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Background Etrolizumab, a humanized anti-β7 antibody, has not been studied in children. Here, we evaluate the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and safety of etrolizumab in children with inflammatory bowel disease. Methods Patients age 4 to 17 years with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease were randomized 1:1 to receive 1.5mg/kg of etrolizumab subcutaneously every 4 weeks (q4w) or 3.0mg/kg every 8 weeks (q8w) for 16 weeks in this open-label phase 1 trial. Pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, safety, and efficacy were assessed. Results Of the 24 patients treated, 21 completed the study. In the groups of 1.5mg/kg q4w and 3.0mg/kg q8w, respectively, mean (SD) maximum concentration (Cmax) was 9.8 (4.86) µg/mL and 18.1 (6.25) µg/mL; and mean (SD) area under the curve within a dosing interval (AUCtau) was 167 (86.9) and 521 (306) μg·day/mL after the last dose. The Cmax increased dose proportionally. The AUC over an 8-week period was slightly higher in the 3.0mg/kg q8w dose group. Median half-life was similar for both dosing regimens. Median numbers of free β7high gut-homing T and B cell subsets declined below 10% of baseline, confirming β7 target engagement and complete/near-complete receptor occupancy. Adverse events were consistent with the safety profile in adults. Approximately 60% of patients achieved a clinical response. Conclusions Etrolizumab showed a dose-proportional increase in Cmax and a slightly greater than dose-proportional increase in AUCtau. Both regimens achieved complete/near-complete β7 receptor occupancy, with a similar relationship to concentration as adults. Etrolizumab was well tolerated and demonstrated clinical activity in children.

Background/Introduction The 2019 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines currently recommend the use of coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) as the initial test for diagnosing coronary artery disease (CAD) in symptomatic patients in whom obstructive CAD cannot be excluded by clinical assessment alone. Purpose The purpose of this study is to identify the prevalence of obstructive CAD in patients with stable chest pain, and the correlation between several clinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and CCTA findings presented by Coronary Artery Disease Reporting and Data System (CAD-RADS). Methods The present study is a single-center retrospective cross-sectional study. A total of 1,892 patients with stable chest pain who underwent CCTA were enrolled in this study. Diamond-Forrester classification, Framingham risk score (FRS), atherosclerotic CVD (ASCVD) 10-year risk score, coronary artery calcium score (CACS) and CAD-RADS category were obtained from every patient. Results Among 1,892 patients (mean age, 60.5±8.6 years; men, 59.3%), 356 (18.8%) had obstructive CAD according to CCTA. Patients with high and intermediate ASCVD 10-year risk score had 2.59 times (aOR 2.59, 95% CI; 1.58 to 4.23) and 1.66 times (aOR 1.66, 95% CI; 1.04 to 2.65) higher odds of having obstructive CAD than patients with low ASCVD 10-year risk score, respectively (adjusted for Diamond-Forrester classification and CACS group). Higher ASCVD risk scores were significantly associated with higher CAD-RADS category (p Conclusion This is the first study of CCTA findings in stable chest pain patients in Korea. The prevalence of obstructive CAD in patients with stable chest pain was 18.8%. Higher ASCVD score is significantly associated with presence of obstructive CAD and higher CAD-RADS category. As coronary stenosis of 50%-69% had a mean ASCVD score of 20.1, we should consider CCTA for identifying obstructive CAD in patients with ASCVD score over 20 with stable chest pain. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.

