Determinants of Length of Stay for Medical Inpatients Using Survival Analysis.

With the increase in insured patients and an aging population, managing the length of stay (LOS) for inpatients has become crucial for controlling medical costs. Analyzing the factors influencing LOS is necessary for effective management. Previous studies often used multiple or logistic regression analyses, which have limitations such as unmet assumptions and the inability to handle time-dependent variables.

A Comparative Study of Hospitalization Mortality Rates between General and Emergency Hospitalized Patients Using Survival Analysis.

Background/objectives: In Korea's emergency medical system, when an emergency patient arises, patients receive on-site treatment and care during transport at the pre-hospital stage, followed by inpatient treatment upon hospitalization. From the perspective of emergency patient management, it is critical to identify the high death rate of patients with certain conditions in the emergency room. Therefore, it is necessary to compare and analyze the determinants of the death rate of patients admitted via the emergency room and generally hospitalized patients.

Surface Decoration of TiC Nanocrystals onto the Graphite Anode Enables Fast-Charging Lithium-Ion Batteries.

To significantly reduce the charging time of commercial lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), it is essential to control the surface properties of graphite anodes because the charging process involves sluggish interfacial kinetics between graphite and the electrolyte. For the effective surface modification of graphite, herein we demonstrate the surface decoration with titanium carbide (TiC) nanocrystals onto graphite particles via a simple wet-coating process. The high electrical conductivity, low Li adsorption energy, and small surface diffusion barrier of the TiC nanocrystals facilitate fast Li adsorption and migration in the graphite surface by reducing the overpotential upon the charging process.

Highly Conductive Solid-State Hybrid Electrolytes Operating at Subzero Temperatures.

We report a unique, highly conductive, dendrite-inhibited, solid-state polymer electrolyte platform that demonstrates excellent battery performance at subzero temperatures. A design based on functionalized inorganic nanoparticles with interconnected mesopores that contain surface nitrile groups is the key to this development. Solid-state hybrid polymer electrolytes based on succinonitrile (SN) electrolytes and porous nanoparticles were fabricated via a simple UV-curing process.

A pH-responsive molecular switch with tricolor luminescence.

We developed a new ratiometric pH sensor based on poly(N-phenylmaleimide) (PPMI)-containing block copolymer that emits three different fluorescent colors depending on the pH. The strong solvatochromism and tautomerism of the PPMI derivatives enabled precise pH sensing for almost the entire range of the pH scale. Theoretical calculations have predicted largely dissimilar band gaps for the keto, enol, and enolate tautomers of PPMI owing to low-dimensional conjugation effects.

Blue-emitting self-assembled polymer electrolytes for fast, sensitive, label-free detection of Cu(II) ions in aqueous media.

We have developed a light-emitting material based on nonconjugated block copolymers that contain polystyrene sulfonate (PSS) chains. The confinement of the PSS chains within nanosized domains appeared to be a powerful means of achieving enhanced fluorescence signals. High fluorescence quantum yield, with a maximum value of 37%, was obtained by adjusting the types of self-assembled morphologies of PSS-containing block copolymers; in contrast, the fluorescence quantum yield was merely 5% for the PSS homopolymer lacking organization.

Binder-free Ge nanoparticles-carbon hybrids for anode materials of advanced lithium batteries with high capacity and rate capability.

We present a facile synthetic route toward binder-free, highly-dispersed Ge nanoparticles in carbon matrices using one-step pyrolysis of self-assembled Ge-polymer hybrids. 3-Dimensionally arranged Ge-carbon exhibits remarkably enhanced cycling properties and rate capability compared with carbon sheathed Ge lacking organization.

Clinical aspects of pregnancy and delivery in patients with chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP).

Background: Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a condition that often develops in young women and, consequently, physicians should frequently manage and monitor pregnant patients with this disorder.

Methods: We reviewed the charts of 30 women with chronic ITP delivered in 31 pregnancies from January 1995 to December 2003.

Results: Fifteen patients were diagnosed with ITP before pregnancy and sixteen patients were diagnosed during pregnancy.

Thymidylate synthase, thymidine phosphorylase, VEGF and p53 protein expression in primary colorectal cancer for predicting response to 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy.

Purpose: In the treatment of advanced metastatic colorectal cancer, several new agents, such as irinotecan and oxaliplatin, have been developed, which have improved both disease free and overall survivals. Among these agents, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) still remains one of the most active agents, and the selection of patients who can benefit from 5-FU-based chemotherapy is still important, as those unlikely to benefit could be spared the harmful side effects. The expression levels of thymidylate synthase (TS), thymidine phosphorylase (TP) and p53 have been known to be associated with the clinical response to 5-FU-based therapy as well as the prognosis, and that of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is associated with poor survival.

Phase II study of irinotecan, 5-fluorouracil, and leucovorin in relapsed or metastatic colorectal cancer as first-line therapy.

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and toxicity of biweekly irinotecan plus 5-fluorouracil (FU) and leucovorin (LV) in patients with relapsed or metastatic colorectal cancer.

Materials And Methods: Between March 2002 and May 2004, 24 patients with histologically confirmed relapsed or metastatic colorectal cancer were enrolled in this study. One chemotherapy cycle consisted of irinotecan 180 mg/m(2) on days 1 and 15; 5-FU 400 mg/m(2) bolus IV with 600 mg/m(2) by a 22 hour intravenous infusion on days 1, 2, 15 and 16; and leucovorin 20 mg/m(2) on days 1, 2, 15 and 16, every 4 weeks.

Combination chemotherapy of heptaplatin, paclitaxel and 5-fluorouracil in patients with advanced gastric cancer: a pilot study.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of heptaplatin, paclitaxel, and 5-fluorouracil combination chemotherapy in patients with advanced gastric cancer.

Materials And Methods: Between July 2002 and September 2003, nineteen patients were enrolled in this study. Paclitaxel 135 mg/m(2) iv on day 1, heptaplatin 400 mg/m(2) iv on day 2 and 5-fluorouracil 800 mg/m(2) on day 2 approximately 4 were administered and the regimen was repeated every 3 weeks.

Radiofrequency ablation for metastatic hepatic tumor in colorectal carcinoma.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) to treat hepatic metastasis in patients with colorectal carcinoma.

Materials And Methods: Between May 1999 and July 2002, a total of 45 tumors in 24 patients with colorectal cancer were treated with RFA. Thirteen patients received systemic chemotherapy after the RFA procedure.

Outcome of adult severe or very severe aplastic anemia treated with immunosuppressive therapy compared with bone marrow transplantation: multicenter trial.

To compare survival rates and long-term complications after bone marrow transplantation (BMT) or treatment with immunosuppressive agents (ISA) in the management of adult aplastic anemia (AA) and to identify prognostic factors associated with improved survival, we evaluated 229 adult AA patients treated with ISA from 1990 to 2001 and compared the results with those for 64 BMT recipients. Of 156 patients with severe aplastic anemia (SAA) or very severe AA treated with ISA (antithymocyte globulin [ATG] or ATG plus cyclosporine), 46.8% showed complete or partial response and 7.

Absence of clinical prognostic value of vascular endothelial growth factor and microvessel density in multiple myeloma.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is considered a potent stimulator of angiogenesis. In multiple myeloma (MM), it has been reported that bone marrow angiogenesis parallels tumor progression and correlates with a poor prognosis. To investigate the role of angiogenesis in MM, we investigated VEGF expression and microvessel density (MVD) in the bone marrow of 75 MM patients by immunohistochemical methods.