Sample records for generalized dressing method

  1. Optimization of the dressing parameters in cylindrical grinding based on a generalized utility function

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Aleksandrova, Irina

    2016-01-01

    The existing studies, concerning the dressing process, focus on the major influence of the dressing conditions on the grinding response variables. However, the choice of the dressing conditions is often made, based on the experience of the qualified staff or using data from reference books. The optimal dressing parameters, which are only valid for the particular methods and dressing and grinding conditions, are also used. The paper presents a methodology for optimization of the dressing parameters in cylindrical grinding. The generalized utility function has been chosen as an optimization parameter. It is a complex indicator determining the economic, dynamic and manufacturing characteristics of the grinding process. The developed methodology is implemented for the dressing of aluminium oxide grinding wheels by using experimental diamond roller dressers with different grit sizes made of medium- and high-strength synthetic diamonds type ??32 and ??80. To solve the optimization problem, a model of the generalized utility function is created which reflects the complex impact of dressing parameters. The model is built based on the results from the conducted complex study and modeling of the grinding wheel lifetime, cutting ability, production rate and cutting forces during grinding. They are closely related to the dressing conditions (dressing speed ratio, radial in-feed of the diamond roller dresser and dress-out time), the diamond roller dresser grit size/grinding wheel grit size ratio, the type of synthetic diamonds and the direction of dressing. Some dressing parameters are determined for which the generalized utility function has a maximum and which guarantee an optimum combination of the following: the lifetime and cutting ability of the abrasive wheels, the tangential cutting force magnitude and the production rate of the grinding process. The results obtained prove the possibility of control and optimization of grinding by selecting particular dressing

  2. A prospective randomised study comparing the jubilee dressing method to a standard adhesive dressing for total hip and knee replacements.

    PubMed

    Burke, Neil G; Green, Connor; McHugh, Gavin; McGolderick, Niall; Kilcoyne, Carol; Kenny, Patrick

    2012-08-01

    It is important to reduce potential wound complications in total hip and total knee arthroplasty procedures. The purpose of this study was to compare the jubilee dressing method to a standard adhesive dressing. 124 patients (62 total hip replacements and 62 total knee replacements) were randomly selected to have either a standard adhesive dressing or jubilee method dressing. The number of dressing changes, incidence of blistering, leakage, appearance of inflammation, infection rate and the average stay in hospital was recorded for each patient. The jubilee dressing significantly reduced the rate of blistering, leakage and number of dressing changes when compare to a traditional adhesive dressing (p < 0.05). The rate of inflammation and average length of stay in hospital was not significantly different between the two groups. The authors recommend the use of this dressing for total hip and total knee arthroplasty procedures due to the associated lower complication rate. Copyright © 2012 Tissue Viability Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  3. Dressing remedies: a concept for improving access to and use of dressings in nursing homes.

    PubMed

    Clarkson, A

    2007-01-01

    Delays in accessing dressings prescribed by general practitioners can result in the inappropriate use of dressings on more than one resident in nursing homes. The dressing remedies concept was developed to overcomes this problem.

  4. 21 CFR 878.4022 - Hydrogel wound dressing and burn dressing.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Hydrogel wound dressing and burn dressing. 878.4022 Section 878.4022 Food and Drugs FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) MEDICAL DEVICES GENERAL AND PLASTIC SURGERY DEVICES Surgical Devices § 878.4022...

  5. 21 CFR 878.4022 - Hydrogel wound dressing and burn dressing.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Hydrogel wound dressing and burn dressing. 878.4022 Section 878.4022 Food and Drugs FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) MEDICAL DEVICES GENERAL AND PLASTIC SURGERY DEVICES Surgical Devices § 878.4022...

  6. 21 CFR 878.4022 - Hydrogel wound dressing and burn dressing.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Hydrogel wound dressing and burn dressing. 878.4022 Section 878.4022 Food and Drugs FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) MEDICAL DEVICES GENERAL AND PLASTIC SURGERY DEVICES Surgical Devices § 878.4022...

  7. Dress Nicer = Know More? Young Children’s Knowledge Attribution and Selective Learning Based on How Others Dress

    PubMed Central

    McDonald, Kyla P.; Ma, Lili

    2015-01-01

    This research explored whether children judge the knowledge state of others and selectively learn novel information from them based on how they dress. The results indicated that 4- and 6-year-olds identified a formally dressed individual as more knowledgeable about new things in general than a casually dressed one (Study 1). Moreover, children displayed an overall preference to seek help from a formally dressed individual rather than a casually dressed one when learning about novel objects and animals (Study 2). These findings are discussed in relation to the halo effect, and may have important implications for child educators regarding how instructor dress might influence young students’ knowledge attribution and learning preferences. PMID:26636980

  8. New derivation of soliton solutions to the AKNS2 system via dressing transformation methods

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Assunção, A. de O.; Blas, H.; da Silva, M. J. B. F.

    2012-03-01

    We consider certain boundary conditions supporting soliton solutions in the generalized nonlinear Schrödinger equation (AKNSr) (r = 1, 2). Using the dressing transformation (DT) method and the related tau functions, we study the AKNSr system for the vanishing, (constant) non-vanishing and the mixed boundary conditions, and their associated bright, dark and bright-dark N-soliton solutions, respectively. Moreover, we introduce a modified DT related to the dressing group in order to consider the free-field boundary condition and derive generalized N dark-dark solitons. As a reduced submodel of the AKNSr system, we study the properties of the focusing, defocusing and mixed focusing-defocusing versions of the so-called coupled nonlinear Schrödinger equation (r-CNLS), which has recently been considered in many physical applications. We have shown that two-dark-dark-soliton bound states exist in the AKNS2 system, and three- and higher-dark-dark-soliton bound states cannot exist. The AKNSr (r ⩾ 3) extension is briefly discussed in this approach. The properties and calculations of some matrix elements using level-one vertex operators are outlined. Dedicated to the memory of S S Costa

  9. 21 CFR 878.4020 - Occlusive wound dressing.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Occlusive wound dressing. 878.4020 Section 878...) MEDICAL DEVICES GENERAL AND PLASTIC SURGERY DEVICES Surgical Devices § 878.4020 Occlusive wound dressing. (a) Identification. An occlusive wound dressing is a nonresorbable, sterile or non-sterile device...

  10. 21 CFR 878.4020 - Occlusive wound dressing.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Occlusive wound dressing. 878.4020 Section 878...) MEDICAL DEVICES GENERAL AND PLASTIC SURGERY DEVICES Surgical Devices § 878.4020 Occlusive wound dressing. (a) Identification. An occlusive wound dressing is a nonresorbable, sterile or non-sterile device...

  11. 21 CFR 878.4018 - Hydrophilic wound dressing.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Hydrophilic wound dressing. 878.4018 Section 878...) MEDICAL DEVICES GENERAL AND PLASTIC SURGERY DEVICES Surgical Devices § 878.4018 Hydrophilic wound dressing. (a) Identification. A hydrophilic wound dressing is a sterile or non-sterile device intended to cover...

  12. 21 CFR 878.4018 - Hydrophilic wound dressing.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Hydrophilic wound dressing. 878.4018 Section 878...) MEDICAL DEVICES GENERAL AND PLASTIC SURGERY DEVICES Surgical Devices § 878.4018 Hydrophilic wound dressing. (a) Identification. A hydrophilic wound dressing is a sterile or non-sterile device intended to cover...

  13. Dressing disrupted: negotiating care through the materiality of dress in the context of dementia.

    PubMed

    Buse, Christina; Twigg, Julia

    2018-02-01

    This paper explores how the materiality of dress mediates and shapes practices of care in the context of dementia. Earlier research called for an approach to conceptualising care that recognised the role played by everyday artefacts. We extend this to a consideration of dress and dressing the body in relation to people with dementia that involves the direct manipulation of material objects, as well as the materiality of bodies. The paper draws on an ESRC funded study Dementia and Dress, which examined experiences of dress for people with dementia, families and care-workers using ethnographic and qualitative methods. Our analysis explores the process of dressing the body, the physicality of guiding and manipulating bodies into clothing, dealing with fabrics and bodies which 'act back' and are resistant to the process of dressing. We consider how the materiality of clothing can constrain or enable practices of care, exploring tensions between garments that support ease of dressing and those that sustain identity. Examining negotiations around dress also reveals tensions between competing 'logics' of care (Mol ). © 2018 The Authors. Sociology of Health & Illness published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Foundation for SHIL.

  14. A comparison of an antibacterial sandwich dressing vs dressing containing silver.

    PubMed

    Krasowski, Grzegorz; Jawień, Arkadiusz; Tukiendorf, Andrzej; Rybak, Zbigniew; Junka, Adam; Olejniczak-Nowakowska, Małgorzata; Bartoszewicz, Marzenna; Smutnicka, Danuta

    2015-01-01

    The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of dressings containing octenidine vs. dressings containing silver in the wound healing in the course of a chronic venous disease. There were two groups of 40 patients who met the inclusion criteria and who did not meet the exclusion criteria. The patients were randomly assigned into the groups (envelope method). The first, "O group" was treated with octenidine-based dressings. The second, "S group" was treated with silver dressings. The study lasted for 56 days. All patients in the research were treated with medical compression stockings with cotton understockings. Microbiological eradication was observed on the 28th day of the study among 33% of patients in the treatment group vs. 6% in control group. On the 56th day of the treatment, these percentages equalled 72% and 35%. The rate of healing was faster in the 0 group than in the S group. In the wounds <10 cm(2) it was faster by 1.35 cm(2)/week and in wounds >10 cm(2) it equalled 3.44 cm(2). The reduction of pain level was 37.5% higher in the O group, in contrast with the S group. One change of a dressing in the O group led to a 0.06 cm(2) greater wound size reduction and in the case of wounds >10 cm(2) to 0.29 cm(2) reduction compared with the S group. The presented results indicate that the efficacy of dressings containing octenidine is higher compared to silver dressings. © 2015 by the Wound Healing Society.

  15. The General Conference Mennonites.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Ediger, Marlow

    General Conference Mennonites and Old Order Amish are compared and contrasted in the areas of physical appearance, religious beliefs, formal education, methods of farming, and home settings. General Conference Mennonites and Amish differ in physical appearance and especially in dress. The General Conference Mennonite men and women dress the same…

  16. Prototype Development of a Responsive Emotive Sensing System (DRESS) to aid older persons with dementia to dress independently

    PubMed Central

    Mahoney, Diane Feeney; Burleson, Winslow; Lozano, Cecil; Ravishankar, Vijay; Mahoney, Edward Leo

    2015-01-01

    Background Prior research has critiqued the lack of attention to the stressors associated with dementia related dressing issues, stigmatizing patient clothing, and wearable technology challenges. This paper describes the conceptual development and feasibility testing of an innovative ‘smart dresser’ context aware affective system (DRESS) to enable dressing by people with moderate memory loss through individualized audio and visual task prompting in real time. Methods Mixed method feasibility study involving qualitative focus groups with 25 Alzheimer’s family caregivers experiencing dressing difficulties to iteratively inform system design and a quantitative usability trial with 10 healthy subjects in a controlled laboratory setting to assess validity of technical operations. Results Caregivers voiced the need for tangible dressing assistance to reduce their frustration from time spent in repetitive cueing and power struggles over dressing. They contributed 6 changes that influenced the prototype development, most notably adding a dresser top iPad to mimic a familiar ‘TV screen’ for the audio and visual cueing. DRESS demonstrated promising overall functionality, however the validity of identification of dressing status ranged from 0% for the correct pants dressing to 100% for all shirts dressing scenarios. Adjustments were made to the detection components of the system raising the accuracy of detection of all acted dressing scenarios for pants from 50% to 82%. Conclusions Findings demonstrate family caregiver acceptability of the proposed system, the successful interoperability of the built system’s components, and the system’s ability to interpret correct and incorrect dressing actions in controlled laboratory simulations. Future research will advance the system to the alpha stage and subsequent testing with end users in real world settings. PMID:26321895

  17. A mathematical analysis of dressed photon in ground state of generalized quantum Rabi model using pair theory

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hirokawa, Masao; Møller, Jacob S.; Sasaki, Itaru

    2017-05-01

    We consider the generalized quantum Rabi model with the so-called A 2-term in the light of the Hepp-Lieb-Preparata quantum phase transition. We investigate the dressed photon in its ground state when the atom-light coupling strength is in the deep-strong coupling regime. This regime is introduced by Casanova et al (2010 Phys. Rev. Lett. 105 263603) as the coupling regime exceeding the ultra-strong one. We show how the dressed photon appears in the ground state. We dedicate this paper to Pavel Exner and Herbert Spohn on the occasion of their 70th birthdays, and Klaus Hepp on the occasion of his 80th birthday.

  18. 21 CFR 878.4022 - Hydrogel wound dressing and burn dressing.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Hydrogel wound dressing and burn dressing. 878... Hydrogel wound dressing and burn dressing. (a) Identification. A hydrogel wound dressing is a sterile or non-sterile device intended to cover a wound, to absorb wound exudate, to control bleeding or fluid...

  19. 21 CFR 878.4022 - Hydrogel wound dressing and burn dressing.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Hydrogel wound dressing and burn dressing. 878... Hydrogel wound dressing and burn dressing. (a) Identification. A hydrogel wound dressing is a sterile or non-sterile device intended to cover a wound, to absorb wound exudate, to control bleeding or fluid...

  20. ["Abdominal dressing" - a new method of treatment for open abdomen following secondary peritonitis].

    PubMed

    Wild, T; Stremitzer, S; Budzanowski, A; Rinder, H; Tamandl, D; Zeisel, C; Hölzenbein, T; Sautner, T

    2004-05-01

    Treatment of open abdomen following secondary peritonitis is a challenge for surgery and intensive care units (ICU). The aim of this study was to compare three different concurrent treatment strategies. Patients suffering an open abdomen following surgery for secondary peritonitis at the Department of General Surgery from 01/01 to 12/03 were investigated. Factor studied: duration of open abdomen, incidence of multi-organ failure, need for surgical revisions, length of stay (LOS) in ICU, nursing requirements (change of dressing/day), survival and integrity of abdominal wall after discharge. Treatment strategies included: open packing (OP), classic vacuum assisted (V.A.C.(R))-therapy with silicone net protection for the intestine (CV) and V.A.C.(R)-therapy with "abdominal dressing" a newly developed meshed polyvinyl wrap (AD). 21 patients were studied: 5 patients were treated with OP, 8 patients with CV and 8 patients with AD. Mean LOS was 65 (OP) vs. 53 (CV) vs. 42 (AD) days (NS), peritonitis related death was 3 (OP) vs. 1 (CV) vs. 0 (AD) (p < 0.05 Chisquare test). Median nursing effort was 4 dressings/day (OP), 0.5 (CV) and 0.5 (AD) (p < 0.005 OP vs CV, AD Kruskal-Wallis test). The "abdominal dressing"-therapy seems to be a more efficient treatment option in patients suffering from open abdomen following secondary peritonitis. A trend towards shorter ICU-LOS, lower mortality rates and reduced nursing requirements support our hypothesis.

  1. 21 CFR 878.4018 - Hydrophilic wound dressing.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Hydrophilic wound dressing. 878.4018 Section 878.4018 Food and Drugs FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) MEDICAL DEVICES GENERAL AND PLASTIC SURGERY DEVICES Surgical Devices § 878.4018 Hydrophilic wound dressing...

  2. 21 CFR 878.4018 - Hydrophilic wound dressing.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Hydrophilic wound dressing. 878.4018 Section 878.4018 Food and Drugs FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) MEDICAL DEVICES GENERAL AND PLASTIC SURGERY DEVICES Surgical Devices § 878.4018 Hydrophilic wound dressing...

  3. 21 CFR 878.4020 - Occlusive wound dressing.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Occlusive wound dressing. 878.4020 Section 878.4020 Food and Drugs FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) MEDICAL DEVICES GENERAL AND PLASTIC SURGERY DEVICES Surgical Devices § 878.4020 Occlusive wound dressing...

  4. 21 CFR 878.4020 - Occlusive wound dressing.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Occlusive wound dressing. 878.4020 Section 878.4020 Food and Drugs FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) MEDICAL DEVICES GENERAL AND PLASTIC SURGERY DEVICES Surgical Devices § 878.4020 Occlusive wound dressing...

  5. 21 CFR 878.4018 - Hydrophilic wound dressing.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Hydrophilic wound dressing. 878.4018 Section 878.4018 Food and Drugs FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) MEDICAL DEVICES GENERAL AND PLASTIC SURGERY DEVICES Surgical Devices § 878.4018 Hydrophilic wound dressing...

  6. 21 CFR 878.4020 - Occlusive wound dressing.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Occlusive wound dressing. 878.4020 Section 878.4020 Food and Drugs FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) MEDICAL DEVICES GENERAL AND PLASTIC SURGERY DEVICES Surgical Devices § 878.4020 Occlusive wound dressing...

  7. The Dress: Transforming a web viral event into a scientific survey.

    PubMed

    Moccia, Marcello; Lavorgna, Luigi; Lanzillo, Roberta; Brescia Morra, Vincenzo; Tedeschi, Gioacchino; Bonavita, Simona

    2016-05-01

    The Dress picture recently has become a hot topic on the Internet, prompting a debate whether it was black and blue, or white and gold. To investigate The Dress color perception in both multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, characterized by frequent visual system impairment with ensuing color vision effects, and general population. We developed a questionnaire to record demographics, clinical features, and The Dress color perception, posted on general and MS-specific social networks. No statistically significant differences were observed in The Dress color perception between MS patients (n=103) and general population (n=441). Furthermore, white and gold color perception was positively associated with aging in the general population (p=0.04), whereas negatively associated with progressive course (p=0.03) and longer disease duration (p<0.001) in MS patients, independently from patients' age. The Dress black and blue or white and gold perception might be due to aging in the general population, whereas black and blue perception, despite of aging, might suggest a specific effect of the MS burden (i.e. disease duration and progression) on the visual structures specifically involved in the white and gold perception. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  8. A.D.A.M. test (Antibiofilm Dressing's Activity Measurement) - Simple method for evaluating anti-biofilm activity of drug-saturated dressings against wound pathogens.

    PubMed

    Junka, Adam F; Żywicka, Anna; Szymczyk, Patrycja; Dziadas, Mariusz; Bartoszewicz, Marzena; Fijałkowski, Karol

    2017-12-01

    In the present article, we propose a simple Antibiofilm Dressing's Activity Measurement (A.D.A.M.) test that allows to check in vitro a dressing's suitability against biofilm-related wound infections. To perform the test, three agar discs are covered with biofilm formed by the tested pathogen after which they are assembled one over another in the form of an agar plug and placed in the well of a 24-well plate. The top disc is covered with the analyzed dressing and the entire set is incubated for 24h. During this time, the investigated antimicrobial substance is released from the dressing and penetrates to subsequent biofilm-covered agar discs. Biofilm reduction is measured using 2,3,5-triphenyl-2H-tetrazolium chloride (TTC) spectrometric assay and the results are compared to untreated control samples (agar plug covered with biofilm and without the dressing/or with a passive dressing placed on the top disc). Furthermore, in order to standardize the differences in penetrability of the drugs released from active dressings the results can be expressed as a dimensionless value referred to as the Penetrability Index. In summary, A.D.A.M. test is simple, cheap, can be performed practically in every clinical laboratory and takes no more time than routine microbiological diagnostics. Apart from measuring the released drug's activity, the A.D.A.M. test allows to assess drug penetrability (across three agar discs), reflecting real wound conditions, where microbes are frequently hidden under the necrotic tissue or cloth. In conclusion, the A.D.A.M. test produces a high volume of data that, when analyzed, can provide a researcher with a valuable hint concerning the applicability of active dressings against specific biofilm pathogens in a particular setting. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  9. Effect of periodontal dressings on human gingiva fibroblasts in vitro

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Eber, R.M.; Shuler, C.F.; Buchanan, W.

    1989-08-01

    In vitro cytotoxicity studies of periodontal dressings have not generally produced a result consistent with in vivo observations. These prior in vitro studies have not used human intraoral cell lines. We tested the effects of two eugenol containing and two non-eugenol periodontal dressings on cultured human gingival fibroblasts (HGF) (ATCC No. 1292). Replicate HGF cultures grown in microtiter plates were exposed to stock, 1:4 and 1:16 dilutions of extracts made from each of the four periodontal dressings. The HGF cultures were pulse labelled with tritiated thymidine (3HTdR) after 24, 48, and 72 hours. Incorporations of the labelled thymidine were measuredmore » using liquid scintillation counting and expressed as counts per minute. The results showed that undiluted extracts from all four periodontal dressings totally inhibited 3HTdR uptake (P less than 0.05). The 1:4 dilution of eugenol dressings inhibited 3HTdR uptake significantly more than non-eugenol dressings (P less than 0.05). Interestingly, at 72 hours the 1:16 dilution of the non-eugenol dressings caused significantly increased 3HTdR uptake which was not observed with the eugenol dressings. The present results suggest that the use of a human fibroblastic cell line for testing the effects of periodontal dressings may provide information about the relative biological effects of these dressings. Using this cell line, we have found that eugenol dressings inhibit fibroblast proliferation to a greater extent than non-eugenol dressings.« less

  10. A prospective comparison of a new, synthetic donor site dressing versus an impregnated gauze dressing.

    PubMed

    Hickerson, W L; Kealey, G P; Smith, D J; Thomson, P D

    1994-01-01

    Three institutions enrolled 38 patients who required bilateral skin graft donor sites into a safety and efficacy study of a new synthetic donor site dressing. Bilateral donor sites were randomized to receive either a new, synthetic donor site dressing or an impregnated gauze dressing. Wounds were assessed by time to healing, pain, and patient preference. Synthetic dressing wounds were treated 7.9 days compared with 10.2 days for gauze dressing wounds (p < 0.001), and synthetic dressing wounds were more completely epithelialized. Visual analogue pain analysis revealed significantly less donor site pain with synthetic dressing (2.94) versus gauze dressing (4.64) (p < 0.001). Synthetic dressing had fewer treatment-related adverse experiences than gauze dressing (2 vs 7) and was judged by recipients to be superior to gauze dressing in comfort, pain relief, cosmetic appeal, ease of ambulation, and overall acceptance.

  11. Dispersive detection of radio-frequency-dressed states

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jammi, Sindhu; Pyragius, Tadas; Bason, Mark G.; Florez, Hans Marin; Fernholz, Thomas

    2018-04-01

    We introduce a method to dispersively detect alkali-metal atoms in radio-frequency-dressed states. In particular, we use dressed detection to measure populations and population differences of atoms prepared in their clock states. Linear birefringence of the atomic medium enables atom number detection via polarization homodyning, a form of common path interferometry. In order to achieve low technical noise levels, we perform optical sideband detection after adiabatic transformation of bare states into dressed states. The balanced homodyne signal then oscillates independently of field fluctuations at twice the dressing frequency, thus allowing for robust, phase-locked detection that circumvents low-frequency noise. Using probe pulses of two optical frequencies, we can detect both clock states simultaneously and obtain population difference as well as the total atom number. The scheme also allows for difference measurements by direct subtraction of the homodyne signals at the balanced detector, which should technically enable quantum noise limited measurements with prospects for the preparation of spin squeezed states. The method extends to other Zeeman sublevels and can be employed in a range of atomic clock schemes, atom interferometers, and other experiments using dressed atoms.

  12. Adhesive retention dressings are more comfortable than alginate dressings on split-skin-graft donor sites.

    PubMed

    Hormbrey, E; Pandya, A; Giele, H

    2003-07-01

    Painful split-skin-graft donor sites remain a common problem for patients. We undertook a prospective randomised trial to examine the comparative comfort and ease of care of two different donor-site dressings. One dressing is the alginate Kaltostat, the standard plastic-surgical dressing in the UK and abroad, and the other is the adhesive retention tape Mefix, a novel use of a readily available dressing. We randomised 50 patients requiring split-skin grafts to receive either alginate (Kaltostat) or retention (Mefix) donor-site dressings. Dressings were assessed by interview and questionnaire at 24, 72 h and 2 weeks, and by wound review at 2 weeks. Retention dressings were found to be more comfortable, required less nursing intervention and allowed patients easier mobility with a greater range of daily activities, especially washing, without compromising wound healing. We recommend adhesive retention dressings as cost-effective comfortable dressings, which readily conform to any donor site.

  13. Nanofibrillar cellulose wound dressing in skin graft donor site treatment.

    PubMed

    Hakkarainen, T; Koivuniemi, R; Kosonen, M; Escobedo-Lucea, C; Sanz-Garcia, A; Vuola, J; Valtonen, J; Tammela, P; Mäkitie, A; Luukko, K; Yliperttula, M; Kavola, H

    2016-12-28

    Although new therapeutic approaches for burn treatment have made progress, there is still need for better methods to enhance wound healing and recovery especially in severely burned patients. Nanofibrillar cellulose (NFC) has gained attention due to its renewable nature, good biocompatibility and excellent physical properties that are of importance for a range of applications in pharmaceutical and biomedical fields. In the present study, we investigated the potential of a wood based NFC wound dressing in a clinical trial on burn patients. Previously, we have investigated NFC as a topical functionalized wound dressing that contributes to improve wound healing in mice. Wood based NFC wound dressing was tested in split-thickness skin graft donor site treatment for nine burn patients in clinical trials at Helsinki Burn Centre. NFC dressing was applied to split thickness skin graft donor sites. The dressing gradually dehydrated and attached to donor site during the first days. During the clinical trials, physical and mechanical properties of NFC wound dressing were optimized by changing its composition. From patient 5 forward, NFC dressing was compared to commercial lactocapromer dressing, Suprathel® (PMI Polymedics, Germany). Epithelialization of the NFC dressing-covered donor site was faster in comparison to Suprathel®. Healthy epithelialized skin was revealed under the detached NFC dressing. NFC dressing self-detached after 11-21days for patients 1-9, while Suprathel® self-detached after 16-28days for patients 5-9. In comparison studies with patients 5-9, NFC dressing self-detached on average 4days earlier compared with Suprathel®. Lower NFC content in the material was evaluated to influence the enhanced pliability of the dressing and attachment to the wound bed. No allergic reaction or inflammatory response to NFC was observed. NFC dressing did not cause more pain for patients than the traditional methods to treat the skin graft donor sites. Based on the

  14. Dressing method and quadratic bundles related to symmetric spaces. Vanishing boundary conditions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Valchev, T. I.

    2016-02-01

    We consider quadratic bundles related to Hermitian symmetric spaces of the type SU(m + n)/S(U(m) × U(n)). The simplest representative of the corresponding integrable hierarchy is given by a multi-component Kaup-Newell derivative nonlinear Schrödinger equation which serves as a motivational example for our general considerations. We extensively discuss how one can apply Zakharov-Shabat's dressing procedure to derive reflectionless potentials obeying zero boundary conditions. Those could be used for one to construct fast decaying solutions to any nonlinear equation belonging to the same hierarchy. One can distinguish between generic soliton type solutions and rational solutions.

