Enhancing orthopaedic implant efficacy: the development of cerium-doped bioactive glass and polyvinylpyrrolidone composite coatings via MAPLE technique.

This study investigates the potential of combining Cerium-doped bioactive glass (BBGi) with Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) to enhance the properties of titanium (Ti) implant surfaces using the Matrix-Assisted Pulsed Laser Evaporation (MAPLE) technique. The primary focus is on improving osseointegration, corrosion resistance, and evaluating the cytotoxicity of the developed thin films towards host cells. The innovative approach involves synthesizing a composite thin film comprising BBGi and PVP, leveraging the distinct benefits of both materials: BBGi's biocompatibility and osteoinductive capabilities, and PVP's film-forming and biocompatible properties.

Ultra-Short Pulses Laser Heating of Dielectrics: A Semi-Classical Analytical Model.

Femtosecond laser pulses are currently regarded as an emerging and promising tool for processing wide bandgap dielectric materials across a variety of high-end applications, although the associated physical phenomena are not yet fully understood. To address these challenges, we propose an original, fully analytical model combined with Two Temperatures Model (TTM) formalism. The model is applied to describe the interaction of fs laser pulses with a typical dielectric target (e.

Development and Evaluation of Fucoidan-Loaded Electrospun Polyvinyl Alcohol/Levan Nanofibers for Wound Dressing Applications.

Wound dressing is an ancient technique for promoting healing, and modern technology has led to the development of advanced dressings that enhance patient care. Nanofiber-based wound dressings are a medical innovation with enhanced properties, including improved adhesion, reduced infection rates, and increased tissue regeneration. This article focuses on electrospun nanofibrous wound dressing materials produced using the widely adopted method of electrospinning.

Fabrication Strategies for Bioceramic Scaffolds in Bone Tissue Engineering with Generative Design Applications.

The aim of this study is to provide an overview of the current state-of-the-art in the fabrication of bioceramic scaffolds for bone tissue engineering, with an emphasis on the use of three-dimensional (3D) technologies coupled with generative design principles. The field of modern medicine has witnessed remarkable advancements and continuous innovation in recent decades, driven by a relentless desire to improve patient outcomes and quality of life. Central to this progress is the field of tissue engineering, which holds immense promise for regenerative medicine applications.

The Effect of Doping on the Electrical and Dielectric Properties of Hydroxyapatite for Medical Applications: From Powders to Thin Films.

Recently, the favorable electrical properties of biomaterials have been acknowledged as crucial for various medical applications, including both bone healing and growth processes. This review will specifically concentrate on calcium phosphate (CaP)-based bioceramics, with a notable emphasis on hydroxyapatite (HA), among the diverse range of synthetic biomaterials. HA is currently the subject of extensive research in the medical field, particularly in dentistry and orthopedics.

Advanced Applications of Silk-Based Hydrogels for Tissue Engineering: A Short Review.

Silk has been consistently popular throughout human history due to its enigmatic properties. Today, it continues to be widely utilized as a polymer, having first been introduced to the textile industry. Furthermore, the health sector has also integrated silk.

Multifunctional Polymeric Biodegradable and Biocompatible Coatings Based on Silver Nanoparticles: A Comparative In Vitro Study on Their Cytotoxicity towards Cancer and Normal Cell Lines of Cytostatic Drugs versus Essential-Oil-Loaded Nanoparticles and on Their Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Activities.

We report on a comparative in vitro study of selective cytotoxicity against MCF7 tumor cells and normal VERO cells tested on silver-based nanocoatings synthesized by the matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE) technique. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were loaded with five representative cytostatic drugs (i.e.

Hydroxyapatite Thin Films of Marine Origin as Sustainable Candidates for Dental Implants.

Novel biomaterials with promising bone regeneration potential, derived from rich, renewable, and cheap sources, are reported. Thus, thin films were synthesized from marine-derived (i.e.

Serum levels of copper and zinc in diabetic retinopathy: Potential new therapeutic targets (Review).

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a microvascular disorder occurring due to the long-term effects of diabetes, leading to vision-threatening damage to the retina. The human body has an elaborate system for managing and regulating the number of key trace metals circulating in the blood and stored cells. Inadequate zinc (Zn) and concurrent excess of copper (Cu) levels are associated with an increased level of oxidative stress, which may aggravate the microvascular lesions in diabetes mellitus.

Acute Mesenteric Ischemia in COVID-19 Patients.

Acute mesenteric ischemia is a rare but extremely severe complication of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The present review aims to document the clinical, laboratory, and imaging findings, management, and outcomes of acute intestinal ischemia in COVID-19 patients. A comprehensive search was performed on PubMed and Web of Science with the terms "COVID-19" and "bowel ischemia" OR "intestinal ischemia" OR "mesenteric ischemia" OR "mesenteric thrombosis".

A Review on Biphasic Calcium Phosphate Materials Derived from Fish Discards.

This review summarizes the results reported on the production of biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) materials derived from fish wastes (i.e., heads, bones, skins, and viscera), known as fish discards, and offers an in-depth discussion on their promising potential for various applications in many fields, especially the biomedical one.

Fish Bone Derived Bi-Phasic Calcium Phosphate Coatings Fabricated by Pulsed Laser Deposition for Biomedical Applications.

We report on new biomaterials with promising bone and cartilage regeneration potential, from sustainable, cheap resources of fish origin. Thin films were fabricated from fish bone-derived bi-phasic calcium phosphate targets pulsed laser deposition with a KrF * excimer laser source (λ = 248 nm, τ ≤ 25 ns). Targets and deposited nanostructures were characterized by SEM and XRD, as well as by Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) and FTIR spectroscopy.