Systemic steroid exposure, while useful for the treatment of acute flares in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), is associated with an array of side effects that are particularly significant in children. Technical advancements have enabled locoregional intraarterial steroid delivery directly into specific segments of the gastrointestinal tract, thereby maximizing tissue concentration while limiting systemic exposure. We investigated the feasibility of intraarterial steroid administration into the bowel in a cohort of nine pediatric patients who had IBD. This treatment approach provided symptom relief in all patients, with sustained relief (>2 weeks) in seven out of nine; no serious adverse effects occurred in any patient. In addition, we identified patterns of vascular morphologic changes indicative of a vasculopathy within the mesenteric circulation of inflamed segments of the bowel in pediatric patients with Crohn’s disease, which correlated with disease activity. An analysis of publicly available transcriptomic studies identified vasculitis-associated molecular pathways activated in the endothelial cells of patients with active Crohn’s disease, suggesting a possible shared transcriptional program between vasculitis and IBD. Intraarterial corticosteroid treatment is safe and has the potential to be widely accepted as a locoregional approach for therapy delivery directly into the bowel; however, this approach still warrants further consideration as a short-term “bridge” between therapy transitions for symptomatic IBD patients with refractory disease, as part of a broader steroid-minimizing treatment strategy.

Background Despite recent progress, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) therapies with pronounced long-term efficacy and improved safety are needed. IBD clinical trials face challenges with patient recruitment because of study designs, competitive or overlapping trials, and limited numbers of eligible patients. We aimed to better understand patients’ awareness of, attitudes toward, and experience with IBD clinical trials. Methods This multinational, cross-sectional cohort study of adults with IBD recruited online consisted of 2 components: a quantitative 15-minute online survey completed by all participants and a qualitative 30-minute telephone interview completed by a subset of patients from the United States. Results Quantitative survey respondents (N = 226) included patients with ulcerative colitis (52%) and Crohn’s disease (48%) from the United States (n = 100, 21 of whom were interviewed), Brazil (n = 26), Canada (n = 25), France (n = 25), Germany (n = 25), and Spain (n = 25); 96% of respondents reported at least a basic understanding of clinical trials. Patients rated conversations with health care providers most helpful for researching trials, but during interviews patients discussed their desire for increased patient–physician communication about trials. Major barriers to participation included invasive screening/monitoring (35% of quantitative responses) and concern over receiving placebo (35%) or suboptimal treatment (33%). Most respondents (68%) reported that clinical trial participants are “guinea pigs” for an experimental treatment. Conclusions Opportunities to improve participation in IBD trials include improved communication with health care providers, further patient education, and alternative trial designs. Ultimately, a better understanding of the patient perspective will be important for more informed patients and more successful recruitment and enrollment.

Few data are available on the gender-related differences in the prognostic impact of diabetes in people with heart failure. This study was performed to investigate whether there is a gender difference in the association between diabetes and long-term clinical outcomes in people hospitalized for heart failure.A total of 3162 people hospitalized with heart failure (aged 67.4 ± 14.1 years, 50.4% females) from the data set of the nationwide registry were analysed. The primary endpoint was a composite of all-cause mortality and heart failure readmission.People with diabetes (30.5% for males vs. 31.1% for females, P = 0.740) were older and had more unfavourable risk factors and laboratory findings than those without diabetes in both genders. During a median follow-up period of 549 days, there were 1418 cases of composite events (44.8%). In univariable analysis, the coexistence of diabetes was significantly associated with a higher incidence of composite events in both genders (P 0.05 each for males and females). In multivariable analysis, the prognostic impact of diabetes on the development of composite events remained significant in females even after controlling for potential confounders (hazard ratio 1.43, 95% confidence intervals 1.12-1.84; P = 0.004). However, an independent association between diabetes and composite events was not seen in males in the same multivariable analysis (P 0.05).In people with heart failure, the impact of diabetes on long-term mortality and heart failure readmission seems to be stronger in females than in males. More careful and intensive management is needed especially in females with heart failure and diabetes.

