Antibiotic-loaded hydrogel coating to reduce early postsurgical infections in aseptic hip revision surgery: a retrospective, matched case-control study

Periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs) are a cause of frequent implant failure in revision hip replacement surgery. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the onset of early postoperative infections in patients who underwent hip surgery with cementless prostheses treated with an antibiotic loaded hydrogel on their surface, in addition to systemic prophylaxis, and compare them to a control group. The secondary objective was to evaluate the onset of any local and systemic adverse effects and interference with bone ingrowth processes and functional recovery. A retrospective observational study was conducted on patients who underwent revision hip surgery by performing a 1:1 match between patients treated with an antibiotic hydrogel (ALH) and the control patients. The incidence of PJIs was assessed with a minimum of six months follow-up. Seventeen patients treated with the ALH were compared with 17 patients from the control group. No PJIs were reported in the ALH group versus the six cases encountered in the control group (p < 0.0001). No significant differences were reported with regard to prosthetic osseointegration and functional results, nor were there side effects in the ALH group. Despite the low sample size, the use of on-site prophylaxis with ALH has proven effective and safe in reducing the risk of PJIs in patients with a high risk for infections. Further studies are needed to validate these results in other implant-related surgeries

Thermal Conductivity Enhancement of Al2O3 Nanofluid in Ethylene Glycol and Water Mixture

AbstractThe ability of nanofluids that exhibits enhanced thermal performance is acknowledged by researchers through studies since decades ago. However, the observation of thermal properties for nanofluids in water and ethylene glycol based is not fully explored yet. Hence, this paper presents the thermal conductivity of water and ethylene glycol (EG) based Al2O3 nanofluid. The 13 nm sized Al2O3 nanoparticles were dispersed into three different volume ratio of water: EG such as 40:60, 50:50 and 60:40 using a two-step method. The measurement of thermal conductivity was performed using KD2 Pro Thermal Properties Analyzer at working temperatures of 30 to 70 ̊C for volume concentration of 0.5 to 2.0%. The results indicate that the thermal conductivity increases with the increase of nanofluid concentration and temperature. While the percentage of ethylene glycol increase, the range of thermal conductivity decreases due to ethylene glycol properties. The measurement data of the nanofluids give maximum enhancement of thermal conductivity at condition 2.0% volume concentration, temperature of 70 ̊C and for all base fluid

MultipleCar: A Graphical User Interface MATLAB Toolbox to Compute Multiple Correspondence Analysis

In this paper we present the toolbox MultipleCar, which was designed using a graphical user interface, a general program for computing Multiple Correspondence Analysis. The procedures implemented in MultipleCar are the usual ones that are already available in other applications, plus some additional procedures. MultipleCar makes it possible to compute (1) joint correspondence analysis, and (2) orthogonal and oblique rotation of coordinates. Although MultipleCar was developed in MATLAB, we compiled it as a standalone application for Windows operative systems based on graphical user interfaces. The users can decide whether to use the advanced MATLAB version of MultipleCar, or the standalone version (which does not require any programming skills)

post hoc analysis of the effect of baseline characteristics on treatment duration in patients with metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer mcrpc receiving cabazitaxel in the compassionate use cup expanded access programs eap and capristana registry

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Advanced determination of piezoelectric properties of AlN thin films on silicon substrates

Piezoelectric deformations of thin, aluminum nitride (AlN) layers, on top of a silicon substrate, were studied by numerical calculations and interferometric measurements. Our calculation by finite element method demonstrates that substrate deformation under the top electrode may be comparable to the electric field induced deformation in the thin AlN layer, for a given applied voltage. Simulations also show the effect of a clamped or free substrate condition and the relative contributions of d33 and d31 piezoelectric constants. A Laser scanning vibrometry technique was used to measure deformations in the top surface with sub-picometer vertical resolution. By comparing calculations and experimental data, quantitative information about both d33 and d31 constants can be obtained

3D Spin Glass and 2D Ferromagnetic XY Model: a Comparison

We compare the probability distributions and Binder cumulants of the overlap in the 3D Ising spin glass with those of the magnetization in the ferromagnetic 2D XY model. We analyze similarities and differences. Evidence for the existence of a phase transition in the spin glass model is obtained thanks to the crossing of the Binder cumulant. We show that the behavior of the XY model is fully compatible with the Kosterlitz-Thouless scenario. Finite size effects have to be dealt with by using great care in order to discern among two very different physical pictures that can look very similar if analyzed without large attention.Comment: 14 pages and 6 figures. Also available at http://chimera.roma1.infn.it/index_papers_complex.htm

Quality of life in spina bifida patients: results of an Italian survey

Background The objectives were: 1. to investigate the major topics on the Quality of Life (QOL) of Spina Bifida patients; 2. to evaluate attitudes, the experienced and the behaviours concerning everyday activities, social life participation and familial relationship; 3. to evaluate the information needs; 4. to evaluate the physical and psychological problems related to vesical and intestinal management

Macroscopic fluctuation theory

Stationary non-equilibrium states describe steady flows through macroscopic systems. Although they represent the simplest generalization of equilibrium states, they exhibit a variety of new phenomena. Within a statistical mechanics approach, these states have been the subject of several theoretical investigations, both analytic and numerical. The macroscopic fluctuation theory, based on a formula for the probability of joint space-time fluctuations of thermodynamic variables and currents, provides a unified macroscopic treatment of such states for driven diffusive systems. We give a detailed review of this theory including its main predictions and most relevant applications.Comment: Review article. Revised extended versio

Critical Behavior of the Three-Dimensional Ising Spin Glass

We have simulated, using parallel tempering, the three dimensional Ising spin glass model with binary couplings in a helicoidal geometry. The largest lattice (L=20) has been studied using a dedicated computer (the SUE machine). We have obtained, measuring the correlation length in the critical region, a strong evidence for a second-order finite temperature phase transition ruling out other possible scenarios like a Kosterlitz-Thouless phase transition. Precise values for the $\nu$ and $\eta$ critical exponents are also presented.Comment: RevTex; 12 pages plus 5 ps figures. Final version to be published in PR

Neuropharmacological effects of essential oil from the leaves of Croton conduplicatus Kunth and possible mechanisms of action involved.

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Croton conduplicatus Kunth (Euphorbiaceae) is a Brazilian aromatic medicinal plant, widely known as ?quebra-faca?. In folk medicine, its leaves and stem-barks are used as a natural analgesic for the treatment of headaches. Aim of the study: In this study, we describe for the first time the neuropharmacological potential of the essential oil obtained from the leaves of Croton conduplicatus (EO) in experimental models of pain, anxiety and insomnia. The mechanisms of action involved in these activities were also investigated