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We aimed to determine the diagnostic performance and clinical value of the QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) and QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus (QFT-Plus) tests in patients with active tuberculosis (TB) or latent TB infection (LTBI). We prospectively enrolled 140 patients, including 63 with active TB and 77 with LTBI, between March 2017 and October 2018. QFT-GIT and QFT-Plus were performed simultaneously in all subjects. QFT-Plus and QFT-GIT test results showed significant agreement, in both active TB and LTBI patients, in terms of the interferon-γ concentration and interpretation result. QFT-Plus had higher sensitivity than QFT-GIT for predicting active TB (82.5% vs. 77.8%) and showed fewer false-negative and indeterminate results in both active TB and LTBI patients due to its "TB2 tube". The QFT-Plus TB2-TB1 value was higher in the active TB group than in the LTBI group. The QFT-Plus TB1-Nil and TB2-Nil values were useful in predicting remote LTBI, rather than recent LTBI. QFT-Plus showed good agreement with QFT-GIT in both active TB and LTBI patients, and higher sensitivity for predicting active TB than QFT-GIT. The QFT-Plus TB2 tube results, which reflect CD8+ T cell immunity, may improve predictive accuracy and detection of the immune response associated with active TB and LTBI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Linezolid improves the treatment outcomes of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis substantially. We investigated whether use of linezolid instead of ethambutol increases the proportion of sputum culture conversion at 8 weeks of treatment in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.Methods: We did a phase 2, multicentre, randomised, open-label trial for patients with pulmonary tuberculosis at the three affiliated hospitals to Seoul National University and National Medical Center (Seoul-Seongnam, South Korea). Patients, aged 20-80 years, with a positive sputum for pulmonary tuberculosis, but without resistance to rifampicin, and current treatment administered for 7 days or fewer, were randomly assigned at a 1:1:1 ratio into three groups. The control group received ethambutol (2 months) with isoniazid, rifampicin, and pyrazinamide. The second group used linezolid (600 mg/day) for 2 weeks and the third group for 4 weeks instead of ethambutol for 2 months. We used a minimisation method to randomise, and stratified according to institution, cavitation on chest radiographs, and diabetes. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients with negative culture conversion of sputum in liquid media after 8 weeks of treatment. The results of this trial were analysed primarily in the modified intention-to-treat population. The trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01994460.Findings: Between Feb 19, 2014, and Jan 13, 2017, a total of 429 patients were enrolled and 428 were randomly assigned into either the control group (142 patients), the linezolid 2 weeks group (143 patients), or the linezolid 4 weeks group (143 patients). Among them, 401 were eligible for primary efficacy analyses. In the modified intention-to-treat analyses, negative cultures in liquid media at 8 weeks of treatment were observed in 103 (76·9%) of 134 control patients, 111 (82·2%) of 135 in the linezolid 2 weeks group, and 100 (75·8%) of 132 in the linezolid 4 weeks groups. The difference from the control group was 5.4% (95% CI -4·3 to 15·0, p=0·28) for the linezolid 2 weeks group and -1·1% (-11·3 to 9·1, p=0·83) for the linezolid 4 weeks group. Numbers of patients who experienced at least one adverse event were similar across the groups (86 [62·8%] of 137 in control, 79 [57·2%] of 138 in the linezolid 2 weeks group, and 75 [62·0%] of 121 in the linezolid 4 weeks group). Resistance to linezolid was not identified in any patient.Interpretation: Higher rates of culture conversion at 8 weeks of treatment with short-term use of linezolid were not observed. However, safety analyses and the resistance profile suggested the potential role of linezolid in shortening of treatment for drug-susceptible tuberculosis.Funding: Ministry of Health and Welfare, South Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Rationale: The use of inferior vena cava (IVC) filters is associated with various complications. We aimed to elucidate the clinical course and predictive factors for complications of IVC filters, especially IVC penetration Methods: A retrospective observational study was performed in 45 adult patients with retrievable IVC filters and follow-up computed tomography (CT) between January 2003 and December 2012. Primary outcomes were the prevalence and predictive factors of IVC penetration. Secondary outcome was other complications of IVC filters. Results: IVC penetration following filter placement occurred in 87.6% of patients, and 57.8% of those involved significant penetration. Embedding of filter tips, suggestive of lateral tilting, was observed in 51.1%. Both Vertebral body erosions and aortic penetrations were seen in 4.4%, but they were asymptomatic. Longer indwelling duration of the IVC filter was significantly associated with a higher grade of IVC penetration, and the risk of significant IVC penetration increased in patients with the filter indwelling time of more than 20 days and an IVC diameter of less than 24.2mm. Conclusions: In patients with a retrievable IVC filter, IVC penetration on CT was common, and significant IVC penetration was associated with a longer indwelling time of the IVC filter and a lesser IVC diameter. