[A prospective cohort study on BMI levels and risk of acute pancreatitis].

Objective: To investigate the effects of body mass index (BMI) levels at different baseline on the risk of new-onset acute pancreatitis (AP). Methods: The subjects were from the Kailuan Study Cohort and divided into 3 groups according to baseline BMI levels: BMI<24 kg/m2, normal weight; BMI 24-28 kg/m2, overweight; BMI≥28 kg/m2, obesity. The incidence of new-onset AP in these three groups was analyzed. The survival curve was plotted by Kaplan-Meier method, the cumulative incidence was calculated and tested by log-rank method. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to calculate HR of baseline BMI levels for AP. Results: A total of 123 841 subjects were included and followed up for (11.94±2.13) years, during which, 395 cases were found with AP. The incidence of AP was 2.67 per 10 000 person years in total population, and the incidences of AP were 2.20, 2.72 and 3.58 per 10 000 person-years in the normal, overweight and obesity groups, respectively. The cumulative incidences of AP was 0.32%, 0.40% and 0.49% in normal, overweight and obesity groups, respectively, which showed a significant inter-group difference by log-rank test (χ 2=13.17,P<0.01). The results of multivariable adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression model analysis indicated that obesity group (HR=1.45, 95%CI: 1.10-1.92) had a higher risk for AP compared with the normal BMI group. The subgroup analyses by age and sex showed that compared with the normal weight group,the HRs for AP in the obesity group was 1.58(95%CI:1.14-2.19) and 1.40(95%CI:1.03-1.90) among subjects younger than 60 years old and male subjects, respectively. After excluded onset AP within two years from baseline,with a control group from normal weight,the results of multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model analysis indicated that the AP in the obesity group was 1.60 (95%CI: 1.18-2.15). Conclusion: Obesity may increase the risk of developing AP, particularly among young and middle-aged men.

[The role definition of lateral arm free flap in reconstruction after head and neck cancer surgery].

Application of free flap is one of the important repair means in head and neck surgery. A variety of free flaps, such as anterolateral thigh flap, have showed unique advantages in repair for tissue defects after resection of head and neck tumor, and have became increasing popularity. Lateral arm flee flap is an important repair means in plastic surgery, which has developed more than 30 years, but the application of this flap for reconstruction in head and neck surgery is relatively backward, with few reports. This review focuses on the creativity and innovation, the relationship between anatomy and clinical application, and the application status and prospects for lateral arm flee flap in individual head and neck reconstruction surgery.

Corticosteroid-induced intraocular pressure elevation in keratoconus is common following uncomplicated penetrating keratoplasty.

AIMS: To determine the incidence of postkeratoplasty intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation in the eyes of subjects with keratoconus and establish the relationship between IOP and corticosteroid administrations in this population. METHODS: Following strict inclusion/exclusion criteria, a retrospective analysis was performed on a consecutive series of penetrating keratoplasties performed for keratoconus observing a standardised surgical and postoperative regimen in Auckland, New Zealand. Patient demographics, ocular, medical, and family history, and pre- and postoperative data were recorded until 12 months postkeratoplasty. RESULTS: In all, 57 eyes of 48 patients were included-31% New Zealand Europeans, 42% Pacific people, 15% Maori, and 12% other. Eighteen eyes (32%) of 17 patients (35%) exhibited elevated IOP and 12 (21%) eyes exhibited moderate-to-severe elevation of IOP. IOP elevation occurred 3-6 months postkeratoplasty in 78% of eyes. Elevated IOP was significantly less common in Maori and Pacific peoples (P=0.02). All eyes except one required reduction/cessation of corticosteroids to normalise IOP. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of presumed steroid-related postkeratoplasty IOP elevation, in 35% of subjects with keratoconus, is markedly higher in this New Zealand study than previously reported in the US and UK studies. Further clinical and genetic analysis of associations between keratoconus and steroid-induced IOP elevation and glaucoma might improve our current understanding of this condition.

Ultrasonic destruction of chloroform and carbon tetrachloride in aqueous solution.

The sonochemical destruction of binary mixtures of chloroform and carbon tetrachloride in aqueous solution at 30 kHz has been studied. The influences of initial concentration, bicarbonate/chloride, and acoustical intensity on the destruction rates have been observed. It was found that the destruction of the two compounds appeared to follow pseudo-first-order reaction kinetics with the current experimental concentration range. The rate constant of chloroform for initial concentration as high as 100.4 mg/L decreased compared to initial concentration 36.13 micrograms/L, when the rate constants of carbon tetrachloride hardly changed. However, their destruction rates increased with increasing acoustical intensity and were independent of addition of bicarbonate or chloride. The resulting yield of ionic product (Cl-) for chloroform was determined.

Transparent heat mirrors for solar-energy applications.

Transparent heat-mirror films, which transmit solar radiation but reflect ir thermal radiation, have potentially important applications in solar/thermal/electric conversion, solar heating, solar photovoltaic conversion, and window insulation. We have used rf sputtering to prepare two types of films: TiO(2)/Ag/TiO(2) and Sn-doped In(2)O(3). To characterize the properties of heat-mirror films for solar-energy collection, we define the parameters alpha(eff), the effective solar absorptivity, and epsilon(eff), the effective ir emissivity. For our Sn-doped In(2)O(3) films, alpha(eff)/epsilon(eff) is comparable to the values of alpha/epsilon reported for the leading selective absorbers. Even higher values of alpha(eff)/epsilon(eff) are obtained for the TiO(2)/Ag/TiO(2) films.