Gelation time, homogeneity, and rupture testing of alginate-calcium carbonate-hydrogen peroxide gels for use as wound dressings.

The care of chronic wounds carries a heavy financial burden on the healthcare industry, with billons being spent annually on their treatment. This, coupled with a decreased quality of life for sufferers, has led to a real urgency in developing inexpensive wound dressings that promote wound healing. Alginate gels for application as wound dressings were formed by varying alginate (0%-6% w/v), calcium carbonate (0%-1% w/v), hydrogen peroxide (0%-3.75% v/v), and hyaluronic acid (0-1.25 mg/L) content. The aging effects on the physical properties of the gels over a 14-day period were also investigated. The results indicated that the concentration of calcium carbonate and hydrogen peroxide, as well as sample age, all had a significant effect on the rupture characteristics and gelation time of the gels. Increased calcium carbonate content caused an increase in rupture force and rupture energy values, whereas increased hydrogen peroxide content and sample age resulted in a decrease in rupture force and rupture energy measurements. Increased calcium carbonate and hydrogen peroxide content produced a decrease in the time required for gel formation. Statistical models were also produced to provide a means of estimating rupture characteristics and gelation times for gels containing other concentrations of these components.

Effect of hormonal emergency contraception on bleeding patterns.

Spotting following the use of emergency contraception is not unusual, nor is anxiety in women waiting to see if the treatment has worked. It is not known whether such spotting should bring worry or relief. We, therefore, wished to see if there was any correlation between bleeding pattern and treatment outcome. Using data from a large multicenter efficacy trial, we examined bleeding patterns post-emergency contraception. The earlier in the cycle the pills were taken, the more likely the next bleed was to be early and the less likely it was to be on time. There was no observable difference in spotting rates between women who got pregnant and those who did not. The occurrence of spotting did not influence whether the next period was lighter or heavier.

Identification of Naf1/ABIN-1 among TNF-alpha-induced expressed genes in human synoviocytes using oligonucleotide microarrays.

The cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) is a critical effector of the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We used oligonucleotide microarray (OM) analysis to assess TNF-alpha-modulated gene expression in cultured primary human synoviocytes in vitro. Genes identified include cytokines and inflammatory mediators, extracellular matrix and adhesion molecules, cell cycle and proliferation related proteins, transcription related proteins, and apoptotic mediators. OM identified 1185 differentially expressed genes in TNF-alpha-treated synoviocytes. The regulation of Nef-associated factor-1 (Naf1), an A20-binding, nuclear factor kappa B (NFkappaB) inhibitory protein was probed further given its putative role as an endogenous brake for the expression of some TNF-alpha-driven genes. Naf1 mRNA levels were higher in synovial biopsies from patients with active RA and seronegative arthropathy than in those from patients with osteoarthritis. These findings underscore the value of transcriptome analysis in cytokine-activated synoviocyte cultures in vitro as a means of identifying disease-associated genes in human arthritis, and implicate Naf1 as a potential modulator of TNF-alpha bioactivity in RA.

Survey of South Polar skuas (Catharacta maccormicki) for blood parasites in the Vestfold Hills region of Antarctica.

Thin blood smears prepared from 125 South Polar skuas (Catharacta maccormicki) at breeding islands and feeding sites in the Vestfold Hills region of Antarctica between December 1999 and January 2000 did not contain hematozoa. These findings confirm results of previous smaller studies, and provide baseline data for this species.