  15. Effects of wound dressings on cultured primary keratinocytes.

    PubMed

    Esteban-Vives, Roger; Young, Matthew T; Ziembicki, Jenny; Corcos, Alain; Gerlach, Jörg C

    2016-02-01

    Autologous cell-spray grafting of non-cultured epidermal cells is an innovative approach for the treatment of severe second-degree burns. After treatment, wounds are covered with dressings that are widely used in wound care management; however, little is known about the effects of wound dressings on individually isolated cells. The sprayed cells have to actively attach, spread, proliferate, and migrate in the wound for successful re-epithelialization, during the healing process. It is expected that exposure to wound dressing material might interfere with cell survival, attachment, and expansion. Two experiments were performed to determine whether some dressing materials have a negative impact during the early phases of wound healing. In one experiment, freshly isolated cells were seeded and cultured for one week in combination with eight different wound dressings used during burn care. Cells, which were seeded and cultured with samples of Adaptic(®), Xeroform(®), EZ Derm(®), and Mepilex(®) did not attach, nor did they survive during the first week. Mepitel(®), N-Terface(®), Polyskin(®), and Biobrane(®) dressing samples had no negative effect on cell attachment and cell growth when compared to the controls. In a second experiment, the same dressings were exposed to pre-cultured cells in order to exclude the effects of attachment and spreading. The results confirm the above findings. This study could be of interest for establishing skin cell grafting therapies in burn medicine and also for wound care in general. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd and ISBI. All rights reserved.

  16. Dressed for success? Silver impregnated nanocrystalline dressing for initial treatment of giant omphalocele.

    PubMed

    Percy, Dean B; Haddock, Candace; Ma, Vivian; Nowak, Amie; Panczuk, Julia; Butterworth, Sonia

    2018-05-01

    The purpose of this study was to describe outcomes and resource utilization in patients treated with twice-weekly silver impregnated (SI) nanocrystalline dressings for initial non-operative management of giant omphalocele (GO). A retrospective review of patients with GO treated with SI dressings was undertaken. Clinical parameters, cost, and complications were recorded. Five patients with GO were treated with SI dressings between 2014 and 2016. Clinical characteristic (mean ± SD) included gestational age 36 ± 4 weeks, birth weight 2.6 ± 0.63 kg, GO size 10.2 ± 4.7 cm, ventilator days 7.5 ± 8.7 d, days in NICU 41 ± 20 d, days to full feeds, 30 ± 15 d, and LOS 62 ± 41 d. The average in-hospital cost of SI dressings was $110 CAD/week. This is comparable to daily silver sulfadiazine dressings ($109CAD/week) which were used historically. All patients were discharged with once- or twice-weekly dressing changes. No ruptures occurred. There was one mortality secondary to pulmonary sepsis. For initial non-operative management of GO, twice weekly SI nanocrystalline dressings is safe and effective. Use of SI dressings results in decreased handling of infants, reduced physician and nursing resource utilization, and favourable outcomes. IV (Retrospective Case Series). Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.

  17. Processing parameter optimization for the laser dressing of bronze-bonded diamond wheels

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Deng, H.; Chen, G. Y.; Zhou, C.; Li, S. C.; Zhang, M. J.

    2014-01-01

    In this paper, a pulsed fiber-laser dressing method for bronze-bonded diamond wheels was studied systematically and comprehensively. The mechanisms for the laser dressing of bronze-bonded diamond wheels were theoretically analyzed, and the key processing parameters that determine the results of laser dressing, including the laser power density, pulse overlap ratio, ablation track line overlap ratio, and number of scanning cycles, were proposed for the first time. Further, the effects of these four key parameters on the oxidation-damaged layer of the material surface, the material removal efficiency, the material surface roughness, and the average protrusion height of the diamond grains were explored and summarized through pulsed laser ablation experiments. Under the current experimental conditions, the ideal values of the laser power density, pulse overlap ratio, ablation track line overlap ratio, and number of scanning cycles were determined to be 4.2 × 107 W/cm2, 30%, 30%, and 16, respectively. Pulsed laser dressing experiments were conducted on bronze-bonded diamond wheels using the optimized processing parameters; next, both the normal and tangential grinding forces produced by the dressed grinding wheel were measured while grinding alumina ceramic materials. The results revealed that the normal and tangential grinding forces produced by the laser-dressed grinding wheel during grinding were smaller than those of grinding wheels dressed using the conventional mechanical method, indicating that the pulsed laser dressing technology provides irreplaceable advantages relative to the conventional mechanical dressing method.

  18. Dressed Wilson loops as dual condensates in response to magnetic and electric fields

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Bruckmann, Falk; Endroedi, Gergely

    2011-10-01

    We introduce dressed Wilson loops as a novel confinement observable. It consists of closed planar loops of arbitrary geometry but fixed area, and its expectation values decay with the latter. The construction of dressed Wilson loops is based on chiral condensates in response to magnetic and electric fields, thus linking different physical concepts. We present results for generalized condensates and dressed Wilson loops on dynamical lattice configurations and confirm the agreement with conventional Wilson loops in the limit of large probe mass. We comment on the renormalization of dressed Wilson loops.

  19. Dressing the post-Newtonian two-body problem and classical effective field theory

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kol, Barak; Smolkin, Michael

    2009-12-01

    We apply a dressed perturbation theory to better organize and economize the computation of high orders of the 2-body effective action of an inspiralling post-Newtonian (PN) gravitating binary. We use the effective field theory approach with the nonrelativistic field decomposition (NRG fields). For that purpose we develop quite generally the dressing theory of a nonlinear classical field theory coupled to pointlike sources. We introduce dressed charges and propagators, but unlike the quantum theory there are no dressed bulk vertices. The dressed quantities are found to obey recursive integral equations which succinctly encode parts of the diagrammatic expansion, and are the classical version of the Schwinger-Dyson equations. Actually, the classical equations are somewhat stronger since they involve only finitely many quantities, unlike the quantum theory. Classical diagrams are shown to factorize exactly when they contain nonlinear worldline vertices, and we classify all the possible topologies of irreducible diagrams for low loop numbers. We apply the dressing program to our post-Newtonian case of interest. The dressed charges consist of the dressed energy-momentum tensor after a nonrelativistic decomposition, and we compute all dressed charges (in the harmonic gauge) appearing up to 2PN in the 2-body effective action (and more). We determine the irreducible skeleton diagrams up to 3PN and we employ the dressed charges to compute several terms beyond 2PN.

  20. Quantum dressing orbits on compact groups

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jurčo, Branislav; Šťovíček, Pavel

    1993-02-01

    The quantum double is shown to imply the dressing transformation on quantum compact groups and the quantum Iwasawa decompositon in the general case. Quantum dressing orbits are described explicitly as *-algebras. The dual coalgebras consisting of differential operators are related to the quantum Weyl elements. Besides, the differential geometry on a quantum leaf allows a remarkably simple construction of irreducible *-representations of the algebras of quantum functions. Representation spaces then consist of analytic functions on classical phase spaces. These representations are also interpreted in the framework of quantization in the spirit of Berezin applied to symplectic leaves on classical compact groups. Convenient “coherent states” are introduced and a correspondence between classical and quantum observables is given.

  1. Wet to dry dressing changes

    MedlinePlus

    ... as much gauze or packing gauze. Removing the Old Dressing Follow these steps to remove your dressing: ... sterile gloves. Carefully remove the tape. Remove the old dressing. If it is sticking to your skin, ...

  2. Investigation of adhesion of modern wound dressings: a comparative analysis of 56 different wound dressings.

    PubMed

    Klode, J; Schöttler, L; Stoffels, I; Körber, A; Schadendorf, D; Dissemond, J

    2011-08-01

    In the process of chronic wound care, adhesive wound dressings may cause pain and injury in the wound environment during dressing changes. At present, no standardized test procedures are available for the investigation of adhesion of wound dressings. Therefore, our study aimed to test the adhesion of different wound dressings on steel as well as on healthy skin. Within an open, comparative study, the adhesive areas of 56 wound dressings were investigated. The adhesives were categorized into acrylate (n = 23), silicone (n = 9), hydrocolloid (n = 17) and polyurethane groups (n = 7). Using an especially modified testing machine, the adhesion of the wound dressings was measured on steel as well as on the skin of healthy study participants, in compliance with the European EN 1939:2003 standard. The energy required to remove the wound dressings from human skin, was measured in Newton (N) and the following median values were obtained: hydrocolloid (2.25 N) > acrylate (1.14 N) > polyurethane (0.9 N) > silicone (0.7 N). The subjective pain intensity during the removal of the wound dressings was recorded using the visual analogue scale (VAS) with values ranging from 0 to 10. For hydrocolloid, it was 6.8, for acrylate 4.9, for polyurethane 3.1 and for silicone 2.5 points VAS. In comparison with human skin, the adhesion of wound dressings was significantly higher on steel (P < 0.0001), but was different for the different groups of wound dressings. Moreover, there was a statistically significant correlation between the adhesion and pain intensity (correlation coefficient 0.806; P = 0.01). The knowledge about the widely differing adhesion properties of different wound dressings on the skin of patients should nowadays be considered during the individual selection of the applied products. Based on these data, different types of wound dressings could be developed, guaranteeing a good adhesion and a low traumatic risk when removed. © 2010 The Authors. Journal of the European

  3. An Inexpensive Bismuth-Petrolatum Dressing for Treatment of Burns

    PubMed Central

    Chattopadhyay, Arhana; Chang, Kathleen; Nguyen, Khoa; Galvez, Michael G.; Legrand, Anais; Davis, Christopher; McGoldrick, Rory; Long, Chao; Pham, Hung

    2016-01-01

    Background: Xeroform remains the current standard for treating superficial partial-thickness burns but can be prohibitively expensive in developing countries with prevalent burn injuries. This study (1) describes the production of an alternative low-cost dressing and (2) compares the alternative dressing and Xeroform using the metrics of cost-effectiveness, antimicrobial activity, and biocompatibility in vitro, and wound healing in vivo. Methods: To produce the alternative dressing, 3% bismuth tribromophenate powder was combined with petroleum jelly by hand and applied to Kerlix gauze. To assess cost-effectiveness, the unit costs of Xeroform and components of the alternative dressing were compared. To assess antimicrobial properties, the dressings were placed on agar plated with Escherichia coli and the Kirby-Bauer assay performed. To assess biocompatibility, the dressings were incubated with human dermal fibroblasts and cells stained with methylene blue. To assess in vivo wound healing, dressings were applied to excisional wounds on rats and the rate of re-epithelialization calculated. Results: The alternative dressing costs 34% of the least expensive brand of Xeroform. Antimicrobial assays showed that both dressings had similar bacteriostatic effects. Biocompatibility assays showed that there was no statistical difference (P < 0.05) in the cytotoxicity of Xeroform, alternative dressing, and Kerlix gauze. Finally, the in vivo healing model showed no statistical difference (P < 0.05) in mean re-epithelialization time between Xeroform (13.0 ± 1.6 days) and alternative dressing (13.5 ± 1.0 days). Conclusions: Xeroform is biocompatible, reduces infection, and enhances healing of burn wounds by preventing desiccation and mechanical trauma. Handmade petrolatum gauze may be a low-cost replacement for Xeroform. Future studies will focus on clinical trials in burn units. PMID:27482485

  4. Febuxostat-associated drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS).

    PubMed

    Chou, H-Y; Chen, C-B; Cheng, C-Y; Chen, Y-A; Ng, C Y; Kuo, K-L; Chen, W-L; Chen, C-H

    2015-12-01

    Febuxostat is recommended as an alternative drug for gouty patients with a history of allopurinol hypersensitivity or carrying the HLA-B*5801 allele. An 81-year-old man with the medical history of gout presented to our clinic with generalized rashes for 2 days. After taking febuxostat for 2 days, he developed generalized skin rash with high fever. Laboratory tests showed elevated liver enzymes and acute kidney injury. This is the first identified case of febuxostat-associated DRESS. Febuxostat should be withdrawn immediately when DRESS is observed to avoid further serious complications. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  5. Closed dressings after laser skin resurfacing.

    PubMed

    Newman, J P; Koch, R J; Goode, R L

    1998-07-01

    To evaluate the safety, efficacy, and patient acceptance of closed dressings after full facial resurfacing with the carbon dioxide laser. Prospective cohort of men and women undergoing full facial carbon dioxide laser resurfacing. Ambulatory surgical center at a university hospital. Forty consecutive patients randomized to 1 of 4 dressing groups. All patients underwent full facial resurfacing with a carbon dioxide laser system. One of 5 closed dressings (single- or 3-layer composite foam, plastic mesh, hydrogel, or polymer film) was placed immediately after the procedure. Closed dressings were changed on postoperative day 2 and removed on postoperative day 4. Objective postoperative criteria of erythema, scarring, reepithelialization, and surface irregularities were recorded and photodocumented. Comparisons were made among the closed dressing groups as well as with a group of historical control subjects treated with open dressings. The ease of application, office time for preparation and application, and cost of the individual dressings were collected. Patient characteristics of overall acceptance, comfort, and ease of maintenance were recorded with a visual analog scale. There were no complications of scarring, surface irregularities, or contact dermatitis from the application or maintenance of the closed dressings. There were no significant differences in the number of days of postoperative erythema or in the rate of facial reepithelialization among the groups. Most patients preferred not to continue with the closed dressings past 2 days. Positive features from the use of closed dressings included reduction in crust formation, decreased pruritus, decreased erythema, and decreased postoperative pain, compared with historical controls. Negative features included time in preparation and application of the dressings. Costs ranged from $9.79 to $50 per dressing change. Closed dressings are safe and offer benefits noted during the first 4 postoperative days. Patients

  6. A model for quantitative evaluation of skin damage at adhesive wound dressing removal.

    PubMed

    Matsumura, Hajime; Ahmatjan, Niyaz; Ida, Yukiko; Imai, Ryutaro; Wanatabe, Katsueki

    2013-06-01

    The removal of adhesive wound dressings from the wound surface involves a risk of damaging the intact stratum corneum and regenerating epithelium. Pain associated with the removal of wound dressings is a major issue for patients and medical personnel. Recently, wound dressings coated with a silicone adhesive have been developed to reduce such skin damage and pain on removal and they have received good evaluation in various clinical settings. However, there is neither a standard method to quantify whether or not the integrity of the stratum corneum and regenerating epithelium is retained or if both structures are damaged by the removal of wound dressings, nor are there standardised values with which to assess skin damage. We applied six different types of adhesive wound dressing on plain copy paper printed with black ink by a laser printer, removed the dressings, examined the adhesive-coated surface of the wound dressings using a high-power videoscope, and examined the stripped areas. Wound dressings coated with a silicone adhesive showed significantly less detachment of the stratum corneum and regenerating epithelium, followed by those coated with polyurethane, hydrocolloid, and acrylic adhesives. The assessment method utilised in this study revealed distinct differences between wound dressing types, but less variation in the evaluation outcome of each type. This assessment method may be useful for the evaluation of adhesive wound dressings, particularly during product development. However, further studies will be needed to examine the effectiveness of this assessment method in the clinical setting because the adherent properties of polyurethane and hydrocolloid adhesives may be altered by the absorption of water from the skin. © 2012 The Authors. International Wound Journal © 2012 John Wiley & Sons Ltd and Medicalhelplines.com Inc.

  7. The design, characteristics, and application of polyurethane dressings using the electrospinning process

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kampeerapappun, Piyaporn

    In general, a dressing is used to protect and help heal wounds. There are several types of dressings on the market such as hydrocolloid, hydrogel, and medicated dressings. One technique for making a dressing is electrospinning, which is a very simple procedure used to produce fibers. Due to much smaller fiber-diameters than produced with the conventional technique, the fibers from electrospinning have unique properties: high porosity and high surface areas, which are advantageous for wound healing. In this research, the fibers were electrospun using polyurethane, TecophilicRTM or TecoflexRTM, with various additives. First, multilayer transdermal electrospun dressings, four and five-layers, were developed that allowed for the controlled release of nitric oxide (NO) from a NO2 -/ascorbic acid system encapsulated in polymer nanofibers. The amount of NO released from each wound dressing was investigated. Both the four and five-layer dressings were tested for morphology of fibers, water absorption, nitrite distribution, NO release profile after sterilization by gamma radiation, and stability. In the case of the four-layer transdermal dressing, the dressing was tested in diabetic, periodontal, and cutaneous leishmaniasis patients. Furthermore, the color change of dressing was investigated. TecophilicRTM was also spun with an antimicrobial agent, which was added to the TecophilicRTM solution to electrospin an antimicrobial dressing. The morphology of fibers was tested using an optical microscope and the water absorption, uniformity, and percent extraction of dressing were also determined. In addition, the efficiency of the antimicrobial agent in the dressing was determined according to SN 195920-1994 and ASTM 2149-01. Another NO-releasing dressing was developed employing the NO donor molecules, sodium salt of linear polyethylenimine NONOates (LPEINO-Na) and calcium salt of linear polyethylenimine NONOates (LPEINO-Ca), which were electrospun with TecophilicRTM. The NO

  8. A new postoperative otoplasty dressing technique using cyanoacrylate tissue adhesives.

    PubMed

    Vetter, Miriam; Foehn, Matthias; Wedler, Volker

    2010-04-01

    There are many techniques for cosmetic surgery of the ears and also many different procedures for postoperative treatment. The postoperative dressing is described as important for a successful outcome. We present our method of postoperative dressing in the form of liquid bonding. Cyanoacrylate tissue adhesives as liquid bonding agents are used for fixation of the pinna at the mastoid area. After 10-14 days the bonding can be easily removed. No huge dressings, tapes, or plasters are necessary. The patients are satisfied with the light dressing; they do not feel ashamed to appear in public. We have found this dressing technique to be simple and economical, especially because of the use of the bonding for skin closure before. It can be used after otoplasty with an anterior or a posterior approach.

  9. [Evaluation of the influence of sterilization method on the stability of carboxymethyl cellulose wound dressing].

    PubMed

    Muselík, Jan; Wojnarová, Lenka; Masteiková, Ruta; Sopuch, Tomáš

    2013-04-01

    Carboxymethyl cellulose, especially its sodium salt, is a versatile pharmaceutical excipient. From a therapeutic point of view, sodium salt of carboxymethyl cellulose is used in the production of modern wound dressings to allow moist wound healing. Wound dressings must be sterile and stable throughout their shelf life and have to be able to withstand different temperature conditions. At the present time, a number of sterilization methods are available. In the case of polymeric materials, the selected sterilization process must not induce any changes in the polymer structure, such as polymer chains cleavage, changes in cross-linking, etc. This paper evaluates the influence of different sterilization methods (γ-radiation, β-radiation, ethylene oxide) on the stability of carboxymethyl cellulose and the results of long-term and accelerated stability testing. Evaluation of samples was performed using size-exclusion chromatography. The obtained results showed that ethylene oxide sterilization was the least aggressive variant of the sterilization methods tested. When the γ-radiation sterilization was used, the changes in the size of the carboxymethyl cellulose molecule occurred. In the course of accelerated and long term stability studies, no further degradation changes were observed, and thus sterilized samples are suitable for long term storage.

  10. 21 CFR 169.115 - French dressing.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 2 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false French dressing. 169.115 Section 169.115 Food and... § 169.115 French dressing. (a) Description. French dressing is the separable liquid food or the..., lecithin, or polyglycerol esters of fatty acids. (d) Nomenclature. The name of the food is “French dressing...

  11. Tiny patients, tiny dressings: a guide to the neonatal PICC dressing change.

    PubMed

    Sharpe, Elizabeth L

    2008-06-01

    Advances in neonatology now support the survival of the tiniest of infants. The peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) has now become an integral part of routine practice in neonatal intensive care units around the world. Keen attention to safe maintenance of these devices is essential. A properly applied and maintained PICC dressing is the first line of defense to minimize the risk of complications such as dislodgement, migration, and infection. This article describes a neonatal PICC dressing change and discusses the frequently encountered quandaries surrounding this important procedure, including dressing materials, frequency, site preparation, barrier precautions, and other relevant concerns.

  12. A cost and clinical effectiveness analysis among moist wound healing dressings versus traditional methods in home care patients with pressure ulcers.

    PubMed

    Souliotis, Kyriakos; Kalemikerakis, Ioannis; Saridi, Maria; Papageorgiou, Manto; Kalokerinou, Athena

    2016-05-01

    The aim of the study was a cost and clinical effectiveness analysis between moist wound healing dressings and gauze in a homecare set up for the treatment of stage III and IV pressure ulcers up to complete healing. In addition, we assessed the overall economic burden on the Healthcare System. Treatment method for each patient was chosen randomly by using sealed opaque envelopes. The authors monitored the healing progress and recorded treatment costs without interfering with the treatment process. The healing progress was estimated by using surface measurement transparent films. To estimate treatment costs, the authors took into account labor costs, cost of dressings, as well the cost of other materials such as cleansing gauzes, normal saline, syringes, examination gloves, antiseptics and adhesive tape. The patient group under treatment with moist wound healing dressings consisted of 27 men and 20 women aged 75.1 ± 8,6 and had an average ulcer surface of 43.5 ± 30.70 cm(2) ; the patient group under treatment with gauze comprised 25 men and 23 women aged 77.02 ± 8.02 and had an average ulcer surface 41.52 ± 29.41 cm(2) (p = 0.25, 95% CI, Student's t test). The average healing time for the moist wound healing dressings group' was 85.56 ± 52.09 days, while 121.4 ± 52.21 days for the "gauze group" (p = 0.0001, 95% CI, Student's t test). The dressing change frequency per patient was reduced in the "moist wound healing dressings group," 49.5 ± 29.61, compared with a dressing change frequency per patient of 222.6 ± 101.86 for the "gauze group" (p = 0.0001, 95% CI, Student's t test). The use of moist wound healing dressings had a lower total treatment cost of 1,351 € per patient compared with, the use of gauzes (3,888 €). © 2016 by the Wound Healing Society.

  13. Antimicrobial Activity of a Novel Vascular Access Film Dressing Containing Chlorhexidine Gluconate

    PubMed Central

    Wibaux, Anne; Thota, Priyaleela; Mastej, Jozef; Prince, Daniel L.; Carty, Neal; Johnson, Peter

    2015-01-01

    Background Covering insertion sites with chlorhexidine impregnated dressings has been proven to be clinically effective in reducing catheter related blood stream infections (CR-BSI). Two chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG)-impregnated dressings are commercially available, a polyurethane foam disk and a film dressing containing a chlorhexidine gluconate-impregnated gel pad. While both have demonstrated efficacy in clinical settings, the major drawback of high cost and impaired IV insertion site visibility limits their usage. A new, simple film dressing containing CHG within its adhesive layer is now available. The objective of this study was to test the in vitro antimicrobial efficacy of the new dressing in comparison to the CHG-impregnated gel dressing. Methods Quantitative aliquots of suspensions (concentration of 1.0x106 to 5.0x106 cfu/sample) of clinically relevant challenge organisms (Staphylococcus species, gram-negative bacilli, Candida albicans) were incubated in contact with the new CHG-containing film dressing, a placebo version of the same (negative control) and the commercially available CHG-impregnated gel dressing (positive control). Serial dilutions of the surviving organisms were quantified using the pour plate after 1, 3, 5, and 7 days of incubation in order to calculate an antimicrobial log10 reduction for each organism/dressing combination at each point in time. Results The new CHG-containing film dressing delivered greater than 5.0 log10 reduction throughout the 7 days on all aerobic gram-negative bacilli and Staphylococcus species tested. As of day 1 the CHG-containing film dressing provided greater than 5.0 log10 reduction on Candida albicans. There were no statistically significant differences in the log10 reduction between the two dressings tested. Conclusion The new CHG-containing film dressing was found to be as effective as the chlorhexidine gluconate-impregnated gel dressing on clinically relevant microbes. PMID:26599087

  14. Dressed soliton in quantum dusty pair-ion plasma

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Chatterjee, Prasanta; Muniandy, S. V.; Wong, C. S.

    Nonlinear propagation of a quantum ion-acoustic dressed soliton is studied in a dusty pair-ion plasma. The Korteweg-de Vries (KdV) equation is derived using reductive perturbation technique. A higher order inhomogeneous differential equation is obtained for the higher order correction. The expression for a dressed soliton is calculated using a renormalization method. The expressions for higher order correction are determined using a series solution technique developed by Chatterjee et al. [Phys. Plasmas 16, 072102 (2009)].

  15. Silver deposition and tissue staining associated with wound dressings containing silver.

    PubMed

    Walker, Michael; Cochrane, Christine A; Bowler, Philip G; Parsons, David; Bradshaw, Peter

    2006-01-01

    Argyria is the general term used to denote a clinical condition in which excessive administration and deposition of silver causes a permanent irreversible gray-blue discoloration of the skin or mucous membranes. The amount of discoloration usually depends on the route of silver delivery (ie, oral or topical administration) along with the body's ability to absorb and excrete the administered silver compound. Argyria is accepted as a rare dermatosis but once silver particles are deposited, they remain immobile and may accumulate during the aging process. Topical application of silver salts (eg, silver nitrate solution) may lead to transient skin staining. To investigate their potential to cause skin staining, two silver-containing dressings (Hydrofiber and nanocrystalline) were applied to human skin samples taken from electively amputated lower limbs. The potential for skin discoloration was assayed using atomic absorption spectroscopy. When the dressings were hydrated with water, a significantly higher amount of silver was released from the nanocrystalline dressing compared to the Hydrofiber dressing (P <0.005), which resulted in approximately 30 times more silver deposition. In contrast, when saline was used as the hydration medium, the release rates were low for both dressings and not significantly different (silver deposition was minimal). Controlling the amount of silver released from silver-containing dressings should help reduce excessive deposition of silver into wound tissue and minimize skin staining.

  16. Foam dressings for treating pressure ulcers.

    PubMed

    Walker, Rachel M; Gillespie, Brigid M; Thalib, Lukman; Higgins, Niall S; Whitty, Jennifer A

    2017-10-12

    Pressure ulcers, also known as pressure injuries and bed sores, are localised areas of injury to the skin or underlying tissues, or both. Dressings made from a variety of materials, including foam, are used to treat pressure ulcers. An evidence-based overview of dressings for pressure ulcers is needed to enable informed decision-making on dressing use. This review is part of a suite of Cochrane Reviews investigating the use of dressings in the treatment of pressure ulcers. Each review will focus on a particular dressing type. To assess the clinical and cost effectiveness of foam wound dressings for healing pressure ulcers in people with an existing pressure ulcer in any care setting. In February 2017 we searched: the Cochrane Wounds Specialised Register; the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL); Ovid MEDLINE (including In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations); Ovid Embase; EBSCO CINAHL Plus and the NHS Economic Evaluation Database (NHS EED). We also searched clinical trials registries for ongoing and unpublished studies, and scanned reference lists of relevant included studies as well as reviews, meta-analyses and health technology reports to identify additional studies. There were no restrictions with respect to language, date of publication or study setting. Published or unpublished randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and cluster-RCTs, that compared the clinical and cost effectiveness of foam wound dressings for healing pressure ulcers (Category/Stage II or above). Two review authors independently performed study selection, risk of bias and data extraction. A third reviewer resolved discrepancies between the review authors. We included nine trials with a total of 483 participants, all of whom were adults (59 years or older) with an existing pressure ulcer Category/Stage II or above. All trials had two arms, which compared foam dressings with other dressings for treating pressure ulcers.The certainty of evidence ranged from low to very low due

  17. 21 CFR 169.150 - Salad dressing.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 2 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Salad dressing. 169.150 Section 169.150 Food and Drugs FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) FOOD FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION FOOD DRESSINGS AND FLAVORINGS Requirements for Specific Standardized Food Dressings and Flavorings...

