Dissolvable microneedles and nanofiber dressings to eradicate biofilms and improve wound care

Biofilms are communities of microorganisms consisting of one or more bacterial species that attach to a biotic or abiotic surface. Biofilms are highly common in chronic wounds. To improve wound care treatment, a Janus-type antimicrobial dressing was created to eradicate biofilms in chronic wounds. The dressing consists of two layers: a top layer of electrospun nanofibers and a bottom layer of dissolvable microneedles. The dressings were tested on an ex vivo and in vivo model.https://digitalcommons.unmc.edu/surp2021/1055/thumbnail.jp

Quantity and clinical relevance of circulating endothelial progenitor cells in human ovarian cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Circulating bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have been reported to participate in tumor angiogenesis and growth; however, the role of circulating EPCs in tumor progression is controversial. The role of circulating EPCs in ovarian cancer progression and angiogenesis has not yet been investigated.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The number of circulating EPCs in the peripheral blood in 25 healthy volunteers and 42 patients with ovarian cancer was determined by flow cytometry. EPCs were defined by co-expression of CD34 and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2). In addition, we determined CD34 and VEGFR2 mRNA levels by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Plasma levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Circulating levels of EPCs were significantly increased in ovarian cancer patients, correlating with tumor stage and residual tumor size. Higher levels of EPCs were detected in patients with stage III and IV ovarian cancer than in patients with stage I and II disease. After excision of the tumor, EPCs levels rapidly declined. Residual tumor size greater than 2 cm was associated with significantly higher levels of EPCs. In addition, high circulating EPCs correlated with poor overall survival. Pretreatment CD34 mRNA levels were not significantly increased in ovarian cancer patients compared with healthy controls; however, VEGFR2 expression was increased, and plasma levels of VEGF and MMP-9 were also elevated.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our results demonstrate the clinical relevance of circulating EPCs in ovarian cancer. EPCs may be a potential biomarker to monitor ovarian cancer progression and angiogenesis and treatment response.</p

Biofilms: Formation, Research Models, Potential Targets, and Methods for Prevention and Treatment

Due to the continuous rise in biofilm-related infections, biofilms seriously threaten human health. The formation of biofilms makes conventional antibiotics ineffective and dampens immune clearance. Therefore, it is important to understand the mechanisms of biofilm formation and develop novel strategies to treat biofilms more effectively. This review article begins with an introduction to biofilm formation in various clinical scenarios and their corresponding therapy. Established biofilm models used in research are then summarized. The potential targets which may assist in the development of new strategies for combating biofilms are further discussed. The novel technologies developed recently for the prevention and treatment of biofilms including antimicrobial surface coatings, physical removal of biofilms, development of new antimicrobial molecules, and delivery of antimicrobial agents are subsequently presented. Finally, directions for future studies are pointed out

Biofilms: Formation, Research Models, Potential Targets, and Methods for Prevention and Treatment

Due to the continuous rise in biofilm-related infections, biofilms seriously threaten human health. The formation of biofilms makes conventional antibiotics ineffective and dampens immune clearance. Therefore, it is important to understand the mechanisms of biofilm formation and develop novel strategies to treat biofilms more effectively. This review article begins with an introduction to biofilm formation in various clinical scenarios and their corresponding therapy. Established biofilm models used in research are then summarized. The potential targets which may assist in the development of new strategies for combating biofilms are further discussed. The novel technologies developed recently for the prevention and treatment of biofilms including antimicrobial surface coatings, physical removal of biofilms, development of new antimicrobial molecules, and delivery of antimicrobial agents are subsequently presented. Finally, directions for future studies are pointed out

Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in indoor and outdoor dusts around a mega fluorochemical industrial park in China: implications for human exposure

The manufacture of fluorochemicals can lead to high levels of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) contaminating the surrounding environment and consequently elevated exposure to the local residents. In this study, measurements of PFAAs associated with indoor and outdoor dusts around a mega fluorochemical industrial park (FIP) were made. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and short-chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (C4-C7 PFCAs) were the predominant forms in all samples. The signature of the PFAAs in dusts in the local area matched that found within the FIP complex. The contamination plume in the local area could be linked to the prevailing wind direction starting from the FIP. The concentrations decreased exponentially with distance from the FIP (noticeably in the first 5 km). PFAAs contamination could be detected at the most distant location, 20 km away from the FIP. The relatively small size of this high contamination zone suggested that the PFAAs were associated with large/dense dust particles with limited ability to be transported far by the air. The concentrations of PFAAs were higher in indoor dust (73-13,500 ng/g, median: 979 ng/g) than those in outdoor dust (5-9,495 ng/g, median: 62 ng/g) at every location. The highest estimated daily intake of PFOA via dust ingestion (26.0 ng/kg.bw/day) was for toddlers (2-5 yrs) living in 2 km away from the FIP, which is posing human health risk, though within the provisional tolerable daily intake values

Which metal represents the greatest risk to freshwater ecosystem in Bohai Region of China?

