From 3D to 4D printing of lignin towards green materials and sustainable manufacturing.

Lignin is the second most abundant renewable and sustainable biomass resource. Developing advanced manufacturing to process lignin/lignocellulose into functional materials could reduce the consumption of petroleum-based materials. 3D printing provides a promising strategy to realize complex and customized geometries of lignin materials.

Hydrogel for light delivery in biomedical applications.

Traditional optical waveguides or mediums are often silica-based materials, but their applications in biomedicine and healthcare are limited due to the poor biocompatibility and unsuitable mechanical properties. In term of the applications in human body, a biocompatible hydrogel system with excellent optical transparency and mechanical flexibility could be beneficial. In this review, we explore the different designs of hydrogel-based optical waveguides derived from natural and synthetic sources.

Nanochitin for sustainable and advanced manufacturing.

Presently, the rapid depletion of resources and drastic climate change highlight the importance of sustainable development. In this case, nanochitin derived from chitin, the second most abundant renewable polymer in the world, possesses numerous advantages, including toughness, easy processability and biodegradability. Furthermore, it exhibits better dispersibility in various solvents and higher reactivity than chitin owing to its increased surface area to volume ratio.

PVA/pectin composite hydrogels inducing osteogenesis for bone regeneration.

Hydrogels composed from biomolecules have gained great interests as biomaterials for tissue engineering. However, their poor mechanical properties limit their application potential. Here, we synthesized a series of tough composite hydrogels from poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and pectin for bone tissue engineering.

Bedside Live-View Capsule Endoscopy in Evaluation of Overt Obscure Gastrointestinal Bleeding: A Pilot Point-of-Care Study.

Background: Capsule endoscopy (CE) is an emerging tool in the diagnosis and management of occult bleeding and overt obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OOGIB). Maximizing the efficiency of CE can lead to rapid bleeding localization and shorter time to therapy. We investigated whether a trained registered nurse (RN) can accurately interpret bleeding by observing the CE findings in real time by measuring inter-observer agreement between RN and physician interpretation.

Hydrogel-Based Flexible Electronics.

Flexible electronics is an emerging field of research involving multiple disciplines, which include but not limited to physics, chemistry, materials science, electronic engineering, and biology. However, the broad applications of flexible electronics are still restricted due to several limitations, including high Young's modulus, poor biocompatibility, and poor responsiveness. Innovative materials aiming for overcoming these drawbacks and boost its practical application is highly desirable.

Dynamic Grafting of Carboxylates onto Poly(Vinyl Alcohol) Polymers for Supramolecularly-Crosslinked Hydrogel Formation.

Supramolecular hydrogels have attracted considerable interest due to their unique stimuli-responsive and self-healing properties. However, these hydrogel systems are usually achieved by covalent grafting of supramolecular units onto the polymer backbone, which in turn limits their reprocessability. Herein, we prepared a supramolecular hydrogel system by forming dynamic covalent crosslinks between 4-carboxyphenylboronic acid (CPBA) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA).

Adverse childhood experiences in children and adolescents with sickle cell disease: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are linked to poor health outcomes; however, the relationship between ACEs and health outcomes among children and adolescents with sickle cell disease (SCD) has limited documentation in the published literature.

Procedure: This retrospective cohort study involved 45 children and 30 adolescents. Participants were screened using the Center for Youth Wellness ACE Questionnaire.

A 5-Year Retrospective Analysis of Biologic and Prosthetic Complications Associated With Single-Tooth Endosseous Dental Implants: Practical Applications.

Focused Clinical Question: What are the key considerations of the incidence and timing for single-tooth implant complications, including early failure, biological complications, and prosthetic complications?

Summary: Single-tooth dental implants have been shown to have a high overall survival rate, but implant complications affect patient satisfaction and may lead to costly and/or time-consuming repair and revision. Assessing the incidence and types of biologic and prosthetic complications and the timing of such complications is helpful so that the underlying causes can be addressed during the treatment planning process. Furthermore, identification of patient demographics, patient-, implant-, and site-specific factors associated with such complications may allow for more comprehensive risk assessment during treatment planning.

A New Potent Antimicrobial Metalloporphyrin.

A series of bis-acryl functionalized porphyrins and their corresponding metalloporphyrins (M=Co, Mn) were synthesized and investigated for their antimicrobial properties through MIC screening and bacteria time-kill kinetic studies. The Mn(III) 4-(bis)methylphenyl-substituted-porphyrins showed superior batericidal activities even in the dark with low hemotoxicity and good cytotoxicity profile.

Recycling of spent coffee grounds for useful extracts and green composites.

Large amounts of spent coffee grounds (SCGs) are often discarded and there is a need to find alternative disposal methods due to environmental concerns. This project aims to develop sustainable materials by re-purposing spent coffee grounds (SCGs). Oil extraction was performed using different organic solvents and yielded approximately 10% coffee oil.

