Composite Hydrogels with Embedded Silver Nanoparticles and Ibuprofen as Wound Dressing

The wound healing process is often slowed down as a result of complications from bacterial infections and inflammatory reactions. Therefore, it is necessary to develop dressings with fast antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activity that shorten the wound healing period by promoting cell migration and proliferation. Chitosan (CS)-based hydrogels have been widely studied for their antibacterial and wound healing capabilities. Herein, we developed a composite hydrogel based on CS and PVA embedding silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with antibacterial properties and ibuprofen (Ib) as an anti-inflammatory agent. The hydrogel prepared by double physical cross-linking, with oxalic acid and by freeze–thawing, loaded with 0.225 wt.% AgNPs and 0.264 wt.% Ib, displayed good mechanical properties (compressive modulus = 132 kPa), a high swelling degree and sustained drug delivery (in simulated skin conditions). Moreover, the hydrogel showed strong antibacterial activity against S. aureus and K. pneumoniae due to the embedded AgNPs. In vivo, this hydrogel accelerated the wound regeneration process through the enhanced expression of TNF alpha IP8, by activating downstream cascades and supporting the healing process of inflammation; Cox2, which enhances the migration and proliferation of cells involved in re-epithelization and angiogenesis; MHCII, which promotes immune cooperation between local cells, eliminating dead tissue and controlling infection; the intense expression of Col I as a major marker in the tissue granulation process; and αSMA, which marks the presence of myofibroblasts involved in wound closure and indicates ongoing re-epithelization. The results reveal the potential healing effect of CS/PVA/AgNPs/Ib hydrogels and suggest their potential use as wound dressings

Silver Nanoparticles Biocomposite Films with Antimicrobial Activity: In Vitro and In Vivo Tests

Overuse of antimicrobials by the population has contributed to genetic modifications in bacteria and development of antimicrobial resistance, which is very difficult to combat nowadays. To solve this problem, it is necessary to develop new systems for the administration of antimicrobial active principles. Biocomposite systems containing silver nanoparticles can be a good medical alternative. In this context, the main objective of this study was to obtain a complex system in the form of a biocomposite film with antimicrobial properties based on chitosan, poly (vinyl alcohol) and silver nanoparticles. This new system was characterized from a structural and morphological point of view. The swelling degree, the mechanical properties and the efficiency of loading and release of an anti-inflammatory drug were also evaluated. The obtained biocomposite films are biocompatibles, this having been demonstrated by in vitro tests on HDFa cell lines, and have antimicrobial activity against S. aureus. The in vivo tests, carried out on rabbit subjects, highlighted the fact that signs of reduced fibrosis were specific to the C2P4.10.Ag1-IBF film sample, demonstrated by: intense expression of TNFAIP8 factors; as an anti-apoptotic marker, MHCII that favors immune cooperation among local cells; αSMA, which marks the presence of myofibroblasts involved in approaching the interepithelial spaces for epithelialization; and reduced expression of the Cox2 indicator of inflammation, Col I

Uncontrolled blood pressure among hypertensive older adult patients in family practice settings: The contribution of physician and patient characteristics

Objective: To determine the patient and physician characteristics associated with blood pressure control among older hypertensive patients in family practice, the prevalence of hypertension and the percent of hypertensive patients with controlled blood pressure. Methods: A systematic review has been performed of published studies which reported an analysis of the association between patient and physician characteristics and hypertension control; Data collected in a retrospective review of patients' health records in 28 family practices and a questionnaire for the participating family physicians has been analyzed. Hierarchical logistic modeling has been conducted to determine the predictors for blood pressure control. Results: More than half of the patients were hypertensive. Among hypertensive patients, almost half had their blood pressure under control. The predictors for good blood pressure control were male gender, presence of cardiovascular disease or nephropathy, less than five blood pressure readings/year and young age of the physician. Diabetes predicted poor blood pressure control. Conclusion: Although blood pressure control has improved considerably, more than half of hypertensive patients remain poorly controlled. Selected patient characteristics and physician practice behavior and characteristics were predictors of the blood pressure control

Are Saliva Tests Important in the Prediction of Carious Disease?

