Biopolymeric Blends of Thermoplastic Starch and Polylactide as Sustainable Packaging Materials.

The improper disposal of plastics is a growing concern due to increasing global environmental problems such as the rise of CO emissions, diminishing petroleum sources, and pollution, which necessitates the research and development of biodegradable materials as an alternative to conventional packaging materials. The purpose of this research was to analyse the properties of biodegradable polymer blends of thermoplastic potato starch (TPS) and polylactide, (PLA) without and with the addition of citric acid (CA) as a potential compatibilizer and plasticizer. The prepared blends were subjected to a comprehensive physicochemical characterization, which included: FTIR-ATR spectroscopy, morphological analysis by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), determination of thermal and mechanical properties by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), water vapour permeability (), as well as biodegradation testing in soil.

Impact Assessment of an Innovative Integrated Care Model for Older Complex Patients with Multimorbidity: The CareWell Project.

Objectives: To evaluate the impact in terms of use of health services, clinical outcomes, functional status, and patient's satisfaction of an integrated care program, the CareWell program, for complex patients with multimorbidity, supported by information and communication technology platforms in six European regions.

Data Sources: Primary data were used and the follow-up period ranged between 8 and 12 months.

Study Design: A quasi-experimental study, targeting chronic patients aged 65 or older, with 2 or more conditions - one of them necessarily being diabetes, congestive heart failure or congestive obstructive pulmonary disease.

No difference in pain reduction after epidural steroid injections in diabetic versus nondiabetic patients: A retrospective cohort study.

Background And Aims: Diabetes affects peripheral and central neurons causing paresthesia, allodynia, hyperalgesia, and spontaneous pain. However, the effect of diabetes on response to epidural steroid injection (ESI) remains unknown. We hypothesized that diabetic patients receiving ESI will have different pain scores compared to nondiabetic patients.

α-Defensin as a predictor of periprosthetic shoulder infection.

Background: Diagnosis of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) in revision shoulder arthroplasty can be challenging because of the indolent nature of the common offending organisms. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic utility of synovial fluid α-defensin levels in identifying PJI of the shoulder.

Methods: Thirty patients evaluated for painful shoulder arthroplasty were prospectively enrolled and underwent revision surgery (n = 33 cases).

Synovial fluid interleukin-6 as a predictor of periprosthetic shoulder infection.

Background: Diagnosis of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) in patients undergoing revision shoulder arthroplasty is challenging because of the low virulence of the most common infecting organisms. The goal of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic utility of measuring synovial fluid interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels for identifying PJI of the shoulder.

Methods: Thirty-two consecutive patients evaluated for pain at the site of a shoulder arthroplasty were prospectively enrolled from November 2012 to September 2013 and underwent revision surgery (thirty-five procedures during which samples were obtained for synovial fluid IL-6 analysis).

Poor utility of serum interleukin-6 levels to predict indolent periprosthetic shoulder infections.

Background: Infection after shoulder arthroplasty can present a diagnostic challenge. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utility of serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in diagnosis of periprosthetic infection in patients undergoing revision shoulder arthroplasty.

Methods: We prospectively enrolled 69 patients who underwent revision shoulder arthroplasty at one institution.

Application of novel lossless compression of medical images using prediction and contextual error modeling.

Conduction of tele-3D-computer assisted operations as well as other telemedicine procedures often requires highest possible quality of transmitted medical images and video. Unfortunately, those data types are always associated with high telecommunication and storage costs that sometimes prevent more frequent usage of such procedures. We present a novel algorithm for lossless compression of medical images that is extremely helpful in reducing the telecommunication and storage costs.