Timing and Success of Postoperative Voiding Trial After Colpocleisis With and Without Concomitant Midurethral Sling.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare failure rates of first voiding trial (VT) within 7 days and on postoperative day (POD) 1 after colpocleisis with versus without concomitant midurethral sling (MUS). Predictors of POD 1 VT failure were also examined.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of women undergoing colpocleisis from January 2012 to October 2019 comparing VT outcomes with versus without MUS.

Sanitizing agents for virus inactivation and disinfection.

Viral epidemics develop from the emergence of new variants of infectious viruses. The lack of effective antiviral treatments for the new viral infections coupled with rapid community spread of the infection often result in major human and financial loss. Viral transmissions can occur via close human-to-human contact or via contacting a contaminated surface.

Non-toxic fragment of botulinum neurotoxin type A and monomethyl auristatin E conjugate for targeted therapy for neuroendocrine tumors.

Surgical resection is the only cure for neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). However, widespread metastases have already occured by the time of initial diagnosis in many cases making complete surgical removal impossible. We developed a recombinant heavy-chain receptor binding domain (rHCR) of botulinum neurotoxin type A that can specifically target synaptic vesicle 2 (SV2), a surface receptor abundantly expressed in multiple neuroendocrine tumors.

Assessing patients' preferences for gender, age, and experience of their urogynecologic provider.

Introduction And Hypothesis: Understanding patient preferences regarding provider characteristics is an under-explored area in urogynecology. This study aims to describe patient preferences for urogynecologic care, including provider gender, age, experience, and presence of medical trainees.

Methods: This was a multicenter, cross-sectional, survey-based study assessing patient preferences with a voluntary, self-administered, anonymous questionnaire prior to their first urogynecology consult.

Recent innovations in artificial skin.

The skin is a "smart", multifunctional organ that is protective, self-healing and capable of sensing and many forms of artificial skins have been developed with properties and functionalities approximating those of natural skin. Starting from specific commercial products for the treatment of burns, progress in two fields of research has since allowed these remarkable materials to be viable skin replacements for a wide range of dermatological conditions. This review maps out the development of bioengineered skin replacements and synthetic skin substitutes, including electronic skins.

Effect of Surface Treatment and Cement on Fracture Load of Traditional Zirconia (3Y), Translucent Zirconia (5Y), and Lithium Disilicate Crowns.

Purpose: To determine if surface treatment and cement selection for traditional 3 mol% yttria partially stabilized zirconia (3Y-PSZ), "translucent" 5 mol% yttria-stabilized zirconia (5Y-Z), or lithium disilicate crowns affected their fracture load.

Materials And Methods: Crowns with 0.8 mm uniform thickness (96, n = 8/group) were milled of 3Y-PSZ (Lava Plus), 5Y-Z (Lava Esthetic), or lithium disilicate (e.

Duration of therapeutic coma and outcome of refractory status epilepticus.

Objective: Examine the association of duration of therapeutic coma (TC) with seizure recurrence, morbidity, and mortality in refractory status epilepticus (RSE). Define an optimal window for TC that provides sustained seizure control and minimizes complications.

Methods: Retrospective, observational cohort study involving patients who presented with RSE to the University of Alabama at Birmingham or the University of California at San Francisco from 2010 to 2016.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of complications in conversion arthroplasty methods for failed intertrochanteric fracture fixation.

Background: Conversion arthroplasty for failed primary fixation of intertrochanteric fractures can be achieved using various methods, including cemented total hip arthroplasty, uncemented total hip arthroplasty, hybrid total hip arthroplasty, and hemiarthroplasty. Complication rates vary between each conversion method. The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of conversion method on total conversion complication rates.

Using Artificial Skin Devices as Skin Replacements: Insights into Superficial Treatment.

Artificial skin devices are able to mimic the flexibility and sensory perception abilities of the skin. They have thus garnered attention in the biomedical field as potential skin replacements. This Review delves into issues pertaining to these skin-deep devices.

Acute Hemodynamic Effects of Biventricular Pacing After Left Ventricular Assist Device.

Background: Despite cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), some patients with heart failure progress and undergo left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. Management of CRT after LVAD implantation has not been well studied. The purpose of this study was to determine whether RV pacing or biventricular pacing measurably affects acute hemodynamics in patients with an LVAD and a CRT device.

Optimal antero-posterior position of the maxillary central incisors and its relationship to the forehead in adult African American females.

Objectives: To determine an optimal anteroposterior (AP) position of the maxillary central incisors and their relationship to the forehead in adult African American (AA) females.

Materials And Methods: Smile profile photographs of 150 AA females were acquired and divided into an optimal control group (N = 48) and a study group (N = 102) based on the position of the maxillary central incisors, as judged by a panel of orthodontists and orthodontic residents. The AP position of the maxillary central incisors and the forehead inclination (FI) were measured relative to Glabella vertical (GV).