Development of a new wound dressing with antimicrobial delivery capability

A bilaminar wound dressing composed of an outer membrane and an inner three-dimensional matrix of a fabric or a sponge may be considered to constitute an ideal structure that promotes wound healing: the outer membrane prevents body fluid loss, controls water evaporation, and protects the wound surface from bacterial invasion, and the inner matrix encourages adherence by tissue growth into the matrix. Using this concept, we developed a biosynthetic wound dressing with a drug delivery capability. This medicated wound dressing is composed of a spongy sheet of a chitosane derivative and collagen mixture that is laminated to an antimicrobial-impregnated polyurethane membrane. In this study, a gentamycin sulfate-impregnated wound dressing was prepared and evaluated. The antimicrobial efficacy of this wound dressing was examined on an agar plate seeded with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Also, the cytotoxicity of an antimicrobial released from this wound dressing was examined in an in vitro system with cultured skin substitutes. Both in vitro tests have shown that this wound dressing is capable of suppressing bacterial growth and minimizing cellular damage. In addition, in the treatment of wounds inflicted on rats and rabbits, this wound dressing was shown to be efficacious in covering full-thickness and split-thickness skin defects. Finally, the efficacy of this wound dressing was evaluated in a nonrandomized open-label study of 31 clinical cases. In 31 cases treated with this wound dressing, good or excellent wound healing was achieved.     

Addressing Oncofertility Needs: Views of Female Cancer Patients in Fertility Preservation

A total of 41 questionnaires were returned from 64 respondents who consented to receive a questionnaire through the mail. Almost all valued the opportunity to receive consultation to address their fertility concerns and discuss fertility preservation options. Psychological stress, time pressure, and costs were identified as main factors affecting respondents’ decision to proceed with in-vitro fertilization to cryopreserve oocytes or embryos. About one third indicated that the discussion of fertility matters was initiated by themselves, their friends, and families rather than their health care providers. The findings have identified several major barriers encountered by female cancer patients when seeking fertility preservation services.     

Demography of sleep disturbances associated with circadian rhythm disorders in Japan

To clarify the demography of delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS), non-24-h sleep-wake syndrome, and irregular sleep-wake pattern in Japan, a cross-sectional nationwide epidemiological survey was conducted. 1525 adults (age: 15-59 years) were randomly sampled from telephone directories, and they received screening questions over the phone. Persons who were suspected of having the disorders were requested to fill out the second questionnaire, and asked to keep a sleep log for 4 weeks. Diagnoses were made according to the International Classification of Sleep Disorders criteria. As a result, the prevalence of DSPS was estimated to be 0.13%.     

Effects of Different Re-Wetting Techniques on Dentin Shear Bond Strengths

Purpose: For contemporary hydrophilic resin adhesive systems, bonding to dentin is improved if the substrate is maintained in a hydrated state following acid‐etching. The purpose of this study was to compare the dentin shear bond strengths of two single‐bottle adhesives (one acetone‐based and one ethanol‐based) applied under different etched‐dentin conditions: dry, wet, or dry and re‐wetted with different solutions. Materials and Methods: Bovine incisors (N = 120) were mounted in acrylic, polished to 600‐grit, and randomly assigned to 12 groups (n = 10). Dentin was etched for 15 seconds using 35% phosphoric acid, rinsed, and either blot‐dried, air‐dried, or air‐dried and re‐wetted with different solutions (distilled water, Gluma Desensitizer, Aqua‐Prep, and 5% glutaraldehyde in water). Two adhesives (Single Bond and Prime & Bond NT) were applied to each of the surface conditions following manufacturers' instructions. After adhesive application and curing, composite was applied in a No. 5 gelatin capsule and light‐cured. Specimens were loaded in shear, using an Instron at 5 mm per minute. Shear bond strengths were calculated by dividing the failure load by the bonded surface area. Data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and a post hoc Tukey test. Results: Mean shear bond strengths ranged from 12.5 to 26.6 MPa for Single Bond and from 5.6 to 14.7 MPa for Prime & Bond NT. Significant differences were found in both groups of materials (p < .001). The three highest mean bond strengths were obtained (in order) on dentin that was re‐wetted with Gluma Desensitizer, re‐wetted with Aqua‐Prep, or never dried. Differences between these surface conditions were not statistically significant for either material. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE Different dentin surface conditions and re‐wetting techniques affected bond strengths for adhesives studied. Aqua‐Prep and Gluma Desensitizer can be successfully used as re‐wetting agents. The use of a re‐wetting agent may be beneficial when dentin is dried after acid‐etching and rinsing.