Since its emergence in 2000, small bowel capsule endoscopy(SBCE) has assumed a pivotal role as an investigation method for small bowel diseases. The PillCam SB2-ex offers 12 h of battery time, 4 more than the previous...Since its emergence in 2000, small bowel capsule endoscopy(SBCE) has assumed a pivotal role as an investigation method for small bowel diseases. The PillCam SB2-ex offers 12 h of battery time, 4 more than the previous version(SB2). Rahman et al recently found that the PillCam SB2-ex has a significantly increased completion rate, although without higher diagnostic yield, compared with the SB2. We would like to discuss these somewhat surprising results and the new potentialities of the PillCam SB3 regarding the diagnostic yield of small bowel studies. PillCam SB3 offers improved image resolution and faster adaptable frame rate over previous versions of SBCE. We recently compared the major duodenal papilla detection rate obtained with PillCam SB3 and SB2 as a surrogate indicator of diagnostic yield in the proximal small bowel. The PillCam SB3 had a significantly higher major duodenal papilla detection rate than the PillCam SB2(42.7% vs 24%, P = 0.015). Thus, the most recent version of the PillCam capsule, SB3, may increase diagnostic yield, particularly in the proximal segments of the small bowel.展开更多
This study prepares a group of single crystalline β-Zn_4Sb_3 with Ge and Sn codoped by the Sn-flux method according to the nominal stoichiometric ratios of Zn_(4.4)Sb_3 Ge_xSn_3(x = 0–0.15). The prepared samples...This study prepares a group of single crystalline β-Zn_4Sb_3 with Ge and Sn codoped by the Sn-flux method according to the nominal stoichiometric ratios of Zn_(4.4)Sb_3 Ge_xSn_3(x = 0–0.15). The prepared samples possess a metallic luster surface with perfect appearance and large crystal sizes. The microscopic cracks or defects are invisible in the samples from the back-scattered electron image. Except for the heavily Ge-doped sample of x = 0.15, all the samples are single phase with space group R3c. The thermal analysis results show that the samples doped with Ge exhibit an excellent thermal stability.Compared with the polycrystalline Ge-substituted β-Zn_4Sb_3, the present single crystals have higher carrier mobility, and hence the electrical conductivity is improved, which reaches 7.48×10~4S·m^(-1) at room temperature for the x = 0.1 sample.The change of Ge and Sn contents does not improve the Seebeck coefficient significantly. Benefiting from the increased electrical conductivity, the sample with x = 0.075 gets the highest power factor of 1.45×10^(-3)W·m^(-1)·K^(-2) at 543 K.展开更多
BACKGROUND Capsule endoscopy(CE) allows for a non-invasive small bowel evaluation for a wide range of gastrointestinal(GI) symptoms and diseases. Capsule technology has been rapidly advancing over recent years, often ...BACKGROUND Capsule endoscopy(CE) allows for a non-invasive small bowel evaluation for a wide range of gastrointestinal(GI) symptoms and diseases. Capsule technology has been rapidly advancing over recent years, often improving image frequency and quality. The Pillcam~? SB3(SB3) capsule is one such technology that offers an adaptive frame rate advantage over the previous versions of the capsule the Pillcam~? SB2(SB2). Some have proposed that this improvement in capsule technology may lead to increased diagnostic yields; however, real world clinical data is currently lacking.AIM To evaluate the clinically relevant findings of SB3 and SB2 capsules in a population of United States veterans.METHODS A retrospective analysis of 260 consecutive CE studies was performed including130 SB3 and 130 SB2 capsule studies. Recorded variables included: age, gender,type of capsule, body mass index, exam completion, inpatient status, opioid use,diabetes, quality of preparation, gastric transit time, small bowel transit time,indication, finding, and if the exam resulted in a change in clinical management.The primary outcome measured was the detection of clinically relevant findings between SB3 and SB2 capsules.RESULTS Mean age of the study population was 67.1 ± 10.4 years and 94.2% of patients were male. Of these 28.1% were on opioid users. The most common indications for capsule procedure were occult GI bleeding(74.6%) and overt GI bleeding(14.6%). Rates of incomplete exam were similar between SB3 and SB2 groups(16.9% vs 9.2%, P = 0.066). The overall rate of clinically relevant finding was48.9% in our study. No significant difference was observed in SB3 vs SB2 capsules for clinically relevant findings(46.2% vs 51.5%, P = 0.385) or change in clinical management(40.8% vs 50.0%, P = 0.135).CONCLUSION Our study found no significant difference in clinically relevant findings between SB3 and SB2 capsules.展开更多