  18. 21 CFR 169.115 - French dressing.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 2 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false French dressing. 169.115 Section 169.115 Food and Drugs FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) FOOD FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION FOOD DRESSINGS AND FLAVORINGS Requirements for Specific Standardized Food Dressings and Flavorings...

  19. 21 CFR 169.150 - Salad dressing.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 2 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Salad dressing. 169.150 Section 169.150 Food and Drugs FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) FOOD FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION FOOD DRESSINGS AND FLAVORINGS Requirements for Specific Standardized Food Dressings and Flavorings...

  20. Randomized controlled trial of chlorhexidine dressing and highly adhesive dressing for preventing catheter-related infections in critically ill adults.

    PubMed

    Timsit, Jean-François; Mimoz, Olivier; Mourvillier, Bruno; Souweine, Bertrand; Garrouste-Orgeas, Maïté; Alfandari, Serge; Plantefeve, Gaétan; Bronchard, Régis; Troche, Gilles; Gauzit, Remy; Antona, Marion; Canet, Emmanuel; Bohe, Julien; Lepape, Alain; Vesin, Aurélien; Arrault, Xavier; Schwebel, Carole; Adrie, Christophe; Zahar, Jean-Ralph; Ruckly, Stéphane; Tournegros, Caroline; Lucet, Jean-Christophe

    2012-12-15

    Most vascular catheter-related infections (CRIs) occur extraluminally in patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Chlorhexidine-impregnated and strongly adherent dressings may decrease catheter colonization and CRI rates. To determine if chlorhexidine-impregnated and strongly adherent dressings decrease catheter colonization and CRI rates. In a 2:1:1 assessor-masked randomized trial in patients with vascular catheters inserted for an expected duration of 48 hours or more in 12 French ICUs, we compared chlorhexidine dressings, highly adhesive dressings, and standard dressings from May 2010 to July 2011. Coprimary endpoints were major CRI with or without catheter-related bloodstream infection (CR-BSI) with chlorhexidine versus nonchlorhexidine dressings and catheter colonization rate with highly adhesive nonchlorhexidine versus standard nonchlorhexidine dressings. Catheter-colonization, CR-BSIs, and skin reactions were secondary endpoints. A total of 1,879 patients (4,163 catheters and 34,339 catheter-days) were evaluated. With chlorhexidine dressings, the major-CRI rate was 67% lower (0.7 per 1,000 vs. 2.1 per 1,000 catheter-days; hazard ratio [HR], 0.328; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.174-0.619; P = 0.0006) and the CR-BSI rate 60% lower (0.5 per 1,000 vs. 1.3 per 1,000 catheter-days; HR, 0.402; 95% CI, 0.186-0.868; P = 0.02) than with nonchlorhexidine dressings; decreases were noted in catheter colonization and skin colonization rates at catheter removal. The contact dermatitis rate was 1.1% with and 0.29% without chlorhexidine. Highly adhesive dressings decreased the detachment rate to 64.3% versus 71.9% (P < 0.0001) and the number of dressings per catheter to two (one to four) versus three (one to five) (P < 0.0001) but increased skin colonization (P < 0.0001) and catheter colonization (HR, 1.650; 95% CI, 1.21-2.26; P = 0.0016) without influencing CRI or CR-BSI rates. A large randomized trial demonstrated that chlorhexidine-gel-impregnated dressings decreased

  1. DRESS syndrome: A case of cross-reactivity with lacosamide?

    PubMed

    Fong, Man Kei; Sheng, Bun

    2017-06-01

    A 42-year-old patient with epilepsy was admitted to the hospital for fever and generalized skin rash. He has known allergy to phenytoin. Valproate was started in 2012, but failed to control his seizure despite gradual increase in dosage. Phenobarbitone was added 16 days before admission and was stopped on admission. He was treated with beta-lactam antibiotics. The rash subsided gradually after the cessation of phenobarbitone. Lacosamide was subsequently added for seizure control. Unfortunately, he developed drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome soon after introduction of lacosamide that required the use of systemic steroid for acute hepatitis. A cross-reactivity with lacosamide was suspected in view of the rapid onset of DRESS syndrome after the initial rash resolution and soon after the introduction of lacosamide. We postulated that the rapid onset of DRESS syndrome may be related to the aromatic ring that is in common among phenytoin, phenobarbitone, and lacosamide.

  2. Human neutrophil elastase and collagenase sequestration with phosphorylated cotton wound dressings.

    PubMed

    Edwards, J Vincent; Howley, Phyllis S

    2007-11-01

    The design and preparation of wound dressings that redress the protease imbalance in chronic wounds is an important goal of wound healing and medical materials science. Chronic wounds contain high levels of tissue and cytokine-destroying proteases including matrix metalloprotease and neutrophil elastase. Thus, the lowering of excessive protease levels in the wound environment by wound dressing sequestration prevents the breakdown of extracellular matrix proteins and growth factors necessary for wound healing. Phosphorylated cotton wound dressings were prepared to target sequestration of proteases from chronic wound exudate through a cationic uptake binding mechanism involving salt bridge formation of the positively charged amino acid side chains of proteases with the phosphate counterions of the wound dressing fiber. Dressings were prepared by applying sodium hexametaphosphate and diammonium phosphate in separate formulations to cotton gauze by pad/dry/cure methods. Phosphorylated cotton dressings were assessed for their ability to lower elastase and collagenase activity. The phosphorylated cotton dressings lowered elastase and collagenase activity 40-80% more effectively than the untreated cotton wound dressings under conditions that mimic chronic wound exudate. Efficacy of the phosphorylated cotton was found to be related to the level of phosphorylation and a lower pH due to protonated phosphate at the surface of the dressing. The capacity of the modified gauze to sequester continued elastase secretions similar to that found in a chronic wound over a 24-h period was retained within a 80% retention of elastase sequestration and was dose-dependent. Copyright (c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  3. Release of antibiotics from collagen dressing.

    PubMed

    Grzybowski, J; Antos-Bielska, M; Ołdak, E; Trafny, E A

    1997-01-01

    Our new collagen dressing has been developed recently. Three types (A, B, and C) of the dressing were prepared in this study. Each type contained bacitracin, neomycin or colistin. The antibiotic was input into: i. collagen sponge (CS)--type A, ii. layer of limited hydrophobicity (LLH)--type B, and iii. into both CS and LLH layers--type C. The final concentration of the antibiotic that resulted from the loading level was 2 mg/cm2 for the dressings of type A and B and 4 mg/cm2 for the dressing of type C. The antibiotics were then extracted from the pieces of dressings for two days through dialysis membrane. Susceptibility of 54 bacterial strains (S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter) isolated from burn wounds were tested to the three antibiotics used for preparation of the dressings. The results of the study evidenced that efficiency of released of antibiotics into the extracts depended on the kind of antibiotic and on the type of dressing. The concentration of the antibiotics proved to be much higher than MIC90 values of the bacterial isolates tested in respect to their susceptibility. The dressing containing mixture of the three antibiotics in two layers--CS and LLH is now considered as potentially effective for care of infected wounds. It may be useful for the treatment of infected wounds or for profilaxis of contaminated wounds, ensuring: i. sufficient antimicrobial activity in wound, and ii. optimal wound environment for the presence of collagenic biomaterial on the damaged tissue.

  4. Dress Codes and Uniforms.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Lumsden, Linda; Miller, Gabriel

    2002-01-01

    Students do not always make choices that adults agree with in their choice of school dress. Dress-code issues are explored in this Research Roundup, and guidance is offered to principals seeking to maintain a positive school climate. In "Do School Uniforms Fit?" Kerry White discusses arguments for and against school uniforms and summarizes the…

  5. School Dress Codes and Uniform Policies.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Anderson, Wendell

    2002-01-01

    Opinions abound on what students should wear to class. Some see student dress as a safety issue; others see it as a student-rights issue. The issue of dress codes and uniform policies has been tackled in the classroom, the boardroom, and the courtroom. This Policy Report examines the whole fabric of the debate on dress codes and uniform policies…

  6. Choosing a Wound Dressing Based on Common Wound Characteristics

    PubMed Central

    Dabiri, Ganary; Damstetter, Elizabeth; Phillips, Tania

    2016-01-01

    Significance: Chronic wounds are a major healthcare burden.The practitioner should have an appropriate understanding of both the etiology of the wound as well as the optimal type of dressings to use. Fundamental wound characteristics may be used to guide the practitioner's choice of dressings. The identification of optimal dressings to use for a particular wound type is an important element in facilitating wound healing. Recent Advances: Researchers have sought to design wound dressings that aim to optimize each stage in the healing process. In addition, dressings have been designed to target and kill infection-causing bacteria, with the incorporation of antimicrobial agents. Critical Issues: Chronic wounds are frequently dynamic in presentation, and the numerous wound dressings available make dressing selection challenging for the practitioner. Choosing the correct dressing decreases time to healing, provides cost-effective care, and improves patient quality of life. Future Directions: Research into the mechanisms of wound healing has enhanced our ability to heal chronic wounds at a faster rate through the use of moisture-retentive dressings. Newer dressings are incorporating the use of nanotechnology by incorporating miniature electrical sensors into the dressing. These dressings are engineered to detect changes in a wound environment and alert the patient or practitioner by altering the color of the dressing or sending a message to a smartphone. Additional investigations are underway that incorporate biologic material such as stem cells into dressings. PMID:26858913

  7. ``Dressing'' lines and vertices in calculations of matrix elements with the coupled-cluster method and determination of Cs atomic properties

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Derevianko, Andrei; Porsev, Sergey G.

    2005-03-01

    We consider evaluation of matrix elements with the coupled-cluster method. Such calculations formally involve infinite number of terms and we devise a method of partial summation (dressing) of the resulting series. Our formalism is built upon an expansion of the product C†C of cluster amplitudes C into a sum of n -body insertions. We consider two types of insertions: particle (hole) line insertion and two-particle (two-hole) random-phase-approximation-like insertion. We demonstrate how to “dress” these insertions and formulate iterative equations. We illustrate the dressing equations in the case when the cluster operator is truncated at single and double excitations. Using univalent systems as an example, we upgrade coupled-cluster diagrams for matrix elements with the dressed insertions and highlight a relation to pertinent fourth-order diagrams. We illustrate our formalism with relativistic calculations of the hyperfine constant A(6s) and the 6s1/2-6p1/2 electric-dipole transition amplitude for the Cs atom. Finally, we augment the truncated coupled-cluster calculations with otherwise omitted fourth order diagrams. The resulting analysis for Cs is complete through the fourth order of many-body perturbation theory and reveals an important role of triple and disconnected quadruple excitations.

  8. "Posh Music Should Equal Posh Dress": An Investigation into the Concert Dress and Physical Appearance of Female Soloists

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Griffiths, Noola K.

    2010-01-01

    This study investigates the effects of concert dress and physical appearance on perceptions of female classical soloists' musical abilities over a range of genres. Four female violinists were recorded playing three pieces, in four styles of dress of varying formality. Each combination of performer, piece and dress was recorded twice, once as the…

  9. On-machine precision preparation and dressing of ball-headed diamond wheel for the grinding of fused silica

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chen, Mingjun; Li, Ziang; Yu, Bo; Peng, Hui; Fang, Zhen

    2013-09-01

    In the grinding of high quality fused silica parts with complex surface or structure using ball-headed metal bonded diamond wheel with small diameter, the existing dressing methods are not suitable to dress the ball-headed diamond wheel precisely due to that they are either on-line in process dressing which may causes collision problem or without consideration for the effects of the tool setting error and electrode wear. An on-machine precision preparation and dressing method is proposed for ball-headed diamond wheel based on electrical discharge machining. By using this method the cylindrical diamond wheel with small diameter is manufactured to hemispherical-headed form. The obtained ball-headed diamond wheel is dressed after several grinding passes to recover geometrical accuracy and sharpness which is lost due to the wheel wear. A tool setting method based on high precision optical system is presented to reduce the wheel center setting error and dimension error. The effect of electrode tool wear is investigated by electrical dressing experiments, and the electrode tool wear compensation model is established based on the experimental results which show that the value of wear ratio coefficient K' tends to be constant with the increasing of the feed length of electrode and the mean value of K' is 0.156. Grinding experiments of fused silica are carried out on a test bench to evaluate the performance of the preparation and dressing method. The experimental results show that the surface roughness of the finished workpiece is 0.03 μm. The effect of the grinding parameter and dressing frequency on the surface roughness is investigated based on the measurement results of the surface roughness. This research provides an on-machine preparation and dressing method for ball-headed metal bonded diamond wheel used in the grinding of fused silica, which provides a solution to the tool setting method and the effect of electrode tool wear.

  10. Effects of adhesive dressings on stratum corneum conductance.

    PubMed

    Cavallini, Maurizio; Gazzola, Riccardo; Vaienti, Luca

    2012-05-01

    Stratum corneum is a fundamental layer of epidermis. It acts as a barrier, with antimicrobial features, regulating skin permeability and integrity as well. Adhesive dressings and their removal could alter this layer, affecting cutaneous water balance and lipid composition of stratum corneum. These changes could be monitored by measurement of cutaneous hydration. Ninety-two patients affected by wounds dressed with adhesive tapes or plasters have been studied. Measurement of skin conductance under tape/plaster and in the surrounding healthy skin, immediately after removal of dressing has been performed. Dressing age, wound localization, and characteristics were also considered. Adhesive dressings alter significantly stratum corneum conductance. Although healthy skin hydration has significant variations throughout the body, cutaneous conductance under adhesive dressing in different areas displays no significative changes. Moreover, the increase in hydration due to adhesive tapes/plasters showed no association with wound dehiscence. Adhesive dressings cause a significative increase in stratum corneum conductance, acting as a barrier to apocrine secretions. Although different hydration levels have been observed in healthy skin throughout the body, no difference exists under adhesive dressing among different regions, suggesting no contraindications in their employment throughout the body. Increase in cutaneous hydration showed no correlations with wound dehiscence, thus confirming safety and practicality of these dressings. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

  11. Cost comparison of pressure ulcer preventive dressings: hydrocolloid dressing versus transparent polyurethane film.

    PubMed

    Dutra, R A A; Salomé, G M; Leal, L M F; Alves, M G; Moura, J P; Silva, A T; Pereira, V O S; de Brito, M J A; Ferreira, L M

    2016-11-02

    To evaluate and compare the costs of using a transparent polyurethane film (PF) and hydrocolloid dressing (HD) in the prevention of pressure ulcers (PUs). This descriptive, observational, longitudinal, comparative study was conducted in the intensive care units, coronary care unit and medical clinic of a charity hospital in Brazil. Data were collected during a 30-day study period, consisting of physical examination, assessment of risk factors for PU development and application of the Braden scale, which were performed at inclusion in the study and once daily during hospitalisation. Either PF or HD was applied bilaterally in the sacral and trochanteric regions for prevention of PUs in patients at a moderate to high risk of PUs according to the Braden scale, and costs of using PU preventive dressings were estimated. The mean total costs per dressing change per patient when using the HD and PF to prevent PUs were 413.60 BRL and 74.04 BRL, respectively. There were significant between-group differences in mean costs for all variables, except for saline solution and nurse-technician services. Results showed that the mean cost per dressing change per patient was lower when using the transparent PF than when using the HD.

  12. Australasian survey of split skin graft donor site dressings.

    PubMed

    Lyall, P W; Sinclair, S W

    2000-02-01

    There is an ever increasing array of products available for wound dressings. The aim of the present study was to establish which dressings should be used as standard controls for future studies; what factors are regarded as most important in assessing a dressing; what the level of satisfaction is with the available products; what the strengths and weaknesses of the commonly used dressings are; and what dressings would be preferred if cost were no issue. A postal survey was sent to every plastic and reconstructive surgeon registered in Australasia (n = 217). A total of 53% responded. The most commonly used dressing type overall is the calcium alginates, despite the fact that they were not the highest performing dressings. This is also the most commonly used in Australia. In contrast scarlet red is still used most commonly in New Zealand. The level of satisfaction with the most commonly used dressing varied very little. The factor regarded most important was patient comfort level. A profile of the commonly used dressing was constructed. Calcium alginates and or scarlet red should be used as the control for new product comparisons. Most of the respondents were satisfied with their preferred dressing and were not interested in trying alternative dressings.

  13. 21 CFR 878.4490 - Absorbable hemostatic agent and dressing.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Absorbable hemostatic agent and dressing. 878.4490 Section 878.4490 Food and Drugs FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) MEDICAL DEVICES GENERAL AND PLASTIC SURGERY DEVICES Surgical Devices § 878.4490 Absorbable...

  14. 21 CFR 878.4490 - Absorbable hemostatic agent and dressing.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Absorbable hemostatic agent and dressing. 878.4490 Section 878.4490 Food and Drugs FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) MEDICAL DEVICES GENERAL AND PLASTIC SURGERY DEVICES Surgical Devices § 878.4490 Absorbable...

  15. 21 CFR 878.4490 - Absorbable hemostatic agent and dressing.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Absorbable hemostatic agent and dressing. 878.4490 Section 878.4490 Food and Drugs FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) MEDICAL DEVICES GENERAL AND PLASTIC SURGERY DEVICES Surgical Devices § 878.4490 Absorbable...

  16. 21 CFR 878.4490 - Absorbable hemostatic agent and dressing.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Absorbable hemostatic agent and dressing. 878.4490 Section 878.4490 Food and Drugs FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) MEDICAL DEVICES GENERAL AND PLASTIC SURGERY DEVICES Surgical Devices § 878.4490 Absorbable...

  17. 21 CFR 878.4490 - Absorbable hemostatic agent and dressing.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Absorbable hemostatic agent and dressing. 878.4490 Section 878.4490 Food and Drugs FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) MEDICAL DEVICES GENERAL AND PLASTIC SURGERY DEVICES Surgical Devices § 878.4490 Absorbable...

  18. Dressings and topical agents for treating pressure ulcers.

    PubMed

    Westby, Maggie J; Dumville, Jo C; Soares, Marta O; Stubbs, Nikki; Norman, Gill

    2017-06-22

    to an open pressure ulcer and left in situ. We excluded from this review dressings attached to external devices such as negative pressure wound therapies, skin grafts, growth factor treatments, platelet gels and larval therapy. Two review authors independently performed study selection, risk of bias assessment and data extraction. We conducted network meta-analysis using frequentist mega-regression methods for the efficacy outcome, probability of complete healing. We modelled the relative effectiveness of any two treatments as a function of each treatment relative to the reference treatment (saline gauze). We assumed that treatment effects were similar within dressings classes (e.g. hydrocolloid, foam). We present estimates of effect with their 95% confidence intervals for individual treatments compared with every other, and we report ranking probabilities for each intervention (probability of being the best, second best, etc treatment). We assessed the certainty (quality) of the body of evidence using GRADE for each network comparison and for the network as whole. We included 51 studies (2947 participants) in this review and carried out NMA in a network of linked interventions for the sole outcome of probability of complete healing. The network included 21 different interventions (13 dressings, 6 topical agents and 2 supplementary linking interventions) and was informed by 39 studies in 2127 participants, of whom 783 had completely healed wounds.We judged the network to be sparse: overall, there were relatively few participants, with few events, both for the number of interventions and the number of mixed treatment contrasts; most studies were small or very small. The consequence of this sparseness is high imprecision in the evidence, and this, coupled with the (mainly) high risk of bias in the studies informing the network, means that we judged the vast majority of the evidence to be of low or very low certainty. We have no confidence in the findings regarding the

  19. A pilot trial of bordered polyurethane dressings, tissue adhesive and sutureless devices compared with standard polyurethane dressings for securing short-term arterial catheters.

    PubMed

    Edwards, Melannie; Rickard, Claire M; Rapchuk, Ivan; Corley, Amanda; Marsh, Nicole; Spooner, Amy J; Mihala, Gabor; Fraser, John F

    2014-09-01

    To improve arterial catheter (AC) securement and reduce AC failure; to assess feasibility of a large randomised controlled trial. A four-arm, parallel, randomised, controlled, non-blinded pilot trial with 195 intensive care patients taking part, in a tertiary referral hospital in Brisbane, Australia from May to November 2012. Standard polyurethane (SPU) dressing (controls); bordered polyurethane (BPU) + SPU dressing; tissue adhesive (TA) + SPU dressing; and sutureless securement device (SSD) + SPU dressing (no sutures used). AC failure, ie, complete dislodgement, occlusion (monitor failure, inability to infuse or fluid leaking), pain or infection (local or blood). Median AC dwell time was 26.2 hours and was comparable between groups. AC failure occurred in 26/195 patients (13%). AC failure was significantly worse with SPU dressings (10/47 [21%]) than with BPU + SPU dressings (2/ 43 [5%]; P = 0.03), but not significantly different to TA + SPU (6/56 [11%]; P = 0.18) or SSD + SPU (8/49 [16%]; P = 0.61). The dressing applied at AC insertion lasted until AC removal in 68% of controls; 56% of BPU + SPU dressings; 73% of TA + SPU dressings; and 80% of SSD + SPU dressings (all P > 0.05). There were no infections or serious adverse events. Patient and staff satisfaction with all products was high. Median costs (labour and materials) for securement per patient were significantly higher in all groups compared with the control group (SPU, $3.48 [IQR, $3.48-$9.79]; BPU + SPU, $5.07 [IQR, $5.07-$12.99]; SSD + SPU, $10.90 [IQR, $10.90-$10.90]; TA + SPU, $17.70 [IQR, $17.70-$38.36]; all P < 0.01). AC failure occurred significantly less often with BPU + SPU dressings than with SPU dressings. TA + SPU and SSD + SPU dressings should be further investigated and compared with BPU + SPU dressings as controls. The novel approach of TA + SPU dressings appeared safe and feasible.

  20. Modified wound dressing with phyto-nanostructured coating to prevent staphylococcal and pseudomonal biofilm development

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Anghel, Ion; Holban, Alina Maria; Grumezescu, Alexandru Mihai; Andronescu, Ecaterina; Ficai, Anton; Anghel, Alina Georgiana; Maganu, Maria; Lazǎr, Veronica; Chifiriuc, Mariana Carmen

    2012-12-01

    This paper reports a newly fabricated nanophyto-modified wound dressing with microbicidal and anti-adherence properties. Nanofluid-based magnetite doped with eugenol or limonene was used to fabricate modified wound dressings. Nanostructure coated materials were characterized by TEM, XRD, and FT-IR. For the quantitative measurement of biofilm-embedded microbial cells, a culture-based method for viable cell count was used. The optimized textile dressing samples proved to be more resistant to staphylococcal and pseudomonal colonization and biofilm formation compared to the uncoated controls. The functionalized surfaces for wound dressing seems to be a very useful tool for the prevention of wound microbial contamination on viable tissues.

  1. Modified wound dressing with phyto-nanostructured coating to prevent staphylococcal and pseudomonal biofilm development

    PubMed Central

    2012-01-01

    This paper reports a newly fabricated nanophyto-modified wound dressing with microbicidal and anti-adherence properties. Nanofluid-based magnetite doped with eugenol or limonene was used to fabricate modified wound dressings. Nanostructure coated materials were characterized by TEM, XRD, and FT-IR. For the quantitative measurement of biofilm-embedded microbial cells, a culture-based method for viable cell count was used. The optimized textile dressing samples proved to be more resistant to staphylococcal and pseudomonal colonization and biofilm formation compared to the uncoated controls. The functionalized surfaces for wound dressing seems to be a very useful tool for the prevention of wound microbial contamination on viable tissues. PMID:23272823

  2. Modified wound dressing with phyto-nanostructured coating to prevent staphylococcal and pseudomonal biofilm development.

    PubMed

    Anghel, Ion; Holban, Alina Maria; Grumezescu, Alexandru Mihai; Andronescu, Ecaterina; Ficai, Anton; Anghel, Alina Georgiana; Maganu, Maria; Laz R, Veronica; Chifiriuc, Mariana Carmen

    2012-12-31

    This paper reports a newly fabricated nanophyto-modified wound dressing with microbicidal and anti-adherence properties. Nanofluid-based magnetite doped with eugenol or limonene was used to fabricate modified wound dressings. Nanostructure coated materials were characterized by TEM, XRD, and FT-IR. For the quantitative measurement of biofilm-embedded microbial cells, a culture-based method for viable cell count was used. The optimized textile dressing samples proved to be more resistant to staphylococcal and pseudomonal colonization and biofilm formation compared to the uncoated controls. The functionalized surfaces for wound dressing seems to be a very useful tool for the prevention of wound microbial contamination on viable tissues.

  3. Cost of dressings for prevention of sacral pressure ulcers.

    PubMed

    Inoue, Kelly Cristina; Matsuda, Laura Misue

    2016-01-01

    to identify costs of dressings to prevent sacral pressure ulcers in an adult intensive care unit in Paraná, Brazil. secondary analysis study with 25 patients admitted between October 2013 and March 2014, using transparent polyurethane film (n=15) or hydrocolloid dressing (n=10) on the sacral region. The cost of each intervention was based on the unit amount used in each type of dressing, and its purchase price (transparent film = R$15.80, hydrocolloid dressing = R$68.00). the mean cost/patient was R$23.17 for use of transparent film and R$190.40 for use of hydrocolloid dressing. The main reason for changing the dressing was detachment. the transparent film was the most economically advantageous alternative to prevent sacral pressure ulcers in critical care patients. However, additional studies should be carried out including assessment of the effectiveness of both dressings.

  4. Use of wound dressings with soft silicone adhesive technology.

    PubMed

    Morris, Clare; Emsley, Paulene; Marland, Elizabeth; Meuleneire, Frans; White, Richard

    2009-04-01

    To evaluate how pain, during and in-between dressing changes, is affected by the introduction of Mepilex Border Lite, a wound dressing manufactured by Mölnlycke Health Care using Safetac soft silicone adhesive technology, to the treatment of different types of paediatric wounds/skin injuries. Wounds/skin injuries that met the criteria for inclusion in the study were dressed with Mepilex Border Lite. Patients were followed for six weeks or until their wounds/skin injuries had healed, whichever occurred earlier. At each dressing change, pain severity before and during dressing removal was rated by the patient and the investigator on a scale from zero (no pain at all) to ten (worst pain ever). Other variables measured included: signs of trauma to wound/skin injury and surrounding skin, the proportion of viable/non-viable tissue, the quantity and appearance of exudate, odour, and clinical signs of infection. At the final dressing change, patients and investigators completed questionnaires to rate the dressing performance. Mean pain severity scores were significantly lower (p < or = 0.003) at the first dressing change than at baseline. Over 99.5 per cent of the Mepilex Border Lite dressing changes were reported to be atraumatic and more than half of the wounds healed within the study period. Conformability, ease of use, ease of removal, patient comfort, and overall experience with the dressing were rated as 'good' to 'very good' at the vast majority of final visit evaluations. This study provides further evidence of the ability of dressings with Safetac soft silicone adhesive technology to minimise trauma and pain and demonstrates the ability of Mepilex Border Lite to overcome the clinical challenges associated with the use of dressings on the wounds/skin injuries of paediatric patients.

  5. Groin dressing after cardiac catheterization. Comparison between light dressing with thin transparent tape (Tegaderm) and conventional tight/pressure dressing with an elastic adhesive bandage (Tensoplast).

