In vivo Assessments of Bioabsorbable AZ91 Magnesium Implants Coated with Nanostructured Fluoridated Hydroxyapatite by MAO/EPD Technique for Biomedical Applications

Although magnesium (Mg) is a unique biodegradable metal which possesses mechanical property similar to that of the natural bone and can be an attractive material to be used as orthopedic implants, its quick corrosion rate restricts its actual clinical applications. To control its rapid degradation, we have modified the surface of magnesium implant using fluoridated hydroxyapatite (FHA: Ca10(PO4)6OH2 − xFx) through the combined micro-arc oxidation (MAO) and electrophoretic deposition (EPD) techniques, which was presented in our previous paper. In this article, the biocompatibility examinations were conducted on the coated AZ91 magnesium alloy by implanting it into the greater trochanter area of rabbits. The results of the in vivo animal test revealed a significant enhancement in the biocompatibility of FHA/MAO coated implant compared to the uncoated one. By applying the FHA/MAO coating on the AZ91 implant, the amount of weight loss and magnesium ion release in blood plasma decreased. According to the histological results, the formation of the new bone increased and the inflammation decreased around the implant. In addition, the implantation of the uncoated AZ91 alloy accompanied by the release of hydrogen gas around the implant; this release was suppressed by applying the coated implant. Our study exemplifies that the surface coating of magnesium implant using a bioactive ceramic such as fluoridated hydroxyapatite may improve the biocompatibility of the implant to make it suitable as a commercialized biomedical product

Non-Invasive Ventilation of the Neonate

The use of mechanical ventilation in the past few decades has greatly contributed to the survival of critically ill neonates, both preterm and term. With this, however, has come an accompanied rise in certain complications and neonatal co-morbidities. Avoiding mechanical ventilation, or at least minimizing the time a neonate is intubated, is considered a critical goal in the care of these patients. Different modes of non-invasive ventilation have developed over the course of the time to help address these issues

Biodegradable Magnesium Bone Implants Coated with a Novel Bioceramic Nanocomposite

Magnesium (Mg) alloys are being investigated as a biodegradable metallic biomaterial because of their mechanical property profile, which is similar to the human bone. However, implants based on Mg alloys are corroded quickly in the body before the bone fracture is fully healed. Therefore, we aimed to reduce the corrosion rate of Mg using a double protective layer. We used a magnesium-aluminum-zinc alloy (AZ91) and treated its surface with micro-arc oxidation (MAO) technique to first form an intermediate layer. Next, a bioceramic nanocomposite composed of diopside, bredigite, and fluoridated hydroxyapatite (FHA) was coated on the surface of MAO treated AZ91 using the electrophoretic deposition (EPD) technique. Our in vivo results showed a significant enhancement in the bioactivity of the nanocomposite coated AZ91 implant compared to the uncoated control implant. Implantation of the uncoated AZ91 caused a significant release of hydrogen bubbles around the implant, which was reduced when the nanocomposite coated implants were used. Using histology, this reduction in the corrosion rate of the coated implants resulted in an improved new bone formation and reduced inflammation in the interface of the implants and the surrounding tissue. Hence, our strategy using a MAO/EPD of a bioceramic nanocomposite coating (i.e., diopside-bredigite-FHA) can significantly reduce the corrosion rate and improve the bioactivity of the biodegradable AZ91 Mg implant

Golden Hours: An Approach to Postnatal Stabilization and Improving Outcomes

The “Golden Hour” model of care originated in adult trauma medicine. Recently, this concept has been applied to premature neonates and the care they receive immediately after birth. This is not limited to the first hour of life, however, as this approach encompasses the first hours and days after birth. While no universal description defines the Golden Hour model, critical domains include initial delivery room management, thermoregulation, ventilation and oxygenation, glycemic control and prevention of infection. Strong evidence favors standardization of care to improve short- and long-term outcomes. This approach to care for the most at-risk premature infant is typically institution-specific; thus, team-building and quality improvement are critical to the care of these vulnerable patients

Identification of Tourism Scenarios in Turkey Based on Futures Study Approach

This study aims to identify the plausible scenarios of tourism in Antalya, Turkey. For this purpose, the drivers and key factors of the research were first identified by reviewing the literature and interviewing Turkish tourism experts. Then these factors were screened using binomial nonparametric test and eight factors were eliminated from the 19 key factors. Two key factors of government policy in the tourism field and value of country currency were selected using cross impact analysis technique in order to write plausible scenarios. Based on these two uncertainties, four scenarios of luxury tourism, cheap tourism, tourism deterioration and unplanned tourism were identified

The effects of supplemented sericin on in vitro maturation and preimplantation development of mouse embryos: An experimental study

Background: Mouse embryo culture condition is an essential part of transgenic, reproductive and developmental biology laboratories. Mouse embryonic culture media may have a high risk of serum contamination with pathogens.  Objective: To investigate the effect of sericin as an embryo culture medium supplement on in vitro maturation (IVM), in vitro fertilization (IVF), and development of the preimplantation embryo in mice. Materials and Methods: The effects of sericin at three concentrations (subgroups) of 0.1%, 0.5%, and 1% as a medium supplement on IVM, IVF, and in vitro development of mouse embryos were separately investigated and compared with a sericin-free (control) group. The cumulative effect of the three concentrations was evaluated for IVM + in vitro development and IVF + in vitro development as follow-up groups. Results: In the IVM group, compared to the control group, the number of oocysts reaching the MII stage was significantly higher when 1% sericin was used (161/208 = 77.4%). No significant results were observed in the IVF and in vitro development groups with different concentrations of sericin compared to the control group. Among the follow-up groups, in the IVM + in vitro development group, the number of oocytes was higher after passing the IVM and IVF and reaching the blastocysts stage when 1% sericin was used, compared with other sericin subgroups. A significant difference was also noted when compared with the control group (p = 0.048). The IVF + in vitro development study group, on the other hand, did not show any significant relationship. Conclusion: It can be concluded that 1% sericin can be used as a supplement in mouse embryo cultures to improve the IVM rate. Also, based on the findings, sericin appears to be an effective supplement which can have a positive effect on the development of embryos derived from IVM. Key words: Sericin, In vitro maturation, In vitro fertilization, Preimplantation embryo, Culture medium, Mice

