Aims To explore whether educational information delivered via a medical smartphone app in conjunction with verbal and written instructions, compared with traditional booklet‐based and verbal instructions, could improve the quality of bowel preparation for hospitalized patients undergoing colonoscopy. Design A prospective, single‐blinded, randomized controlled trial. Methods We performed a prospective, endoscopist‐blinded, randomized, controlled trial at Qilu Hospital of Shandong University in China between October 2017–March 2018. Inpatients who are eligible, based on the inclusion criteria, were randomized into two groups. Both groups received oral and written instructions for bowel preparation. In addition, the smartphone app group received instructions through a medical smartphone app. The primary outcome was the rate of adequate bowel preparation according to the Boston bowel preparation scale score. The secondary outcomes included patient compliance with instructions on how to take laxatives, side effects and rates of adenoma detection. Results A total of 293 patients were enrolled in this study. Demographic characteristics were comparable between the two groups. The χ2 test showed that the medical smartphone app group showed significant improvement in the rate of adequate bowel preparation compared with the control group (77.2% vs. 56.8%, p < .001). The adenoma detection rate (ADR) was significantly higher in the smartphone app group than in the control group (21.4% vs. 12.8%, p = .029) based on the χ2 test. The rates of incomplete compliance with instructions were 15.17% in the smartphone app group and 33.11% in the control group (p < .001) based on the χ2 test. The overall adverse events were 23.45% and 37.84% in the smartphone app and control groups, respectively (p = .008), based on the χ2 test. Conclusion Instructions provided via a mobile social media app in conjunction with traditional verbal and written methods could improve the quality of bowel preparation, increase the ADR and decrease adverse effects. App instructions could be an effective addition to oral and written instructions for inpatients undergoing colonoscopy. Impact This study suggested that clinical personnel could deliver information via smartphone as a powerful addition to traditional educational methods that could improve work efficiency and help patients increase the success rate of bowel preparation. Trial registration: Chinese clinical trial registration number: ChiCTR1900024666.

Cover: This work presents a digital synthesis technology for precise control of polymer topology by model‐based computer‐programmed monomer feeding strategy. A series of hyperbranched polymers with the designed uniform branching density distributions have been synthesized. Further details can be found in the article by Wen‐Jun Wang, Shiping Zhu* and co‐workers http://doi.wiley.com/10.1002/mren.201400046.

Relative humidity (RH) and air gap size are two characteristic indices of clothing microclimate. The current thermal protective performance (TPP) tests cannot evaluate protective performance of fabrics under a microclimate with high temperature and humidity. In this study, a newly modified TPP test apparatus was applied to investigate the effect of RH in a microclimate on heat transfer of fabrics exposed to flash fires. Air gap heights from 0 to 24 mm with increments of 3 mm were employed. Three microclimates with different RH were preconditioned respectively. The results indicate that the RH in a microclimate significantly improves thermal protection of fabric with various air gaps. Under 35% RH, the TPP obviously increases with the air gap up to 15 mm and then the increment becomes a little lower; under humidified conditions (65% or 95% RH), it becomes higher substantially with air gap height increasing until 12 mm, subsequently it decreases or increases alternatively if the size keeps increasing. The positive effect of air gap with small size on TPP of fabrics is enhanced due to the increase of the vapor in the air; however, the positive effect of air gap with large size is interfered by the RH. It is indicated that around 12-15 mm was a critical air gap size under 35% RH, while about 12 mm was a key air gap size for a damp microclimate with 65% or 95% RH.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) decreases the quality of life of the affected individuals. The incidence of PD is expected to increase given the growing aging population. Motor symptoms associated with PD render the patients unable to self-care and function properly. Given that several drugs have been developed to control motor symptoms, highly sensitive scales for clinical evaluation of drug efficacy are needed. Among such scales, the objective and continuous evaluation of wearable devices is increasingly utilized by clinicians and patients. Several electronic technologies have revolutionized the clinical monitoring of PD development, especially its motor symptoms. Here, we review and discuss the recent advances in the development of wearable devices for bradykinesia, tremor, gait, and myotonia. Our aim is to capture the experiences of patients and clinicians, as well as expand our understanding on the application of wearable technology. In so-doing, we lay the foundation for further research into the use of wearable technology in the management of PD.