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Evidence for using bicyclol in drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is limited. This study aimed to explore the efficacy and safety of bicyclol in acute DILI.This was a multicenter, randomized, double-blinded, double-dummy, active-controlled, superiority and phase II trial. Patients with idiosyncratic acute DILI were randomized 1: 1:1 to low-dose bicyclol (25 mg times a day [TID]), high-dose bicyclol (50 mg TID) and polyene phosphatidylcholine (control) groups. The primary endpoint was the decrease from baseline in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels at post-treatment for 4 weeks.Overall, 241 patients were included in the full analysis set, with 81, 82 and 78 patients in the low-dose bicyclol, high-dose bicyclol, and control groups respectively. ALT levels decreased across groups (-249.2 ± 151.1, -273.6 ± 203.1, and -180.8 ± 218.2 U/L in the low-dose bicyclol, high-dose bicyclol and control groups, respectively; both p .001, the bicyclol-dependent groups vs. control group). The ALT normalization rates at weeks 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 were higher in the bicyclol-dependent groups than in the control group (p = .002 at week 1 and all p .001 at weeks 2, 4, 6 and 8 respectively). The median times to ALT normalization in the low-dose bicyclol, high-dose bicyclol and control groups were 29, 16 and 43 days respectively. Adverse events, serious adverse events and adverse drug reactions were similar across groups.Bicyclol (25 and 50 mg TID) appeared efficacious and safe for treating idiosyncratic acute DILI, while bicyclol 50 mg TID showed higher efficacy.www.gov (registration no. NCT02944552).

BACKGROUND Many nail cosmetics have components that are considered irritants or allergens. Due to the current clinical assessment limitations, it is often too late to identify nail enamel hazards until they cause disease. Thus, it is essential to investigate effective methods of detecting minor changes and early lesions in nails before they worsen. OBJECTIVES To provide a reliable method to investigate and evaluate nail enamel hazards on nails earlier using ultrasonic equipment. METHODS Eighty-three volunteers with smooth, lustrous nails were enrolled after being clinically examined. The thumbnails and middle nails were evaluated before and after using nail enamel for 2 weeks. Nail health was then assessed using three methods: clinical evaluation, nail surface image analysis, and an ultrasonic device. RESULTS Using clinical diagnostic and imaging methods for analyzing the nail surface showed no visible differences before and after using nail enamel for 2 weeks. However, there was a significant difference in the nails' depth and density (p

Since April 2022, waves of Omicron cases have surfaced in Taiwan and spread throughout the island. Using high-throughput sequencing of the SARS-CoV-2 genome, we have analyzed 2405 PCR-positive swab samples from 2339 individuals and identified the Omicron BA.2.3.7 variant as a major lineage within the recent community outbreak in Taiwan.

This article has been retracted, and the online PDF has been watermarked “RETRACTION”. The retraction notice is available at http://doi.org/10.3233/MGC-220950.

Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the trends in serotypes and in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility of Streptococcus pneumoniae causing adult invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) to dalbavancin, telavancin, tedizolid, eravacycline, omadacycline and other comparator antibiotics from 2017–2020 following implementation of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV-13) and during the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic. Methods During the study period, 237 S. pneumoniae isolates were collected from non-duplicate patients, covering 15.0% of IPD cases in Taiwan. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using a Sensititre® system. A latex agglutination method (ImmuLex™ Pneumotest Kit) was used to determine serotypes. Results Susceptibility rates were high for vancomycin (100%), teicoplanin (100%) and linezolid (100%), followed by ceftaroline (non-meningitis) (98.3%), moxifloxacin (94.9%) and quinupristin/dalfopristin (89.9%). MIC50 and MIC90 values of dalbavancin, telavancin, tedizolid, eravacycline and omadacycline were generally low. Non-vaccine serotype 23A was the leading cause of IPD across the adult age range. Isolates of serotype 15B were slightly fewer than those of PCV-13 serotypes in patients aged ≥65 years. The overall case fatality rate was 15.2% (36/237) but was especially high for non-PCV-13 serotype 15B (21.4%; 3/14). Vaccine coverage was 44.7% for PCV-13 and 49.4% for the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV-23), but was 57% for both PCV-13 and PPSV-23. Conclusion The incidence of IPD was stationary after PCV-13 introduction and only dramatically decreased in the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The MIC50 and MIC90 values of dalbavancin, telavancin, tedizolid, eravacycline, omadacycline were generally low for S. pneumoniae causing adult IPD.

