Therapeutic strategies for retention of cranioplasty titanium mesh after mesh exposure.

BACKGROUND: Titanium mesh exposure after cranioplasty is a possible complication and is usually managed by mesh removal and flap transfer, but the advantages of the rigid prosthesis are then lost. This study aimed to present our experience with negative pressure wound therapy combined with soft tissue dilation for retaining the titanium mesh in patients with mesh exposure after cranioplasty. METHODS: This retrospective study included patients treated between 01/2016 and 05/2019 at the Jiangyin Hospital Affiliated to Southeast University School of Medicine. The wound was cleaned, and a cystic space was created for the tissue dilator, which was used with a self-designed negative pressure dressing. After the target dilation was achieved, the repair was conducted while retaining the titanium mesh. RESULTS: Eight patients were included (seven males and one female; 53.6 ± 8.8 (range, 43-65) years of age). The exposed mesh area ranged from 1 × 1 to 4 × 5.5 cm. The thinning scalp area around the exposed mesh ranged from 3.6 × 3.8 to 4 × 5.5 cm. Five patients had positive wound cultures and received sensitive antibiotics. The dilator embedding time was 20-28 days. The time of negative pressure wound therapy was 25-33 days. The hospital stay was 30-41 days. Primary wound healing was achieved in all eight patients. There were no signs of recurrence after 6-18 months of follow-up. The cranial CT scans were unremarkable. CONCLUSIONS: Negative pressure wound therapy combined with soft tissue dilation for exposed titanium mesh after cranioplasty might help retain the titanium mesh.

Pollutant removal from municipal sewage by a microaerobic up-flow oxidation ditch coupled with micro-electrolysis.

The development of efficient and low-cost wastewater treatment processes remains an important challenge. A microaerobic up-flow oxidation ditch (UOD) with micro-electrolysis by waterfall aeration was designed for treating real municipal wastewater. The effects of influential factors such as up-flow rate, waterfall height, reflux ratio, number of stages and iron dosing on pollutant removal were fully investigated, and the optimum conditions were obtained. The elimination efficiencies of chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonia nitrogen (NH4 +-N), total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) reached up to 84.33 ± 2.48%, 99.91 ± 0.09%, 93.63 ± 0.60% and 89.27 ± 1.40%, respectively, while the effluent concentrations of COD, NH4 +-N, TN and TP were 20.67 ± 2.85, 0.02 ± 0.02, 1.39 ± 0.09 and 0.27 ± 0.02 mg l-1, respectively. Phosphorous removal was achieved by iron-carbon micro-electrolysis to form an insoluble ferric phosphate precipitate. The microbial community structure indicated that carbon and nitrogen were removed via multiple mechanisms, possibly including nitrification, partial nitrification, denitrification and anammox in the UOD.

Efficacy and safety of aildenafil citrate in Chinese men with erectile dysfunction: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of aildenafil citrate in the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) in Chinese population. METHODS: A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, double-cycle crossover trial was conducted in three medical centers. Male patients with mild to moderate ED were randomized into two groups and received either aildenafil citrate or placebos, followed by a crossover administration after a 7-day washout. The primary outcome was the duration of penile rigidity over 60% measured by RigiScan® Plus. Main secondary outcomes were the duration of penile rigidity over 80% and erectile hardness score (EHS). RESULTS: A total of 60 patients with mild to moderate ED were enrolled in the study and 57 of them completed the trial (30 in the aildenafil group and 27 in the placebo group). The median duration of penile tip rigidity over 60% was 4.25 (0.00, 19.00) min in the aildenafil group, as compared with 0.50 (0.00, 2.75) min in the placebo group (P<0.001). The median duration of penile base rigidity over 60% was 3.25 (0.00, 12.50) min in the aildenafil group, as compared with 0.00 (0.00, 2.50) min in the placebo group (P<0.001). The duration of penile base rigidity over 80% was significantly increased in the aildenafil group versus the placebo group (P=0.002). The EHS was significantly improved in the aildenafil group (P<0.001). No severe adverse events associated with aildenafil citrate occurred in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that aildenafil citrate was efficient and well-tolerated in the treatment of Chinese men with mild to moderate ED. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR1900026025.

Study of pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of liposomal brucine for dermal administration.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of liposomal brucine (LB) for dermal application. METHODS: Pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution were studied by in vivo animal testing. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to detect the concentration of brucine in rats' skin, plasma and various tissues. RESULTS: After dermal administration, LB was absorbed rapidly in the skin and could be detected after 0.5 hours. After 36 hours, levels were too low to be detected. In plasma, levels were also too low to be detected after 36 hours. The concentration of LB reached 50% of the maximum in all tissues except the brain, peaking after 1.5 hours but still detectable after 12 hours. CONCLUSION: The concentration of LB was high in skin at the application site. LB was quickly absorbed into tissues through the blood circulation and widely distributed throughout the whole body. There was no obvious toxicity and LB did not readily accumulate in tissues and organs. It showed local potency but low overall systemic toxicity.

[Supercritical CO2 fluid extraction of Rosmarinus officinalis and capability of extracts eliminate OH radical].

OBJECTIVE: Supercritical CO2 fluid extraction process of antioxidation active components from Rosmarinus officinalis was studied. METHOD: A new extraction process of components extracted from R. officinalis by supercritical CO2 fluid extraction (SFE-CO2 ) was studied in detail. The capability of that the extract eliminate *OH radical was tested by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) technique and spin catch technique. RESULT AND CONCLUSION: With free radical clearance as index, by range and variance analysis, the optimum extraction process conditions were: keeping pressure at 30 MPa and temperature at 75 degrees C for 1 h, in the same time adding alcohol 0.30 mL x g(-1).

2-Anilino-4,6-dimethyl-pyrimidinium chloro-acetate.

In the crystal structure of the title compound, C(12)H(14)N(3) (+)·C(2)H(2)ClO(2) (-), the chloro-acetate anion is linked to the N-(4,6-dimethyl-pyrimidin-2-yl)aniline cation by N-H⋯O hydrogen bonding. Within the cation, the pyrimidine ring is twisted with respect to the phenyl ring by a dihedral angle of 7.59 (4)°.