Acute kidney injury (AKI) has been proposed as a leading cause of mortality for acute pancreatitis (AP) patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). This study investigated the predictive ...value of procalcitonin (PCT) for AKI development and relevant prognosis in patients with AP, and compared PCT's predictive power with that of other inflammation-related variables.
Between January 2011 and March 2013, we enrolled 305 cases with acute pancreatitis admitted to ICU. Serum levels of PCT, serum amyloid A (SAA), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and C reactive protein (CRP) were determined on admission. Serum PCT was tested in patients who developed AKI on the day of AKI occurrence and on either day 28 after occurrence (for survivors) or on the day of death (for those who died within 28 days).
Serum PCT levels were 100-fold higher in the AKI group than in the non-AKI group on the day of ICU admission (p<0.05). The area under the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve of PCT for predicting AKI was 0.986, which was superior to SAA, CRP, and IL-6 (p<0.05). ROC analysis revealed all variables tested had lower predictive performance for AKI prognosis. The average serum PCT level on day 28 (2.67 (0.89, 7.99) ng/ml) was significantly (p<0.0001) lower than on the day of AKI occurrence (43.71 (19.24,65.69) ng/ml) in survivors, but the serum PCT level on death (63.73 (34.22,94.30) ng/ml) was higher than on the day of AKI occurrence (37.55 (18.70,74.12) ng/ml) in non-survivors, although there was no significant difference between the two days in the latter group (p = 0.1365).
Serum PCT is superior to CRP, IL-6, and SAA for predicting the development of AKI in patients with AP, and also can be used for dynamic evaluation of AKI prognosis.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Asymmetric catalysis is of crucial importance owing to the huge and rising demand for optically pure substances. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and covalent organic frameworks (COFs), as two ...emerging crystalline porous materials, have presented great promising applications for heterogeneous asymmetric catalysis. The unique properties, such as, highly regular porous structures, prominent structural tunability, and well‐ordered catalytic sites, render chiral MOFs (CMOFs) and chiral COFs (CCOFs) highly active and enantioselective for a large number of asymmetric catalytic organic transformations. Furthermore, they provide a useful platform for facile mechanistic understanding and catalyst design. This review provides an overview of the advancements in CMOFs and CCOFs for asymmetric catalysis. The designs, syntheses and structures of these crystalline porous materials, and their asymmetric catalytic performance are described. And the perspectives on challenges and opportunities in development of CMOFs and CCOFs are discussed. It is anticipated that this review will shed light on the heterogeneous asymmetric catalysis with CMOFs and CCOFs and motivate further research in this promising field.
Chiral metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and covalent organic frameworks (COFs) represent attractive and promising heterogeneous asymmetric catalysts for a wide range of organic transformations. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the developments of asymmetric catalysis by chiral MOF and COF catalysts with emphasis on their syntheses, structures, and asymmetric catalytic performance.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
To identify the intrinsic active sites in oxides or oxide supported catalysts is a research frontier in the fields of heterogeneous catalysis and material science. In particular, the role of oxygen ...vacancies on the redox properties of oxide catalysts is still not fully understood. Herein, some relevant research dealing with M1–O–M2 or M1–□–M2 linkages as active sites in mixed oxides, in oxide supported single‐atom catalysts, and at metal/oxide interfaces of oxide supported nanometal catalysts for various reaction systems is reviewed. It is found that the catalytic activity of these oxides not only depends on the amounts of oxygen vacancies and metastable cations but also shows a significant influence from the local environment of the active sites, in particular, the symmetry of the oxygen vacancies. Based on the recent progress in the relevant fields, an “asymmetric oxygen vacancy site” is introduced, which indicates an oxygen vacancy with an asymmetric coordination of cations, making oxygen “easy come, easy go,” i.e., more reactive in redox reactions. The establishment of this new mechanism would shed light on the future investigation of the intrinsic active sites in oxide and oxide supported catalysts.
