Role of peripheral eosinophilia in acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

BACKGROUND Eosinophil counts are a promising guide to systemic steroid administration for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD).AIM To study the role of peripheral eosinophilia in hospitalized patients with acute exacerbation of COPD(AECOPD).METHODS From January 2014 to May 2017,patients with AECOPD hospitalized in Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital were retrospectively stratified into two groups according to their peripheral eosinophil count:The EOS group(eosinophil count≥2%)and the non-EOS group(eosinophil count<2%).Demographics,comorbidities,laboratory data,steroid use,length of hospital stay,and COPD-related readmissions were compared between the groups.RESULTS A total of 625 patients were recruited,with 176 patients(28.2%)in the EOS group.The EOS group showed a lower prevalence of infection,lower cumulative doses of prednisolone equivalents,shorter length of hospital stay,and higher number of COPD-related readmissions than the non-EOS group.There were significantly linear correlations between eosinophil percentage and number of readmissions and between eosinophil percentage and length of hospital stay P<0.001,and a lower percent-predicted value of forced expiratory volume in one second(FEV1)were associated with shorter time to first COPD-related readmission[adjusted hazard ratio(adj.HR)=1.488,P<0.001;adj.HR=0.985,P<0.001,respectively].CONCLUSION The study findings suggest that the EOS group had the features of a shorter length of hospital stay,and lower doses of systemic steroids,but more frequent readmissions.The EOS group and lower percent-predicted FEV1 values were risk factors for shorter time to first COPD-related readmission.

Sub-micron-structure machining on silicon by femtosecond laser

Sub-micron-structure machining on silicon substrate was studied by direct writing system of femtosecond laser with the central wavelength of 800 nm, pulse duration of 120 fs and repetition rate of 1 kHz. Three kinds of experiments were conducted: 1) the effect of photoresist on silicon; 2) machinability of different orientations of silicon; and 3) the size of micro-structure and the cross-section shape. Photoresist SU8 was coated onto silicon substrates in thicknesses of 100 μm. SU8 remained on the silicon substrate while the silicon under the machined SU8 was removed after laser machining. Orientations of (100), (110), and (111) silicon substrates were machined with the laser power of 60 μW and the scanning speed of 3 mm/min. Spike morphologies were observed on all three orientations of silicon substrates without obvious directional difference of these spikes on different silicon substrates. In addition, the ablation threshold energies were also similar. In the consideration of ablation energy, one numerical model of the machining parameters has been proposed to simulate the cross-section of the micro-structure. The predicted shape by simulation can fit the profile of the cross-section shape well.

Review of epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors administration to non-small-cell lung cancer patients undergoing hemodialysis

Non-small-cell lung cancer(NSCLC)causes significant mortality worldwide.Patients with chronic renal failure have an increased risk of developing lungcancer.NSCLC Patients with chronic renal failure undergoing hemodialysis(HD)often exhibit poor performance,and chemotherapy is generally contraindicated.Oral epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR)-tyrosine kinase inhibitors(TKIs)are effective treatment agents for NSCLC patients.However,the benefits andadverse effects of EGFR-TKIs in NSCLC undergoing HD are known.There are noclinical studies on the effects of EGFR-TKIs on NSCLC patients undergoing HD.We reviewed all previous case reports about EGFR-TKIs in NSCLC patientsundergoing HD.It is difficult to design studies about the effects of EGFR-TKIs inpatients undergoing HD,and this review is quite important.EGFR-TKIs are welltolerated in patients undergoing HD.The main routes of elimination of EGFRTKIsare metabolism via the liver,and renal elimination is minor.Therecommended doses and pharmacokinetics of these EGFR-TKIs for patientsundergoing HD are similar to those for patients with normal renal function.Theplasma protein binding of EGFR-TKIs is very high,and it is not necessary toadjust the dose after HD.In conclusion,EGFR-TKIs are effective and welltolerated in patients undergoing HD.