Comparative efficacy and safety of Chinese patent medicines of iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy:A network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Iron deficiency anemia(IDA)is a prevalent nutritional disorder during pregnancy.Clinical studies indicate that incorporating Chinese patent medicines(CPMs)with oral iron(OI)in treating IDA in pregnancy can reduce adverse effects and improve clinical outcomes.Nonetheless,the comparative efficacy of different CPMs remains unclear.AIM To assess the safety and effectiveness of different CPMs for treating IDA during pregnancy using network meta-analysis.METHODS We conducted a search for randomized controlled trials(RCTs)that combined CPM and OI for IDA treatment in pregnancy,spanning from 2013 to the present.Data analysis was performed using Rev Man 5.3 and Stata 14.0 on literature that satisfied the quality criteria.RESULTS The analysis included 45 RCTs,encompassing 4422 pregnant patients with IDA.Six CPMs were examined,including Shengxuebao Mixture,Shengxuening Tablets(SXN),Yiqi Weixue CPMs(YQWX),Jianpi Shengxue CPMs(JPSX),Yiqi Buxue Tablets,and Compound Hongyi Buxue Oral Liquid(FFHY).Findings indicated that FFHY+OI significantly improved the clinical effective rate.SXN+OI was most effective in boosting red blood cells counts and hemoglobin levels.YQWX+OI showed superior results in improving serum ferritin,and SXN+OI was most effective in increasing serum iron levels.JPSX+OI was optimal in reducing adverse pregnancy outcomes,while YQBX+OI effectively minimized adverse events.A cluster analysis suggested that SXN+OI could be the potentially optimal therapeutic regimen for IDA in pregnancy.CONCLUSION This study demonstrates that the combination of OI with CPMs offers better outcomes than OI alone.Based on clinical efficacy and other measured outcomes,SXN+OI emerges as the most effective treatment modality for improving the health of pregnant patients with IDA.

Patent-based technological developments and surfactants application of lithium-ion batteries fire-extinguishing agent

While newer,more efficient Lithium-ion batteries(LIBs)and extinguishing agents have been developed to reduce the occurrence of thermal runaway accidents,there is still a scarcity of research focused on the application of surfactants in different LIBs extinguishing agents,particularly in terms of patented technologies.The aim of this review paper is to provide an overview of the technological progress of LIBs and LIBs extinguishing agents in terms of patents in Korea,Japan,Europe,the United States,China,etc.The initial part of this review paper is sort out LIBs technology development in different regions.In addition,to compare LIBs extinguishing agent progress and challenges of liquid,solid,combination of multiple,and microencapsulated.The subsequent section of this review focuses on an in-depth analysis dedicated to the efficiency and challenges faced by the surfactants corresponding design principles of LIBs extinguishing agents,such as nonionic and anionic surfactants.A total of 451,760 LIBs-related patent and 20 LIBs-fire-extinguishing agent-related patent were included in the analyses.The extinguishing effect,cooling performance,and anti-recombustion on different agents have been highlighted.After a comprehensive comparison of these agents,this review suggests that temperature-sensitive hydrogel extinguishing agent is ideal for the effective control of LIBs fire.The progress and challenges of surfactants have been extensively examined,focusing on key factors such as surface activity,thermal stability,foaming properties,environmental friendliness,and electrical conductivity.Moreover,it is crucial to emphasize that the selection of a suitable surfactant must align with the extinguishing strategy of the extinguishing agent for optimal firefighting effectiveness.

Inhibition of hepatitis B virus via selective apoptosis modulation by Chinese patent medicine Liuweiwuling Tablet

