Diapers to Thickeners and Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives: Recycling of Superabsorbers via UV Degradation.

Superabsorbers based on crosslinked sodium polyacrylate polymers cannot be easily recycled, resulting in 2 million tons of superabsorbers being landfilled or burned every year. A fast and efficient strategy to recycle superabsorbers would significantly alleviate environmental pollution and promote a sustainable use of these polymers. Herein, the rapid recycling of crosslinked sodium polyacrylate hydrogels based on their inherent UV degradation is demonstrated without the need for chemicals besides water.

Charge controlled interactions between DNA-modified silica nanoparticles and fluorosurfactants in microfluidic water-in-oil droplets.

Microfluidic droplets are an important tool for studying and mimicking biological systems, , to examine with high throughput the interaction of biomolecular components and the functionality of natural cells, or to develop basic principles for the engineering of artificial cells. Of particular importance is the approach to generate a biomimetic membrane by supramolecular self-assembly of nanoparticle components dissolved in the aqueous phase of the droplets at the inner water/oil interface, which can serve both to mechanically reinforce the droplets and as an interaction surface for cells and other components. While this interfacial assembly driven by electrostatic interaction of surfactants is quite well developed for water/mineral oil (W/MO) systems, no approaches have yet been described to exploit this principle for water/fluorocarbon oil (W/FO) emulsion droplets.

Acyclic Diene Metathesis (ADMET) Polymerization of 2,2,6,6-Tetramethylpiperidine-1-sulfanyl (TEMPS) Dimers.

The preparation of polymers containing sulfur-nitrogen bond derivatives, particularly 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-sulfanyl (TEMPS) dimers (i.e., BiTEMPS), has been limited to free-radical or conventional step-growth polymerization as result of the inherent thermal lability of the BiTEMPS unit.

Elemental Sulfur Mediated Novel Multicomponent Redox Polycondensation for the Synthesis of Alternating Copolymers Based on 2,4-Thiophene/Arene Repeating Units.

A sulfur-based self-condensation method is investigated as an efficient tool for the synthesis of polythiophene derivatives. The reaction proceeds through multicomponent redox polycondensation between readily available diketone compounds and elemental sulfur in the presence of a Brønsted acid/base pair. Six different diketone derivatives have been screened and the polymerization is generalized by the synthesis of so-far-unprecedented alternating copolymers based on 2,4-thiophene/arene repeating units.

A versatile perfusion bioreactor and endothelializable photo cross-linked tubes of gelatin methacryloyl as promising tools in tissue engineering.

Size and function of bioartificial tissue models are still limited due to the lack of blood vessels and dynamic perfusion for nutrient supply. In this study, we evaluated the use of cytocompatible methacryl-modified gelatin for the fabrication of a hydrogel-based tube by dip-coating and subsequent photo-initiated cross-linking. The wall thickness of the tubes and the diameter were tuned by the degree of gelatin methacryl-modification and the number of dipping cycles.

Methacrylated gelatin/hyaluronan-based hydrogels for soft tissue engineering.

In vitro-generated soft tissue could provide alternate therapies for soft tissue defects. The aim of this study was to evaluate methacrylated gelatin/hyaluronan as scaffolds for soft tissue engineering and their interaction with human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs). ASCs were incorporated into methacrylated gelatin/hyaluronan hydrogels.

EGF and hydrocortisone as critical factors for the co-culture of adipogenic differentiated ASCs and endothelial cells.

In vitro composed vascularized adipose tissue is and will continue to be in great demand e.g. for the treatment of extensive high-graded burns or the replacement of tissue after tumor removal.

Integration of Mature Adipocytes to Build-Up a Functional Three-Layered Full-Skin Equivalent.

Large, deep full-thickness skin wounds from high-graded burns or trauma are not able to reepithelialize sufficiently, resulting in scar formation, mobility limitations, and cosmetic deformities. In this study, in vitro-constructed tissue replacements are needed. Furthermore, such full-skin equivalents would be helpful as in vivo-like test systems for toxicity, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical testing.

Blood-Vessel Mimicking Structures by Stereolithographic Fabrication of Small Porous Tubes Using Cytocompatible Polyacrylate Elastomers, Biofunctionalization and Endothelialization.

