New concepts for transdermal delivery of oxygen based on catalase biochemical reactions studied by oxygen electrode amperometry.

The development of formulation concepts for improved skin tissue oxygenation, including methods for measuring oxygen (O) transport across biological barriers, are important research topics with respect to all processes that are affected by the O concentration, such as radiation therapy in oncology treatments, wound healing, and the general health status of skin. In this work we approach this topic by a novel strategy based on the antioxidative enzyme catalase, which is naturally present in the skin organ where it enables conversion of the reactive oxygen species hydrogen peroxide (HO) into O. We introduce various applications of the skin covered oxygen electrode (SCOE) as an in-vitro tool for studies of catalase activity and function.

Antibiotic-Free Cationic Dendritic Hydrogels as Surgical-Site-Infection-Inhibiting Coatings.

A non-toxic hydrolytically fast-degradable antibacterial hydrogel is herein presented to preemptively treat surgical site infections during the first crucial 24 h period without relying on conventional antibiotics. The approach capitalizes on a two-component system that form antibacterial hydrogels within 1 min and consist of i) an amine functional linear-dendritic hybrid based on linear poly(ethylene glycol) and dendritic 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)propionic acid, and ii) a di-N-hydroxysuccinimide functional poly(ethylene glycol) cross-linker. Broad spectrum antibacterial effect is achieved by multivalent representation of catatonically charged β-alanine on the dendritic periphery of the linear dendritic component.

Drainage systems, an occluded source of sanitation related outbreaks.

Background: Drainage systems and its role in sanitation related outbreaks are evident but still occluded once it has been installed. This current review evaluates if drainage systems can cause infections and thus be of clinical concern.

Method: A review of the literature was analyzed.

A Novel Qualitative and Quantitative Biofilm Assay Based on 3D Soft Tissue.

The lack of predictable in vitro methods to analyze antimicrobial activity could play a role in the development of resistance to antibiotics. Current used methods analyze planktonic cells but for the method to be clinically relevant, biofilm in in vivo like conditions ought to be studied. Hence, our group has developed a qualitative and quantitative method with in vivo like 3D tissue for prediction of antimicrobial activity in reality.

The expression of the Helicobacter pylori genes ureA and nap is higher in vivo than in vitro as measured by quantitative competitive reverse transcriptase-PCR.

The expression of the virulence-associated genes ureA, encoding the urease subunit A, and nap, encoding the neutrophil activating protein, in Helicobacter pylori grown both in the stomach of C57/Bl6 mice and in Brucella broth was quantified by quantitative competitive reverse transcriptase-PCR using a homologous RNA standard (competitor) and an external standard (16S rRNA). The results showed that the ureA and nap transcripts were increased up to 15 and 80 times, respectively, in vivo compared to in vitro. The transcription of ureA and nap also differed in that ureA showed highest expression early in infection in mice whereas nap transcription was variable throughout the 18-week infection period.