The Crohn'sColitis Foundation's Cost of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Care Initiative seeks to quantify the wide-ranging health care costs affecting patients living with IBD. We aimed to (1) describe the annualized direct and indirect costs of care for patients with Crohn's disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC), (2) determine the longitudinal drivers of these costs, and (3) characterize the cost of care for newly diagnosed patients.We analyzed the Optum Research Database from the years 2007 to 2016, representing commercially insured and Medicare Advantage-insured patients in the United States. Inclusion for the study was limited to those who had continuous enrollment with medical and pharmacy benefit coverage for at least 24 months (12 months before through 12 months after the index date of diagnosis). The value of patient time spent on health care was calculated as number of workplace hours lost due to health care encounters multiplied by the patients' estimated average wage derived from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Comparisons between IBD patients and non-IBD patients were analyzed based on demographics, health plan type, and length of follow-up. We used generalized linear models to estimate the association between total annual costs and various patient variables.There were 52,782 IBD patients (29,062 UC; 23,720 CD) included in the analysis (54.1% females). On a per-annual basis, patients with IBD incurred a greater than 3-fold higher direct cost of care compared with non-IBD controls ($22,987 vs $6956 per-member per-year paid claims) and more than twice the out-of-pocket costs ($2213 vs $979 per-year reported costs), with all-cause IBD costs rising after 2013. Patients with IBD also experienced significantly higher costs associated with time spent on health care as compared with controls. The burden of costs was most notable in the first year after initial IBD diagnosis (mean = $26,555). The study identified several key drivers of cost for IBD patients: treatment with specific therapeutics (biologics, opioids, or steroids); ED use; and health care services associated with relapsing disease, anemia, or mental health comorbidity.The costs of care for IBD have increased in the last 5 years and are driven by specific therapeutics and disease features. In addition, compared with non-IBD controls, IBD patients are increasingly incurring higher costs associated with health care utilization, out-of-pocket expenditures, and workplace productivity losses. There is a pressing need for cost-effective strategies to address these burdens on patients and families affected by IBD.

Lay Summary There is an urgent need for new treatments for inflammatory bowel diseases, but it’s hard to enroll the large number of patients needed for clinical trials. Making trials more patient-friendly by giving patients a voice would help solve this problem.

Background/Introduction Previous studies have focused on only 1 or 2 echocardiographic parameters as prognostic marker in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Purpose Various echocardiographic parameters in the same patient were systemically evaluated for their prognostic significance in AIS. Methods A total of 900 patients with AIS who underwent transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) (72.6 ± 12.0 years and 60% male) were retrospectively reviewed. Composite events including all-cause mortality, non-fatal stroke, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and coronary revascularization were assessed during clinical follow-up. Results During a median follow-up of 3.3 years (interquartile range, 0.6-5.1 years), there were 151 (16.8%) composite events. Univariable analyses showed that low left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (< 60%), increased peak tricuspid regurgitation (TR) velocity (> 2.8 m/s) and aortic valve (AV) sclerosis were associated with composite events (P < 0.05 for each). In the multivariable analyses after controlling for potential confounders, LVEF < 60% (hazard ratio [HR], 1.90; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.30-2.77; P = 0.001) and AV sclerosis (HR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.10-2.21; P = 0.013) were independent prognostic factors associated with composite events. Multivariable analysis showed that HR for composite events gradually increased according to LVEF and AV sclerosis: HR was 2.8-fold higher in the highest-risk group than in the lowest group (P = 0.001). Conclusions In patients with AIS, LVEF < 60% and the presence of AV sclerosis predicts the future vascular events. Patients with AIS exhibiting reduced LVEF and AV sclerosis may benefit from aggressive secondary prevention Abstract P1348 Figure. COX plot for composite event

