H⋯N, C—H⋯N and C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds contribute to the stabilization of the packing

Психологическая готовность инвалидов к получению профессионального образования

Представленные результаты пилотажного исследования психологической готовности абитуриентов-инвалидов к получению профессионального образования получены на основе психолого-педагогического общения исследователей с группой молодых инвалидов-слушателей курса довузовской подготовки. Итоги исследования убеждают, что профессиональное образование является для инвалидов ведущей целью, с ним они связывают достижение наиболее важных жизненных целей, возможность самореализации в будущем

3,3′-Dimethyl-1,1′-[2,2′-bipyridine-5,5′-diylbis(methyl­ene)]diimidazol-3-ium bis­(hexa­fluoro­phosphate)

The title compound, C20H22N6 2+·2PF6 −, was prepared by the reaction of 5,5′-bis­(bromo­meth­yl)-2,2′-bipyridine with 1-methyl­imidazole. The main mol­ecule lies on an inversion center located at the mid-point of the C—C bond joining the two pyridine rings. The asymmetric unit therefore contains one half-mol­ecule and one hexa­fluoro­phosphate anion. The dihedral angle between the pyridine and imidazole rings is 76.93 (7)°. In the crystal, weak inter­molecular C—H⋯F hydrogen bonds contribute to the stabilization of the packing