The Plasma Atherogenic Index is an Independent Predictor of Arterial Stiffness in Healthy Koreans

The plasma atherogenic index (AIP) has been suggested as a useful independent predictor of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in high CV risk patients. We investigated the association between AIP and arterial stiffness measured by brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) in healthy adults. A total of 3468 healthy subjects without any metabolic or CV diseases were enrolled. Anthropometric and CV risk factors were measured. The AIP was defined as the base 10 logarithm of the ratio of the concentration of triglycerides to high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol. Subjects were classified into AIP quartiles. There were gradual deteriorations in metabolic parameters and increase in baPWV across the increasing AIP quartiles. In a fully adjusted analysis, compared with Q1 (lowest quartile) group, the odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for increased baPWV was higher in Q2 1.51, Q3 1.64, and Q4 (highest quartile) 2.77 among men, and Q2 1.09, Q3 1.55, and Q4 1.83 among women (all P trend <0 .05). There was a strong association between AIP and baPWV, and a higher AIP was an independent predictor of increased arterial stiffness in healthy Korean men and women. The AIP may be a simple screening tool for subclinical atherosclerosis.

A new screening test to evaluate the presence of oxidizable sulphide minerals in coarse aggregates

A simple screening test was proposed in order to test coarse aggregates for their potential to cause damage when used in concrete due to the oxidation of sulphide phases. The test involves submerging an aggregate sample in an oxidizing agent and measuring the mass loss. Samples with no known oxidizable sulphides showed a mass loss of <1.0% after one week of testing at room temperature. Samples of oxidizable sulphides showed a mass loss higher than 3.5% and changes in the colour of the test solution. It is proposed that aggregates which achieve a mass loss of less than 0.50% and no colour change in the test solution be accepted.

A new screening test to evaluate the presence of oxidizable sulphide minerals in coarse aggregates

A simple screening test was proposed in order to test coarse aggregates for their potential to cause damage when used in concrete due to the oxidation of sulphide phases. The test involves submerging an aggregate sample in an oxidizing agent and measuring the mass loss. Samples with no known oxidizable sulphides showed a mass loss of <1.0% after one week of testing at room temperature. Samples of oxidizable sulphides showed a mass loss higher than 3.5% and changes in the colour of the test solution. It is proposed that aggregates which achieve a mass loss of less than 0.50% and no colour change in the test solution be accepted.

A new screening test to evaluate the presence of oxidizable sulphide minerals in coarse aggregates

A simple screening test was proposed in order to test coarse aggregates for their potential to cause damage when used in concrete due to the oxidation of sulphide phases. The test involves submerging an aggregate sample in an oxidizing agent and measuring the mass loss. Samples with no known oxidizable sulphides showed a mass loss of <1.0% after one week of testing at room temperature. Samples of oxidizable sulphides showed a mass loss higher than 3.5% and changes in the colour of the test solution. It is proposed that aggregates which achieve a mass loss of less than 0.50% and no colour change in the test solution be accepted.

Rapid discovery of self-assembling peptides with one-bead one-compound peptide library

Self-assembling peptides have shown tremendous potential in the fields of material sciences, nanoscience, and medicine. Because of the vast combinatorial space of even short peptides, identification of self-assembling sequences remains a challenge. Herein, we develop an experimental method to rapidly screen a huge array of peptide sequences for self-assembling property, using the one-bead one-compound (OBOC) combinatorial library method. In this approach, peptides on beads are N-terminally capped with nitro-1,2,3-benzoxadiazole, a hydrophobicity-sensitive fluorescence molecule. Beads displaying self-assembling peptides would fluoresce under aqueous environment. Using this approach, we identify eight pentapeptides, all of which are able to self-assemble into nanoparticles or nanofibers. Some of them are able to interact with and are taken up efficiently by HeLa cells. Intracellular distribution varied among these non-toxic peptidic nanoparticles. This simple screening strategy has enabled rapid identification of self-assembling peptides suitable for the development of nanostructures for various biomedical and material applications.

The correlation between the STOP-Bang score and oxygen saturation during spinal anesthesia with dexmedetomidine sedation

Background: The STOP-BANG questionnaire is a simple screening tool with high sensitivity for the detection of severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Predicting airway obstruction would allow the safe management of sedative patients to prevent intraoperative hypoxia. This study was designed to check the correlation between the STOP-BANG score and oxygen saturation (SpO2) during sedation and confirm the availability of the STOP-BANG questionnaire as a preoperative exam for predicting the incidence of hypoxia in sedative patient management.Methods: This study included 56 patients who received spinal anesthesia. The pre-anesthesia evaluation was conducted using the STOP-Bang questionnaire. The patients were under spinal anesthesia with an average block level of T10. Dexmedetomidine was infused with a loading dose of 1 μg/kg over 10 min and a maintenance dose of 0.5 μg/kg/h until the end of the procedure. The SpO2 of the patients was recorded every 5 min.Results: The STOP-Bang score was negatively correlated with the lowest SpO2 (coefficient = –0.774, 95% confidence interval [CI]: –0.855 to –0.649, standard error [SE] = 0.054, P < 0.001). The item of “observed apnea” was the most correlated one with hypoxic events (odds ratio = 6.00, 95% CI: 1.086 to 33.145).Conclusions: The STOP-BANG score was significantly correlated with the lowest SpO2 during spinal anesthesia, which enabled the prediction of meaningful hypoxia before it occurred in the sedated patients.

Associated Factors and Utility of Bed-side Assessment Tools to Avoid Antibiotic Overuse in an Urban ICU of a Developing Country

Antibiotic exposure in the intensive care unit (ICU) is very high, although 50% of all antibiotics may be unnecessary. We aimed to determine predicting factors, outcomes, and the utility of simple screening tools to avoid antibiotic overuse in the ICU. We analyzed 510 young children who did not receive antibiotics during ICU stay to those treated with antibiotics. The logistic regression analysis revealed that cases were more often older and independently associated with hypernatremia. Cases less often had severe underweight, altered mentation, age-specific fast breathing, lower chest wall in-drawing, adventitious sound on lung auscultation, abdominal distension, developmental delay, hyponatremia, hypocalcemia, and microscopic evidence of invasive diarrhea (for all, p<0.05). The case-fatality rate was significantly higher among the cases than the controls. For predicting 'no antibiotic approach,' the sensitivity of a negative quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) was similar to quick Pediatric Logistic Organ Dysfunction-2 (qPELOD-2) and higher than Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS). In conclusion, 'No antibiotic approach' could be safely adopted in PICU using some simple clinical and laboratory characteristics, particularly in poor resource settings. A negative qSOFA or qPELOD-2 score calculated during PICU admission is superior to SIRS to avoid antibiotic overuse in under-five children.