Complex therapeutical rehabilitation approach in the case of a polytrauma patient with traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries – Case report

The multidisciplinary approach of polytrauma cases including traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries, the survival represents one of the greatest challenges, but the decrease of dysfunction and minimizing the psycho-cognitive sequels are at least as important, regarding the patient’s future quality of life. Material and method Under THEBA Bioethics Commission approval (9181 / 11.04.2018), this paper presents a case of a 28-year-old patient with AIS / Frankel (A) paraplegia after a spinal cord injury SCI T3 level secondary to T4-T5 fracture surgically treated. SCI was associated with moderate traumatic brain injury TBI (subarachnoid haemorrhage), thoraco-abdominal contusion (pneumothorax stg, hepatic trauma) and multiple fractures (sternum and costal, operated), neurogenic bladder and bowel. This condition was due to a car accident, occurred on November 13, 2017. The patient was admitted with a psycho-cognitive status, complete bilateral motor deficit in the lower limbs - paraplegia, sensitivity disorders anaesthesia type and sphincter disorders. The patient was clinically, paraclinical and functionally assessed according to the standardized protocols implemented in our clinic through the assessment scales: AIS, FIM, QoL-Quality of Life, Ashworth, Penn, FAC, WISCI II. Results: The patient's evolution was slow but favourable. He benefited of neurosurgical care and had thoracic surgery to extract the osteosynthesis material at the sternum. Meanwhile he learned the technique of intermittent catheterisation. As a result of rehabilitation program the patients finally reached the level of wheelchair locomotion and have completely restored the cognitive function. Conclusion: The multidisciplinary team approach consisting of physicians, kinetotherapist, nurses and auxiliary healthcare personnel was the key of the patient’s survival, eliminated the cognitive dysfunction and reduced as much as possible the locomotor one

The Effect of Different Soft Core/Hard Shell Ratios on the Coating Performance of Acrylic Copolymer Latexes

Core-shell acrylic copolymer latexes containing bio resourced itaconic acid with different compositions in respect with the core and shell segments were synthesized, characterized, and applied as coating materials for leather. The purpose of the study was to evidence the high coating performance of the latexes when the ratio of the core/shell differed from 90/10 to 50/50 wt %. The copolymers were prepared via emulsion copolymerization technique and the products were isolated and characterized by means of structure identity, thermal behavior (DSC and DMTA), coating performance. The particle size of the latexes varied from 83 to 173 nm with the variation of the ratio of core/shell segments. The influence of the composition of soft part and hard part was highlighted in the thermal and coating properties. The optimal composition giving the best coating performance could be determined as DS 60/40. Further increase of the hard segment content, resulted in decreased emulsion stability and the coating performance on the leathers. The use of itaconic acid seemed to increase the emulsion stability as well the adhesion of the latexes to the substrate.SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL OF TURKEY (TUBITAK)This research was funded by THE SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL OF TURKEY (TUBITAK), grant number 115M650

Halogen-Free Waterborne Polymeric Hybrid Coatings for Improved Fire Retardancy of Textiles

Wildfires are becoming more intense and more frequent, ravaging the habitations and ecosystems in their path. One solution to reducing the risk of damage to buildings and other structures during a fire event is the use of fire-retardant coatings that can stop or slow down the spread of flames, especially for textile materials. The present study focuses on the preparation and application of halogen-free boron/bentonite-based polymeric fire-retardant (FR) hybrid coating formulations for fabrics such as cotton (CO) and polyester (PE) fibers. For the preparation of FR composites, two types of boron derivatives, disodium octaborate and zinc borate, were used in combination with sodium bentonite. A styrene-acrylic copolymer was specifically synthesized and used as a coating binder for FR components to apply on fabrics. The properties of the synthesized copolymer and FR composites were characterized with a particle size analysis, FTIR spectroscopy, a dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), and rheological measurements. The obtained hybrid composites based on styrene-acrylic copolymers and two different inorganic fillers were applied on cotton (CO) and polyester (PE) fabrics with a screen-printing technique, and the flame retardancy performance of the finished textile samples was investigated by means of flame spread and limit oxygen index (LOI) tests. The findings showed that the FR-composite-coated fabrics had higher LOI values and much decreased flame spread rates in comparison with uncoated ones. Among the boron derivatives, the composites prepared with disodium octaborate (FR-A) had much more pronounced LOI values and decreased flame spread behavior in comparison with the composite with zinc borate (FR-B). When compared to a commercial product, the FR-A composite, in conjunction with the specially synthesized polymer, demonstrated commendable fire retardancy performance and emerged as a promising candidate for a halogen-free waterborne fire-retardant coating for fabrics

Epidemiological Trends in Patients Undergoing Mitral Valve Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair over the Last Decade: Functional vs. Structural Mitral Regurgitation

