BACKGROUND Calcium gluconate is used to treat neonatal hypocalcemia, severe hyperkalemia, and neonatal convulsions. Calcium gluconate can extravasate into the skin\'s soft tissues, resulting in redness, skin nodules, and calcification of soft tissue, which can cause tissue necrosis. This report presents 2 cases of neonatal calcinosis cutis following the treatment of hypocalcemia with calcium gluconate. CASE REPORT Case 1. The patient was a 12-day-old male neonate who presented with a mass in the right foot. He was recently discharged from the hospital after evacuation of subdual hematoma triggering his seizures. The swelling was associated with erythema but no discharge. His radiograph showed soft tissue calcification. He had received 2 peripheral intravenous calcium gluconate infusions to manage hypocalcemia during the last hospitalization. Symptomatic treatments were provided, and full resolution of the swelling was reported after 3 weeks. Case 2. The patient was a 1-month-old female infant newly diagnosed with cystic fibrosis who presented with a mass in her left foot. She underwent exploratory laparotomy in another hospital to manage meconium ileus. The mass was not mobile but there was no skin ulceration. Her radiograph showed soft tissue calcification. During her last admission, she had received 3 doses of intravenous calcium gluconate to manage hypocalcemia. The patient was observed and managed symptomatically. After 4 weeks, there was almost complete clinical and radiographic disappearance of the swelling without any skin necrosis. CONCLUSIONS This report has highlighted the importance of monitoring neonates treated with calcium gluconate who may develop skin rashes or nodules due to calcinosis cutis.

Recently, attention has been paid to cellulose nanofibers, such as 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl-oxidized cellulose nanofibers (TOCN), as new bio-based materials. In addition, hydrophobized surface on TOCNs can be expected to provide new applications. Based on our previous finding that partially 2-deoxygenated (P2D)-amylose, which was synthesized by GP-catalyzed enzymatic copolymerization of D-glucal with α-d-glucose 1-phosphate (Glc-1-P) as comonomers, was hydrophobic, in this study, hydrophobization of surfaces on TOCNs was investigated by the GP-catalyzed enzymatic grafting of P2D-amylose chains on TOCNs. After maltooligosaccharide primers were modified on TOCNs, the GP-catalyzed enzymatic copolymerization of D-glucal with Glc-1-P was performed for grafting of P2D-amylose chains. 1H NMR spectroscopic analysis confirmed the production of P2D-amylose-grafted TOCNs with different 2-deoxyglucose/Glc unit ratios. The powder X-ray diffraction profiles of the products indicated that the entire crystalline structures were strongly affected by the unit ratios and chain lengths of the grafted polysaccharides. The SEM images observed differences in nanofiber diameter in the reaction solutions and surface morphology after film formation, due to grafting of P2D-amylose chains from TOCNs. The water contact angle measurement of a cast film prepared from the product indicated its hydrophobicity.

Phycoerythrin and polysaccharides have significant commercial value in medicine, cosmetics, and food industries due to their excellent bioactive functions. To maximize the production of biomass, phycoerythrin, and polysaccharides in Porphyridium purpureum, culture media were supplemented with calcium gluconate (CG), magnesium gluconate (MG) and polypeptides (BT), and their optimal amounts were determined using the response surface methodology (RSM) based on three single-factor experiments. The optimal concentrations of CG, MG, and BT were determined to be 4, 12, and 2 g L-1, respectively. The RSM-based models indicated that biomass and phycoerythrin production were significantly affected only by MG and BT, respectively. However, polysaccharide production was significantly affected by the interactions between CG and BT and those between MG and BT, with no significant effect from BT alone. Using the optimized culture conditions, the maximum biomass (5.97 g L-1), phycoerythrin (102.95 mg L-1), and polysaccharide (1.42 g L-1) concentrations met and even surpassed the model-predicted maximums. After optimization, biomass, phycoerythrin, and polysaccharides concentrations increased by 132.3%, 27.97%, and 136.67%, respectively, compared to the control. Overall, this study establishes a strong foundation for the highly efficient production of phycoerythrin and polysaccharides using P. purpureum.

Flame retardants containing biomass receive growing interest in environmental friendliness and sustainability but usually face the low flame-retardant efficiency and deterioration on mechanical property of matrix. Herein, a calcium gluconate-based flame retardant (CG@APP) was chemically prepared using calcium gluconate (CG) and ammonium polyphosphate (APP) via ion exchange reaction, and enabled the excellent fire safety and mechanical enhancement for epoxy resin (EP). The resulted EP composites containing 6 wt% CG@APP (EP/CG@APP6) exhibited V-0 ratings in UL-94 test. Furthermore, with respect to EP/APP6, the peak of heat release rate (pHRR) and peak of smoke production rate (pSPR) of EP/CG@APP6 decreased by 70.5 % and 50.0 %, respectively. The well synergistic flame-retardant mechanism of CG@APP between gaseous and solid phases was revealed to generate denser and more continuous charring residuals, which could do well work on insulation for heat transfer and fuel diffusion. In addition, the shell rich in hydroxyl group and Ca2+ on the surface of CG@APP well enhanced the interface compatibility through the hydrogen bond and coordinated bond, thus the tensile strength, flexural strength and impact strength of EP/CG@APP6 increased by 18.2 %, 4.5 % and 9.1 % compared with pure EP, respectively. This work provided a simple and sustainable way to construct excellent fire-safety composites.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of calcium ions on promoting the penetrability of riboflavin into the corneal stroma by iontophoresis and to analyse the possible mechanism.
METHODS: Forty rabbits were divided into five groups randomly: 0.1% riboflavin-balanced salt solution (BSS) by iontophoresis group, 0.1% riboflavin-saline solution by iontophoresis group, 0.1% riboflavin-zinc gluconate solution by iontophoresis group, 0.1% riboflavin-calcium gluconate solution by iontophoresis group and classical riboflavin instillation after corneal de-epithelialization as the control group. The riboflavin concentrations in corneal stroma were determined and compared by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) after removing epithelium and endothelium.
RESULTS: Iontophoretic delivery of a 0.1% riboflavin-calcium gluconate solution was the closest to the effect of classical de-epithelialization. The other solvents were unsufficient at enhancing the permeability of the riboflavin.
CONCLUSIONS: Calcium ions can promote the penetrability of riboflavin into the corneal stroma by iontophoresis.

