GelMA as scaffold material for epithelial cells to emulate the small intestinal microenvironment.

Host-microbe interactions in the intestine play a significant role in health and disease. Novel scaffolds for host cells, capable of potentially supporting these intricate interactions, are necessary to improve our current systems for mimicking host-microbiota interplay in vitro/ex vivo. In this research paper, we study the application of gelatin methacrylamide (GelMA) as scaffold material for intestinal epithelial cells in terms of permeability, mechanical strength, and biocompatibility.

Transdermal clonidine for hypertensive patients.

Seventeen moderately hypertensive patients, whose blood pressure was previously controlled with hydrochlorothiazide and oral clonidine (blood pressure 129 +/- 8/85 +/- 5 mmHg during therapy), were treated with a transdermal system involving application of one or more clonidine-containing patches (3 mg per patch) to the skin once a week. The patients continued to take 50 mg of oral hydrochlorothiazide daily. By four to eight weeks, 15 of 17 patients using the transdermal system had achieved baseline blood pressure levels (130 +/- 10/84 +/- 6 mmHg, NS).

Treatment of uremic pericardial effusion by local steroid instillation via subxiphoid pericardiotomy.

Seven maintenance hemodialysis patients suffering from intractable uremic pericardial effusion were treated with instillation of a non-absorbable steroid, triamcinolone hexacetonide, into the pericardial sac via a large-bore catheter. The latter was placed under direct vision by subxiphoid pericardiotomy. All patients responded to the treatment while complications of the procedure were few and minor.