    PubMed

    Boonbaichaiyapruck, S; Hutayanon, P; Chanthanamatta, P; Dumrongwatana, T; Intarayotha, N; Krisdee, V; Yamvong, S

    2001-12-01

    Post cardiac catheterization puncture site care is usually done with a tight pressure dressing by an elastic adhesive bandage (Tensoplast) due to the belief that it should prevent bleeding. The practice is uncomfortable to the patients. The authors compared a new way of dressing using light transparent tape (Tegaderm) to the conventional tight pressure one. 126 post coronary angiography patients were randomized to have their groins dressed either with Tensoplast or with Tegaderm. Patients ambulated 8 hours after the procedures. The groin was evaluated for pain, discomfort and bleeding complications. 49 per cent in the Tensoplast vs 26.9 per cent in the Tegaderm group experienced pain (p value of 0.01). 55.5 per cent in the Tensoplast group vs 11.1 per cent in the Tegaderm group reported discomfort. 4.7 per cent in the Tensoplast vs 1.6 per cent in the Tegaderm group developed bleeding or hematoma. Dressing of the puncture site after cardiac catheterization with Tegaderm was more comfortable than the conventional Tensoplast without any difference in bleeding complications.

  6. The brain's dress code: How The Dress allows to decode the neuronal pathway of an optical illusion.

    PubMed

    Schlaffke, Lara; Golisch, Anne; Haag, Lauren M; Lenz, Melanie; Heba, Stefanie; Lissek, Silke; Schmidt-Wilcke, Tobias; Eysel, Ulf T; Tegenthoff, Martin

    2015-12-01

    Optical illusions have broadened our understanding of the brain's role in visual perception. A modern day optical illusion emerged from a posted photo of a striped dress, which some perceived as white and gold and others as blue and black. Here we show, using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), that those who perceive The Dress as white/gold have higher activation in response to the image of The Dress in brain regions critically involved in higher cognition (frontal and parietal brain areas). These results are consistent with theories of top-down modulation and present a neural signature associated with the differences in perceiving The Dress as white/gold or blue/black. Furthermore the results support recent psychophysiological data on this phenomenon and provide a fundamental building block to study interindividual differences in visual processing. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  7. A dressed spin qubit in silicon

    DOE PAGES

    Laucht, Arne; Kalra, Rachpon; Simmons, Stephanie; ...

    2016-10-17

    Coherent dressing of a quantum two-level system provides access to a new quantum system with improved properties—a different and easily tunable level splitting, faster control and longer coherence times. In our work we investigate the properties of the dressed, donor-bound electron spin in silicon, and assess its potential as a quantum bit in scalable architectures. The two dressed spin-polariton levels constitute a quantum bit that can be coherently driven with an oscillating magnetic field, an oscillating electric field, frequency modulation of the driving field or a simple detuning pulse. We measure coherence times of T* 2p = 2.4 ms andmore » T Hahn 2p = 9 ms, one order of magnitude longer than those of the undressed spin. Moreover, the use of the dressed states enables coherent coupling of the solid-state spins to electric fields and mechanical oscillations.« less

  8. Overview of Silk Fibroin Use in Wound Dressings.

    PubMed

    Farokhi, Mehdi; Mottaghitalab, Fatemeh; Fatahi, Yousef; Khademhosseini, Ali; Kaplan, David L

    2018-05-12

    Recently, biomimetic wound dressings were introduced as potential replacements for treating skin injuries. Although there are some clinically available skin replacements, the range of wound types and locations necessitates a broader range of options for the clinic. Natural polymeric-based dressings are of central interest in this area due to their outstanding biocompatibility, biodegradability, low toxicity, and non-allergenic nature. Among them, silk fibroin (SF) has exceptional characteristics as a wound dressing. SF-based dressings can also be used as carriers for delivering drugs, growth factors, and bioactive agents to the wound area, while providing appropriate support for complete healing. In this review, we describe recent advances in the development of SF-based wound dressings for skin regeneration. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  9. Early postoperative magnet application combined with hydrocolloid dressing for the treatment of earlobe keloids.

    PubMed

    Park, Tae Hwan; Chang, Choong Hyun

    2013-04-01

    To prevent the recurrence of earlobe keloids after surgical removal, a reliable and safe postoperative treatment method is critical. To the authors' knowledge, no studies have elucidated the most effective postoperative dressing method for preventing the recurrence of earlobe keloids. This study aimed to compare keloid recurrence rates in patients whose keloids were dressed using conventional methods (plain gauze or a polyvinyl alcohol sponge) with those of a matched cohort of patients whose keloids were dressed using magnets combined with hydrocolloid materials. This observational case-control study compared a retrospective cohort of patients whose keloids were dressed using conventional methods with a matched prospective cohort of patients whose keloids were dressed using magnets combined with hydrocolloid materials. The study included patients with pathologically confirmed earlobe keloids that were surgically excised with primary closure. Patients 8 years of age or older underwent adjuvant pressure therapy with magnets at the study hospital. Patients were excluded from the study if they were unavailable for follow-up evaluation, if they had received additional adjuvant therapy during treatment, or if histologic confirmation of a keloid was not obtained. Matched-pair analysis was performed using the McNemar test. Treatment outcome was evaluated as recurrence or nonrecurrence. Overall, 9 (11.2%) of the 80 study patients experienced recurrence. The recurrence rate was significantly lower in the matched case group (2 of 40, 5%) than in the matched control group (7 of 40, 17.5%) during the follow-up period of 18 months (p=0.0253). The authors' novel dressing of magnets and hydrocolloid materials appears to be effective in reducing earlobe keloid recurrence. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to

  10. Evaluation of three-layered doxycycline-collagen loaded nanofiber wound dressing.

    PubMed

    Tort, Serdar; Acartürk, Füsun; Beşikci, Arzu

    2017-08-30

    Nanofiber wound dressings have great potential for both acute and chronic wound healing. The aim of this study is to develop a wound dressing by the electrospinning method and to determine its in vitro characteristics. The viscosity and the surface tension values of the polymer solutions used in the electrospinning were measured and their suitability for electrospinning was evaluated. Nanofiber wound dressing consists of three layers. The first and the second layers are sodium alginate and chitosan nanofibers, respectively. The core of the coaxial nanofibers that comprises the third layer of the wound dressing contains 1% polycaprolactone and 4.5% collagen, the shell comprises 2.5% doxycycline and 2.5% polyethylene oxide. The developed wound dressing comprises aligned nanofibers, with a contact angle of 38°, a work of bioadhesion value of 0.485mJ/cm 2 on rat skin, a tensile strength of 2.76MPa, an elongation at break value of 7.65%, a specific surface area of 9.65m 2 /g and a porosity of 52.3%. The amount of doxycycline content was found to be 260μg/cm 2 and the complete drug release was achieved in 15min. No cytotoxic effect was shown in cell culture studies with keratinocyte cell lines. As a result of the stability studies, it was found that the morphological, mechanical, bioadhesion and wettability properties and the amount of doxycycline remained stable for a period of 12 months at 4°C/ambient humidity condition. The developed three-layered wound dressing could be an alternative for wound healing applications. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  11. Podiatry evaluation of a chitosan gelling fibre dressing in diabetic foot ulceration.

    PubMed

    Walker, Angela

    2016-06-23

    The purpose of this small evaluation on five patients presenting to community podiatry services in Birmingham with foot ulceration was to explore common problems associated with diabetes and other high-risk conditions and illustrate the clinical effectiveness and experience of using a chitosan absorbent gelling fibre dressing (KytoCel®, Aspen Medical). Each of these case studies bought their individual complex issues and complications that affected the healing process. General wound care involved debridement, if required, dressings, pressure redistribution addressing footwear needs, systemic antibiotics where required, and shared care with the multidisciplinary team (MDT) in secondary care where appropriate.

  12. Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptom (DRESS) induced by carbamazepine: a case report and literature review

    PubMed Central

    EL Omairi, Nissrine; Abourazzak, Sanae; Chaouki, Sanae; Atmani, Samir; Hida, Moustapha

    2014-01-01

    Drug-induced hypersensitivity or Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptom (DRESS) is a severe adverse drug-induced reaction. Diagnosing DRESS is challenging due to the diversity of cutaneous eruption and organs involved. Most of the aromatic anticonvulsants, such as phenytoin, phenobarbital, and carbamazepine, can induce DRESS. Culprit drug withdrawal and corticosteroids constituted the mainstay of DRESS treatment. We describe a 6 year-old boy who presented fever and rash 4 weeks after starting carbamazepine. Investigation revealed leukocytosis, atypical lymphocytosis, and elevated serum transaminases. The diagnosis of DREES syndrome was made, Carbamazepine was stopped and replaced initially by Clobazam and by Valproic acid after discharge, no systemic corticotherapy was prescribed. Symptoms began to resolve within two weeks, and by one month later her laboratory values had returned to normal. The aim of this work is to raise awareness general practitioner and pediatricians to suspect Dress syndrome in patients who present with unusual complaints and skin findings after starting any antiepileptic drug. PMID:25360193

  13. Wound Dressings and Comparative Effectiveness Data

    PubMed Central

    Sood, Aditya; Granick, Mark S.; Tomaselli, Nancy L.

    2014-01-01

    Significance: Injury to the skin provides a unique challenge, as wound healing is a complex and intricate process. Acute wounds have the potential to move from the acute wound to chronic wounds, requiring the physician to have a thorough understanding of outside interventions to bring these wounds back into the healing cascade. Recent Advances: The development of new and effective interventions in wound care remains an area of intense research. Negative pressure wound therapy has undoubtedly changed wound care from this point forward and has proven beneficial for a variety of wounds. Hydroconductive dressings are another category that is emerging with studies underway. Other modalities such as hyperbaric oxygen, growth factors, biologic dressings, skin substitutes, and regenerative materials have also proven efficacious in advancing the wound-healing process through a variety of mechanisms. Critical Issues: There is an overwhelming amount of wound dressings available in the market. This implies the lack of full understanding of wound care and management. The point of using advanced dressings is to improve upon specific wound characteristics to bring it as close to “ideal” as possible. It is only after properly assessing the wound characteristics and obtaining knowledge about available products that the “ideal” dressing may be chosen. Future Directions: The future of wound healing at this point remains unknown. Few high-quality, randomized controlled trials evaluating wound dressings exist and do not clearly demonstrate superiority of many materials or categories. Comparative effectiveness research can be used as a tool to evaluate topical therapy for wound care moving into the future. Until further data emerge, education on the available products and logical clinical thought must prevail. PMID:25126472

  14. Dressing control of biphoton waveform transitions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Xinghua; Zhang, Dan; Zhang, Da; Hao, Ling; Chen, Haixia; Wang, Zhiguo; Zhang, Yanpeng

    2018-05-01

    We experimentally realize and theoretically analyze narrow-band biphotons generated in a hot rubidium vapor cell by four-wave-mixing processing. A dressing laser beam is used to alternate both linear and nonlinear susceptibilities of the vapor, thereby modifying the biphoton's temporal correlation function. Most notably, the correlation time is increased from 6 to 165 ns. The biphoton shape is also shown to change as a result of the coupled-states dressing. We observed Rabi oscillations and optical precursors in hot atomic vapor cells. We also theoretically simulated biphoton correlation times as influenced by dressing-laser detuning and power, the results of which are consistent with our experiments.

  15. DEVELOPMENT OF A NEXT-GENERATION ANTIMICROBIAL WOUND DRESSING.

    PubMed

    Metcalf, Daniel; Parsons, David; Bowler, I Philip

    2016-03-01

    Delayed wound healing due to infection is a burden on healthcare systems, and the patient and caregiver alike. An emerging factor in infection and delayed healing is the presence development of biofilm in wounds. Biofilm is communities of microorganisms, protected by an extracellular matrix of slime in the wound, which can tolerate host defences and applied antimicrobials such as antibiotics or antimicrobial dressings. A growing evidence base exists suggesting that biofilm exists in a majority of chronic wounds, and can be a precursor to infection while causing delayed healing itself. In vivo models have demonstrated that the inflammatory, granulation and epithelialization processes of normal wound healing are impaired by biofilm presence. The challenge in the development of a new antimicrobial wound dressing was to make standard antimicrobial agents more effective against biofilm, and this was answered following extensive biofilm research and testing. A combination of metal chelator, surfactant and pH control displayed highly synergistic anti-biofilm action with 1.2% ionic silver in a carboxymethylcellulose dressing. Its effectiveness was challenged and proven in complex in vitro and in vivo wound biofilm models, followed by clinical safety and performance demonstrations in a 42-patient study and 113 clinical evaluations. Post-market surveillance was conducted on the commercially available dressing, and in a 112-case evaluation, the dressing was shown to effectively manage exudate and suspected biofilm while shifting difficult-to-heal wounds onto healing trajectories, after an average of 4 weeks of new dressing use in otherwise standard wound care protocols. This was accompanied by a low frequency of dressing related adverse events. In a second evaluation, clinical signs of infection and wound dimension data, before and after the evaluations, were also available. Following an average of 5.4 weeks of dressing use, all signs of clinical infection were reduced, from

  16. Dressing wear time after breast reconstruction: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

    PubMed Central

    2013-01-01

    Background One of the major risk variables for surgical site infection is wound management. Understanding infection risk factors for breast operations is essential in order to develop infection-prevention strategies and improve surgical outcomes. The aim of this trial is to assess the influence of dressing wear time on surgical site infection rates and skin colonization. Patients’ perception at self-assessment will also be analyzed. Methods/Design This is a two-arm randomized controlled trial. Two hundred breast cancer patients undergoing immediate or delayed breast reconstruction will be prospectively enrolled. Patients will be randomly allocated to group I (dressing removed on postoperative day one) or group II (dressing removed on postoperative day six). Surgical site infections will be defined by standard criteria from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Skin colonization will be assessed by culture of samples collected at predefined time points. Patients will score dressing wear time with regard to safety, comfort and convenience. Discussion The evidence to support dressing standards for breast surgery wounds is empiric and scarce. CDC recommends protecting, with a sterile dressing for 24 to 48 hours postoperatively, a primarily closed incision, but there is no recommendation to cover this kind of incision beyond 48 hours, or on the appropriate time to shower or bathe with an uncovered incision. The results of the ongoing trial may support standard recommendations regarding dressing wear time after breast reconstruction. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: http://NCT01148823. PMID:23432779

  17. Oxidized Regenerated Cellulose/Collagen Dressings: Review of Evidence and Recommendations.

    PubMed

    Wu, Stephanie; Applewhite, Andrew J; Niezgoda, Jeffrey; Snyder, Robert; Shah, Jayesh; Cullen, Breda; Schultz, Gregory; Harrison, Janis; Hill, Rosemary; Howell, Melania; Speyrer, Marcus; Utra, Howard; de Leon, Jean; Lee, Wayne; Treadwell, Terry

    2017-11-01

    Healthcare systems are being challenged to manage increasing numbers of nonhealing wounds. Wound dressings are one of the first lines of defense in wound management, and numerous options exist. The oxidized regenerated cellulose (ORC)/collagen dressing may offer healthcare providers a robust and cost-effective tool for use in a variety of wounds. A multidisciplinary panel meeting was convened to discuss the use of ORC/collagen dressings in wound care and provide practice recommendations. A literature search was conducted to provide a brief review of the peer-reviewed studies published between January 2000 and March 2016 to inform the meeting. A 2-day panel meeting convened in February 2017. Healthcare providers with experience using ORC/collagen dressings. This multidisciplinary panel of 15 experts in wound healing included podiatrists, wound care specialists (doctors, certified wound care nurses, and research scientists), and an orthopedist. The literature search identified 58 articles, a majority of which were low levels of evidence (69.3% were level 3 or lower). Panel members identified wound types, such as abrasions, burns, stalled wounds, diabetic foot ulcers, and pressure injuries, where ORC/collagen dressing use could be beneficial. Panel members then provided recommendations and technical pearls for the use of ORC/collagen dressings in practice. Barriers to ORC/collagen dressing use were discussed, and potential resolutions were offered. An ORC/collagen dressing can be a critical tool for clinicians to help manage a variety of wounds. Clinical and economic studies comparing standard-of-care dressings and plain collagen dressings to ORC/collagen dressings are needed.

  18. Disconnection: the user voice within the wound dressing supply chain.

    PubMed

    Campling, Natasha; Grocott, Patricia; Cowley, Sarah

    2008-03-01

    This study examined the user voice in England's National Health Service (NHS) wound dressing supply chain. The impetus for this work came from involvement in a collaboration between industry and clinicians, entitled Woundcare Research for Appropriate Products. Experiences from that study highlighted the notable absence of research about the impact of the supply chain on the users of dressings. Interview data are presented following an outline of the grounded theory method used. These data were obtained from key stakeholders (n = 41) within the wound dressing supply chain such as nurses, manufacturers, distributors, professional organizations, government organizations and user groups. The consequences of supply disconnection revealed haphazard supply, unmet user needs and lack of information transfer between player groups. These consequences explain the lack of user voice in the supply chain and have far-reaching implications for nursing management, through purchasing decisions and nurses' management of wound care.

  19. A study to evaluate primary dressings for the application of cultured keratinocytes.

    PubMed

    Price, R D; Das-Gupta, V; Frame, J D; Navsaria, H A

    2001-12-01

    Despite the recent improvements in cell culture and dermal regeneration methods, tissue engineering of skin has yet to receive widespread acceptance in the management of burn injuries. The reasons for this are complex and include not only the inherent costs of (particularly) setting up and running such a system but also the continuing difficulties in achieving successful engraftment of the neoepidermis. The latter has previously been addressed in a number of ways, including improving the recipient bed and using pre-confluent delivery systems to allow earlier application of cells to that wound bed. One area that has received little attention is that of the optimal wound dressing to use with this technology; the cells are very poorly attached at early time points, and, in this context, the traditional dressing of paraffin gauze has never been formally assessed in comparison with newer materials. Using a porcine acute wound chamber model, we performed a prospective randomised trial to assess four different wound dressings with reference to the amount of epidermal cover gained and the histological quality of the regenerated skin after 3 weeks. Out of the four materials tested, polyurethane foam (Allevyn) was superior histologically (although equal in take rate with paraffin gauze), whilst polythene sheet (Opsite) and silicone sheet were substantially inferior. We conclude that the traditional dressing used with this technology should be compared with polyurethane foam in a clinical trial. In the future, novel dressings should be formally tested against traditional methods before being adopted. Copyright 2001 The British Association of Plastic Surgeons.

  20. Self adhesive dressing pouch for the protection of catheters.

    PubMed

    de la Cruz Martínez, Maria Teresa; Hernández, María José

    2002-01-01

    This paper is about a new model of dressing, used for the protection of all types of temporary and permanent catheters. Those who developed this dressing realised the practical difficulties during the placement and removal of traditional dressings, used in haemodialysis units. They also realised that it this was unpleasant for the patients, and there was a risk to the catheters when removing the dressings because of the use of scissors and other cutting instruments. This new dressing solves these previously mentioned problems and at the same time contributes to the comfort of the patients. The model has been registered as a standard using model, and therefore it is protected by law and its copyright (Intellectual Property).

  1. Umbilical Negative Pressure Dressing for Transumbilical Appendectomy in Childern.

    PubMed

    Seifarth, Federico G; Kundu, Neilendu; Guerron, Alfredo D; Garland, Mary M; Gaffley, Michaela W G; Worley, Sarah; Knight, Colin G

    2016-01-01

    Transumbilical laparoscopic-assisted appendectomy (TULAA) carries a high risk for surgical site infection. We investigated the effect of a bio-occlusive umbilical vacuum dressing on wound infection rates after TULAA for patients with acute appendicitis and compared to it with a conventional 3-port appendectomy with a nonvacuum dressing. This study was a retrospective chart review of 1377 patients (2-20 years) undergoing laparoscopic appendectomy for acute appendicitis in 2 tertiary care referral centers from January 2007 through December 2012. Twenty-two different operative technique/dressing variations were documented. The 6 technique/dressing groups with >50 patients were assessed, including a total of 1283 patients. The surgical site infection rate of the 220 patients treated with TULAA and application of an umbilical vacuum dressing with dry gauze is 1.8% (95% CI, 0.0-10.3%). This compares to an infection rate of 4.1% (95% CI, 1.3-10.5%) in 97 patients with dry dressing without vacuum. In the 395 patients who received an umbilical vacuum dressing with gauze and bacitracin, the surgical site infection rate was found to be 4.3% (95% CI, 2.7-6.8%). Application of an umbilical negative-pressure dressing with dry gauze lowers the rate of umbilical site infections in patients undergoing transumbilical laparoscopic-assisted appendectomy for acute appendicitis.

  2. On modelling the interaction between two rotating bodies with statistically distributed features: an application to dressing of grinding wheels

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Spampinato, A.; Axinte, D. A.

    2017-12-01

    The mechanisms of interaction between bodies with statistically arranged features present characteristics common to different abrasive processes, such as dressing of abrasive tools. In contrast with the current empirical approach used to estimate the results of operations based on attritive interactions, the method we present in this paper allows us to predict the output forces and the topography of a simulated grinding wheel for a set of specific operational parameters (speed ratio and radial feed-rate), providing a thorough understanding of the complex mechanisms regulating these processes. In modelling the dressing mechanisms, the abrasive characteristics of both bodies (grain size, geometry, inter-space and protrusion) are first simulated; thus, their interaction is simulated in terms of grain collisions. Exploiting a specifically designed contact/impact evaluation algorithm, the model simulates the collisional effects of the dresser abrasives on the grinding wheel topography (grain fracture/break-out). The method has been tested for the case of a diamond rotary dresser, predicting output forces within less than 10% error and obtaining experimentally validated grinding wheel topographies. The study provides a fundamental understanding of the dressing operation, enabling the improvement of its performance in an industrial scenario, while being of general interest in modelling collision-based processes involving statistically distributed elements.

  3. Comparison of two silver dressings for wound management in pediatric burns.

    PubMed

    Jester, Ingo; Bohn, Ingo; Hannmann, Thorsten; Waag, Karl-Ludwig; Loff, Steffan

    2008-11-01

    Purpose. Silver wound dressings are widely used in the treatment of burns. Dressings differ in material characteristics, various antimicrobial activities, and ease of use. The purpose of this study was to evaluate both dressing performance and amount of pain during the dressing changes of 2 silver dressings Urgotul SSD® (Laboratoires Urgo, Chenove, France), and Contreet Ag® (Coloplast, Minneapolis, MN) in children. A retrospective cohort study was performed with 2 groups of 20 burns treated with Urgotul SSD and Contreet Ag until the wounds were healed or grafted. Seventy dressing changes in the Contreet Ag group and 67 dressing changes in the Urgotul group were evaluated. Every dressing change was assessed regarding the dressing performance (exudate, adherence, bleeding, and dressing application/removal), and pain. Pain was "absent or slight" in 61 (92%) dressing changes with Urgotul SSD, and in 60 (85%) of the dressing changes with Contreet Ag. Dressing application in the Urgotul group was more often "very easy" (n = 33; 49%) or "easy" (n = 32; 48%) than in the Contreet Ag group, "very easy" (n = 25; 35%), and "easy" (n = 42; 60%). Contreet Ag had a greater ability to absorb exudate ("very good" n = 60; 85%, and "good" n = 11; 15%) than Urgotul SSD ("very good" n = 34; 51%, and "good" n = 13; 19%). Urgotul SSD and Contreet Ag are comparable regarding pain during dressing change. The dressings differ in their ability to absorb exudate and ease of application. Both dressings provided nearly painless wound management, and therefore were highly accepted by the nurses and especially the children being treated.

  4. Chitosan-containing hydrogel wound dressings prepared by radiation technique

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mozalewska, Wiktoria; Czechowska-Biskup, Renata; Olejnik, Alicja K.; Wach, Radoslaw A.; Ulański, Piotr; Rosiak, Janusz M.

    2017-05-01

    The aim of the study was to develop an antimicrobial hydrogel wound dressing by means of radiation-initiated crosslinking of hydrophilic polymers, i.e. by well-established technology comprising gel manufacturing and its sterilization in one process. The approach included admixture of chitosan of relatively low molecular weight dissolved in lactic acid (LA) into the initial regular components of the conventional hydrogel dressing based on poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) and agar. Molecular weight of chitosan was regulated by radiation-initiated degradation in the range of 39-132 kg mol-1. Optimum total concentration of LA in the resultant hydrogel dressing was evaluated as 0.05 mol dm-3, that is ca. 0.5%. Presence of LA in the system influenced essential radiation and technological parameters of hydrogel manufacturing. The setting temperature of the pre-hydrogel mixture, resulting from agar ability to congeal, was reduced with LA concentration, yet remained significantly above the room temperature. 0.5% of chitosan was effectively dissolved in aqueous solution of lactic acid due to its pH (lower than 5.5). Radiation parameters of PVP crosslinking in the presence of LA, as determined with generalized Charlesby-Pinner equation, were reflected in slight reduction of the maximum gel fraction and increase in gelation dose and in the factor comparing yields of scission to crosslinking. Nevertheless, essentially physical characteristics of the hydrogel was not affected, except for somewhat increased water uptake capacity, what in turn improves functionality of the dressing as extensive exudate for the wound can be efficiently absorbed. Preliminary microbiological studies showed antimicrobial character of the chitosan-containing hydrogel towards Gram-positive bacterial strain.

  5. Electrospun polymeric dressings functionalized with antimicrobial peptides and collagen type I for enhanced wound healing

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Felgueiras, H. P.; Amorim, M. T. P.

    2017-10-01

    Modern wound dressings combine medical textiles with active compounds that stimulate wound healing while protecting against infection. Electrospun wound dressings have been extensively studied and the electrospinning technique recognized as an efficient approach for the production of nanoscale fibrous mats. The unique diverse function and architecture of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) has attracted considerable attention as a tool for the design of new anti-infective drugs. Functionalizing electrospun wound dressings with these AMPs is nowadays being researched. In the present work, we explore these new systems by highlighting the most important characteristics of electropsun wound dressings, revealing the importance of AMPs to wound healing, and the methods available to functionalize the electrospun mats with these molecules. The combined therapeutic potential of collagen type I and these AMP functionalized dressings will be highlighted as well; the significance of these new strategies for the future of wound healing will be clarified.

  6. A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of Novel Dressing and Securement Techniques in 101 Pediatric Patients.

