Ciprofloxacin-modified electrosynthesized hydrogel coatings to prevent titanium-implant-associated infections.

New promising and versatile materials for the development of in situ sustained release systems consisting of thin films of either poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) or a copolymer based on poly(ethylene-glycol diacrylate) and acrylic acid were investigated. These polymers were electrosynthesized directly on titanium substrates and loaded with ciprofloxacin (CIP) either during or after the synthesis step. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to check the CIP entrapment efficiency as well as its surface availability in the hydrogel films, while high-performance liquid chromatography was employed to assess the release property of the films and to quantify the amount of CIP released by the coatings. These systems were then tested to evaluate the in vitro inhibition of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) growth. Moreover, a model equation is proposed which can easily correlate the diameter of the inhibition haloes with the amount of antibiotic released. Finally, MG63 human osteoblast-like cells were employed to assess the biocompatibility of CIP-modified hydrogel coatings.

Survey of the current use of pharmacokinetic model-driven drug delivery in small animal anaesthesia and analgesia in Italy.

Veterinary surgeons in Italy were surveyed about their current practice with regard to the use of propofol and intravenous opioids during anaesthesia and for treatment of acute pain in small animals. Questionnaires were e-mailed to all 171 members of the Italian Society of Veterinary Regional Anaesthesia and Pain Medicine. Information was requested on the type of practice the veterinarians worked in, the administration techniques used and the perceived benefit of pumps with target-controlled infusion (TCI) capability implementing small animal pharmacokinetic models. A total of 168 responses were received (response rate 98.2 per cent). Of the respondents, 121 (72.0 per cent) worked in a first-opinion private practice, 25 (14.9 per cent) worked in a 24/7 private practice, 11 (6.5 per cent) worked in a referral private practice, eight (4.8 per cent) worked in a university hospital, two (1.2 per cent) were not currently practising with small animals and one (0.6 per cent) had retired. Of the 130 (78.8 per cent) practising respondents who reported using a syringe pump, eight (4.8 per cent) used a TCI system, 31 (18.8 per cent) used manual TCI, 40 (24.2 per cent) used a bolus-elimination-transfer scheme and 51 (31 per cent) used a constant-rate infusion. As a result, 79 of 165 (47.9 per cent) practising respondents used a pharmacokinetic model-driven method of drug delivery. The majority of respondents (81.2 per cent) believed that the use of pumps with TCI capability would improve practice and patient care.

Hypobaric intrathecal anaesthesia for partial hemipelvectomy in a dog.

OBJECTIVE: To report the intrathecal use of a hypobaric anaesthetic solution for partial hemipelvectomy in a nine-year-old, neutered female, Golden Retriever dog, weighing 34 kg. METHODS: Under inhalational anaesthesia, with the dog lying in lateral recumbency and the surgical side uppermost, 1.9 ml of a hypobaric solution containing 3.42 mg of bupivacaine and 0.66 mg of morphine were administered in the subarachnoid space at L5-6 level 30 minutes before surgery. Following the intrathecal injection the dog was maintained for five minutes in a 10 degrees head-down position, then for three minutes in a 10 degrees head-up position. RESULTS: Apart from a transient increase in heart and respiratory rates during resection of the sartorius muscle, which was treated with a plasma Target Controlled Infusion (TCI) of fentanyl, spinal anaesthesia provided cardiovascular stability and excellent relaxation of the surgical site. Neither motor blockade nor proprioceptive deficit were apparent in the contra-lateral hind limb at recovery, 200 minutes after injection. Postoperatively, rescue analgesia was not required in the 48 hours following surgery. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: In dogs, the use of intrathecal hypobaric bupivacaine and morphine as a part of a balanced anaesthetic protocol should be considered during unilateral major orthopaedic surgeries of the pelvis and hind limb, as it allowed a reduction in the dose administered compared to isobaric solutions, providing selective spinal anaesthesia, excellent long-lasting analgesia, and rapid recovery of ambulation.

Synthesis, analytical characterization and bioactivity of Ag and Cu nanoparticles embedded in poly-vinyl-methyl-ketone films.

The electrosynthesis of copper and silver core-shell nanoparticles (NPs) by the sacrificial anode technique, employing tetraoctylammonium (TOA) salts as base electrolyte for the first time, is described. These surfactants were selected because they combine high NP stabilizing power with useful disinfecting properties. The resulting colloids were mixed with a solution of an inert dispersing polymer and used to prepare nanostructured composite thin films. The morphologies and chemical compositions of the nanomaterials were characterized by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). The TEM reveals that the average core diameter of the metal NPs ranges between 1.7 and 6.3 nm, as a function of the nature of the metal and of the electrosynthesis conditions, and does not change significantly upon inclusion in the polymer matrix. An appreciable concentration of the metal is detected on the nanoparticle surface by XPS. High-resolution XP spectra indicate that both copper and silver are present at zero oxidation state in all of the materials (colloids and composite films). This demonstrates the high efficiency of the surfactant at controlling the morphology and the chemical composition of the nanodispersed metal in both the as-synthesized colloid and in the polymeric dispersion. The nanocoatings are shown to exert a marked inhibitory effect on the growth of eukaryote and prokaryote target microrganisms, and experimental evidence of a synergic disinfecting effect due to the surfactant and the nanodispersed metal is provided. On the basis of these stability and bioactivity results, it is clear that Cu-NPs and Ag-NPs are suitable for application in disinfecting or antifouling paint and coating formulations.

