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ACS Omega May 2024Two homologues in a series of quinary oxysulfides, LaCuSO ( = Cr or Fe), have been synthesized by solid-state synthesis in sealed ampules, and their structures are...
Two homologues in a series of quinary oxysulfides, LaCuSO ( = Cr or Fe), have been synthesized by solid-state synthesis in sealed ampules, and their structures are homologue to assume a novel crystal structure. X-ray diffraction analyses of single crystal and powder samples give a monoclinic lattice, described in the 2/ (No. 12) space group, with lattice parameters = 15.3853(5) Å, = 13.9729(5) Å, = 10.5074(4) Å, and β = 116.227(3)° for the Cr analogue and = 15.4303(2) Å, = 14.0033(2) Å, = 10.4909(2) Å, and β = 116.261(2)° for Fe. The crystal structure contains one-dimensional (1D) chains consisting of interconnected transition metal element () trimers, which are further arranged into two-dimensional (2D) layers. These spin-chain planes are interspaced with 1D chains of lanthanum-oxygen coordinations and an apparent disordered occupation of copper sites. Alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) magnetic susceptibility measurements show that the Cr and Fe analogues exhibit what is best described as spin-domain formation. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations suggest the formal oxidation state of the species is best represented in the form LaCuSO.
PubMed: 38799367
DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c00564 -
Gels (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024The application results of profile control and water plugging technology are highly related to the gelation time and strength of phenolic resin hydrogel. In this work, a...
The application results of profile control and water plugging technology are highly related to the gelation time and strength of phenolic resin hydrogel. In this work, a hydrogel solution was prepared by fully mixing the prepared polymer solution with a crosslinker. The static gelation process of PFR hydrogel in ampoule bottles and porous media was analyzed by changes in the viscosity and residual resistance coefficient. Then, the dynamic gelation of the PFR hydrogel in porous media was tested using a circulating flow device, and the changes in viscosity and injection pressure were analyzed during the dynamic gelation process. Finally, the effects of the polymer concentration and crosslinker concentration on dynamic gelation were analyzed. The initial gelation time and final gelation time in porous media were 1-1.5 times and 1.5-2 times those in ampoule bottles under static conditions, respectively. The initial dynamic gelation time in porous media was 2-2.5 times and 1.5-2 times the initial static gelation times in ampoule bottles and porous media, respectively. The final dynamic gelation time was four times and two times the initial static gelation times in ampoule bottles and porous media, respectively. The production after dynamic gelation in porous media comprised hydrogel aggregates and water fluid, leading to a high injection pressure and low viscosity of the produced liquid. As the concentration of polymer and crosslinker increased, the dynamic gelation time was shortened and the gel strength was increased. In the dynamic gelation process in porous media, the phenol resin hydrogel could migrate deeply, but it was limited by the concentrations of the polymer and crosslinker. The results of subsequent water flooding showed that the polymer hydrogel had a good plugging ability after dynamic gelation. The deep reservoir could only be blocked off in the subsequent water flooding process when the migration of hydrogel happened in the dynamic gelation process.
PubMed: 38786242
DOI: 10.3390/gels10050325 -
Inorganic Chemistry May 2024Transition metal (TM) sulfides belong to the class of 2D materials with a wide application range. Various methods, including solvothermal, hydrothermal, chemical vapor...
Transition metal (TM) sulfides belong to the class of 2D materials with a wide application range. Various methods, including solvothermal, hydrothermal, chemical vapor deposition, and quartz ampoule-based approaches, have been employed for the synthesis of TM sulfides. Some of them face limitations due to the low stability of TM sulfides and their susceptibility to oxidation, and others require more sophisticated equipment or complex and rare precursors or are not scalable. In this work, we propose an alternative approach for the synthesis of 2D TM sulfides by sulfurization of corresponding metal oxides in the vapor of CS at elevated temperature. Subsequent treatment in liquid nitrogen allows exfoliation of created sulfides to a 2D structure. A proposed approach was successfully applied to nine transition metals: Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, and W. The resulting materials were extensively characterized using various analytical techniques with a focus on their crystalline structure and 2D nature. Our approach offers several advantages including the use of simple precursors (CS and metal oxides), universality (in all cases, the sulfides were obtained), equipment simplicity (tube furnace and quartz reactor), short preparation time (3 h), and the ability of morphology and phase tuning (in particular cases) of the created materials by adjusting the temperature. In addition, gram-scale bulk materials can be obtained in the entry-level laboratories using the proposed approach.
