Bioresponsive systems based on polygalacturonate containing hydrogels.

Polysaccharide acid (PSA) based devices (consisting of alginic acid and polygalacturonic acid) were investigated for the detection of contaminating microorganisms. PSA-CaCl(2) hydrogel systems were compared to systems involving covalent cross-linking of PSA with glycidylmethacrylate (PSA-GMA) which was confirmed with Fourier Transformed Infrared (FTIR) analysis. Incubation of PSA-CaCl(2) and PSA-GMA beads loaded with Alizarin as a model ingredient with trigger enzymes (polygalacturonases or pectate lyases) or bacteria lead to a smoothening of the surface and exposure of Alizarin according to Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy (ESEM) analysis.

Crisis intervention response and long-term outcome: a pilot study.

We investigated whether process variables (therapeutic alliance and insight) measured at the termination of crisis intervention predict long-term treatment compliance and 2-year outcome. Thirty-seven consecutive depressed psychiatric patients assigned to outpatient crisis intervention (CCI) were assessed with both questionnaires and standardized instruments at intake, 1 week, and CCI termination (mean, 6 weeks). Thirty-one subjects (84%) were also evaluated at 1-year and 2-year follow-up.