Dynamical Friction due to fuzzy dark matter on satellites described by axisymmetric logarithmic potentials

A plausible dark matter candidate is an ultralight bosonic particle referred to as fuzzy dark matter. The equivalent mass-energy of the fuzzy dark matter boson is $\sim 10^{-22}$eV and has a corresponding de Broglie wavelength of kiloparsec scale, thus exhibiting wave behaviour in scales comparable to a galactic core, which could not appear in conventional cold dark matter models. The presence of fuzzy dark matter in galactic clusters will impact the motion of their members through dynamical friction. In this work, we present simulations of the dynamical friction on satellites traversing an initially uniform fuzzy dark matter halo. We focus on the satellites whose shapes are beyond spherical symmetry described by ellipsoidal and logarithmic potentials. We find that the wakes created on the fuzzy dark matter halo due to the passage of such satellites are qualitatively different from those generated by spherically symmetric ones. Furthermore, we quantify the dynamical friction coefficient for such systems, finding that the same satellite may experience a drag differing by a factor of $5$ depending on its ellipticity and the direction of motion. Finally, we find that the dynamical friction time-scale is close to Hubble time, assuming a satellite of $10^{11}$M$_{\odot}$ traversing at $10^{3}$km/s a FDM halo whose mean density is $\sim 10^6$M$_{\odot}$kpc$^{-3}$.Comment: 17 pages, 7 figures, Accepted by JCA

Skin healing: pharmacy practice and preclinical - clinical data of Ceratothoa oestroids and Pycnogenol extracts healing action

