Association of Nilotinib With Cardiovascular Diseases in Patients With Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia: A National Population-Based Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment has been identified to be a risk factor for metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in patients diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). However, the specific contribution of post-TKI metabolic syndrome and the individual TKIs, including imatinib, nilotinib, and dasatinib, contribute to the development of CVDs remains unclear. METHODS: We conducted a nationwide database to investigate the incidence of post-TKI metabolic syndrome, including diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension, as well as their association with CVDs. To compare the risk of post-TKI comorbidities and CVDs among TKIs, we utilized the incidence rate ratio (IRR), and subdistribution hazard ratio (SHR) calculated from multiple Fine-Gray models. RESULTS: A total of 1211 patients without diabetes, 1235 patients without hyperlipidemia, and 1074 patients without hypertension were enrolled in the study. The incidence rate of post-TKI diabetes and hyperlipidemia was the highest in patients treated with nilotinib compared to imatinib and dasatinib (IRRs ≥ 3.15, Ps ≤ .047). After adjusting for confounders, nilotinib remained a significant risk factor for post-TKI diabetes and hyperlipidemia at an SHR of 3.83 (P < .001) and 5.15 (P < .001), respectively. Regarding the occurrence of CVDs, patients treated with nilotinib were more likely to develop CVDs than those treated with imatinib in non-hyperlipidemic group (IRR = 3.21, P = .020). Pre-existing and post-TKI hyperlipidemia were found to have a stronger association with CVDs, with SHR values of 5.81 (P = .034) and 13.21 (P = .001), respectively. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study indicate that nilotinib treatment is associated with increased risks of diabetes and hyperlipidemia, with hyperlipidemia being the most significant risk for CVDs. Therefore, we recommend that CML patients receiving nilotinib should undergo screening for diabetes and hyperlipidemia prior to initiating TKI treatment. Additionally, regular monitoring of lipid profiles during TKI therapy and implementing effective management strategies to control hyperlipidemia are crucial.

The predictive role of platelet count for bleeding in patients with hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infection.

The impact of platelet count on bleeding in hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients is unclear. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between platelet count and bleeding in patients with viral hepatitis. We selected patients with HBV and HCV infection. All esophagogastroduodenoscopy, colonoscopy, and brain imaging reports were reviewed to document upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB), lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB), and central nervous system bleeding (CNSB), respectively. We analyzed risk factors for first bleeding events by using Cox proportional hazards models. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) were used to compare bleeding incidences between viral types and platelet levels. A total of 2522 HCV and 2405 HBV patients were enrolled. The HCV-to-HBV IRRs of UGIB, LGIB, and CNSB were significant at 1.797, 2.255, and 2.071, respectively. The common risk factors in both groups were thrombocytopenia, hypoalbuminemia, high alkaline phosphatase level, and cirrhosis for UGIB, whereas thrombocytopenia and hypoalbuminemia for LGIB. Hypoalbuminemia was the only risk for CNSB. After adjusting platelet count, the higher bleeding rates in the HCV patients diminished. Using a reference platelet count less than 100 x 10 9 /l, bleeding risk elevated at platelet count less than 70 x 10 9 /l and less than 40 x 10 9 /l for UGIB and LGIB in the HCV patients, respectively, compared with less than 60 x 10 9 /l for UGIB in the HBV patients. The incidence of CNSB was not related to platelet levels. HCV patients had a higher risk for major bleeding. Thrombocytopenia was a significant predictor. Monitoring and management of thrombocytopenia in addition to cirrhotic status was important in these patients.

The Impact of Human Platelet Antigen Allele on Antiplatelet Antibodies and Cryoglobulins in Patients with Primary Immune Thrombocytopenia and Hepatitis C Virus-Associated Immune Thrombocytopenia.