Background Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a multifactorial disorder characterized by chronic gastrointestinal (GI) inflammation. In clinical practice, physicians urgently need biomarkers to monitor changes in mucosal disease to manage treatment. Non-invasive tools such as fecal biomarkers could allow for frequent monitoring of mucosal disease activity and may reflect inflammation of the entire GI tract. Towards identification of novel non-invasive fecal biomarkers, we performed a comprehensive, unbiased, analysis of the human fecal proteome from ulcerative colitis (UC), Crohn’s disease (CD) patients, and healthy controls (HC), focusing on human secreted proteins using proteomic approaches. Methods Fecal extraction processes optimized for recovery of secreted proteins were applied to stool samples of mild to severe UC and CD patients and HCs, 20 samples per group. An unbiased survey of the human fecal proteome of the IBD and HC stool extracts was performed using both data-dependent acquisition and data-independent acquisition methods on QExactive HF and Fusion Lumos mass spectrometers. Data were analyzed in Spectronaut for peptide identification, followed by analysis in MS Stats for protein quantification. Fecal calprotectin (fCAL) levels were measured in these stool samples using the Buhlmann EK-CAL immunoassay kit to correlate fCAL levels to proteomic calprotectin (S100A8/S100A9 heterodimer). Results We identified and quantified 594 differentially expressed proteins in stool using proteomics, including known proteins perturbed in IBD pathobiology. Elevated levels of neutrophilic proteins, e.g. fCal, neutrophil elastase, lactoferrin and leucine-rich Α-2 glycoprotein 1 were detected as well as proteins linked to rectal bleeding and ulceration e.g. hemoglobin subunit alpha 1 and beta. Pancreatic enzymes, suggested to be associated with active disease, were also detected. Overall, UC and CD contained many proteins not detected in HC. Differential abundances were observed between UC and CD patients, possibly reflecting differences in mucosal pathophysiology. The abundance of proteomic calprotectin correlated highly with the fCAL levels as determined by immunoassay (Spearman rank order > 0.9 for S100A8 and S100A9 to fCAL), validating the fecal proteomic approach to uncover known and novel proteins of IBD biology. Conclusion We developed and qualified methods to perform fecal proteomics on IBD stool samples, enabling identification of known and novel proteins of mucosal UC and CD disease biology. In depth analysis of these proteomic datasets may reveal novel fecal biomarker candidates, targeted to reflect mucosal disease activity and potentially serve as non-invasive surrogates for endoscopy and help guide treatment in IBD patients.

Marine biota is an important source of atmospheric aerosol particles in the remote marine atmosphere. However, the relationship between new particle formation and marine biota is poorly quantified. Long-term observations (from 2009 to 2016) of the physical properties of atmospheric aerosol particles measured at the Antarctic Peninsula (King Sejong Station; 62.2∘ S, 58.8∘ W) and satellite-derived estimates of the biological characteristics were analyzed to identify the link between new particle formation and marine biota. New particle formation events in the Antarctic atmosphere showed distinct seasonal variations, with the highest values occurring when the air mass originated from the ocean domain during the productive austral summer (December, January and February). Interestingly, new particle formation events were more frequent in the air masses that originated from the Bellingshausen Sea than in those that originated from the Weddell Sea. The monthly mean number concentration of nanoparticles (2.5–10 nm in diameter) was >2-fold higher when the air masses passed over the Bellingshausen Sea than the Weddell Sea, whereas the biomass of phytoplankton in the Weddell Sea was more than ∼70 % higher than that of the Bellingshausen Sea during the austral summer period. Dimethyl sulfide (DMS) is of marine origin and its oxidative products are known to be one of the major components in the formation of new particles. Both satellite-derived estimates of the biological characteristics (dimethylsulfoniopropionate, DMSP; precursor of DMS) and phytoplankton taxonomic composition and in situ methanesulfonic acid (84 daily measurements during the summer period in 2013 and 2014) analysis revealed that DMS(P)-rich phytoplankton were more dominant in the Bellingshausen Sea than in the Weddell Sea. Furthermore, the number concentration of nanoparticles was positively correlated with the biomass of phytoplankton during the period when DMS(P)-rich phytoplankton predominate. These results indicate that oceanic DMS emissions could play a key role in the formation of new particles; moreover, the taxonomic composition of phytoplankton could affect the formation of new particles in the Antarctic Ocean.

Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) rebar is a great alternative to the conventional steel reinforcing bar because of its corrosion-free characteristics and high strength. This study introduces a newly developed hybrid FRP rebar which is composed of a conventional steel rebar inside and glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) on the outer surface. The developed hybrid rebar takes advantage of overcoming the low elastic modulus from their composite action and durability as the outer GFRP surface resists corrosion. In addition, this hybrid GFRP rebar is also cost-effective. This study investigated the bonding characteristics between the newly developed hybrid FRP rebar and concrete. A direct pull-out test was conducted following the KS F 2441 testing method. In the test result, the bond strength and slip relationship were investigated for test variables. The rebar outer diameter was 16 mm, and inside steel rebar diameters were 10 and 13 mm with varying thickness of GFRP.

Background In clinical practice, faecal calprotectin (FC) is used to monitor disease activity in ulcerative colitis (UC); however, there is no consensus on optimal cut-off values of FC for predicting endoscopic outcomes. FC performance has not been extensively assessed in the context of clinical trials using central endoscopy. This study aimed to evaluate the association between FC and endoscopic disease activity and to propose a meaningful cut-off FC value to predict endoscopic outcomes using data from the open-label induction (OLI) cohort of HICKORY (NCT02100696). Methods HICKORY is a Phase 3 study evaluating etrolizumab in anti-tumour necrosis factor α-experienced patients with moderate-to-severe UC. The study included patients who received ≥1 dose of etrolizumab 105 mg subcutaneously every 4 weeks during a 14-week induction period. Percentage change in FC was calculated at week 14. The endoscopic activity was measured by Mayo Clinic score (MCS) endoscopic subscore (ES) using a robust central-reading model. Endoscopic improvement was defined as ES=0/1; clinical remission as MCS ≤2 and no individual subscore >1. FC analysis was performed by Covance® (Bühlman FC ELISA assay). Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were used to calculate cut-off FC values. Results A total of 97 patients (mean age [standard deviation], 41.2 ± 13.4 years) were included in the analysis. Median (interquartile range [IQR]) baseline duration of disease was 6.3 (3.2–12.3) years with a median (IQR) MCS of 9 (8–10). Median (IQR) baseline FC and ES were 254 (156–455) µg/g and 3 (3-3). At week 14, median (IQR) FC percentage change was −13 (−57 to 112). A numerical association between changes in FC level and ES was observed (Table). A cut-off FC value of 159 µg/g was observed to predict endoscopic improvement with >70% sensitivity and specificity; ROC area under the curve was 0.78 (Figure). Similar results were observed for clinical remission. Conclusion In this exploratory analysis using HICKORY OLI cohort data, changes in FC appear to associate with changes in ES. A cut-off FC value of 159 µg/g predicted endoscopic improvement. In UC, FC may be a useful non-invasive biomarker for ascertaining endoscopic disease activity in clinical trials; however, further clinical studies validating FC cut-offs against centrally read endoscopy are needed.

Background Despite recent progress in treatment for inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), there is a need for therapies with long-term efficacy and improved safety. Clinical trials in IBD face challenges with patient recruitment because of study designs, competitive or overlapping trials, and a limited number of eligible patients. We sought to better understand patients’ motivations, awareness of, and experience with IBD clinical trials. Methods We conducted an international survey of adult patients with IBD consisting of 2 components. The quantitative component, a 15-minute online survey, was completed by all patients. A qualitative component, a 30-minute telephone interview, was completed by a subset of patients from the United States (US). All percentages indicate results from the online survey. Results 226 patients (mean age, 41.9 y) completed the online survey. Survey respondents included patients with ulcerative colitis (52%) and Crohn’s disease (48%) from the US (n=100, 21 of whom underwent a phone interview), Brazil (n=26), Canada (n=25), France (n=25), Germany (n=25), and Spain (n=25). Ninety-six percent of respondents reported at least a basic understanding of clinical trials, and 34 (15%) were current or past clinical trial participants. Patients reported learning about trials through 1 or more sources (could select as many as applied): health care providers (42%), pharmaceutical manufacturer websites (31%), social media (30%), online support groups (28%), and foundations (18%-23%). In the survey, patients rated conversations with health care providers most helpful, but patients who were interviewed revealed that most physicians often do not initiate conversations about clinical trials, and patients typically do not ask. Primary motivators for trial participation (rated from “does not encourage me at all” to “encourages me very much”) included altruistic goals of advancing medicine (67%), potentially mitigating risks of uncontrolled IBD such as colon cancer (59%), and access to treatment options that could improve quality of life (59%) or would otherwise be unaffordable (52%). Major barriers to participation (rated from “does not discourage me at all” to “discourages me very much”) included invasive screening and monitoring (35%), concern over receiving placebo (35%), or suboptimal treatment (33%), and concerns about posttrial access to study medication (27%). The majority (68%) reported that being in a clinical trial means being a “guinea pig” for an experimental treatment. Conclusion Opportunities to improve patients’ clinical trial experience in IBD include better communication with health care providers and improved patient education about clinical trial design and ethics. Ultimately, a better understanding of the patient perspective will be important for more informed patients and potentially higher recruitment and enrollment.

