Ultra-fast fabrication of MXene/PVA composite films through glutaraldehyde induced microgel framework.

In this study, Ti3C2Tx/PVA microgels were assembled through the introduction of glutaraldehyde and PVA into Ti3C2Tx colloids. Subsequently, the microgels underwent vacuum-assisted filtration (VAF) and drying processes to fabricate Ti3C2Tx/PVA self-assembled films (MPGF). This research effectively reduced VAF time by introducing a small amount of glutaraldehyde. The findings demonstrate that glutaraldehyde's chemical crosslinking prompts the formation of temporary microgel frameworks between Ti3C2Tx and PVA, enhancing water molecule transfer during VAF and improving film formation efficiency. Further analysis links VAF time is related to the particle size distribution of the microgels. Adjusting crosslinking and PVA quantity alters microgel crystalline structure and -OH hydrogen bonds, affecting particle size and VAF time. Additionally, films produced via rapid VAF exhibit promising mechanical properties for practical applications.

Associated Outcomes of Different Intravenous Antibiotics Combined with 2% Mupirocin Ointment in the Treatment of Pediatric Patients with Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome.

Purpose: To compare treatment duration, influencing factors, and costs among intravenous antibiotic groups combined with 2% mupirocin ointment for treating staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS). Patients and Methods: Sex, age, onset days before admission, febrile status, white blood cell (WBC) count, and C-reactive protein (CRP) level were recorded as baseline characteristics for 253 included patients. The antibiotic sensitivity results were statistically compared by Cochran's Q test. Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to compare days and the total costs of hospitalization with different intravenous antibiotic applications. Mann-Whitney U-tests or Spearman's rank correlation tests were used for the univariate analysis. Finally, a multivariate linear regression model was employed to determine the variables with statistical significance. Results: The sensitivity rates of oxacillin (84.62%), vancomycin (100%), and mupirocin (100%) were significantly higher than those of clindamycin (7.69%) (p<0.0001). The duration of intravenous ceftriaxone administration was significantly longer than that of amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, cefathiamidine, and cefuroxime (p<0.01). The total hospitalization costs for cefathiamidine were significantly higher than those for amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and cefuroxime (p<0.05). According to the multiple linear regression, ages ≥60 months old were correlated with shorter treatment duration (ß=-1.48, [95% CI: -2.29, -0.66] for amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, and ß=-1.44, [95% CI: -2.06, -0.83] for cefathiamidine, and ß=-0.96, [95% CI: -1.58, -0.34] for cefuroxime) (all p<0.01). In multivariate analysis for cefathiamidine, higher WBC count (ß=0.05, [95% CI: 0.01, 0.10], p<0.05) and CRP level (ß=1.12, [95% CI: 0.14, 2.10], p<0.05) were associated with longer treatment course. Conclusion: Oxacillin resistance was rare, and clindamycin resistance was high in pediatric patients with SSSS in our district. Intravenous amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and cefuroxime combined with topical mupirocin were favorable due to a shorter intravenous treatment course and lower costs. Younger age, elevated WBC count, and CRP levels could indicate a longer course of treatment with intravenous antibiotics.

The Effect of Amoxicillin Pre-Exposure on Treatment Outcomes and Antimicrobial Susceptibility in Patients with Urogenital Chlamydia trachomatis Infection.