The present thesis contributes to the study of the wound healing potential of the olive oil extract of the marine arthropod Ceratothoa oestroides as well as the titrated extract of the species Pinus pinaster var maritima, under the trade name Pycnogenol™. Moreover, it contributes to the recording of pharmaceutical practice and the perceptions of community pharmacists in our country regarding the issue of healing skin injuries. The study includes the preclinical evaluation of the healing capacity of Pycnogenol implementing a murine model of third degree burns in male SKH - 1 mice. A significant healing effect of a topically administered 5% Pycnogenol was observed while we report a negative effect of combined topical and systemic administration of the extract. The healing effect of a formulation containing 10% of Ceratothoa oestroides extract was also studied clinically in chronic non-healing lower extremity and pressure ulcers. Τheresearch clinical protocol also aimed at the microbiological evaluation of the ulcers. as well as the topical application of antimicrobial agents during healing. Topical antimicrobial agents were co-administered with Ceratothoa oestroides and their antimicrobial efficacy was evaluated. A significant healing ability accompanied with decrease of the microbial load was registered Complex Alginate – Maltodextrin gel patches containing 10% Ceratothoa oestroides extract or 5% Pycnogenol™ and a combination of them were produced and tested for their healing effect. on SKH-hr2 mice. and It was shown that the excipient does not affect negatively wound healing, Ceratothoa oestroides patch had a similar wound healing effect to the Ceratothoa oestroides ointment and Pycnogenol™ seems that in form of a patch at the concentration of 5%w/w it exhibits a negative effect on wound healing. Finally, in collaboration with the Panhellenic Pharmaceutical Association, an attempt was made to record the practice of community pharmacists in our country regarding the advice and services that they provide for skin healing. The study was conducted by completing online questionnaires where it appeared that there is an almost universal contribution of pharmacists in the field of skin healing. Pharmaceutical practice mainly concerns minor injuries and burns, however, the percentage of pharmacists who have been requested to assist in the treatment of pressure ulcers is significant. It also seems that pharmacists are willing for a formal education and certification in order to carry out their work as well as a formal way of information. However, most pharmacists accept their clinical role in wound healing as health workers and as part of the health care delivery system in cooperation to the other healthcare providers such as medicine doctors and nurses.H παρούσα διατριβή συμβάλει στη μελέτη της επουλωτικής δράσης του μεθ’ ελαιολάδου εκχυλίσματος του θαλάσσιου αρθροπόδου Ceratothoa oestroides καθώς και του τιτλοδοτημένου εκχυλίσματος του πεύκου Pinus pinaster var maritima, υπό την εμπορική ονομασία Pycnogenol™. Τέλος συμβάλλει στην καταγραφή της φαρμακευτικής πρακτικής και των αντιλήψεων των φαρμακοποιών της κοινότητας στη χώρα μας αναφορικά με το ζήτημα της επούλωσης των τραυματισμών του δέρματος. Η μελέτη περιλαμβάνει την προκλινική αξιολόγηση της επουλωτικής δράσεως του Pycnogenol σε ζωικό μοντέλο εγκαυμάτων τρίτου βαθμού σε αρσενικούς άτριχους μύες, όπου παρατηρήθηκε σημαντική επουλωτική δράση τοπικού σκευάσματος περιεκτικότητας 5% και ανασταλτική της επουλώσεως δράση ενός συνδυασμού τοπικής και συστηματικής χορήγησης. Στη συνέχεια μελετήθηκε η επουλωτική δράση σκευάσματος περιέχοντος 10% του εκχυλίσματος Ceratothoa oestroides, κλινικά σε δυσίατα χρόνια έλκη των κάτω άκρων και έλκη από πίεση. Σημειώνεται είχε προηγηθεί η προκλινική αξιολόγηση και είχαν ολοκληρωθεί και σχετικές κλινικές μελέτες. Επιπλέον στόχος του πρωτοκόλλου ήταν η μικροβιολογική αξιολόγηση των ελκών και η αντιμικροβιακή θεραπεία αυτών με τοπικά σκευάσματα. Τελικά καταγράφηκε η σημαντική επουλωτική ικανότητα του σκευάσματος Ceratothoa oestroides, επιβεβαιώθηκαν τα βιβλιογραφικά δεδομένα αναφορικά με τη μικροβιακή ποικιλότητα των χρόνιων ελκών του δέρματος ενώ τοπικές θεραπείες με αντιμικροβιακούς παράγοντες όπως το οξικό οξύ, το μετά νατρίου άλας της ηωσίνης και γενταμυκίνη έδειξαν να συμβάλλουν σημαντικά στην μείωση και εξάλειψη του μικροβιακού φορτίου. Ακολούθως παρήχθησαν σύμπλοκα επιθέματα γέλης Αλγινικού νατρίου –Μαλτοδεξτρίνης περιέχοντα 10% εκχύλισμα Ceratothoa oestroides και 5% Pycnogenol™ από κοινού και κατά μόνας και ελέγχθηκαν για την επουλωτική τους δράση προκλινικά. Τα πειράματα έγιναν σε μύες SKH – 2 και φάνηκε πως αφενός ότι ο εν λόγω φορέας δεν επηρεάζει αρνητικά την επούλωση αλλά και ότι το προς έλεγχο επίθεμα που περιείχε Ceratothoa oestroides είχε παρόμοια δράση με την αλοιφή Ceratothoa oestroides. Όσον αφορά το Pycnogenol™ φαίνεται πως υπό τη μορφή επιθέματος σε συγκέντρωση 5% έχει αρνητική επίδραση στην επούλωση του δέρματος. Σε συνεργασία με τον Πανελλήνιο Φαρμακευτικό Σύλλογο επιχειρήθηκε η καταγραφή της πρακτικής των φαρμακοποιών της κοινότητας στη χώρα μας αναφορικά με τις συμβουλές και τις υπηρεσίες που παρέχουν στην επούλωση του δέρματος. Η μελέτη διενεργήθηκεμε τη συμπλήρωση ερωτηματολογίων διαδικτυακά όπου φάνηκε πως υπάρχει σχεδόν καθολική συμβολή των φαρμακοποιών στον τομέα της επουλώσεως. Η φαρμακευτική πρακτική αφορά κυρίως ήσσονος σημασίας τραυματισμούς και εγκαύματα ωστόσο σημαντικό είναι το ποσοστό των φαρμακοποιών που έχουν κληθεί να συνδράμουν στην αντιμετώπιση ελκών από πίεση. Επίσης φαίνεται πως οι φαρμακοποιοί επιζητούν μια τυπική εκπαίδευση και πιστοποίηση προκειμένου να φέρουν εις πέρας το έργο τους καθώς και κάποιο επίσημο φορέα ενημέρωσης. Ωστόσο οι περισσότεροι φαίνεται να αποδέχονται τον κλινικό αυτό ρόλο ως υγειονομικοί αλλά και ως μέρος του συστήματος παροχής φροντίδας υγείας από κοινού με τους υπόλοιπους επαγγελματίες υγείας