Background Several new biomarkers for the detection of early tubular injury have been investigated in kidney transplant recipients. We recently identified day 2 urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) as a predictor of slow graft function and adverse 1-year outcome. In the present study, we further investigated the value of urinary NGAL and liver-type fatty acid binding protein (L-FABP) for predicting long-term graft outcomes up to 2 years. Methods This study was a single-center, prospective observational study. Serial urinary NGAL and L-FABP levels at 0 hours, 2 days, and 6 days after kidney transplantation (KT) were measured, and the clinical data were assessed during the 2-year period after KT. Results During the 2-year follow-up period, 13 (18.8%), 5 (7.2%), and 4 (5.8%) patients were diagnosed with acute T-cell–mediated rejection, acute antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) and chronic AMR, respectively. In addition, 10 patients (14.3%) developed calcineurin inhibitor toxicity and 6 (8.7%) developed BK viremia. The mean estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFR) at 1 and 2 years after KT were 65.1 ± 19.1 and 58.5 ± 22.6 mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively, When poor long-term graft function was defined as eGFR of less than 50 mL/min/1.73 m2 at 2 years, elderly donors, acute rejection, and high 0-hour urinary L-FABP levels were significant risk factors. Furthermore, in rejection-free patients, L-FABP was strongly associated with poor long-term graft function (P = .006). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that high 0-hour L-FABP (P = .015) and acute rejection (P = .006) were independent factors predicting poor long-term graft function. Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that the area under the curve for urinary L-FABP was 0.692 (P = .036). Conclusions Our results suggest that urinary L-FABP may be a useful predictor of adverse long-term outcomes in KT patients.

Background Several recent reports demonstrated the usefulness of new biomarkers in early prediction of delayed graft function (DGF) and graft recovery after kidney transplantation (KT). It is unknown, however, whether these biomarkers would predict long-term graft outcome. In this study, we examined whether the biomarkers including neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and liver-type fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP) can predict 1-year graft outcome as well as short-term graft function especially in patients with early graft function (EGF). Methods This was a single-center, prospective observational study. Urine samples at 0 hours and 2 and 6 days were obtained and the level of NGAL and L-FABP were measured. Results Of the 69 KT recipients enrolled, seven developed DGF, and the remaining 62 patients were finally enrolled as EGF recipients. EGF recipients were additionally divided into immediate graft function (IGF, n = 48) and slow graft function (SGF, n = 14) groups. Urinary NGAL (u-NGAL) level on day 2, but not L-FABP nor serum creatinine, was significantly higher in SGF compared to IGF group. Higher day 2 u-NGAL level was associated with more frequent development of SGF and, in addition, with significantly lower 1-year estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, day 2 u-NGAL was a significant, independent factor for predicting poor long-term graft function (1-year eGFR 2 ). Conclusions This study demonstrates the possibility that u-NGAL might be useful in predicting adverse 1-year outcome as well as short-term graft function even in EGF patients.