BACKGROUND Liuweiwuling Tablet(LWWL)is a Chinese patent medicine approved for the treatment of chronic inflammation caused by hepatitis B virus(HBV)infection.Previous studies have indicated an anti-HBV effect of LWWL,specifically in terms of antigen inhibition,but the underlying mechanism remains unclear.AIM To investigate the potential mechanism of action of LWWL against HBV.METHODS In vitro experiments utilized three HBV-replicating and three non-HBV-replicating cell lines.The in vivo experiment involved a hydrodynamic injectionmediated mouse model with HBV replication.Transcriptomics and metabolomics were used to investigate the underlying mechanisms of action of LWWL.RESULTS In HepG2.1403F cells,LWWL(0.8 mg/mL)exhibited inhibitory effects on HBV DNA,hepatitis B surface antigen and pregenomic RNA(pgRNA)at rates of 51.36%,24.74%and 50.74%,respectively.The inhibition rates of LWWL(0.8mg/mL)on pgRNA/covalently closed circular DNA in HepG2.1403F,HepG2.2.15 and HepG2.A64 cells were 47.78%,39.51%and 46.74%,respectively.Integration of transcriptomics and metabolomics showed that the anti-HBV effect of LWWL was primarily linked to pathways related to apoptosis(PI3K-AKT,CASP8-CASP3 and P53 pathways).Apoptosis flow analysis revealed that the apoptosis rate in the LWWL-treated group was significantly higher than in the control group(CG)among HBV-replicating cell lines,including HepG2.2.15(2.92%±1.01%vs 6.68%±2.04%,P<0.05),HepG2.A64(4.89%±1.28%vs 8.52%±0.50%,P<0.05)and HepG2.1403F(3.76%±1.40%vs 7.57%±1.35%,P<0.05)(CG vs LWWL-treated group).However,there were no significant differences in apoptosis rates between the non-HBV-replicating HepG2 cells(5.04%±0.74%vs 5.51%±1.57%,P>0.05),L02 cells(5.49%±0.80%vs 5.48%±1.01%,P>0.05)and LX2 cells(6.29%±1.54%vs 6.29%±0.88%,P>0.05).TUNEL staining revealed a significantly higher apoptosis rate in the LWWL-treated group than in the CG in the HBVreplicating mouse model,while no noticeable difference in apoptosis rates between the two groups was observed in the non-HBV-replicating mouse model.CONCLUSION Preliminary results suggest that LWWL exerts a potent inhibitory effect on wild-type and drug-resistant HBV,potentially involving selective regulation of apoptosis.These findings offer novel insights into the anti-HBV activities of LWWL and present a novel mechanism for the development of anti-HBV medications.

Multiple paradoxical embolisms caused by central venous catheter thrombus passing through a patent foramen ovale: A case report

BACKGROUND To date,this is the first case of a paradoxical embolism(PDE)that concurrently manifested in the coronary and lower limb arteries and was secondary to a central venous catheter(CVC)thrombus via a patent foramen ovale(PFO).CASE SUMMARY Here,we report a case of simultaneous coronary and lower limb artery embolism in a PFO patient carrier of a CVC.The patient presented to the hospital with acute chest pain and lower limb fatigue.Doppler ultrasound showed a large thrombus in the right internal jugular vein,precisely at the tip of the CVC.Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography confirmed the existence of a PFO,with inducible right-to-left shunting by the Valsalva maneuver.The patient was administered an extended course of anticoagulation therapy,and then the CVC was successfully removed.Percutaneous PFO closure was not undertaken.There was no recurrence during follow-up.CONCLUSION Thus,CVC-associated thrombosis is a potential source for multiple PDE in PFO patients.

Simultaneous type III congenital esophageal atresia and patent ductus arteriosus in a low-weight patient: A case report

BACKGROUND We report a low-birth-weight child(1.8 kg)with neonatal type III congenital esophageal atresia(CEA)combined with symptomatic patent ductus arteriosus(PDA).After comprehensive evaluation,esophageal anastomosis was performed on postnatal day 11 after excluding surgical contraindications,and arterial catheter ligation was performed at the same time.Concurrent surgery for CEA combined with PDA has not been clearly reported in the literature.CASE SUMMARY We report a 6-day-old female child with type III CEA and PDA.The patient presented with foam at the mouth after birth,cough and shortness of breath after feeding.At another hospital,she was considered to have neonatal pneumonia,neonatal jaundice and congenital heart disease and transferred to our hospital.After iodine oil radiography of the esophagus and echocardiography we con-firmed diagnosis of CEA and PDA.The diameter of the PDA was 8 mm,with obvious left to right shunting.We performed right rear extrapleural orificium fistula ligation and esophageal anastomosis,and ligation of PDA via left axilla straight incision after 5 d of hospitalization.The operations were successful,and the incision healed after 12 d,and the patient was discharged.We re-examined the patient 1 mo after surgery.She did not vomit when she ate rice flour.Esophageal angiography showed no stricture of the anastomotic stoma.The patient weighed 3.2 kg.CONCLUSION For CEA patients with multiple risk factors,comprehensive,timely and accurate diagnosis and evaluation,and early treatment may improve prognosis.

