Poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) coating of additively manufactured biodegradable porous iron.

Additively manufacturing of porous iron offers a unique opportunity to increase its biodegradation rate by taking advantage of arbitrarily complex porous structures. Nevertheless, achieving the required biodegradation profile remains challenging due to the natural passivation of iron that decrease the biodegradation rate. Moreover, the biocompatibility of iron is reported to be limited. Here, we address both challenges by applying poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) coating to extrusion-based 3D printed porous iron. We characterized the specimens by performing in vitro biodegradation, electrochemical measurements, time-dependent mechanical tests, and in vitro cytocompatibility assays. The coated porous iron exhibited a biodegradation rate that was 2.6× higher than that of non-coated counterpart and maintained the bone-mimicking mechanical properties throughout biodegradation. Despite the formation of dense biodegradation products, the coating ensured a relatively stable biodegradation (i.e., 17% reduction in the degradation rate between days 14 and 28) as compared to that of non-coated specimens (i.e., 43% drop). Furthermore, the coating could be identified even after biodegradation, demonstrating the longevity of the coating. Finally, the coated specimens significantly increased the viability and supported the attachment and growth of preosteoblasts. Our results demonstrate the great potential of poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) coating for addressing the multiple challenges associated with the clinical adoption of porous iron.

Health risk perceptions in the era of the new coronavirus: are the Italian people ready for a novel virus? A cross-sectional study on perceived personal and comparative susceptibility for infectious diseases.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate the impact of psychological and sociodemographic variables on perceived personal and comparative susceptibility to diseases caused by a novel, unknown virus. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: A total of 438 adults (200 male and 238 female) were interviewed in the waiting rooms of three primary care medicine outpatient clinics. The participants completed three validated questionnaires: the Italian Adjustment of Risk Perception of Infectious Diseases questionnaire, the General Self-Efficacy (GSE) scale, and the Italian Version of Personality Inventory (ITAPI). RESULTS: Only 5% of the respondents believed it likely that they would contract a disease caused by a novel virus in the following months, even though 5.9% considered this probability higher than that of other people of the same age and gender. Gender (P < .04), age (P = .002), and marital status (P = .002) significantly affected the perceived risk of getting a disease caused by a novel virus. Self-efficacy (P < .001), imagination (P < .001), and empathy (P < .001) were significant predictors of perceived personal susceptibility. Self-efficacy (P = .04) and imagination (P = .04) were predictive of perceived comparative susceptibility. CONCLUSIONS: Adequate psycho-educational interventions are necessary to empower the population in adopting the necessary prevention and containment measures aimed at limiting the spread of novel diseases such as COVID-19 and avoiding disastrous consequences both at the health and economic level.

Post-rotavirus vaccine intussusception in identical twins: A case report.

The intussusception is one of the most frequent causes of occlusive syndrome in infants and in children. (1) The mesenteric lymphadenopathy, wich is very rare post rotavirus vaccination, can cause intussusception, (2-5) especially in genetically predisposed individuals. (6) There is an association between intussusception and some classes of genotype. (7-9) Two infants aged 3 months, vaccinated against rotavirus. After about a week, one of the 2 identical infants presented inconsolable crying, vomiting, loose stools mixed with blood, and was diagnosed with bowel obstruction with intussusception. He was operated in urgency. After a few hours, his brother presented vomiting, and was admitted to our Hospital for suspected intussusception. The controls carried out have confirmed the presence of intussusception that was treated early, before the onset of severe symptoms. The incidence of post rotavirus vaccine intussusception is very low. The determining factor hypothetically might be linked to the presence of a genotype that exposes infants to a greater risk of developing mesenteric lymphadenitis and intussusception. In our case, the diagnosis of intussusception occurred in a twin, which allowed us to recognize early symptoms which accused the brother and schedule the surgery with less urgency. Our experience may want to sensitize families and pediatricians to report cases of intussusception given a theoretical familiar association. The study of the genotype could be decisive for or not to exclude the presence of a risk of invagination, thus avoiding vaccination.

