Association between screen viewing duration and sleep duration, Sleep quality, And excessive daytime sleepiness among adolescents in Hong Kong

© 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. Screen viewing is considered to have adverse impacts on the sleep of adolescents. Although there has been a considerable amount of research on the association between screen viewing and sleep, most studies have focused on specific types of screen viewing devices such as televisions and computers. The present study investigated the duration w ith which currently prevalent screen viewing devices (including televisions, personal computers, mobile phones, and portable video devices) are viewed in relation to sleep duration, sleep quality, and daytime sleepiness among Hong Kong adolescents (N = 762). Television and computer viewing remain prevalent, but were not correlated with sleep variables. Mobile phone viewing was correlated with all sleep variables, while portable video device viewing was shown to be correlated only with daytime sleepiness. The results demonstrated a trend of increase in the prevalence and types of screen viewing and their effects on the sleep patterns of adolescents.Link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density

Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals <1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data

Retinal Microvascular Abnormalities Predict Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Heart Failure

Background: Narrower retinal arterioles and wider retinal venules have been associated with the incidence of heart failure (HF). However, whether they are predictive of the prognosis of heart failure (HF) is unclear. We aimed to explore the role of retinal vessel calibers in predicting long-term clinical outcomes of HF. Methods: This is a prospective, single-center, observational study that surveyed patients in a tertiary referral hospital for the treatment of HF. Retinal vessel caliber was graded using retinal photography. The primary endpoint was the composite endpoint of HF rehospitalization and mortality at 12 months. Results: There were 55 patients with chronic HF included in the final analysis. At 12 months, the cumulative incidence of the primary endpoint, HF rehospitalization, and mortality tended to be higher with the widening of the central retinal venular equivalent (CRVE) (p for non-linearity = 0.059) and was significantly increased when CRVE reached a cut-off value (283 μm) (p = 0.011) following adjustment for age, sex, etiology of HF, and diabetes. No association between the central retinal arteriolar equivalent (CRAE) and arteriolar-to-venular caliber ratio (AVR) was found with the clinical outcome in both univariable and multivariable Cox regression. CRAE, CRVE, and AVR had no relationship with the concentration of the N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide. In addition, CRVE was not associated with cardiac diastolic and systolic function. Conclusions: When the retinal venular caliber widens to a certain point, the composite incidence of HF rehospitalization and mortality significantly increase, suggesting retinal vessel caliber imaging may provide insight into the development of HF

Applications and Safety of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Endometrial Cancer

Lymph node status is important in predicting the prognosis and guiding adjuvant treatment in endometrial cancer. However, previous studies showed that systematic lymphadenectomy conferred no therapeutic values in clinically early-stage endometrial cancer but might lead to substantial morbidity and impact on the quality of life of the patients. The sentinel lymph node is the first lymph node that tumor cells drain to, and sentinel lymph node biopsy has emerged as an acceptable alternative to full lymphadenectomy in both low-risk and high-risk endometrial cancer. Evidence has demonstrated a high detection rate, sensitivity and negative predictive value of sentinel lymph node biopsy. It can also reduce surgical morbidity and improve the detection of lymph node metastases compared with systematic lymphadenectomy. This review summarizes the current techniques of sentinel lymph node mapping, the applications and oncological outcomes of sentinel lymph node biopsy in low-risk and high-risk endometrial cancer, and the management of isolated tumor cells in sentinel lymph nodes. We also illustrate a revised sentinel lymph node biopsy algorithm and advocate to repeat the tracer injection and explore the presacral and paraaortic areas if sentinel lymph nodes are not found in the hemipelvis

Detection of lithospermate B in rat plasma at the nanogram level by LC/MS in multi reaction monitoring mode

Low bioavailability and high binding affinity to plasma proteins led to the difficulty for the quantitative detection of lithospermate B (LSB) in plasma. This study aimed to develop a protocol for detecting LSB in plasma. A method was employed to quantitatively detect LSB of 5–500 ng/mL by LC/MS spectrometry in multi reaction monitoring mode via monitoring two major fragments with m/z values of 519 and 321 in the MS2 spectrum. To set up an adequate extraction solution to release LSB captured by plasma proteins, recovery yields of LSB extracted from rat plasma acidified by formic acid or HCl in the presence or absence of EDTA and caffeic acid were detected and compared using the above quantitative method. High recovery yield (∼90%) was achieved when LSB (5–500 ng/mL) mixed in rat plasma was acidified by HCl (5 M) in the presence of EDTA (0.5 M) and caffeic acid (400 μg/mL). The lower limit of detection and the lower limit of quantification for LSB in the spiked plasma were calculated to be 1.8 and 5.4 ng/mL, respectively. Good accuracy (within ±10%) and precision (less than 10%) of intra- and inter-day quality controlled samples were observed. Oral bioavailability of LSB in rat model was detected via this optimized extraction method, and the maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) was found to be 1034.3 ± 510.5 μg/L at tmax around 10 min, and the area under the plasma concentration–time curve (AUC) was 1414.1 ± 851.2 μg·h/L

Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial comparing the effectiveness of physical exercise and melatonin supplement on treating sleep disturbance in children with autism spectrum disorders.