    PubMed

    Kleidon, Tricia M; Ullman, Amanda J; Gibson, Victoria; Chaseling, Brett; Schoutrop, Jason; Mihala, Gabor; Rickard, Claire M

    2017-11-01

    To evaluate feasibility of an efficacy trial comparing peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) dressing and securement techniques to prevent complications and failure. This pilot, 3-armed, randomized controlled trial was undertaken at Royal Children's Hospital and Lady Cilento Children's Hospital, Brisbane, Australia, between April 2014 and September 2015. Pediatric participants (N = 101; age range, 0-18 y) were assigned to standard care (bordered polyurethane [BPU] dressing, sutureless securement device), tissue adhesive (TA) (plus BPU dressing), or integrated securement dressings (ISDs). Average PICC dwell time was 8.1 days (range, 0.2-27.7 d). Primary outcome was trial feasibility including PICC failure. Secondary outcomes were PICC complications, dressing performance, and parent and staff satisfaction. Protocol feasibility was established. PICC failure was 6% (2/32) with standard care, 6% (2/31) with ISD, and 3% (1/32) with TA. PICC complications were 16% across all groups. TA provided immediate postoperative hemostasis, prolonging the first dressing change until 5.5 days compared with 3.5 days and 2.5 days with standard care and ISD respectively. Bleeding was the most common reason for first dressing change: standard care (n = 18; 75%), ISD (n = 11; 69%), TA (n = 4; 27%). Parental satisfaction (median 9.7/10; P = .006) and staff feedback (9.2/10; P = .002) were most positive for ISD. This research suggests safety and acceptability of different securement dressings compared with standard care; securement dressings may also reduce dressing changes after insertion. Further research is required to confirm clinically cost-effective methods to prevent PICC failure. Copyright © 2017 SIR. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  7. Oxidized Regenerated Cellulose/Collagen Dressings: Review of Evidence and Recommendations

    PubMed Central

    Wu, Stephanie; Applewhite, Andrew J.; Niezgoda, Jeffrey; Snyder, Robert; Shah, Jayesh; Cullen, Breda; Schultz, Gregory; Harrison, Janis; Hill, Rosemary; Howell, Melania; Speyrer, Marcus; Utra, Howard; de Leon, Jean; Lee, Wayne; Treadwell, Terry

    2017-01-01

    ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: Healthcare systems are being challenged to manage increasing numbers of nonhealing wounds. Wound dressings are one of the first lines of defense in wound management, and numerous options exist. The oxidized regenerated cellulose (ORC)/collagen dressing may offer healthcare providers a robust and cost-effective tool for use in a variety of wounds. DESIGN: A multidisciplinary panel meeting was convened to discuss the use of ORC/collagen dressings in wound care and provide practice recommendations. A literature search was conducted to provide a brief review of the peer-reviewed studies published between January 2000 and March 2016 to inform the meeting. SETTING: A 2-day panel meeting convened in February 2017. PARTICIPANTS: Healthcare providers with experience using ORC/collagen dressings. This multidisciplinary panel of 15 experts in wound healing included podiatrists, wound care specialists (doctors, certified wound care nurses, and research scientists), and an orthopedist. RESULTS: The literature search identified 58 articles, a majority of which were low levels of evidence (69.3% were level 3 or lower). Panel members identified wound types, such as abrasions, burns, stalled wounds, diabetic foot ulcers, and pressure injuries, where ORC/collagen dressing use could be beneficial. Panel members then provided recommendations and technical pearls for the use of ORC/collagen dressings in practice. Barriers to ORC/collagen dressing use were discussed, and potential resolutions were offered. CONCLUSIONS: An ORC/collagen dressing can be a critical tool for clinicians to help manage a variety of wounds. Clinical and economic studies comparing standard-of-care dressings and plain collagen dressings to ORC/collagen dressings are needed. PMID:29049055

  8. Rapid hemostatic and mild polyurethane-urea foam wound dressing for promoting wound healing.

    PubMed

    Liu, Xiangyu; Niu, Yuqing; Chen, Kevin C; Chen, Shiguo

    2017-02-01

    A novel rapid hemostatic and mild polyurethane-urea foam (PUUF) wound dressing was prepared by the particle leaching method and vacuum freeze-drying method using 4, 4-Methylenebis(cyclohexyl isocyanate), 4,4-diaminodicyclohexylmethane and poly (ethylene glycol) as raw materials. And X-ray diffraction (XRD), tensile test, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry (TG) were used to its crystallinity, stress and strain behavior, and thermal properties, respectively. Platelet adhesion, fibrinogen adhesion and blood clotting were performed to evaluate its hemostatic effect. And H&E staining and Masson Trichrome staining were used to its wound healing efficacy. The results revealed the pore size of PUUF is 50-130μm, and its porosity is 71.01%. Porous PUUF exhibited good water uptake that was benefit to adsorb abundant wound exudates to build a regional moist environment beneficial for wound healing. The PUUF wound dressing exhibit better blood coagulation effect than commercial polyurethane dressing (CaduMedi). Though both PUUF and CaduMedi facilitated wound healing generating full re-epithelialization within 13days, PUUF was milder and lead to more slight inflammatory response than CaduMedi. In addition, PUUF wound dressing exhibited lower cytotoxicity than CaduMedi against NIH3T3 cells. Overall, porous PUUF represents a novel mild wound dressing with excellent water uptake, hemostatic effect and low toxicity, and it can promote wound healing and enhance re-epithelialization. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  9. Removal of adhesive wound dressing and its effects on the stratum corneum of the skin: comparison of eight different adhesive wound dressings.

    PubMed

    Matsumura, Hajime; Imai, Ryutaro; Ahmatjan, Niyaz; Ida, Yukiko; Gondo, Masahide; Shibata, Dai; Wanatabe, Katsueki

    2014-02-01

    In recent years, adhesive wound dressings have been increasingly applied postoperatively because of their ease of use as they can be kept in place without having to cut and apply surgical tapes and they can cover a wound securely. However, if a wound dressing strongly adheres to the wound, a large amount of stratum corneum is removed from the newly formed epithelium or healthy periwound skin. Various types of adhesives are used on adhesive wound dressings and the extent of skin damage depends on how much an adhesive sticks to the wound or skin surface. We quantitatively determined and compared the amount of stratum corneum removed by eight different wound dressings including polyurethane foam using acrylic adhesive, silicone-based adhesive dressing, composite hydrocolloid and self-adhesive polyurethane foam in healthy volunteers. The results showed that wound dressings with silicone adhesive and self-adhesive polyurethane foam removed less stratum corneum, whereas composite hydrocolloid and polyurethane foam using acrylic adhesive removed more stratum corneum. © 2012 The Authors. International Wound Journal © 2012 Medicalhelplines.com Inc and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  10. Aquacel(®) Ag dressing versus Acticoat™ dressing in partial thickness burns: a prospective, randomized, controlled study in 100 patients. Part 1: burn wound healing.

    PubMed

    Verbelen, Jozef; Hoeksema, Henk; Heyneman, Alexander; Pirayesh, Ali; Monstrey, Stan

    2014-05-01

    Studies comparing contemporary silver dressings in burns are scarce. In a prospective, randomized, controlled study, counting 50 patients/research group, we compared two frequently used silver dressings, Acticoat™ and Aquacel(®) Ag, in the management of partial thickness burns with a predicted healing time between 7 and 21 days as assessed by laser Doppler imaging between 48 and 72h after burn. Variables investigated were related to baseline research group characteristics, wound healing, bacteriology, economics, nurse, and patient experience. Both research groups were comparably composed taking into account gender, age and burn characteristics. Similar results were obtained as to healing time and bacterial control with both silver dressings. A statistically significant difference in favor of the Aquacel(®) Ag dressing was found for average ease of use (p<0.001), average ease of application (p=0.001), patient pain (p<0.001), patient comfort with the dressing (p=0.017), silver staining (p<0.001), and cost effectiveness (p<0.001). Both silver dressings resulted in comparable healing times and bacterial control but the Aquacel(®) Ag dressing significantly increased comfort for patients as well as nurses and was significantly more cost-effective than the Acticoat™ dressing for the given indication. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd and ISBI. All rights reserved.

  11. Spacetimes dressed with stealth electromagnetic fields

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Smolić, Ivica

    2018-04-01

    Stealth field configurations by definition have a vanishing energy-momentum tensor, and thus do not contribute to the gravitational field equations. While only trivial fields can be stealth in Maxwell's electrodynamics, nontrivial stealth fields appear in some nonlinear models of electromagnetism. We find the necessary and sufficient conditions for the electromagnetic fields to be stealth and analyze which models admit such configurations. Furthermore, we present some concrete exact solutions, featuring a class of black holes dressed with the stealth electromagnetic hair, closely related to force-free solutions. Stealth hair does not alter the generalized Smarr formula, but may contribute to the Komar charges.

  12. Effects of honey and sugar dressings on wound healing.

    PubMed

    Mphande, A N G; Killowe, C; Phalira, S; Jones, H Wynn; Harrison, W J

    2007-07-01

    To investigate whether there is a difference between the efficacy of honey and sugar as wound dressings. Patients with open or infected wounds were randomised to receive either honey or sugar dressings. Bacterial colonisation, wound size, wound ASEPSIS score and pain were assessed at the start of treatment and at weekly intervals until full healing occurred. Forty patients were enrolled; 18 received sugar dressings and 22 honey dressings. In the honey group, 55% of patients had positive wound cultures at the start of treatment and 23% at one week, compared with 52% and 39% respectively in the sugar group.The median rate of healing in the first two weeks of treatment was 3.8cm2/week for the honey group and 2.2cm2/week for the sugar group. After three weeks of treatment 86% of patients treated with honey had no pain during dressing changes, compared with 72% treated with sugar. Honey appears to be more effective than sugar in reducing bacterial contamination and promoting wound healing, and slightly less painful than sugar during dressing changes and motion.

  13. Effect of different wound dressings on cell viability and proliferation.

    PubMed

    Paddle-Ledinek, Joanne E; Nasa, Zeyad; Cleland, Heather J

    2006-06-01

    Many new dressings have been developed since the early 1980s. Wound healing comprises cleansing, granulation/vascularization, and epithelialization phases. An optimum microenvironment and the absence of cytotoxic factors are essential for epithelialization. This study examines the effect of extracts of different wound dressings on keratinocyte survival and proliferation. Keratinocyte cultures were exposed for 40 hours to at least three extracts of each of the following wound dressings, which were tested in octuplicate: Acticoat, Aquacel-Ag, Aquacel, Algisite M, Avance, Comfeel Plus transparent, Contreet-H, Hydrasorb, and SeaSorb. Silicone extract provided the reference material. Controls were included of cells cultured in medium that had been incubated under conditions identical to those used with the extracts. Cell survival (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide reduction) and proliferation (5-bromo-2':-deoxyuridine incorporation) were measured. Extracts of silver-containing dressings (Acticoat, Aquacel-Ag, Contreet-H, and Avance) were most cytotoxic. Extracts of Hydrasorb were less cytotoxic but markedly affected keratinocyte proliferation and morphology. Extracts of alginate-containing dressings (Algisite M, SeaSorb, and Contreet-H) demonstrated high calcium concentrations, markedly reduced keratinocyte proliferation, and affected keratinocyte morphology. Extracts of Aquacel and Comfeel Plus transparent induced small but significant inhibition of keratinocyte proliferation. The principle of minimizing harm should be applied to the choice of wound dressing. Silver-based dressings are cytotoxic and should not be used in the absence of infection. Alginate dressings with high calcium content affect keratinocyte proliferation probably by triggering terminal differentiation of keratinocytes. Such dressings should be used with caution in cases in which keratinocyte proliferation is essential. All dressings should be tested in vitro before

  14. Exploratory Development of an Ultrafast-Curing Wound Dressing

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1991-05-31

    mils thick: Formulation 2 and 5 .. 36 17. Elution Rates for the 30% Chlorhexidine Gluconate ADD’s at t=0 and Stored at the Temperature Extremes (400C...determined from the in vivo trials conducted earlier (9). The 6 mil thick dressing (Formulation 2) demonstrated effectiveness when tested on guinea pigs...This dressing released approximately 3000 micrograms/sq. cm. in 72 hours or about 64% of the 12 mil dressing tested for shelf stability (Figure 16

  15. Effectiveness of acupuncture, special dressings and simple, low-adherence dressings for healing venous leg ulcers in primary healthcare: study protocol for a cluster-randomized open-labeled trial

    PubMed Central

    Vas, Jorge; Modesto, Manuela; Mendez, Camila; Perea-Milla, Emilio; Aguilar, Inmaculada; Carrasco-Lozano, Jesus Manuel; Faus, Vicente; Martos, Francisco

    2008-01-01

    Background Venous leg ulcers constitute a chronic recurring complaint that affects 1.0–1.3% of the adult population at some time in life, and which corresponds to approximately 75% of all chronic ulcers of the leg. Multilayer compression bandaging is, at present, the only treatment that has been proved to be effective in treating this type of ulcer. There is no consensus, however, about the dressings that may be applied, beneath the compression, to promote the healing of this type of ulcer, as there does not seem to be any added benefit from using special dressings rather than simple, low-adherence ones. As well as analgesia, acupuncture provokes peripheral vasodilation, in skin and muscles – which has been demonstrated both experimentally and in clinical practice – probably due to the axon reflex, among other mechanisms. The aim of the present study is to measure the effectiveness and cost of compression treatment for venous leg ulcers combined with special dressings, in comparison with low-adherence ones and acupuncture. Methods/design Cluster-randomized open-labeled trial, at 15 primary healthcare clinics in the Sevilla-Sur Healthcare District, with a control group treated with compression bandaging and low-adherence dressings; the experiment will consist, on the one hand, of the compression treatment applied in combination with special dressings (Treatment 1), and on the other, the compression treatment applied in association with low-adherence dressings, together with acupuncture (Treatment 2). Discussion The results will be measured and recorded in terms of the median time elapsed until complete healing of the ulcer, and the rate of complete healing at 3 months after beginning the treatment. An economic analysis will also be made. This study, carried out in the context of real clinical practice, will provide information for decision-taking concerning the effectiveness of special dressings. Moreover, for the first time a high-quality study will evaluate

  16. An Assistive Technology System that Provides Personalized Dressing Support for People Living with Dementia: Capability Study

    PubMed Central

    Lozano, Cecil; Ravishankar, Vijay; Lee, Jisoo; Mahoney, Diane

    2018-01-01

    Background Individuals living with advancing stages of dementia (persons with dementia, PWDs) or other cognitive disorders do not have the luxury of remembering how to perform basic day-to-day activities, which in turn makes them increasingly dependent on the assistance of caregivers. Dressing is one of the most common and stressful activities provided by caregivers because of its complexity and privacy challenges posed during the process. Objective In preparation for in-home trials with PWDs, the aim of this study was to develop and evaluate a prototype intelligent system, the DRESS prototype, to assess its ability to provide automated assistance with dressing that can afford independence and privacy to individual PWDs and potentially provide additional freedom to their caregivers (family members and professionals). Methods This laboratory study evaluated the DRESS prototype’s capacity to detect dressing events. These events were engaged in by 11 healthy participants simulating common correct and incorrect dressing scenarios. The events ranged from donning a shirt and pants inside out or backwards to partial dressing—typical issues that challenge a PWD and their caregivers. Results A set of expected detections for correct dressing was prepared via video analysis of all participants’ dressing behaviors. In the initial phases of donning either shirts or pants, the DRESS prototype missed only 4 out of 388 expected detections. The prototype’s ability to recognize other missing detections varied across conditions. There were also some unexpected detections such as detection of the inside of a shirt as it was being put on. Throughout the study, detection of dressing events was adversely affected by the relatively smaller effective size of the markers at greater distances. Although the DRESS prototype incorrectly identified 10 of 22 cases for shirts, the prototype preformed significantly better for pants, incorrectly identifying only 5 of 22 cases. Further

  17. Novel neomycin sulfate-loaded hydrogel dressing with enhanced physical dressing properties and wound-curing effect.

    PubMed

    Choi, Jong Seo; Kim, Dong Wuk; Kim, Dong Shik; Kim, Jong Oh; Yong, Chul Soon; Cho, Kwan Hyung; Youn, Yu Seok; Jin, Sung Giu; Choi, Han-Gon

    2016-10-01

    To develop a novel neomycin sulfate-loaded hydrogel dressing (HD), numerous neomycin sulfate-loaded HDs were prepared with various amounts of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) and sodium alginate (SA) using freeze-thawing technique, and their physical dressing properties, drug release, in vivo wound curing and histopathology in diabetic-induced rats were assessed. SA had a positive effect on a swelling capacity, but a negative effect on the physical dressing properties and drug release of HD. However, PVP did the opposite. In particular, the neomycin sulfate-loaded HD composed of drug, PVA, PVP and SA at the weight ratio of 1/10/0.8/0.8 had excellent swelling and bioadhesive capacity, good elasticity and fast drug release. Moreover, this HD gave more improved wound curing effect compared to the commercial product, ensured the disappearance of granulation tissue and recovered the wound tissue to normal. Therefore, this novel neomycin sulfate-loaded HD could be an effective pharmaceutical product for the treatment of wounds.

  18. Application of VitaVallis dressing for infected wounds

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Kirilova, N. V., E-mail: n.kirilova@vitavallis.com; Fomenko, A. N., E-mail: alserova@ispms.tsc.ru; Korovin, M. S., E-mail: msk@ispms.tsc.ru

    Today there is a growing demand for safe and efficient antimicrobial dressings for infected wound treatment. The antimicrobial sorption material for VitaVallis dressings was produced by one-stage oxidation of aluminum nanopowder in water in the presence of fibrous acetylcellulose matrix. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the material is made up of fibers of diameter 1.5–3.0 µm with adhered agglomerated alumina nanosheets. An antimicrobial study revealed a high inhibitory effect of VitaVallis against the growth of gram-negative (E.coli, P. aeruginosa) and gram-positive (S. aureus) strains. The antimicrobial activity of the dressing against microbial pathogens on the wound surface was demonstrated in inmore » vivo experiments on male rats. The dressing was also tested on volunteer patients. The testing showed reduction of the wound healing period, accelerated cleaning of the infected wound and enhanced tissue regeneration in the wound. The results demonstrate that the VitaVallis dressing can be used for the treatment of deep infected wounds.« less

  19. A{sub n}{sup (1)} Toda solitons and the dressing symmetry

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Belich, H.; Paunov, R.

    We present an elementary derivation of the solitonlike solutions in the A{sub n}{sup (1)} Toda models which is an alternative to the previously used Hirota method. The solutions of the underlying linear problem corresponding to the N-solitons are calculated. This enables us to obtain explicit expression for the element which, by dressing group action, produces a generic soliton solution. In the particular example of monosolitons we suggest a relation to the vertex operator formalism, previously used by Olive, Turok, and Underwood. Our results can also be considered as generalization of the approach to the sine{endash}Gordon solitons, proposed by Babelon andmore » Bernard. {copyright} {ital 1997 American Institute of Physics.}« less

  20. Experimental Comparison of Efficiency of First Aid Dressings in Burning White Phosphorus on Bacon Model

    PubMed Central

    Witkowski, Wojciech; Surowiecka-Pastewka, Agnieszka; Biesaga, Magdalena; Gierczak, Tomasz

    2015-01-01

    Background The aim of this study was to determine effectiveness of first aid dressings in extinguishing burning white phosphorous (WP), eliminating WP pieces from the surface, inhibiting re-ignition on the model (fresh bacon covered with military uniform), and preventing from late re-ignition caused by persistent WP pieces. Material/Methods Burning WP was extinguished with several dressings: tactical Military Dressing (WJ10), wet gauze, 2 hydrocolloids, and 3 prototypes of hydrocolloids developed by the authors. Results All examined dressings were effective in extinguishing WP provided that the entire area of the burning substance was completely covered. Moist gauze was especially effective in extinguishing WP, and also removed and absorbed the majority of the WP mass, preventing deeper penetration of WP particles. The immediate re-ignition was observed when all the remaining examined dressings were removed from the bacon. A stream of water was dangerous, as it splashed and transferred pieces of WP around. Conclusions Moist gauze placed on burning WP for approximately 3 min was most effective in extinguishing WP and removing most of the WP pieces. We recommend moist gauze, used once or twice, as the best primary means for WP elimination and preventing tissue penetration. As a dressing used for medical evacuation (MEDEVAC), or as a second step after complete removal of visible WP, innovative hydrocolloid or hydrogel dressings should be used. PMID:26264209

  1. An evaluation of the skin stripping of wound dressing adhesives.

    PubMed

    Waring, M; Bielfeldt, S; Mätzold, K; Wilhelm, K P; Butcher, M

    2011-09-01

    This study looks at six different modern wound dressings to investigate how likely they are to cause skin stripping and impairment of the skin's barrier function. Healthy volunteers had each dressing applied, removed and reapplied to the skin on their back over the study period of 15 days. Skin barrier function was investigated using the amount of transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and then related to the amount of skin stripping, investigated by measuring stained skin removal, the thickness of the stratum corneum after treatment, and the amount of skin attached to the removed dressings. General signs of trauma, such as skin dryness and erythema, were investigated by subjective and objective parameters. TEWL values measured on the untreated test area, as well as after application of Urgotul Trio, remained relatively unchanged and Mepilex Border decreased slightly (?1g/m2/h), while all other dressings displayed an increased in TEWL: Allevyn Adhesive (5g/m2/h), Versiva XC (14g/m2/h), Comfeel Plus (22g/m2/h) and Biatain (28g/m2/h). By the end of the study, only the untreated area (mean 43% dye remaining), Mepilex Border (76%) and Urgotul Trio (34%) areas had visible dye remaining. It is interesting to note that the untreated site had a colour change, suggesting loss of stratum corneum, due to the shedding of skin cells from the surface. The increase in total skin colour for Comfeel Plus and Biatain after day 8 might be assigned to an increased redness due to erythema. All the dressings showed evidence of stratum corneum attached to the adhesive, except Mepilex Border, which appeared to be free of any attached stratum corneum. Overall the best performance in terms of skin protection and failure to cause skin trauma was found to be for Mepilex Border. This project was funded by a grant from Mölnlycke Healthcare Ltd.

  2. Latino/Hispanic Alzheimer’s caregivers experiencing dementia-related dressing issues: corroboration of the Preservation of Self model and reactions to a “smart dresser” computer-based dressing aid

    PubMed Central

    Mahoney, Diane Feeney; Coon, David W; Lozano, Cecil

    2016-01-01

    Objective To gain an understanding of Latino/Hispanic caregivers’ dementia-related dressing issues, their impressions of using a “smart” context-aware dresser to coach dressing, and recommendations to improve its acceptability. Method The same Latina moderator conducted all the caregiver focus groups. She followed a semi-structured interview guide that was previously used with White and African American family caregivers who experienced Alzheimer’s disease related dressing challenges. From that study, the Preservation of Self model emerged. Using a deductive qualitative analytic approach, we applied the thematic domains from the Preservation of Self model to ascertain relevance to Latino/Hispanic caregivers. Results Twenty Latino/Hispanic experienced caregivers were recruited, enrolled, and participated in one of three focus groups. The majority were female (75%) and either the spouse (25%) or adult child (35%). Striking similarities occurred with the dressing challenges and alignment with the Preservation of Self model. Ethnic differences arose in concerns over assimilation weakening the Latino culture of family caregiving. Regional clothing preferences were noted. Technology improvement recommendations for our system, called DRESS, included developing bilingual prompting dialogs and video modules using the local vernacular to improve cultural sensitivity. Caregivers identified the potential for the technology to enable user privacy, empowerment, and exercise as well as offering respite time for themselves. Conclusion Findings suggest dementia-related dressing issues were shared in common by different racial/ethnic groups but the response to them was influenced by cultural dynamics. For the first time Latino/Hispanic voices are heard to reflect their positive technology impressions, concerns, and recommendations in order to begin to address the cultural digital disparities divide.

  3. The clinical and cost effectiveness of bee honey dressing in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers.

    PubMed

    Moghazy, A M; Shams, M E; Adly, O A; Abbas, A H; El-Badawy, M A; Elsakka, D M; Hassan, S A; Abdelmohsen, W S; Ali, O S; Mohamed, B A

    2010-09-01

    Honey is known, since antiquity, as an effective wound dressing. Emergence of resistant strains and the financial burden of modern dressings, have revived honey as cost-effective dressing particularly in developing countries. Its suitability for all stages of wound healing suggests its clinical effectiveness in diabetic foot wound infections. Thirty infected diabetic foot wounds were randomly selected from patients presenting to Surgery Department, Suez Canal University Hospital, Ismailia, Egypt. Honey dressing was applied to wounds for 3 months till healing, grafting or failure of treatment. Changes in grade and stage of wounds, using University of Texas Diabetic Wound Classification, as well as surface area were recorded weekly. Bacterial load was determined before and after honey dressing. Complete healing was significantly achieved in 43.3% of ulcers. Decrease in size and healthy granulation was significantly observed in another 43.3% of patients. Bacterial load of all ulcers was significantly reduced after the first week of honey dressing. Failure of treatment was observed in 6.7% of ulcers. This study proves that commercial clover honey is a clinical and cost-effective dressing for diabetic wound in developing countries. It is omnipresence and concordance with cultural beliefs makes it a typical environmentally based method for treating these conditions. Copyright (c) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

  4. Rydberg-Dressed Magneto-optical Trap

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bounds, A. D.; Jackson, N. C.; Hanley, R. K.; Faoro, R.; Bridge, E. M.; Huillery, P.; Jones, M. P. A.

    2018-05-01

    We propose and demonstrate the laser cooling and trapping of Rydberg-dressed Sr atoms. By off-resonantly coupling the excited state of a narrow (7 kHz) cooling transition to a high-lying Rydberg state, we transfer Rydberg properties such as enhanced electric polarizability to a stable magneto-optical trap operating at <1 μ K . Simulations show that it is possible to reach a regime where the long-range interaction between Rydberg-dressed atoms becomes comparable to the kinetic energy, opening a route to combining laser cooling with tunable long-range interactions.

  5. Antimicrobial Activity of a Novel Vascular Access Film Dressing Containing Chlorhexidine Gluconate.

    PubMed

    Wibaux, Anne; Thota, Priyaleela; Mastej, Jozef; Prince, Daniel L; Carty, Neal; Johnson, Peter

    2015-01-01

    Covering insertion sites with chlorhexidine impregnated dressings has been proven to be clinically effective in reducing catheter related blood stream infections (CR-BSI). Two chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG)-impregnated dressings are commercially available, a polyurethane foam disk and a film dressing containing a chlorhexidine gluconate-impregnated gel pad. While both have demonstrated efficacy in clinical settings, the major drawback of high cost and impaired IV insertion site visibility limits their usage. A new, simple film dressing containing CHG within its adhesive layer is now available. The objective of this study was to test the in vitro antimicrobial efficacy of the new dressing in comparison to the CHG-impregnated gel dressing. Quantitative aliquots of suspensions (concentration of 1.0x106 to 5.0x106 cfu/sample) of clinically relevant challenge organisms (Staphylococcus species, gram-negative bacilli, Candida albicans) were incubated in contact with the new CHG-containing film dressing, a placebo version of the same (negative control) and the commercially available CHG-impregnated gel dressing (positive control). Serial dilutions of the surviving organisms were quantified using the pour plate after 1, 3, 5, and 7 days of incubation in order to calculate an antimicrobial log10 reduction for each organism/dressing combination at each point in time. The new CHG-containing film dressing delivered greater than 5.0 log10 reduction throughout the 7 days on all aerobic gram-negative bacilli and Staphylococcus species tested. As of day 1 the CHG-containing film dressing provided greater than 5.0 log10 reduction on Candida albicans. There were no statistically significant differences in the log10 reduction between the two dressings tested. The new CHG-containing film dressing was found to be as effective as the chlorhexidine gluconate-impregnated gel dressing on clinically relevant microbes.

  6. [Split-thickness skin graft donor site: which dressing use?].

