Search

This study evaluated antibiotic susceptibility and presence of blaOXA22 and blaOXA60 genes in 81 isolates of Ralstonia pickettii obtained from different purified and ultra‐pure water systems in two different geographical areas of Croatia. E‐test and disc diffusion test were performed to determine antibiotic susceptibility. Polymerase chain reaction was applied to detect genes encoding OXA‐22 and OXA‐60 oxacillinases previously identified in R. pickettii. The isolates were genotyped by pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis. The results revealed variable susceptibility/resistance profiles. Our isolates exhibited high susceptibility rates to ceftriaxone, cefotaxime, piperacillin‐tazobactam, ciprofloxacin, imipenem, cefepime and in lesser extent to ceftazidime. High rates of susceptibility were also observed for sulphamethoxazole‐trimethoprim and piperacillin. High resistance rates were noticed for ticarcillin‐clavulanate, aztreonam and meropenem, as well as for all aminoglycosides tested. Modified Hodge test was positive in 51·9% strains, indicating production of carbapenemases. blaOXA22 and blaOXA60 genes were detected in 37·0 and 80·3% strains, respectively. Pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis identified three major clusters containing subclusters. R. pickettii should be taken seriously as a possible cause of nosocomial infections to ensure adequate therapy, to prevent the development of resistant strains and to try to reduce the possibility of R. pickettii surviving in clean and ultra clean water systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the recent years, together with sodium, potassium-based batteries are raising a considerable attention as a possible alternative for replacing lithium batteries. This concise review gives an insight in the particularities of the interphases (solid electrolyte interphase) and interfaces (dendrite growth) in battery cells where potassium metal is in contact with liquid electrolytes, based on available theories and very recent experimental evidence. In addition, the electrochemical background of issues occurring in solid-state batteries with K metal anodes are touched upon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of stable electrolytes for lithium metal batteries is urgently required. In this work, nanoporous alumina/lithium salt-containing glyme liquid–solid composite electrolytes are proposed. The beneficial interfacial effect and transport properties such as ionic conductivity and lithium transference number can be tuned by variation of the cell temperature and electrolyte salt concentration. In symmetrical lithium/electrolyte/lithium cells, glyme-based liquid–solid electrolytes show superior performance compared to their liquid counterparts. However, even in the high lithium transference number cases, unfavorable mossy lithium deposits can be observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uremia-related inflammation is prone to be a key factor to explain high cardiovascular morbidity in hemodialysis patients. Genetic susceptibility may be of importance, including IL-10, IL-6, and TNF. The aim was to analyze IL-10, IL-6, and TNF gene polymorphisms in a group of hemodialysis patients and to correlate the findings with cardiovascular morbidity. This study included 169 patients on regular hemodialysis at Zvezdara University Medical Center. Gene polymorphisms for IL-10, IL-6 and TNF were determined using PCR. These findings were correlated with the cardiovascular morbidity data from patient histories. Heterozygots for IL-10 gene showed significantly lower incidence of cardiovascular events ( p = 0.05) and twice lower risk for development of myocardial infarction, but experienced twice higher risk for left ventricular hypertrophy. Regarding TNF gene polymorphism, patients with A allele had 1.5-fold higher risk for cerebrovascular accident and cardiovascular events and 2-fold higher risk for hypertension and peripheral vascular disease. Patients with G allele of IL-6 gene experienced 1.5-fold higher risks for cerebrovascular accident. We need studies with larger number of patients for definitive conclusion about the influence of gene polymorphisms on cardiovascular morbidity in hemodialysis patients and its importance in everyday clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Physiology & Pharmacology is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Deconvolution of the contributions of free cations, free anions, neutral ion pairs, and ion pair dimers to the overall ionic conductivity is demonstrated for poly(ethylene glycol) dimethyl ether containing lithium trifluoromethanesulfonate with concentrations between 0.01 M and 1.0 M. Experimentally, this is achieved by combining impedance spectroscopy, DC polarization, and pulsed-field gradient (PFG) NMR techniques. The theoretical basis is the concept of conservative ensembles. Ion pair influence is found to be substantial for all salt concentrations with its individual