Anestesia en un niño con Síndrome de Rubinstein-Taybi / Anesthesia for a boy with Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome

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Intraperitoneal application of bupivacaine plus morphine for pain relief after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Intraperitoneal administration of a local anaesthetic in combination with an opioid, for the relief of postoperative pain, has already been reported except after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. This study was aimed at assessing the analgesic effect of the intraperitoneal administration of bupivacaine and morphine in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODS: At the end of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, in a double-blind, randomized manner, one of the following injections was given intraperitoneally. There were 30 patients in each group: Group 1, physiological saline 30 mL; Group 2, bupivacaine 0.25% 30 mL; Group 3, bupivacaine 0.25% 30 mL plus morphine 2 mg. In addition, Group 2 received 2 mg intravenous (i.v.) morphine in 2 mL saline, and Groups 1 and 3, 2 mL saline intravenously. Patients' postoperative pain was evaluated using a visual analogue scale and a verbal rating score. The postoperative analgesic requirement was assessed by the total dose of metamizol administered by an i.v. patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) device. Pain, vital signs, supplemental analgesic consumption and side-effects were recorded for all patients for 24 h. RESULTS: There were no differences between the three groups regarding pain scores (at rest and coughing) during the study except in the first 2 h, when scores were lower for patients receiving intraperitoneal bupivacaine plus i.v. morphine (P < 0.05). Supplemental consumption of metamizol was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in Group 3 than in Group 1 during the first 6 h after surgery. However, the cumulative doses of metamizol were also lower in Group 2 than in Groups 1 and 3 over the entire study (2025 +/- 1044 mg vs. 4925 +/- 1238 and 4125 +/- 1276mg; P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy, the intraperitoneal administration of morphine plus bupivacaine 0.25% reduced the analgesic requirements during the first 6 postoperative hours compared with the control group. However, the combination of intraperitoneal bupivacaine 0.25% and i.v. morphine was more effective for treatment of pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Endoscopia y embarazo: Registro de las alteraciones tococardiográficas del producto durante el procedimiento, como índice de seguridad / Pregnancy and endoscopy: Tococardiographic alteration registered during endocospy

La esofagogastroduodenoscopia (EGD) ha demostrado ser un procedimiento seguro y útil. Su uso durante el embarazo no ha sido aceptado. El registro tococardiográfico de la frecuencia cardíaca fetal es un índice confiable del bienestar del producto, y sus alteraciones muestran el sufrimiento fetal. Se realizo un estudio prospectivo y logitudinal en 75 mujeres embarazadas, con sintomatología gastrointestinal superior, las cuales se sometieron a procedimiento endoscópico con monitoreo tococardiográfico. El promedio de edad fue de 26.6 años. 27 pacientes (49.3 por ciento) se encontraban entre la semana 20 y 27 de gestación 23 (30.6 por ciento) entre la semana 28 y 35). 15 pacientes (20 por ciento) entre la semana 36 y 42. Se registro bradicardía transitoria leve en 45 productos (60 por ciento), taquicardía transitoria en 15 (20 por ciento) y no se presentaron alteraciones 15 productos (20 por ciento). No se registro ninguna complicación durante el procedimiento ni durante el periodo de seguimiento hasta el momento del parto. Concluimos que el procedimiento de EGD realizado en las mujeres embarazadas es un procedimiento seguro y útil, y que no representa riesgo para la madre ni el producto.

Synthesis, antimicrobial and cytostatic activity of 1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-alpha-D-glucofuranosyl (-)-(S)-propanesulfinate.

The synthesis of 1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropilidene-alpha-D-glucofuranosyl (-)-(S)-propanesulfinate 1 optically pure using diacetone-D-glucose as unique inducer of chirality and iPrEtN a base is described. Compound 1 was especially active against Gram positive bacteria. For the cytostatic activity, the ID50 value of compound 1 was inferior than those recommend by National Cancer Institute of USA for this type of compounds.