A Thermosensitive, Chitosan-Based Hydrogel as Delivery System for Antibacterial Liposomes to Surgical Site Infections

Prophylaxis and the treatment of surgical site infections (SSIs) with antibiotics frequently fail due to the antibiotic resistance of bacteria and the ability of bacteria to reside in biofilms (i.e., bacterial clusters in a protective matrix). Therefore, alternative antibacterial treatments are required to combat biofilm infections. The combination of diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC−) and copper ions (Cu2+) exhibited antibiofilm activity against the staphylococci species associated with SSIs; however, the formation of a water-insoluble Cu(DDC)2 complex limits its application to SSIs. Here, we describe the development and antibiofilm activity of an injectable gel containing a liposomal formulation of Cu(DDC)2 and Cu2+ (lipogel). Lyophilized liposomes were incorporated into a mixture of chitosan (CS) and beta-glycerophosphate (βGP), and the thermosensitive gelling properties of CS-βGP and the lipogel were determined. The liposomes remained stable after lyophilization over six months at 4–6 °C and −20 °C. The sol-gel transition of the gel and lipogel occurred between 33 and 39 °C, independently of sterilization or storage at −20 °C. CS-βGP is biocompatible and the liposomes were released over time. The lipogel prevented biofilm formation over 2 days and killed 98.7% of the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and 99.9% of the Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilms. Therefore, the lipogel is a promising new prophylaxis and treatment strategy for local application to SSIs.Laurine Kaul, Clara E. Grundmann, Monika Köll-Weber, Hanna Löffler, Artur Weiz, Andrew C. W. Zannettino, Katharina Richter, and Regine Süs

Implementation of routine outcome measurement in child and adolescent mental health services in the United Kingdom: a critical perspective

The aim of this commentary is to provide an overview of clinical outcome measures that are currently recommended for use in UK Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), focusing on measures that are applicable across a wide range of conditions with established validity and reliability, or innovative in their design. We also provide an overview of the barriers and drivers to the use of Routine Outcome Measurement (ROM) in clinical practice

Sicherung von Dämmen, Deichen und Stauanlagen : Handbuch für Theorie und Praxis ; Vol. V - 2015

Die Universität Siegen beschäftigt sich seit über 15 Jahren wissenschaftlich und im Bereich der anwendungsorientierten Forschung mit diesem Thema und hat dazu mittlerweile fünf Symposien durchgeführt. Mit der Veröffentlichung soll die langjährige Tradition als etablierte wissenschaftliche Plattform mit einem Wissensaustausch auf europäischer Ebene fortgesetzt werden. Die Bearbeitung dieser Thematik erfolgt auf der Basis der bewährten Kooperation zwischen Geotechnik und Wasserbau an der Universität Siegen. Aktuelle Ereignisse, wie z.B. die aus England oder Australien im Februar des Jahres 2014, machen uns aber auch deutlich, dass ein absoluter Schutz gegen Extremereignisse nicht möglich ist. Sie zeigen aber auch, dass dort wo technischer Hochwasserschutz konsequent umgesetzt wurde Schäden vermieden werden konnten. Wir sind nach den Ereignissen in den vergangenen Jahren aufgefordert wissenschaftlich noch leistungsfähigere und duktilere Systeme zu entwickeln. Weiter ist die Wissenschaft in der Pflicht, die Zivile Sicherheit im Hochwasser-schutz permanent zu bewerten, zu bearbeiten und ganzheitliche-interdisziplinäre und länderübergreifende Lösungen für die Zivilgesellschaft einzufordern

Resource-Efficient High-Yield lonothermal Synthesis of Microcrystalline Cu_3-xP

Polycrystalline Cu3-xP was successfully synthesized in different ionic liquids comprising imidazolium and phosphonium cations. The reaction of elemental copper and red phosphorus in trihexyltetradecylphosphonium chloride at 200 degrees C led to single-phase Cu3-xP (x = 0.05) within 24 h with a quantitative yield (99%). Liquid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the ionic liquids revealed degeneration of the imidazolium cations under the synthesis conditions, while phosphonium cations remain stable. The solid products were characterized with X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. A reinvestigation of the electronic transport properties of Cu2.95(4)P showed metallic behavior for the bulk material. The formation CuP2 during the synthesis of phosphorus-rich Cu3-xP (x >= 0.1) was observed

Optimized Synthesis of the Bismuth Subiodides Bi_mI₄ (m=4, 14, 16, 18) and the Electronic Properties of Bi₁₄I₄ and Bi₁₈I₄

We optimized the syntheses of - and -Bi4I4 and transferred the method to the very bismuth-rich iodides Bi14I4, Bi16I4, and Bi18I4. Phase-pure, microcrystalline powders of BimI4 (m = 4, 14, 18) can now by synthesized on a multigram scale. Conditions for the growth of single crystals of Bi16I4 and Bi18I4 were determined. The redetermination of the crystal structure of Bi16I4 hints at a stacking disorder or the presence of (1)[BimI4] ribbons with m = 14 and 18 among the dominant type along with m = 16. The electronic band structures for m = 14, 16, and 18 were calculated including spin-orbit coupling. They vary markedly with m and show numerous bands crossing the Fermi level, predicting a 3D-metallic behavior. Measurements of the electrical resistivity of a polycrystalline sample of Bi14I4 as well as polycrystalline and single-crystalline samples of Bi18I4 confirmed their metallic nature over the temperature range 300 K to 2 K. For Bi18I4, a positive and strictly linear magnetoresistance at 2 K in static magnetic fields up to 14 T was observed, which could indicate a topologically nontrivial electronic state

Platinum Deposited on Carbon Supports for the Complete Detoxification of Formaldehyde at Room Temperature under Humid Conditions

SSCI-VIDE+ING+FWIInternational audiencecatalytic oxidatio