The outbreak of multispecies carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales associated with pediatric ward sinks: IncM1 plasmids act as vehicles for cross-species transmission.

Background: This study describes an outbreak caused by multispecies carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) occurring in a pediatric ward at an academic medical center in Tokyo.

Methods: The index case involved a 1-year-old boy with Klebsiella variicola (CPE) detected in anal swabs in June 2016. The second case was Klebsiella quasipneumoniae (CPE) occurred in March 2017 followed by further spread, leading to the declaration of an outbreak in April 2017.

Direct measurement of interactions between stimulation-responsive drug delivery vehicles and artificial mucin layers by colloid probe atomic force microscopy.

A novel thermo- and pH-sensitive nanogel particle, which is a core-shell structured particle with a poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (p(NIPAAm)) hydrogel core and a poly(ethylene glycol) monomethacrylate grafted poly(methacrylic acid) (p(MMA-g-EG)) shell, is of interest as a vehicle for the controlled release of peptide drugs. The interactions between such nanogel particles and artificial mucin layers during both approach and separation were successfully measured by using colloid probe atomic force microscopy (AFM) under various compression forces, scan velocities, and pH values. While the magnitudes of the compression forces and scan velocities did not affect the interactions during the approach process, the adhesive force during the separation process increased with these parameters.

Effect of particle size on surface modification of silica nanoparticles by using silane coupling agents and their dispersion stability in methylethylketone.

The effect of particle size on the reactivity of hexyltrimethoxysilane (C6S) with the particle surface was studied by using silica nanoparticles (SNPs) with different diameters (30 or 200 nm). In case of 30-nm SNPs, a large amount of isolated silanol was observed. On the other hand, in the case of 200-nm SNPs, the amount of hydrogen bonded silanol and hydrogen bonded water molecules at the surface of the SNPs increased.

Effect of surface interaction of silica nanoparticles modified by silane coupling agents on viscosity of methylethylketone suspension.

In order to control the viscosity of a dense silica methylethylketone (MEK) suspension, the surfaces of silica nanoparticles were modified by 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPS) or hexyltrimethoxysilane (C6S) in MEK with the addition of a small amount of pH-controlled water. First, the effect of water addition on the amount of chemisorbed coupling agent was investigated. pH-controlled water enhanced the reactivity of the coupling agent in MEK.

Microstructure control of iron hydroxide nanoparticles using surfactants with different molecular structures.

To control the morphology and crystal phase of iron oxide nanoparticles within several 10 nm in diameter, a microbial-derived surfactant (MDS) with a high carboxyl-group density and relatively low molecular weight (about 650 g/mol) or an artificially synthesized polyacrylic acid sodium salt (PAA) was added into the raw material aqueous solution before iron oxide particle synthesis by the gel-sol method. While pseudo-cubic hematite particles with a diameter of 500 nm were prepared without surfactant addition, spherical iron hydroxide nanoparticles with a diameter of 20 nm were prepared by MDS addition. In contrast, needle-type iron hydroxide nanoparticles with a length of 100 nm along the long axis were prepared by PAA addition.

Preparation of agglomeration-free hematite particles coated with silica and their reduction behavior in hydrogen.

To prepare silica-coated hematite particles without agglomeration, the effects of solid fraction, ion content in solution, and designed layer thickness on agglomeration and dispersion behavior after silica coating were examined. Since the ion concentration remained high in suspension after the hematite particles were prepared, these particles formed aggregates by the compression of an electric double layer on the hematite and silica layer produced a solid bridge between primary hematite particles. Silica bridge formation and agglomeration were almost completely prevented by decreasing the ion concentration and solid fraction of the hematite particles.