Blood vessel reconstruction is still an elusive goal for the development of in vitro models as well as artificial vascular grafts. In this study, we used a novel photo-curable cytocompatible polyacrylate material (PA) for freeform generation of synthetic vessels. We applied stereolithography for the fabrication of arbitrary 3D tubular structures with total dimensions in the centimeter range, 300 µm wall thickness, inner diameters of 1 to 2 mm and defined pores with a constant diameter of approximately 100 µm or 200 µm.

Adipose-derived stem cell differentiation as a basic tool for vascularized adipose tissue engineering.

The development of in vitro adipose tissue constructs is highly desired to cope with the increased demand for substitutes to replace damaged soft tissue after high graded burns, deformities or tumor removal. To achieve clinically relevant dimensions, vascularization of soft tissue constructs becomes inevitable but still poses a challenge. Adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) represent a promising cell source for the setup of vascularized fatty tissue constructs as they can be differentiated into adipocytes and endothelial cells in vitro and are thereby available in sufficiently high cell numbers.

Influence of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and hydrocortisone on the co-culture of mature adipocytes and endothelial cells for vascularized adipose tissue engineering.

The composition of vascularized adipose tissue is still an ongoing challenge as no culture medium is available to supply adipocytes and endothelial cells appropriately. Endothelial cell medium is typically supplemented with epidermal growth factor (EGF) as well as hydrocortisone (HC). The effect of EGF on adipocytes is discussed controversially.

Understanding the effects of mature adipocytes and endothelial cells on fatty acid metabolism and vascular tone in physiological fatty tissue for vascularized adipose tissue engineering.

Engineering of large vascularized adipose tissue constructs is still a challenge for the treatment of extensive high-graded burns or the replacement of tissue after tumor removal. Communication between mature adipocytes and endothelial cells is important for homeostasis and the maintenance of adipose tissue mass but, to date, is mainly neglected in tissue engineering strategies. Thus, new co-culture strategies are needed to integrate adipocytes and endothelial cells successfully into a functional construct.

Decelerating Mature Adipocyte Dedifferentiation by Media Composition.

The establishment of adipose tissue test systems is still a major challenge in the investigation of cellular and molecular interactions responsible for the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases involving adipose tissue. Mature adipocytes are mainly involved in these pathologies, but rarely used in vitro, due to the lack of an appropriate culture medium which inhibits dedifferentiation and maintains adipocyte functionality. In our study, we showed that Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium/Ham's F-12 with 10% fetal calf serum (FCS) reported for the culture of mature adipocytes favors dedifferentiation, which was accompanied by a high glycerol release, a decreasing release of leptin, and a low expression of the adipocyte marker perilipin A, but high expression of CD73 after 21 days.

How do culture media influence in vitro perivascular cell behavior?

Perivascular cells are multilineage cells located around the vessel wall and important for wall stabilization. In this study, we evaluated a stem cell media and a perivascular cell-specific media for the culture of primary perivascular cells regarding their cell morphology, doubling time, stem cell properties, and expression of cell type-specific markers. When the two cell culture media were compared to each other, perivascular cells cultured in the stem cell medium had a more elongated morphology and a faster doubling rate and cells cultured in the pericyte medium had a more typical morphology, with several filopodia, and a slower doubling rate.

Methacrylated gelatin and mature adipocytes are promising components for adipose tissue engineering.

In vitro engineering of autologous fatty tissue constructs is still a major challenge for the treatment of congenital deformities, tumor resections or high-graded burns. In this study, we evaluated the suitability of photo-crosslinkable methacrylated gelatin (GM) and mature adipocytes as components for the composition of three-dimensional fatty tissue constructs. Cytocompatibility evaluations of the GM and the photoinitiator Lithium phenyl-2,4,6-trimethylbenzoylphosphinate (LAP) showed no cytotoxicity in the relevant range of concentrations.

Photo-induced sequence defined macromolecules via hetero bifunctional synthons.

We report the first photochemical protocol for the generation of sequence defined macromolecules employing two hetero bifunctional photoreactive synthons, exploiting the orthogonal nature of photochemical - via the use of caged dienes - and thermally driven ligation protocols. We demonstrate that the iterative alternating synthon addition to an initial bifunctional core under irradiation at ambient temperature enables the generation of a macromolecule with up to 10 units (M = 3231.58 g mol(-1), Đ = 1.