BackgroundPrevious study showed that both melatonin supplement and physical exercise intervention could improve sleep quality in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) with the increase in endogenous melatonin level. However, none of the studies have directly compared the effectiveness between the two interventions on treating sleep disturbance in children with ASD. Without direct comparison, we do not know which intervention is better. Thus, we designed a study to compare which intervention is more effective to treat sleep disturbance in children with ASD and to examine whether the combination of the two could be the most efficacious. We present a protocol for conducting a randomized controlled trial to compare the effectiveness of physical exercise and melatonin supplement on treating sleep disturbance in children with ASD.Study designThe proposed study will be a four-group randomised control trial (RCT) design, with equal allocation of participants to the three intervention groups and one control group.MethodsAll eligible participants will be randomly allocated to a morning jogging group, a melatonin supplement group, a combination group and a control group. Changes in sleep quality will be monitored through actigraphic assessment and parental sleep logs. Melatonin levels represented by 6-sulfoxymelatonin will be measured from the participants' 24-h and the first morning void urinary samples. All the assessments will be carried out before the intervention (T1), in the mid of the study (5 weeks after the commencement of the study) (T2) and after the 10-week intervention (T3). Level of statistical significance will be set at 5% (i.e. p FindingsThe findings will provide evidence to determine whether physical exercise or melatonin supplement or the combination of interventions is the most effective to treat sleep disturbance in children with ASD

Prediction of Thromboembolic Events in Heart Failure Patients in Sinus Rhythm: The Hong Kong Heart Failure Registry

<div><p>Aim</p><p>Heart failure (HF) increases the risk of thromboembolic events (TE). Study in a Caucasian population has shown that the CHA₂DS₂-VASc score predicts TE among HF patients without atrial fibrillation. We sought to assess the usefulness of the CHA₂DS₂-VASc score in predicting TE in an Asian population and refine the scoring system to improve its predictability of TE among HF patients in sinus rhythm.</p><p>Methods</p><p>A total of 1,202 consecutive patients who were admitted to our institution for new-onset HF from 2005 to 2012 and without atrial fibrillation or anticoagulation were retrospectively reviewed.</p><p>Results</p><p>The mean age was 77.6 ± 12.2 years and 51.7% were female. After 36.2 ± 30.1 months, 113 (9.4%) developed TE. The annual incidence was 0.54%, 1.54%, 2.98% and 5.04% per year in those who had a CHA₂DS₂-VASc score of 1, 2–3, 4–5 and ≥6, respectively. In multivariate analysis, age ≥75 years [Hazard ratio (HR) 2.59, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.23–5.46, <i>p</i> = 0.012), chronic ischemic heart disease (HR 1.54, 95% CI 1.02–2.31, <i>p</i> = 0.040) and chronic kidney disease (HR 1.66, 95% CI 1.09–2.53, <i>p</i> = 0.018) independently predicted TE. Incorporation of chronic ischemic heart disease and chronic kidney disease into the CHA₂DS₂-VASc score significantly increased the area under the Receiver Operating Curve from 0.57 (95% CI 0.54–0.59) to 0.61 (95% CI 0.55–0.66; <i>p</i> = 0.022).</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>The CHA₂DS₂-VASc score is useful for stratification of the risk of TE among HF patients in sinus rhythm. Incorporation of chronic ischemic heart disease and chronic kidney disease into the score modestly improves its predictive value.</p></div

Det är knappast ofarligt att demonstrera i Sverige

<p>(A) Kaplan-Meier curves for thromboembolic event-free survival. Log-rank: 19.714. <i>P</i><0.001. (B) Annual incidence of thromboembolic events. CHA₂DS₂-VASc = 1: 0.54% per year (95% CI 0.45–0.67); CHA₂DS₂-VASc = 2–3: 1.54% per year (95% CI 1.41–1.70); CHA₂DS₂-VASc = 4–5: 2.98% per year (95% CI 2.81–3.18); CHA₂DS₂-VASc ≥6: 5.04% per year (95% CI 4.59–5.60).</p

A flow chart showing selection, exclusion and clinical outcomes of our study population.

<p>SR–sinus rhythm.</p

Baseline characteristics of 1,202 heart failure patients in sinus rhythm with and without thromboembolic events.

<p>Baseline characteristics of 1,202 heart failure patients in sinus rhythm with and without thromboembolic events.</p