transport coefficient values above conductivity of free lithium ions. Lithium transference number measured by DC polarization exceeds the value of true lithium transference number emphasizing the importance of indirect (vehicular) transport mechanism under current, in particular at higher salt concentrations. By including IR spectroscopy in the arsenal of techniques, mobilities of all species as well as effective mass action constants are calculated. Heterogeneous doping with SiO 2 varies the parameters as expected from space charge theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soggy-sand electrolytes (solid–liquid composites, typically gel electrolytes, with synergistic electrical properties) are reviewed as far as status and perspectives are concerned. Major emphasis is put on the understanding of the local mechanism as well as the long-range transport along the filler network. The beneficial property spectrum includes enhanced conductivity of one ion type and decreased conductivity of the counter ion, but also the exciting mechanical properties of the solid–liquid composites. Inherent but not insurmountable problems lie in the reproducibility and stationarity of the composites microstructure and morphology. Owing to the huge parameter complexity and hence to the multitude of adjusting screws, there are various strategies for materials optimization. The technological relevance is enormous, in particular for battery electrolytes as here all the above-mentioned electrical and mechanical benefits are welcome. The soggy-sand electrolytes combine high Li+ conductivity, low anion conductivity and good wettability of electrode particles with the mechanical stability of semi-solids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) are agonists at peroxisome proliferator-activated gamma-type (PPAR-γ) receptors and are used clinically for the treatment of type 2 diabetes where they have been shown to reestablish insulin sensitivity, improve lipid profiles, and reduce inflammation. Recent work also suggests that TZDs may be beneficial in Alzheimer's disease (AD), ameliorating cognitive decline early in the disease process. However, there have been only a few studies identifying mechanisms through which cognitive benefits may be exerted. Starting at 10 months of age, the triple transgenic mouse model of AD (3xTg-AD) with accelerated amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition and tau pathology was treated with the TZD pioglitazone (PIO-Actos) at 18 mg/Kg body weight/day. After four months, PIO-treated animals showed multiple beneficial effects, including improved learning on the active avoidance task, reduced serum cholesterol, decreased hippocampal amyloid-β and tau deposits, and enhanced short- and long-term plasticity. Electrophysiological membrane properties and post-treatment blood glucose levels were unchanged by PIO. Gene microarray analyses of hippocampal tissue identified predicted transcriptional responses following TZD treatment as well as potentially novel targets of TZDs, including facilitation of estrogenic processes and decreases in glutamatergic and lipid metabolic/cholesterol dependent processes. Taken together, these results confirm prior animal studies showing that TZDs can ameliorate cognitive deficits associated with AD-related pathology, but also extend these findings by pointing to novel molecular targets in the brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of ingested human recombinant interferon-alpha (hrIFN-alpha) for preservation of beta-cell function in young patients with recent-onset type 1 diabetes.Research Design and Methods: Subjects aged 3-25 years in whom type 1 diabetes was diagnosed within 6 weeks of enrollment were randomly assigned to receive ingested hrIFN-alpha at 5,000 or 30,000 units or placebo once daily for 1 year. The primary outcome was change in C-peptide secretion after a mixed meal.Results: Individuals in the placebo group (n = 30) lost 56 +/- 29% of their C-peptide secretion from 0 to 12 months, expressed as area under the curve (AUC) in response to a mixed meal. In contrast, children treated with hrIFN-alpha lost 29 +/- 54 and 48 +/- 35% (for 5,000 [n = 27] and 30,000 units [n = 31], respectively, P = 0.028, ANOVA adjusted for age, baseline C-peptide AUC, and study site). Bonferroni post hoc analyses for placebo versus 5,000 units and placebo versus 30,000 units demonstrated that the overall trend was determined by the 5,000-unit treatment group. Adverse events occurred at similar rates in all treatment groups.Conclusions: Ingested hrIFN-alpha was safe at the doses used. Patients in the 5,000-unit hrIFN-alpha treatment group maintained more beta-cell function 1 year after study enrollment than individuals in the placebo group, whereas this effect was not observed in patients who received 30,000 units hrIFN-alpha. Further studies of low-dose ingested hrIFN-alpha in new-onset type 1 diabetes are needed to confirm this effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]