PubMed: 38655681
DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.4c00475 -
IUCrData Mar 2024Neodymium(III) -oxidotungstate(VI) was synthesized as a side-product in an unsuccessful synthesis attempt at fluoride derivatives of neodymium tungstate in fused silica...
Neodymium(III) -oxidotungstate(VI) was synthesized as a side-product in an unsuccessful synthesis attempt at fluoride derivatives of neodymium tungstate in fused silica ampoules, using neodymium(III) oxide, neodymium(III) fluoride and tungsten trioxide. Violet, platelet-shaped single crystals of the title compound emerged of the bulk, which crystallize in the defect scheelite type with a trigonal dodeca-hedral coordination of oxide anions around the Nd cations and the hexa-valent tungsten cations situated in the centers of oxide tetra-hedra.
PubMed: 38586517
DOI: 10.1107/S2414314624001755 -
Geriatric Orthopaedic Surgery &... 2024There are multiple recommended protocols for Vitamin D (VitD) supplementation in elderly; however, only a few studies achieved to examine the role of VitD supplements...
BACKGROUND
There are multiple recommended protocols for Vitamin D (VitD) supplementation in elderly; however, only a few studies achieved to examine the role of VitD supplements before intertrochanteric fracture surgery on mortality and complications after surgery.
METHODS
This single-center block-randomized double-blinded trial was conducted on 80 patients with intertrochanteric fractures and a sufficient level of 25 (OH) VitD. The intervention group received an intramuscular 300,000 IU VitD ampule before surgery. The primary outcome was a 6-month mortality rate, and the secondary outcomes were 1- and 2-year mortality rates and Harris Hip Score (HHS) in 6, 12, and 24 months after surgery. Chi-square, t-test, repeated measure ANOVA, and Cox regression survival model was used for statistical analysis.
RESULTS
40 patients were allocated to each group. Demographic, clinical characteristics, and preoperative evaluations were not significantly different between the groups. Mortality rate 6-month after the surgery was 7.5% and 10% for the intervention and placebo groups respectively ( = .71), 15% and 12.5% at 1-year ( = .83), and 25% and 27.5% at 2-year ( .98). Based on the Cox regression model, only age was significantly associated with mortality (HR = 1.229, <.001). Significant HHS changes from baseline through 24 months after surgery were observed within both groups; however, mean differences were not significantly different between groups.
CONCLUSIONS
A single preoperative 300,000 IU VitD did not significantly impact 2-year survival and HHS in patients with intertrochanteric fractures and sufficient serum VitD level.
PubMed: 38495917
DOI: 10.1177/21514593231220769 -
Scientific Reports Mar 2024Persistent diarrhea is a severe gastroenteric disease with relatively high risk of pediatric mortality in developing countries. We conducted a randomized, double-blind,... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
Persistent diarrhea is a severe gastroenteric disease with relatively high risk of pediatric mortality in developing countries. We conducted a randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of liquid-form Bacillus clausii spore probiotics (LiveSpo CLAUSY; 2 billion CFU/5 mL ampoule) at high dosages of 4-6 ampoules a day in supporting treatment of children with persistent diarrhea. Our findings showed that B. clausii spores significantly improved treatment outcomes, resulting in a 2-day shorter recovery period (p < 0.05) and a 1.5-1.6 folds greater efficacy in reducing diarrhea symptoms, such as high frequency of bowel movement of ≥ 3 stools a day, presence of fecal mucus, and diapered infant stool scale types 4-5B. LiveSpo CLAUSY supportive treatment achieved 3 days (p < 0.0001) faster recovery from diarrhea disease, with 1.6-fold improved treatment efficacy. At day 5 of treatment, a significant decrease in blood levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-17, and IL-23 by 3.24% (p = 0.0409), 29.76% (p = 0.0001), and 10.87% (p = 0.0036), respectively, was observed in the Clausy group. Simultaneously, there was a significant 37.97% decrease (p = 0.0326) in the excreted IgA in stool at day 5 in the Clausy group. Overall, the clinical study demonstrates the efficacy of B. clausii spores (LiveSpo CLAUSY) as an effective symptomatic treatment and immunomodulatory agent for persistent diarrhea in children.Trial registration: NCT05812820.