The majority of pedestrian fatalities and injuries are caused by traffic accidents. Injuries of occupants in a vehicle have been considerably decreased due to many efforts by the industry. However, efforts for the protection of pedestrians still seem to be insufficient. Many industries are striving for better protection of pedestrians by using an active hood lift system, rather than reforming the existing structure. The active hood lift system lifts the hood when the vehicle hits a pedestrian, thus mitigating head injury to the pedestrian. In this research, the active hood lift system is designed to enhance the performance for protection. The active hood lift system is analysed by using the non-linear finite element method. Computer simulation is conducted for the impact between the headform and the hood. An optimization problem is formulated to incorporate the analysis results. An iterative optimization algorithm using orthogonal arrays is utilized for the design in a discrete space. The injury level to the head is significantly reduced in the newly designed product.

Recent reports have found a relationship between long-term bisphosphonate therapy and the occurrence of low-energy subtrochanteric or diaphyseal atypical femoral fractures. These fractures usually occur at only one site in the same bone. We report a rare case of a patient with sequential atypical femoral fractures (first, a diaphyseal fracture, and second, an ipsilateral subtrochanteric fracture) after low-energy trauma. We present the clinical and operative findings and discuss how to prevent subsequent atypical femoral fractures. This case indicates that an atypical subtrochanteric femoral fracture can occur after an atypical diaphyseal fracture in a long-term bisphosphonate user. Doctors should be aware of the possibility of a second fracture and explain the risk to the patient. Key words: bisphosphonate, atypical femoral fracture, low-energy trauma, subtrochanteric and diaphyseal femoral fractures.

In solid organ transplant patients, non-participation in all aspects of the medical regimen is a prevalent problem associated with adverse consequences particularly in the adolescent and young adult (AYA) age group. This study is the first to evaluate the feasibility, utility and impact of a text messaging (TM) intervention to improve participation in laboratory testing in adolescent liver transplant patients.AYA patients, aged 12 to 21 years, were recruited for a prospective pilot trial evaluating a TM intervention delivered over a 1-year period. The intervention involved automated TM reminders with feedback administered according to a prescribed laboratory testing frequency. Participation rate in laboratory testing after the intervention was compared to the year prior. Patient responses and feedback by text and survey were used to assess feasibility, acceptability and use of the intervention.Forty-two patients were recruited and 33 patients remained enrolled for the study duration. Recipients of the TM intervention demonstrated a significant improvement in participation rate in laboratory testing from 58% to 78% (P.001). This rate was also significantly higher than in non-intervention controls (P=.003). There was a high acceptability, response rate and a significant correlation with reported versus actual completion of laboratory tests by TM.TM reminders significantly improved participation in laboratory testing in AYA liver transplant patients. The intervention demonstrated feasibility, acceptability, and use with a high proportion of patients who engaged in and perceived a benefit from using this technology.

We propose a tubular membrane module with embedded three-dimensional structures which is efficient in a wide range of operating conditions (covering both laminar and turbulent flows). Thin plates with barriers are inserted periodically in the circular channel geometry, leading to chaotic advection in a spatially periodic channel flow. Using a numerical scheme combining a particle-tracking and the finite element method, the insert geometry is optimized. The performance of the newly proposed membrane module is assessed by experiments. The membrane module with embedded inserts is found to be better in performance than an ordinary tubular membrane module.Copyright © 2015 by KSME

The PBM BioSign TM Salmonella (PBMS) test kit based on an immunochromatographic method was evaluated for the screening of Salmonella spp. in pure cultures, and 80, 15, and 10 artificially and naturally contaminated, and negative controlled food samples, respectively. The PBMS test involves presumptive qualitative procedures, detecting the presence of Salmonella spp. in foods within 26 h total testing period and allowing the user to release negative products 70 h earlier than the conventional methods. The PBMS test using Buffered Peptone Water and Rappaport-Vassiliadis broth was evaluated for 10 different food types for various Salmonella spp. It showed detection limits of 1 to 25 colony forming units (CFU)/25 g. No cross-reaction was observed, particularly to other gram- negative bacteria. These results indicate the PBMS test is a rapid and inexpensive procedure for the screening of Salmonella spp. present at low concentrations (1 to 25 CFU/25 g) in foods. (Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 2004. Vol 17, No. 12 : 1746-1750)