Background And Objectives: Human platelet antigens (HPAs) are alloantigens associated with antiplatelet alloantibodies and the risk of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). However, few studies have investigated associations among HPAs, antiplatelet autoantibodies, and cryoglobulins. Methods: We enrolled 43 patients with primary ITP, 47 with hepatitis C virus-associated ITP (HCV-ITP), 21 with hepatitis B virus-associated ITP (HBV-ITP), 25 controls with HCV, and 1013 normal controls. We analyzed HPA allele frequencies, including HPA1-6 and 15, antiplatelet antibodies binding to platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa, Ia/IIa, Ib/IX, IV, human leukocyte antigen class I, cryoglobulin IgG/A/M, and their associations with thrombocytopenia. Results: In the ITP cohort, HPA2ab, rather than HPA2aa, predicted a low platelet count. HPA2b was associated with the risk of developing ITP. HPA15b was correlated with multiple antiplatelet antibodies. In HCV-ITP patients, HPA3b was correlated with anti-GPIIb/IIIa antibodies. HCV-ITP patients with anti-GPIIb/IIIa antibodies had a higher positive rate of cryoglobulin IgG and IgA compared with those without anti-GPIIb/IIIa antibodies. Overlapping detection was also found among other antiplatelet antibodies and cryoglobulins. Like the antiplatelet antibodies, cryoglobulins were associated with clinical thrombocytopenia, implying their close relationship. Finally, we extracted cryoglobulins to confirm the exhibition of cryoglobulin-like antiplatelet antibodies. In contrast, in primary ITP patients, HPA3b was correlated with cryoglobulin IgG/A/M rather than anti-GPIIb/IIIa antibodies. Conclusion: HPA alleles were associated with antiplatelet autoantibodies and had different impacts in primary ITP and HCV-ITP patients. HCV-ITP was considered to be a symptom of mixed cryoglobulinemia in HCV patients. The pathophysiology may differ between these two groups.

Combining Phenylalanine and Leucine Levels Predicts 30-Day Mortality in Critically Ill Patients Better than Traditional Risk Factors with Multicenter Validation.

In critically ill patients, risk scores are used; however, they do not provide information for nutritional intervention. This study combined the levels of phenylalanine and leucine amino acids (PLA) to improve 30-day mortality prediction in intensive care unit (ICU) patients and to see whether PLA could help interpret the nutritional phases of critical illness. We recruited 676 patients with APACHE II scores ≥ 15 or intubated due to respiratory failure in ICUs, including 537 and 139 patients in the initiation and validation (multicenter) cohorts, respectively. In the initiation cohort, phenylalanine ≥ 88.5 µM (indicating metabolic disturbance) and leucine < 68.9 µM (indicating malnutrition) were associated with higher mortality rate. Based on different levels of phenylalanine and leucine, we developed PLA scores. In different models of multivariable analyses, PLA scores predicted 30-day mortality independent of traditional risk scores (p < 0.001). PLA scores were then classified into low, intermediate, high, and very-high risk categories with observed mortality rates of 9.0%, 23.8%, 45.6%, and 81.8%, respectively. These findings were validated in the multicenter cohort. PLA scores predicted 30-day mortality better than APACHE II and NUTRIC scores and provide a basis for future studies to determine whether PLA-guided nutritional intervention improves the outcomes of patients in ICUs.

Association between viral hepatitis and metabolic syndrome in lung function impairment: A Taiwan community-based study.

OBJECTIVES: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are associated with a higher risk of impaired pulmonary function (iPF). This study aimed to investigate the relationships among MetS, iPF, and viral hepatitis. METHODS: This community-based study enrolled participants undergoing annual health check-ups in southern Taiwan between March and December 2019. We performed multivariable logistic regression analyses adjusted for demographics and characteristics to identify the factors associated with iPF. RESULTS: A total of 2337 participants completed examinations, of whom 928 (39.7%) had iPF. The participants with iPF were elderly (68.8 ± 12.8 years old) and predominately female (63%). MetS increased the risk of iPF (odds ratio (OR) 1.51, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.27-1.81, p < 0.001). Beyond age (OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.02-1.04) and smoking (OR 1.309, 95% CI 1.004-1.705), female sex (OR 0.74, 95% CI 0.59-0.93) and high education level (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.94-0.98, p < 0.001) protected against iPF. HCV was not significantly associated with iPF (OR 1.17, 95% CI 0.90-1.52, p = 0.235) in multivariable analysis. MetS was associated with a higher risk of iPF in the non-HBV/HCV group (OR 1.86, 95% CI 1.54-2.26) and HBV alone group (OR 3.44, 95% CI 1.89-6.28), but not in the HCV alone group (OR 1.02, 95% CI 0.64-1.62). DISCUSSION: MetS was an independent predictor of iPF, especially the restrictive type, and had different effects in the HBV/non-viral hepatitis and HCV groups. Female sex and education were inversely associated with iPF.

