Quantitative bacterial culture (QBC) is the gold standard for determining urinary tract infections. However, the majority of urine samples were sent to a lab for further bacterial culture. Therefore, ...the storage condition was vital to maintain the quality and accuracy of the urine samples. The main objective of our study was to examine the urine QBC outcomes of (1) immediate culture, (2) culture after urine sample storage at ambient temperature for 24 h, and (3) culture after urine sample storage at 4 °C for 24 hours. There were 49 feline samples and 30 canine samples included in this study. All QBC samples kept at ambient temperature and refrigerator were consistent with immediate QBC in cats. Eight positive results from immediate QBC were in accordance with refrigerated results in dogs. There were ten positive results in the room-temperature sample with two false-positive results. Our study showed that storing conditions at room temperature or refrigeration for 24 h does not impact the results of QBC in cat urine samples. For dog samples, chilled samples have a higher accuracy rate than room temperature samples, although the overall agreement was still satisfactory.
The invention of bulk metallic glasses has stimulated extensive interest, due to their possible technological applications in a variety of industrial fields and their scientific importance in ...understanding related condensed matter physics. Among all types of BMGs, Fe-based BMGs are a unique yet important family due to their high mechanical strength, good thermal stability, strong corrosion resistance, excellent soft magnetic properties, and relatively low production costs. Since the first synthesis of the Fe-Al-Ga-P-C-B BMG reported in 1995, a vast body of literature regarding Fe-based BMGs has been published. However, until now, a full and systematic description of the development status and future prospects of Fe-based BMGs has been missing. Therefore, this article presents the research development and achievements of Fe-based BMGs in the past few decades, including their preparation, glass-forming ability, crystallization characteristics, mechanical properties, corrosion behaviors, soft and hard magnetic properties, and industrial applications. In addition, future developments of Fe-based BMGs are also proposed.
The rapidly increasing dissemination of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) in both humans and animals poses a global threat to public health. However, the transmission of CRE between ...humans and animals has not yet been well studied.
We investigated the prevalence, risk factors, and drivers of CRE transmission between humans and their backyard animals in rural China.
We conducted a comprehensive sampling strategy in 12 villages in Shandong, China. Using the household residents and their backyard animals (farm and companion animals) as a single surveillance unit, we assessed the prevalence of CRE at the household level and examined the factors associated with CRE carriage through a detailed questionnaire. Genetic relationships among human- and animal-derived CRE were assessed using whole-genome sequencing-based molecular methods.
A total of 88 New Delhi
-type carbapenem-resistant
(NDM-EC), including 17 from humans, 44 from pigs, 12 from chickens, 1 from cattle, and 2 from dogs, were isolated from 65 of the 746 households examined. The remaining 12 NDM-EC were from flies in the immediate backyard environment. The NDM-EC colonization in households was significantly associated with
) the number of species of backyard animals raised/kept in the same household, and
) the use of human and/or animal feces as fertilizer. Discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC) revealed that a large proportion of the core genomes of the NDM-EC belonged to strains from hosts other than their own, and several human isolates shared closely related core single-nucleotide polymorphisms and
genetic contexts with isolates from backyard animals.
To our knowledge, we are the first to report evidence of direct transmission of NDM-EC between humans and animals. Given the rise of NDM-EC in community and hospital infections, combating NDM-EC transmission in backyard farm systems is needed. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP5251.
To solve corrosion problems of Al-Li alloys in marine environment, Fe-based amorphous coating was first deposited on 8090 Al-Li alloy by high velocity oxy-fuel spraying. The microstructure, ...interfacial bonding and corrosion behaviors of the Fe-based amorphous coating are investigated. It is found that the coating is mainly composed of amorphous splats, but a few crystalline phases can be observed in the splats or splat surfaces. Even so, the corrosion resistance of the coated 8090 alloy is 7 times higher than that of the bare 8090 alloy. Moreover, due to the partially melting and rapid cooling of substrate during metal droplet deposition, there is an amorphous transition zone at the AMC/8090 alloy interface, indicating the formation of localized metallurgical bonding. Owing to the metallurgical bonding interface and the high compactness of coating, the adhesion strength of Fe-based amorphous coating can reach 58.2 MPa. In 3.5 wt% NaCl solution, a bipolar passive film can be formed on the Fe-based amorphous coating, and its compactness decreases as the polarization potential increases. Because of the aggregation of Cr element and the uneven passive film, the crystallized splats and crystallized splat surfaces are eroded preferentially, leading to the formation of corrosion channels and the corrosion failure of coating. The present work provides a guidance for the design of corrosion-resistance coatings on Al-Li alloys.