Asymmetric oxygen vacancies in metal oxide catalysts act as intrinsic catalytic active sites for redox reactions by making oxygen species easy come, easy go. Some relevant work focused on the active sites with asymmetric bonding situations in doped oxides, in oxide stabilized single‐atom catalysts, and at metal/oxide interface is reviewed.
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Solar energy‐driven conversion of CO2 into fuels with H2O as a sacrificial agent is a challenging research field in photosynthesis. Herein, a series of crystalline porphyrin‐tetrathiafulvalene ...covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are synthesized and used as photocatalysts for reducing CO2 with H2O, in the absence of additional photosensitizer, sacrificial agents, and noble metal co‐catalysts. The effective photogenerated electrons transfer from tetrathiafulvalene to porphyrin by covalent bonding, resulting in the separated electrons and holes, respectively, for CO2 reduction and H2O oxidation. By adjusting the band structures of TTCOFs, TTCOF‐Zn achieved the highest photocatalytic CO production of 12.33 μmol with circa 100 % selectivity, along with H2O oxidation to O2. Furthermore, DFT calculations combined with a crystal structure model confirmed the structure–function relationship. Our work provides a new sight for designing more efficient artificial crystalline photocatalysts.
COF catalysts: A series of crystalline covalent organic frameworks (COFs) was designed and applied for CO2 photoreduction coupled with H2O photooxidation, in the absence of photosensitizers and sacrificial agents. This approach gives a more straightforward and clear understanding of the structure–function relationship of artificial photosynthesis.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Increasing antibiotic resistance in multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria (MDR-GNB) presents significant health problems worldwide, since the vital available and effective antibiotics, ...including; broad-spectrum penicillins, fluoroquinolones, aminoglycosides, and β-lactams, such as; carbapenems, monobactam, and cephalosporins; often fail to fight MDR Gram-negative pathogens as well as the absence of new antibiotics that can defeat these "superbugs". All of these has prompted the reconsideration of old drugs such as polymyxins that were reckoned too toxic for clinical use. Only two polymyxins, polymyxin E (colistin) and polymyxin B, are currently commercially available. Colistin has re-emerged as a last-hope treatment in the mid-1990s against MDR Gram-negative pathogens due to the development of extensively drug-resistant GNB. Unfortunately, rapid global resistance towards colistin has emerged following its resurgence. Different mechanisms of colistin resistance have been characterized, including intrinsic, mutational, and transferable mechanisms.
In this review, we intend to discuss the progress over the last two decades in understanding the alternative colistin mechanisms of action and different strategies used by bacteria to develop resistance against colistin, besides providing an update about what is previously recognized and what is novel concerning colistin resistance.
A sensor with a red‐emission signal is successfully obtained by the solvothermal reaction of Eu3+ and heterofunctional ligand bpydbH2 (4,4′‐(4,4′‐bipyridine‐2,6‐diyl) dibenzoic acid), followed by ...terminal‐ligand exchange in a single‐crystal‐to‐single‐crystal transformation. As a result of treatments both before and after the metal–organic framework formation, accessible Lewis‐base sites and coordinated water molecules are successfully anchored onto the host material, and they act as signal transmission media for the recognition of analytes at the molecular level. This is the first reported sensor based on a metal–organic framework (MOF) with multi‐responsive optical sensing properties. It is capable of sensing small organic molecules and inorganic ions, and unprecedentedly it can discriminate among the homologues and isomers of aliphatic alcohols as well as detect highly explosive 2,4,6‐trinitrophenol (TNP) in water or in the vapor phase. This work highlights the practical application of luminescent MOFs as sensors, and it paves the way toward other multi‐responsive sensors by demonstrating the incorporation of various functional groups into a single framework.