Purpose: We investigated the influence of amoxicillin pre-exposure on treatment outcomes, Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) culture, the presence of drug-resistant genes, minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs), and fractional inhibitory concentrations (FICs) in CT clinical strains. Additionally, we explored the effect of different antimicrobial combinations on CT. Patients and Methods: Clinical data of 62 patients with CT infection were recorded. Of these, 33 had pre-exposure to amoxicillin and 29 did not. Among patients with pre-exposure, 17 received azithromycin and 16 received minocycline. Among the patients without pre-exposure, 15 received azithromycin and 14 received minocycline. All patients underwent microbiological cure follow-ups one month after completing the treatment. 23S rRNA gene mutations, acquisition of tet(M) and tet(C) were detected using reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) and PCR, respectively. The MICs and FICs of azithromycin, minocycline, and moxifloxacin, alone or in combination, were determined using the microdilution and checkerboard methods, respectively. Results: More cases of treatment failure occurred in pre-exposed patients, in both treatment groups (P <0.05). No 23S rRNA gene mutations or tet(M) and tet(C) acquisitions were found. More inclusion bodies were cultured from patients without amoxicillin pre-exposure than from those with pre-exposure (P <0.0001). The MICs of all antibiotics were higher in pre-exposed patients than in those without pre-exposure (P <0.01). The FICs of azithromycin plus moxifloxacin were lower than those of the other antibiotic combinations (P <0.0001). The synergy rate of azithromycin plus moxifloxacin was significantly higher than those of azithromycin plus minocycline and minocycline plus moxifloxacin (P <0.001). The FICs of all antibiotic combinations were comparable between isolates from the two patient groups (all P >0.05). Conclusion: Pre-exposure to amoxicillin in CT patients may inhibit CT growth and decrease sensitivity of CT strains to antibiotics. Azithromycin plus moxifloxacin may be a promising treatment regimen for genital CT infections with treatment failure.

Solitary Interdigital Condyloma Latum in a Female Adolescent: A Case Report of an Unusual Form of Secondary Syphilis.

Condylomata lata are flat-topped, moist papules or plaques usually found in the anogenital area as cutaneous manifestations of secondary syphilis. Here, we present a unique case of a solitary interdigital condyloma latum of secondary syphilis in a 16-year-old female sex worker without other cutaneous findings. Sexual contact history, histopathology, including direct detection of Treponema pallidum, and serological tests were essential for the diagnosis of this case. The patient reached serological cure with two doses of intramuscularly delivered penicillin G benzathine. Owing to the dramatic rise in the incidence of primary and secondary syphilis, medical workers should be aware of the atypical skin manifestations of secondary syphilis in adolescents who are at risk of acquiring sexually transmitted diseases to avoid the progression to late syphilis and further transmission to sexual partners.

Hidrotic ectodermal dysplasia in a Chinese pedigree: A case report.

BACKGROUND: We report on a large family of Chinese Han individuals with hidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (HED) with a variation in GJB6 (c.31G>A). The patients in the family had a triad of clinical manifestations of varying degrees. Although the same variation locus have been reported, the clinical manifestations of this family were difficult to distinguish from those of congenital thick nail disorder, palmoplantar keratosis, and congenital hypotrichosis. CASE SUMMARY: This investigation involved a large Chinese family of 46 members across five generations and included 12 patients with HED. The proband (IV4) was a male patient with normal sweat gland function and dental development, no skeletal dysplasia, no cognitive disability, and no hearing impairments. His parents were not consanguineously married. Physical examination of the proband revealed thinning hair and thickened grayish-yellow nails and toenails with some longitudinal ridges, in addition to mild bilateral palmoplantar hyperkeratosis. GJB6, GJB2, and GJA1 have been reported to be the causative genes of HED; therefore, we subjected the patient's samples to Sanger sequencing of these three genes. In this family, the variation locus was at GJB6 (c.31G>A, p.Gly11Arg). Overexpression vectors of wild-type GJB6 and its variants were established and transfected into HaCaT cell models, and the related mRNA and protein expression changes were determined using real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot, respectively. CONCLUSION: We report another HED phenotype associated with GJB6 variations, which can help clinicians to diagnose HED despite its varying presentations.

Reduction of liquid terminated-carboxyl fluoroelastomers using NaBH4/SmCl3.

Using a simple one-pot method, the reduction of liquid terminated-carboxyl fluoroelastomers (LTCFs) by sodium borohydride and samarium chloride (NaBH4/SmCl3) was successfully realized and liquid terminated-hydroxyl fluoroelastomers (LTHFs) were obtained. The structure and functional group content of LTCFs and LTHFs were analyzed by FTIR, 1H-NMR, 19F-NMR and chemical titration. The results showed that -C[double bond, length as m-dash]C- and carboxyl groups of LTCFs were reduced efficiently, the reduction rate reached 92% under optimum reaction conditions. Compared with other frequently-used metal chlorides, SmCl3 with a high coordination number could increase the reduction activity of NaBH4 more effectively and the reduction mechanism was explored.