Topics: Infant; Humans; Child; Bacillus clausii; Spores, Bacterial; Diarrhea; Cytokines; Probiotics
PubMed: 38494525
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-56627-9 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2024Catalytic activity of microbial communities maintains the services and functions of soils. Microbial communities require energy and carbon for microbial growth, which...
Catalytic activity of microbial communities maintains the services and functions of soils. Microbial communities require energy and carbon for microbial growth, which they obtain by transforming organic matter (OM), oxidizing a fraction of it and transferring the electrons to various terminal acceptors. Quantifying the relations between matter and energy fluxes is possible when key parameters such as reaction enthalpy (), energy use efficiency (related to enthalpy) (EUE), carbon use efficiency (CUE), calorespirometric ratio (CR), carbon dioxide evolution rate (CER), and the apparent specific growth rate () are known. However, the determination of these parameters suffers from unsatisfying accuracy at the technical (sample size, instrument sensitivity), experimental (sample aeration) and data processing levels thus affecting the precise quantification of relationships between carbon and energy fluxes. To address these questions under controlled conditions, we analyzed microbial turnover processes in a model soil amended using a readily metabolizable substrate (glucose) and three commercial isothermal microcalorimeters (MC-Cal/100P, TAM Air and TAM III) with different sample sizes meaning varying volume-related thermal detection limits () (0.05mW L). We conducted aeration experiments (aerated and un-aerated calorimetric ampoules) to investigate the influence of oxygen limitation and thermal perturbation on the measurement signal. We monitored the CER by measuring the additional heat caused by CO absorption using a NaOH solution acting as a CO trap. The range of errors associated with the calorimetrically derived , EUE, and CR was determined and compared with the requirements for quantifying CUE and the degree of anaerobicity (. Calorimetrically derived and EUE were independent of the instrument used. However, instruments with a low yielded the most accurate results. Opening and closing the ampoules for oxygen and CO exchange did not significantly affect metabolic heats. However, regular opening during calorimetrically derived CER measurements caused significant measuring errors due to strong thermal perturbation of the measurement signal. Comparisons between experimentally determined CR, CUE,, and modeling indicate that the evaluation of CR should be performed with caution.
PubMed: 38371938
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1321059 -
International Journal of Circumpolar... Dec 2024In very cold environments, it may be burdensome or impossible for the polar medic to prevent medicines from freezing. We sought to investigate whether orientation...
In very cold environments, it may be burdensome or impossible for the polar medic to prevent medicines from freezing. We sought to investigate whether orientation affected the risk that glass ampoules of 1 in 1000 adrenaline, an important emergency drug, would break during freezing and subsequent thawing. Ampoules of adrenaline were orientated either upright, horizontally or inverted. They were exposed to freezing temperatures (-25°C or -80°C) and then allowed to thaw. A crossover design was used whereby the orientation of unbroken ampoules was changed for the next trial. No ampoules broke when frozen at -25°C and then thawed. When this was repeated at -80°C, ampoules reliably broke unless they were upright with no liquid in the top part of the ampoule. Upright orientation prevents the breakage of glass ampoules of 1 in 1000 adrenaline rapidly frozen at -80°C. The polar medic may consider storing ampoules upright if they are to be exposed to very low temperatures.
Topics: Humans; Epinephrine; Temperature; Freezing; Glass
PubMed: 38290014
DOI: 10.1080/22423982.2024.2309756 -
Pain Physician Jan 2024In patients with severe cancer pain, systemic analgesics are often refractory or have limited application due to the side effects of opioids. In these cases, epidural... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
BACKGROUND
In patients with severe cancer pain, systemic analgesics are often refractory or have limited application due to the side effects of opioids. In these cases, epidural analgesia may be effective. However, data on the effects of epidural patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) on cancer pain are limited.
OBJECTIVES
To evaluate the analgesic efficacy of epidural PCA in patients with cancer pain through a retrospective chart review.
STUDY DESIGN
Retrospective analysis.
SETTING
A single academic center in Daegu, South Korea.
