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%.     

SUXAMETHONIUM-INDUCED HYPERKALAEMIA IN PATIENTS WITH SEVERE INTRA-ABDOMINAL INFECTIONS

In nine patients, undergoing repeat operations because of severeintra-abdominal infection developing after major abdominal surgery,serum potassium concentrations were monitored during inductionof anaesthesia. Four patients showed an increase of serum potassiumranging from 2.5 to 3.1 mmol/ litre above baseline values within3–6 min after suxamethonium 100 mg i.v. In five patientsthere was no change. The four patients demonstrating an increasehad suffered from pyrexia and leucocyt-osis for at least 2 weeks.The other five had signs of infection for no more than 9 days.It is concluded that patients with signs of severe intra-abdominalinfection lasting longer than 1 week represent an additionalcategory susceptible to suxamethonium-induced hyperkalaemia.They should receive only non-depolarizing muscle relaxants.When the use of suxamethonium is unavoidable, the injectionof a non-depolarizing muscle relaxant before the administrationof suxamethonium is recommended.