Injectable drug-loaded polysaccharide hybrid hydrogels for hemostasis.

An injectable hydrogel with high adhesion strength, non-toxicity and low cost is highly desired for developing highly efficient hemostasis. In this study, we developed a new type of injectable adhesive drug loaded hydrogel utilizing the formation of Schiff-base linkages based on carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC), gelatin (GEL) and oxidized alginate (OSA). By optimizing the concentration of the biopolymers, the hybrid hydrogel (CMC-GEL/OSA) demonstrated an extremely fast gelation rate (30 s) and adhesive strength of 11 kPa. The freeze-dried hydrogel showed a three-dimensional porous structure. The hydrogel loaded with levofloxacin exhibited good antibacterial properties. Hemostatic performance of the hydrogel was demonstrated in a rat liver injury model. Compared with the untreated wound, the hemostasis time of the hydrogel treated wound was shortened by 84.2% and the blood loss was reduced by 82.2%. Thus, the proposed injectable hydrogel holds great potential applications for hemostasis, drug delivery and in other biomedical fields.

Core-shell Prussian blue analogues@ poly(m-phenylenediamine) as efficient peroxymonosulfate activators for degradation of Rhodamine B with reduced metal leaching.

Herein, Prussian blue analogues@poly(m-phenylenediamine) nanoparticles (PBA@PmPDs) with well-defined core-shell structure were synthesized. The successful coating of poly(m-phenylenediamine) (PmPD) on the surface of FeyCo3-y [Co(CN)6]2 (Fe-Co-Co PBA) was confirmed by SEM, TEM, XRD, TGA, FT-IR and XPS. The catalytic performance of Fe-Co-Co PBA@PmPDs was evaluated by activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB), the effects of different influence factors on the RhB degradation efficiency were investigated, including PMS concentration, temperature, initial solution pH, and co-existing inorganic salts. Cobalt ions leaching and stability of the catalysts were studied, Co ions concentration dissolved into the solution from the solid catalysts at 60 min is reduced by half after the Fe-Co-Co PBA is coated with PmPDs. The RhB removal efficiency is higher than 90% even after four cycles and the nanoparticles still maintain the core-shell structure, indicating that Fe-Co-Co PBA@PmPDs is stabile and reusable. Radical quenching experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance spectra indicate that both SO4- and OH are generated during the PMS activation process and SO4- is the dominant reactive species. In virtue of its superior catalytic activity, excellent reusability and stability, low metallic ion leaching, Fe-Co-Co PBA@PmPDs could be a promising catalyst for the remediation of contaminated water.

Application of vibration response imaging technology in patients with community-acquired pneumonia before and after the treatment.

The value of vibration response imaging (VRI) technology in patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) was assessed. The VRI images of 62 cases of CAP patients with normal lung functions before and after treatment were observed and the changes in images before and after treatment were compared. The maximum vibration energy value of CAP patients was 1.64±0.32, patients with unsmoothed vibration energy curve accounted for 88.71%, 41 cases (66.12%) had unordered dynamic images, 56 cases (90.32%) jumping images, 54 cases (87.10%) desynchrony, 58 cases (93.55%) delay and 52 cases (83.87%) showed contrary events. The maximum vibration energy value after treatment was 1.59±0.29 and the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.93). Patients with unsmoothed vibration energy curve accounted for 20.97%, 11 cases (17.74%) appeared as unordered dynamic images, 28 cases (45.16%) of jumping images, 21 cases (33.87%) desynchrony, 18 cases (29.03%) delay and 10 cases (16.13%) with contrary events. The differences of these symptoms before and after treatment were statistically significant. The image scores of CAP patients before treatment were 10.33±1.95, higher (P<0.001) than after treatment (3.49±2.29). In conclusion, the changes of VRI images of CAP patients are relatively obvious and this technology can be used for the evaluation of CAP curative effects.

Evaluation of Vibration Response Imaging (VRI) Technique and Difference in VRI Indices Among Non-Smokers, Active Smokers and Passive Smokers.

BACKGROUND: Vibration response imaging (VRI) is a new technology for lung imaging. Active smokers and non-smokers show differences in VRI findings, but no data are available for passive smokers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of VRI and to assess the differences in VRI findings among non-smokers, active smokers, and passive smokers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Healthy subjects (n=165: 63 non-smokers, 56 active smokers, and 46 passive smokers) with normal lung function were enrolled. Medical history, physical examination, lung function test, and VRI were performed for all subjects. Correlation between smoking index and VRI scores (VRIS) were performed. RESULTS: VRI images showed progressive and regressive stages representing the inspiratory and expiratory phases bilaterally in a vertical and synchronized manner in non-smokers. Vibration energy curves with low expiratory phase and plateau were present in 6.35% and 3.17%, respectively, of healthy non-smokers, 41.07% and 28.60% of smokers, and 39.13% and 30.43% of passive smokers, respectively. The massive energy peak in the non-smokers, smokers, and passive-smokers was 1.77±0.27, 1.57±0.29, and 1.66±0.33, respectively (all P<0.001). A weak but positive correlation was observed between VRIS and smoking index. CONCLUSIONS: VRI can intuitively show the differences between non-smokers and smokers. VRI revealed that passive smoking can also harm the lungs. VRI could be used to visually persuade smokers to give up smoking.