A series of new emissive group 11 transition metal d(10)-complexes 1-8 bearing functionalized 2-pyridyl pyrrolide together with phosphine ancillary such as bis[2-(diphenylphosphino)phenyl] ether (POP) or PPh(3) are reported. The titled complexes are categorized into three classes, i.e. Cu(I) complexes (1-3), Ag(I) complexes (4 and 5), and Au(I) metal complexes (6-8). Via combination of experimental and theoretical approaches, the group 11 d(10)-metal ions versus their structural variation, stability, and corresponding photophysical properties have been investigated in a systematic and comprehensive manner. The results conclude that, along the same family, how much a metal d-orbital is involved in the electronic transition plays a more important role than how heavy the metal atom is, i.e. the atomic number, in enhancing the spin-orbit coupling. The metal ions with and without involvement of a d orbital in the lowest lying electronic transition are thus classified into internal and external heavy atoms, respectively. Cu(I) complexes 1-3 show an appreciable metal d contribution (i.e., MLCT) in the lowest lying transition, so that Cu(I) acts as an internal heavy atom. Despite its smallest atomic number among group 11 elements, Cu(I) complexes 1-3 exhibit a substantially larger rate of intersystem crossing (ISC) and phosphorescence radiative decay rate constant (k(r)(p)) than those of Ag(I) (4 and 5) and Au(I) (6-8) complexes possessing pure π → π* character in the lowest transition. Since Ag(I) and Au(I) act only as external heavy atoms in the titled complexes, the spin-orbit coupling is mainly governed by the atomic number, such that complexes associated with the heavier Au(I) (6-8) show faster ISC and larger k(r)(p) than the Ag(I) complexes (4 and 5). This trend of correlation should be universal and has been firmly supported by experimental data in combination with empirical derivation. Along this line, Cu(I) complex 1 exhibits intensive phosphorescence (Φ(p) = 0.35 in solid state) and has been successfully utilized for fabrication of OLEDs, attaining peak EL efficiencies of 6.6%, 20.0 cd/A, and 14.9 lm/W for the forward directions.

Calculating the transtubular potassium concentration gradient and potassium-creatinine ratio provided a simple and reliable test to distinguish HPP from non-HPP. Minimal potassium chloride supplementation should be given to avoid rebound hyperkalemia in patients with HPP.

We suggest that IBD is associated with an increased risk of PD. Patients with IBD should be aware of the potential risk for PD development.

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Patients who received ND feedings achieved nutritional goals earlier than those who received NG feeding. ND feeding group also has a lower rate of vomiting and VAP in the medical ICU setting.

Combining BtxA and mCIMT is an effective and safe intervention for improving spasticity and motor function in chronic stroke patients. The results are promising enough to justify further studies. We recommend future research to address the likely need for including rehabilitation with BtxA to improve function in patients with poststroke spasticity.

Carbapenemases, with versatile hydrolytic capacity against β-lactams, are now an important cause of resistance of Gram-negative bacteria. The genes encoding for the acquired carbapenemases are associated with a high potential for dissemination. In addition, infections due to Gram-negative bacteria with acquired carbapenemase production would lead to high clinical mortality rates. Of the acquired carbapenemases, Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (Ambler class A), Verona integron-encoded metallo-β-lactamase (Ambler class B), New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (Ambler class B) and many OXA enzymes (OXA-23-like, OXA-24-like, OXA-48-like, OXA-58-like, class D) are considered to be responsible for the worldwide resistance epidemics. As compared with monotherapy with colistin or tigecycline, combination therapy has been shown to effectively lower case-fatality rates. However, development of new antibiotics is crucial in the present pandrug-resistant era.

Natriuretic peptides (NPs) have been found to be useful markers in differentiating acute dyspneic patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) and emerged as potent prognostic markers for patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). The best-established and widely used clinical application of BNP and NT-proBNP testing is for the emergent diagnosis of CHF in patients presenting with acute dyspnea. Nevertheless, elevated NPs levels can be found in many circumstances involving left ventricular (LV) dysfunction or hypertrophy; right ventricular (RV) dysfunction secondary to pulmonary diseases; cardiac inflammatory or infectious diseases; endocrinology diseases and high output status without decreased LV ejection fraction. Even in the absence of significant clinical evidence of volume overload or LV dysfunction, markedly elevated NP levels can be found in patients with multiple comorbidities with a certain degree of prognostic value. Potential clinical applications of NPs are expanded accompanied by emerging reports regarding screening the presence of secondary cardiac dysfunction; monitoring the therapeutic responses, risk stratifications and providing prognostic values in many settings. Clinicians need to have expanded knowledge regarding the interpretation of elevated NPs levels and potential clinical applications of NPs. Clinicians should recognize that currently the only reasonable application for routine practice is limited to differentiation of acute dyspnea, rule-out-diagnostic-tests, monitoring of therapeutic responses and prognosis of acute or decompensated CHF. The rationales as well the potential applications of NPs in these settings are discussed in this review article.