Rare complication of open reduction and internal fixation of fracture distal radius: A case report of distal radioulnar synostosis- letter to editor.

We read the article "Rare complication of open reduction and internal fixation of fracture distal radius: A case report of distal radioulnar synostosis" by Ahmed Elmahdi [1], with a lot of interest. We commend the authors efforts in describing a rare case of distal radioulnar synostosis after open reduction and internal fixation for distal radius fracture. It is the purpose of this letter-to-the-editor to express our opinion, which is based on the research that has been published, which indicates that our opinion is supported by the research.

Integrating ECG Monitoring and Classification via IoT and Deep Neural Networks.

Anesthesia assessment is most important during surgery. Anesthesiologists use electrocardiogram (ECG) signals to assess the patient's condition and give appropriate medications. However, it is not easy to interpret the ECG signals. Even physicians with more than 10 years of clinical experience may still misjudge. Therefore, this study uses convolutional neural networks to classify ECG image types to assist in anesthesia assessment. The research uses Internet of Things (IoT) technology to develop ECG signal measurement prototypes. At the same time, it classifies signal types through deep neural networks, divided into QRS widening, sinus rhythm, ST depression, and ST elevation. Three models, ResNet, AlexNet, and SqueezeNet, are developed with 50% of the training set and test set. Finally, the accuracy and kappa statistics of ResNet, AlexNet, and SqueezeNet in ECG waveform classification were (0.97, 0.96), (0.96, 0.95), and (0.75, 0.67), respectively. This research shows that it is feasible to measure ECG in real time through IoT and then distinguish four types through deep neural network models. In the future, more types of ECG images will be added, which can improve the real-time classification practicality of the deep model.

Surface functional characteristics (C, O, S) of waste tire-derived carbon black before and after steam activation.

The effects of steam activation on the surface functional characteristics of waste tire-derived carbon black were investigated. Two carbon-based materials, powdered carbon black (PCB) and PCB-derived powdered activated carbon (PCB-PAC), were selected for this study. A stainless steel tubular oven was used to activate the PCB at an activation temperature of 900 degrees C and 1 atm using steam as an activating reagent. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was adopted to measure the surface composition and chemical structure of carbon surface. Various elemental spectra (C, O, and S) of each carbon sample were further deconvoluted by peak synthesis. Results showed that the surfaces of PCB and PCB-PAC consisted mainly of C-C and C-O. The PCB-PAC surface had a higher percentage of oxygenated functional groups (C=O and O-C=O) than PCB. The O1s spectra show that the oxygen detected on the PCB surface was mainly bonded to carbon (C-O), whereas the oxygen on the PCB-PAC surface could be bonded to hydrogen (O-H) and carbon (C-O). Sulfur on the surface of PCB consisted of 58.9 wt% zinc sulfide (ZnS) and 41.1 wt% S=C=S, whereas that on the surfaces of PCB-PAC consisted mainly of S=C=S. Furthermore, the increase of oxygen content from 9.6% (PCB) to 11.9% (PCB-PAC) resulted in the increase of the pH values of PCB-PAC after steam activation.

Grand rounds: outbreak of hematologic abnormalities in a community of people exposed to leakage of fire extinguisher gas.

CONTEXT: Although there are ample data on the respiratory effects of exposure to fire extinguisher gas, the potential hematologic effects have not been fully documented. We conducted this study to determine the possible etiologic agent(s) for a decrease in red blood cells among community residents in Taipei, Taiwan, after they were exposed to leakage of mixed fire extinguishants containing bromotrifluoromethane (CF3Br, Halon 1301), bromochlorodifluoromethane (CF2BrCl, Halon 1211), and dichlorodifluoromethane (CCl2F2, CFC-12). CASE PRESENTATION: We studied 117 exposed residents who came into one hospital for physical examinations. We also selected age- and sex-matched referents for comparison from residents who came to the same hospital for health examinations. Nine months after the exposure to mixed fire extinguishants, 91 of the exposed residents came back for a second physical examination. In the first examination of the exposed residents, we found a significant reduction in red blood cell count and hemoglobin and a relationship between dose and response. DISCUSSION: After excluding iron-deficiency anemia, thalassemia, and other possible agents, we suspected that the hematologic effects might have resulted from pyrolytic products of CFC-12 and Halon 1211, which may contain phosgene, among other products. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The acute transient hematologic effects observed in the exposed residents were associated with the incident of leakage of mixed fire-extinguisher gases and were most likely caused by a small amount of pyrolytic products, probably phosgene. Nine months after the exposure, we found a significant improvement in the abnormalities without any specific treatment.

Enhancing the adsorption of vapor-phase mercury chloride with an innovative composite sulfur-impregnated activated carbon.

