Thoroughly Hydrophilized Electrospun Poly(L-Lactide)/ Poly(ε-Caprolactone) Sponges for Tissue Engineering Application.

Biodegradable electrospun sponges are of interest for various applications including tissue engineering, drug release, dental therapy, plant protection, and plant fertilization. Biodegradable electrospun poly(l-lactide)/poly(ε-caprolactone) (PLLA/PCL) blend fiber-based sponge with hierarchical pore structure is inherently hydrophobic, which is disadvantageous for application in tissue engineering, fertilization, and drug delivery. Contact angles and model studies for staining with a hydrophilic dye for untreated, plasma-treated, and surfactant-treated PLLA/PCL sponges are reported.

Assessment of the efficacy of hearing screening program in infants in Zahedan.

Introduction: Hearing loss is one of the major congenital problems. The frequency of this problem in different countries has been found to be 3.5-9%, which may induce negative effects on communications, education, and language learning in children.

Alginate hydrogel with enhanced curcumin release through HPβCD assisted host-guest interaction.

The underprivileged pharmacodynamic action of curcumin, which arose from its low water solubility and rapid metabolism, restricts its therapeutic performance. In this study, (2-Hydroxy isopropyl)-β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD) as a macrocycle host molecule was employed to enhance the availability and control release of curcumin by forming a host-guest inclusion complex within an in-situ forming alginate hydrogel. The formation of the inclusion complexes of curcumin with a single host molecule was characterized by FTIR, XRD, TGA, SEM, and DLS analyses.

Favorable Antibacterial, Antibiofilm, Antiadhesion to Cells, and Biocompatible Polyurethane by Facile Surface Functionalization.

It is of paramount importance to prohibit biofilm formation in a wide range of implant devices, such as thermoplastic polyurethane (PU)-based catheters. It is possible only by means of a multifunctional material that provides fast and effective antibacterial activity, proper biocompatibility, and low bacterial and cell adhesion. In this paper, a facile chemistry approach has been developed to modify biomedical-grade PU with PU species, containing reactive uretdione functional groups for functionalization with the contact-type polyguanidine bactericidal agent and oxidized dextran as an antifouling polymer without sacrificing the thermal and mechanical properties.

Antibacterial and Biocompatible Hydrogel Dressing Based on Gelatin- and Castor-Oil-Derived Biocidal Agent.

Favored antibacterial activity associated with excellent biocompatibility, mechanical durability, and exudate handling needs to be addressed by modern dressing to achieve the desired wound healing. This paper deals with developing a new green and facile approach to manufacturing nonleachable antibacterial gelatin-based films for wound dressing. Therefore, a reactive methoxy-silane-functionalized quaternary ammonium compound bearing a fatty amide residue originating from castor oil (Si-CAQ) was initially synthesized.

Studying the relationship between the Lund Mackay score and response to medical treatment in patients with chronic sinusitis.

Introduction: One of the most common reasons for patients to visit a doctor is Sinusitis. Treatment of this disease involves a wide range of topical and systemic drugs, if it left untreated, surgery and sinus drainage will be the only choice. Due to symptoms and problems caused by chronic sinusitis and its treatment, as well as the need for an appropriate solution to reduce this, the present study was conducted to investigate the relationship between The Lund Mackay score and response to medical treatment in patients with chronic sinusitis.

Enhanced healing of a full-thickness wound by a thermoresponsive dressing utilized for simultaneous transfer and protection of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells sheet.

To boost the healing process in a full-thickness wound, a simple and efficient strategy based on adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) transplantation is described in this work. To increase the chance of ADSCs immobilization in the wound bed and prevent its migration, these cells are fully grown on the surface of a thermoresponsive dressing membrane under in vitro condition. Then, the cells sheet with their secreted extracellular matrix (ECM) is transferred to the damaged skin with the help of this dressing membrane.

Ionic liquid tethered PEG-based polyurethane-siloxane membranes for efficient CO/CH separation.

