The effect of electrical stimulation on skin vulnerability to irritants.

PURPOSE: Electrical stimulation (ES) is a widely used technique in the medical field for various purposes. The effect of ES on several skin properties has been investigated; however, its effect on skin vulnerability to irritants remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effects of ES application on skin vulnerability to external irritants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An experimental study on 12 healthy male subjects (Mean ± SD, 22.9 ± 3.6 years) who completed the study. The subjects were free of skin abnormalities in the volar aspect of both forearms. Three areas were allocated to each forearm and marked as areas 1, 2, and A in the treated forearm, and areas 3, 4, and B in the control forearm. ES was applied to the volar aspect of the treated forearm for 30 min three times a week, for 2 weeks. The effect of ES on skin vulnerability was investigated using 5% and 0.5% sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) patches applied to both treated and control forearms. The skin response to irritants was evaluated using transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and a visual erythema score 24 h after patch removal. RESULTS: Compared to the control forearm, ES increased skin permeability and erythema in response to external irritants (SLS), as measured by the visual analog score (Z = 2.75, p = 0.006) and TEWL (p < 0.05), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: ES escalates skin reactions to low concentrations of irritant substances, such as SLS, in the area between the two electrodes. This emphasizes the use of this substance, and similar irritants should be avoided in areas treated with ES.

Advanced Anticorrosive Graphene Oxide-Doped Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Nanocomposite Coating Derived from Leucaena leucocephala Oil.

Metal corrosion poses a substantial economic challenge in a technologically advanced world. In this study, novel environmentally friendly anticorrosive graphene oxide (GO)-doped organic-inorganic hybrid polyurethane (LFAOIH@GO-PU) nanocomposite coatings were developed from Leucaena leucocephala oil (LLO). The formulation was produced by the amidation reaction of LLO to form diol fatty amide followed by the reaction of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and a dispersion of GOx (X = 0.25, 0.50, and 0.75 wt%) along with the reaction of isophorane diisocyanate (IPDI) (25-40 wt%) to form LFAOIH@GOx-PU35 nanocomposites. The synthesized materials were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR); 1H, 13C, and 29Si nuclear magnetic resonance; and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. A detailed examination of LFAOIH@GO0.5-PU35 morphology was conducted using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. These studies revealed distinctive surface roughness features along with a contact angle of around 88 G.U preserving their structural integrity at temperatures of up to 235 °C with minimal loading of GO. Additionally, improved mechanical properties, including scratch hardness (3 kg), pencil hardness (5H), impact resistance, bending, gloss value (79), crosshatch adhesion, and thickness were evaluated with the dispersion of GO. Electrochemical corrosion studies, involving Nyquist, Bode, and Tafel plots, provided clear evidence of the outstanding anticorrosion performance of the coatings.

Safety and adherence of pressure garment therapy in children with upper limb unilateral cerebral palsy. Results from a randomized clinical trial ancillary analysis.

Background: This study was conducted to assess the safety and adherence of the use of a PGT (Pressure Garment Therapy) Lycra® sleeve to treat upper limb unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP) in children. Methods: This study was conducted as a prospective, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, randomized monocenter study. Included in the study were 58 UCP children, 49 of whom were analyzed. 25 children (mean age 6.6 ± 1.6 years; 12 girls) were allocated to the active group vs. 24 (mean age 6.7 ± 1.6 years; 10 girls) in the placebo group. The intervention consisted of an active PGT Lycra® arm sleeve manufactured to generate a homogeneous pressure ranging from 15 to 25 mmHg. The placebo PGT Lycra® sleeve was manufactured to generate a homogeneous pressure under 7 mmHg. The time of wearing period was set at 3 h/day at minimum and 6 h/day at maximum, over the course of 6 months. The main outcome measures were safety outcomes including the number and intensity of Adverse Events of Special Interest (AESIs). AESIs were defined as adverse events imputable to compressive therapy and Lycra® wearing. Level of adherence was expressed in percentage of number of days when the sleeve was worn for at least 3 h per day compared to length of duration in days (start and end date of wearing period). Results: Frequency of AESIs were very low and no different between groups (4.12 ± 11.32% vs. 1.83 ± 3.38%; p = 0.504). There were no differences in adherence (91.86 ± 13.86% vs. 94.30 ± 9.95%; p = 0.425). Conclusion: The use of PGT Lycra® arm sleeve in children with UCP is safe and well-tolerated with a very good adherence. The low rate of AESIs is promising for further randomized clinical trials on efficacy.

