We compared mortality between HIV-positive and HIV-negative South African adults with drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) and high incidence of acquired second-line drug resistance.

We performed a retrospective review of DR-TB patients with serial second-line TB drug susceptibility tests (2008-2015) who were hospitalized at a specialized TB hospital. We used Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox models to examine associations with mortality.

Of 245 patients, the median age was 33 years, 54% were male and 40% were HIV-positive, 96% of whom had ever received antiretroviral therapy (ART). At initial drug resistance detection, 99% of patients had resistance to at least rifampicin and isoniazid, and 18% had second-line drug resistance (fluoroquinolones and/or injectable drugs). At later testing, 88% of patients had acquired additional second-line drug resistance. Patient-initiated treatment interruptions (> 2 months) occurred in 47%. Mortality was 79%. Those with HIV had a shorter time to death (p=0.02; log-r to reduce the risk of acquired resistance and for more effective treatment.Correction for ‘SARS-CoV-2 and approaches for a testing and diagnostic strategy’ by Delyan R. Hristov et al., J. Mater. Chem. B, 2021, 9, 8157-8173, DOI https//doi.org/10.1039/D1TB00674F.In the process of adapting to the environment, tea plants (Camellia sinensis) endow tea with unique flavor and health functions, which should be attributed to secondary metabolites, including catechins, L-theanine, caffeine and terpene volatiles. Since the content of these flavor-contributing metabolites are mainly determined by the growth of tea plant, it is very important to understand their alteration and regulation mechanisms. In the present work, we first summarize the distribution, change characteristics of the main flavor-contributing metabolites in different cultivars, organs and under environmental stresses of tea plant. Subsequently, we discuss the regulating mechanisms involved in the biosynthesis of these metabolites based on the existing evidence. Finally, we propose the remarks and perspectives on the future study relating flavor-contributing metabolites. This review would contribute to the acceleration of research on the characteristic secondary metabolites and the breeding programs in tea plants.Long-tailed macaques are the predominant nonhuman primate species for the nonclinical safety testing of biopharmaceuticals. This species comprises 9 subspecies with Macaca fascicularis fascicularis naturally occurring in Southeast Asia. Since the 17th century, M. f. fascicularis also occurs on Mauritius. Cynomolgus macaques do not naturally occur in China, but are bred in many farms across the country. The current shortage in animal supply raises the question whether geographical animal origin matters and if animals from different geographical regions can be combined on a drug development program or even a single experiment. This article reviews geographical animal origin in relation to selected endpoints that are relevant in nonclinical drug safety testing. Animals from different countries within Asia mainland do not appear to show any meaningful difference. Very little data are available for animals from Asia island. Mauritian animals show consistent differences from Asian animals in several clinical and anatomical pathology parameters. For developmental parameters, animals from Mauritius and Asia are comparable with the exception that Mauritian animals mature faster. In the authors’ view, differences between the geographical clusters can be accounted for as long as baseline and reference data are available.Two-dimensional MoS2 nanosheets have shown great potential in heavy metal remediation due to their unique properties. MoS2 has two primary phases 1T and 2H. Each has different physiochemical properties, but the impact of these differences on the overall material’s heavy metal removal performance and associated mechanisms is rarely reported. In this study, we synthesized morphologically similar but phase-distinct MoS2 samples via hydrothermal synthesis, which comprised dominantly either a metallic 1T phase or a semiconducting 2H phase. 1T-MoS2 samples exhibited higher removal capacities for Ag+ and Pb2+ cations relative to 2H-MoS2. In particular, an eight-fold increase in the Pb2+ adsorption capacity was observed in the 1T-MoS2 samples (i.e. ∼632.9 mg g-1) compared to the 2H-MoS2 samples (∼81.6 mg g-1). The mechanisms driving the enhanced performance of 1T-MoS2 were investigated through detailed characterization of metal-laden MoS2 samples and DFT modelling. We found that 1T-MoS2 intrinsically had a larger interlayer spacing than 2H-MoS2 because water molecules were retained between the hydrophilic 1T nanosheets during hydrothermal synthesis. The widened interlayer spacing in 1T-MoS2 allowed the diffusion of heavy metal ions into the nanochannels, increasing the number of adsorption sites and total removal capacities. On the other hand, DFT modelling revealed the energy-favorable adsorption complex of Ag+ and Pb2+ for 1T-MoS2, in which each metal atom was bonded with three S atoms leading to much higher adsorption energies relative to 2H-MoS2 for Ag+ and Pb2+. This study unravels the underlying mechanisms of phase-dependent heavy metal remediation by MoS2 nanosheets, providing an important guide for the use of 2D nanomaterials in environmental applications which include heavy metal removal, contaminant sensing, and membrane separation.A novel 1,8-naphthalimide-based chemical sensor 3-((2-(2-butyl-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-benzo[de]isoquinoline-6-yl)hydrazone-o)methyl)-4-hydroxy-[1,1-biphenyl]-4-carbonitrile (BUDIN) with ratiometric fluorescence behavior, as well as “naked-eye” response was developed for the sensitive and specific determination of Cu2+ at nanomolar levels. With the addition of different amounts of Cu2+, the emission of BUDIN varied continually, leading to colour changes from yellow to blue (λem = 532 