ABSTRACT
This study evaluated the potential antimicrobial properties of a polyguanidine (CatDex) on two oral bacteria. Chlorhexidine gluconate 1340 µmoL L-1 (CHX 0.12%) was used as control. Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) and Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) were grown in BHI media. Bacterial sensitivity and antimicrobial activity were determined by the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and Kirby-Bauer methods. To study side effects, that is, toxicity, dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) were used. Fluorometric cytotoxicity and confocal microscopy assays were used in order to test cell viability. CatDex inhibited growth of S. mutans at all concentrations and growth of P. gingivalis at all concentrations except 25 µmoL L-1. The MIC of CatDex was 50 µmoL L-1 for both S. mutans and P. gingivalis. The inhibition of bacteria exposed for 8 h at 50 µmoL L-1 of CatDex exhibited increased antimicrobial activity over time, with 91% inhibition in both bacteria. The antimicrobial activities of CatDex and CHX were similar when tested on two common bacteria. CatDex was significantly less toxic to DPSCs. CatDex toxicity depended on time and not on concentration. With regard to clinical relevance, CatDex may have potential as a novel antimicrobial agent. Further studies are in progress.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To show that patients with intertrochanteric fractures treated with a proximal femoral nail have a better postoperative course than those treated with a DHS plate (dynamic hip screw). METHODS: Patients with a Boyd & Griffin type II intertrochanteric fracture were randomly divided into two groups: a group of patients treated with a PFN and another one treated with a DHS plate. All patients were assessed at 2, 4, 8 and 16 weeks using the Harris scale and the visual analog scale pre- and postoperatively, as well as the operative time, incision size, intraoperative bleeding, onset of partial and/or total weight bearing, healing time, time to attain prior physical activity level, and radiographic result. RESULTS: 32 patients met our criteria. The variables that had a significant reduction were: incision, operative time, postoperative pain according to the visual analog scale, onset of mobility, partial weight bearing and pain at 2 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: The proximal femoral nail has better short-term outcomes than the DHS plate; however, in the medium term both implants have the same outcomes.
Subject(s)
Bone Nails , Bone Plates , Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary/instrumentation , Hip Fractures/surgery , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Equipment Design , Female , Humans , Longitudinal Studies , Male , Prospective StudiesABSTRACT
Ankle sprains are common acute soft-tissue injuries. This 7-day open-label, multicentre, randomized study compared the efficacy and safety of celecoxib with non-selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in treating acute ankle sprain with moderate-to-severe ankle pain in 278 patients. Patients received either celecoxib (400 mg loading dose followed by 200 mg twice daily) or standard doses of non-selective NSAIDs. The primary endpoint was a change in the patient's assessment of ankle pain on a 0 mm (no pain) - 100 mm (worst possible pain) visual analogue scale (VAS) at day 3 compared with baseline. From a baseline of 73 mm, mean VAS pain scores decreased to 29 and 32 mm in the celecoxib and non-selective NSAID groups, respectively. The lower limit of the 95% confidence interval for the treatment difference with regard to change from baseline was greater than the pre-established non-inferiority margin of -10 mm. Using an initial loading dose, celecoxib was at least as efficacious as non-selective NSAIDs in treating acute pain due to ankle sprain.