Early administration of ivabradine in patients admitted for acute decompensated heart failure.

Background: Heart rate (HR) control is important in heart failure (HF) patients with reduced ejection fraction, and ivabradine is indicated for patients with chronic HF and sinus rhythm. However, ivabradine is limited in initiation of ivabradine at acute stage of HF. Materials and methods: This multi-institutional retrospective study enrolled 30,639 patients who were admitted for HF from January 01, 2013 to December 31, 2018 at Chang Gung Memorial Hospitals. After applying selection criteria, the eligible patients were divided into ivabradine and non-ivabradine groups according to the initiation of ivabradine at the index hospitalization. HR, clinical outcomes including HF hospitalization, all-cause hospitalization, mortality, the composite of cardiovascular (CV) death or HF hospitalization and newly developed atrial fibrillation, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left atrium size were compared between the ivabradine and non-ivabradine groups after inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) analysis after 12 months. Results: The HR at admission in the ivabradine group (n = 433) was 99.04 ± 20.69/min, compared to 86.99 ± 20.34/min in the non-ivabradine group (n = 9,601). After IPTW, HR was lower in the ivabradine group than that in the non-ivabradine group after 12 months (74.14 ± 8.53 vs. 81.23 ± 16.79 bpm, p = 0.079). However, there were no significant differences in HF hospitalization (HR = 1.02; 95% CI, 0.38-2.79), all-cause hospitalization (HR = 0.95; 95% CI, 0.54-1.68), mortality (HR = 0.87; 95% CI, 0.69-1.08), the composite of CV death or HF hospitalization (HR = 0.87; 95% CI, 0.69-1.08) and newly developed AF between the two groups. In addition, LVEF increased with time in both groups, but there were no significant differences during the observation period. Conclusion: Ivabradine was beneficial in controlling HR when initiated in patients with acute stage of HF, but it did not seem to provide any benefits in reducing HF hospitalization, all-cause hospitalization, and mortality in 1 year after discharge.

Ivabradine in heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction and history of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

AIMS: Ivabradine is indicated for heart failure (HF) patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), but limited data are available with regards to the use of ivabradine in those with a history of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF). To assess the effect of ivabradine in HFrEF patients with paroxysmal AF, we analysed heart failure (HF) hospitalization and mortality from multiple-centre registry database. METHODS AND RESULTS: We conducted a multicentre observational matched cohort study, and this study enrolled patient with symptomatic HFrEF from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2018 who had a history of paroxysmal AF in Chang Gung Memorial Hospital medical database in Taiwan. A total of 2042 patients were eligible for the study, of whom 887 were prescribed with ivabradine and 1115 were not. The primary outcome, including HF hospitalization and cardiovascular death, and individual outcome during the 12 month observation period were analysed after inverse probability of treatment weighting. The ivabradine group had significantly lower mean heart rate after 12 months follow-up than the non-ivabradine group (P < 0.05). The primary outcome was significantly higher in the ivabradine group than the non-ivabradine group after 12 months follow-up (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.58; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.26-2.00, P < 0.001). Moreover, the ivabradine group had a significantly higher event rate of HF hospitalization (HR = 1.56; 95% CI, 1.40-1.75, P < 0.001) and HF death (HR = 1.67; 95% CI, 1.14-2.44, P = 0.009) than the non-ivabradine group. CONCLUSIONS: Ivabradine treatment was associated with an increased risk of HF hospitalization in symptomatic HFrEF patients with a history of paroxysmal AF. Further prospective randomized studies are warranted.