(1) Background: The appearance and progression of carious lesions represent a complex phenomenon of interactions of microbial factors (the action of bacteria on the tooth), of the factors related to the host, to the diet, and to the time factor. Which hasan influence on the rate of microbismof the oral cavity on the installation of carious disease? (2) Methods: In order to correctly assess the cariogenic risk of an individual, it is recommended to perform twoor more tests based on different principles (microbiological, clinical, epidemiological). The representative data series for the investigation were analyzed statistically and by applying the Pearson correlation test considering the coefficient of determination R for all pairs of data series. (3) Results: Salivary tests played animportant role in establishing control sessions, in carrying out prophylactic caries therapy, and establishing prognosis. The existence of a statistical associationwas confirmed between the prevalence of dental caries and the results of salivary tests for the study group. (4) Conclusions: The results of the saliva tests can be used in oral health promotion

A comparison of the initial uncertainty budget and an estimate of the posterior uncertainties, in the case of large batches of calibration data: The LHC thermometers at CERN

The paper will describe the techniques that have been used to perform the comparison on large batches of cryogenic semiconductor-type thermometers, calibrated for the CERN LHC and the main results obtained: they concern either the uncertainty of the CernoxTM thermometers under calibration and the behaviour of the standards used during the calibrations

UNDERSTANDING E-COMMERCE ADOPTION. LITERATURE REVIEW OF COMPETING MODELS

The present paper reviews the theory of planned behaviour (Ajzen, 1991), the theory of reasoned action (Fishbein and Ajzen, 1975; Ajzen and Fishbein, 1980) and the theory of technology acceptance model (Davis, 1989) in order to better perceive their possible future application in the marketing field, namely in the process of using electronic commerce at the organizational level. While previous empirical studies have focused primarily on one of the theories, in an attempt to rule the advantages and / or disadvantages which would support the findings and hypothesis presented, it is the authors’ belief that all three theories greatly contribute, each one in a unique way. However, several pitfalls in methodology may be encountered, therefore further empirical research is required

OVERVIEW OF THE INDUSTRIAL MARKET IN ROMANIA. IMPLICATIONS FROM THE ORGANIZATIONAL CONSUMER PERSPECTIVE

Nowadays research in consumer behaviour has become really useful in understanding consumer needs regarding the use of products or services. Despite the tremendous work carried out in the field of consumer behaviour, few studies have concentrated on the organizational consumers as main buyers in the market. In this regard, considering the economic sectors of Romania, the main purpose of the article consists in characterizing the national industrial buyers taking into consideration the organizational consumer approach. Using an empirical study based on the macroeconomic indicators published by the Romanian National Institute of Statistics, we aimed to identify the components of the organizational market in Romania. In this regard, we selected several statistical indicators specific for the agriculture sector which can help us understand the behaviour of the organizations from this area considering the buying perspective. The results obtained demonstrate that although there are many macroeconomic indicators in the agriculture sector (43) few of them (19) provide significant information regarding the industrial buying behaviour among Romanian firms from this area

ONLINE PROCUREMENT IN SME`s

E-Marketplaces are new business places for buying, selling products and services in many industries to support customers. The emergence of business-to-business (B2B) in the online environment has opened up opportunities for effective online transactions between businesses. Research in this area is not enough to offer only fragmented perspectives in this area. Therefore, the targeted research problem was designed to investigate how business performance of online B2B purchases can be analyzed. The proposed study focuses on the online procurement in. Specifically, they try to answer questions such as: Does site, product, and vendor characteristics affect the online procurement in? Does online buying experience influence online procurement by? Participants are that use the Internet to procure products or services. Study respondents were SME managers who believe that online procurement will save time, money and effort, reducing costs