Metals discharged from industrial effluents, agricultural wastewater, and sewage runoff by rapid urbanization are of concern as contaminants of freshwater ecosystem because of their persistence and high toxicity to aquatic organisms. This study attempted to identify which metal posed the greatest risk to freshwater ecosystem in the Bohai Region, China. The metals arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), mercury (Hg), iron (Fe), and manganese (Mn) were compared against norfloxacin and gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane (lindane). By comparing the median reported environmental and ecotoxicity concentrations, it showed that Cu, Fe, Zn, Mn, and Cr were the top five metals of concern. Of these, Cu was deemed to represent the highest risk and Hg the lowest risk. The risks for all metals were higher than those for norfloxacin and lindane. Almost all the metals except Hg had water concentrations that exceeded levels where ecotoxicity effects had been recorded in the literature. A comparison with the measurements across the UK rivers suggested that all metals examined had water concentrations about 5- to 10- fold higher than the UK median values except for Cu, Fe, Cd, and Pb. The Fuyang River, a tributary of the Haihe River Basin, seemed to be the location with the highest metal concentrations. However, comparing the post- 2010 period to 2000–2009, concentrations of all the metals had fallen except for Fe and Mn, so risks have decreased over the last 7 yr with the greatest improvements for Cd and Pb. While metals still pose high risks to freshwater ecosystem in this region, there is encouragement that some control measures are taken into effect

Person-centered evaluation of positive body image among Chinese nursing students: Associations with body appreciation, self-concept clarity, and negative affect

BackgroundNowadays, the effect of body image (BI) on negative affect among nursing college students has been ignored. This study used person-centered methods to evaluate the profiles of body appreciation (BA) among Chinese nursing students. We explored the predictive factors of these profiles and examined the difference in negative affect among the profiles.MethodsA cross-sectional survey study was conducted in a university in Anhui province, China. Five hundred and forty-one Chinese nursing students from a nursing college of a larger university completed this survey. Participants completed the Sociodemographic Characteristics Questionnaire, the Self-concept Clarity Scale, the Body Appreciation Scale-2, and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale. Latent profile analysis was employed to classify the BA profiles, and multinomial logistic regression analysis were conducted using the three-step regression and Bolck-Croon- Hagenaars method to test the relationship between the latent profiles of BA, several covariates (including gender, age, year of schooling, residence, academic achievement level, interpersonal relationship status, whether the student is an only child, duration of use of social media platforms, body mass index (BMI), and self-concept clarity (SCC)), and negative affect.ResultsAnalysis resulted in a four-profile model that included a “low BA” group (14.42%), an “upper medium BA” group (36.41%), a “lower medium BA” group (36.97%), and a “high BA” group (12.20%). SCC, years of schooling, interpersonal relationship status, and BMI were found to be the predictive factors of BA profiles. The four profiles differed in levels of stress, depression, and anxiety.ConclusionOur study showed that more than half of nursing students were dissatisfied with their BI and the predictive factors evaluated and negative affect were associated with the profiles of BA. Nursing faculties should take measures to help students develop a more appropriate awareness of nursing aesthetics, a healthier lifestyle, a better interpersonal relationship with family members and peers, and a clearer self-concept to promote body appreciation and reduce negative affect related to BI

Which persistent organic pollutants in the rivers of the Bohai region of China represent the greatest risk to the local ecosystem?

Freshwater aquatic organisms can be exposed to hundreds of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) discharged by natural and anthropogenic activities. Given our limited resources it is necessary to identify, from the existing evidence, which is the greatest threat so that control measures can be targeted wisely. The focus of this study was to rank POPs according to the relative risk they represent for aquatic organisms in rivers in the Bohai Region, China. A list of 14 POPs was compiled based on the available data on their presence in these rivers and ecotoxicological data. Those that were widely detected were benzo[a]pyrene, p,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDT, endrin, fluoranthene, heptachlor, hexabromocyclododecane, hexachlorobenzene, alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane, gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane, naphthalene, perfluorooctanoic acid, perfluorooctane sulfonate and phenanthrene. Effect concentrations were compiled for Chinese relevant and standard test species and compared with river aqueous concentrations. Only bed-sediment concentrations were available so water levels were calculated based on the known local sediment organic carbon concentration and the Koc. The POPs were ranked on the ratio between the median river and median effect concentrations. Of the POPs studied, fluoranthene was ranked as the highest threat, followed by phenanthrene, naphthalene and p,p'-DDE. The risk from p,p'-DDE may be magnified due to being highly bioaccumulative. However, the greatest overlap between river concentrations and effect levels was for lindane. Overall, fish was the most sensitive species group to the risks from POPs. Hotspots with the highest concentrations and hence risk were mainly associated with watercourses draining in Tianjin, the biggest city in the Bohai Region