Mercury chloride (HgCl(2)) is the major mercury derivate emitted from municipal solid waste incinerators, which has high risk to the environment and human health. This study investigated the adsorption of vapor-phase HgCl(2) with an innovative composite sulfurized activated carbon (AC), which was derived from the pyrolysis, activation, and sulfurization of waste tires. The composite sulfur-impregnation process impregnated activated carbon with aqueous-phase sodium sulfide (Na(2)S) and followed with vapor-phase elemental sulfur (S(0)). Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was applied to investigate the adsorptive capacity of vapor-phase HgCl(2) using the composite sulfurized AC. The operating parameters included the types of composite sulfurized AC, the adsorption temperature, and the influent HgCl(2) concentration. Experimental results indicated that the sulfur-impregnation process could increase the sulfur content of the sulfurized AC, but decreased its specific surface area. This study further revealed that the composite sulfurized AC impregnated with aqueous-phase Na(2)S and followed with vapor-phase S(0) (Na(2)S+S(0) AC) had much higher saturated adsorptive capacity of HgCl(2) than AC impregnated in the reverse sequence (S(0)+Na(2)S AC). A maximum saturated adsorptive capacity of HgCl(2) up to 5236 µg-HgCl(2)/g-C was observed for the composite Na(2)S+S(0) AC, which was approximately 2.00 and 3.17 times higher than those for the single Na(2)S and S(0) ACs, respectively.

Do the VOCs that evaporate from a heavily polluted river threaten the health of riparian residents?

To understand the potential threat of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to the health of residents living close to a heavily polluted river, this study investigated the species and the concentration of VOCs evaporating from a river and surveyed the health condition of the nearby residents. Air samples were taken seasonally at the upstream, midstream, and downstream water surfaces of the river, and at different locations at certain distances from the river. These samples were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively through gas chromatography and electron capture detector (GC/ECD) for chlorinated organic compounds, and through gas chromatography and flame ionization detector (GC/FID) for ordinary hydrocarbons. The health data obtained from valid health questionnaires of 908 residents were analyzed through Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) software. Twenty-six species of VOCs were identified in the environment adjacent the river, many of which are carcinogenic or believed to be carcinogenic to humans. However, results of this study shows that the VOCs evaporating from the polluted river have not been definitively identified as a major factor of cancer in the residents. However, the risk of suffering from certain chronic diseases may increase in residents living less than 225 m away from the river due to the high levels of evaporated VOCs. Residents living less than 225 m away from the river and with nearby specific industries are 3.130 times more at risk of suffering from chronic diseases than those with no nearby specific industries.

Kinetic Modeling on the Adsorption of Vapor-Phase Mercury Chloride on Activated Carbon by Thermogravimetric Analysis.

This study applied thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) technique to investigate the adsorption kinetics of vapor-phase mercury chloride (HgCl2) on activated carbon. HgCl2 is mainly emitted from the incineration of municipal solid waste (MSW) and causes severe adverse effects on human health and environment. Activated carbon injection (ACI) is the best available control technology for mercury removal from the flue gas of MSW incinerators. To investigate the adsorption of HgCl2 on activated carbons, TGA was used to determine the adsorptive capacity and adsorption isotherm of vapor-phase HgCl2 on spherical activated carbons (SACs) with the adsorption temperatures of 30-150 °C and the influent HgCl2 concentrations of 50-1000 µg/m3. Experimental results indicated that the Freundlich adsorption coefficient, n, was determined as 0.40 and 1.2 for the adsorption temperatures of 30 and 150 °C, respectively. The adsorption of HgCl2 on SACs was at a favorable equilibrium at 30 °C and an unfavorable equilibrium at 150 °C. The Freundlich isotherm simulated the adsorptive experimental data better than the Langmuir isotherm. Furthermore, a new approach was proposed to modify the adsorption kinetic model based on pore diffusion scheme describing the transport of HgCl2 molecules within the inner pores of carbon grains for high-temperature adsorption. Model simulation successfully fitted the adsorptive experimental data by varying effective diffusivity and the Freundlich adsorption coefficient, n.

Comparison of total laparoscopic hysterectomy and laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy.

We compare the surgical results of 60 women undergoing laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) and 41 having total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) under the indications of uterine fibroids or adenomyosis. With similar specimen weight, TLH required longer surgery duration (140.4 vs. 115.1 min; p < 0.05) than LAVH. Among women with uteri weighing 0.05) although the TLH group had a significantly higher rate of previous abdominal surgery (57.7 vs. 20%; p < 0.05). There were no significant differences between the two groups with respect to the mean cost, length of hospital stay and rate of various complications (p > 0.05). As for sexual symptoms, dyspareunia decreased significantly post-operatively in the LAVH group (p < 0.05), but not in the TLH group. A significant reduction in the frequency of orgasms after surgery was detected in both groups (p < 0.05). In conclusion, LAVH has advantages over TLH with reduced operating time. Although it is a technical challenge, TLH can be effectively performed within reasonable time limits in selected cases. The effects on sexual function, following either LAVH or TLH, are found to be similar.