Simultaneous Administration of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and Antioxidant Supplementation with Filipendula ulmaria Extract in the Treatment of Thermal Skin Injuries Alters Nociceptive Signalling and Wound Healing.

Background and Objectives: Thermal skin injuries are a prevalent cause of skin damage, potentially leading to severe morbidity and significant mortality. In this study, we intended to estimate the effects of HBO (hyperbaric oxygen treatment) and antioxidant supplementation with Filipendula ulmaria extract, individually and simultaneously, in the treatment of thermal skin injuries. Materials and Methods: As a thermal skin injury experimental model, we used two-month-old male Wistar albino rats. Thermal injuries were made with a solid aluminium bar at a constant temperature of 75 °C for 15 s. Hyperbaric oxygen treatment was performed in a specially constructed hyperbaric chamber for rats (HYB-C 300) for seven consecutive days (100% O2 at 2.5 ATA for 60 min). Antioxidant supplementation was performed with oral administration of Filipendula ulmaria extract dissolved in tap water to reach a final concentration of 100 mg/kg b.w. for seven consecutive days. Results: Simultaneous administration of hyperbaric oxygen therapy and antioxidant supplementation with Filipendula ulmaria extract significantly ameliorated the macroscopic and histopathological characteristics of the wound area and healing. Also, this therapeutic approach decreased the local expression of genes for proinflammatory mediators and increased the expression of the µ-opioid receptor and the MT1 and MT2 receptors in the wound area and spinal cord, with a consequent increase in reaction times in behavioural testing. Conclusions: In conclusion, the presented results of our study allow evidence for the advantages of the simultaneous employment of HBO and antioxidant supplementation in the treatment of thermal skin injuries, with special reference to the attenuation of painful sensations accompanied by this type of trauma.

Development of the automated software and device for determination of wicking in textiles using open-source tools.

The development of automated software and the device for determination of wicking of textile materials, using open-source ImageJ libraries for image processing, and newly designed additional algorithm for the determination of threshold, is presented in this paper. The description of the device, design of the open-source software "Kapilarko", as well as an explanation of the steps: image processing, threshold determination and reading of wicking height, are provided. We have also investigated the possibility of using the artificial neural networks for automatic recognition of the wicking height. The results showed that the recognition of the wet area of the sample, based on the application of artificial neural networks was in a very good agreement with the experimental data. The device's utility for the measurement of wicking ability of textile materials was proved by testing various knitted fabrics. The constructed device has the advantages of providing automated measurement and minimization of the subjective errors of the operators; extremely fast or long-term measurements; digital recording of results; consistency of experimental conditions; possibility of using water instead of colors and, last but not least, low cost of the device. Considering the importance and frequent measurements of wicking ability of textile materials, the advantages of the presented device, as well as the fact that commercial software without publishing the source-code, are used for most of the available devices, we believe that our idea to design the automated software and device by applying the "open-source" approach, will be of benefit to scientists and engineers in using or improving wicking experiments.

INTRAORAL DENTAL X-RAY RADIOGRAPHY IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA: STUDY FOR REVISING DIAGNOSTIC REFERENCE LEVEL VALUE.

This paper presents the study that would allow a revision of the currently valid diagnostic reference level in intraoral dental X-ray radiography in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The study was conducted for six procedures that are used to capture incisor, premolar and molar teeth, of both maxilla and mandible, in adults. Measurements were performed on 41 intraoral X-ray devices, 20 of which were systems with digital image receptor and 21 film-based X-ray systems. In this study, incident air kerma (Ki) and air kerma-area product (PKA) were used as patient dose descriptors. The third quartile (Q3) of the measured incident air-kerma values was used to compare with the current national diagnostic reference level (DRL) for intraoral dental procedures. The obtained results of Q3 for both types of devices, with film-based and digital image receptors, have shown that the third quartile values are lower (3.5 and 1.2 mGy, respectively) than the current national DRL (7.0 mGy). Hence, new data can be used to re-establish the diagnostic reference levels in intraoral dental X-ray examinations in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Stability of TEMPO-oxidized cotton fibers during natural aging.

Stability of cotton fibers oxidized by the 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxy radical (TEMPO)-mediated system during natural aging was monitored; the oxidized and five-year-aged fibers were characterized in terms of molecular weight distribution, quantity and distribution of functionalities, tensile strength, color difference, and yellowness index. The distribution of functionalities introduced in cotton fibers by TEMPO-mediated oxidation and subsequent aging was investigated by means of gel permeation chromatography using multiple detection and group-selective labeling. The mild TEMPO-mediated oxidation retains the molar mass of oxidized cotton, but this status is not stable during natural aging. For highly oxidized cotton, the molar mass of aged fibers is low but stable. Aged TEMPO-oxidized cotton shows a prominent discoloration and an increased yellowness index. For tensile strength, the limiting value was obtained for aged TEMPO-oxidized cotton, regardless of whether the samples had initially been oxidized with a low or high degree of oxidation.

"Do-It-Yourself" reliable pH-stat device by using open-source software, inexpensive hardware and available laboratory equipment.

In this paper, we present the construction of a reliable and inexpensive pH stat device, by using open-source "OpenPhControl" software, inexpensive hardware (a peristaltic and a syringe pump, Arduino, a step motor…), readily available laboratory devices: a pH meter, a computer, a webcam, and some 3D printed parts. We provide a methodology for the design, development and test results of each part of the device, as well as of the entire system. In addition to dosing reagents by means of a low-cost peristaltic pump, we also present carefully controlled dosing of reagents by an open-source syringe pump. The upgrading of the basic open-source syringe pump is given in terms of pump control and application of a larger syringe. In addition to the basic functions of pH stat, i.e. pH value measurement and maintenance, an improvement allowing the device to be used for potentiometric titration has been made as well. We have demonstrated the device's utility when applied for cellulose fibers oxidation with 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl radical, i.e. for TEMPO-mediated oxidation. In support of this, we present the results obtained for the oxidation kinetics, the consumption of added reagent and experimental repeatability. Considering that the open-source scientific tools are available to everyone, and that researchers can construct and adjust the device according to their needs, as well as, that the total cost of the open-source pH stat device, excluding the existing laboratory equipment (pH meter, computer and glossary) was less than 150 EUR, we believe that, at a small fraction of the cost of available commercial offers, our open-source pH stat can significantly improve experimental work where the use of pH stat is necessary.

Molecular weight distribution and functional group profiles of TEMPO-oxidized lyocell fibers.

The effects of TEMPO-mediated oxidation, performed with NaClO, a catalytic amount of NaBr, and 2,2',6,6'-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxy radical (TEMPO), were studied on lyocell fibers by means of GPC using multiple detection and group-selective fluorescence labeling according to the CCOA and FDAM methodology. The applied method determines functional group content as a sum parameter, as well as functional group profiles in relation to the molecular weight of the cellulose fibers. Both the CHO and COOH profiles, as well as molecular weight alterations, were analyzed. A significant decrease in the average molecular weight was obtained during the first hour of TEMPO-mediated oxidation, but prolonged oxidation time resulted in no strong additional chain scission. Significant amounts of COOH groups were introduced in the high molecular weight fractions by the oxidation with higher concentrations of NaClO (2.42-9.67 mmol NaClO/g fiber) after modification times of 1h or longer.