Intra-abdominal infections (IAI) are an important cause of morbidity and are frequently associated with poor prognosis, particularly in high-risk patients. The cornerstones in the management of complicated IAIs are timely effective source control with appropriate antimicrobial therapy. Empiric antimicrobial therapy is important in the management of intra-abdominal infections and must be broad enough to cover all likely organisms because inappropriate initial antimicrobial therapy is associated with poor patient outcomes and the development of bacterial resistance. The overuse of antimicrobials is widely accepted as a major driver of some emerging infections (such as C. difficile), the selection of resistant pathogens in individual patients, and for the continued development of antimicrobial resistance globally. The growing emergence of multi-drug resistant organisms and the limited development of new agents available to counteract them have caused an impending crisis with alarming implications, especially with regards to Gram-negative bacteria. An international task force from 79 different countries has joined this project by sharing a document on the rational use of antimicrobials for patients with IAIs. The project has been termed AGORA (Antimicrobials: A Global Alliance for Optimizing their Rational Use in Intra-Abdominal Infections). The authors hope that AGORA, involving many of the world's leading experts, can actively raise awareness in health workers and can improve prescribing behavior in treating IAIs.
The inherent toxicity, mutagenicity and carcinogenicity of dyes that are discharged into aquatic ecosystems, harming the health of humans and animals. ZIF-8 based composites are regarded as good adsorbents for the breakdown of dyes in order to remove or degrade them. In the course of this research, metal-organic framework materials known as ZIF-8 and its two stable composites, ZIF-8/BiCoO3 (MZBC) and ZIF-8/BiYO3 (MZBY), were produced via a hydrothermal process and solvothermal process, respectively, for the dangerous Congo red (CR) dye removal from the solution in water using adsorption method. According to the findings, the most significant amount of CR dye that could be adsorbed is onto MZBC, followed by MZBY and ZIF-8. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model was used effectively to match the data for adsorption behavior and was confirmed using the Langmuir isotherm equation. There is a possibility that the pH and amount of adsorbent might influence the adsorption behavior of the adsorbents. According to the experiment results, the technique featured an endothermic adsorption reaction that spontaneously occurred. The higher adsorption capability of MZBC is because of the large surface area. This results in strong interactions between the functional groups on the surface of MZBC and CR dye molecules. In addition to the electrostatic connection between functional group Zn-O-H on the surface of ZIF-8 in MZBC and the -NH2 or SO3 functional group areas in CR molecules, it also includes the strong π-π interaction of biphenyl rings.
We report a case of keratoacanthoma in a non-sun-exposed nasal vestibule of an 84-year-old man. He presented with a progressively growing left nasal mass that had been present for 8 months. Examination showed a non-tender protruding mass arising from medial vestibular wall of the left nostril. Histopathology indicated it was a keratoacanthoma. In an elderly patient with a history of a progressively growing mass in the nose, a differential diagnosis of malignancy should be ruled out, and histological conformation is essential. To our knowledge, only a very small number of cases of nasal vestibular keratoacanthoma have been reported.
Synovial sarcoma is a rare soft tissue sarcoma of the head and neck region involving the parapharyngeal space. The diagnosis of synovial sarcoma can be very challenging to the pathologists. We present a rare case of parapharyngeal synovial sarcoma in a young female patient who had a two-month history of left cervical intumescent mass at level II. The fine needle aspiration cytology of the mass was proved inconclusive. Transcervical excision of the mass was performed and the first case of parapharyngeal sarcoma was identified in our center by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique. Repeat imaging revealed residual tumor. The patient successfully underwent a second excision of the residual tumor and received adjuvant radiotherapy.
Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) have attracted great attention due to environmentally friendly low-cost processing, excellent working ability in diffuse light, and potential to meet the power demands of future buildings due the true class of building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV). Nevertheless, DSSCs have relatively low photoconversion efficiency (PCE) due to multiple issues. Several strategies have been employed to enhance its PCE. For instance, bi-layered structure of photoelectrode i.e., mesoporous TiO2 transparent layer with top scattering layer was introduced which scatter light inside on large angles improves the harvesting ability of photoelectrode thus enhanced PCE. However, scattering layer is composed of aggregated small particles which offer sluggish electron transport due to multiple grain boundaries, consequently, unwanted recombination reaction which leads to poor PCE. This issue has been addressed for transparent layer immensely but ignored for scattering layer. Mostly for scattering layer in previous studies novel structures have been proposed to enhance scattering properties and dye adsorption only. Therefore, in this study for the first time presenting dual functional graphene/TiO2 scattering layer in which solvent exfoliated graphene is incorporated in TiO2 submicron spheres which enhanced electron transport properties, while submicron spheres scatter light effectively. Scattering and electron transport characteristics of DSSCs are thoroughly investigated with the function of graphene loading. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) has revealed that diffusion coefficient length and coefficient and conductivity attained maximum value at 0.01 wt%. while other important parameters such as electron lifetime and electron density in conduction band have been improved till 0.020 wt% graphene loading. However, results indicated that with 0.01 w% graphene 33% higher PCE was achieved than without scattering layer and 13% higher than scattering layer without graphene. The depraving in PCE at >0.01 wt% graphene despite of excellent electron transport improvement is attributed to the loss of diffuse reflectance and higher optical absorption by graphene.
Forest clearing for agriculture plantations and local community settlements may trigger food insecurity, which causes poor development, predominantly in Orang Asli children. This cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the relationships between food security and anthropometric and cognitive function among Orang Asli children in Temerloh, Pahang. Materials and methods:A total of one hundred and sixty-seven children (ages 7 to 11) from five selected Orang Asli villages (Kampung Sungai Enggang, Kampung Penderas, Kampung Pasu, Kampung Lubok Wong, and Kampung Pian) were involved in this study. The food security index was assessed using the Radimer/Cornell Hunger and Food Insecurity Instrument. Anthropometric indices were based on height-for-age and BMI-for-age Z-scores, while cognitive performance was tested using Raven’s Coloured Progressive Matrices (R-CPM). Results:A majority (91.6%) of the respondents reported some kind of food insecurity (12.6% household food insecure, 74.2% individual food insecure, and 4.8% child hunger). Rates of stunting, thinness, and overweight/obesity were 25.8%, 16.2%, and 18.0%, respectively. A majority (46.1%) of the children had average cognitive scores, followed by below average (38.3%) and above average (15.6%), respectively. Height-for-age was significantly associated with cognitive function (p=0.008). Among sociodemographic factors, household size (p=0.007) and household income (p