This study introduces a new polyethylene glycol (PEG) based polyurethane-siloxane membrane containing a quaternary ammonium ionic liquid for CO/CH separation. The designed ionic liquid was prepared in two steps: (i) (3-chloropropyl)triethoxysilane (CPS) and N,N-dimethylpropyl amine (NDPA) were reacted with each other to form the methoxysilane-functionalized quaternary ammonium component, then (ii) chloride ion (Cl) of the product was exchanged with tetrafluoroborate ion (BF). The resulting compound, a reactive methoxysilane-functionalized ionic liquid (Si-IL) was chemically anchored to the polymer backbone through the sol-gel hydrolysis and condensation reaction.

Antimicrobial wound dressings with high mechanical conformability prepared through thiol-yne click photopolymerization reaction.

Radical mediated photochemical thiol-yne click polymerization of thiol-terminated polyurethane prepolymers, with poly(ethylene glycol) soft segment at two different molecular weights, a propargyl terminated urethane crosslinker and silver salt was utilized to prepare versatile wound dressings containing well-dispersed Ag° nanoparticles produced via in situ reduction of Ag ions. The dressings with optimized chemical structure showed desirable fluid handling capacity (up to 4.84 g/10 cm d) to provide moist environment over damaged tissue.

Utilizing dextran to improve hemocompatibility of antimicrobial wound dressings with embedded quaternary ammonium salts.

Dextran, a polysaccharide with interfering effects on coagulation hemeostasis was utilized to compensate the hostile effects of quaternary ammonium salts (QAS) embed in the backbone of a wound dressing membrane as an antimicrobial agent. Despite the high antimicrobial efficiency of QAS, their adverse hemolytic effect on red blood cells is a challenging problem for using them as an active antiseptic agent in wound dressings. To this end, wound dressings made through the sol-gel hydrolysis and polycondensation reaction of a methoxysilane-functionalized quaternary ammonium compound (Si-RQ) and a methoxysilane terminated polyurethane prepolymer (Si-PPU), at different compositions, were surface modified with dextran.

Green and non-leaching anti-bacterial and cytocompatible coating with build-in quaternary ammonium salt derived from methoxysilane functionalized soybean oil.

Preparation and evaluation of non-leaching antimicrobial polymeric coatings, derived from soybean oil, against bacterial contamination of some metallic biomedical devices are described in this work. Cyclic carbonate derivative of soybean oil (CSBO) was subjected to the reaction with 3-aminopropyl trimethoxysilane to produce a methoxysilane functional soybean oil (Si-SBU) with urethane linkage. A quaternary ammonium salt containing fatty amide molecule with reactive siloxane moiety (Si-SBQ) was also synthesized from soybean oil.

The Follow-Up Role of the Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potential Test in Meniere's Disease.

Despite some proposed roles for the diagnostic impact of the cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential test in the patients with Meniere's disease, the role of this test as an objective instrument in following up the patients with Meniere's disease who underwent. Intratympanic steroid injection is not cleared. In a prospective study, thirty-one adult patients with definite one-sided Meniere's disease with vertigo as main complaint refractory to medical treatments for three months, were selected.

Intratympanic Injection of Dexamethasone and Electrocochleographic Data in Cases of Definite One Sided Refractory Meniere's Disease.

Introduction: Meniere's disease (MD) is a disease of the inner ear that presents itself with repeated episodes of vertigo (96.2%), tinnitus (91.1%), and sensorineural hearing loss (87.

Polyurethane/siloxane membranes containing graphene oxide nanoplatelets as antimicrobial wound dressings: in vitro and in vivo evaluations.

Preserving wounds from bacterial and fungal infections and retaining optimum moist environment over damaged tissue are major challenges in wound care management. Application of wound dressings with antimicrobial activity and appropriate wound exudates handling ability is of particular significance for promoting wound healing. To this end, preparation and evaluation of novel wound dres1sings made from polyurethane/siloxane network containing graphene oxide (GO) nanoplatelets are described.

Thermoresponsive polyurethane/siloxane membrane for wound dressing and cell sheet transplantation: In-vitro and in-vivo studies.