    PubMed

    Caliot, J; Bodin, F; Chiriac, S; Correia, N; Poli-Mérol, M-L; François-Fiquet, C

    2015-04-01

    The management of split-thickness skin graft donor sites is targeted towards promoting the healing process, reducing pain. This has been an inconclusive topic. The aim of this study was to list and to discuss the French practices in term of split-thickness skin graft (STSG) donor site dressing. Multicentric national study by questionnaire (Google Drive(®)) for the attention of the plastic and/or pediatric surgeons. The type of dressing used on skin and sclap and the rhythm of dressing changes were analyzed. The study included 26 surgical centers on 40 contacted. The alginate is mainly used (Algostéril(®)) (17/26). It is left in position until healing (13/17). Five other types of dressings have been reported: paraffin gauze (3/26), lipidocolloides (1/26), Mepitel(®) (1/26), Mepilex(®) (1/26), indifferent use of gauze or alginate dressings (4/26). Twenty-two out of 26 centers make no difference in dressing choice between skin and scalp. Medical practices did not differ between adult or pediatric departments. Cost-effectiveness has become an important issue in wound management, requiring judicious use. The lack of consensus regarding split-thickness skin graft donor site dressing and our clinical practices force us to reconsider the best therapeutic option. This study coupled with the analysis of the literature highlights the difficulties of the practitioner in choosing the best dressing. The alginate seems to get the preference of our practices by its ease of use, its absence of change (reduces pain by limiting manipulations) and its moderate cost. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

  7. Constructing medical social authority on dress in Victorian Canada.

    PubMed

    O'Connor, Eileen

    2008-01-01

    During the late-Victorian period, campaigns to "reform" middle-class women's dress were grounded in discourses on health, eugenics, declining birth rates, comfort, and aesthetics. In Britain, the United States and Germany, organized "dress reform" movements emerged in the latter half of the 19th century, while in Canada the campaign was led primarily by physicians through public health education. This article explores the discussion on women's dress in public health literature in Canadian circulation between 1860-1900 and interprets findings within a feminist poststructuralist framework that posits the understanding of women's bodies and gender regulation to be central to knowledge construction on women's dress.

  8. Fashion as Argument: Nineteenth-Century Dress Reform.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Torrens, Kathleen M.

    1999-01-01

    Examines the place of the body in the dress-reform movement, a social movement that focused on fashion as a vehicle for achieving social and political equality. Discusses how fashion became one arena in which definitions of gender were contested. Suggests the dress-reform movement's failure in redefining femininity indicates the depth of…

  9. Rationale for Student Dress Codes: A Review of School Handbooks

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Freeburg, Elizabeth W.; Workman, Jane E.; Lentz-Hees, Elizabeth S.

    2004-01-01

    Through dress codes, schools establish rules governing student appearance. This study examined stated rationales for dress and appearance codes in secondary school handbooks; 182 handbooks were received. Of 150 handbooks containing a rationale, 117 related dress and appearance regulations to students' right to a non-disruptive educational…

  10. Tunable electromagnetically induced transparency and absorption with dressed superconducting qubits

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ian, Hou; Liu, Yu-Xi; Nori, Franco

    2010-06-01

    Electromagnetically induced transparency and absorption (EIT and EIA) are usually demonstrated using three-level atomic systems. In contrast to the usual case, we theoretically study the EIT and EIA in an equivalent three-level system: a superconducting two-level system (qubit) dressed by a single-mode cavity field. In this equivalent system, we find that both the EIT and the EIA can be tuned by controlling the level-spacing of the superconducting qubit and hence controlling the dressed system. This tunability is due to the dressed relaxation and dephasing rates which vary parametrically with the level-spacing of the original qubit and thus affect the transition properties of the dressed qubit and the susceptibility. These dressed relaxation and dephasing rates characterize the reaction of the dressed qubit to an incident probe field. Using recent experimental data on superconducting qubits (charge, phase, and flux qubits) to demonstrate our approach, we show the possibility of experimentally realizing this proposal.

  11. Bi-Layer Wound Dressing System for Combat Casualty Care

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2004-09-01

    C. Bonacorsi, M.S.G. Raddi, and I.Z. Carlos. 2004. Cytotoxicity of chlorhexidine digluconate to murine macrophages and its effect on hydrogen...chlorexhidine digluconate or 1 % chloramphenicol, as described previously. Each experimental dressing was then covered with a piece of sterile parafilm...chloramphenicol-loaded dressings were 2-log lower for the first 24 h than when applying the chlorhexidine -loaded dressings (Figure 2). However, there was no

  12. Avoided-Level-Crossing Spectroscopy with Dressed Matter Waves

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Eckardt, Andre; Holthaus, Martin

    2008-12-12

    We devise a method for probing resonances of macroscopic matter waves in shaken optical lattices by monitoring their response to slow parameter changes, and show that such resonances can be disabled by particular choices of the driving amplitude. The theoretical analysis of this scheme reveals far-reaching analogies between dressed atoms and time periodically forced matter waves.

  13. Avoided-Level-Crossing Spectroscopy with Dressed Matter Waves

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Eckardt, André; Holthaus, Martin

    2008-12-01

    We devise a method for probing resonances of macroscopic matter waves in shaken optical lattices by monitoring their response to slow parameter changes, and show that such resonances can be disabled by particular choices of the driving amplitude. The theoretical analysis of this scheme reveals far-reaching analogies between dressed atoms and time periodically forced matter waves.

  14. Dressing of Cognitively Impaired Nursing Home Residents: Description and Analysis

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Cohen-Mansfield, Jiska; Creedon, Michael A.; Malone, Thomas; Parpura-Gill, Aleksandra; Dakheel-Ali, Maha; Heasly, Christopher

    2006-01-01

    Purpose: Getting dressed is an activity that is of particular difficulty for many persons with dementia, given the need for hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and overall planning skills. Despite several studies concerning interventions to improve dressing behavior, very little is known about the dressing process as it is currently…

  15. Effects of top-dressing recycled broiler litter on litter production, litter characteristics, and nitrogen mass balance.

    PubMed

    Coufal, C D; Chavez, C; Niemeyer, P R; Carey, J B

    2006-03-01

    Top-dressing is a method of broiler litter management in which a thin layer of new, clean litter material is spread over the top of previously used litter prior to placement of a new flock. This fresh layer of bedding material increases the absorptive capacity of the litter and decreases litter caking. Although this practice has been widely used in the poultry industry for many years, no research has been conducted to quantify the effects the practice has on broiler performance, litter production rates, and nutrient content, or the ability of broiler litter to retain manure N and prevent volatilization. An experiment was conducted to quantify these parameters under simulated commercial conditions in a research facility. Nine consecutive flocks of broilers were reared on recycled broiler litter that had previously been used for 9 flocks. Control pens received no litter treatment whereas top-dressed pens received a thin layer of new rice hulls (1 to 2 cm) before the placement of each flock. Nitrogen loss was calculated using the mass balance method. Average broiler performance was not different between the top-dressed and control pens. Top-dressing of litter significantly (P < 0.05) reduced caked litter production compared with control pens in 6 of 9 flocks. However, average total litter production over all 9 flocks was not different between the 2 litter management strategies. In all flocks, litter N content was significantly reduced in top-dressed pens compared with control pens. As a result, litter C:N ratios were significantly higher for pens with top-dressed litter. Differences in N loss between the treatments were not consistent. Average N loss for all flocks was 10.61 and 11.92 g of N/kg of marketed broiler for control and top-dressed pens, respectively, or 20.1 and 22.5% of N inputs, respectively. Based on this experiment, top-dressing of recycled broiler litter would not be recommended as a strategy to reduce the volatilization of N from broiler rearing

  16. The role of dressings in the prevention of pressure ulcers.

    PubMed

    Brown, Julie

    2016-08-11

    Pressure ulceration is a significant global healthcare problem and represents a considerable burden on healthcare resources. Within the literature an increasing number of studies have examined the role prophylactic dressings play in redistributing pressure and helping to protect the skin from the effects of friction and shear. The use of dressings to prevent pressure ulcers may be considered a controversial issue, as previous opinion has been that dressings do not reduce the effects of pressure. This article will critically evaluate the literature to examine the role dressings play in the prevention of pressure ulceration.

  17. Plasma treatments of dressings for wound healing: a review.

    PubMed

    Eswaramoorthy, Nithya; McKenzie, David R

    2017-12-01

    This review covers the use of plasma technology relevant to the preparation of dressings for wound healing. The current state of knowledge of plasma treatments that have potential to provide enhanced functional surfaces for rapid and effective healing is summarized. Dressings that are specialized to the needs of individual cases of chronic wounds such as diabetic ulcers are a special focus. A summary of the biology of wound healing and a discussion of the various types of plasmas that are suitable for the customizing of wound dressings are given. Plasma treatment allows the surface energy and air permeability of the dressing to be controlled, to ensure optimum interaction with the wound. Plasmas also provide control over the surface chemistry and in cases where the plasma creates energetic ion bombardment, activation with long-lived radicals that can bind therapeutic molecules covalently to the surface of the dressing. Therapeutic innovations enabled by plasma treatment include the attachment of microRNA or antimicrobial peptides. Bioactive molecules that promote subsequent cell adhesion and proliferation can also be bound, leading to the recruitment of cells to the dressing that may be stem cells or patient-derived cells. The presence of a communicating cell population expressing factors promotes healing.

  18. Evaluation of a foam dressing for acute and chronic wound exudate management.

    PubMed

    Bullough, Lindsay; Johnson, Sue; Forder, Rebecca

    2015-09-01

    This article discusses the use of a foam dressing for exudate management in both chronic and acute wounds, such as surgical wounds, pressure ulcers, diabetic ulcers, trauma wounds, and leg ulcers. The primary objective of the study was to observe patients' wound progression in terms of wound size and the condition of the wound bed, when using this foam dressing as either a primary or secondary dressing. The outcome of the evaluation demonstrated that ActivHeal Foam Contact dressing effectively managed exudate. It was also observed that the dressing can assist in autolysis and support improvements in peri-wound status. Choosing an appropriate dressing to manage a wound is essential. Clinicians working in the NHS are under pressure to deliver good-quality clinical outcomes, and the ActivHeal Foam Contact dressing supports this outcome.

  19. Randomized controlled trial of care bundles with chlorhexidine dressing and advanced dressings to prevent catheter-related bloodstream infections in pediatric hematology-oncology patients.

    PubMed

    Gerçeker, Gülçin Özalp; Yardımcı, Figen; Aydınok, Yeşim

    2017-06-01

    To compare the effects of the care bundles including chlorhexidine dressing and advanced dressings on the catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) rates in pediatric hematology-oncology patients with central venous catheters (CVCs). Twenty-seven PHO patients were recruited to participate in a prospective, randomized study in Turkey. The researcher used care bundles with chlorhexidine dressing in the experimental group (n = 14), and care bundles with advanced dressings in the control group (n = 13). According to the study results, 28.6% of the patients in the experimental group had CRBSI, while this rate was 38.5% in the control group patients. The CRBSI rate in the experimental group was 3.9, and the control group had 4.4 per 1000 inpatient catheter days. There was no exit-site infection in the experimental group. However, the control group had 1.7 per 1000 inpatient catheter days. Even though there was no difference between the two groups in which the researcher implemented care bundles with chlorhexidine dressing and advanced dressings in terms of CRBSI development, there was reduction in the CRBSI rates thanks to the care bundle approach. It is possible to control the CRBSI rates using care bundles in pediatric hematology-oncology patients. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  20. A comparison of the in vitro moisture vapour transmission rate and in vivo fluid-handling capacity of six adhesive foam dressings to a newly reformulated adhesive foam dressing.

    PubMed

    Zehrer, Cindy L; Holm, David; Solfest, Staci E; Walters, Shelley-Ann

    2014-12-01

    This study compared moisture vapour transmission rate (MVTR) and wear time or fluid-handling capacities of six adhesive foam dressings to a reformulated control dressing. Standardised in vitro MVTR methodology and a previously published in vivo artificial wound model (AWM) were used. Mean inverted MVTR for the reformulated dressing was 12 750 g/m(2) /24 hours and was significantly higher than four of the six comparator dressings (P < 0·0001), which ranged from 830 to 11 360 g/m(2) /24 hours. Mean upright MVTR for the reformulated dressing was 980 g/m(2) /24 hours and was significantly different than all of the comparator dressings (P < 0·0001), which ranged from 80 to 1620 g/m(2) /24 hours (three higher/three lower). The reformulated dressing median wear time ranged from 6·1 to >7·0 days, compared with 1·0 to 3·5 days for the comparator dressings (P = 0·0012 to P < 0·0001). The median fluid volume handled ranged from 78·0 to >87 ml compared with 13·0 to 44·5 ml for the comparator dressings (P = 0·0007 to P < 0·001). Interestingly, inverted MVTR did not correspond well to the AWM. These results suggest that marked differences exist between the dressings in terms of both MVTR and wear time or fluid-handling capacity. Furthermore, high inverted MVTR does not necessarily predict longer wear time or fluid-handling capacities of absorbent dressings. © 2013 The Authors. International Wound Journal © 2013 Medicalhelplines.com Inc and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  1. The effectiveness of silver-releasing dressings in the management of non-healing chronic wounds: a meta-analysis.

    PubMed

    Lo, Shu-Fen; Chang, Chee-Jen; Hu, Wen-Yu; Hayter, Mark; Chang, Yu-Ting

    2009-03-01

    The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of silver-releasing dressings in the management of non-healing chronic wounds. Non-healing chronic wounds often have a negative physical impact on patients and place a financial burden on healthcare systems. Silver dressings are wound products designed to control infection and provide a wound environment conducive to healing. However, validation of the clinical efficacy of these dressings is lacking. Systematic review and meta-analysis. A systematic search of the major electronic databases PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane, MEDLINE, British Nursing Index, EBSCO, OCLC and Proquest between 1950-June 2007 was conducted. Hand searches of selected periodicals, textbooks and checking reference lists and contacting experts was also performed. Eight studies were selected from a potentially relevant 1957 references screened. Analysis incorporated data from 1399 participants in the eight randomised control trials. We found that silver dressings significantly improved wound healing (CI(95): 0.16-0.39, p < 0.001), reduced odour (CI(95): 0.24-0.52, p < 0.001) and pain-related symptoms (CI(95): 0.18-0.47, p < 0.001), decreased wound exudates (CI(95): 0.17-0.44, p < 0.001) and had a prolonged dressing wear time (CI(95): 0.19-0.48, p = 0.028) when compared with alternative wound management approaches. An analysis of sensitivity in these studies by subgroup analysis generally supported these associations. Furthermore, studies indicated an improvement in quality of life (CI(95): 0.04-0.33, p = 0.013) using silver dressings in wound management with no associated severe adverse events. This meta-analysis confirms the effectiveness of silver dressings in wound healing and improving patients' quality of life. However, it also highlights the need for additional well-designed randomised controlled trials to evaluate the effectiveness of silver-related dressings further. The results of this study provide objective data on the effectiveness of

  2. Evaluation of the Efficacy of Highly Hydrophilic Polyurethane Foam Dressing in Treating a Diabetic Foot Ulcer.

    PubMed

    Jung, Jae-A; Yoo, Ki-Hyun; Han, Seung-Kyu; Dhong, Eun-Sang; Kim, Woo-Kyung

    2016-12-01

    To demonstrate the efficacy of a highly hydrophilic polyurethane foam dressing in the treatment of diabetic ulcers. Diabetic foot ulcers often pose a difficult treatment problem. Polyurethane foam dressings have been used worldwide to accelerate wound healing, but only a few clinical studies demonstrate the effect of foam dressing on the healing of diabetic ulcers. Medical records of 1342 patients with diabetic ulcers who were admitted and treated at the authors' institution were reviewed. A total of 208 patients met the study's inclusion criteria. Of these 208 patients, 137 were treated with a highly hydrophilic polyurethane foam dressing, and 71 were treated with saline gauze (control group). Except for the application of polyurethane foam dressing, the treatment method was identical for patients in both groups. The wound healing outcomes of the 2 groups were compared. Complete wound healing occurred in 87 patients (63.5%) in the polyurethane foam dressing group and in 28 patients (39.4%) in the control group within 12 weeks (P < .05, X test). The mean percentage of wound area reduction in both groups was statistically significant (P < .05, Mann-Whitney U test). The mean time required for complete closure in patients who achieved complete healing within 12 weeks was 6.2 (SD, 3.4) weeks and 7.3 (SD, 2.6) weeks in the polyurethane foam dressing and control groups, respectively (P < .05, Mann-Whitney U test). These results indicate that the highly hydrophilic polyurethane foam dressing may provide an effective treatment strategy for diabetic foot ulcers.

  3. Exit-Site Dressing and Infection in Peritoneal Dialysis: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial.

    PubMed

    Mushahar, Lily; Mei, Lim Wei; Yusuf, Wan Shaariah; Sivathasan, Sudhaharan; Kamaruddin, Norilah; Idzham, Nor Juliana Mohd

    2016-01-01

    ♦ Peritoneal dialysis (PD)-related infection is a common cause of catheter loss and the main reason for PD drop-out. Exit-site infection (ESI) is a pathway to developing tunnel infection and peritonitis, hence rigorous exit-site care has always been emphasized in PD therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of exit-site dressing vs non-dressing on the rate of PD-related infection. ♦ A prospective randomized controlled study was conducted in prevalent PD patients at the Hospital Tuanku Jaafar Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia, from April 2011 until April 2013. All patients were required to perform daily washing of the exit site with antibacterial soap during a shower. In the dressing group (n = 54), patients were required to clean their exit site using povidone-iodine after drying, followed by topical mupirocin antibiotic application to the exit site. The exit site was then covered with a sterile gauze dressing and the catheter immobilized with tape. In the non-dressing group (n = 54), patients were not required to do any further dressing after drying. They were only required to apply mupirocin cream to the exit site and then left the exit site uncovered. The catheter was immobilized with tape. The primary outcome was ESI. The secondary outcomes were evidence of tunnel infection or peritonitis. ♦ A total of 97 patients completed the study. There were a total of 12 ESI episodes: 4 episodes in 4 patients in the dressing group vs 8 episodes in 4 patients in the non-dressing group. This corresponds to 1 episode per 241.3 patient-months vs 1 episode per 111.1 patient-months in the dressing and non-dressing groups respectively. Median time to first ESI episode was shorter in the non-dressing than in the dressing group, but not significant (p = 0.25). The incidence of gram-positive ESI in both groups was similar. There were no gram-negative ESI in the non-dressing group compared with 2 in the dressing group. The peritonitis rate was 1 per 37

  4. Pediatric Digital Necrosis Secondary to Dressing Application: A Case Series.

    PubMed

    Bjorklund, Kim A; Rice, Dahlia M; Amalfi, Ashley N

    2018-04-01

    Pediatric digital necrosis resulting in revision amputation is a devastating outcome following digital dressing application. We report a series of 4 pediatric patients (age: 21 months-11 years) who presented for surgical consultation related to digital ischemia and irreversible necrosis following the application of Coban digital dressings. A review of the literature demonstrated that such injuries had not previously been described. In our case series, Coban dressing was utilized as a deterrent for thumb sucking, fingertip tuft fractures with nail bed lacerations, and a phalanx fracture secondary to crush injury. All 4 children suffered digital necrosis secondary to Coban dressings and ultimately required revision amputation. We discuss risks factors, application practices, and strategies to minimize complications with digital dressings in the pediatric population with the intent of creating awareness among hand surgeons to help promote safe practices and improve patient outcomes.

  5. Antibacterial properties and reduction of MRSA biofilm with a dressing combining polyabsorbent fibres and a silver matrix.

    PubMed

    Desroche, N; Dropet, C; Janod, P; Guzzo, J

    2016-10-02

    This study was designed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of a wound dressing which combines polyacrylate fibres and a silver lipido-colloid matrix (UrgoClean Ag, silver polyabsorbent dressing), against biofilm of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Samples of silver polyabsorbent dressing and the neutral form of this dressing (UrgoClean) were applied to biofilms of MRSA formed on a collagen I-coated surface, cultured for 24 hours. Different exposure times were tested (1, 2, 4 and 7 days) without dressing change. The biofilm reduction was quantified by using culture methods and by confocal laser scanning microscopy experiments. The application of the silver polyabsorbent dressing resulted in a significant decrease of the biofilm population by a log reduction of 4.6, after 24 hours of exposure. Moreover, the antibiofilm activity was maintained for 7 days with reduction values up to 4 log (reduction of biofilm superior to 99.99%). The application of the neutral dressing also induced a significant reduction of the concentration of sessile cells after 1 day (about 0.90 log). The results obtained with this neutral form of the dressing showed that the polyacrylate fibres were able to exert a mechanical disruption of the biofilm architecture. These in vitro experiments demonstrated that silver polyabsorbent dressing was able to strongly reduce the biofilm of MRSA. The antibiofilm mechanism of this dressing can be explained by a dual action of the polyabsorbent fibres (based on ammonium polyacrylate polymer around an acrylic core) which induced a mechanical disruption of the biofilm matrix and/or a sequestration of sessile cells, and the diffusion of silver ions which produced bactericidal activity. This study was supported by Laboratoires Urgo (Dijon). P. Janod is an employee of Laboratoires Urgo. The company had no influence on the experimental design and the interpretation of the results.

  6. Early-Onset Vemurafenib-Induced DRESS Syndrome.

    PubMed

    Munch, Marion; Peuvrel, Lucie; Brocard, Anabelle; Saint Jean, Mélanie; Khammari, Amir; Dreno, Brigitte; Quereux, Gaelle

    2016-01-01

    Vemurafenib is a BRAF inhibitor indicated in metastatic or unresectable melanoma in patients with BRAF mutations. Vemurafenib is frequently toxic, but the toxicity is often not serious. The third case of vemurafenib-induced drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome is reported herein. The case is unusual in that the onset was early, with symptoms emerging as of day 8 of treatment. Treatment of DRESS syndrome is not currently based on precise recommendations, but systemic corticosteroid therapy is effective in serious cases. Severe toxidermias under vemurafenib are exceptional; immediate discontinuation of treatment upon diagnosis is imperative. Switching from vemurafenib to dabrafenib then seems to constitute an interesting therapeutic alternative, since its efficacy is the same but with fewer cutaneous adverse reactions. This case highlights the importance of awareness of the risk of DRESS syndrome associated with vemurafenib and monitoring for warning signs from treatment initiation. © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel.

  7. A retrospective review of burn dressings on a porcine burn model.

    PubMed

    Wang, Xue-Qing; Kravchuk, Olena; Kimble, Roy M

    2010-08-01

    This is a study to compare wound healing among three types of dressings on a porcine model with deep-dermal-partial-thickness burns. The burns in this study were from eight animal trials conducted in the past for other purposes and only burns with a uniform pale appearance that had served as controls in original experiments were selected. In total, there were 57 burns in 33 pigs, using one of following three dressings: Acticoat (Silver) (3 trials), Jelonet (Gauze) (3 trials), and Solosite Gel/Jelonet (Gel/Gauze) (2 trials). The wound healing assessments included wound re-epithelialisation during a 6-week period, clinical and histological scar assessments at week 6 after burn. Of all wound healing/scar assessments, only re-epithelialisation showed statistical difference between dressings. Earlier re-epithelialisation was observed in Gel/Gauze dressings compared to Silver and/or Gauze dressings. However, this study revealed huge variation in wound healing outcome between 3 trials within both Silver and/or Gauze dressings, supported by significant differences on re-epithelialisation, clinical and histological scar measurements. In addition, it was found that larger animals healed better than smaller ones, based on weights from 21 pigs. Of all dressings, Silver delivers the best protection for wound colonization/infection. Wound colonization/infection was found to confine wound healing and lead to thinner RND in scars. From this study, we cannot find enough evidence to suggest the beneficial effect of one dressing(s) over others on burn wound healing outcome on a porcine model with small deep-dermal-partial-thickness burns with a relative small sample size.

  8. #TheDress: Categorical perception of an ambiguous color image.

    PubMed

    Lafer-Sousa, Rosa; Conway, Bevil R

    2017-10-01

    We present a full analysis of data from our preliminary report (Lafer-Sousa, Hermann, & Conway, 2015) and test whether #TheDress image is multistable. A multistable image must give rise to more than one mutually exclusive percept, typically within single individuals. Clustering algorithms of color-matching data showed that the dress was seen categorically, as white/gold (W/G) or blue/black (B/K), with a blue/brown transition state. Multinomial regression predicted categorical labels. Consistent with our prior hypothesis, W/G observers inferred a cool illuminant, whereas B/K observers inferred a warm illuminant; moreover, subjects could use skin color alone to infer the illuminant. The data provide some, albeit weak, support for our hypothesis that day larks see the dress as W/G and night owls see it as B/K. About half of observers who were previously familiar with the image reported switching categories at least once. Switching probability increased with professional art experience. Priming with an image that disambiguated the dress as B/K biased reports toward B/K (priming with W/G had negligible impact); furthermore, knowledge of the dress's true colors and any prior exposure to the image shifted the population toward B/K. These results show that some people have switched their perception of the dress. Finally, consistent with a role of attention and local image statistics in determining how multistable images are seen, we found that observers tended to discount as achromatic the dress component that they did not attend to: B/K reporters focused on a blue region, whereas W/G reporters focused on a golden region.

  9. #TheDress: Categorical perception of an ambiguous color image

    PubMed Central

    Lafer-Sousa, Rosa; Conway, Bevil R.

    2017-01-01

    We present a full analysis of data from our preliminary report (Lafer-Sousa, Hermann, & Conway, 2015) and test whether #TheDress image is multistable. A multistable image must give rise to more than one mutually exclusive percept, typically within single individuals. Clustering algorithms of color-matching data showed that the dress was seen categorically, as white/gold (W/G) or blue/black (B/K), with a blue/brown transition state. Multinomial regression predicted categorical labels. Consistent with our prior hypothesis, W/G observers inferred a cool illuminant, whereas B/K observers inferred a warm illuminant; moreover, subjects could use skin color alone to infer the illuminant. The data provide some, albeit weak, support for our hypothesis that day larks see the dress as W/G and night owls see it as B/K. About half of observers who were previously familiar with the image reported switching categories at least once. Switching probability increased with professional art experience. Priming with an image that disambiguated the dress as B/K biased reports toward B/K (priming with W/G had negligible impact); furthermore, knowledge of the dress's true colors and any prior exposure to the image shifted the population toward B/K. These results show that some people have switched their perception of the dress. Finally, consistent with a role of attention and local image statistics in determining how multistable images are seen, we found that observers tended to discount as achromatic the dress component that they did not attend to: B/K reporters focused on a blue region, whereas W/G reporters focused on a golden region. PMID:29090319

  10. Comparison of three different dressings for partial thickness burns in children: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

    PubMed Central

    2013-01-01

    Background In the paediatric population, pain and distress associated with burn injuries during wound care procedures remain a constant challenge. Although silver dressings are the gold standard for burn care in Australasia, very few high-level trials have been conducted that compare silver dressings to determine which will provide the best level of care clinically. Therefore, for paediatric patients in particular, identifying silver dressings that are associated with lower levels of pain and rapid wound re-epithelialisation is imperative. This study will determine whether there is a difference in time to re-epithelialisation and pain and distress experienced during wound care procedures among Acticoat™, Acticoat™ combined with Mepitel™ and Mepilex Ag™ dressings for acute, paediatric partial thickness burns. Methods/Design Children aged 0 to 15 years with an acute partial thickness (superficial partial to deep partial thickness inclusive) burn injury and a burn total body surface area of ≤10% will be eligible for the trial. Patients will be randomised to one of the three dressing groups: (1) Acticoat™ or (2) Acticoat™ combined with Mepitel™ or (3) Mepilex Ag™. A minimum of 28 participants will be recruited for each treatment group. Primary measures of pain, distress and healing will be repeated at each dressing change until complete wound re-epithelialisation occurs or skin grafting is required. Additional data collected will include infection status at each dressing change, physical function, scar outcome and scar management requirements, cost effectiveness of each dressing and staff perspectives of the dressings. Discussion The results of this study will determine the effects of three commonly used silver and silicone burn dressing combinations on the rate of wound re-epithelialisation and pain experienced during dressing procedures in acute, paediatric partial thickness burn injuries. Trial registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials

  11. An evaluation of a silicone adhesive shaped heel dressing.

    PubMed

    Hampton, Sylvie

    Tissue breakdown is complex and involves many factors. Pressure ulcer development in the heels is subject to extrinsic factors such as pressure, shear, friction and moisture. The heels are the most common sites for friction and shear damage, which can lead to blistering, skin erosion and tissue breakdown (Grey et al, 2006). To address the issues of wounds that are painful on dressing removal and friable skin, Smith & Nephew has introduced a soft silicone adhesive dressing to its Allevyn dressing range. Silicone does not adhere to wounded areas and can be removed gently without trauma to the periwound area. This paper discusses the findings of a 20-patient multi-site evaluation examining the performance and acceptability of Allevyn Gentle Border Heel dressing in the management of heel wounds.

