714). Using a cut-off value of 180 pg/ml, the sensitivity and specificity of sTREM-1 were respectively 58% and 89%. Logistic regression analysis revealed that Mycobacterium

avium complex, M. kansasii, positive sputum acid-fast smear and higher serum sTREM-1 LGX818 level were independent risk factors for NTM-LD. Age >= 65 years and higher serum sTREM-1 level were associated with worse 6-month survival.

CONCLUSION: in patients with respiratory specimens that are culture-positive for NTM with clinical suspicion of NTM-LD, scrum sTREM-1 level measurements may be helpful in diagnosing and predicting outcome for NTM-LD.”
“Ebstein’s anomaly is frequently detected before birth, with prenatal detection accounting for the majority of cases in the current population. This study aimed to identify the outcome variables

among these infants. The medical records of 59 patients with neonatal Ebstein’s anomaly managed at the Asan Medical Center between January, 2001 and June, 2012 were investigated retrospectively. In 46 cases, the diagnosis was made prenatally. Surgical/interventional procedures were performed for 27 of the analyzed patients. Biventricular repair was successful for 12 patients but not for 9 patients with pulmonary atresia. The median follow-up period was 1.96 years (range 0.0-10.4 years). The overall mortality rate was 23.7 % (14/59). Of the 14 deaths, 5 occurred within several hours after birth. The 1- and 5-year survival rates were 78.6 and 76.3 %, respectively. Univariate analysis identified several variables related to the time to death: fetal distress Entrectinib ic50 (p = 0.002), prematurity (p = 0.036), low birth weight (p = 0.003), diameter of the atrial septal defect (p = 0.022), and pulmonary stenosis/atresia (p = 0.001). Neither the BAY 73-4506 datasheet Carpentier classification (p = 0.175) nor the Celermajer index (p = 0.958) was a significant variable. According to the multivariate analysis, fetal distress (p = 0.004) and pulmonary atresia/stenosis (p < 0.001) were significant determinants of outcome. In conclusion, fetal distress

and pulmonary atresia/stenosis are significant predictors of mortality in the current population of patients with neonatal Ebstein’s anomaly. A close cooperation of associated clinicians is required for an improvement in outcome. To establish a better surgical strategy for patients with Ebstein’s anomaly and pulmonary atresia, studies of larger populations are required.”
“This work reports for the first time the removal of 17 alpha-ethynylestradiol (EE2), a synthetic estrogen hormone, from secondary treated effluents by electrochemical oxidation. Experiments were conducted in a single compartment reactor comprising a boron-doped diamond (BDD) anode and a zirconium cathode. EE2, in the range 100-800 mu g L-1, was spiked in the post-chlorination effluent of a municipal treatment plant and oxidized at 0.9-2.6mA cm(-2) current density. Complete degradation of 100 mu g L-1 EE2 was achieved in 7 min at 2.