Analytical characterization of bioactive fluoropolymer ultra-thin coatings modified by copper nanoparticles.

Copper-fluoropolymer (Cu-CFx) nano-composite films are deposited by dual ion-beam sputtering. The extensive analytical characterization of these layers reveals that inorganic nanoparticles composed of Cu(II) species are evenly dispersed in a branched fluoropolymer matrix. In particular, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy has been employed to study the surface chemical composition of the material and to assess how it changes on increasing the copper loading in the composite. Transmission electron microscopy reveals that the copper nanoclusters have a mean diameter of 2-3 nm and are homogeneously in-plane distributed in the composite films. Electrothermal atomic absorption spectroscopy has been used to study the kinetics of copper release in the solutions employed for the biological tests. The Cu-CFx layers are employed as bioactive coatings capable of inhibiting the growth of target microorganisms such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Lysteria. The results of the analytical characterization enable a strict correlation to be established among the chemical composition of the material surface, the concentration of copper dissolved in the microorganisms broths, and the bioactivity of the nano-structured layer.

Detection of Bacillus species in selected meals from an apulian catering service.

The authors have started a microbiological survey of the meals given in a factory canteen in the town of Bari with the evaluation of food contamination from the bacteria of the genus Bacillus. In the examined meals, all the detected Bacillus species have the potential to cause food-borne illnesses, even if the relatively low bacterial counts are not dangerous for healthy consumers. The study underlines the need of guidelines to enstablish which levels of food contamination are significant potential risks to all community catering service users.

Bacteriocin-producing Lactobacillus sake as starter culture in dry sausages.

One hundred and fifty-two strains of Lactobacillus spp and Micrococcus spp, isolated from dry sausages, were screened for inhibitory activity. Two of the strains assayed of the genus Lactobacillus showed bactericidal activity. They were able to inhibit Listeria monocytogenes, Listeria seeligeri, Listeria innocua, Lactobacillus alimentarius and Lactobacillus bavaricus. The strains of Escherichia coli, Salmonella bradford and Salmonella newlands, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia marcescens were resistant. Their antimicrobial activity was due to peptides detectable in the culture broths and inactivated by treatment with proteolytic enzymes. Using bacteriocin-producing Lactobacillus sake as starter cultures in dry sausages could be promising in the food industry.

[Laparoscopic or open appendectomy. Critical review of the literature and personal experience]. / Appendicectomia laparoscopica o a cielo aperto. Revisione critica della letteratura ed esperienza personale.

UNLABELLED: In the era of video-laparoscopic surgery there are a lot of surgeons that still continue to perform open appendectomy. This choice is the consequence of the good results of open appendectomy (clinical, cosmetic, hospital stays and hospital costs). Published trials on laparoscopic appendectomy don't show that it is superior to the open approach. The aim of this study is to critically review the literature on laparoscopic and traditional appendectomies and to report a clinical experience on 86 consecutive patients that underwent open appendectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From September 2000 to March 2001, in the Department of Emergency Surgery of Villa Scassi Hospital in Genoa, 86 patients underwent open appendectomy (32 men; mean age 29.8 years; range 15-54 years/54 women; mean age 22.4 years; range 13-80 years). All the patients underwent blood examinations, abdomino-pelvic ultrasonographys and the women gynecological evaluation. The Authors used, almost always, the Stropeni way of access (cutaneous Mac Burney and right para-rectal incision of the muscles). Discharge has been done as soon as possible. Removed appendices were submitted to histological examination and were classified as normal or pathologic according to the severity of the lesion. Review of articles has been done on Medline. RESULTS: Suspected appendicitis have been confirmed by histological examination that documented 1 normal appendix, 7 chronic appendicitis, 45 acute catharralis, 22 acute suppurative and 11 gangrenous or perforated appendicitis. The specificity of open appendectomy has been 97.6% (100% for men). Post-operative complications were: 2 wound infections and 1 recurrence of an abscess (2.58%). Open appendectomy did carry an hospital bill of 2,500,000 IT liras (1,200 USA dollars) for non complicated appendicitis and 2,000 USA dollars for perforated appendicitis. The early discharge allowed us to spend 119 millions IT liras less in 7 months (99,600 USA dollars in a year). DISCUSSION: The role of laparoscopic appendectomy isn't still established. After a critical review of the literature we can suggest that: 1) laparoscopic appendectomy increase operative time (63 vs 43 minutes: p < 0.0001); 2) laparoscopic approach can reduce the length of post-operative stay in hospital; 3) hospital bill is strongly reduced by open appendectomy (4,274 vs 7,923 USA dollars). On our experience the cost of the hospital for uncomplicated appendicitis is 2,500,000 IT liras (1,200 USA dollars). Otherwise it has been suggested that laparoscopic appendectomy has a better diagnostic accuracy respect to open appendectomy. Some Authors report a percentage of "negative" appendices of 16-50%. In Authors experience the percentage of "negative" appendices is 1.3% and so the diagnostic accuracy is 96% in women and 100% in men, probably because we systematically performed a preoperative abdomino-pelvic ultrasonography and, for the women, a gynecological evaluation. In conclusion, laparoscopic appendectomy should be done in case of suspected appendicitis in women. In the other cases, when there is a strong clinical suspect of appendicitis and, in particular, in case of suppurative appendicitis, the Authors recommend to perform an open appendectomy using the Stropeni approach. In case of perforated appendicitis with abdominal abscess they recommend to perform an open appendectomy using the right para-rectal approach or the median umbilical-pubis approach.