Exploring the Relationship Between Patent Forward Citation and Stock Return Rate Using Empirical Data of China Stock Market

A novel indicator called price-citation was proposed.Based on the company integrated patent database of China listed companies of common stocks(A-shares)with the stock price and the stock return rate data,more than two thousand of A-shares from 2017 to 2020 were selected.The effect of the traditional patent forward citation and the price-citation for discriminating the stock return rate was thoroughly analyzed via ANOVA.The A-shares of forward citation counts above the average showed higher stock return rate means than the A-shares having patents but receiving no forward citations.The price-citation,combining both the financial and patent attributes,defined as the multiplication of the current stock price and the currently receiving forward citation count,showed its excellence in discriminating the stock return rate.The A-shares of higher price-citation showed significantly higher stock return rate means while the A-shares of lower price-citation showed significantly lowest stock return rate means.The price-citation effect had not been changed by COVID-19 though COVID-19 affected the social and economic environment to a considerable extent in 2020.

Analysis of Technical Intelligence of Tumor Cell Therapy Based on Patent Map

Objective To analyze the technical information in the field of tumor cell therapy in China,and to provide reference for identifying technical trends and predicting technical opportunities.Methods Based on the patent data in the field of tumor cell therapy in China,the patent map method was used to construct a scientific technical information analysis model.Then,the technical status of new drug research and development in this field was explored to identify technical opportunities.Results and Conclusion Studies have found that China’s tumor immunotherapy is in the growth stage.The technical innovation regions are mainly distributed in the east and innovative entities are enterprises.Technology hotspots are concentrated in areas such as A61P35,C12N5,and the patented technical efficacy is high.Besides,the technical research and development opportunities identified are closely related to the background in this field.To better promote the development of the industry,enterprises and research institutions should strengthen cooperation in technological innovation Meanwhile,they should pay attention to technical efficacy analysis to identify more technical opportunities,thereby effectively guiding innovation strategic decisions.

Analysis of Patent Application Status of Scutellaria Barbata Industrial Chain Based on Patent Data

Objective To analyze patent application status of Scutellaria Barbata industrial chain and provide some suggestions for its patent application and product development.Methods Patent data were collected through IncoPat patent analysis system.Meanwhile,the patent analysis method combined with text mining method was adopted to analyze the situation and development trend of patent application in China’s Scutellaria Barbata industrial chain by using pie chart,bubble chart,trend chart and other visual charts to display the results.Results and Conclusion The patent application of Scutellaria Barbata in China mainly experienced three stages:Slow development,rapid development,and recession period.The number of patents is large,but the authorization rate is low.Individuals and enterprises are the main applicants for patent applications.Product development is involved in the whole industrial chain,but it basically focuses on its efficacy in downstream drugs,health food and other aspects.Therefore,government should enhance the awareness of patent protection,encourage collaborative innovation in industry-university-research to promote the combination of basic research and market application.Besides,it should provide theoretical support to tackle the problem of short board products,which can promote the transformation of scientific and technological achievements and contribute to the upgrading of Scutellaria Barbata industrial chain.

Analysis of Strategy for Extending Patent Protection of Rucaparib

As a knowledge-intensive and promising strategic emerging industry, the biomedical industry has high entry thresholds, large R&D investment, long cycle, high risk and high return. In all technical fields, the biomedical industry has the highest dependence on intellectual property rights, and the protection of pharmaceutical intellectual property rights by domestic and foreign biomedical enterprises also runs through the whole process of drug research and development. Extending the patent protection period of drugs as well as forming and strengthening patent fortresses requires a patent network that surrounds drugs to maximize the value of intellectual property protection, which is also the focus of every pharmaceutical company with patent rights. By analyzing the patent portfolio of Clovis Oncology Company in the United States on Rucaparib and the patent portfolio of other companies or applicants on Rucaparib, we can have a clearer understanding of the strategy of extending the patent protection period of a new drug product.