Correlation between Certain Klotho Gene Polymorphisms and IGF-1 Levels of Colorectal Cancer Patients in Northern Iran

Background: Colorectal cancer susceptibility may correlate with the Klotho gene G-395A and C1818T polymorphisms. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between a Klotho single nucleotide polymorphism and IGF-1 with risk of colorectal cancer. Methods: This study enrolled 60 colorectal cancer patients and 60 age-matched healthy persons who referred to Razi Hospital, Rasht, and Northern Iran in September 2013. Patients enrolled under supervision of a gastro-intestinal specialist and according to the ethics right. G-395A and C1818T polymorphisms were genotyped with polymerase chain confronting two pair primer technology. IGF-1 and certain biochemistry analytes were assayed. Statistical analysis was used to compare appropriate relationships. Results: There were different base pair partitions for G395A and C1818T. Odds ratio and 95% confidence interval were used to analyze the correlation of genotypes and haplotypes with colorectal cancer susceptibility. The AA (odds ratio: 1.437, 95% confidence interval: 0.596) and GA (odds ratio: 1.958, 95% confidence interval: 1.133- 3.385) genotypes of the G-395A polymorphisms showed a slight relationship to the risk of colorectal cancer. The A allele had a much higher frequency in the case group (31.2%) compared with the control group (17.6%). There was no significant relationship with the C1818T polymorphism between the case and control groups. Conclusion: The Klotho gene polymorphism did not significantly increase the risk of colorectal cancer. Therefore, these genotypes might not have a correlation with IGF-1

Characterization of Encapsulated Berberine in Yeast Cells of Saccharomyces Cerevisiae

Abstract Berberine was loaded in yeast cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a novel pharmaceutical carrier to improve the treatment of many diseases. The yeast-encapsulated active materials showed high stability and bioavailability due to the enhanced solubility and sustained releasing. In this study, different characteristics of prepared berberine loaded yeast cells (loading capacity, release kinetic order, MIC and stability) were evaluated by different analytical methods (fluorescence spectroscopy, HPLC and SEM).The loading capacity was about 78% ± 0.6%. Berberine release patterns of microcapsules happened in two different stages and followed by zero and first-order kinetic,respectively. About 99% of all active material released during 34 hours. MIC was improved by berberine loaded microcapsules in comparison with berberine powder. The microcapsules were completely stable. Berberine loaded Sac. cerevisiae could be considered as a favorite sustained release drug delivery system. The yeast would be applied as an efficient carrier to improve various properties of different active materials

Comparison of volume-controlled and pressure-controlled ventilation during laryngeal mask airway anesthesia in cataract surgery

Introduction: Most patients undergoing eye surgery are elderly adults with underlying cardiovascular diseases. One of the complications during recovery is gastric insufflation, which can cause detrimental effects on cardiovascular patients. The present study compares two methods of volume-controlled ventilation (VCV) and pressure-controlled ventilation (PCV). Methods: The study enrolled 81 patients undergoing cataract surgery (41 in the PCV group and 40 in the VCV group). According to the American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) classes I and II received general anaesthesia and laryngeal mask airway (LMA) ventilation using VCV or PCV. Maximum pressure (Ppeak), dynamic compliance, expiratory tidal volume, Spo2, non-invasive blood pressure, heart rate, and pain in the epigastrium and umbilical region were monitored at intervals of 1, 5, 10, and 20 minutes after the initiation of anaesthesia and the results of two groups were compared. Results: The means of Ppeak and tidal volume in the PCV group as well as the means of dynamic compliance and end-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO2) in the VCV group were significantly high. The mean diastolic blood pressure was significantly different between two groups at 20th minute. There were no significant differences in heart rate, mean systolic blood pressure, arterial oxygen saturation, or abdominal pain between two study groups. Conclusion: VCV had a lower Ppeak and a higher dynamic compliance, but PCV had a larger tidal volume and lower EtCO2. There were no differences in terms of abdominal and umbilicus pain, as well as hemodynamic parameters, between two groups

Cosmic kidney disease: an integrated pan-omic, physiological and morphological study into spaceflight-induced renal dysfunction

Missions into Deep Space are planned this decade. Yet the health consequences of exposure to microgravity and galactic cosmic radiation (GCR) over years-long missions on indispensable visceral organs such as the kidney are largely unexplored. We performed biomolecular (epigenomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, epiproteomic, metabolomic, metagenomic), clinical chemistry (electrolytes, endocrinology, biochemistry) and morphometry (histology, 3D imaging, miRNA-ISH, tissue weights) analyses using samples and datasets available from 11 spaceflight-exposed mouse and 5 human, 1 simulated microgravity rat and 4 simulated GCR-exposed mouse missions. We found that spaceflight induces: 1) renal transporter dephosphorylation which may indicate astronauts’ increased risk of nephrolithiasis is in part a primary renal phenomenon rather than solely a secondary consequence of bone loss; 2) remodelling of the nephron that results in expansion of distal convoluted tubule size but loss of overall tubule density; 3) renal damage and dysfunction when exposed to a Mars roundtrip dose-equivalent of simulated GCR