METHODS
The analgesic efficacy of epidural PCA on cancer pain was analyzed in patients who underwent epidural PCA using a disposable balloon pump with a flow regulator between 2012 and 2021. The pump was filled with a 600-mL mixture of 6 ampoules of 0.2% ropivacaine, 1 mg fentanyl, and normal saline. For the first use of epidural PCA, the basal rate, bolus dose, and lockout time were set as 4 mL/h, 2 mL, and 15 min, respectively. The basal rate was increased and decreased depending on the degree of pain relief effect and occurrence of side effects, respectively. To increase the usage time of epidural PCA and reduce the patient's cost burden, the fentanyl dose was increased by 1 mg when the disposable balloon pump was replaced with a new one after exhaustion of the drug if no side effects from the previous dose were observed. Analgesic efficacy was confirmed by comparing the number of types and the total amount of opioids used in patients before and after epidural PCA application in terms of the equivalent dose of oral morphine.
RESULTS
Epidural catheterization was performed 105 times, and PCA was refilled 257 times in 88 patients. On average, epidural catheterization was performed 1.2 ± 0.4 (1-3) times, and epidural PCA was refilled 3.2 ± 2.3 (1-11) times per patient. The mean duration of PCA use was 15.6 ± 13.4 (1-82) days. The mean number of opioid types used the day before the procedure and the mean smallest number of opioids used per day up to 5 days after the procedure were 3.4 ± 1.2 and 2.4 ± 1.4, respectively (P < 0.05). The total amount of opioids used the day before the procedure and the smallest total amount of opioids used per day up to 5 days after the procedure were converted into oral morphine equivalent doses, respectively, and the mean doses were 449.5 ± 555.9 and 331.9 ± 462.8 mg, respectively (P < 0.05).
LIMITATIONS
The study results are the author's observations from a single center. Epidural PCA was performed only on hospitalized patients. Individual differences were not considered in the composition of drugs for PCA. Transmucosal immediate-release fentanyl was not accurately converted to oral morphine; thus, it was excluded from the analysis of the total amount used, and the effect of adjuvant analgesics could not be considered.
CONCLUSION
Epidural PCA using subcutaneous tunneling is a useful cancer pain control method. Furthermore, it can be safely used for a longer duration owing to its low infection risk.
Topics: Humans; Analgesia, Patient-Controlled; Cancer Pain; Retrospective Studies; Analgesics; Analgesics, Opioid; Fentanyl; Pain; Morphine Derivatives; Neoplasms
PubMed: 38285038
DOI: No ID Found -
The Journal of Allergy and Clinical... May 2024Food allergy (FA), which is a condition that has no effective cure and can result in severe life-threatening allergic reactions, remains a global public health concern;...
BACKGROUND
Food allergy (FA), which is a condition that has no effective cure and can result in severe life-threatening allergic reactions, remains a global public health concern; however, little is known about how FAs are currently managed in the Asia-Pacific region.
OBJECTIVE
The main objective of this survey was to evaluate the epidemiology of FA, as well as the availability of resources and practices for management of FA and anaphylaxis by health care providers across Asia.
METHODS
From June 2022 to September 2022, a questionnaire-based survey comprising 66 questions was electronically sent to member societies of the Asia Pacific Association of Allergy Asthma and Clinical Immunology by using Survey Monkey.
RESULTS
A total of 20 responses were received from 15 member countries and territories. Compared with the pediatric data, there was a lack of prevalence data for FA in adults. Except for Australia and Japan, most regions had between 0.1 and 0.5 allergists per 100,000 population and some had fewer than 0.1 allergists per 100,000 population. The perceived rate of FA in regions with a short supply of allergists was high. Although specific IgE tests and oral food challenges were available in all regions, the median wait time for oral food challenges at government facilities was 37 days (interquartile range = 10.5-60 days). Seven regions still relied on prescriptions of ampules and syringes of injectable adrenaline, and adrenaline autoinjectors were not accessible in 4 regions. Oral immunotherapy as FA treatment was available in half of the surveyed countries and territories.
CONCLUSIONS
Our study offers a cross-sectional evaluation of the management practices for FA in each Asia Pacific Association of Allergy Asthma and Clinical Immunology member country or territory. Urgent actions are required to enhance allergy services, improve the accessibility and affordability of adrenaline autoinjectors, and conduct robust epidemiologic studies.
PubMed: 38283085
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacig.2023.100202