nm to 462 nm) due to intra-ligand charge transfer (ILCT) and metal-ligand charge transfer (MCLT). BUDIN can detect Cu2+ quantitatively with a detection limit of 17 nM. Job’s plot, MALDI TOF MS and TOF MS findings revealed that the binding stoichiometry of BUDIN and Cu2+ was 2  1. Furthermore, the theoretical computation data strongly supported the optical response of BUDIN toward Cu2+. Smartphone digital imaging studies proved that BUDIN can be utilized as an outstanding chemical sensor for the on-site detection of Cu2+ without the need for sophisticated equipment, with a detection limit of 17.8 μM. The findings also presented that BUDIN is a very effective chemosensor for Cu2+ in real food samples with quite a simple operation.Gluten is a key component that allows wheat flour to form a dough, and it is also a byproduct of the production of wheat starch. check details As a commercial product, wheat gluten is increasingly used in the food-related industry because of its versatile functional properties and wide range of sources. Wheat gluten is manufactured industrially on a large scale through the Martin process and batter process and variants thereof. Gliadin and glutenin impart cohesiveness and elasticity properties, respectively, to wheat gluten. The formation of gluten networks and polymers depends mainly on covalent bonds (disulfide bonds) and noncovalent bonds (ionic bonds, hydrogen bonds, and hydrophobic interactions). The multifunctional properties (viscoelasticity, gelation, foamability, etc.) of wheat gluten are shown by rehydration and other processing techniques. Wheat gluten has been widely used in wheat-based products, food auxiliary agents, food packaging, encapsulation and release of food functional ingredients, food adsorption and heat insulation materials, special purpose foods, and versatile applications. In the future, wheat gluten protein will be used as an important raw material to participate in the development and preparation of various food and degradable materials, and the application potential of wheat gluten in food-related industries will be massive. This review summarizes the main manufacturing processes, composition, and structure of gluten protein, and the various functional properties that support its application in the food and related industries.Emerging conservation psychology literature shows that there is a strong link between positive attachment to a workplace and the performance of pro-environmental behaviors by employees at work. The present study explores the validity of a pilot survey based in previous literature that explores these constructs to determine whether a relationship between the two exists among zoo and aquarium professionals. The survey was distributed to employees of the Wildlife Conservation Society’s city zoos-Prospect Park, Central Park, and Queens Zoos-during the first year of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Two of the survey scales used had a high internal consistency and data from these responses informed this case study to show that there is a weak, positive correlation between workplace attachment (WPA) and self-reported frequency of performance of pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs) among the respondents. Isolating the responses by department revealed that staff working in Operations departments (1) exhibit lower frequencies of PEB than those in Education and Animal departments and (2) have a very strong, positive correlation between WPA and PEB. The results suggest that zoo and aquarium employees who are positively attached to their workplace are more likely to perform PEBs, especially those working in Operations departments. These findings help support that workplace practices seeking to increase WPA could increase the performance of PEBs at work by all employees.Visualization of cation dynamics inside a living system represent a major breakthrough at the crossroad of chemistry and cellular physiology. Since the inception of BAPTA-based cellular calcium indicators in the 1980s, generations of chemical and genetically encoded ion indicators spanning the visible spectrum have been developed. In this article, we bring up three emerging concepts in this field 1. red-shifting cation indicators towards far-red and near-infrared (NIR) channels; 2. directing the indicators to various subcellular localizations; 3. lowering the phototoxicity of indicators for long term recording. These initiatives collectively echo the advocate of 4D cellular physiology, where biological processes within living systems can be panoramically unveiled under 3D, long-term, and multi-channel imaging with unprecedented spatial and temporal resolution. This outlook poses exciting challenges and opportunities for chemists to upgrade the toolkit of fluorescent indicators as key enablers for a new era of imageomics.Temephos (O,O,O’,O’-tetramethyl O,O’-thiodi-p-phenylene bis(phosphorothioate)) is a larvicide belonging to the family of organophosphate pesticides used for the control of different vectors of diseases, such as dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and dracunculiasis. The aim of this review was to discuss the available published information about temephos toxicokinetics and toxicity in mammals. Temephos is quickly absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract, distributed to all organs, and then it accumulates mainly in adipose tissue. It is metabolized by S-oxidation, oxidative desulfuration, and hydrolysis reactions, with the possible participation of cytochrome P450 (CYP). Temephos is mainly eliminated by feces, whereas some of its metabolites are eliminated by urine. The World Health Organization classifies it as class III slightly dangerous with a NOAEL (no-observed adverse effect level) of 2.3 mg/kg/day for up to 90 days in rats, based on brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition. A LOAEL (lowest observable adverse effect level) of 100 mg/kg/day for up to 44 days in rats was proposed based on cholinergic symptoms.