Polyurethane/siloxane based wound dressing for transferring fibroblast cell sheet to wounded skin and ability to provide an optimum condition for cellular activity at damaged tissue was prepared in this research. The dressing was made thermoresponsive, via the introduction of a poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) copolymer into the backbone of dressing. The ability of membrane for adhesion, growth, and proliferation of fibroblast cells was improved via surface modification with gelatin.

Electroactive polyurethane/siloxane derived from castor oil as a versatile cardiac patch, part II: HL-1 cytocompatibility and electrical characterizations.

In first part of this experiment, biocompatibility of the newly developed electroactive polyurethane/siloxane films containing aniline tetramer moieties was demonstrated with proliferation and differentiation of C2C12 myoblasts. Here we further assessed the cytocompatibility of the prepared samples with HL1-cell line, the electrophysiological properties and the patch clamp recording of the seeded cells over the selected electroactive sample. Presence of electroactive aniline tetramer in the structure of polyurethane/siloxane led to the increased expression of cardiac-specific genes of HL-1 cells involved in muscle contraction and electrical coupling.

Electroactive polyurethane/siloxane derived from castor oil as a versatile cardiac patch, part I: Synthesis, characterization, and myoblast proliferation and differentiation.

Tissue-engineered cardiac patch aims at regenerating an infarcted heart by improving cardiac function and providing mechanical support to the diseased myocardium. In order to take advantages of electroactivity, a new synthetic method was developed for the introduction of an electroactive oligoaniline into the backbone of prepared patches. For this purpose, a series of electroactive polyurethane/siloxane films containing aniline tetramer (AT) was prepared through sol-gel reaction of trimethoxysilane functional intermediate polyurethane prepolymers made from castor oil and poly(ethylene glycol).

Stimulation of Wound Healing by Electroactive, Antibacterial, and Antioxidant Polyurethane/Siloxane Dressing Membranes: In Vitro and in Vivo Evaluations.

A series of novel polyurethane/siloxane-based wound dressing membranes was prepared through sol-gel reaction of methoxysilane end-functionalized urethane prepolymers composed of castor oil and ricinoleic methyl ester as well as methoxysilane functional aniline tetramer (AT) moieties. The samples were fully characterized and their physicochemical, mechanical, electrical, and biological properties were assayed. The biological activity of these dressings against fibroblast cells and couple of microbes was also studied.

Preparation of a porous conductive scaffold from aniline pentamer-modified polyurethane/PCL blend for cardiac tissue engineering.

A novel biodegradable electroactive polyurethane containing aniline pentamer (AP) was blended with polycaprolactone (PCL). The prepared blend (PB) and PCL were further fabricated in to scaffolds using a mixture of poly(ethylene glycol) and salt particles in a double porogen particulate leaching and compression molding methodology. Scaffolds held open and interconnected pores having pore size ranging from several μm to 150 µm.

Synthesis, characterization and antioxidant activity of a novel electroactive and biodegradable polyurethane for cardiac tissue engineering application.

There has been a growing trend towards applying conducting polymers for electrically excitable cells to increase electrical signal propagation within the cell-loaded substrates. A novel biodegradable electroactive polyurethane containing aniline pentamer (AP-PU) was synthesized and fully characterized by spectroscopic methods. To tune the physico-chemical properties and biocompatibility, the AP-PU was blended with polycaprolactone (PCL).

Preparation and characterization of novel antibacterial castor oil-based polyurethane membranes for wound dressing application.

Preparation of novel antibacterial and cytocompatible polyurethane membranes as occlusive dressing, which can provide moist and sterile environment over mild exudative wounds is considered in this work. In this regard, an epoxy-terminated polyurethane (EPU) prepolymer based on castor oil and glycidyltriethylammonium chloride (GTEAC) as a reactive bactericidal agent were synthesized. Polyurethane membranes were prepared through cocuring of EPU and different content of GTEAC with 1,4-butane diamine.

Coeliac disease in irritable bowel syndrome (Rome III) in Southeast Iran.

Background And Study Aims: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorder and coeliac disease (CD) is an auto-immune enteropathy that can mimic almost any functional GI disorder. Both IBS and coeliac disease share common symptoms. The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of CD in patients with IBS and its sub-types.