Existing status and future advancements of adulteration detection techniques in herbal products.

Background: Herbal products have been commonly used all over the world for centuries. Its products have gained remarkable acceptance as therapeutic agents for a variety of disorders. However, following recent research disclosing discrepancies between labeling and actual components of herbal products, there is growing concern about the efficacy, quality and safety of the products.

Acute pericarditis: a review of current diagnostic and management guidelines.

This review examined the relevance of chest pain, pericardial friction rub, pericardial effusion and ECG changes in regard to the diagnosis of acute pericarditis. It also assessed the evidence for the management and therapeutic guidelines, specifically nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), colchicine and corticosteroids. Overall, there appears to be a lack of research into pericarditis.

Revascularisation of left main stem disease: a prospective analysis of modern practice and outcomes in a non-surgical centre.

Purpose: In this study, we sought to prospectively analyse the management and long term outcomes associated with revascularisation of left main stem disease via percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in our centre.

Methods: This prospective study enrolled all patients with unprotected left main stem disease undergoing revascularisation from January 2013 to June 2014. Baseline characteristics, hospital presentation and hospital stay length were collected.

Anchor-balloon technique to facilitate stent delivery via the GuideLiner catheter in percutaneous coronary intervention.

Aim: The GuideLiner (GL) is a widely used catheter primarily in complex percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Deep seating of the GL and distal stent placement may be facilitated by the anchor-balloon technique (ABT).

Methods: We aimed to prospectively analyze procedural details, technical success, complications and in-hospital outcome in patients who underwent PCI using the GL catheter and the ABT.

Early histopathological changes in new-onset diabetes after kidney transplantation.

Background: New-onset diabetes after transplantation (NODAT) is one of the most common complications after kidney transplantation.

Methods: Patients were randomly assigned to receive cyclosporine A-based or tacrolimus-based immunosuppression. Fasting and oral glucose tolerance tests were performed, and the patients were assigned to one of the following 3 groups, on the basis of the results: normal, impaired fasting glucose/impaired glucose tolerance, or NODAT.