Accurate Modeling of Dark-Field Scattering Spectra of Plasmonic Nanostructures.

Dark-field microscopy is a widely used tool for measuring the optical resonance of plasmonic nanostructures. However, current numerical methods for simulating the dark-field scattering spectra were carried out with plane wave illumination either at normal incidence or at an oblique angle from one direction. In actual experiments, light is focused onto the sample through an annular ring within a range of glancing angles. In this paper, we present a theoretical model capable of accurately simulating the dark-field light source with an annular ring. Simulations correctly reproduce a counterintuitive blue shift in the scattering spectra from gold nanodisks with a diameter beyond 140 nm. We believe that our proposed simulation method can be potentially applied as a general tool capable of simulating the dark-field scattering spectra of plasmonic nanostructures as well as other dielectric nanostructures with sizes beyond the quasi-static limit.

Determination and characterization of two degradant impurities in bendamustine hydrochloride drug product.

Bendamustine hydrochloride is an alkylating antitumor agent with a good efficacy in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (B-NHL). Under the stressed conditions, two degradant impurities in bendamustine hydrochloride drug product were detected by high-performance liquid chromatography. These two degradant impurities were isolated from preparative liquid chromatography, and were further characterized using Q-TOF/MS and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Based on the MS and NMR spectral data, they were characterized as 4-[5-(2-chloro-ethylamino)-1-methyl-1H-benzoimidazol-2-yl] butyric acid hydrochloride (impurity-A) and 4-{5-[[2-(4-{5-[bis-(2-chloroethyl) amino]-1-methyl-1H-benzoimidazol-2-yl}-butyryloxy)-ethyl]-(2-chloroethyl)amino]-1-methyl-3a, 7a-dihydro-1H-benzoimidazol-2-yl} butyric acid hydrochloride (impurity-B). Isolation, structural elucidation of these two impurities by spectral data (Q-TOF/MS, (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, D2O exchange NMR and two-dimensional NMR) and the probable formation mechanism of the impurities were discussed.

Photoluminescence via gap plasmons between single silver nanowires and a thin gold film.

In this work, we investigate the one-photon photoluminescence from a system consisting of an Ag nanowire on an Au film with a ~6 nm dielectric spacer that supports a localized resonance known as the gap plasmon mode. Although the Ag nanowire and Au film exhibit weak photoluminescence on their own, the combined system produces an enhanced PL emission. Our analysis reveals that the strong PL emission in this system was due to the enhanced laser absorption in, and PL emission from Au, with the Ag nanowire acting as an efficient antenna. The PL due to the gap mode is sensitive to the polarization of the laser excitation with respect to the nanowire orientation, and shows a clear dipolar emission profile. PL emission wavelengths were found to depend only on the nanowire width, and independent of its length. These observations were supported by simulation results indicating that gap plasmons are excited by light polarized transverse to the nanowire length.

Underwater superoleophilicity to superoleophobicity: role of trapped air.

The interesting oil-wetting behavior to a superamphiphobic surface in water has been investigated. We demonstrated that the trapped air can tune the underwater wettability of the surface, changing from superoleophilic to superoleophobic. The trapped air in the grooves of the superamphiphobic surface can cause the significant change of the three-phase contact line (TCL).

Rh(II)-catalyzed Sommelet-Hauser rearrangement.

Catalytic Sommelet-Hauser rearrangement is reported. The Rh(II)-catalyzed reaction of aryldiazoacetates with ethyl benzylthioacetate affords Sommelet-Hauser rearrangement products in good to excellent yields. This reaction provides a reliable and efficient way to introduce a substituent to the ortho position of arylacetates.