Highly dispersed Ptδ+ on TixCe(1−x)O2 as an active phase in preferential oxidation of CO

Structure–activity relationships for 1 wt.% Pt catalysts were investigated for a series of TixCe(1−x)O2 (x = 1, 0.98, 0.9, 0.5, 0.2 and 0) supports prepared by the sol–gel method. The catalysts prepared by impregnation were characterized in detail by applying a wide range of techniques as N2-isotherms, XRF, XRD, Raman, XPS, H2-TPR, Drifts, UV–vis, etc. and tested in the preferential oxidation of CO in the presence of H2. Also several reaction conditions were deeply analyzed. A strong correlation between catalyst performance and the electronic properties let us to propose, based in all the experimental results, a plausible reaction mechanism where several redox cycles are involved.Financial support from Generalitat Valenciana and Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (Spain) through projects PROME-TEOII/2014/004 and MAT2010-21147 is gratefully acknowledged. EOJ also thanks the CNPq – Brazil for her grant. EVRF gratefully acknowledge the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (Spain) for his Ramon y Cajal grant (RYC-2012-11427)

Randomized clinical trial: Long-term Staphylococcus aureus decolonization in patients on home parenteral nutrition

Background & aims: Staphylococcus aureus decolonization has proven successful in prevention of S. aureus infections and is a key strategy to maintain venous access and avoid hospitalization in patients receiving home parenteral nutrition (HPN). We aimed to determine the most effective and safe long-term S. aureus decolonization regimen. Methods: A randomized, open-label, multicenter clinical trial was conducted. Adult intestinal failure patients with HPN support and carrying S. aureus were randomly assigned to a ‘continuous suppression’ (CS) strategy, a repeated chronic topical antibiotic treatment or a ‘search and destroy’ (SD) strategy, a short and systemic antibiotic treatment. Primary outcome was the proportion of patients in whom S. aureus was totally eradicated during a 1-year period. Secondary outcomes included risk factors for decolonization failure and S. aureus infections, antimicrobial resistance, adverse events, patient compliance and cost-effectivity. Results: 63 participants were included (CS 31; SD 32). The mean 1-year S. aureus decolonization rate was 61% (95% CI 44, 75) for the CS group and 39% (95% CI 25, 56) for the SD group with an OR of 2.38 (95% CI 0.92, 6.11, P = 0.07). More adverse effects occurred in the SD group (P = 0.01). Predictors for eradication failure were a S. aureus positive caregiver and presence of a (gastro)enterostomy. Conclusion: We did not demonstrate an increased efficacy of a short and systemic S. aureus decolonization strategy over a continuous topical suppression treatment. The latter may be the best option for HPN patients as it achieved a higher long-term decolonization rate and was well-tolerated (NCT03173053)

Scalable synthesis of dispersible iron carbide (Fe3C) nanoparticles by ‘nanocasting’

Metal carbides have shown great promise in a wide range of applications due to their unique catalytic, electrocatalytic and magnetic properties. However, the scalable production of dispersible metal carbide nanoparticles remains a challenge. Here, we report a simple and scalable route to dispersible iron carbide (Fe3C) nanoparticles. This uses MgO nanoparticles as a removable ‘cast’ to synthesize Fe3C nanoparticles from Prussian blue (KFeIII[FeII(CN)6]). Electron tomography demonstrates how nanoparticles of the MgO cast encase the Fe3C nanoparticles to prevent sintering and agglomeration during the high-temperature synthesis. The MgO cast is readily removed with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) to generate Fe3C nanoparticles that can be used to produce a colloidal ferrofluid or dispersed on a support material

Iron Catalysts for Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis derived from Metal-Organic Frameworks: Fundamentals and Performance

ChemE/Catalysis Engineerin

Long-term Staphylococcus aureus decolonization in patients on home parenteral nutrition: a randomized multicentre trial

Long-term Staphylococcus aureus decolonization in patients on home parenteral nutrition: a randomized multicentre trial. To determine the most effective and safe long-term S. aureus decolonization regimen for patients on home parenteral nutrition (HPN) with a central venous access device (CVAD). Abstract Objectives To determine the most effective and safe long-term S. aureus decolonization regimen for patients on home parenteral nutrition (HPN) with a central venous access device (CVAD). Methods A randomized, open-label, multicenter clinical trial was conducted. Patients on HPN using a CVAD and carrying S. aureus were randomly assigned to a ‘search and destroy’ (SD) strategy, a quick and short, systemic antibiotic treatment, or a ‘continuous suppression’ (CS) strategy, a repeated chronic topical antibiotic treatment. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients in whom S. aureus was totally eradicated during a 1-year period. Secondary outcomes included risk factors for decolonization failure and S. aureus infection, antimicrobial resistance, adverse events, patient compliance, quality of life, and cost-effectivity. Results 63 participants were included (SD 32; CS 31) between February 2018 and October 2021. The mean 1-year S. aureus decolonization rate was 39% (95% CI 25, 56) for the SD group and 61% (95% CI 44, 75) for the CS group with an OR of 2.38 (95% CI 0.92, 6.11, P = 0.07). Significantly more adverse effects related to the study medication occurred in the SD group (P = 0.01). Independent predictors for eradication failure were a S. aureus positive caregiver and presence of a (gastro)enterostomy . In three SD participants, resistance to previously administered antibiotics occurred. Conclusions Our trial did not demonstrate an increased efficacy of a short and systemic S. aureus decolonization strategy over a continuous topical suppression treatment for patients with a CVAD. The latter may be the best option as it achieved a higher long-term decolonization rate and was well-tolerated (NCT03173053)

Analysis of fecal bile acids and neutral steroids using gas-liquid chromatography

In the present pilot study, for investigating the physiological effects of different types of nondigestible oligosaccharides, we have validated the application of methodologies for the analysis of bile acids and neutral steroids in feces of human subjects. The accuracy of the extraction and chromatographic procedures for the analyses of bile acids and neutral steroids was determined by recovery of added compounds to fecal homogenate. The precision of the above procedures was checked by analyzing these compounds in samples (n = 5) of the same fecal homogenate. Recoveries of added bile acids ranged from 86 and 96%, and those of neutral steroids varied from 81 to 97%. The precision expressed as coefficients of variation of bile acids and neutral steroids ranged from 2.3 to 8.3% and from 6.3 to 11.8%, respectively. The intra- and interindividual variabilities expressed as coefficients of variation of bile acids varied from 1 to 58 and from 0 to 74%, respectively. The same variabilities for neutral steroids ranged from 0.5 to 107% and from 1 to 168%, respectively. The methods validated in the present pilot study were adequate for applying to our forthcoming European Union coordinated major study on the physiological effects of different types of nondigestible oligosaccharides and involving large numbers of samples

MnOx/IrOx as Selective Oxygen Evolution Electrocatalyst in Acidic Chloride Solution

Detailed studies of the CER mechanism and ex-situ structure studies using SEM, TEM, and XPS suggest that the MnOx film is in fact not a catalytically active phase, but functions as a permeable overlayer that disfavors the transport of chloride ions.Catalysis and Surface Chemistr

Repeat prescriptions of guideline-based secondary prevention medication in patients with type 2 diabetes and previous myocardial infarction in Dutch primary care

Prevention, Population and Disease management (PrePoD