Safety and Efficacy of Biodegradable Patent Foramen Ovale Occluder in Patients with Migraine:A Clinical Trial

Background:Transcatheter closure of patent foramen ovale(PFO)has been widely accepted as a highly effective way to treat high-risk PFO-related diseases.However,traditional non-degradable occluders made of metal alloys will permanently exist in the body,resulting in thrombosis,valve damage,hemolysis,arrhythmia,or other complications.The biodegradable PFO occluder developed by Shanghai Mallow Medical Instrument Co.,Ltd.,China can be fully absorbed and degrade into nontoxic ingredients,reducing postoperative complications.Objectives:To study the safety and efficacy of biodegradable PFO occluders in treating PFO.Methods:This single-center clinical trial collected 30 patients treated with a biodegradable PFO occluder.The follow-up period lasted 12 months to analyze the echocardiographic characteristics and headache relief through HIT-6 scores.Results:The immediate success rate was 100%,with no intraoperative severe occlusion-related complications.The contrast transcranial Doppler(cTCD)at 12 months showed that all patients’right-to-left shunts(RLS)were grade I or 0 with no serious postoperative complications,indicating the overall success rate was 100%.The biodegradable PFO occluder mostly degraded six months after the occlusion.Conclusion:PFO closure with a Mallow biodegradable occluder is safe and effective and has no severe complications.

Identifying grey-rhino in eminent technologies via patent analysis

Purpose:Following the typical features of the grey-rhino event as predictability and profound influence,we attempt to find a special pattern called the grey-rhino in eminent technologies via patent analysis.Design/methodology/approach:We propose to combine triadic patent families and technology life cycle to define the grey-rhino model.Firstly,we design the indicator rhino-index Rh=ST/SP and descriptor sequence{Rh},where ST and SP are the accumulative number of triadic patent families and all patent families respectively for a specific technology.Secondly,according to the two typical features of the grey-rhino event,a grey-rhino is defined as a technology that meets both qualitative and quantitative conditions.Qualitatively,this technology has a profound influence.Quantitatively,in the emerging stage,Rh≥Rae,where Rae is the average level of the proportion of triadic patent families.Finally,this model is verified in three datasets,namely Encyclopedia Britannica’s list for the greatest inventions(EB technologies for short),MIT breakthrough technologies(MIT technologies)and Derwent Manual Code technologies(MAN technologies).Findings:The result shows that there are 64.71%EB technologies and 50.00%MIT technologies meeting the quantitative standard of the grey-rhino model,but only 14.71%MAN technologies fit the quantitative standard.This falling trend indicates the quantitative standard of the grey-rhino model is reasonable.EB technologies and MIT technologies have profound influence on society,which means they satisfy the qualitative standard of the grey-rhino model.Hence,64.71%EB technologies and 50.00%MIT technologies are grey-rhinos.In 14.71%MAN technologies meeting the quantitative standard,we make some qualitative judgments and deem U11-A01A,U12-A01A1A,and W01-A01A as grey-rhino technologies.In addition,grey-rhinos and non-grey-rhinos have some differences.Rh values of grey-rhinos have a downward trend,while Rh values of non-grey-rhinos have a contrary trend.Rh values of grey-rhinos are scattered relatively in the early stage and centralize gradually,but non-grey-rhinos do not have this feature.Research limitations:There are four main limitations.First,if a technology satisfies the quantitative standard of the model,it is likely to be a grey-rhino but expert judgments are necessary.Second,we don’t know why it will be eminent,which involves technical contents.Thirdly,we did not consider the China National Intellectual Property Administration(CNIPA)and the German Patent and Trademark Office(DPMA)which also play important roles in worldwide patents,so we hope to expand our study to the CNIPA and the DPMA.Furthermore,we did not compare the rhino-index with other patent indicators.Practical implications:If a technology meets the quantitative standard,this can be seen as early warning signals and the technology may become a grey-rhino in the future,which can catch people’s attention in the emerging stage and make people seize the technical opportunity early.Originality/value:We define and verify a new pattern called the grey-rhino model in eminent technologies.