Different impacts of common risk factors associated with thrombocytopenia in patients with hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infection.

BACKGROUND: Thrombocytopenia is a common extrahepatic manifestation in chronic liver disease. However, there have been rare studies of impacts of risk for hepatitis C virus-associated thrombocytopenia (HCV-TP) and hepatitis B virus-associated thrombocytopenia (HBV-TP). The aim of this study is to evaluate different impacts of risk factors for HCV-TP and HBV-TP. METHODS: We retrospectively collected 1803 HCV patients and 1652 HBV patients to examine the risk factors for time to moderate and severe thrombocytopenia (platelet counts <100 × 109/L and <50 × 109/L, respectively) by Cox proportional hazards models. Moreover, we prospectively enrolled 63 HCV-TP patients, 11 HBV-TP patients, and 27 HCV controls to detect specific antiplatelet antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and analyze their effects. RESULTS: Prevalence of platelet <100 × 109/L was 11.86% and 6.35% in HCV and HBV patients without cancer history, respectively. HCV-to-HBV incidence rate ratio for thrombocytopenia was 6.95. Initial thrombocytopenia was the most significant risk factor for HCV-TP and HBV-TP regardless of thrombocytopenia severity. Splenomegaly and cirrhosis were significant risk factors for moderate, but not severe HCV-TP. Hyperbilirubinemia was an important moderate and severe HBV-TP risk factor. Antiplatelet antibodies were correlated with HCV-TP severity, of which anti-glycoprotein IIb/IIIa antibody being associated with smaller spleen size. The antiplatelet autoantibody might contribute to thrombocytopenia either independently or with splenomegaly as the important risk in HCV-TP patients without advanced cirrhosis. CONCLUSION: HCV was associated with higher thrombocytopenia incidence than HBV. Thrombocytopenia risk factors varied with virus type and severity. Different management for HCV-TP and HBV-TP was suggested.

Risk of critical limb ischemia in long-term uterine cancer survivors: A population-based study.

BACKGROUND: The risk of critical limb ischemia (CLI) which causes ischemic pain or ischemic loss in the arteries of the lower extremities in long-term uterine cancer (UC) survivors remains unclear, especially in Asian patients, who are younger at the diagnosis of UC than their Western counterparts. AIM: To conduct a nationwide population-based study to assess the risk of CLI in UC long-term survivors. METHODS: UC survivors, defined as those who survived for longer than 5 years after the diagnosis, were identified and matched at a 1:4 ratio with normal controls. Stratified Cox models were used to assess the risk of CLI. RESULTS: From 2000 to 2005, 1889 UC survivors who received surgery alone or surgery combined with radiotherapy (RT) were classified into younger (onset age < 50 years, n = 894) and older (onset age ≥ 50 years, n = 995) groups. While compared with normal controls, the younger patients with diabetes, hypertension, and receiving hormone replacement therapy (HRT) were more likely to develop CLI. In contrast, the risk of CLI was associated with adjuvant RT, obesity, hypertension, and HRT in the older group. Among the UC survivors, those who were diagnosed at an advanced age (> 65 years, aHR = 2.48, P = 0.011), had hypertension (aHR = 2.18, P = 0.008) or received HRT (aHR = 3.52, P = 0.020) were at a higher risk of CLI. CONCLUSION: In this nationwide study, we found that the risk factors associated with CLI were similar in both cohorts except for adjuvant RT that was negligible in the younger group, but positive in the older group. Among the survivors, hypertension, advanced age, and HRT were more hazardous than RT. Secondary prevention should include CLI as a late complication in UC survivorship programs.

Differential Presentations of Arterial Thromboembolic Events Between Venous Thromboembolism and Atrial Fibrillation Patients.