Multi‐responsive fluorescent sensing is achieved using a Eu metal–organic framework (EuMOF). Accessible Lewis‐base sites and coordinated water molecules are successfully anchored on the EuMOF‐based sensor for the recognition of different analytes at the molecular level. This strategy paves the way for the practical application of luminescent MOF sensors in pollutant‐detection.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) with tunable compositions and morphologies are recognized as efficient self‐sacrificial templates to achieve function‐oriented nanostructured materials. Moreover, it ...is urgently needed to develop highly efficient noble metal‐free oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts to accelerate the development of overall water splitting green energy conversion systems. Herein, a facile and cost‐efficient strategy to synthesize Co9S8 nanoparticles‐embedded N/S‐codoped carbon nanofibers (Co9S8/NSCNFs) as highly active OER catalyst is developed. The hybrid precursor of core–shell ZIF‐wrapped CdS nanowires is first prepared and then leads to the formation of uniformly dispersed Co9S8/N, S‐codoped carbon nanocomposites through a one‐step calcination reaction. The optimal Co9S8/NSCNFs‐850 is demonstrated to possess excellent electrocatalytic performance for OER in 1.0 m KOH solution, affording a low overpotential of 302 mV to reach the current density of 10 mA cm−2, a small Tafel slope of 54 mV dec−1, and superior long‐term stability for 1000 cyclic voltammetry cycles. The favorable results raise a concept of exploring more MOF‐based nanohybrids as precursors to induce the synthesis of novel porous nanomaterials as non‐noble‐metal electrocatalysts for sustainable energy conversion.
Through a one‐step direct pyrolysis process, Co9S8 nanoparticles‐embedded N/S‐codoped carbon nanofibers derived from the hybrid precursor of core–shell ZIF‐wrapped CdS nanowires are successfully achieved which exhibit excellent oxygen evolution reaction catalytic performance. This presented strategy paves the way for exploring more metal–organic framework‐based nanohybrids as precursors to induce the synthesis of novel functional nanomaterials.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Systemic autoimmune diseases (SADs) are a growing spectrum of autoimmune disorders that commonly affect multiple organs. The role of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection or reactivation as a trigger ...for the initiation and progression of SADs has been established, while the relationship between EBV envelope glycoproteins and SADs remains unclear. Here, we assessed the levels of IgG, IgA, and IgM against EBV glycoproteins (including gp350, gp42, gHgL, and gB) in serum samples obtained from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and found that RA and SLE patients exhibited a statistically significant increase in the levels of 8 and 11 glycoprotein antibodies, respectively, compared to healthy controls (p < 0.05). The LASSO model identified four factors as significant diagnostic markers for RA: gp350 IgG, gp350 IgA, gHgL IgM, and gp42 IgA; whereas for SLE it included gp350 IgG, gp350 IgA, gHgL IgA, and gp42 IgM. Combining these selected biomarkers yielded an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.749 for RA and 0.843 for SLE. We subsequently quantified the levels of autoantibodies associated with SADs in mouse sera following immunization with gp350. Remarkably, none of the tested autoantibody levels exhibited statistically significant alterations. Elevation of glycoprotein antibody concentration suggests that Epstein–Barr virus reactivation and replication occurred in SADs patients, potentially serving as a promising biomarker for diagnosing SADs. Moreover, the absence of cross‐reactivity between gp350 antibodies and SADs‐associated autoantigens indicates the safety profile of a vaccine based on gp350 antigen.