Vibrio vulnificus-Induced Necrotizing Fasciitis Complicated by Multidrug-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Infection: Efficacy of Chemical Necrectomy Using 40% Benzoic Acid.

Necrotizing fasciitis is a life-threatening skin and soft tissue infection associated with high morbidity and mortality in adult patients. This infection can present as either type 1 infection caused by a mixed microflora (Streptococci, Enterobacteriacae, Bacteroides sp., and Peptostreptococcus sp.), most commonly developing in patients after surgery or in diabetic patients, or as type 2. The latter type is monomicrobial and, usually, caused by group A Streptococci. Rarely, this type can be also caused by other pathogens, such as Vibrio vulnificus. V vulnificus is a small mobile Gram-negative rod capable of causing 3 types of infections in humans-gastroenteritis, primary infection of the vascular bed, and wound infections. If infecting a wound, V vulnificus can cause a life-threatening condition-necrotizing fasciitis. We present a rare case of necrotizing fasciitis developing after an insect bite followed by exposure to the seawater. Rapid propagation of the infectious complication in the region of the right lower limb led to a serious consideration of the necessity of amputation. Due to the clearly demarcated necroses and secondary skin and soft tissue infection caused by a multiresistant strain of Acinetobacter baumannii, we, however, resorted to the use of selective chemical necrectomy using 40% benzoic acid-a unique application in this kind of condition. The chemical necrectomy was successful, relatively gentle and thanks to its selectivity, vital parts of the limb remained preserved and could have been subsequently salvaged at minimum blood loss. Moreover, the antimicrobial effect of benzoic acid led to rapid decolonization of the necrosis and wound bed preparation, which allowed us to perform defect closure using split-thickness skin grafts. The patient subsequently healed without further complications and returned to normal life.

Properties and Composition of Products from Hydrotreating of Straight-Run Gas Oil and Its Mixtures with Light Cycle Oil Over Sulfidic Ni-Mo/Al2O3 Catalyst.

Straight-run gas oil (SRGO) and its mixtures with 5, 10, 15, and 20 wt % light cycle oil (LCO) from fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) were hydrotreated on a commercial NiMo/Al2O3 catalyst in a laboratory tubular reactor with the cocurrent flow of the raw material and hydrogen. The hydrotreating of the raw material was undertaken at a temperature of 350 °C, a pressure of 4 MPa, a weight hourly space velocity of ca 1.0 h-1, and a hydrogen-to-raw-material ratio of 240 m3·m-3. The LCO had a high density due to the high content of bicyclic aromatics and the high content of sulfur species, which are difficult to desulfurize. Therefore, increasing the content of the LCO in the raw material resulted in increasing the density and increasing the content of the sulfur and polycyclic aromatics in the hydrotreated products. Only the products prepared from the raw material with LCO content up to 10 wt % fulfilled the density requirement of EN 590. To improve the product density, the products prepared from the raw material containing 15 wt % LCO were blended with refined kerosene. The addition of the kerosene decreased the density of the mixtures prepared, but the cold filter plugging point (CFPP) of the mixtures was only lowered by about 1-2 °C. It was necessary to add a depressant in an amount of 600 mg·kg-1 to achieve a cold filter plugging point of -20 °C. Some refined products were blended with desulfurized heavy naphtha from the FCC. The addition of the heavy naphtha was mainly limited by its high density. Up to 10 wt % heavy naphtha could be added to the product obtained by hydrotreating the raw material containing 10 wt % LCO. More than 15 wt % heavy naphtha could be added to the mixture of the hydrotreated product and 20 wt % kerosene.

Inductive Position and Speed Sensors.

Magnetic position and speed sensors are rugged and durable. While DC magnetic sensors use permanent magnets as a field source and usually have only mm or cm range, inductive sensors use electromagnetic induction and they may work up to a distance of 20 m. Eddy current inductive sensors equipped with magnetoresistive sensors instead of inductive coils can operate at low frequencies, allowing detection through a conductive wall. In this paper, we make an overview of existing systems and we present new results in eddy current velocity and position measurements. We also present several types of inductive position sensors developed in our laboratories for industrial applications in pneumatic and hydraulic cylinders, underground drilling, large mining machines, and for detecting ferromagnetic objects on conveyors. While the most precise inductive position sensors have a resolution of 10 nm and linearity of 0.2%, precision requirements on the industrial sensors which we develop are less demanding, but they should have large working distance and large resistance to environmental conditions and interference.