An F-type icosahedral phase and a related cubic phase (composition of Al66.1Rh21.5Cu12.3, lattice constant a=1.5380(2) nm, and space group of Fm3) were observed in the Al63Rh18.5Cu18.5 alloy by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The structure of the Al-Rh-Cu cubic phase was determined by single-crystal X-ray analysis. A high-resolution electron microscopic image of the Al-Rh-Cu cubic phase is presented together with a simulated image. The structure of the cubic phase can be described by two types of atom clusters, which have outer shells with icosahedral symmetry. It is suggested that the structure of the Al-Rh-Cu cubic phase is helpful for understanding the structure of the i-Al-Rh-Cu F-type icosahedral quasicrystal.

GaN films have been deposited on GaAs(lOO) substrates by a novel growth technique, hot plasma chemical vapor deposition. A radio frequency N plasma source with high power, up to 5 kW, provides an abundance of nitrogen atoms during growth. In addition, strong ultraviolet emissions from the hot plasma irradiate onto the substrate and promote the dissociation of triethylgallium, this results in growth of GaN at very low temperature (even at room temperature). In this paper, we describe the characteristics of hot nitrogen plasma and present the results of the low temperature growth of GaN. In addition, we have investigated the effects of the nitridation of GaAs substrates. Reflection high energy electron diffraction indicates the formation of a surface cubic nitrided layer on the pretreated GaAs. The GaN films grown on fully nitrided GaAs(l00) substrates are of dominantly cubic structures.

The flaw to be occurred for gripping ad transferring of pre-coated metal sheet is one of causes to decrease the quality of automotive part. To cope with this problem the pre-coated metal sheet is exactly handled by gripping tool. And then it is transferred to the determined position. In this study, designed gripper, control module and GUI is integrated to the handling system of pre-coated metal sheet.

Allergic rhinitis is diagnosed by clinical parameters with no widely accepted screening test. Measurement of total serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) has limited use in the general population due to a low negative predictive value. The value of total IgE level in select populations undergoing in vitro allergy testing remains unknown. The aim of this study is to determine the utility of total serum IgE in the in vitro diagnosis of allergic rhinitis.A retrospective chart review of patients undergoing testing for allergic rhinitis was performed. Clinical parameters, total IgE level, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for serum-specific IgE levels were analyzed with multivariate logistic regression. The positive and negative predictive values and a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were used to assess the utility of total IgE in predicting serum-specific IgE test results.Records from 1073 patients were reviewed. ROC curve for total IgE150 IU/mL (Σ 0.88) indicates good discrimination in identifying patients with sensitization by in vitro testing, whereas low total IgE level had strong negative predictive value (0.87, IgE10) in identifying negative specific IgE testing. Multivariate logistic regression showed that differences in covariables did not significantly change the odds of a positive in vitro allergy test panel.Serum total IgE level is useful in the in vitro diagnosis of allergic rhinitis. In vitro testing for specific IgE may be unnecessary in patients with low serum total IgE, whereas high total IgE level suggests that in vitro testing would confirm specific sensitizations in patients with allergic rhinitis.

This paper presents hemoglobin measurement based on microfluidic blood cuvettes. Blood sample filled MBC by capillary action, and hemoglobin in the blood sample was measured by absorbance of 530nm-wavelenth light. Microfluidic blood cuvette was fabricated by poly-methylmethacrylate (PMMA) substrate and dry film photoresist (DFR). Two different MBC including dual-side wall and sing-side wall microchannels were designed and fabricated. During blood filling process, air was trapped in microfluidic blood cuvette of dual-side wall microchannel, while there was no air trapping in microfluidic blood cuvettes of single-side wall microchannel. Sensitivity of hemoglobin measurement was more linear in 105(μm-depth microchannel rather than 35(μm-depth microchannel.