Objective: Atrial fibrillation (AF) and venous thromboembolism (VTE) share several risk factors related to arterial thromboembolism. No study has reported the differential contribution to arterial thromboembolic events and mortality between these two conditions in the same population. We therefore assessed the differential arterial thromboembolic events between AF and VTE. Methods: We included AF and VTE national cohorts derived from Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database between 2001 and 2013. The eligible population was 314,861 patients in the AF cohort and 41,102 patients in the VTE cohort. The primary outcome was arterial thromboembolic events, including ischemic stroke, extracranial arterial thromboembolism (ECATE) and myocardial infarction (MI). Secondary outcomes were all-cause mortality and cardiovascular death. Results: After a 1:1 propensity matching, 32,688 patients in either group were analyzed. The risk of arterial thromboembolic events was lower in the VTE cohort than that in the AF cohort (subdistribution hazard ratio [SHR], 0.60; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.57-0.62). The risk of ischemic stroke (SHR, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.42-0.46) and MI (SHR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.72-0.89) were lower in the VTE cohort, while the risk of ECATE (SHR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.14-1.33; particularly lower extremities) was higher in the VTE cohort. All-cause mortality rate was higher in the VTE cohort (HR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.15-1.21) while the risk of cardiovascular death was lower in the VTE cohort (HR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.93-0.995). Conclusions: Patients with AF had higher risks of arterial thromboembolic events compared to patients with VTE, despite having risk factors in common. The VTE cohort had higher risks of all-cause mortality and ECATE, particularly lower extremity events, compared to AF patients. The differential manifestations of thromboembolism sequelae and mortality between AF and VTE patients merit further investigation.

Direct oral anticoagulants and the risk of osteoporotic fractures in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of osteoporotic fracture increases with age, particularly in elderly populations with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have less effect on osteoporotic fracture than vitamin K antagonists, it is unclear whether the risk of osteoporotic fracture is affected by different types and doses of DOACs in AF patients. METHODS: This nationwide population-based cohort study included AF patients prescribed DOACs between 2011 and 2016 taken from the Taiwan National Health Insurance database. Adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) for the risk of osteoporotic, hip, and spine fractures between DOAC users were compared using the Fine and Gray subdistribution hazard model to adjust for possible confounders. RESULTS: A total of 56,795 patients who were prescribed DOACs were included in the present study. Among them, 24,597 patients received dabigatran, 26,968 received rivaroxaban, and 5230 received apixaban. After 2 years' follow up, there was no significant difference in the incidence of osteoporotic, spine, or hip fracture among those receiving dabigatran, rivaroxaban, or apixaban. Subgroup analysis showed that patients taking dabigatran had a higher incidence of osteoporotic and hip fracture than those taking rivaroxaban and apixaban in cases with concomitant peripheral artery disease (PAD) or a history of hip fracture (p for interaction: 0.004 and 0.030, respectively). However, dabigatran users had a lower incidence of osteoporotic fracture and spine fracture in those receiving standard-dose DOACs compared with rivaroxaban and apixaban; whereas, they had a higher incidence of hip fractures when administered at low dose. CONCLUSION: AF patients with different DOACs did not have different risks of osteoporotic fracture overall. However, additional concomitant morbidities, such as PAD or a history of hip fracture, and standard/low doses might be associated with different risks for different DOACs. These findings should be taken into consideration in the clinic when the DOAC is being chosen. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: Different direct oral anticoagulants had different impact on osteoporotic fracture Anticoagulation therapy is an essential therapy in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients, but osteoporotic fracture is another important issue in these patients prescribed with anticoagulants. However, no study has been conducted to evaluate the impact of different DOACs on different types of osteoporotic fractures. In our findings, although different DOACs had no significantly different impact on osteoporotic fractures, dabigatran users had a slightly higher incidence of osteoporotic and hip fractures among different DOACs, particularly in those have simultaneously had peripheral artery disease, a history of hip fracture. In addition, when AF patients taking low-dose DOACs, dabigatran users also have higher incidence of hip fracture than those taking other DOACs.

Enhancing the signal contrast ratio and stability of liquid crystal-based sensors by using fine grids made by photolithography of photoresists.

