Highlights Initial blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and D-dimer levels were associated with mortality in COVID-19 patients. Combination of BUN ≥ 4.6 mmol/L and D-dimer ≥ 0.845 μg/mL can identify patients at high risk of in-hospital mortality. Development of a nomogram model based on initial BUN and D-dimer levels. The nomogram could be a suitable and useful individualised tool to predict mortality in COVID-19 patients.

The CC electrode exhibits larger and faster thermal diffusion profiles resulting in normal histological appearances in the gaps between CC electrode by protecting tissue from mechanical and thermal damage.

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The present study investigates the relationship between bio-impedance and burst pressure of colorectal anastomosis created by radiofrequency (RF)-induced tissue fusion. Colorectal anastomosis were created with ex vivo porcine colorectal segments, during which 5 levels of compression pressure were applied by a custom-made bipolar prototype, with 5 replicate experiments at each compression pressure. Instant anastomotic tensile strength was assessed by burst pressure. Bio-impedance of fused tissue was measured by Impedance Analyzer across frequency that 100 Hz to 3 MHz. Statistical analysis shows only a weak correlation between bio-impedance modulus and burst pressures at frequency of 445 kHz ( ρ s = −0.426, P = 0.099 > 0.05). In contrast, results demonstrated a highly significant negative correlation between reactance modulus and burst pressures ( ρ s = −0.812, P = 0.000 < 0.05). The decrease in mean reactance modulus with increasing burst pressures was highly significant (P = 0.019 < 0.05). The observed strong negative correlation between reactance modulus and burst pressures at frequency of 445 kHz indicates that reactance is likely to be a good index for tensile strength of RF-induced colorectal anastomosis, and should be considered for inclusion in a feedback loops in devices design. Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine3 Contribute equally.