•Fe-based amorphous coating is prepared by HVOF on 8090 Al-Li alloy.•Transition zone and metallurgical bonding are formed at the coating/substrate interface.•Corroded crystallized regions act as corrosion channels for the penetration of corrosive solution.•Fe-based amorphous coating can provide excellent corrosion protection for Al-Li alloys.
Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) plays an important role in vascular homeostasis. Its receptor, E-prostanoid receptor 4 (EP4) is essential for physiological remodeling of the ductus arteriosus (DA). However, ...the role of EP4 in pathological vascular remodeling remains largely unknown. We found that chronic angiotensin II (AngII) infusion of mice with vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC)-specific EP4 gene knockout (VSMC-EP4−/−) frequently developed aortic dissection (AD) with severe elastic fiber degradation and VSMC dedifferentiation. AngII-infused VSMC-EP4−/− mice also displayed more profound vascular inflammation with increased monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) expression, macrophage infiltration, matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9 (MMP2/9) levels, NADPH oxidase 1 (NOX1) activity, and reactive oxygen species production. In addition, VSMC-EP4−/− mice exhibited higher blood pressure under basal and AngII-infused conditions. Ex vivo and in vitro studies further revealed that VSMC-specific EP4 gene deficiency significantly increased AngII-elicited vasoconstriction of the mesenteric artery, likely by stimulating intracellular calcium release in VSMCs. Furthermore, EP4 gene ablation and EP4 blockade in cultured VSMCs were associated with a significant increase in MCP-1 and NOX1 expression and a marked reduction in α-SM actin (α-SMA), SM22α, and SM differentiation marker genes myosin heavy chain (SMMHC) levels and serum response factor (SRF) transcriptional activity. To summarize, the present study demonstrates that VSMC EP4 is critical for vascular homeostasis, and its dysfunction exacerbates AngII-induced pathological vascular remodeling. EP4 may therefore represent a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of AD.
Fe-based amorphous/nanocrystalline coatings were fabricated with industrial FeCoCrMoCBY alloy plate on the mild steel surface by laser cladding. The formation, microstructure were investigated with ...optical microscope (OM), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results indicate that few pore and just only some cracks are formed in all of the coatings. With increase of heat input, some crystal phases of a-Fe, Fe3C and Fe23C6 are precipitated gradually in the coating layers, and the microhardness of the coating layers decreases gradually, while the maximum microhardness is up to 1300 Hv near to 5 times high than that of substrate. Though the passive currents of coating layers increase with increase of heat input, all of coating layers exhibit low corrosion current density, passive current density and wide passive region, which means all of coating layers present excellent corrosion resistance, even more superiors than that of 316L stainless steel in NaCl solution.
•Amorphous coating was fabricated by laser cladding with industrial raw materials.•The coating layers present few pore, crack, and high microhardness.•The coating layers exhibit excellent corrosion resistance in NaCl solution.
Chitosan nanoparticles are good drug carriers because of their good biocompatibility and biodegradability, and can be readily modified. As a new drug delivery system, they have attracted increasing ...attention for their wide applications in, for example, loading protein drugs, gene drugs, and anticancer chemical drugs, and via various routes of administration including oral, nasal, intravenous, and ocular. This paper reviews published research on chitosan nanoparticles, including its preparation methods, characteristics, modification, in vivo metabolic processes, and applications.
