Polihexanide: a safe and highly effective biocide.

Polihexanide is a broad-spectrum antiseptic with excellent tolerance and a low-risk profile. The physicochemical action on the bacterial envelope prevents or impedes the development of resistant bacterial strains. Thus, polihexanide is particularly suitable and useful in the struggle against multidrug-resistant bacteria.

An in-vitro model for comparing the efficiency of wound-rinsing solutions.

Objective: To develop an in-vitro model to evaluate the efficiency of wound-rinsing solutions in removing adherent, hydrophobic, denatured proteins. We hypothesised that saline solutions would be less effective than surfactant-containing solutions in removing denatured proteins.

Method: Prepared slides containing dried blood plasma or fibrin were incubated for up to one hour in histological troughs filled with one of four test solutions: physiological saline solution, Ringer's solution, a surfactant-containing solution and an antiseptic.

In-vitro test for comparing the efficacy of wound rinsing solutions.

Wound coatings can severely delay chronic wound healing by inducing ischaemia and degradation of viable tissue and increasing susceptibility to infection. It is, therefore, essential to cleanse wounds gently and thoroughly to remove the detrimental coatings. In this study, an in-vitro model that mimics wound coatings (human plasma dried onto adhesive glass slides) was used to compare the efficacy of four sterile solutions used to cleanse wounds: saline and Ringer's (both salt solutions), a betaine surfactant-containing wound rinsing solution (Prontosan B.

The onset of myotome formation in the chick.

The onset of myotome formation in somites of chick embryos was studied by use of a polyclonal antidesmin antibody and by histochemical demonstration of acetylcholine esterase activity. The myotome cells originate from the dermatome only; sclerotome cells do not contribute to the myotome. The formation of the myotome starts in the craniomedial corner of the dermatome.