We prepared fine grid patterns on a glass substrate through photolithography of photoresists; we filled photoresist grids with liquid crystals (LCs) to construct LC-based sensors. Scanning electron microscopy images revealed that the photoresist grids were flat, smooth, and 3.0-8.0 µm thick. In contrast to conventional LC-based sensors, in which LCs are filled in metal grids placed on glass substrates, our results proved that LC-based sensors constructed using photoresist grids exhibited a larger signal contrast ratio, better signal stability in aqueous solutions and lower limit of detection for mercuric ions. All these characteristics enhanced the performance of the LC-based sensors.

The effect of deep vein thrombosis on major adverse limb events in diabetic patients: a nationwide retrospective cohort study.

Little is known about the association between deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and arterial complications in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to assess the influence of prior DVT on major adverse limb events (MALEs) and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in T2DM. A total of 1,628,675 patients with T2DM with or without a history of DVT from 2001 to 2013 were identified in the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan. Before matching, the patients in the DVT group (n = 2020) were older than the control group (66.3 vs. 58.3 years). Patients in the DVT group were more likely to be female than the control group (54.3% vs. 47.5%). Before matching, the DVT group had higher prevalence of most comorbidities, more prescription of antiplatelet, antihypertensive agents and insulins, but less prescription of metformin and sulfonylurea. During a mean follow-up of 5.2 years (standard deviation: 3.9 years), the matched DVT group (n = 2017) have a significantly increased risk of MALE (8.4% vs. 5.2%; subdistribution hazard ratio [SHR] 1.60, 95% CI 1.34-1.90), foot ulcer (5.2% vs. 2.6%, SHR 1.96, 95% CI 1.57-2.45), gangrene (3.4% vs. 2.3%, SHR 1.44, 95% CI 1.10-1.90) and amputation (2.5% vs. 1.7%; SHR 1.42, 95% CI 1.03-1.95) than the 10,085 matched controls without DVT. They also tended to have a greater risk of all-cause mortality (38.1% vs. 33.1%; hazard ratio [HR] 1.18, 95% CI 1.09-1.27) and systemic thromboembolism (4.2% vs. 2.6%; SHR 1.56, 95% CI 1.22-1.99), respectively. We showed the presence of DVT may be associated with an increased risk of MALEs, major amputation, and thromboembolism, contributing to a higher mortality rate in T2DM.

Highly sensitive distance-based liquid crystalline visualization for paper-based analytical devices.

We successfully report on the first demonstration of a highly sensitive distance-based liquid crystalline visualization for paper-based analytical devices. The construction of this paper sensor was achieved by immobilizing 4-cyano-4'-pentylbiphenyl (5CB) as liquid crystalline molecules (LCs) onto a paper strip substrate. The sensing mechanism is based on the ultrasound-assisted decomposition of 5CB by the hydroxyl radical (•OH) which is generated from the oxidase enzymatic reaction of the analyte, this then results in the change of texture and color of paper. The utility of our devices was then demonstrated with the determination of bilirubin (BR) in biological samples using a bilirubin oxidase enzymatic reaction. The quantification of BR can be achieved by dipping the tip of the paper strips into the analyte solutions and then by measuring the length of color which has been changed on the paper, by the naked eye. Under optimized conditions, this paper sensor offered the linear range of BR detection from 2.0 to 30.0 pmol/L (R2 = 0.9945) with the limit of detection (LOD) of 0.80 pmol/L. In addition, the results of this sensor were highly reproducible, with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of less than 3.50%. The recoveries of spiked BR in human urine and serum samples were in the range of 99.09-107.89%, which demonstrates the high accuracy of this paper sensor. Overall, this work presents a simple method to determine the concentration of H2O2 and BR at pmol levels with an instrument-free length-measuring readout, so it could be suitable for quantitative analysis of other biomarkers based on oxidase enzymatic reaction, which can provide important information about early disease diagnosis and patient prognosis.

A rapid and highly sensitive paper-based colorimetric device for the on-site screening of ammonia gas.