Detection and determination of stability of the antibiotic residues in cow's milk.

In the present study, antibiotic residues were detected in milk samples collected from the dairy herds located in Karnataka, India, by microbiological assay. Subsequently, the detected antibiotics were identified as azithromycin and tetracycline, by high-performance liquid chromatography, further both the antibiotics detected in the cow milk samples were found to be at high concentration (9708.7 and 5460 µg kg-1, respectively). We then investigated the effects of temperature and pH on the stabilities of azithromycin and tetracycline to determine the degradation rate constant k using first-order kinetic equation. Results indicated that significant reduction in stability and antibacterial activity of azithromycin solution when subjected to 70 and 100°C for 24 h. While stability of tetracycline was significantly reduced when subjected to 70 and 100°C for 24 h. However no significant reduction in antibacterial activity of tetracycline was observed at respective temperatures when compared with that of control. In addition, the stabilities of azithromycin and tetracycline were found to be decreased in acidic pH 4-5. The results of the present study revealed the high risk of contamination of milk sample with veterinary antibiotics and also demonstrated the effect of temperature and pH on stability of antibiotics. Therefore the study suggest that the qualitative and quantitative screening of milk for the presence of antibiotics need to be strictly performed to ensure safe drinking milk for consumers.

Novel Green Biomimetic Approach for Synthesis of ZnO-Ag Nanocomposite; Antimicrobial Activity against Food-borne Pathogen, Biocompatibility and Solar Photocatalysis.

A simple, eco-friendly, and biomimetic approach using Thymus vulgaris (T. vulgaris) leaf extract was developed for the formation of ZnO-Ag nanocomposites (NCs) without employing any stabilizer and a chemical surfactant. T. vulgaris leaf extract was used for the first time, in a novel approach, for green fabrication of ZnO-Ag NCs as a size based reducing agent via the hydrothermal method in a single step. Presence of phenols in T. vulgaris leaf extract has served as both reducing and capping agents that play a critical role in the production of ZnO-Ag NCs. The effect of silver nitrate concentration in the formation of ZnO-Ag NCs was studied. The in-vitro Antimicrobial activity of NCs displayed high antimicrobial potency on selective gram negative and positive foodborne pathogens. Antioxidant activity of ZnO-Ag NCs was evaluated via (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) DPPH method. Photocatalytic performance of ZnO-Ag NCs was appraised by degradation of phenol under natural sunlight, which exhibited efficient photocatalytic activity on phenol. Cytotoxicity of the NCs was evaluated using the haemolysis assay. Results of this study reveal that T. vulgaris leaf extract, containing phytochemicals, possess reducing property for ZnO-Ag NCs fabrication and the obtained ZnO-Ag NCs could be employed effectively for biological applications in food science. Therefore, the present study offers a promising way to achieve high-efficiency photocatalysis based on the hybrid structure of semiconductor/metal.

Chronic respiratory effect of narguileh smoking compared with cigarette smoking in women from the East Mediterranean region.

Narguileh is a water pipe. Narguileh smoking is a traditional pattern of smoking among Eastern Mediterranean women, publicly considered as a harmless entertainment. We performed a survey aimed at tracking chronic respiratory symptoms and alteration in respiratory functions in 77 female narguileh smokers, 77 cigarette smokers, and controls. A questionnaire about respiratory symptoms, quantity, and duration of smoking was completed by each woman, and a flow-volume loop was performed with all women. Women were then categorized in subgroups according to a cumulative smoking duration of over 5 years, and cumulative quantity of 50 kilograms smoked. We obtained 8 subgroups for quantity and 10 for duration. Results showed a higher proportion of chronic bronchitis in narguileh smokers compared with cigarette smokers for both quantity and duration (p value < 0.001), as well as quasi-permanent alteration in maximum mid-expiratory flow (MMEF 25%-75%) in narguileh smokers compared with cigarette smokers (p value < 0.001). Forced expired volume in one second was more altered in cigarette smokers than in narguileh smokers (p value > 0.001). These results will help to raise health authority awareness that narguileh smoking is also dangerous for women.