A Comprehensive Mechanical Characterization of Subject-Specific 3D Printed Scaffolds Mimicking Trabecular Bone Architecture Biomechanics.

This study presents a polymeric scaffold designed and manufactured to mimic the structure and mechanical compressive characteristics of trabecular bone. The morphological parameters and mechanical behavior of the scaffold were studied and compared with trabecular bone from bovine iliac crest. Its mechanical properties, such as modulus of elasticity and yield strength, were studied under a three-step monotonic compressive test. Results showed that the elastic modulus of the scaffold was 329 MPa, and the one for trabecular bone reached 336 MPa. A stepwise dynamic compressive test was used to assess the behavior of samples under various loading regimes. With microcomputed tomography (µCT), a three-dimensional reconstruction of the samples was obtained, and their porosity was estimated as 80% for the polymeric scaffold and 88% for trabecular bone. The full-field strain distribution of the samples was measured using in situ µCT mechanics and digital volume correlation (DVC). This provided information on the local microdeformation mechanism of the scaffolds when compared to that of the tissue. The comprehensive results illustrate the potential of the fabricated scaffolds as biomechanical templates for in vitro studies. Furthermore, there is potential for extending this structure and fabrication methodology to incorporate suitable biocompatible materials for both in vitro and in vivo clinical applications.

Conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas del uso de métodos anticonceptivos en mujeres en edad reproductiva / Knowledge, attitudes and practices of the use of contraceptive methods in women of reproductive age / Conhecimentos, atitudes e práticas do uso de métodos contraceptivos em mulheres em idade reprodutiva

Objetivo: Determinar los conocimientos, las actitudes y las prácticas en el uso de méto-dos anticonceptivos en mujeres en edad reproductiva del barrio las Delicias de la ciudad de Duitama ­ Boyacá en el año 2021. Materiales y métodos: Estudio cuantitativo descriptivo ­ transversal, contando con una muestra calculada de 88 mujeres con muestreo a conveni-encia, incluyendo a mujeres entre los 18 y 54 años, aplicando la encuesta validada "Conoci-mientos, actitudes y prácticas sobre los métodos anticonceptivos" y el análisis estadístico fue de tipo univariado por medio del Software SPPS versión 23. Resultados: Las participantes tenían una edad promedio de 30.67 años (DE: 9,5), la mayoría tenía como estado civil ser soltera (48%; n: 43) y acudían a los programas de planificación familiar (71,6%; n: 63). To-das manifestaron conocer los métodos anticonceptivos (100%; n:88), sin embargo, el 40% (n:36) no tiene claridad sobre las reacciones adversas de la píldora; además el 43,1% (n:38) consideran que al usar el preservativo se disfruta menos de la relación sexual. En mujeres jóvenes predomina la preferencia de métodos de corta duración y hormonales, a diferencia de mujeres con mayor edad en donde predominaron los métodos larga duración o definitivos.Conclusiones: Los profesionales de la salud juegan un papel importante en la asesoría en planificación familiar al detectar las necesidades de la mujer, fortaleciendo la educación en derechos sexuales y reproductivos, para que esta población logre el disfrute de su vida sexual al adquirir una educación integral y con acceso a los métodos anticonceptivos.

Objective: To determine the knowledge, attitudes and practices in the use of contraceptive methods in women of reproductive age in the Las Delicias neighborhood of the city of Duita-ma - Boyacá in the year 2021. Materials and methods: Quantitative descriptive - cross-sec-tional study, with a calculated sample of 88 women with convenience sampling, including women between 18 and 54 years old, applying the validated survey "Knowledge, attitudes and practices about contraceptive methods" and the statistical analysis was of univariate type using SPPS Software version 23. Results: The participants had an average age of 30.67 years (SD: 9.5), most of them had single marital status (48%; n: 43) and attended family planning programs (71.6%; n: 63). All stated that they knew the contraceptive methods (100%; n:88) however, 40% (n:36) were not clear about the adverse reactions of the pill; In addition, 43.1% (n:38) consider that when using the preservative they enjoy sexual intercourse less. In young women, the preference for short-term and hormonal methods predominates, unlike older wom-en, where long-term or definitive methods predominated. Conclusions: Health profession-als play an important role in family planning counseling by detecting the needs of women, strengthening education in sexual and reproductive rights, so that this population achieves the enjoyment of their sexual life by acquiring a comprehensive education. and with access to contraceptive methods.