Trends in in ovo sexing technologies:insights and interpretation from papers and patents

Numerous researchers and institutions have been developing in ovo sexing technologies to improve animal welfare by identifying male embryos in an early embryonic stage and disposing of them before pain perception.This review gives a complete overview of the technological approaches reported in papers and patents by performing a thorough search using Web of Science and Patstat/Espacenet databases for papers and patents,respectively.Based on a total of 49 papers and 115 patent families reported until May 2023 worldwide,11 technology categories were defined:6 non-optical and 5 optical techniques.Every category was described for its characteristics while assessing its potential for application.Next,the dynamics of the publications of in ovo sexing techniques in both paper and patent fields were described through growth curves,and the interest or actual status was visualized using the number of paper citations and the actual legal status of the patents.When comparing the reported technologies in papers to those in patents,scientific gaps were observed,as some of the patented technologies were not reported in the scientific literature,e.g.,ion mobility and mass spectrometry approaches.Generally,more diverse approaches in all categories were found in patents,although they do require more scientific evidence through papers or industrial adoption to prove their robustness.Moreover,although there is a recent trend for non-invasive techniques,invasive methods like analyzing DNA through PCR or hormones through immunosensing are still being reported(and might continue to be)in papers and patents.It was also observed that none of the technologies complies with all the industry requirements,although 5 companies already entered the market.On the one hand,more research and harmony between consumers,industry,and governments is necessary.On the other hand,close monitoring of the market performance of the currently available techniques will offer valuable insights into the potential and expectations of in ovo sexing techniques in the poultry industry.

Effectiveness and safety of seven oral Chinese patent medicines as adjuvant therapy for cancer-related anemia: A systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Objective:To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of seven oral Chinese patent medicines(CPMs)as adjuvant therapy for cancer-related anemia(CRA)by network meta-analysis(NMA).Methods:A literature search to obtain randomized controlled trials(RCTs)of seven oral CPMs in the adjuvant treatment of CRA was conducted in multiple databases from the inception to April 2022.The RevMan5.3 and R 4.1.1 software were used for NMA.Results:We ultimately included 29 RCTs with 2140 patients.Traditional meta-analysis showed that Fufang E'jiao syrup(FFEJS),Shengxuebao mixture(SXBM),Shengxuening tablets(SXNT),Jianpi Shengxue granules(JPSXG),and Yixuesheng capsule(YXSC)combined with basic Western treatment(BWT)could improve the hemoglobin(HGB)level.JPSXG combined with BWT could improve the red blood cell(RBC).FFEJS combined with BWT improved the Karnofsky performance status(KPS).NMA showed that FFEJS,JPSXG,SXBM,and SXNT plus BWT improved HGB better than Shengxue tablets(SXT)plus BWT,with top three ranking results being JPSXG plus BWT>SXNT plus BWT>FFEJS plus BWT.FFEJS plus BWT,JPSXG plus BWT,SXBM plus BWT,SXNT plus BWT,and SXT plus BWT improved RBC better than BWT,with top three ranking results being SXNT plus BWT>JPSXG plus BWT>FFEJS plus BWT.In terms of the KPS score,compared with SXT plus BWT,FFEJS,JPSXG,SXBM,SXNT,and Yizhong Shengxue capsule(YZSXC)plus BWT had higher KPS,with top three ranking results being SXBM plus BWT>JPSXG plus BWT>FFEJS plus BWT.Conclusions:Our NMA demonstrated that seven oral CPMs used as adjuvant treatment of CRA had a definite clinical effect.JPSXG not only increases the levels of HGB and RBC to enhance the clinical effect but also improves patients'quality of life.More accurate conclusions need to be verified by more high-quality RCTs.

