The Prevention of Periprosthetic Joint Infection in Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty Using Pre-Operative Chlorhexidine Bathing.

Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) after total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a devastating complication. The aim of this study was to investigate whether preoperative bathing using chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) before THA can effectively reduce the postoperative PJI rate. A total of 933 primary THA patients, with the majority being female (54.4%) were included in the study. Primary THA patients who performed preoperative chlorhexidine bathing were assigned to the CHG group (190 subjects), and those who did not have preoperative chlorhexidine bathing were in the control group (743 subjects). The effects of chlorhexidine bathing on the prevention of PJI incidence rates were investigated. Differences in age, sex, and the operated side between the two groups were not statistically significant. Postoperative PJI occurred in four subjects, indicating an infection rate of 0.43% (4/933). All four infected subjects belonged to the control group. Although the PJI cases were significantly more in the control group than in the CHG group, statistical analysis revealed no statistical significance in the risk of PJI occurrence between the two groups (p = 0.588). Preoperative skin preparation by bathing with a 2% chlorhexidine gluconate cleanser did not produce significant effects on the prevention of postoperative PJI in primary THA.

[Physical Activity and Quality of Life in Patients With Type II Diabetes Mellitus].

BACKGROUND: Type II diabetes, a major healthcare issue, is a common chronic disease in Taiwan that affects the quality of life of sufferers. PURPOSE: To understand the physical activity status and the quality of life of patients with type II diabetes mellitus and to explore the related predictors of quality of life. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used convenience sampling to collect relevant data between January to October 2014 from a regional teaching hospital in Taipei. One hundred patients with type II diabetes were included as participants. The seven-day physical activity recall scale and the SF-36 were used to collect data. RESULTS: (1) Forty-two percent of the participants had engaged in no habitual exercise during the prior seven days and had engaged primarily in mildly strenuous activities. (2) The quality of life of the participants was moderate. Patient age (r = -.231, p < .05) and education level (r =.279, p < .01) were significantly correlated with the physical component of quality of life. A significant difference was found between levels of HbA1c and the physical (t = -2.595, p < .05) and mental (t = -2.522, p < .05) components of quality of life. (3) The number of hospitalizations attributable to diabetes (r = -.256, p < .05) and diabetes with a comorbidity (t = 3.29, p =.042) were significantly associated with the physical component of quality of life. (4) Physical activity was significantly and negatively correlated with the mental component of quality of life (r = -.205, p < .05), but physical activity was not significantly correlated with the other components of quality of life (p > .05). (5) The number of hospitalizations due to diabetes was a significant predictor of quality of life, explaining 14.5% and 5.5% of the physical and mental components of quality of life, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Good control of blood glucose was shown to promote quality of life in the type II diabetes mellitus patients in this study. The findings may be referenced and applied in clinical practice.

Detailed analysis of alpha,omega-bis(4-hydroxybutyl) poly(dimethylsiloxane) using GPC-MALDI TOF mass spectrometry.

In this study the prepolymer alpha,omega-bis(4-hydroxybutyl) poly(dimethylsiloxane), used in the formulation of oxygen permeable films, is evaluated by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) combined with matrix assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) time of flight (TOF) mass spectrometry (MS). Two unexpected mass distributions are observed in the mass spectra. Reaction schemes for the formation of these distributions are proposed. A solution phase trimethylsilane end group modification was performed on the prepolymer to determine whether the unexpected mass distributions occur as impurities from synthesis or as artifacts from the MS process. Evaluation of the TMS modified prepolymer indicates the unexpected mass distributions indeed occur as impurities from the synthetic procedure. Average molecular weight values are determined by traditional GPC, direct MALDI-TOF MS, and GPC-MALDI-TOF MS methods and the results are compared.