Laparoscopic Surgery in COVID-19 Era-Safety and Ethical Issues.

(1) Background: The paper aims to review the available evidence regarding the health risk of the aerosolization induced by laparoscopy induced and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic upon minimally invasive surgery. (2) Materials and methods: A systematic review of the literature was performed on PubMed, Medline and Scopus until 10 July. (3) Results: Chemicals, carcinogens and biologically active materials, such as bacteria and viruses, have been isolated in surgical smoke.

Optimized silicon reinforcement of carbon coatings by pulsed laser technique for superior functional biomedical surfaces fabrication.

We report on the fabrication of silicon-reinforced carbon (C:Si) structures by combinatorial pulsed laser deposition to search for the best design for a new generation of multi-functional coated implants. The synthesized films were characterized from the morphological, structural, compositional, mechanical and microbiological points of view. Scanning electron microscopy revealed the presence, on top of the deposited layers, of spheroid particulates with sizes in the micron range.

Fabrication of antimicrobial silver-doped carbon structures by combinatorial pulsed laser deposition.

We report on the selection by combinatorial pulsed laser deposition of Silver-doped Carbon structures with reliable physical-chemical characteristics and high efficiency against microbial biofilms. The investigation of the films was performed by scanning electron microscopy, high resolution atomic force microscopy, energy dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, bonding strength "pull-out" tests, and surface energy measurements. In vitro biological assays were carried out using a large spectrum of bacterial and fungal strains, i.

Incidence of Pulmonary and/or Systemic Thromboembolism in Pregnancy.

Pregnancy associate with thromboembolism is one of leading causes of maternal morbidity and mortality. Worldwide the incidence of pregnancy related venous thromboembolism is approximately 1 in 1500 deliveries. The arterial thromboembolism risk is increased from 3 to 4 fold and the risk of venous thromboembolism is five times higher in a pregnant that in a non-pregnant woman.

Thickness Influence on Biocompatibility of Titanium Nitride Thin Films Synthesized by Pulsed Laser Deposition.

We report a study on the biocompatibility thickness in the case of titanium nitride (TiN) films synthesized on 410 medical grade stainless steel substrates by pulsed laser deposition. The films were grown in a nitrogen atmosphere, and their cytotoxicity was assessed according to ISO 10993-5 [1]. Extensive physical-chemical analyses have been carried out on the deposited structures with various thicknesses in order to explain the differences in biological behavior: profilometry, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction and surface energy measurements.

Structural, compositional, mechanical characterization and biological assessment of bovine-derived hydroxyapatite coatings reinforced with MgF2 or MgO for implants functionalization.

Hydroxyapatite (HA) is a consecrated biomaterial for bone reconstruction. In the form of thin films deposited by pulsed laser technologies, it can be used to cover metallic implants aiming to increase biocompatibility and osseointegration rate. HA of animal origin (bovine, BHA) reinforced with MgF2 (2wt.

Structural and biological evaluation of lignin addition to simple and silver-doped hydroxyapatite thin films synthesized by matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation.

We report on thin film deposition by matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation of simple hydroxyapatite (HA) or silver (Ag) doped HA combined with the natural biopolymer organosolv lignin (Lig) (Ag:HA-Lig). Solid cryogenic target of aqueous dispersions of Ag:HA-Lig composite and its counterpart without silver (HA-Lig) were prepared for evaporation using a KrF* excimer laser source. The expulsed material was assembled onto TiO2/Ti substrata or silicon wafers and subjected to physical-chemical investigations.

Nanoprofiles evaluation of ZnO thin films by an evanescent light method.

The extraction efficiency of evanescent light from ZnO nanolayers and their thickness profiles in the range of (1-105) nm was evaluated by a new microscopy technique, differential evanescent light intensity imaging method. It is based on capturing the evanescent light scattered by the layer of the material deposited on glass substrates. The analyzed ZnO films were obtained by pulsed laser deposition at 27°C and 100°C, using a nanosecond UV laser source.

Measuring nanolayer profiles of various materials by evanescent light technique.

The evanescent light photon extraction efficiency of insulator, semiconductor and conductor amorphous nanolayers deposited on glass waveguides was evaluated from Differential Evanescent Light Intensity measurements. The Differential Evanescent Light Intensity technique uses the evanescent field scattered by the deposited nanolayer, enabling nanometer thickness profiling due to the high inherent dark background contrast. The results show that the effective evanescent photon penetration depth increases from metal to semiconductor and then to insulating layers, establishing thus the effective photon-material interaction length for the various materials classes.

[Retroperitoneal tumor].

This paper presents the case of a 69 year old patient who has a benign retroperitoneal tumor (lipofibroma) presenting differential diagnosis problems (in special preoperative one, and intraoperative technique difficulties, revealing the fact that, in this case, paraclinical investigations have an orientative value, without offering etiologic information, and do not allow a clear preoperative strategy. Tumor resection was performed under an intraoperative histologically diagnosis of lipofibroma of the retroperitoneal region. Postoperative evolution was good.

[Retroperitoneal appendicular abscess].

This article presents a 28 years old male patient case with a retroperitoneal collection of apendicular origin. After few comments about clinical and paraclinical aspects, the authors emphasise the particular aspects of differential diagnosis and surgical approach which, finally, lead to a full recovery of the patient.