Comparison of Choroidal Thickness, Foveal Avascular Zone, and Macular Capillary Density in Macular Edema Secondary to Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion Treated with Ranibizumab or Aflibercept-A Prospective Study.

This prospective comparative case series aims to compare best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), retinal microvasculature, and retinal structural changes in patients treated with either ranibizumab or aflibercept for macular edema (ME) secondary to treatment-naïve branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Ten patients were enrolled with macular capillary density of the superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP) and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) measured in both eyes before and after treatment. Final central retinal thickness and BCVA improved significantly (p < 0.05), and densities of SCP and DCP of BRVO sectors were significantly lower at baseline than fellow eye counterparts and remained persistently lower during treatment, particularly in the aflibercept group (p < 0.05). SCP density, DCP density of both BRVO sectors (p = 0.0001, p < 0.0001), and non-BRVO sectors (p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001) were significantly correlated with final BCVA for diseased eyes. Using multivariate general linear model analysis, and including OCTA parameters only, but not all of the available clinical data, DCP density of BRVO sectors in both eyes was the most predictive factor for final visual outcome (probability p < 0.0001). OCTA offered further qualitative and quantitative evaluation of treatment-naïve BRVO. Judging by OCTA parameters, not only in the diseased eye but also in the fellow eye, DCP density of BRVO sectors was the most predictive factor of final visual outcome.

[Study on microwave digestion of coal for the determination of multi-element by ICP-OES and ICP-MS].

Effects of temperature and four acids (HNO3, HNO3/H2O2, HNO3/HF and HNO3/HF+H3BO3) on the coal decomposition by microwave digestion and the multi-element analysis were studied. SARM20 was used as a coal standard reference material. The contents of 10 mineral elements (Al, Ca, Fe, Mg, K, Na, S, Si, Sr and Ti) in the coal SARM20 were determined by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). And the contents of 20 heavy metals (Li, Be, Sc, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, As, Se, Zr, Sn, Cs, Ba, Ce, Eu and Pb) were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results showed that the coal was completely decomposed by microwave digestion with HNO3/HF+ H3BO3 at 210 degrees C. Good recoveries for all elements in the coal SARM20 were obtained by this two-step microwave digestion method. The recoveries of the 10 mineral elements were from 87.5% to 98.8%, and the recoveries of the 20 heavy metals were from 85% to 112.5%. All RSDs of tests were below 3%.

[Study on microwave digestion of gypsum for the determination of multielement by ICP-OES and ICP-MS].

Three acids (HNO3, HNO3/HF and HNO3 /HF+ H3BO3) were used to decompose gypsum with microwave digestion system. The contents of 10 mineral elements (Al, Ca, Mg, Fe, K, Na, S, Ti, Si and Sr) in gypsum were determined by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) while 6 heavy metals (V, Cr, Mn, Zn, Se and Ce) were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). GBW03109a, GBW03110 and FGD-2 were used as gypsum standard reference materials. The results showed that two-step microwave digestion with HNO3/HF at 210 degrees C and then adding H3BO3 for the removal of HF and fluorides completely decomposed the gypsums, while this method achieved good recoveries for all elements in the three gypsum standard reference materials. The recovery was from 88% to 112% and the RSD of tests was below 3%. The method was applied to the elemental analysis for flue gas desulfurization gypsums from three coal-fired power plants.

[A multi-factorial correlation analysis of deep vein thrombosis after trauma to lower extremities].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the multiple correlation factors of deep vein thrombosis after trauma to lower extremities. METHODS: A total of 2727 patients with traumas from pelvis to ankle were admitted from August 2006 to March 2008 and detected by Color Doppler ultrasound for DVT of bilateral lower extremities before operation. Emergency internal fixation or external fixation was not used for all patients before operation. Seventeen clinical factors were examined in order to analyze their influences upon DVT occurrence after trauma. RESULTS: DVT occurred in 351 patients after trauma. The incidence of DVT in all patients was 12.9%. The analysis of logistic regression demonstrated a definite correlation with the increment of age, the length of presentation time and the gender of female. No associated injury lowered the odds ratio of DVT down to 1.484, 1.816, 0.637 and 0.671 respectively. Other clinical factors had no statistically significant correlation with DVT. CONCLUSION: Both the increment of age and the length of presentation time are risk factors for DVT after trauma to lower extremities. It is best to perform conventional ultrasound examinations in patients with these risk factors so as to timely treat a possible DVT.