  12. Influence of hydrophilic polymers on functional properties and wound healing efficacy of hydrocolloid based wound dressings.

    PubMed

    Jin, Sung Giu; Yousaf, Abid Mehmood; Kim, Kyeong Soo; Kim, Dong Wuk; Kim, Dong Shik; Kim, Jin Ki; Yong, Chul Soon; Youn, Yu Seok; Kim, Jong Oh; Choi, Han-Gon

    2016-03-30

    The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of different hydrophilic polymers on the swelling, bioadhesion and mechanical strength of hydrocolloid wound dressings (HCDs) in order to provide an appropriate composition for a hydrocolloid wound dressing system. In this study, the HCDs were prepared with styrene-isoprene-styrene copolymer (SIS) and polyisobutylene (PIB) as the base using a hot melting method. Additionally, numerous SIS/PIB-based HCDs were prepared with six hydrophilic polymers, and their wound dressing properties were assessed. Finally, the wound healing efficacy of the selected formulations was compared to a commercial wound dressing. The swelling ratio, bioadhesive force and mechanical strengths of HCDs were increased in the order of sodium alginate>sodium CMC=poloxamer=HPMC>PVA=PVP, sodium alginate>sodium CMC=poloxamer>PVA>HPMC=PVP and sodium alginate≥PVA>PVP=HPMC=sodium CMC>poloxamer, respectively. Among the hydrophilic polymers tested, sodium alginate most enhanced the swelling capacity, bioadhesive force and mechanical strengths. Thus, the hydrophilic polymers played great role in the swelling, bioadhesion and mechanical strength of SIS/PIB-based HCDs. The HCD formulation composed of PIB, SIS, liquid paraffin and sodium alginate at the weight ratio of 20/25/12/43 gave better wound dressing properties and more excellent wound healing efficacy than the commercial wound dressing. Therefore, the novel HCD formulation could be a promising hydrocolloid system for wound dressings. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  13. Dress codes and appearance policies: challenges under federal legislation, part 1: title VII of the civil rights act and religion.

    PubMed

    Mitchell, Michael S; Koen, Clifford M; Moore, Thomas W

    2013-01-01

    As more and more individuals choose to express themselves and their religious beliefs with headwear, jewelry, dress, tattoos, and body piercings and push the envelope on what is deemed appropriate in the workplace, employers have an increased need for creation and enforcement of reasonable dress codes and appearance policies. As with any employment policy or practice, an appearance policy must be implemented and enforced without regard to an individual's race, color, sex, national origin, religion, disability, age, or any other protected status. A policy governing dress and appearance based on the business needs of an employer that is applied fairly and consistently and does not have a disproportionate effect on any protected class will generally be upheld if challenged in court. By examining some of the more common legal challenges to dress codes and how courts have resolved the disputes, health care managers can avoid many potential problems. This article addresses the issue of religious discrimination focusing on dress and appearance and some of the court cases that provide guidance for employers.

  14. The implementation of integrated entrepreneurship material on dress making teaching in vocational high school

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sawitri, Sicilia

    2018-03-01

    The aims of the research were: (1) To know the students' achievement in Dress Making Teaching by implementing Integrated Entrepreneur Material in Vocational High School, (2) The level of increasing of students' achievement in Dress Making Teaching by integrating Entrepreneurship Material in Vocational High School. By using experimental method this research was conducted in Magelang Vocational High School and applied pre-test post-test design. The samples in this research was XI grade of Fashion Technology Study Program. Observation sheet and documentation were used in this research as instruments. Data analyzed by using descriptive analyze and gain score. The result, there were: (1) students' achievement in Dress Making Teaching was high 88.6 and (2) the increasing of students' achievement was 0.61 it was medium category. The suggestion were: Integrated Entrepreneurship material can be applied in another subject matter, such as Men Wear, Tailoring, Children Wear, and The students who want to be a good entrepreneur, have to drill their skill in making dresses, and know about excellent service to the clients, marketing and make clients satisfaction.

  15. Efficacy of a surfactant-based wound dressing on biofilm control.

    PubMed

    Percival, Steven L; Mayer, Dieter; Salisbury, Anne-Marie

    2017-09-01

    The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of both a nonantimicrobial and antimicrobial (1% silver sulfadiazine-SSD) surfactant-based wound dressing in the control of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus sp, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) biofilms. Anti-biofilm efficacy was evaluated in numerous adapted American Standards for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard biofilm models and other bespoke biofilm models. The ASTM standard models employed included the Minimum biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC) biofilm model (ASTM E2799) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) biofilm reactor model (ASTM 2871). Such bespoke biofilm models included the filter biofilm model and the chamberslide biofilm model. Results showed complete kill of microorganisms within a biofilm using the antimicrobial surfactant-based wound dressing. Interestingly, the nonantimicrobial surfactant-based dressing could disrupt existing biofilms by causing biofilm detachment. Prior to biofilm detachment, we demonstrated, using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), the dispersive effect of the nonantimicrobial surfactant-based wound dressing on the biofilm within 10 minutes of treatment. Furthermore, the non-antimicrobial surfactant-based wound dressing caused an increase in microbial flocculation/aggregation, important for microbial concentration. In conclusion, this nonantimicrobial surfactant-based wound dressing leads to the effective detachment and dispersion of in vitro biofilms. The use of surfactant-based wound dressings in a clinical setting may help to disrupt existing biofilm from wound tissue and may increase the action of antimicrobial treatment. © 2017 by the Wound Healing Society.

  16. Novel soy protein wound dressings with controlled antibiotic release: mechanical and physical properties.

    PubMed

    Peles, Zachi; Zilberman, Meital

    2012-01-01

    Naturally derived materials are becoming widely used in the biomedical field. Soy protein has advantages over various types of natural proteins employed for biomedical applications due to its low price, non-animal origin and relatively long storage time and stability. In the current study soy protein isolate (SPI) was investigated as a matrix for wound dressing applications. The antibiotic drug gentamicin was incorporated into the matrix for local controlled release and, thus, protection against bacterial infection. Homogeneous yellowish films were cast from aqueous solutions. After cross-linking they combined high tensile strength and Young's modulus with the desired ductility. The plasticizer type, cross-linking agent and method of cross-linking were found to strongly affect the tensile properties of the SPI films. Selected SPI films were tested for relevant physical properties and the gentamicin release profile. The cross-linking method affected the degree of water uptake and the weight loss profile. The water vapor transmission rate of the films was in the desired range for wound dressings (∼2300 g m(-2) day(-1)) and was not affected by the cross-linking method. The gentamicin release profile exhibited a moderate burst effect followed by a decreasing release rate which was maintained for at least 4 weeks. Diffusion was the dominant release mechanism of gentamicin from cross-linked SPI films. Appropriate selection of the process parameters yielded SPI wound dressings with the desired mechanical and physical properties and drug release behavior to protect against bacterial infection. These unique structures are thus potentially useful as burn and ulcer dressings. Copyright © 2011 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  17. Spatial filtering, color constancy, and the color-changing dress.

    PubMed

    Dixon, Erica L; Shapiro, Arthur G

    2017-03-01

    The color-changing dress is a 2015 Internet phenomenon in which the colors in a picture of a dress are reported as blue-black by some observers and white-gold by others. The standard explanation is that observers make different inferences about the lighting (is the dress in shadow or bright yellow light?); based on these inferences, observers make a best guess about the reflectance of the dress. The assumption underlying this explanation is that reflectance is the key to color constancy because reflectance alone remains invariant under changes in lighting conditions. Here, we demonstrate an alternative type of invariance across illumination conditions: An object that appears to vary in color under blue, white, or yellow illumination does not change color in the high spatial frequency region. A first approximation to color constancy can therefore be accomplished by a high-pass filter that retains enough low spatial frequency content so as to not to completely desaturate the object. We demonstrate the implications of this idea on the Rubik's cube illusion; on a shirt placed under white, yellow, and blue illuminants; and on spatially filtered images of the dress. We hypothesize that observer perceptions of the dress's color vary because of individual differences in how the visual system extracts high and low spatial frequency color content from the environment, and we demonstrate cross-group differences in average sensitivity to low spatial frequency patterns.

  18. Cellulose Dressing Versus Rayon Dressing in Skin Graft Donor Sites: Aspects of Patients' Health-related Quality of Life and Self-esteem .

    PubMed

    Ferreira, Lydia M; Blanes, Leila; Gragnani, Alfredo; Veiga, Daniela F; Veiga, Frederico; Nery, Gilka B; Rocha, Gustavo H; Gomes, Heitor C; Rocha, Mario G; Okamoto, Regina

    2009-06-01

     Objective. The aim of this study was to compare the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and self-esteem of patients who underwent split-thickness skin grafting, when either cellulose dressings or rayon dressings were applied to the donor sites. A total of 25 patients, who were enrolled at five participant hospitals and required split-thickness skin grafting for various clinical reasons, were randomized into two treatment groups, the rayon dressing group (n = 13), or the cellulose dressing group (n = 12). All patients were assessed preoperatively and 60 days postoperatively. The HRQoL was assessed with the Short Form-36 (SF-36) health survey questionnaire, and self-esteem was evaluated using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE)/UNIFESP-EPM (Brazilian versions). There were no surgery-related complications during the study period. In both treatment groups, SF-36 scores for emotional role, mental health, vitality, and general health decreased from baseline. RSE scores increased from baseline in both treatment groups, showing a reduction in self-esteem after treatment. There was a statistical difference (P = 0.024) in the SF-36 bodily pain domain for the rayon group. There were no significant differences in HRQoL and self-esteem between treatment groups. In the rayon-dressing group, there was a significant decrease in bodily pain from baseline .

  19. Real-time monitoring of moisture levels in wound dressings in vitro: an experimental study.

    PubMed

    McColl, David; Cartlidge, Brian; Connolly, Patricia

    2007-10-01

    Retaining an appropriate level of moisture at the interface between a healing wound and an applied dressing is considered to be critical for effective wound healing. Failure to control exudate at this interface can result in maceration or drying out of the wound surface. The ability to control moisture balance at the wound interface is therefore a key aspect of wound dressing performance. To date it has not been possible to monitor in any effective manner the distribution of moisture within dressings or how this varies with time. A new measurement system is presented based on sensors placed at the wound/dressing interface which are capable of monitoring moisture levels in real time. The system comprises a model wound bed and sensor array complete with fluid injection path to mimic exudate flow. Eight monitoring points, situated beneath the test dressing, allow the moisture profile across the complete dressing to be measured both during and after fluid injection. The system has been used to evaluate the performance of four foam dressings, a composite hydrofibre dressing and a film dressing. Stark contrasts in the performance of the wound contact layer were found between the different wound dressing types. The composite hydrofibre dressing retained moisture at the wound interface throughout the experiments while areas of the foam dressing quickly became dry, even during constant injection of fluid. The abundance of sensors allowed a moisture map of the surface of the wound dressing to be constructed, illustrating that the moisture profile was not uniform across several of the dressings tested during absorption and evaporation of liquid. These results raise questions as to how the dressings behave on a wound in vivo and indicate the need for a similar clinical monitoring system for tracking wound moisture levels.

  20. The effect of semirigid dressings on below-knee amputations.

    PubMed

    MacLean, N; Fick, G H

    1994-07-01

    The effect of using semirigid dressings (SRDs) on the residual limb of individuals who have had below-knee amputations as a consequence of peripheral vascular disease was investigated, with the primary question being: Does the time to readiness for prosthetic fitting for patients treated with the SRDs differ from that of patients treated with soft dressings? Forty patients entered the study and were alternately assigned to one of two groups. Nineteen patients were assigned to the SRD group, and 21 patients were assigned to the soft dressing group. The time from surgery to readiness for prosthetic fitting was recorded for each patient. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were generated for each group, and the results were analyzed with the log-rank test. There was a difference between the two curves, and an examination of the curves suggests that the expected time to readiness for prosthetic fitting for patients treated with the SRDs would be less than half that of patients treated with soft dressings. The results suggest that a patient may be ready for prosthetic fitting sooner if treated with SRDs instead of soft dressings.

  1. Evaluation of a honey-impregnated tulle dressing in primary care.

    PubMed

    Stephen-Haynes, Jackie

    2004-06-01

    Honey has been used for its healing properties for centuries and has been used to dress wounds with favourable results. The emergence of antibiotic resistance and growing interest in "natural" or "complementary" therapies has led to an interest in honey dressings. Much of the research to date has been related to honey's antibacterial properties. However, the healing properties claimed for honey also include stimulating new tissue growth, moist wound healing, fluid handling and promoting epithelialization. Until recently, honey had not been developed as a wound management product and was not a certified pharmaceutical device. Activon Tulle is a sterile, non-adherent dressing impregnated with Leptospermum scoparium hone. The claimed properties of honey dressings would make this a valuable addition to the dressing currently available in the primary care setting. An evaluation was undertaken involving 20 patients with a variety of wounds. A conclusion is drawn that while further research is needed, medical grade honey does appear to be a valuable addition to the wound management formulary.

  2. Devices and dressings to secure peripheral venous catheters to prevent complications.

    PubMed

    Marsh, Nicole; Webster, Joan; Mihala, Gabor; Rickard, Claire M

    2015-06-12

    A peripheral venous catheter (PVC) is typically used for short-term delivery of intravascular fluids and medications. It is an essential element of modern medicine and the most frequent invasive procedure performed in hospitals. However, PVCs often fail before intravenous treatment is completed: this can occur because the device is not adequately attached to the skin, allowing the PVC to fall out, leading to complications such as phlebitis (irritation or inflammation to the vein wall), infiltration (fluid leaking into surrounding tissues) or occlusion (blockage). An inadequately secured PVC also increases the risk of catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI), as the pistoning action (moving back and forth in the vein) of the catheter can allow migration of organisms along the catheter and into the bloodstream. Despite the many dressings and securement devices available, the impact of different securement techniques for increasing PVC dwell time is still unclear; there is a need to provide guidance for clinicians by reviewing current studies systematically. To assess the effects of PVC dressings and securement devices on the incidence of PVC failure. We searched the following electronic databases to identify reports of relevant randomised controlled trials (RCTs): the Cochrane Wounds Group Register (searched 08 April 2015): The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL; 2015, Issue 3), Ovid MEDLINE (1946 to March 7 2015); Ovid MEDLINE (In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations, March 7 2015); Ovid EMBASE (1974 to March 7 2015); and EBSCO CINAHL (1982 to March 8 2015). RCTs or cluster RCTs comparing different dressings or securement devices for the stabilisation of PVCs. Cross-over trials were ineligible for inclusion, unless data for the first treatment period could be obtained. Two review authors independently selected studies, assessed trial quality and extracted data. We contacted study authors for missing information. We used standard

  3. The Effect of Virtual Reality Distraction on Pain Relief During Dressing Changes in Children with Chronic Wounds on Lower Limbs.

    PubMed

    Hua, Yun; Qiu, Rong; Yao, Wen-Yan; Zhang, Qin; Chen, Xiao-Li

    2015-10-01

    It has been demonstrated that patients with chronic wounds experience the most pain during dressing changes. Currently, researchers focus mostly on analgesics and appropriate dressing materials to relieve pain during dressing changes of chronic wounds. However, the effect of nonpharmacologic interventions, such as virtual reality distraction, on pain management during dressing changes of pediatric chronic wounds remains poorly understood. To investigate the effect of virtual reality distraction on alleviating pain during dressing changes in children with chronic wounds on their lower limbs. A prospective randomized study. A pediatric center in a tertiary hospital. Sixty-five children, aged from 4 to 16 years, with chronic wounds on their lower limbs. Pain and anxiety scores during dressing changes were recorded by using the Wong-Baker Faces picture scale, visual analogue scale, and pain behavior scale, as well as physiological measurements including pulse rate and oxygen saturation. Time length of dressing change was recorded. Virtual reality distraction significantly relieved pain and anxiety scores during dressing changes and reduced the time length for dressing changes as compared to standard distraction methods. The use of virtual reality as a distraction tool in a pediatric ward offered superior pain reduction to children as compared to standard distractions. This device can potentially improve clinical efficiency by reducing length time for dressing changes. Copyright © 2015 American Society for Pain Management Nursing. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  4. Modern collagen wound dressings: function and purpose.

    PubMed

    Fleck, Cynthia Ann; Simman, Richard

    2010-09-01

    Collagen, which is produced by fibroblasts, is the most abundant protein in the human body. A natural structural protein, collagen is involved in all 3 phases of the wound-healing cascade. It stimulates cellular migration and contributes to new tissue development. Because of their chemotactic properties on wound fibroblasts, collagen dressings encourage the deposition and organization of newly formed collagen, creating an environment that fosters healing. Collagen-based biomaterials stimulate and recruit specific cells, such as macrophages and fibroblasts, along the healing cascade to enhance and influence wound healing. These biomaterials can provide moisture or absorption, depending on the delivery system. Collagen dressings are easy to apply and remove and are conformable. Collagen dressings are usually formulated with bovine, avian, or porcine collagen. Oxidized regenerated cellulose, a plant-based material, has been combined with collagen to produce a dressing capable of binding to and protecting growth factors by binding and inactivating matrix metalloproteinases in the wound environment. The increased understanding of the biochemical processes involved in chronic wound healing allows the design of wound care products aimed at correcting imbalances in the wound microenvironment. Traditional advanced wound care products tend to address the wound's macroenvironment, including moist wound environment control, fluid management, and controlled transpiration of wound fluids. The newer class of biomaterials and wound-healing agents, such as collagen and growth factors, targets specific defects in the chronic wound environment. In vitro laboratory data point to the possibility that these agents benefit the wound healing process at a biochemical level. Considerable evidence has indicated that collagen-based dressings may be capable of stimulating healing by manipulating wound biochemistry.

  5. Nonoperative Management of Extravasation Injuries Associated With Neonatal Parenteral Nutrition Using Multiple Punctures and a Hydrocolloid Dressing.

    PubMed

    Sung, Kun-Yong; Lee, Sang-Yeul

    2016-05-01

    Neonatal extravasation injuries are often associated with peripheral parenteral nutrition. Several treatment modalities have been developed and used for managing these injuries with variable results. However, there is a lack of consensus regarding the management of neonatal extravasation injuries. The aim of this paper is to introduce a new nonoperative method for the treatment of neonatal extravasation injuries associated with parenteral nutrition. The authors made multiple punctures on the extravasated wound using a No. 11 scalpel blade tip and applying a DuoDERM Extra Thin (ConvaTec Inc, Princeton, NJ) dressing, a hydrocolloid dressing. The dressing was changed every 6 hours on the first day, and dressing changes were continued with decreasing frequency according to the amount of exudate until the wound healed. After the devitalized tissue began to demarcate and autolyse, surgical debridement was gradually performed. Twelve neonatal extravasation injuries, which occurred between November 2010 and June 2014, were evaluated. The mean follow-up duration was 10 months. The average duration of treatment for wound healing was 25 days. All wounds healed without func- tional deficits and conspicuous scars. The authors suggest their new method of using multiple punctures and a hydrocolloid dressing is an easy, effective, and minimally invasive treatment for neonatal extravasation injuries associated with peripheral parenteral nutrition, and it can be used as an alternative treatment option.

  6. Role of honey in wound dressing in diabetic foot ulcer.

    PubMed

    Surahio, Abdul Rashid; Khan, Ashar Ahmad; Farooq, MainUsman; Fatima, Iffat

    2014-01-01

    Honey has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and role of honey as local wound dressing agent in the management of diabetic foot and its effect on rate of amputation. This prospective observational study was done in the general surgery department, Al- Noor Specialist hospital, Holly Makkah, KSA from 1st March, 2007 to 31st May, 2008 (15 months). This study includes 172 patients of either gender, above 18 years of age, belonging to different nationalities admitted to A1- Noor specialist hospital, Holly Makkah, KSA. A total of 172 patients with male to female ratio 1.54:1 were admitted from 1st March, 2007 to 31st May, 2008 with complicated and non-healing diabetic foot ulcers. Out of these 172 patients, 135 (78.48%) were Saudi and 37 (21.52%) were non Saudi residents with ratio of 3.6:1. After admission and resuscitation, all the patients under went early surgical debridement and dressing with the thick layer of honey locally available. Wounds became healthy within 7-35 days. Three patients (1.75%) underwent big toe amputation and 2 (1.16%) patients under.went below knee amputations. Twenty (11.6%) patients under went split skin grafting to cover the wound while in other patients wound healed by secondary intention. Use of honey significantly reduced rate of amputation and improve wound healing when used for wound dressing in chronic diabetic foot ulcers.

  7. Hypericum perforatum incorporated chitosan films as potential bioactive wound dressing material.

    PubMed

    Güneş, Seda; Tıhmınlıoğlu, Funda

    2017-09-01

    Recent studies in wound dressing applications offer new therapies and promote wound healing process. The aim of this study was to develop Hypericum perforatum (St John's Wort) oil incorporated chitosan films for wound dressing applications. H. perforatum oil as a potential therapeutic agent was encapsulated in chitosan film to achieve a better wound dressing material. Oil incorporated chitosan films were successfully prepared by solvent casting method in different oil concentrations (0.25-1.5%v/v). Water vapor permeability (WVP), mechanical test, swelling behavior and surface hydrophobicity were performed in order to characterize the prepared films. Antimicrobial test was performed by disc diffusion method and the growth inhibition effects of the films including different amount of H. perforatum oil were investigated on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. WVP increased with oil incorporation and the highest value was obtained for 0.25% oil concentration.The highest strain value was obtained in 0.25% oil content films although tensile stress decreased with increasing oil content. H. perforatum oil incorporated films had antimicrobial effect on both microorganisms. Chitosan based films had no cytotoxic effects on NIH3T3fibroblast cells and provided a good surface for cell attachment and proliferation. The results showed that the H. perforatum incorporated chitosan films seems to be a potential and novel biomaterial for wound healing applications. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  8. Civil Behavior, Safe-School Planning, and Dress Codes

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Studak, Cathryn M.; Workman, Jane E.

    2007-01-01

    This research examined news reports in order to identify incidents that precipitated dress code revisions. News reports were examined within the framework of rules for civil behavior. Using key words "school dress codes" and "violence," LEXIS/NEXIS was used to access 104 articles from 44 U.S. newspapers from December 3, 2004 to December 2, 2005.…

  9. A prospective, randomized clinical trial to assess the cost-effectiveness of a modern foam dressing versus a traditional saline gauze dressing in the treatment of stage II pressure ulcers.

    PubMed

    Payne, Wyatt G; Posnett, John; Alvarez, Oscar; Brown-Etris, Marie; Jameson, Gayle; Wolcott, Randall; Dharma, Hussein; Hartwell, Samantha; Ochs, Diane

    2009-02-01

    Modern dressings such as hydrocolloids, gels, and foams are typically more expensive than traditional dressings such as gauze. However, if modern dressings require fewer changes, the overall cost of treatment may be lower despite the higher initial purchase price. If healing rates are comparable or better, modern dressings also may be cost-effective. A 4-week, prospective, randomized clinical trial to assess differences in treatment costs and cost-effectiveness between a modern foam dressing and saline-soaked gauze was conducted among 36 patients (22 men, 14 women, mean age 72.8 years) with a Stage II pressure ulcer (mean duration 35 weeks) at five centers in the United States. Participants were randomized to treatment with a self-adhesive polyurethane foam (n = 20) or saline-soaked gauze dressing (n = 16). No difference in time to wound closure was observed (P = 0.817). Patients in the foam group had less frequent dressing changes (P <0.001). Total cost over the study period was lower by $466 per patient (P = 0.055) and spending on dressings was lower by $92 per patient in the foam group (P = 0.025). Cost per ulcer healed was lower by $1,517 and cost per ulcer-free day was lower by $80 for patients in the foam group. On the evidence of this study, the foam dressing is a more cost-effective treatment than saline-soaked gauze for the treatment of Stage II pressure ulcers.

  10. Protein matrices for wound dressings =

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Vasconcelos, Andreia Joana Costa

    Fibrous proteins such as silk fibroin (SF), keratin (K) and elastin (EL) are able to mimic the extracellular matrix (ECM) that allows their recognition under physiological conditions. The impressive mechanical properties, the environmental stability, in combination with their biocompatibility and control of morphology, provide an important basis to use these proteins in biomedical applications like protein-based wound dressings. Along time the concept of wound dressings has changed from the traditional dressings such as honey or natural fibres, used just to protect the wound from external factors, to the interactive dressings of the present. Wounds can be classified in acute that heal in the expected time frame, and chronic, which fail to heal because the orderly sequence of events is disrupted at one or more stages of the healing process. Moreover, chronic wound exudates contain high levels of tissue destructive proteolytic enzymes such as human neutrophil elastase (HNE) that need to be controlled for a proper healing. The aim of this work is to exploit the self-assemble properties of silk fibroin, keratin and elastin for the development of new protein materials to be used as wound dressings: i) evaluation of the blending effect on the physical and chemical properties of the materials; ii) development of materials with different morphologies; iii) assessment of the cytocompatibility of the protein matrices; iv) ultimately, study the ability of the developed protein matrices as wound dressings through the use of human chronic wound exudate; v) use of innovative short peptide sequences that allow to target the control of high levels of HNE found on chronic wounds. Chapter III reports the preparation of silk fibroin/keratin (SF/K) blend films by solvent casting evaporation. Two solvent systems, aqueous and acidic, were used for the preparation of films from fibroin and keratin extracted from the respective silk and wool fibres. The effect of solvent system used was

  11. Evaluation of dressings used with local anaesthetic cream and for peripheral venous cannulation.

    PubMed

    Needham, Rowan; Strehle, Eugen-Matthias

    2008-10-01

    To compare four polyurethane dressings manufactured by two different companies for use in children. Seventy-eight dressings were applied to secure either local anaesthetic creams (n = 62) or intravenous cannulae (n = 16). Each dressing was evaluated for ease of application, security and ease of removal, using a simple scoring system. 84 per cent of Opsite flexigrid and 90 per cent of Tegaderm local anaesthetic cream dressings were rated as easy or very easy to apply. Opsite flexigrid was felt to be more secure, whereas Tegaderm was easier to remove. The Tegaderm cannula dressing was easier to apply than the iv3000 dressing. There was little difference between the two brands, including costs.