Objective: We aimed to investigate the demographic, clinical and hemodynamic characteristics of patients who underwent percutaneous mitral valve (MV) repair over the last decade, as well as to determine the potential changes in trends of these parameters among patients with structural and functional MR (SMR and FMR). Methodology: We analyzed all patients who underwent interventional MV repair in our institution between January 2010 and March 2021. Our study included both SMR and FMR patients. All data were obtained from a local registry. Results: Nine hundred and seventeen patients (357 SMR patients and 563 FMR patients) were involved in this study. We did not find significant differences in demographical, clinical and hemodynamic characteristics among SMR and FMR patients. Left ventricular remodeling and systolic dysfunction were more pronounced in FMR patients. Systemic vascular resistance was the only hemodynamic parameter that differed between SMR and FMR patients; it was higher in SMR group. An evaluation of the trend between the first and last five years of our experience revealed that the number of patients treated with this technique is constantly increasing, but that this is more pronounced in SMR patients. It was also found that the operative risk of SMR and FMR patients was significantly higher in the first five years. Additionally, our results showed change in medical therapy in MR patients over the last decade in terms of increased use of angiotensin II receptor blockers and the introduction of angiotensin receptor II blocker-neprilysin inhibitor. Conclusion: SMR and FMR patients who underwent interventional MV repair have similar clinical and hemodynamic characteristics. The percentage of SMR patients increased more significantly than FMR patients over the last five years

Study on Thermal Behavior of Some Biocompatible and Biodegradable Materials Based on Plasticized PLA, Chitosan, and Rosemary Ethanolic Extract

Thermal characterization of some multifunctional environmentally friendly materials based on plasticized poly (lactic acid) (PLA)/chitosan (CS) and rosemary extract (R) previously obtained is presented. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) associated with other complex investigations such as chemiluminescence and coupled thermogravimetry (TG)/Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR)/mass spectroscopy (MS) was performed in order to test both the thermal behavior and the biocomposition–property relationship. It was established that the rosemary ethanolic extract offers an efficient protection against thermoxidative degradation to the new developed plasticized PLA-based biocomposites which show good thermal properties, being suitable for both medical and food packaging applications

Chitosan-Based Bionanocomposite Films Prepared by Emulsion Technique for Food Preservation

Biopolymer nanocomposite films were prepared by casting film-forming emulsions based on chitosan/Tween 80/rosehip seed oil and dispersed montmorillonite nanoclay C30B. The effect of composition on structural, morphological characteristics and, mechanical, barrier, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties was studied. The presence of rosehip seed oil in chitosan films led to the formation of flexible films with improved mechanical, gas and water vapour barrier properties and antioxidant activity. The in vitro antibacterial tests against Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhymurium, and Bacillus cereus showed that the chitosan/rosehip seed oil/montmorillonite nanoclay composites effectively inhibited all the three microorganisms

Effects of Laser Irradiation at 488, 514, 532, 552, 660, and 785 nm on the Aqueous Extracts of Plantago lanceolata L.: A Comparison on Chemical Content, Antioxidant Activity and Caco-2 Viability

In this study, six laser radiation (488 nm/40 mW, 514 nm/15 mW, 532 nm/20 mW, 552 nm/15 mW, 660 nm/75 mW, and at 785 nm/70 mW) were tested on the aqueous extracts of leaves of Plantago lanceolata L. to compare extraction efficacy and antioxidant and cell viability effects in vitro. Briefly, in comparison with the control extract, laser extracts at 488, 514, 532, and 552 nm revealed small acquisitions of total extractible compounds in samples (up to 6.52%; laser extracts at 488 and 532 nm also revealed minerals and micro-elements increases (up to 6.49%); the most prominent results were obtained upon Fe (up to 38%, 488 nm), Cr (up to 307%, 660 nm), and Zn (up to 465%, 532 nm). Laser extracts at 488, 514, 552, and 785 nm proved more intense antioxidant capacity than the control sample, while laser extract at 660 nm indicated clear pro-oxidant effects. Caco-2 cells study indicated stimulatory activity for the extracts at 488 nm, no effects at 532 nm, and the decrease of the cell viability in the case of extracts at 660 nm respectively. Further studies are necessary to understand the pro-oxidant effects observed in the case of extracts exposed to laser radiation at 660 nm

Effects of Laser Irradiation at 488, 514, 532, 552, 660, and 785 nm on the Aqueous Extracts of <i>Plantago lanceolata</i> L.: A Comparison on Chemical Content, Antioxidant Activity and Caco-2 Viability

In this study, six laser radiation (488 nm/40 mW, 514 nm/15 mW, 532 nm/20 mW, 552 nm/15 mW, 660 nm/75 mW, and at 785 nm/70 mW) were tested on the aqueous extracts of leaves of Plantago lanceolata L. to compare extraction efficacy and antioxidant and cell viability effects in vitro. Briefly, in comparison with the control extract, laser extracts at 488, 514, 532, and 552 nm revealed small acquisitions of total extractible compounds in samples (up to 6.52%; laser extracts at 488 and 532 nm also revealed minerals and micro-elements increases (up to 6.49%); the most prominent results were obtained upon Fe (up to 38%, 488 nm), Cr (up to 307%, 660 nm), and Zn (up to 465%, 532 nm). Laser extracts at 488, 514, 552, and 785 nm proved more intense antioxidant capacity than the control sample, while laser extract at 660 nm indicated clear pro-oxidant effects. Caco-2 cells study indicated stimulatory activity for the extracts at 488 nm, no effects at 532 nm, and the decrease of the cell viability in the case of extracts at 660 nm respectively. Further studies are necessary to understand the pro-oxidant effects observed in the case of extracts exposed to laser radiation at 660 nm