Objetivo: Determinar os conhecimentos, atitudes e práticas de mulheres na comunidade re-produtiva no bairro Las Delicias da cidade de Duitama - Boyacá no ano de 2021. Materiais e métodos: Quantitativo descritivo - estudo transversal, com amostra calculada de 88 mul-heres com amostragem de conveniência, incluindo mulheres entre 18 e 54 anos, aplicando o questionário validado "Conhecimentos, atitudes e práticas sobre métodos contraceptivos" e a análise estatística foi do tipo univariada usando o software SPPS versão 23. Resultados: Os participantes tinham idade média de 30,67 anos (DP: 9,5), a maioria era solteira (48%; n: 43) e frequentava programas de planejamento familiar (71,6%; n: 63). Todas afirmaram conhecer os métodos contraceptivos (100%; n:88), porém, 40% (n:36) não tinham clareza sobre as reações adversas da pílula; Além disso, 43,1% (n:38) consideram que ao usar o preservativo desfrutam menos das relações sexuais. Em mulheres jovens predomina a preferência por métodos de curta duração e hormonais, ao contrário das mulheres mais velhas, onde predom-inaram métodos de longa duração ou definitivos. Conclusões: Os profissionais de saúde de-sempenham um papel importante no aconselhamento em planejamento familiar, detectando as necessidades das mulheres, fortalecendo a educação em direitos sexuais e reprodutivos, para que essa população alcance o gozo de sua vida sexual adquirindo uma educação integral e com acesso a métodos contraceptivos.

Muscle-like Scaffolds for Biomechanical Stimulation in a Custom-Built Bioreactor.

Tissue engineering aims to develop in-vitro substitutes of native tissues. One approach of tissue engineering relies on using bioreactors combined with biomimetic scaffolds to produce study models or in-vitro substitutes. Bioreactors provide control over environmental parameters, place and hold a scaffold under desired characteristics, and apply mechanical stimulation to scaffolds. Polymers are often used for fabricating tissue-engineering scaffolds. In this study, polycaprolactone (PCL) collagen-coated microfilament scaffolds were cell-seeded with C2C12 myoblasts; then, these were grown inside a custom-built bioreactor. Cell attachment and proliferation on the scaffolds were investigated. A loading pattern was used for mechanical stimulation of the cell-seeded scaffolds. Results showed that the microfilaments provided a suitable scaffold for myoblast anchorage and that the custom-built bioreactor provided a qualified environment for the survival of the myoblasts on the polymeric scaffold. This PCL-based microfilament scaffold located inside the bioreactor proved to be a promising structure for the study of skeletal muscle models and can be used for mechanical stimulation studies in tissue engineering applications.

Evaluation of Biomechanical and Chemical Properties of Gamma-Irradiated Polycaprolactone Microfilaments for Musculoskeletal Tissue Engineering Applications.

An appropriate and reliable sterilization technique is crucial for tissue engineering scaffolds. Skeletal muscle scaffolds are often fabricated using microfilaments of a wide variety of polymers. One method for sterilization is 25 kGy of gamma irradiation. In addition, sterilization through irradiation should administer a dose within a specific range. Radiation directly affects the chemical and mechanical properties of scaffolds. The accuracy and effects of irradiation are often not considered during sterilization procedures; however, these are important since they provide insight on whether the sterilization procedure is reliable and reproducible. This study focused on the chemical and mechanical characterization of 25 kGy gamma-irradiated scaffold. The accuracy and uncertainty of the irradiation procedure were also obtained. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analyses were performed to determine whether the crystallinity of the polymer changed after irradiation and whether gamma rays influenced its thermal properties. The tensile parameters of the microfilaments were analyzed by comparing irradiated and nonirradiated scaffolds to determine whether gamma radiation changed their elastic behavior. Dose distribution and uncertainty were recorded with several dosimeters. The results showed that the irradiation process slightly affected the mechanical parameters of the scaffold; however, it did not modify its crystallinity or thermal properties. The irradiation was uniform, since the measured uncertainty was low. The scaffold was pathogen-free after 7 days; this meant sterilization was achieved. These results indicated that gamma-sterilized scaffolds were a promising material for use as a skeletal muscle analog material for tissue-engineering applications because they can be sterilized with gamma rays without changing their chemical structure and mechanical properties. This study provided the dose distribution measurement and uncertainty calculations for the sterilization procedure.