The utility of B-type natriuretic peptide in predicting postoperative cardiac events and mortality in patients undergoing major emergency non-cardiac surgery

B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels predict cardiovascular risk in several settings. We hypothesized that they would identify individuals at increased risk of complications and mortality following major emergency non-cardiac surgery.Forty patients were studied with a primary end-point of a new post-operative cardiac event, and/or development of significant ECG changes, and/or cardiac death. The main secondary outcome was all cause mortality at 6 months. Preoperative BNP levels were higher in 11 patients who suffered a new postoperative cardiac event (p=0.001) and predicted this outcome with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.85 (CI=0.72-0.98,p=0.001). A pre-operative BNP value >170pg.ml-1 has a sensitivity of 82% and a specificity of 79% for the primary end-point. In this small study, pre-operative BNP levels identify patients undergoing major emergency non-cardiac surgery who are at increased risk of early post-operative cardiac events. Larger studies are required to confirm these data.Peer reviewedPreprin

Effect of halide-mixing on the switching behaviors of organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite memory

Mixed halide perovskite materials are actively researched for solar cells with high efficiency. Their hysteresis which originates from the movement of defects make perovskite a candidate for resistive switching memory devices. We demonstrate the resistive switching device based on mixed-halide organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite CH3NH3PbI3−xBrx (x = 0, 1, 2, 3). Solvent engineering is used to deposit the homogeneous CH3NH3PbI3−xBrx layer on the indium-tin oxide-coated glass substrates. The memory device based on CH3NH3PbI3−xBrx exhibits write endurance and long retention, which indicate reproducible and reliable memory properties. According to the increase in Br contents in CH3NH3PbI3−xBrx the set electric field required to make the device from low resistance state to high resistance state decreases. This result is in accord with the theoretical calculation of migration barriers, that is the barrier to ionic migration in perovskites is found to be lower for Br− (0.23 eV) than for I− (0.29–0.30 eV). The resistive switching may be the result of halide vacancy defects and formation of conductive filaments under electric field in the mixed perovskite layer. It is observed that enhancement in operating voltage can be achieved by controlling the halide contents in the film.1119Ysciescopu

Adjunctive herbal medicine therapy for inflammatory bowel disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

© 2017 Elsevier GmbH Introduction We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the evidence for herbal medicine for inducing or maintaining remission in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). Methods Eight databases were searched up to January 2017 for randomised controlled trials of herbal medicine as an adjunct to conventional medication in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Data were extracted to obtain risk ratio (RR) of failure of inducing or maintaining remission, with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane criteria. Results Twenty-nine RCTs (24 UC, 5 CD) were included. In UC, herbal medicine was superior to placebo for clinical remission (RR of remission failure = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.59–0.93; I2 = 62%) and maintaining remission (RR of failure to maintain remission = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.17–0.67; I2 = 0%). Traditional Chinese patent medicine with standard therapy reduced the risk of no comprehensive remission by 19% compared to standard therapy alone (RR of no remission = 0.81, 95% CI: 0.70–0.95; I2 = 0%). In CD, however, the effect of herbal medicine was significant neither for inducing nor maintaining remission (RR of remission failure = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.24–1.33; I2 = 87%; RR of failure to maintain remission = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.60–1.52). Few serious adverse events were reported. Conclusions An adjunctive herbal medicine compared to standard therapy appears effective with few adverse events in achieving and maintaining remission in UC, while there is a lack of supporting evidence for CD. Future high quality trials are warranted

Basel risk weights, asset correlations, and book-to-market equity: evidence from Asian countries

We examine the effect of firm book-to-market equity values (BE/ME) on asset correlations which play an important role in determining risk weights under the current Basel capital requirements. Using firms in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan over a sample period from 1988 to 2013, we find that BE/ME has a negative effect on asset correlations. This suggests a role for BE/ME as an additional factor in determining asset correlations, and thus risk weights, also potentially reducing incentives for regulatory capital arbitrage

Identification of five novel WASP mutations in Chinese families with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome.

The Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome (WAS) is an X-linked recessive immunodeficiency caused by mutation in the gene encoding WAS protein (WASP). The disease is characterized by eczema, thrombocytopenia and severe immunodeificency and is associated with extensive clinical heterogeneity. Mutation studies indicated that the mutated genotypes are also highly variable. In this study, we performed PCR-direct sequencing analysis of the WAS gene in six unrelated Chinese families. Five novel mutations identified, included two nonsense mutations (506C-->T, 1388-->T), a small insertion (685-686insCGCA) and two single-base deletions (384delT, 984delC). All of the mutations are predicted to lead to premature translational termination of WASP. Copyright 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.postprin

Detection of Heparin in the Salivary Gland and Midgut of Aedes togoi

Mosquitoes secrete saliva that contains biological substances, including anticoagulants that counteract a host's hemostatic response and prevent blood clotting during blood feeding. This study aimed to detect heparin, an anticoagulant in Aedes togoi using an immunohistochemical detection method, in the salivary canal, salivary gland, and midgut of male and female mosquitoes. Comparisons showed that female mosquitoes contained higher concentrations of heparin than male mosquitoes. On average, the level of heparin was higher in blood-fed female mosquitoes than in non-blood-fed female mosquitoes. Heparin concentrations were higher in the midgut than in the salivary gland. This indicates presence of heparin in tissues of A. togoi.X111Ysciescopu

A study of blood contamination of Siqveland matrix bands

AIMS To use a sensitive forensic test to measure blood contamination of used Siqveland matrix bands following routine cleaning and sterilisation procedures in general dental practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixteen general dental practices in the West of Scotland participated. Details of instrument cleaning procedures were recorded for each practice. A total of 133 Siqveland matrix bands were recovered following cleaning and sterilisation and were examined for residual blood contamination by the Kastle-Meyer test, a well-recognised forensic technique. RESULTS: Ultrasonic baths were used for the cleaning of 62 (47%) bands and retainers and the remainder (53%) were hand scrubbed prior to autoclaving. Overall, 21% of the matrix bands and 19% of the retainers gave a positive Kastle-Meyer test, indicative of residual blood contamination, following cleaning and sterilisation. In relation to cleaning method, 34% of hand-scrubbed bands and 32% of hand-scrubbed retainers were positive for residual blood by the Kastle-Meyer test compared with 6% and 3% respectively of ultrasonically cleaned bands and retainers (P less than 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: If Siqveland matrix bands are re-processed in the assembled state, then adequate pre-sterilisation cleaning cannot be achieved reliably. Ultrasonic baths are significantly more effective than hand cleaning for these items of equipment

Endoscopic vs Robotic Thyroidectomy: Which is Better?

published_or_final_versionSpringer Open Choice, 21 Feb 201