Due to poor corrosion and wear resistance, Mg-Li alloys often experience the premature failure during their service. In order to improve the corrosion and wear resistance of Mg-Li alloys, Fe-based ...amorphous coatings were firstly prepared on the LA141 magnesium alloy substrate by high velocity oxygen-fuel spraying technology (HVOF) in this study. It is noticed that by introducing the Ni60 interlayer with the thickness of 150 μm, the bonding strength of the Fe-based amorphous coating on LA141 alloy substrate can reach 56.9 MPa, which is currently the highest value of Fe-based amorphous coatings on magnesium alloys reported so far. It is found that the improvement of bonding strength is attributed to the localized metallurgical bonding at the interfaces of Fe-based amorphous coating/Ni60 and Ni60/LA141 and the compactness of Fe-based amorphous coatings. Moreover, the corrosion and wear resistance of the LA141 magnesium alloy with the Fe-based amorphous coatings are 34 times and 170 times higher than those of the bare LA141 magnesium alloy substrate, respectively. Finally, the failure mechanisms of the Fe-based amorphous coatings during tension and wear are discussed. This study can provide an alternative method for the surface protection of Mg-Li alloys.
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•Fe-based AMCs are prepared by HVOF on LA141 magnesium alloy.•The bonding strength of Fe-based AMCs are improved by introducing Ni60 interlayer.•Metallurgical bonding is formed at the interfaces of AMC/Ni60 and Ni60/LA141.•Fe-based AMCs can provide excellent corrosion and wear protection for Mg-Li alloys.
The objective of this study was to prepare and characterize etoposide (VP16)-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) and evaluate their antitumor activity in vitro. VP16-SLNs were prepared using ...emulsification and low-temperature solidification methods. The physicochemical properties of the VP16-SLNs were investigated by particle-size analysis, zeta potential measurement, drug loading, drug entrapment efficiency, stability, and in vitro drug-release behavior. In contrast to free VP16, the VP16-SLNs were well dispersed in aqueous medium, showing a narrow size distribution at 30-50 nm, a zeta potential value of -28.4 mV, high drug loading (36.91%), and an ideal drug entrapment efficiency (75.42%). The drug release of VP16-SLNs could last up to 60 hours and exhibited a sustained profile, which made it a promising vehicle for drug delivery. Furthermore, VP16-SLNs could significantly enhance in vitro cytotoxicity against SGC7901 cells compared to the free drug. Furthermore, VP16-SLNs could induce higher apoptotic rates, more significant cell cycle arrest effects, and greater cellular uptake in SGC7901 cells than free VP16. Moreover, results demonstrated that the mechanisms of VP16-SLNs were similar to those claimed for free VP16, including induction of cellular apoptosis by activation of p53, release of cytochrome c, loss of membrane potential, and activation of caspases. Thus, these results suggested that the SLNs might be a promising nanocarrier for VP16 to treat gastric carcinoma.
Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand or Apo 2 ligand (TRAIL/Apo2L) is a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family of ligands capable of initiating apoptosis through ...engagement of its death receptors. TRAIL selectively induces apoptosis of a variety of tumor cells and transformed cells, but not most normal cells, and therefore has garnered intense interest as a promising agent for cancer therapy. TRAIL is expressed on different cells of the immune system and plays a role in both T-cell- and natural killer cell-mediated tumor surveillance and suppression of suppressing tumor metastasis. Some mismatch-repair-deficient tumors evade TRAIL-induced apoptosis and acquire TRAIL resistance through different mechanisms. Death receptors, members of the TNF receptor family, signal apoptosis independently of the p53 tumor-suppressor gene. TRAIL treatment in combination with chemo- or radiotherapy enhances TRAIL sensitivity or reverses TRAIL resistance by regulating the downstream effectors. Efforts to identify agents that activate death receptors or block specific effectors may improve therapeutic design. In this review, we summarize recent insights into the apoptosis-signaling pathways stimulated by TRAIL, present our current understanding of the physiological role of this ligand and the potential of its application for cancer therapy and prevention.
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