Transcatheter Closure vs.Surgical Ligation in Preterm Infants with Patent Ductus Arteriosus:A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background:Persistent patent ductus arteriosus(pPDA)is a common condition in preterm infants.This metaanalysis aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of transcatheter closure(TC)when compared to surgical ligation(SL)in preterm infants with pPDA.Methods:A literature search of Ovid Cochrane Library,Medline,Embase,Epub,Scopus,PMC Preprints,and ClinicalTrials.Gov was conducted from inception to May 06,2022.Eligible studies reported infants diagnosed with pPDA born at≤2000 g birth weight or at≤37 weeks’who underwent TC or SL as treatment.This review was registered in PROSPERO(CRD42022325944).Results:From 97 studies screened,8 studies met the eligibility criteria,with a total of 756 preterm infants undergoing either TC(n=366)or SL(n=390).Compared to TC,SL had higher mortality rates(OR=0.32,95%CI:0.16,0.66,I^(2)=0%).No difference was seen in post-procedural complication rate(OR=0.90,95%CI:0.18,4.44,I^(2)=79%),mean duration of post-procedural mechanical ventilation(MD=−2.21 days,95%CI:−4.88,0.47,I^(2)=60%),hospital stay length(MD=−8.30 days,95%CI:−17.03,0.44,I^(2)=0%)or neonatal intensive care unit stay length(MD=−3.50 days,95%CI:−10.27,3.27,I^(2)=0%).Conclusion:Our meta-analysis demonstrated TC as a viable alternative option in managing preterm infants with pPDA in the context of SL.Despite the promising trends demonstrated in this meta-analysis,further studies with larger sample size and controlled baseline characteristics are needed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of TC and SL for preterm infants with pPDA.

Phosphatidylserine:An overview on functionality,processing techniques,patents,and prospects

Phosphatidylserine(PS)is the part of cell structure in the body and has many beneficial functions especially in brain-related aging diseases.Although daily foods can provide PS to human body,the amount is very limited due to its poverty in most foods.To overcome the issue,numerous studies based on PS have been reported to develop PS-related supplements.In this review,PS was comprehensively and critically reviewed from the view of resources,functions,processing techniques,patents,and prospects.For resources,animal,plant,and microorganism origins were all covered with their differences in composition profiles.For functions,benefits regarding memory,cognitive enhancement,exercise performance,reducing Alzheimer’s disease,and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms were covered as well as the functional differences among animal-,plant-,and microorganism-based PS-related supplements.For processing techniques,traditional extracting methods from animal,plant,and microorganism tissues were comparatively discussed with enzymatic synthesis based on different reaction systems.Finally,patents of PS-related supplements were evaluated as well as their applications.This review could provide scientific and valuable support for PS industry.

A Review of Studies about Mongolian Patent Medicine Huhegaridi-9 (Qinggan Jiuwei Pills)

It has been applied for many diseases such as plague fever, cold cough, sore throat and so on. In order to better study Huhegaridi-9, this paper started from the production process of Mongolian Patent Medicine Huhegaridi-9. It analyzed and discussed the clinical application, chemical components and pharmacological research of Huhegaridi-9. It is expected to provide a reference for relevant researchers and workers.

Efficacy and safety of oral Chinese patent medicine combined with sacubitril/valsartan in the treatment of chronic heart failure:A Metaanalysis

Objective:To systematically evaluate the clinical efficacy of oral Chinese patent medicine combined with sacubitril/valsartan in treating chronic heart failure(CHF).Methods:CNKI,CSPD,CCD,CBM,PubMed,Web of Science,Cochrane Library and EMbase were retrieved to screen out randomized controlled trials Chinese patent medicine and Western medicine in treating CHF.Manual retrieval was also applied as a supplement.The Cochrane Reviewers Handbook 5.1.0 was used to evaluate the bias risk of the included studies and RevMan 5.4 software was used for Meta-analysis.Results:A total of 1301 patients enrolled in the 13 RCTs were included.According to the results of Meta-analysis,a combination of oral Chinese patent medicine and sacubitril/valsartan could further improve total effectiveness rate(RR=1.23,95%CI[1.16,1.30],P<0.001),increase 6 minutes’walk distance(MD=53.04,95%CI[33.43,72.64],P<0.001),improve left ventricular ejection fraction(MD=6.67,95%CI[5.15,8.19],P<0.001)and stroke volume(MD=7.56,95%CI[3.94,11.18],P<0.001),reduce left ventricular end-diastolic dimension(MD=-3.68,95%CI[-4.57,-2.78],P<0.001)and N terminal pro B type natriuretic peptide(MD=-434.08,95%CI[-518.95,-349.22],P<0.001)and no statistically significant difference in drug safety was found between the sacubitril/valsartan-only group and the combined treatment group(RR=0.73,95%CI[0.32,1.65],P=0.45).Conclusion:It’s indicated that a combination of traditional Chinese patent medicine and sacubitril/valsartan had a good clinical efficacy in the treatment of CHF,which had certain guiding significance for clinical practice.