Hydrofluoric acid (HF) is a ubiquitous industrial chemical that is particularly hazardous because of the potential for systemic effects and the induction of severe cutaneous necrosis after contact with the skin. Minimizing skin injury requires decontaminating the affected area promptly with an emergency rinsing solution. Few experimental studies have objectively characterized rinsing solutions such as Diphoterine (DP). Here we develop an ex vivo pigskin model to study and compare the efficacy of rinsing solutions as initial decontaminating agents to stop the progression of skin lesions after HF splashing. The pigskin model shows an immediate local response to HF at varying concentrations and exposure times. We then exposed the pigskin biopsies to 3.75% HF for 1 min and rinsed them with different solutions, including water, 0.9% NaCl solution (saline), 10% calcium gluconate (CaG), Hexafluorine (HXF), and DP. We found DP to be a more effective agent for decontaminating HF lesions than water, saline, and CaG. DP had a similar efficacy as HXF, an emergency rinsing solution used specifically for decontaminating HF-exposed skin. This study shows that skin exposed to HF must be treated quickly from the first minute of exposure.

Calcium gluconate solutions are an essential part of the intensive care medication armamentarium. Calcium-related extravasations are not an infrequent occurrence. However, occult extravasation presenting solely as an isolated mass lesion with no preceding cutaneous manifestation is rare. Calcinosis cutis is an extraosseous collection of calcium deposits in the skin and subcutaneous tissues. Multiple etiopathogenetic factors play a role in its manifestations. We illustrate a case of a seven-week-old infant diagnosed with pseudo-hypoaldosteronism with a mysterious swelling on the left leg during the third week of hospitalization, which was attributed to occult iatrogenic calcinosis cutis.

The Ferrier rearrangement is a powerful tool to prepare 2,3-unsaturated glycopyranosides. We have reinvestigated SnCl4 catalyzed Ferrier rearrangements through direct allylic substitution of the hydroxyl group at the C-3 position of glycals, resulting in the formation of stereoselective 2,3-unsaturated glycosides at 0 °C. The catalytic amount of SnCl4 (0.1 equiv.) was successfully used to promote this transformation on 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-D-glucal, 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-D-galactal and 3,4-di-O-acetyl-D-arabinal using various nucleophiles viz alcohols, azide and thiols to form a variety of 2,3-unsaturated glycopyranosides (pseudoglycals). This straightforward process is notable for its strong anomeric selectivity, excellent yields and shorter reaction time.

Aluminum and silicon are contaminants found in formulations used to prepare parenteral nutrition. Both elements are leached from glass containers, mainly during the heating cycle for sterilization. Insoluble and biologically inactive species of hydroxyaluminosilicates have been shown to form in solutions containing Al and Si. Therefore, this interaction may play an important role in protecting the body against Al toxicity. In this study, the bioavailability of Al in the presence of Si, calcium gluconate (Gluc.), and potassium phosphate (Phosf.) was investigated in rats. The rats were divided into 10 groups of 5 animals each: control, Al, Si, Al + Si, Gluc, Gluc + Al, Gluc + Al + Si, Phosf, Phosf + Al, and Phosf + Al + Si. The doses, consisting of 0.5 mg/kg/day Al and 2 mg/kg/day Si in the presence or absence of Gluc. or Phosf., were intraperitoneally administered for 3 months. Tissues were analyzed for Al and Si content. Al accumulated in the liver, kidneys, and bones, and the simultaneous administration of Si decreased Al accumulation in these tissues. The presence of Si reduced the amount of Al present by 72% in the liver, by 45% in the kidneys, and by 16% in bone. This effect was lees pronounced in the presence of parenteral nutrition compounds though. Si tissue accumulation was also observed, mainly when administered together with phosphate. These results suggest that Si may act as a protector against Al toxicity, by either reducing Al absorption or increasing its excretion, probably through hydroxyaluminosilicates formation. The presence of calcium gluconate and potassium phosphate decreases or inhibits this effect.

Here, we present a case of a 55-year-old male, who was admitted with a spider bite, which caused swelling of the hand and painful muscle spasms along with palpitations. The patient made a complete recovery after the administration of intravenous calcium gluconate, followed by oral calcium supplements. Although no specific treatment exists in Sri Lanka for spider bites, calcium supplements can be beneficial for Sri Lankan ornamental tarantula (Poecilotheria fasciata) bites.