Infections with multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria such as
are major cause of morbidity and mortality. Colistin is used commonly to treat these infections. In this study, we evaluated the ...efficacy of different colistin combinations in a
infection mouse model.
An
mouse infection model was developed in 150 experimental animals. Treatment groups were as follows: colistin, colistin + rifampicin, colistin + trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, colistin + teicoplanin and a control group. The outcome was bacterial burden in the lung and liver tissues. The treatment groups were subdivided into 24-, 48- and 72-h groups.
Colistin and combinations reduce the
burden significantly in lung and liver tissues compared with the control group. Compared with colistin alone colistin + rifampicin and colistin + TMP-SMX provided significantly better reduction in the bacterial burden.
These results may suggest that rifampicin and TMP-SMX combination with colistin may have a potential role in the treatment of
infections.
Background
Determining predictors of mortality among older adults might help identify high-risk patients and enable timely intervention.
Aims
The aim of the study was to identify which variables ...predict geriatric outpatient mortality, using routine geriatric assessment tools.
Methods
We analyzed the data of 1141 patients who were admitted to the geriatric medicine outpatient clinic between 2001 and 2004. Comprehensive geriatric assessment was performed by an interdisciplinary geriatric team. Mortality rate was determined in 2015. The parameters predicting survival were examined.
Results
Median age of the patients (415 male, 726 female) was 71.7 years (53–95 years). Mean survival time was 12.2 years (95 % CI; 12–12.4 years). In multivariate analysis, age (OR: 1.16, 95 % CI: 1.09–1.23,
p
< 0.001), smoking (OR: 2.51, 95 % CI: 1.18–5.35,
p
= 0.017) and metabolic syndrome (OR: 2.20, 95 % CI: 1.05–4.64,
p
= 0.038) were found to be independent risk factors for mortality. MNA-SF scores (OR: 0.84, 95 % CI: 0.71–1.00,
p
= 0.050) and free T3 levels (OR: 0.70, 95 % CI: 0.49–1.00,
p
= 0.052) had borderline significance.
Discussion
The present study showed that the risk conferred by metabolic syndrome is beyond its individual components. Our findings confirm previous studies on the prognostic role of nutritional status, as reflected by MNA-SF. Serum fT3, a simple laboratory test, may also be used in geriatric outpatient clinics to identify individuals at risk.
Conclusions
The results of the study demonstrated the need for addressing modifiable risk factors such as smoking, metabolic syndrome, and undernutrition in older adults.
One out of every six American women has been the victim of a sexual assault in their lifetime. However, the DNA casework backlog continues to increase outpacing the nation's capacity since DNA ...evidence processing in sexual assault casework remains a bottleneck due to laborious and time‐consuming differential extraction of victim's and perpetrator's cells. Additionally, a significant amount (60–90%) of male DNA evidence may be lost with existing procedures. Here, a microfluidic method is developed that selectively captures sperm using a unique oligosaccharide sequence (Sialyl‐LewisX), a major carbohydrate ligand for sperm‐egg binding. This method is validated with forensic mock samples dating back to 2003, resulting in 70–92% sperm capture efficiency and a 60–92% reduction in epithelial fraction. Captured sperm are then lysed on‐chip and sperm DNA is isolated. This method reduces assay‐time from 8 h to 80 min, providing an inexpensive alternative to current differential extraction techniques, accelerating identification of suspects and advancing public safety.
An easy‐to‐use and inexpensive method to capture sperm from aged forensic mock samples with high efficiency within a shorter assay time, and this method also significantly reduces epithelial fraction, allowing efficient downstream genomic analyses for further investigations.
This paper reports five novel PDI dimer type electron transport materials (ETMs) employing o‐indoloquinoxaline (o‐Iq), m‐indoloquinoxaline (m‐Iq), and cibalackrot (Ci) groups as the core building ...blocks and presents the twisted structures of PDI dimers coded as PDI‐NHR‐o‐Iq, PDI‐o‐Iq, PDI‐NHR‐m‐Iq, PDI‐m‐Iq and PDI‐NHR‐Ci dyes (see Scheme 1 and 2). We have systematically compared their photophysical, electrochemical, and optoelectronic properties with respect to the reference dye (2PDI‐NHR), which is directly connected of two PDI planes. Their calculated HOMO‐LUMO energy levels are sufficient for charge transfer to the perovskite material so that structure‐photovoltaic performance relationship of synthesized ETM dyes can be evaluated. When the binding position of indoloquinoxaline group between PDI rings are changed from o‐ to m‐ positions, most of the photophysical and electrochemical properties of PDI dimer are dramatically changed, finally improving the photovoltaic performances.
Indoloquinoxaline and cibalackrot subunits covalently attached to perylene diimide dimers decorated with long‐alkyl chains used as ETM are coated on the MAPbI2Br perovskite surface to manufacture solar cells. Attaching groups improve the charge transfer capability of the material depending on their molecular conformation, which plays important role in adjusting the energy level between the perovskite material and the ETL.
In article number 1800121, Leonard Klevan, Utkan Demirci, and co‐workers develop a bio‐inspired microfluidic chip used to accelerate analysis of forensic sexual assault evidence. A unique ...oligosaccharide sequence and specific surface chemistry allow separation of sperm from epithelial cells in forensic evidence. This method significantly reduces assay‐time, accelerating identification of suspects and advancing public safety.
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