Uniform magnetic chains of hollow cobalt mesospheres from one-pot synthesis and their assembly in solution

Magnetic chains up to 10 mu m in length formed of hollow cobalt mesospheres (480-850 nm) with a 60 nm thick shell are synthesized by a new soft-assembly protocol. The obtained chains show a saturation magnetization of 37.5 emu g(-1), a remnant magnetization of 1.55 emu g(-1), and a coercivity of ca. 66 Oe at 300 K. A possible mechanism for the formation of the chainlike hollow structures is proposed

Decreased Platelet Count in Patients Receiving Continuous Veno-Venous Hemofiltration: A Single-Center Retrospective Study

<div><p>Background</p><p>A decreased platelet count may occur and portend a worse outcome in patients receiving continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). We aim to investigate the incidence of decreased platelet count and related risk factors in patients receiving CRRT.</p><p>Methods</p><p>In this retrospective study, we screened all patients receiving continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (CVVH) at Jinling Hospital between November 2008 and October 2012. The patients were included who received uninterrupted CVVH for more than 72 h and had records of blood test for 4 consecutive days after ruling out pre-existing conditions that may affect the platelet count. Platelet counts before and during CVVH, illness severity, CVVH settings, and outcomes were analyzed.</p><p>Results</p><p>The study included 125 patients. During the 3-day CVVH, 44.8% and 16% patients had a mild decline (20–49.9%) and severe decline (≥50%) in the platelet count,respectively; 37.6% and 16.0% patients had mild thrombocytopenia (platelet count 50.1–100×10⁹/L) and severe thrombocytopenia (platelet count ≤50×10⁹/L), respectively. Patients with a severe decline in the platelet count had a significantly lower survival rate than patients without a severe decline in the platelet count (35.0% versus 59.0%, P = 0.012), while patients with severe thrombocytopenia had a survival rate similar to those without severe thrombocytopenia (45.0% versus 57.1%, P = 0.308). Female gender, older age, and longer course of the disease were independent risk factors for a severe decline in the platelet count.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>A decline in the platelet count and thrombocytopenia are quite common in patients receiving CVVH. The severity of the decline in the platelet count rather than the absolute count during CVVH may be associated with hospital mortality. Knowing the risk factors for a severe decline in the platelet count may allow physicians to prevent such an outcome.</p></div

Multivariate analyses of independent risk factors for a severe decline in the platelet count and severe thrombocytopenia during 3-day continuous veno-venous hemofiltration.

<p>Adjusted factors include age, gender, APACHE II score, SOFA score, sepsis, hypotension, times of hemofilter clotting, anticoagulation, blood flow, dose, course of the disease and thrombocytopenia before CVVH. APACHE: acute physiology and chronic health Evaluation; AUROC: area under the receiver operating characteristic curve; CVVH: continuous veno-venous hemofiltration; OR = odds ratio.</p

Baseline characteristics of the study population.

<p>APACHE: acute physiology and chronic health Evaluation; AKI: Acute kidney injury; CRRT: continuous renal replacement therapy; MPV: mean platelet volume; PCs: platelet counts; SOFA: sequential organ failure assessment; SIRS: systemic inflammatory reaction syndrome.</p><p>*P<0.05 compared with PCs reduction ≥50%;</p>†<p>P<0.01 compared with PCs reduction ≥50%.</p

Univariate analyses of risk factors for a severe decline in the platelet count and severe thrombocytopenia during 3-day continuous veno-venous hemofiltration.

<p>APACHE: acute physiology and chronic health Evaluation; OR = odds ratio; CI = confidence interval; CVVH: continuous veno-venous hemofiltration; RRT: renal replacement therapy; LMWHs: low molecular weight heparins; SOFA: sequential organ failure assessment.</p>a<p>Decreased volume refers to average positive fluid balance less than 0 ml/d (insensible water loss was not included in the calculations); Increased volume refers to average positive fluid balance more than 1500 ml/d; volume balance refers to fluid balance in between.</p

Univariate and multivariate adjusted Cox regression analyses of risk factors for mortality.

<p>Adjusted factor is gender. APACHE: acute physiology and chronic health Evaluation; SOFA: sequential organ failure assessment.</p

Kaplan-Meier plots for cumulative 90-day survival.

<p>Patients with a severe decline in the platelet count (≥50%) in 3-day CVVH had a worse 90-day survival than those with a mild decline in the platelet count (20–49.9%) or with no decline in the platelet count (<20%; Figure 2A). Patients with severe thrombocytopenia (Lowest Platelet count ≤50×10⁹/L) in 3-day CVVH had a similar 90-day survival compared to those with mild thrombocytopenia (Lowest Platelet count 50.1–100×10⁹/L) or with normal platelet counts (Lowest Platelet count>100×10⁹/L; Figure 2B). CVVH: continuous veno-venous hemofiltration.</p