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The aim of this study was to increase the water solubility of tosufloxacin tosylate by inclusion with hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin. The tosufloxacin tosylate/hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex was characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, powder X-ray diffractometry, and scanning electron microscopy. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance and 2D rotating frame nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy were used to identify the interaction of tosufloxacin tosylate and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin. Results obtained confirmed the formation of tosufloxacin tosylate/hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex. In addition, the dissolution and stability of the complex was also evaluated, which indicated that the water solubility and stability of tosufloxacin tosylate were significantly increased in the presence of hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin. Furthermore, dissolution assay showed that the dissolution of tosufloxacin tosylate/hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex was higher than that of a physical mixture or tosufloxacin tosylate alone. These results demonstrated that hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin could be potentially beneficial in the delivery of water-insoluble tosufloxacin tosylate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metallic alloys show complex chemistries that are not yet understood so far. It has been widely accepted that behind the composition selection lies a short-range-order mechanism for solid solutions. The present paper addresses this fundamental question by examining the face-centered-cubic Cu-Zn a-brasses. A new structural approach, the cluster-plus-glue-atom model, is introduced, which suits specifically for the description of short-range-order structures in disordered systems. Two types of formulas are pointed out, [Zn-Cu12]Zn1∼6 and [Zn-Cu12](Zn,Cu)6, which explain the α-brasses listed in the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) specifications. In these formulas, the bracketed parts represent the 1st-neighbor cluster, and each cluster is matched with one to six 2nd-neighbor Zn atoms or with six mixed (Zn,Cu) atoms. Such a cluster-based formulism describes the 1st- and 2nd-neighbor local atomic units where the solute and solvent interactions are ideally satisfied. The Cu-Ni industrial alloys are also explained, thus proving the universality of the cluster-formula approach in understanding the alloy selections. The revelation of the composition formulas for the Cu-(Zn,Ni) industrial alloys points to the common existence of simple composition rules behind seemingly complex chemistries of industrial alloys, thus offering a fundamental and practical method towards composition interpretations of all kinds of alloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pedogenic alteration of illite from red earth sediments in Jiujiang in subtropical China was investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Illite, hydroxy-interlayered vermiculite (HIV), kaolinite and mixed-layer illite-HIV (I-HIV) are present in the soils. The characteristic reflections of the clay phases were 14 Å, 10-14 Å, 10 Å, and 7 Å, respectively. After Mg-glycerol saturations, the 14 Å peak of the samples did not expand, and after heating at 350 °C and 550 °C it shifted to 13.8 Å and 12 Å respectively, with no residual 14 Å reflection, suggesting the occurrence of hydroxy-interlayered vermiculite. The randomly interstratified I-HIV clays were characterized by a broad peak at 10-14 Å, which did not change its position after Mg-glycerol saturation, but collapsed to 10 Å after heating at 350ºC and 550°C. HRTEM analysis showed different lattice fringes of 12 Å, 10 Å and 7 Å. Mixed-layer I-HIV, HIV-K and illite-kaolinite (I-K) were observed in the HRTEM images which represented the intermediate phases during illite alteration. The merging of two 10 Å illite layers into a 12 Å HIV layer, lateral transformation of one HIV layer into one kaolinite layer and alteration of one illite layer into two kaolinite layers illustrated the mechanisms of illite-to-HIV, HIV-to-kaolinite and illite-tokaolinite transformation, respectively. The proposed pedogenic alteration of illite and the weathering sequence of the clay minerals in Jiujiang is illite → I-HIV → HIV→ HIV-K → kaolinite. In addition, illite may transform directly to kaolinite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ciprofloxacin (CIP) adsorption on montmorillonite was investigated using structurally related probing compounds phenylpiperazine (PP) and fluorochloroquinolone carboxylic acid (FCQCA). Desorption of the equivalent amounts of exchangeable cations accompanying PP and CIP adsorption on montmorillonite suggested that cation exchange was the major adsorption mechanism for the CIP adsorption under acidic to neutral conditions, and the piperazine amine group was responsible for the cation exchange interaction. In contrast, the adsorption of CIP and FCQCA on montmorillonite indicated that hydrogen bonding between the keto carbonyl group and coordinated water in the interlayer of montmorillonite was mainly responsible for the CIP adsorption in alkaline aqueous solution as evidenced by Fourier transform infrared analyses. X-ray diffraction analyses demonstrated that both cation exchange and hydrogen bonding between the keto carbonyl group and coordinated water lead to the intercalation of CIP in montmorillonite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Acute rejection (AR) after solid organ transplantation has been known to be a risk factor for cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. However, data regarding the risk for CMV infection during and after anti-rejection therapy are limited. This study investigated whether the risk of CMV infection and disease within 6 months of kidney transplantation (KT) increases in CMV-seropositive KT recipients who develop AR. Methods. A total of 992 seropositive KT recipients, including 75 patients (8%) who developed AR within 6 months after KT and 917 patients (92%) who did not, were recruited between May 2007 and April 2012. Results. No significant difference was found in the incidence of CMV infection between the groups (AR group, 13% [10/75] vs. non-AR group, 10% [92/917], P = 0.37). The number of KT recipients in each group receiving preemptive therapy for CMV was similar (5% [4/75] vs. 6% [53/917], P > 0.99). While the incidence of CMV syndrome was comparable (0% [0/75] vs. 1% [12/917], P > 0.99), the incidence of tissue-invasive CMV disease (8% [6/75] vs. 3% [27/917], P = 0.04), particularly gastrointestinal CMV disease, was significantly greater in patients who experienced AR. No CMV-related mortality occurred in either group. AR (odds ratio, 2.81; 95% confidence interval, 1.08-7.29; P = 0.03) was an independent risk factor for tissue-invasive CMV disease within 6 months of KT. Conclusions. A high index of suspicion and active evaluation for tissue-invasive CMV disease in KT recipients suffering AR may be necessary to ensure appropriate treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]