Ex Vivo and In Vivo Analyses of Novel 3D-Printed Bone Substitute Scaffolds Incorporating Biphasic Calcium Phosphate Granules for Bone Regeneration.

(1) Background: The aim of this study was examining the ex vivo and in vivo properties of a composite made from polycaprolactone (PCL) and biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) (synprint, ScientiFY GmbH) fabricated via fused deposition modelling (FDM); (2) Methods: Scaffolds were tested ex vivo for their mechanical properties using porous and solid designs. Subcutaneous implantation model analyzed the biocompatibility of PCL + BCP and PCL scaffolds. Calvaria implantation model analyzed the osteoconductive properties of PCL and PCL + BCP scaffolds compared to BCP as control group. Established histological, histopathological and histomorphometrical methods were performed to evaluate new bone formation.; (3) Results Mechanical testing demonstrated no significant differences between PCL and PCL + BCP for both designs. Similar biocompatibility was observed subcutaneously for PCL and PCL + BCP scaffolds. In the calvaria model, new bone formation was observed for all groups with largest new bone formation in the BCP group, followed by the PCL + BCP group, and the PCL group. This finding was influenced by the initial volume of biomaterial implanted and remaining volume after 90 days. All materials showed osteoconductive properties and PCL + BCP tailored the tissue responses towards higher cellular biodegradability. Moreover, this material combination led to a reduced swelling in PCL + BCP; (4) Conclusions: Altogether, the results show that the newly developed composite is biocompatible and leads to successful osteoconductive bone regeneration. The new biomaterial combines the structural stability provided by PCL with bioactive characteristics of BCP-based BSM. 3D-printed BSM provides an integration behavior in accordance with the concept of guided bone regeneration (GBR) by directing new bone growth for proper function and restoration.

Comparison of Printable Biomaterials for Use in Neural Tissue Engineering: An In Vitro Characterization and In Vivo Biocompatibility Assessment.

Nervous system traumatic injuries are prevalent in our society, with a significant socioeconomic impact. Due to the highly complex structure of the neural tissue, the treatment of these injuries is still a challenge. Recently, 3D printing has emerged as a promising alternative for producing biomimetic scaffolds, which can lead to the restoration of neural tissue function. The objective of this work was to compare different biomaterials for generating 3D-printed scaffolds for use in neural tissue engineering. For this purpose, four thermoplastic biomaterials, ((polylactic acid) (PLA), polycaprolactone (PCL), Filaflex (FF) (assessed here for the first time for biomedical purposes), and Flexdym (FD)) and gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) hydrogel were subjected to printability and mechanical tests, in vitro cell-biomaterial interaction analyses, and in vivo biocompatibility assessment. The thermoplastics showed superior printing results in terms of resolution and shape fidelity, whereas FD and GelMA revealed great viscoelastic properties. GelMA demonstrated a greater cell viability index after 7 days of in vitro cell culture. Moreover, all groups displayed connective tissue encapsulation, with some inflammatory cells around the scaffolds after 10 days of in vivo implantation. Future studies will determine the usefulness and in vivo therapeutic efficacy of novel neural substitutes based on the use of these 3D-printed scaffolds.

The protective role of emotional intelligence in smoking relapse during a 12-month follow-up smoking cessation intervention.

BACKGROUND: Previous literature has shown the relationship between emotional intelligence (EI) and smoking. However, the mechanisms underlying the role of EI in smoking behaviour are still unclear. The aim of the present study was to analyse how EI abilities protect against relapse in a 12-month smoking cessation program. METHODS: One hundred and seventy-three volunteer smokers were enrolled in a well-established smoking cessation program, accompanied by a 12-month follow-up, through the Spanish Association Against Cancer. Moderation and moderated mediation analyses were conducted to explore the influence of EI abilities on the effect of stress reactivity and nicotine dependence on the likelihood of relapse. RESULTS: Emotional repair ability moderated the effect of stress reactivity on relapse. Higher levels of stress reactivity were associated with a higher likelihood of relapse, but only in those individuals with lower emotional repair abilities. In addition, the moderated mediation analyses revealed that emotional clarity and emotional repair abilities moderated the indirect effect of nicotine dependence on smoking relapse through its influence on stress reactivity. CONCLUSIONS: Emotional management is a central concept in explaining smoking behaviour. Our findings suggest that the inclusion of EI training could be particularly useful for improving current smoking cessation programs. A good ability to manage emotions allows smokers to effectively apply psychological coping strategies to deal with stressful situations, thus protecting against relapse.

Randomized phase 3 trial of fluorouracil, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide alone or followed by Paclitaxel for early breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Taxanes are among the most active drugs for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer, and, as a consequence, they have also been studied in the adjuvant setting. METHODS: After breast cancer surgery, women with lymph node-positive disease were randomly assigned to treatment with fluorouracil, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide (FEC) or with FEC followed by weekly paclitaxel (FEC-P). The primary endpoint of study-5-year disease-free survival (DFS)-was assessed by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Secondary endpoints included overall survival and analysis of the prognostic and predictive value of clinical and molecular (hormone receptors by immunohistochemistry and HER2 by fluorescence in situ hybridization) markers. Associations and interactions were assessed with a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model for DFS for the following covariates: age, menopausal status, tumor size, lymph node status, type of chemotherapy, tumor size, positive lymph nodes, HER2 status, and hormone receptor status. All statistical tests were two-sided. RESULTS: Among the 1246 eligible patients, estimated rates of DFS at 5 years were 78.5% in the FEC-P arm and 72.1% in the FEC arm (difference = 6.4%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.6% to 11.2%; P = .006). FEC-P treatment was associated with a 23% reduction in the risk of relapse compared with FEC treatment (146 relapses in the 614 patients in the FEC-P arm vs 193 relapses in the 632 patients in the FEC arm, hazard ratio [HR] = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.62 to 0.95; P = .022) and a 22% reduction in the risk of death (73 and 95 deaths, respectively, HR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.57 to 1.06; P = .110). Among the 928 patients for whom tumor samples were centrally analyzed, type of chemotherapy (FEC vs FEC-P) (P = .017), number of involved axillary lymph nodes (P < .001), tumor size (P = .020), hormone receptor status (P = .004), and HER2 status (P = .006) were all associated with DFS. We found no statistically significant interaction between HER2 status and paclitaxel treatment or between hormone receptor status and paclitaxel treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with operable breast cancer, FEC-P treatment statistically significantly reduced the risk of relapse compared with FEC as adjuvant therapy.