A rapid and highly sensitive paper-based colorimetric device for the on-site detection of ammonia (NH3) gas is presented in this study. The detection principle of this device is based upon a change of color from red to yellow on a paper that has been immobilized with a pH indicator, i.e., methyl orange (pKa = 3.4), in the presence of NH3 gas. The color signal of the device can be measured through the hue channel of an HSL system via the application of a smartphone. This device can detect the amount of NH3 gas within 3 min. The linear relationship between the NH3 gas concentration and the hue signal was found to be in the range from 6.0 to 54.0 ppbv with R2 = 0.9971, and the limit of detection was found to be 2.0 ppbv. In addition, this device showed remarkably high selectivity to NH3 gas amongst the other common volatile organic compounds and general gases that are present in environmental air without the assistance of any membrane material. Furthermore, we demonstrated the applicability of this device for the detection of total NH3 gas at a chicken farm and in a laboratory, with relative standard deviations of 6.2% and 5.4%, respectively. The developed NH3 gas device in the study is easy to operate and cost-effective, with the reduction of a large consumption of chemical reagents; also, its signals can be measured simply and then recorded through a smartphone. It is suitable for the application of routine on-site detection of NH3 gas, especially concerning regions which have limited resources.

Comparison of antiplatelet antibody profiles between hepatitis C virus-associated immune thrombocytopenia and primary immune thrombocytopenia.

Hepatitis C virus-associated immune thrombocytopenia (HCV-ITP) has been assumed to be one of secondary ITP and associated with antiplatelet antibodies. This study was to clarify the antibody profile in HCV-ITP compared with primary ITP. We enrolled 55 HCV-ITP, 30 primary ITP, 11 Helicobacter pylori-ITP, 21 HCV control, and 16 healthy volunteers. We reviewed their blood cell counts, autoimmune markers, and spleen size. We used enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit to detect the specific antibody to glycoproteins IIb/IIIa, Ia/IIa, Ib/IX, IV, and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I. Compared with primary ITP patients, HCV-ITP patients had an older age, lower white blood cell (WBC) count and fewer presented with severe thrombocytopenia. The rate of positive antibody detection was 63.6% for the HCV-ITP group higher than the rate of 40% for the primary ITP. In the HCV control, antiplatelet antibodies were detected in 38.1% patients and no one had more than two types of antibodies. The antiplatelet antibodies correlated to severer thrombocytopenia. An HLA class I antibody was associated with lower WBCs and larger spleen. In conclusion, HCV-ITP patients had a high rate of positive antiplatelet antibody. The antibodies were associated with not only lower platelets but also leukopenia and splenomegaly.

Using Diazotization Reaction to Develop Portable Liquid-Crystal-Based Sensors for Nitrite Detection.

A liquid-crystal (LC)-based sensor for detecting nitrite in aqueous solutions was developed using a diazotization reaction as the sensing mechanism. First, tetradecyl 4-aminobenzoate (14CBA) was synthesized and doped into a nematic LC, i.e., 4-cyano-4'-pentylbiphenyl (5CB). When the LC mixture was cast on a glass substrate and then immersed into an aqueous solution without nitrite, the orientation of LC was planar and the LC image was bright. In the presence of nitrite, it reacted with alkylanilines to give corresponding diazonium ions with a positive charge, which aligned at the LC/aqueous interface to cause homeotropic orientation of LC. As a result, a bright-to-dark transition of the LC image was observed. The limit of detection (LOD) of this system for nitrite is 25 µM with high selectivity. In addition, this system can work in environmental water samples such as tap water and pond water. Finally, we demonstrated that the optical signals of LC can be measured and recorded using a built-in digital camera of a smartphone, suggesting the portability of this system for on-site applications.