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Summary Background The mcr-1 gene confers transferable colistin resistance. mcr-1 -positive Enterobacteriaceae (MCRPE) have attracted substantial medical, media, and political attention; however, so ...far studies have not addressed their clinical impact. Herein, we report the prevalence of MCRPE in human infections and carriage, clinical associations of mcr-1 -positive Escherichia coli (MCRPEC) infection, and risk factors for MCRPEC carriage. Methods We undertook this study at two hospitals in Zhejiang and Guangdong, China. We did a retrospective cross-sectional assessment of prevalence of MCRPE infection from isolates of Gram-negative bacteria collected at the hospitals from 2007 to 2015 (prevalence study). We did a retrospective case-control study of risk factors for infection and mortality after infection, using all MCRPEC from infection isolates and a random sample of mcr-1 -negative E coli infections from the retrospective collection between 2012 and 2015 (infection study). We also did a prospective case-control study to assess risk factors for carriage of MCRPEC in rectal swabs from inpatients with MCRPEC and mcr-1 negative at the hospitals and collected between May and December, 2015, compared with mcr-1 -negative isolates from rectal swabs of inpatients (colonisation study). Strains were analysed for antibiotic resistance, plasmid typing, and transfer analysis, and strain relatedness. Findings We identified 21 621 non-duplicate isolates of Enterobacteriaceae, Acinetobacter spp, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa from 18 698 inpatients and 2923 healthy volunteers. Of 17 498 isolates associated with infection, mcr-1 was detected in 76 (1%) of 5332 E coli isolates, 13 (<1%) of 348 Klebsiella pneumoniae , one (<1%) of 890 Enterobacter cloacae , and one (1%) of 162 Enterobacter aerogenes . For the infection study, we included 76 mcr-1 -positive clinical E coli isolates and 508 mcr-1 -negative isolates. Overall, MCRPEC infection was associated with male sex (209 41% vs 47 63%, adjusted p=0·011), immunosuppression (30 6% vs 11 15%, adjusted p=0·011), and antibiotic use, particularly carbapenems (45 9% vs 18 24%, adjusted p=0·002) and fluoroquinolones (95 19% vs 23 30%, adjusted p=0·017), before hospital admission. For the colonisation study, we screened 2923 rectal swabs from healthy volunteers, of which 19 were MCRPEC, and 1200 rectal swabs from patients, of which 35 were MCRPEC. Antibiotic use before hospital admission (p<0·0001) was associated with MCRPEC carriage in 35 patients compared with 378 patients with mcr-1-negative E coli colonisation, whereas living next to a farm was associated with mcr-1-negative E coli colonisation (p=0·03, univariate test). mcr-1 could be transferred between bacteria at high frequencies (10−1 to 10−3 ), and plasmid types and MCRPEC multi-locus sequence types (MLSTs) were more variable in Guangdong than in Zhejiang and included the human pathogen ST131. MCRPEC also included 17 unreported ST clades. Interpretation In 2017, colistin will be formally banned from animal feeds in China and switched to human therapy. Infection with MRCPEC is associated with sex, immunosuppression, and previous antibiotic exposure, while colonisation is also associated with antibiotic exposure. MLST and plasmid analysis shows that MCRPEC are diversely spread throughout China and pervasive in Chinese communities. Funding National Key Basic Research Program of China, National Natural Science Foundation of China/Zhejiang, National Key Research and Development Program, and MRC, UK.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
Objectives
This study explored the relationship between organizational climate, job stress, workplace burnout, and retention of pharmacists. This study adopted a cross‐sectional design and conducted ...a questionnaire survey of pharmacists working at three teaching hospitals (a district teaching hospital, a regional teaching hospital, and a medical center).
Methods
The sampling criteria were a license to practice pharmacy and a willingness to sign a written consent form to participate in this study.
Results
One hundred ten questionnaires were distributed, of which 101 contained valid responses, yielding a valid return rate of 91.82%. A significant correlation was evident between organizational climate, job stress, workplace burnout, and retention. Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that demographic variables, organizational climate, job stress, and workplace burnout had a predictive power of 55.6% for retention (F = 9.712***, P < .001). Organizational climate had a significant positive correlated with retention (β = 0.401*, P < .001).
Conclusions
The results of this study can help hospitals to create a friendly and healthy workplace, instruct hospital managers how to improve their organizational climates, and reduce pharmacists’ job stress and workplace burnout, thereby enhancing the quality of pharmacy service and medication safety and eventually improving pharmacists’ intention to stay.
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CEKLJ, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
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