Coil‐Type Asymmetric Supercapacitor Electrical Cables

Cable‐shaped supercapacitors (SCs) have recently aroused significant attention due to their attractive properties such as small size, lightweight, and bendability. Current cable‐shaped SCs have symmetric device configuration. However, if an asymmetric design is used in cable‐shaped supercapacitors, they would become more attractive due to broader cell operation voltages, which results in higher energy densities. Here, a novel coil‐type asymmetric supercapacitor electrical cable (CASEC) is reported with enhanced cell operation voltage and extraordinary mechanical‐electrochemical stability. The CASECs show excellent charge–discharge profiles, extraordinary rate capability (95.4%), high energy density (0.85 mWh cm⁻³), remarkable flexibility and bendability, and superior bending cycle stability (≈93.0% after 4000 cycles at different bending states). In addition, the CASECs not only exhibit the capability to store energy but also to transmit electricity simultaneously and independently. The integrated electrical conduction and storage capability of CASECS offer many potential applications in solar energy storage and electronic gadgets.     

The association of gonorrhoea and syphilis with premature birth and low birthweight

The indications and results of single and double lung transplantation are described on the basis of 66 operations performed by the authors and on the background of the world literature. Lung transplantation is considered a new and promising therapeutic mode for treating patients with end-stage pulmonary failure related to fibrosis, emphysema, infective conditions, and pulmonary hypertension yielding satisfactory early results. The long-term prognosis of patients undergoing lung transplantation, like that of any other organ transfer, remains guarded.     

Clinical chemistry of common apolipoprotein E isoforms

Apolipoprotein E plays a central role in clearance of lipoprotein remnants by serving as a ligand for low-density lipoprotein and apolipoprotein E receptors. Three common alleles (apolipoprotein E(2), E(3) and E(4)) give rise to six phenotypes. Apolipoprotein E(3) is the ancestral form. Common apolipoprotein E isoforms derive from nucleotide substitutions in codons 112 and 158. Resulting cysteine-arginine substitutions cause differences in: affinities for low-density lipoprotein and apolipoprotein E receptors, low-density lipoprotein receptor activities, distribution of apolipoprotein E among lipoproteins, low-density lipoprotein formation rate, and cholesterol absorption. Accompanying changes in triglycerides, cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein may promote atherosclerosis development. Over 90% of patients with familial dysbetalipoproteinaemia have apolipoprotein E(2)/E(2). Apolipoprotein E(4) may promote atherosclerosis by its low-density lipoprotein raising effect. Establishment of apolipoprotein E isoforms may be important for patients with diabetes mellitus and several non-atherosclerotic diseases. Apolipoprotein E phenotyping exploits differences in isoelectric points. Isoelectric focusing uses gels that contain pH 4-7 ampholytes and urea. Serum is directly applied, or prepurified by delipidation, lipoprotein precipitation or dialysation. Isoelectric focusing is followed by immunofixation/protein staining. Another approach is electro- or diffusion blotting, followed by protein staining or immunological detection with anti-apolipoprotein E antibodies and an enzyme-conjugated second antibody. Apolipoprotein E genotyping demonstrates underlying point mutations. Analyses of polymerase chain reaction products are done by allele-specific oligonucleotide probes, restriction fragment length polymorphism, single-stranded conformational polymorphism, the primer-guided nucleotide incorporation assay, or denaturating gradient gel electrophoresis. Detection with primers that either or not initiate amplification is performed with the amplification refractory mutation system. Disparities between phenotyping and genotyping may derive from isoelectric focusing methods that do not adequately separate apolipoprotein E posttranslational variants, storage artifacts or faint isoelectric focusing bands.     

Update on Alzheimer''s disease

The nation's health care system is undergoing a period of rapid change that will profoundly affect women's health care services and, ultimately, women's health. Although managed care is quickly becoming the predominant mode of health care delivery in the United States, a new, more consumer-focused, and accountable model known as organized systems of care (OSC) is emerging. OSC development has been driven by large private and public employers seeking to purchase the highest quality health care for the best price. The changes in health care delivery encouraged by these innovative employers will provide women with optimal care and attention, which will in turn help them attract and retain a competitive and productive workforce.     

Effect of preoperative supplementation with alpha-tocopherol and ascorbic acid on myocardial injury in patients undergoing cardiac operations

Augmentation of antioxidant defenses may help protect tissues against ischemia-reperfusion injury associated with operations involving cardiopulmonary bypass. In this study we examined the effect of pretreating patients with alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) and ascorbic acid (vitamin C) or placebo on injury to the myocardium. Seventy-six subjects undergoing elective coronary artery bypass grafting participated in a prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial, receiving either placebo or both 750 IU dl-alpha-tocopherol per day for 7 to 10 days and 1 gm ascorbic acid 12 hours before the operation. Plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations, raised fourfold by supplementation, fell by 70% after the operation in the supplemented group and to negligible levels in the placebo group. There were no significant differences between the groups with respect to release of creatine kinase MB isoenzyme over 72 hours, nor in the reduction of the myocardial perfusion defect determined by thallium 201 uptake. Electrocardiography provided no evidence of a benefit from antioxidant supplementation. Thus the supplementation regimen prevented the depletion of the primary lipid soluble antioxidant in plasma, but provided no measurable reduction in myocardial injury after the operation.     

Risk factors for a medically inappropriate admission to a Department of Internal Medicine

OBJECTIVE: To identify patient- and admission-related risk factors for a medically inappropriate admission to a department of internal medicine. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of a systematic sample of 500 admissions to the department of internal medicine of an urban teaching hospital. The appropriateness of each admission and reasons for inappropriate admissions were assessed using the Appropriateness Evaluation Protocol. Risk factors included the time (day of week and holidays) and manner (through emergency department or direct admission) of admission, patient age and sex, health status of patient and spouse, living arrangements, formal home care services, and informal support from family or friends. RESULTS: Overall, 76 (15.2%) hospital admissions were rated as medically inappropriate by the Appropriateness Evaluation Protocol. In multivariate analysis, the likelihood of an inappropriate admission was increased by better physical functioning of the patient (odds ratio [OR], 1.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-2.1 [for 1 SD in Physical Functioning scores]), lower mental health status of the patient's spouse (OR, 2.6; 95% CI, 1.3-5.6), receipt of informal help from family or friends (OR, 3.3; 95% CI, 1.5-7.2), and hospitalization by one's physician (OR, 3.6; 95% CI, 1.7-7.5). Receiving formal adult home care was not associated with inappropriateness of hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: Inappropriate admissions to internal medicine wards are determined by a mix of factors, including the patient's health and social environment. In addition, the private practitioners' discretionary ability to hospitalize their patients directly may also favor medically inappropriate admissions.