The Basic Documentation for Psycho-Oncology Short Form (PO-Bado SF)--an expert rating scale for distress screening: development and psychometric properties.

Background: The aim of this study is to validate the Basic Documentation for Psycho-Oncology Short Form (PO-Bado SF), a six item interview-based expert rating scale for distress screening in cancer patients.

Methods: Using a heterogeneous multicenter study sample (n = 1551), we examined validity, reliability, and dimensionality of the PO-Bado SF. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Distress Thermometer, the Questionnaire on Stress in Cancer, and the Patient Health Questionnaire were used to investigate convergent validity.

Efficacy of a short course of specific immunotherapy in patients with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis to ragweed pollen.

Background: Specific immunotherapy acts to modify the underlying cause of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis. Addition of adjuvants, such as monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL), might allow for efficacious and safe treatment with only 4 injections administered preseasonally, which is in contrast to most available schedules requiring long injection courses.

Objective: The primary objective was to assess the clinical efficacy of Ragweed MATA MPL (short ragweed pollen allergoid adsorbed to L-Tyrosine + MPL) versus placebo in reducing allergic rhinoconjunctivitis symptoms caused by ragweed pollen in an environmental exposure chamber (EEC) 3 weeks after treatment.

Cancer distress reduction with a couple-based skills training: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: There are few interventions for couples facing cancer.

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the utility of providing dyadic skills to these couples.

Methods: Woman recently diagnosed with breast or gynecological cancer and their partners were randomly assigned to either a couple-skills intervention (Side by Side) or to cancer education (Couples Control Program).

Description of Francisella hispaniensis sp. nov., isolated from human blood, reclassification of Francisella novicida (Larson et al. 1955) Olsufiev et al. 1959 as Francisella tularensis subsp. novicida comb. nov. and emended description of the genus Francisella.

Strain FhSp1T, isolated from human blood in Spain in 2003, was studied for its taxonomic allocation. By 16S rRNA and recA gene sequencing, the strain was shown to belong to the genus Francisella. In the 16S rRNA gene sequence, Francisella sp.

Paenochrobactrum gallinarii gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from air of a duck barn, and reclassification of Pseudochrobactrum glaciei as Paenochrobactrum glaciei comb. nov.

A Gram-negative, rod-shaped, oxidase-positive, non-spore-forming, non-motile bacterium (Sa25(T)) was isolated from air of a duck barn. 16S rRNA gene and recA sequence analyses clearly placed the isolate in the vicinity of the Brucella-Ochrobactrum-Pseudochrobactrum group, with the closest relative being Pseudochrobactrum glaciei KMM 3858(T). This allocation was confirmed by analyses of the quinone system (ubiquinone Q-10), fatty acid data (major fatty acids C(18 : 1)omega7c and C(19 : 0) cyclo omega8c) and polar lipid profile (major components diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine and unknown aminolipid AL1; moderate amounts of three unknown polar lipids, L1-L3, an unknown aminolipid and an unknown aminophospholipid APL2).

Brucella inopinata sp. nov., isolated from a breast implant infection.

A Gram-negative, non-motile, non-spore-forming coccoid bacterium (strain BO1(T)) was isolated recently from a breast implant infection of a 71-year-old female patient with clinical signs of brucellosis. Affiliation of strain BO1(T) to the genus Brucella was confirmed by means of polyamine pattern, polar lipid profile, fatty acid profile, quinone system, DNA-DNA hybridization studies and by insertion sequence 711 (IS711)-specific PCR. Strain BO1(T) harboured four to five copies of the Brucella-specific insertion element IS 711, displaying a unique banding pattern, and exhibited a unique 16S rRNA gene sequence and also grouped separately in multilocus sequence typing analysis.

Ochrobactrum pituitosum sp. nov., isolated from an industrial environment.

Strain CCUG 50899, a Gram-negative, rod-shaped, non-spore-forming, motile bacterium isolated from industrial environment in Sweden and tentatively assigned to the species Ochrobactrum anthropi, was studied in order to clarify its taxonomic status. 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities placed the strain in the genus Ochrobactrum, sharing highest similarity with the type strains of Ochrobactrum rhizosphaerae (99.3 %), Ochrobactrum thiophenivorans (98.