Self-expanding hemostatic polymer for control of exsanguinating extremity bleeding.

BACKGROUND: Prehospital management of exsanguinating extremity injuries (EEI) includes direct compression or tourniquets or both. Direct compression may be ineffective in deep wounds and requires a person committed to compressing. Tourniquets may cause severe ischemic damage and may be ineffective in proximal wounds. This study aims to examine a new self-expanding hemostatic polymer (SEHP) for control of EEI. In contact with blood, the polymer absorbs the aqueous component of blood and exerts a tamponade effect by expanding against the walls of the wound cavity. METHODS: Twenty-one pigs were subjected to a validated and reproducible model of lethal proximal extremity injury by transecting soft tissues and the femoral vessels. The pigs were left to bleed uncontrollably for 3 minutes and then randomized to receive either a standard compression dressing (Control group, N = 10) or SEHP (SEHP group, N = 11). After 5 minutes of manual compression, the dressing or SEHP were left in the wound and the animals resuscitated more than 2 hours. One animal in each group died soon after the injury before application of the dressings and was removed from final analysis. RESULTS: SEHP animals had lower blood loss (1358 mL +/- 97 mL) than the Control animals (2028 mL +/- 177 mL, p = 0.006). The mortality was 55% in the Control group and 0% in the SEHP group (p = 0.006). CONCLUSION: SEHP is a novel, light, and portable material to control EEI effectively. It does not require another person for compression nor does it compromise the circulation. As EEI occurs with alarming frequency in the battlefield, SEHP may not only present an optimal hemostatic method for military applications but also be useful in the civilian prehospital setting.

Ortodoncia y bioestética / No disponible

En este artículo presentamos el concepto de Bioestética como herramienta de ayuda en nuestros tratamientos ortodóncicos para conseguir nuestros objetivos de tratamiento, es decir: estética facial, estética dental, oclusión funcional, salud periodontal y estabilidad a largo plazo. Dichos objetivos no son siempre obtenidos con solo ortodoncia, y eso en muchas ocasiones compromete el resultado final. Con la ayuda de la Bioestética podemos obtener nuestros objetivos incluso en pacientes con graves problemas dentales (grandes destrucciones y enormes desgastes oclusales) y esqueléticos. Se hace una ortodoncia pre-protésica y se finaliza el caso con los principios bioestéticos que a continuación detallamos (AU)

In this article we present the concept of Bioesthetics as a tool in order to achieve our final treatment goals: which are Facial esthetics, dental esthetics, functional occlusion, periodontal health and long term stability. These objectives are not always obtainable with only orthodontic treatment and this in many occasions ruins the final result. With the help of Bioesthetics we can now treat patients with enormous destructions, large amounts of dental wear. First we start with a preprosthetic orthodontics and then we finish the case following the Bioesthetics principles which we are going to explain in this article (AU)

Space Station Biological Research Project (SSBRP) Cell Culture Unit (CCU) and incubator for International Space Station (ISS) cell culture experiments.

The CCU and Incubator are habitats under development by SSBRP for gravitational biology research on ISS. They will accommodate multiple specimen types and reside in either Habitat Holding Racks, or the Centrifuge Rotor, which provides selectable gravity levels of up to 2 g. The CCU can support multiple Cell Specimen Chambers, CSCs (18, 9 or 6 CSCs; 3, 10 or 30 mL in volume, respectively). CSCs are temperature controlled from 4-39 degrees C, with heat shock to 45 degrees C. CCU provides automated nutrient supply, magnetic stirring, pH/O2 monitoring, gas supply, specimen lighting, and video microscopy. Sixty sample containers holding up to 2 mL each, stored at 4-39 degrees C, are available for automated cell sampling, subculture, and injection of additives and fixatives. CSCs, sample containers, and fresh/spent media bags are crew-replaceable for long-term experiments. The Incubator provides a 4-45 degrees C controlled environment for life science experiments or storage of experimental reagents. Specimen containers and experiment unique equipment are experimenter-provided. The Specimen Chamber exchanges air with ISS cabin and has 18.8 liters of usable volume that can accommodate six trays and the following instrumentation: five relocatable thermometers, two 60 W power outlets, four analog ports, and one each relative humidity sensor, video port, ethernet port and digital input/output port.

[Isolated dietary counselling program versus supplement and dietary counselling in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection]. / Consejo nutricional aislado frente a suplemento y consejo nutricionales en pacientes con infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Nutritional intervention is a controversial area. The aim of the study was to compare the influence on nutritional status of nutritional supplementation with a standard polymeric formula as well as nutritional counselling versus isolated nutritional counselling in a group of HIV-infected patients. PATIENTS AND METHOD: There were 70 patients, 66 of whom were fully evaluated for each study end point after application of prospectively determined evaluability criteria. Of these, 35 were randomized to group I (standard formula) and 35 were randomized to unsupplemented group II. Group I patients received standard enteral formula (3 cans/day, 250 ml per can). Patients were submitted to a prospective serial assessment of their nutrition status (anthropometric and biochemical status) and the nutritional intake was determined by means of 24-hours written food records. Determinations were performed at baseline and at 3 months. RESULTS: Treatment with oral supplements in group I resulted in a significant and sustained increase in weight (2.75%; p < 0.05) which was mostly due to fat mass (10.8%; p < 0.05). In contrast, no changes were detected in group II patients. The increase in body weight and tricipital skinfold was significant in group I. Total body water and fat free-mass remained without changes. CD4 counts and viral load remained stable in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Oral nutritional supplements for a 3-months period resulted in body weight gain in HIV-infected patients, increasing the fat mass. An isolated nutritional counselling did not result in such an increase.

Microgravity studies of cells and tissues.

Controlled in vitro studies of cells and tissues under the conditions of microgravity (simulated on Earth, or actual in space) can improve our understanding of gravity sensing, transduction, and responses in living cells and tissues. This paper discusses the scientific results and practical implications of three NASA-related biotechnology projects: ground and space studies of microgravity tissue engineering (JSC-Houston), and the development of the cell culture unit for use aboard the International Space Station (ARC-Ames).