Vapor-phase elemental mercury adsorption by residual carbon separated from fly ash.

The adsorption capacity for vapor-phase elemental mercury (Hg0) of residual carbon separated from fly ash was studied in an attempt for the control of elemental mercury emissions from combustion processes. At low mercury concentrations (< 200 microg/m3), unburned carbon had higher adsorption capacity than commercial activated carbon. The adsorbality of unburned carbon was also found to be source dependent. Isotherms of FS carbon (separated from fly ash of a power plant of Shishi in Fujian Province) were similar to those classified as type II. Isotherms of XJ carbon (separated from fly ash of a power plant of Jingcheng in Shanxi Province) were more like those classified as type II. Due to the relatively low production costs, these residual carbons would likely be considerably more cost-effective for the full-scale removal of mercury from combustion flue gases than other technology.

[Effects of sulfur compounds on Pb partitioning in a simulated MSW incinerator].

The effect of sulfur compounds (including sulfur, sulfide, sulfite and sulfate), initial concentration of heavy metal and operating conditions on Pb emission in MSW incineration were investigated using a simulated tubular furnace with the simulated MSW. Operating conditions of the experiment included combustion chamber temperature and MSW residence time. The concentration of Pb was measured by ICP-AES after the digesting of samples including bottom ash, fly ash and flue gas according to related USEPA methods. The results indicated that all 4 sulfur compounds tended to increase Pb partitioning in fly ash and decrease Pb partitioning in bottom ash. The increasing of S and Na2S content tended to decrease Pb partitioning in bottom ash, meanwhile, the content of Na2SO3 and Na2SO4 have no significant effects on Pb partitioning. Incineration temperature showed a significant effect on Pb volatilization, and thus the Pb partitioning in fly ash increasing along with temperature went upwards. Pb did not partition in flue gas during the whole experimental temperature range. Furthermore, the effect of initial concentration of heavy metal had a significant influence on Pb partitioning. The more initial concentration of Pb was, the more Pb partitioned in bottom ash. MSW residence time was also investigated. The longer MSW residence time was, the less Pb partitioned in bottom ash.

[Effects of chlorides on Cd partitioning and speciation in a simulated MSW incinerator].

The effects of chlorides (including inorganic chloride NaCl and organic chloride PVC) on Cd emission in MSW (municipal solid waste) incineration was investigated using a simulated tubular furnace and the simulated MSW spiked with heavy metals. The concentrations of heavy metals were measured by ICP-AES after the digesting of samples including bottom ash, fly ash and flue gas according to related USEPA Methods. Heavy metal species in bottom ash and fly ash were identified by X-ray diffraction technique and the spectra of elements distributed and micrographs of bottom ash and fly ash were detected by energy dispersive X-ray system and scanning electron microscope, respectively. The results indicated that the emission of Cd tended to be enhanced with the increasing of chloride content, and 97% Cd partitioned in fly ash after spiked chlorides. However, the content effect of inorganic chloride NaCl and inorganic chloride PVC on Cd emission had no significant difference. The effect of PVC on Cd partitioning was affected by temperature, 80.51% Cd partitioned in fly ash at 550 degrees C and 97.91% Cd partitioned in fly ash at 850 degrees C, when temperature went above the melting point of CdCl2 (568 degrees C), the effect of temperature became less important. The effect of NaCl on Cd partitioning was not affected by temperature, 95.02% Cd partitioned in fly ash at 550 degrees C and 96.58% Cd partitioned at 1 000 degrees C when spiked NaCl. Residence time had no significant effect on Cd partitioning with spiked chlorides. The two different mechanisms of chlorides effects on Cd emission were identified by bottom ash and fly ash analysis using SEM/EDS and XRD technique.