文摘Since its emergence in 2000, small bowel capsule endoscopy(SBCE) has assumed a pivotal role as an investigation method for small bowel diseases. The PillCam SB2-ex offers 12 h of battery time, 4 more than the previous version(SB2). Rahman et al recently found that the PillCam SB2-ex has a significantly increased completion rate, although without higher diagnostic yield, compared with the SB2. We would like to discuss these somewhat surprising results and the new potentialities of the PillCam SB3 regarding the diagnostic yield of small bowel studies. PillCam SB3 offers improved image resolution and faster adaptable frame rate over previous versions of SBCE. We recently compared the major duodenal papilla detection rate obtained with PillCam SB3 and SB2 as a surrogate indicator of diagnostic yield in the proximal small bowel. The PillCam SB3 had a significantly higher major duodenal papilla detection rate than the PillCam SB2(42.7% vs 24%, P = 0.015). Thus, the most recent version of the PillCam capsule, SB3, may increase diagnostic yield, particularly in the proximal segments of the small bowel.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.51262032)
文摘This study prepares a group of single crystalline β-Zn_4Sb_3 with Ge and Sn codoped by the Sn-flux method according to the nominal stoichiometric ratios of Zn_(4.4)Sb_3 Ge_xSn_3(x = 0–0.15). The prepared samples possess a metallic luster surface with perfect appearance and large crystal sizes. The microscopic cracks or defects are invisible in the samples from the back-scattered electron image. Except for the heavily Ge-doped sample of x = 0.15, all the samples are single phase with space group R3c. The thermal analysis results show that the samples doped with Ge exhibit an excellent thermal stability.Compared with the polycrystalline Ge-substituted β-Zn_4Sb_3, the present single crystals have higher carrier mobility, and hence the electrical conductivity is improved, which reaches 7.48×10~4S·m^(-1) at room temperature for the x = 0.1 sample.The change of Ge and Sn contents does not improve the Seebeck coefficient significantly. Benefiting from the increased electrical conductivity, the sample with x = 0.075 gets the highest power factor of 1.45×10^(-3)W·m^(-1)·K^(-2) at 543 K.
文摘BACKGROUND Capsule endoscopy(CE) allows for a non-invasive small bowel evaluation for a wide range of gastrointestinal(GI) symptoms and diseases. Capsule technology has been rapidly advancing over recent years, often improving image frequency and quality. The Pillcam~? SB3(SB3) capsule is one such technology that offers an adaptive frame rate advantage over the previous versions of the capsule the Pillcam~? SB2(SB2). Some have proposed that this improvement in capsule technology may lead to increased diagnostic yields; however, real world clinical data is currently lacking.AIM To evaluate the clinically relevant findings of SB3 and SB2 capsules in a population of United States veterans.METHODS A retrospective analysis of 260 consecutive CE studies was performed including130 SB3 and 130 SB2 capsule studies. Recorded variables included: age, gender,type of capsule, body mass index, exam completion, inpatient status, opioid use,diabetes, quality of preparation, gastric transit time, small bowel transit time,indication, finding, and if the exam resulted in a change in clinical management.The primary outcome measured was the detection of clinically relevant findings between SB3 and SB2 capsules.RESULTS Mean age of the study population was 67.1 ± 10.4 years and 94.2% of patients were male. Of these 28.1% were on opioid users. The most common indications for capsule procedure were occult GI bleeding(74.6%) and overt GI bleeding(14.6%). Rates of incomplete exam were similar between SB3 and SB2 groups(16.9% vs 9.2%, P = 0.066). The overall rate of clinically relevant finding was48.9% in our study. No significant difference was observed in SB3 vs SB2 capsules for clinically relevant findings(46.2% vs 51.5%, P = 0.385) or change in clinical management(40.8% vs 50.0%, P = 0.135).CONCLUSION Our study found no significant difference in clinically relevant findings between SB3 and SB2 capsules.