Surgical Closure of Isolated Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Cenhosoa Antananarivo

Introduction: Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a congenital heart disease whose seriousness lies in the risk of pulmonary hypertension, congestive heart failure and death. The aim of this study was to describe the surgical closure of an isolated patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) performed in Soavinandriana Teaching Hospital. Methods: This was a retrospective and descriptive study, during thirteen-years-period (January 2004 to December 2016), performed at Cardiac surgery unit of Soavinandriana Teaching Hospital, including all children underwent surgical closures of an isolated PDA. Demographic data, birth weight, clinical signs, diagnostic imaging, time between diagnosis and surgery and hospital left stays were analyzed. Results: A total of eighty-six children were recorded, including 21 males (24.42%) and 65 females (75.58%), giving sex ratio of 30%. The average age was 33.91 months. Children were born with a low birth weight in 12.79% of cases. PDA was symptomatic in 81.39%. The most circumstances of discovery were recurrent lung infections (31.40%), dyspnea (24.41%) and failure to thrive (19.76%). Echocardiography showed left ventricular dilatation (63.95%), pulmonary hypertension (73.25%). The ductus was large in 97.67% and the mean diameter was 5 mm. Chest X-ray showed cardiomegaly (97.67%) and increased pulmonary vascularity (86.04%). Mean delay of surgical procedures after diagnosis was 15.16 months. Surgical procedures consisted left posterolateral thoracotomy with a section and suture after clamping the ductus. Earlier postoperatives courses were simple in all children. The mean duration of hospitalization was 8.93 days. Conclusion: PDA was most common large (97%) and symptomatic (81%) in our study. Surgical closure of an isolated PAD was the only surgical procedure of congenital heart cardiopathy available in Antananarivo.

Patent portfolio analysis model based on legal status information

Purpose:This research proposes a patent portfolio analysis model based on the legal status information to chart out a competitive landscape in a particular field,enabling organizations to position themselves within the overall technology landscape.Design/methodology/approach:Three indicators were selected for the proposed model:Patent grant rate,valid patents rate and patent maintenance period.The model uses legal status information to perform a qualitative evaluation of relative values of the individual patents,countries or regions’ technological capabilities and competitiveness of patent applicants.The results are visualized by a four-quadrant bubble chart To test the effectiveness of the model,it is used to present a competitive landscape in the lithium ion battery field.Findings:The model can be used to evaluate the values of the individual patents,highlight countries or regions’ positions in the field,and rank the competitiveness of patent applicants in the field.Research limitations:The model currently takes into consideration only three legal status indicators.It is actually feasible to introduce more indicators such as the reason for invalid patents and the distribution of patent maintenance time and associate them with those in the proposed model.Practical implications:Analysis of legal status information in combination of patent application information can help an organization to spot gaps in its patent claim coverage,as well as evaluate patent quality and maintenance situation of its granted patents.The study results can be used to support technology assessment,technology innovation and intellectual property management.Originality/value:Prior studies attempted to assess patent quality or competitiveness by using either single patent legal status indicator or comparative analysis of the impacts of each indicator.However,they are insufficient in presenting the combined effects of the evaluation indicators.Using our model,it appears possible to get a more complete and objective picture of the current competitive situation.

Platypnea-Orthodeoxia Syndrome in an Elderly Patient Treated with Percutaneous Patent Foramen Ovale Closure: Report of a Case and Review of the Literature

Introduction: Platypnea-Orthodeoxia syndrome is characterized by dyspnea and hypoxia in the upright position, usually improving in the supine position. Two components are required: an interatrial or intrapulmonary shunt, and a functional component. Diagnosis is made by contrast ultrasonography. We report a case of Platypnea-Orthodeoxia syndrome revealed by positional dyspnea in an 87-year-old patient. The aim of this study is to describe the clinical, therapeutic and evolutionary profile of this syndrome. Case Presentation: This is an 87-year-old patient with a history of pulmonary embolism (PE) and stroke. He was seen for dyspnea and desaturation in orthostatism, revealing a patent foramen ovale (PFO). Progression was favorable after closure of the PFO. Conclusion: Platypnea-Orthodeoxia syndrome may be presented as simple exertional dyspnea. The clinician should check for improvement in symptoms and/or oxygenation during decubitus. Definitive treatment consists of percutaneous closure of the shunt.