In Vivo Evaluation of the Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Electrospun Micro/Nanofibrous Patches Loaded with Pinus halepensis Bark Extract on Hairless Mice Skin

Skin inflammation is the most common symptom in dermatological diseases. It is usually treated by topically applied products, such as creams, gels and lotions. Skin dressings offer a promising alternative as they are endowed with more controlled administration conditions. In this study, the anti-inflammatory activity of electrospun alginate micro/nanofibrous dressings loaded with the aqueous extract of Pinus halepensis bark (PHBE) was evaluated in vivo in mice. The upper back skin of SKH-1 female hairless mice was exposed to a single dose of ultraviolet radiation (3 MEDs) and the inflamed area was treated daily by the direct application of a nanofibrous patch. The condition of the skin was evaluated primarily on the basis of clinical observation, photo-documentation and histopathological assessment, while measurements of the erythema, hydration, transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and sebum production were also taken into account. The results showed that the topical application of alginate micro/nanofibrous dressings loaded with PHBE on UV-inflamed skin significantly attenuated inflammation damage, reducing the healing period. Increase of the loading dose of PHBE resulted in a proportional reduction of the extent, the density and the depth of skin inflammation. With the steadily increasing interest of the skin dressing industry towards nanofibrous matrices, electrospun nonwovens could serve as ideal candidates for the development of multifunctional anti-inflammatory care systems

Management of Acute Radiodermatitis in Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Patients Using Electrospun Nanofibrous Patches Loaded with Pinus halepensis Bark Extract

Acute radiodermatitis is the most common side effect in non-melanoma skin cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy. Nonetheless, despite the ongoing progress of clinical trials, no effective regimen has been found yet. In this study, a non-woven patch, comprised of electrospun polymeric micro/nanofibers loaded with an aqueous extract of Pinus halepensis bark (PHBE), was fabricated and clinically tested for its efficacy to prevent radiodermatitis. The bioactivity of the PHBE patch was evaluated in comparison with a medical cream indicated for acute radiodermatitis. Twelve volunteer patients were selected and randomly assigned to two groups, applying either the PHBE patch or the reference cream daily. Evaluation of radiation-induced skin reactions was performed during the radiotherapy period and 1 month afterwards according to the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) grading scale, photo-documentation, patient-reported outcomes (Visual Analog Scale, questionnaire), biophysical measurements (hydration, transepidermal water loss, erythema, melanin), and image analysis. In contrast with the reference product, the PHBE patch showed significant anti-inflammatory activity and restored most skin parameters to normal levels 1 month after completion of radiation therapy. No adverse event was reported, indicating that the application of the PHBE patch can be considered as a safe medical device for prophylactic radiodermatitis treatment

Ulvan-Based Nanofibrous Patches Enhance Wound Healing of Skin Trauma Resulting from Cryosurgical Treatment of Keloids

Keloids are skin fibroproliferative disorders, resulting from abnormal healing of deep cutaneous injuries. Cryosurgery, the most common treatment for keloids, causes skin traumas. Even though the clinical practice of cryosurgery has increased, effective wound healing therapy is still lacking. In this investigation, nonwoven nanofibrous patches composed of ulvan, a marine sulfated polysaccharide exhibiting anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, and polyethylene oxide (PEO) were fabricated through electrospinning and characterized. Their wound healing efficacy on skin traumas resulting from cryosurgical treatment of keloids was clinically tested and evaluated in comparison to a reference product. Twenty-four volunteer patients undergoing cryosurgery as a treatment of keloids were selected to apply either the ulvan/PEO patch or the reference product for 21 days. The ulvan/PEO patch, 21 days after cryosurgery, showed significant wound healing, elimination of skin inflammation, restoration of biophysical parameters similar to normal values and significant decrease in haemoglobin concentration, skin texture and volume, while no discomfort or adverse reaction was observed. In contrast, the reference product showed inferior performance in all evaluated parameters. The designed ulvan/PEO patch represents the first wound dressing to effectively heal skin trauma after cryosurgical treatment of keloids