Risk of sudden sensorineural hearing loss in patients with dysrhythmia: A nationwide population-based cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: Whether dysrhythmia is a risk factor of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the risk of developing SSNHL among patients with dysrhythmia in different age and gender groups by using population-based data in Taiwan. METHODS: We conducted a matched cohort study by analyzing data between January 2000 and December 2013 obtained from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. 41,842 newly diagnosed dysrhythmia patients and 83,684 comparison subjects without dysrhythmia were selected from claims. The incidence of sudden sensorineural hearing loss at the end of 2013 was determined in both groups. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the risk of SSNHL among patients with dysrhythmia. RESULTS: The incidence of SSNHL was 1.30-fold higher in the dysrhythmia group compared with the control group (53.2 versus 40.9 per 100,000 person-years), and using Cox proportional hazard regressions, the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) was 1.40 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15-1.70). Gender-stratified analysis revealed a significantly higher risk of SSNHL in patients with dysrhythmia than in those without dysrhythmia for both men and women (HR = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.02-1.76, P = 0.039, HR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.02-1.78, P = 0.035, respectively). Age-stratified analysis revealed remarkable associations between dysrhythmia and SSNHL among those aged less than 40 years and more than 65 years (HR = 2.18, 95% CI = 1.03-4.64, P = 0.043 and HR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.14-2.09, P = 0.006, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support dysrhythmia as an independent risk factor for SSNHL. Based on the study results, clinicians managing patients with dysrhythmia should be aware of the increased risk of developing SSNHL, especially among patients aged <40 and >65 years, and counsel patients to seek medical advice immediately if they experience any acute change in their hearing ability.

In-hospital and post-discharge outcomes of pediatric acute myocarditis underwent after high-dose steroid or intravenous immunoglobulin therapy.

BACKGROUND: High-dose steroids and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) are controversial treatments for pediatric patients with acute myocarditis. This study aimed to investigate their efficacies in the Taiwanese pediatric population. METHODS: This study evaluated 5563 acute myocarditis patients from the Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database and identified 1542 pediatric patients hospitalized for acute myocarditis between January 1, 2001 and December 31, 2011. The exclusion criteria were age of > 11 years, associated cardiovascular comorbidities, autoimmune disease, malignancy before the index hospitalization, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, intra-aortic balloon pumping, and dual therapy using IVIG and high-dose steroids. RESULTS: After 2:1 propensity score matching, we identified 208 subjects without steroid therapy and 104 subjects who received high-dose steroids. The mean age in that cohort was 2.6 ± 2.9 years, and high-dose steroid therapy had no significant effects on major in-hospital complications and post-discharge outcomes. After 2:1 propensity score matching, we identified 178 subjects without IVIG therapy and 89 subjects who received IVIG. The mean age in that cohort was 2.0 ± 2.1 years, and IVIG had no significant effects on the major outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The present study revealed that high-dose steroid or IVIG therapy had no significant effects on major in-hospital complications, late heart failure hospitalization, and long-term mortality.

Albuminuria and neck circumference are determinate factors of successful accurate estimation of glomerular filtration rate in high cardiovascular risk patients.

BACKGROUND: Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is used for diagnosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The eGFR models based on serum creatinine or cystatin C are used more in clinical practice. Albuminuria and neck circumference are associated with CKD and may have correlations with eGFR. AIM: We explored the correlations and modelling formulates among various indicators such as serum creatinine, cystatin C, albuminuria, and neck circumference for eGFR. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: We reviewed the records of patients with high cardiovascular risk from 2010 to 2011 in Taiwan. 24-hour urine creatinine clearance was used as the standard. We utilized a decision tree to select for variables and adopted a stepwise regression method to generate five models. Model 1 was based on only serum creatinine and was adjusted for age and gender. Model 2 added serum cystatin C, models 3 and 4 added albuminuria and neck circumference, respectively. Model 5 simultaneously added both albuminuria and neck circumference. RESULTS: Total 177 patients were recruited in this study. In model 1, the bias was 2.01 and its precision was 14.04. In model 2, the bias was reduced to 1.86 with a precision of 13.48. The bias of model 3 was 1.49 with a precision of 12.89, and the bias for model 4 was 1.74 with a precision of 12.97. In model 5, the bias could be lower to 1.40 with a precision of 12.53. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the predicting ability of eGFR was improved after the addition of serum cystatin C compared to serum creatinine alone. The bias was more significantly reduced by the calculation of albuminuria. Furthermore, the model generated by combined albuminuria and neck circumference could provide the best eGFR predictions among these five eGFR models. Neck circumference can be investigated potentially in the further studies.