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A study of the E–H mode transition was performed in Ar, O2, N2, and mixture gas inductively coupled plasma (ICP) from the measurement of the electron energy distribution function (EEDF). Changes of the EEDF and characteristics of the discharge on the E–H mode transition were discussed. At each E-mode, the measured EEDFs had different shapes depending on the gas type and pressure, while the EEDFs evolved into Maxwellian distribution with the E–H transition due to electron–electron collisions. This study was also focused on the transition ICP power when the discharge transits from E-mode to H-mode. As the ICP power increased in Ar discharge, the transition ICP power had minimum value at a particular pressure, while the transition ICP power was gradually increased with gas pressures in molecule gas discharge. The transition ICP power with gas mixing ratios was also studied in Ar/O2/N2 mixture gas discharge. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We investigate the effects of the Co and Mn ratio on the structure, morphology, electrochemical properties, and thermal stability of Li[Ni0.52Co0.16+x Mn0.32−x ]O2 cathode materials. Li[Ni0.52Co0.16+x Mn0.32−x ]O2 (x =0, 0.08, 0.16) cathode materials are prepared via high temperature calcination of LiOH and coprecipitated [Ni0.52Co0.16+x Mn0.32−x ](OH)2 hydroxides. From an X-ray diffraction investigation, the prepared materials have a well ordered O3 type α-NaFeO2 layer structure . As the Co content (x) is increased, the initial discharge capacity increase slightly but it is accompanied by severe capacity fading during extensive cycling. Meanwhile, a small increase of Mn enhances the electrochemical stability at high temperature (55°C) as well as the thermal stability. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy reveals that manganese substitution is effective to reduce the resistance during cycling due to stabilization of the host structure. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Corticosteroids in pneumonia associated with an increased risk of in-hospital MACEs. • The risk positively associated with duration and cumulative dose of corticosteroids. • The risk greater with more comorbidities and more severe pneumonia. Limited data are available concerning cardiovascular risk with respect to adjunctive corticosteroid use in patients with pneumonia. We aimed to assess the associations between systemic corticosteroid use and the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in patients hospitalized for pneumonia. Among study participants enrolled via surveillance for severe acute respiratory infection from July 2016 to January 2017, the clinical course of patients with pneumonia was retrospectively investigated until December 2019. We evaluated the occurrence of in-hospital and after-discharge MACEs according to steroid use during hospitalization. Of the 424 patients hospitalized for pneumonia, 118 (28.8%) received systemic corticosteroids during hospitalization. The most common reason for steroid use was acute exacerbation of chronic lung disease (75.4%). Systemic steroid use was significantly associated with an increased risk of in-hospital MACEs; it was not associated with after-discharge MACEs. The risk of in-hospital MACEs was significantly greater in patients with more comorbidities, more severe pneumonia, and a higher inflammatory marker level; moreover, it was positively associated with duration and cumulative dose of steroid treatment. Systemic corticosteroid use was associated with an increased risk of in-hospital MACEs in patients hospitalized for pneumonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We have developed the novel design and the fabrication processes for micro-direct methanol fuel cell (μ-DMFC). The membrane-electrode assemblies (MEA) consist of two identical polymer chips positioned on both sides of the proton exchange membrane, which play the roles of current collector, fuel-diffusion layer, and catalyst supporter. The detailed fabrication steps for the polymer chips are described. Each chip has 300μm thru holes for catalyst supporter and 400μm thru holes for fuel-diffusion layer. The total thickness of our all polymer μ-DMFC applying this MEA is about 500μm including the thickness of Nafion®. The measured maximum power density of the all polymer micro-DMFC was 8mW/cm2 and current density was 37mA/cm2. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• A CO gas sensor based on Si MOSFET technology is proposed. • Pt-decorated In 2 O 3 nanoparticles are formed as sensing layer by inkjet-printing method on FET-type platforms. • CO gas sensing performance is improved by catalytic Pt decoration. • The gas response and the recovery time of the sensor are greatly affected depending on the polarity of pulsed pre-bias. • Our sensors have reasonable selectivity for CO gas at 200 °C. This paper investigates carbon monoxide (CO) gas sensing performance in a silicon metal-oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (Si MOSFET)-based gas sensor having a structure in which a floating-gate (FG) and a control-gate (CG) are interdigitated in a horizontal direction. The sensing material, indium oxide (In 2 O 3) nanoparticles, is formed by an inkjet printing process between the FG covered with an insulator stack and exposed CG. Decorating the sensing layer with catalytic Pt and applying pulsed pre-bias are introduced as a method to improve CO gas sensing characteristics of the MOSFET sensor. First, CO gas sensing performance with Pt concentration and operating temperature is studied. The sensing performance is measured at 200 °C mainly by applying pulses to the CG. The response, response and recovery times of the MOSFET sensor are significantly enhanced with catalytic Pt decoration. In this work, 5% Pt decoration shows the best sensing characteristics. Response and recovery times are improved by 65% and 70%, by applying a pre-bias of 2 V and −2 V to the CG during response and recovery, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]