Silicon Carbide Nanostructures as Potential Carbide Material for Electrochemical Supercapacitors: A Review.

Silicon carbide (SiC) is a very promising carbide material with various applications such as electrochemical supercapacitors, photocatalysis, microwave absorption, field-effect transistors, and sensors. Due to its enticing advantages of high thermal stability, outstanding chemical stability, high thermal conductivity, and excellent mechanical behavior, it is used as a potential candidate in various fields such as supercapacitors, water-splitting, photocatalysis, biomedical, sensors, and so on. This review mainly describes the various synthesis techniques of nanostructured SiC (0D, 1D, 2D, and 3D) and its properties. Thereafter, the ongoing research trends in electrochemical supercapacitor electrodes are fully excavated. Finally, the outlook of future research directions, key obstacles, and possible solutions are emphasized.

Synthesis and Characterization of ZnO-TiO2/Carbon Fiber Composite with Enhanced Photocatalytic Properties.

Herein, we prepared a novel photocatalytic ZnO-TiO2 loaded carbon nanofibers composites (ZnO-TiO2-CNFs) via electrospinning technique followed by a hydrothermal process. At first, the electrospun TiO2 NP-embedded carbon nanofibers (TiO2-CNFs) were achieved using electrospinning and a carbonization process. Next, the ZnO particles were grown into the TiO2-CNFs via hydrothermal treatment. The morphology, structure, and chemical compositions were studied using state-of-the-art techniques. The photocatalytic performance of the ZnO-TiO2-CNFs composite was studied using degrading methylene blue (MB) under UV-light irradiation for three successive cycles. It was noticed that the ZnO-TiO2-CNFs nanocomposite showed better MB removal properties than that of other formulations, which might be due to the synergistic effects of carbon nanofibers and utilized metal oxides (ZnO and TiO2). The adsorption characteristic of carbon fibers and matched band potentials of ZnO and TiO2 combinedly help to boost the overall photocatalytic performance of the ZnO-TiO2-CNFs composite. The obtained results from this study indicated that it can be an economical and environmentally friendly photocatalyst.

Effect of high-dose oral rabeprazole on recurrent bleeding after endoscopic treatment of bleeding peptic ulcers.

Background. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of high-dose oral rabeprazole versus high-dose IV PPI on rebleeding after endoscopic treatment of bleeding peptic ulcers. Methods. This was a two-center, prospective, randomized, controlled trial. Patients with a high-risk bleeding peptic ulcer had endoscopic hemostasis and were randomly assigned to the high-dose oral rabeprazole group (20 mg twice daily for 72 hours) or the high-dose IV omeprazole group (80 mg as a bolus injection followed by continuous infusion at 8 mg/h for 72 hours). Results. The study was stopped because of slow enrollment (total n = 106). The rebleeding rates within 3 days were 3.7% (2 of 54 patients) given oral rabeprazole and 1.9% (1 of 52 patients) given IV omeprazole (P = 1.000). The rebleeding rates after 3 days were 1.9% and 0% (P = 1.000), respectively. The surgical intervention rates were 3.7% and 0% (P = 0.495), and the mortality rates were 1.9% and 0% (P = 1.000), respectively. Conclusions. The effect of high-dose oral rabeprazole did not differ significantly from that of high-dose IV omeprazole on rebleeding, surgical intervention, or mortality after endoscopic treatment of bleeding peptic ulcers, but this requires further evaluation.

Is percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube placement safe in patients with ventriculoperitoneal shunts?

AIM: To investigate whether percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube placement is safe in patients with ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunts. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of all patients undergoing PEG insertion at our institution between June 1999 and June 2006. Post-PEG complications were compared between two groups according to the presence or absence of VP shunts. VP shunt infection rates, the interval between PEG placement and VP shunt catheter insertion, and long-term follow-up were also investigated. RESULTS: Fifty-five patients qualified for the study. Seven patients (12.7%) had pre-existing VP shunts. All patients received prophylactic antibiotics. The complication rate did not differ between VP shunt patients undergoing PEG (PEG/VP group) and non-VP shunt patients undergoing PEG (control group) [1 (14.3%) vs 6 (12.5%), P = 1.000]. All patients in the PEG/VP group had undergone VP shunt insertion prior to PEG placement. The mean interval between VP shunt insertion and PEG placement was 308.7 d (range, 65-831 d). The mean follow-up duration in the PEG/VP group was 6.4 mo (range, 1-15 mo). There were no VP shunt infections, although one patient in the PEG/VP group developed a minor peristomal infection during follow-up. CONCLUSION: Complications following PEG placement in patients with VP shunts were infrequent in this study.

[Spontaneous resolution of multiple fundic gland polyps after cessation of treatment with omeprazole].

Fundic gland polyps (FGPs) are the most common type of gastric polyps, found primarily in the fundus and body of stomach. Long term use of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) is known to be associated with certain histological changes of the normal gastric mucosa including parietal cell hyperplasia and fundic gland cysts. We experienced a patient who showed spontaneous resolution of multiple FGPs after the cessation of omeprazole. Two years ago, the patient showed only endoscopically confirmed erosive esophagitis without FGPs. Multiple FGPs developed one year after the use of omeprazole and spontaneously disappeared with the cessation of omeprazole.