The occurrence and characterization of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae from companion animals in Guangzhou, China, are investigated. Six isolates (2.3%, 6/257) were positive for blaNDM-5...

Homogeneously Eu3+ doped LaOCl single crystals are firstly synthesized in a molten KCl-LiCl flux, and the well-shaped LaOCl:Eu3+ polyhedral micro-plates exhibit noticeable luminescent properties. The bulk LaOCl:Eu3+ micro-plate with a width of 1.03 μm and 1.37 μm in length shows a single crystal characteristic with the crystal face orientation of [00 1 ‾ ]. Both XRD patterns and EDS mapping indicate that the Eu3+ ions have been homogeneously doped into LaOCl lattice. LaOCl:Eu3+ nucleuses generated in molten KCl-LiCl flux at even 350 °C benefited to the decomposition of La(OH)3:Eu3+ precursor, and polyhedral LaOCl micro-plate is easily formed in molten KCl-LiCl salt due to the solid-ionic reaction and crystal growth. The luminescent properties of LaOCl:Eu3+ are firstly enhanced and then weakened with the increasing concentration of the doped Eu3+, 6% Eu3+ doped LaOCl:Eu3+ exhibits the best luminescent properties which can be used as a potential LED material.

Solid oxide membrane-assisted electrolytic reduction of solid Cr2O3 to Cr in molten CaCl2 was performed using a sintered porous Cr2O3 cathode paired with an yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) tube anode containing carbon-saturated liquid copper alloy. Analyses of the reduction mechanism, ion migration behavior, and effects of cathode pellet porosity and particle size on the electrolysis products and reduction rate revealed that the cathode microstructure and electrolytic conditions were key factors influencing the electrolysis process. Optimal results were obtained when the cathode was characterized by high porosity and a small particle size because this combination of features contributed to ion migration. Good electrochemical activation was observed when cathode pellets prepared by 4 MPa molding followed by 2 h of sintering at 1150°C were applied. The electrode reduction process (Cr3+ → Cr2+ → Cr) was promoted by high electrode voltages, and Cr metal was efficiently formed. The proposed method appears to be well suited for electrolytic Cr production because it does not require expensive pre-electro-lysis techniques or generate harmful by-products.

Ceria nanoparticles were facilely synthesized by a molten NaOH–KOH hydroxide flux method with the precursor of Ce(NO3)3·6H2O under different conditions in alumina crucibles or Teflon-lined stainless steel autoclave. The XRD patterns and TEM images show that both the crystal and particle sizes of synthesized nanoceria are around 10 nm. XPS results reveal that the nanoceria obtained in alumina crucible has a Ce3+ fraction of 17.1% which is higher than that of ceria synthesized in the Teflon vessel, the FTIR spectra of nanoceria prepared in alumina crucible show a stronger intensity of O–H stretching mode. UV-DRS and PL spectra results show that the nanoceria synthesized in alumina crucible with a calculated band gap of 2.9 eV has a wider responding light wavelength and a lower photogenerated electron–hole recombination rate, due to a higher concentration of oxygen vacancies (Ce3+ %). The photocatalytic results show that the degradation ratio and rate of the Rhodamine B (RhB) solution with the nanoceria synthesized in alumina crucible are 98.39% and 0.02919 min−1, both of which are larger than those of the ceria obtained from Teflon vessel. This method proves to be a simple and scalable way to synthesize nanoceria with rich oxygen vacancies and high photocatalytic activity.