Apoyo social y Carga de la persona cuidadora en una Unidad de Salud Mental Infantil / Social support and burden's caregiver in a children's Mental Health Unit

Los cuidados parentales de hijos con trastornos mentales producen estrés y dificultades de afrontamiento en las familias. Muchos estudios han asociado la carga familiar con factores como el apoyo social y dificultades del paciente como problemas de conducta o gravedad del Trastorno. Se realizó un análisis transversal para averiguar la influencia del apoyo social, apoyo familiar y gravedad del trastorno en la sobrecarga de la persona cuidadora. De un total de 96 pacientes, han participado 83 madres y 55 padres. Los resultados muestran mayor sobrecarga en las madres, una relación negativa entre apoyo y sobrecarga y una influencia de la gravedad del trastorno en la sobrecarga (AU)

Parental care for a child with mental disorder generates stress and coping difficult. Many studies have associated burden's caregiver with factors such social support and child factor such child behaviour problems and severity of disability. This study employed a cross-sectional design to verify the influence of the social support, family support and severity of disorder in the caregiver's burden. Of a whole of 96 patients, 83 mothers and 55 parents have taken part. Results showed major burden in the mother, a negative relation between social support and burden and an influence of the severity of disorder in caregiver's burden (AU)

Impulsividad como predictor de recaída en el abandono de tabaco / Impulsivity as a predictor of smoking relapse

Fundamentos: El presente estudio pretende averiguar si las personas que puntúan más alto en impulsividad tendrán más probabilidades de volver a fumar durante los seis primeros meses tras el abandono del tabaco. Método: Se estudió, en una muestra de 92 personas que decidieron voluntariamente abandonar el hábito, las puntuaciones de impulsividad con el BIS-11 y los cigarrillos fumados en los seis primeros meses tras el abandono. Todas las personas fueron sometidas a tratamiento psicológico cognitivo-conductual en grupo y a tratamiento farmacológico con terapia sustitutiva de nicotina. Resultados: Los resultados muestran que la impulsividad es un predictor de vuelta al consumo en la muestra analizada. Conclusiones: la impulsividad es un predictor de recaída en personas que desean abandonar el consumo de tabaco (AU)

Background: This paper aims to establish whether people with high impulsivity scores are also more likely to take up smoking again in the first six months after cessation. Method: We studied a sample of 92 people who had voluntarily decided to give up smoking, using the BIS-11 impulsivity score and recording the number of cigarettes smoked in the first six months after cessation. All subjects attended cognitive behavioural group therapy and were given nicotine replacement drug therapy. Results: Our results show that impulsivity is a predictor of smoking relapse. Conclusions: Impulsivity is a predictor of smoking relapse in people who had voluntarily decided to give up smoking (AU)

Diferencias de rasgos clínicos de personalidad en el mantenimiento de la abstinencia y recaídas en tratamiento del tabaquismo / Clinical personality trait differences in the maintenance of abstinence and in relapses in the treatment of smoking cessation

Se describen y comparan rasgos clínicos de personalidad en grupos en tratamiento de tabaquismo. Se utiliza, como instrumento de evaluación, el Inventario Clínico de Theodore Millon (MCMI). La aplicación del cuestionario se efectúa a una muestra de 105 sujetos en la Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer en Málaga. Se comparan los rasgos de personalidad en el grupo que mantiene la abstinencia y en el grupo de recaída. Los resultados muestran rasgos clínicos de personalidad evitativos, autodestructivos y pasivo-agresivos en el grupo de recaídas. Sin embargo, las personas con rasgos clínicos de personalidad dependiente consiguen mantener la abstinencia durante el tratamiento. Al comparar ambos grupos en personas con rasgos de personalidad más alterados, se encontraron diferencias significativas hacia la recaída en personalidad límite y esquizotípica. Esto sugiere que determinados rasgosde personalidad podrían actuar como factores de riesgo en la recaída y otros aumentarían la probabilidad de éxito en el proceso de abandono del tabaco (AU)

The aim of this study is to describe and compare personality characteristics of participants who quit smoking voluntarily by means of group treatment. The assessment instrument used was the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI). It was administered to a sample of 105 persons in Málaga (Spain) in The Spanish Cancer Association (Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer). The analysis consisted of comparing two sample groups: abstinence and relapse. The results revealed a higher rate of avoidant, masochistic and negativistic clinical personality traits in the relapse group. However, people with dependent personality traits maintained abstinence. There were also differences, in the direction of more relapses, in schizotypal and borderline personality disorders. This suggests that certain personality traits could be risk factors for relapse, whereas others increase the probability of success in the process of smoking cessation (AU)