The potential release in the environment and biological effects of chemicals like additives and non-intentionally added substances present in conventional plastics and bioplastics is an issue that could occur if these materials are not properly disposed of. Herein, seven leachates of biobased and biodegradable plastics made of polylactic acid (PLA), polybutylene succinate (PBS)/PLA blends, and starch-based blends (SB) were characterized and compared for the inorganic and organic additives present in the source materials. The main inorganic elements found in the leachates were Na, Mg, K, and Ca (0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: NPWTi-d of a topical wound solution has been shown to benefit healing in a variety of wound types. This therapy has traditionally been applied via a standard ROCF-V. In 2017, a new ROCF-CC was introduced at the practice of the authors of the current manuscript for adjunctive management of patients with wounds with thick exudate and/or nonviable tissue and in cases in which surgical debridement is not available or not appropriate.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIEEE Int Conf Rehabil Robot
September 2023
Exosuits typically provide limited mechanical support and rely on a user's residual functional ability. However, people with neurological impairments often suffer from both motor and sensory deficits that limit the assistance an exosuit can provide. To overcome these limitations, we developed the REINFORCE system, that complements the mechanical assistance provided by an exosuit, the Myosuit, with (1) functional electrical stimulation to enhance the activities of leg muscles, and (2) transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation to restore somatosensory information.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFParental behavior towards their children's oral health is strongly influenced by parent's Oral Health Literacy (OHL) level. This study evaluated the impact of parental OHL on preschool children's utilization of dental services. A cross-sectional study was conducted with parents of 419 children aged 3 to 5 years who answered a self-administered questionnaire about their perception of their children's oral health and whether their children had already been to a dental visit.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Around 25% of patients who have had a stroke suffer from severe upper-limb impairment and lack effective rehabilitation strategies. The AVANCER proof-of-concept clinical trial (NCT04448483) tackles this issue through an intensive and personalized-dosage cumulative intervention that combines multiple non-invasive neurotechnologies.
Methods: The therapy consists of two sequential interventions, lasting until the patient shows no further motor improvement, for a minimum of 11 sessions each.