  12. Do Prophylactic Foam Dressings Reduce Heel Pressure Injuries?

    PubMed

    Ramundo, Janet; Pike, Catlin; Pittman, Joyce

    The purpose of this evidence-based report card is to examine the evidence and provide recommendations related to the effectiveness of prophylactic foam dressings in reducing heel pressure injuries. Do prophylactic foam dressings applied to the heel reduce heel pressure injuries for patients in the acute care setting? A search of the literature was performed by a trained university librarian that resulted in 56 articles that examined pressure injury, prevention, and prophylactic dressings. A systematic approach was used to review titles, abstracts, and text, yielding 13 studies that met inclusion criteria. Strength of the evidence was rated based on the methodology from Essential Evidence Plus: Levels of Evidence and Oxford Center for Evidence-Based Medicine. Thirteen studies were identified that met inclusion criteria; 1 was a randomized controlled trial, 2 were systematic reviews, 3 quasi-experimental cohort studies, 1 quality improvement study, 1 case series, 1 scoping review, 1 consensus panel, and 3 bench studies. All of the studies identified suggest that the use of prophylactic foam dressings reduces the development of pressure injuries on the heel when used in conjunction with a pressure injury prevention program. The strength of the evidence for the identified studies was level 1 (4 level A, 4 level B, and 5 level C). The use of prophylactic multilayer foam dressings applied to the heels, in conjunction with an evidence-based pressure injury prevention program, is recommended for prevention of pressure injuries on the heel (SORT level 1).

  13. Evaluation of a non-adherent, povidone-iodine dressing in a case series of chronic wounds.

    PubMed

    Campbell, N; Campbell, D

    2013-08-01

    Here we report a product evaluation for a non-adherent, povidone-iodine (PVP-I) dressing, determining the clinical need for the product, performing a literature review, clinical evaluation and cost-analysis, and developing a recommendation. This evaluation included 20 patients who experienced dressing pain with the previous antimicrobial dressing. Two patients discontinued the evaluation and four ulcers were non-healing; the remaining wounds closed with the PVP-I dressing. Patients indicated a preference for the PVP-I dressing, primarily due to lack of dressing pain. The PVP-I dressing was also the most cost-efficient.

  14. Role of natural polysaccharides in radiation formation of PVA hydrogel wound dressing

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Varshney, Lalit

    2007-02-01

    Radiation processed PVA-polysaccharides hydrogels have been observed to be suitable for producing transparent, flexible, mechanically strong, biocompatible, effective and economical hydrogel dressings. The dressings were formed in single stage irradiation process achieving gel formation and sterilization at 25-30 kGy gamma radiation dose. No synthetic plasticizers and additives were used. Different formulations containing poly-vinylalcohol (PVA) and polysaccharides selected from combinations of agar and carrageenan were used to make the dressings. The selected polysaccharides themselves form thermo-reversible gels and degrade on irradiation. Using concentration of polysaccharides as low as 0.5-2% resulted in increase of tensile strength from 45 g/cm 2 to 411 g/cm 2, elongation from 30% to 410% and water uptake from 25% to 157% with respect to PVA gel without polysaccharides. Besides improving mechanical strength, agar contributes more to elongation and carrageenan to mechanical strength of the gel dressing. PVA formulations containing the polysaccharides show significantly different pre-gel viscosities behaviour. Increasing the concentration of agar in the formulation to about 2% converts the sheet gel to paste gel useful for filling wound cavities. The results indicate that pre irradiation network structure of the formulation plays an important role in determining mechanical properties of the irradiated gel dressing. Formulations containing 7-9% PVA, 0.5-1.5% carrageenan and 0.5-1% agar gave highly effective usable hydrogel dressings. Scanning electron micrographs show highly porous structure of the gel. Clinical trials of wound dressing on human patients established safety and efficacy of the dressing. The dressing has been observed to be useful in treating burns, non-healing ulcers of diabetes, leprosy and other external wounds. The dressings are now being marketed in India under different brand names.

  15. Analysis of the Pressure Distribution Qualities of a Silicone Border Foam Dressing.

    PubMed

    Miller, Stephannie K; Sharma, Neal; Aberegg, Lauren C; Blasiole, Kimberly N; Fulton, Judith A

    2015-01-01

    To determine whether application of a silicone foam dressing is associated with decreased interface pressures when applied to the heel. Prospective, within-subjects design. The study was conducted in a community-based hospital using a convenience sample of 50 healthy volunteers with a mean age of 39.6 years and mean body mass index of 26.6; 70% were female. Application of the silicone border foam dressing was randomized between the left and right heels. Participants were asked to lie down in the supine position on a viscoelastic foam mattress. Interface pressure measurements were captured using a pressure mapping system; measurements were taken once with the dressing applied to the heel (intervention map) and once without (control map). Data were captured after a 4-minute time period allowing stabilization. Analysis was based on mean interface pressure; data points were collected for both heels in each of the 2 frames, yielding 4 observations per subject. Application of the dressing was associated with a significant decrease in average pressure measurements as compared to the heel with no dressing applied (P < .001). Application of the dressing did not impact pressure readings for the heel to which no dressing was applied (P = .53), and application of the dressing to either the left or right heel did not impact pressure readings (ie, the random effect was insignificant; P = .9). Application of a silicone border foam dressing is associated with significant reduction in interface pressure and may be considered as part of a pressure ulcer prevention program.

  16. Valley-selective photon-dressed states in transition metal dichalcogenides

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    LaMountain, Trevor; Chen, Yen-Jung; Stanev, Teodor K.; Stern, Nathaniel P.

    2018-02-01

    When electronic excitations in a semiconductor interact with light, the relevant quasiparticles are hybrid lightmatter dressed states, or exciton-polaritons. In monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides, a class of 2D direct bandgap semiconductors, optical excitations selectively populate distinct momentum valleys with correlated spin projection. The combination of this spin-valley locking with photon dressed states can lead to new optical phenomena in these materials. We present spectroscopic measurements of valley-specific exciton-polaritons in monolayer 2D materials in distinct regimes. When a monolayer is embedded in a dielectric microcavity, strong coupling exciton-polaritons are achieved. Cavity-modified dynamics of the dressed states are inferred from emission. Polarization persists up to room temperature in monolayer MoS2, in contrast with bare material. We also show that distinct regimes of valley-polarized exciton-polaritons can be accessed with microcavity engineering by tuning system parameters such as cavity decay rate and exciton-photon coupling strength. Further, we report results showing that polarization-sensitive ultrafast spectroscopy can enable sensitive measurements of the valley optical Stark shift, a light-induced dressed state energy shift, in monolayer semiconductors such as WSe2 and MoS2. These findings demonstrate distinct approaches to manipulating the picosecond dynamics of valleysensitive dressed states in monolayer semiconductors.

  17. The role of allogenic keratin-derived dressing in wound healing in a mouse model.

    PubMed

    Konop, Marek; Sulejczak, Dorota; Czuwara, Joanna; Kosson, Piotr; Misicka, Aleksandra; Lipkowski, Andrzej W; Rudnicka, Lidia

    2017-01-01

    Keratin is an interesting protein needed for wound healing and tissue recovery. We have recently proposed a new, simple and inexpensive method to obtain fur and hair keratin-derived biomaterials suitable for medical application. The aim of the study was to evaluate the role of the fur keratin-derived protein (FKDP) dressing in the allogenic full-thickness surgical skin wound model. The data obtained using scanning electron microscopy showed that employed processed biomaterial had higher surface porosity compared with control raw material. From the MTS test, it was found keratin biomaterial is not only toxic to the NIH/3T3 cell line (p < 0.05), but also enhances cell proliferation compared with the control. In vivo studies have shown keratin dressings are tissue biocompatible, accelerate wound closure and epithelialization to the statistically significant differences on day 5 (p < 0.05) in comparison to control wounds. Histological examination revealed, that in FKDP-treated wounds the inflammatory response contained predominantly macrophages whilst their morphological untreated variants showed mixed cell infiltrates rich in neutrophils. Predominant macrophages based response creates more favorable environment for healing. In FKDP-dressed wounds the number of microhemorrhages was also significantly decreased (p < 0.05) as compared with undressed wounds. Applied keratin dressing favors reconstruction of a more regular skin structure and assures better cosmetic effect in terms of scar formation and appearance. In conclusion, fur keratin-derived protein dressings significantly accelerated wound healing in the mouse model. Further studies are needed to determine the molecular mechanisms involved in the multilayer wound healing process and to assess the possible use of these dressings for medical purposes. © 2016 by the Wound Healing Society.

  18. Gelam (Melaleuca spp.) Honey-Based Hydrogel as Burn Wound Dressing

    PubMed Central

    Mohd Zohdi, Rozaini; Abu Bakar Zakaria, Zuki; Yusof, Norimah; Mohamed Mustapha, Noordin; Abdullah, Muhammad Nazrul Hakim

    2012-01-01

    A novel cross-linked honey hydrogel dressing was developed by incorporating Malaysian honey into hydrogel dressing formulation, cross-linked and sterilized using electron beam irradiation (25 kGy). In this study, the physical properties of the prepared honey hydrogel and its wound healing efficacy on deep partial thickness burn wounds in rats were assessed. Skin samples were taken at 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after burn for histopathological and molecular evaluations. Application of honey hydrogel dressings significantly enhanced (P < 0.05) wound closure and accelerated the rate of re-epithelialization as compared to control hydrogel and OpSite film dressing. A significant decrease in inflammatory response was observed in honey hydrogel treated wounds as early as 7 days after burn (P < 0.05). Semiquantitative analysis using RT-PCR revealed that treatment with honey hydrogel significantly (P < 0.05) suppressed the expression of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1α, IL-1β, and IL-6). The present study substantiates the potential efficacy of honey hydrogel dressings in accelerating burn wound healing. PMID:21941590

  19. Colloidal silver-based nanogel as nonocclusive dressing for multiple superficial pellet wounds.

    PubMed

    Dharmshaktu, Ganesh Singh; Singhal, Aanshu; Pangtey, Tanuja

    2016-01-01

    A good dressing is mandatory to an uncomplicated wound healing, especially when foreign particles contaminate the wound. Various forms of dressing preparations are available for use and differ in chemical composition and efficacy. Silver has been a known agent with good antimicrobial and healing properties and recent times has seen an upsurge in various silver-based dressing supplements. We describe our report of use and efficacy of a silver nanoparticle- based gel dressing in the healing of multiple superficial firearm pellet wounds.

  20. Management of Psychotropic Drug-Induced DRESS Syndrome: A Systematic Review.

    PubMed

    Bommersbach, Tanner J; Lapid, Maria I; Leung, Jonathan G; Cunningham, Julie L; Rummans, Teresa A; Kung, Simon

    2016-06-01

    Drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) is a severe cutaneous eruption that has been linked to several common drugs and drug categories, including antiepileptics, allopurinol, sulfonamides, and various antibiotics; however, because of a number of recent case reports linking psychotropic medications to this condition, DRESS is increasingly recognized among psychiatrists. We systematically reviewed all psychotropic drugs linked to DRESS syndrome, and this article summarizes the clinical management relevant to psychiatric professionals. A comprehensive search was performed using Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE, Ovid Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Web of Science, Scopus, and Litt's Drug Eruption and Reaction Database for articles published in English during the past 20 years (1996-2015) using the search terms (1) psychotropic drugs OR serotonin uptake inhibitors AND DRESS or (2) psychotropic drugs AND drug reaction (or rash) eosinophilia systemic syndrome, and all article abstracts were screened for inclusion and exclusion criteria by 3 reviewers. Two independent reviewers examined the full text of 163 articles, of which 96 (25 original articles, 12 review articles, 55 case reports, and 4 letters to the editor) were included in the systematic review. We identified 1072 cases of psychotropic drug-induced DRESS, with carbamazepine, lamotrigine, phenytoin, valproate, and phenobarbital being the most implicated drugs. Based on our review of the literature, we outline management principles that include prompt withdrawal of the causative drug, hospitalization, corticosteroid therapy, and novel treatments, including intravenous immunoglobulin, cyclophosphamide, and cyclosporine, for corticosteroid-resistant DRESS. Finally, we outline strategies for treating comorbid psychiatric illness after a DRESS reaction to the psychotropic medication. Copyright © 2016 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  1. Polysaccharide Fabrication Platforms and Biocompatibility Assessment as Candidate Wound Dressing Materials

    PubMed Central

    Aduba, Donald C.; Yang, Hu

    2017-01-01

    Wound dressings are critical for wound care because they provide a physical barrier between the injury site and outside environment, preventing further damage or infection. Wound dressings also manage and even encourage the wound healing process for proper recovery. Polysaccharide biopolymers are slowly becoming popular as modern wound dressings materials because they are naturally derived, highly abundant, inexpensive, absorbent, non-toxic and non-immunogenic. Polysaccharide biopolymers have also been processed into biomimetic platforms that offer a bioactive component in wound dressings that aid the healing process. This review primarily focuses on the fabrication and biocompatibility assessment of polysaccharide materials. Specifically, fabrication platforms such as electrospun fibers and hydrogels, their fabrication considerations and popular polysaccharides such as chitosan, alginate, and hyaluronic acid among emerging options such as arabinoxylan are discussed. A survey of biocompatibility and bioactive molecule release studies, leveraging polysaccharide’s naturally derived properties, is highlighted in the text, while challenges and future directions for wound dressing development using emerging fabrication techniques such as 3D bioprinting are outlined in the conclusion. This paper aims to encourage further investigation and open up new, disruptive avenues for polysaccharides in wound dressing material development. PMID:28952482

  2. Predicting the effectiveness of virtual reality relaxation on pain and anxiety when added to PCA morphine in patients having burns dressings changes.

    PubMed

    Konstantatos, A H; Angliss, M; Costello, V; Cleland, H; Stafrace, S

    2009-06-01

    Pain arising in burns sufferers is often severe and protracted. The prospect of a dressing change can heighten existing pain by impacting both physically and psychologically. In this trial we examined whether pre-procedural virtual reality guided relaxation added to patient controlled analgesia with morphine reduced pain severity during awake dressings changes in burns patients. We conducted a prospective randomized clinical trial in all patients with burns necessitating admission to a tertiary burns referral centre. Eligible patients requiring awake dressings changes were randomly allocated to single use virtual reality relaxation plus intravenous morphine patient controlled analgesia (PCA) infusion or to intravenous morphine patient controlled analgesia infusion alone. Patients rated their worst pain intensity during the dressing change using a visual analogue scale. The primary outcome measure was presence of 30% or greater difference in pain intensity ratings between the groups in estimation of worst pain during the dressing change. Of 88 eligible and consenting patients having awake dressings changes, 43 were assigned to virtual reality relaxation plus intravenous morphine PCA infusion and 43 to morphine PCA infusion alone. The group receiving virtual reality relaxation plus morphine PCA infusion reported significantly higher pain intensities during the dressing change (mean=7.3) compared with patients receiving morphine PCA alone (mean=5.3) (p=0.003) (95% CI 0.6-2.8). The addition of virtual reality guided relaxation to morphine PCA infusion in burns patients resulted in a significant increase in pain experienced during awake dressings changes. In the absence of a validated predictor for responsiveness to virtual reality relaxation such a therapy cannot be recommended for general use in burns patients having awake dressings changes.

  3. Identification of Workplace Dress by Low-Income Job Seekers

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Saiki, Diana

    2013-01-01

    The author examined how low-income job seekers participating in a workplace dress program identified traditional business and business casual dress. Seventy low-income job seekers identified clothing items as traditional business (e.g., suits, ties), similar to identifications made by professionals and image consultants in previous literature.…

  4. 9 CFR 108.9 - Dressing rooms and other facilities.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... 9 Animals and Animal Products 1 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Dressing rooms and other facilities. 108.9 Section 108.9 Animals and Animal Products ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT... REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSED ESTABLISHMENTS § 108.9 Dressing rooms and other facilities. Each licensed...

  5. Clinical safety and effectiveness evaluation of a new antimicrobial wound dressing designed to manage exudate, infection and biofilm.

    PubMed

    Metcalf, Daniel G; Parsons, David; Bowler, Philip G

    2017-02-01

    The objective of this work was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a next-generation antimicrobial wound dressing (NGAD; AQUACEL ® Ag+ Extra™ dressing) designed to manage exudate, infection and biofilm. Clinicians were requested to evaluate the NGAD within their standard protocol of care for up to 4 weeks, or as long as deemed clinically appropriate, in challenging wounds that were considered to be impeded by suspected biofilm or infection. Baseline information and post-evaluation dressing safety and effectiveness data were recorded using standardised evaluation forms. This data included wound exudate levels, wound bed appearance including suspected biofilm, wound progression, skin health and dressing usage. A total of 112 wounds from 111 patients were included in the evaluations, with a median duration of 12 months, and biofilm was suspected in over half of all wounds (54%). After the introduction of the NGAD, exudate levels had shifted from predominantly high or moderate to low or moderate levels, while biofilm suspicion fell from 54% to 27% of wounds. Wound bed coverage by tissue type was generally shifted from sloughy or suspected biofilm towards predominantly granulation tissue after the inclusion of the NGAD. Stagnant (65%) and deteriorating wounds (27%) were shifted to improved (65%) or healed wounds (13%), while skin health was also reported to have improved in 63% of wounds. High levels of clinician satisfaction with the dressing effectiveness and change frequency were accompanied by a low number of dressing-related adverse events (n = 3; 2·7%) and other negative observations or comments. This clinical user evaluation supports the growing body of evidence that the anti-biofilm technology in the NGAD results in a safe and effective dressing for the management of a variety of challenging wound types. © 2016 Medicalhelplines.com Inc and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  6. Silver-containing foam dressings with Safetac: a review of the scientific and clinical data.

    PubMed

    Davies, Phil; McCarty, Sara; Hamberg, Kristina

    2017-06-01

    Background Topical antimicrobials, such as silver dressings, are progressively being used alongside systemic antibiotics to provide adjunctive, antimicrobial therapy to wounds that are clinically infected or at risk of infection. To help improve wound management, dressings that use Safetac soft silicone technology in combination with a silver-impregnated foam dressing material were developed by Mölnlycke Health Care (Gothenburg, Sweden). The range comprises Mepilex Ag, Mepilex Border Ag and Mepilex Transfer Ag. Aims A literature review was undertaken to identify and summarise clinical data from the entire evidence hierarchy, as well as data from in vitro tests, which support the use of silver-containing foam dressings with Safetac. Method The MEDLINE (National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, US) and EMBASE (Elsevier BV, Amsterdam, Netherlands) bibliographic databases were searched. In addition, abstract books and proceedings documents relating to national and international conferences were scanned in order to identify presentations (oral, e-poster and poster) of relevance to the review. Results In vitro test results showed that the silver-containing foam dressings with Safetac have both rapid and sustained activity against a range of wound pathogens, reducing planktonic and established biofilm cultures, and preventing biofilm formation. In numerous clinical studies, silvercontaining foam dressings with Safetac were used to manage wound bioburden effectively and resolve signs of localised infection in both acute wounds (such as surgical, traumatic and burn injuries) and chronic wounds (such as leg ulcers, pressure ulcers (PUs), diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), and cancerous wounds). Studies reported that silver-containing foam dressings with Safetac are easy to use, provide an optimal environment for wound healing, and are associated with atraumatic and virtually painfree removal. As well as being clinically effective, they are reported to be cost-effective when used on

  7. Investigation on Curcumin nanocomposite for wound dressing.

    PubMed

    Venkatasubbu, G Devanand; Anusuya, T

    2017-05-01

    Curcuma longa (turmeric) has a long history of use in medicine as a treatment for inflammatory conditions. The primary active constituent of turmeric and the one responsible for its vibrant yellow color is curcumin. Curcumin is used for treatment of wound and inflammation. It had antimicrobial and antioxidant property. It has low intrinsic toxicity and magnificent properties like with comparatively lesser side-effects. Cotton cloth is one of the most successful wound dressings which utilize the intrinsic properties of cotton fibers. Modern wound dressings, however, require other properties such as antibacterial and moisture maintaining capabilities. In this study, conventional cotton cloth was coated with Curcumin composite for achieving modern wound dressing properties. Curcumin nanocomposite is characterized. The results show that coated cotton cloth with Curcumin nanocomposite has increased drying time (74%) and water absorbency (50%). Furthermore, they show antibacterial efficiency against bacterial species present in wounds. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  8. A Wireless Electroceutical Dressing Lowers Cost of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy

    PubMed Central

    Ghatak, Piya Das; Schlanger, Richard; Ganesh, Kasturi; Lambert, Lynn; Gordillo, Gayle M.; Martinsek, Patsy; Roy, Sashwati

    2015-01-01

    Objective: To test whether the use of a wireless electroceutical dressing (WED) (Procellera®) in conjunction with a 5-day negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) may reduce the number of dressing changes required per week with this therapy. Approach: At the Ohio State University Comprehensive Wound Center, chronic wound patients (n=30) undergoing NPWT were randomized into two arms following consent as approved by the institutional review board. The control arm received standard of care NPWT, where the dressing change was performed thrice a week. The test arm received the same care except that the WED was added as an interface layer and dressing change was limited to twice a week. Results: A reduced cost of care was achieved using the WED in conjunction with NPWT. Despite fewer dressing changes in wounds dressed with the WED, closure outcomes were comparable with no overt signs of any wound complication, including infection. The cost of NPWT care during the week was significantly lower (from $2918 to $2346) in the WED-treated group compared with patients in the control arm. Innovation: This work introduces a novel technology platform involving a WED, which may be used in conjunction with NPWT. If used as such, NPWT is effective in decreasing the frequency of dressing change and lowering the cost of care. Conclusion: This work points toward the benefit of using the WED combined with NPWT. A larger clinical trial investigating the cost-effectiveness of WED in wound care is warranted. PMID:26005596

  9. N-Halamine Biocidal Materials with Superior Antimicrobial Efficacies for Wound Dressings.

    PubMed

    Demir, Buket; Broughton, Roy M; Qiao, Mingyu; Huang, Tung-Shi; Worley, S D

    2017-09-21

    This work demonstrated the successful application of N-halamine technology for wound dressings rendered antimicrobial by facile and inexpensive processes. Four N-halamine compounds, which possess different functional groups and chemistry, were synthesized. The N-halamine compounds, which contained oxidative chlorine, the source of antimicrobial activity, were impregnated into or coated onto standard non-antimicrobial wound dressings. N-halamine-employed wound dressings inactivated about 6 to 7 logs of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria in brief periods of contact time. Moreover, the N-halamine-modified wound dressings showed superior antimicrobial efficacies when compared to commercially available silver wound dressings. Zone of inhibition tests revealed that there was no significant leaching of the oxidative chlorine from the materials, and inactivation of bacteria occurred by direct contact. Shelf life stability tests showed that the dressings were stable to loss of oxidative chlorine when they were stored for 6 months in dark environmental conditions. They also remained stable under florescent lighting for up to 2 months of storage. They could be stored in opaque packaging to improve their shelf life stabilities. In vitro skin irritation testing was performed using a three-dimensional human reconstructed tissue model (EpiDerm™). No potential skin irritation was observed. In vitro cytocompatibility was also evaluated. These results indicate that N-halamine wound dressings potentially can be employed to prevent infections, while at the same time improving the healing process by eliminating undesired bacterial growth.

  10. School Dress Codes v. The First Amendment: Ganging up on Student Attire.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Jahn, Karon L.

    Do school dress codes written with the specific purpose of limiting individual dress preferences, including dress associated with gangs, infringe on speech freedoms granted by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution? Although the Supreme Court has extended its protection of political speech to nonverbal acts of communication, it has…

  11. Recent advances on antimicrobial wound dressing: A review.

    PubMed

    Simões, Déborah; Miguel, Sónia P; Ribeiro, Maximiano P; Coutinho, Paula; Mendonça, António G; Correia, Ilídio J

    2018-06-01

    Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) have high rates of morbidity and mortality associated. Despite the successful treatment of some SSTIs, those affecting the subcutaneous tissue, fascia, or muscle delay the healing process and can lead to life-threatening conditions. Therefore, more effective treatments are required to deal with such pathological situations. Recently, wound dressings loaded with antimicrobial agents emerged as viable options to reduce wound bacterial colonization and infection, in order to improve the healing process. In this review, an overview of the most prominent antibacterial agents incorporated in wound dressings along with their mode of action is provided. Furthermore, the recent advances in the therapeutic approaches used in the clinic and some future perspectives regarding antibacterial wound dressings are also discussed. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  12. Dress Codes. Legal Brief.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Zirkel, Perry A.

    2000-01-01

    As illustrated by two recent decisions, the courts in the past decade have demarcated wide boundaries for school officials considering dress codes, whether in the form of selective prohibitions or required uniforms. Administrators must warn the community, provide legitimate justification and reasonable clarity, and comply with state law. (MLH)

  13. The multifunctional wound dressing with core-shell structured fibers prepared by coaxial electrospinning

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wei, Qilin; Xu, Feiyang; Xu, Xingjian; Geng, Xue; Ye, Lin; Zhang, Aiying; Feng, Zengguo

    2016-06-01

    The non-woven wound dressing with core-shell structured fibers was prepared by coaxial electrospinning. The polycaprolactone (PCL) was electrospun as the fiber's core to provide mechanical strength whereas collagen was fabricated into the shell in order to utilize its good biocompatibility. Simultaneously, the silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) as anti-bacterial agent were loaded in the shell whereas the vitamin A palmitate (VA) as healing-promoting drug was encapsulated in the core. Resulting from the fiber's core-shell structure, the VA released from the core and Ag-NPs present in the shell can endow the dressing both heal-promoting and anti-bacteria ability simultaneously, which can greatly enhance the dressing's clinical therapeutic effect. The dressing can maintain high swelling ratio of 190% for 3 d indicating its potential application as wet dressing. Furthermore, the dressing's anti-bacteria ability against Staphylococcus aureus was proved by in vitro anti-bacteria test. The in vitro drug release test showed the sustainable release of VA within 72 h, while the cell attachment showed L929 cells can well attach on the dressing indicating its good biocompatibility. In conclusion, the fabricated nanofibrous dressing possesses multiple functions to benefit wound healing and shows promising potential for clinical application.

  14. Designing cellulosic and nanocellulosic sensors for interface with a protease sequestrant wound-dressing prototype: Implications of material selection for dressing and protease sensor design.

    PubMed

    Fontenot, Krystal R; Edwards, J Vincent; Haldane, David; Pircher, Nicole; Liebner, Falk; Condon, Brian D; Qureshi, Huzaifah; Yager, Dorne

    2017-11-01

    Interfacing nanocellulosic-based biosensors with chronic wound dressings for protease point of care diagnostics combines functional material properties of high specific surface area, appropriate surface charge, and hydrophilicity with biocompatibility to the wound environment. Combining a protease sensor with a dressing is consistent with the concept of an intelligent dressing, which has been a goal of wound-dressing design for more than a quarter century. We present here biosensors with a nanocellulosic transducer surface (nanocrystals, nanocellulose composites, and nanocellulosic aerogels) immobilized with a fluorescent elastase tripeptide or tetrapeptide biomolecule, which has selectivity and affinity for human neutrophil elastase present in chronic wound fluid. The specific surface area of the materials correlates with a greater loading of the elastase peptide substrate. Nitrogen adsorption and mercury intrusion studies revealed gas permeable systems with different porosities (28-98%) and pore sizes (2-50 nm, 210 µm) respectively, which influence water vapor transmission rates. A correlation between zeta potential values and the degree of protease sequestration imply that the greater the negative surface charge of the nanomaterials, the greater the sequestration of positively charged neutrophil proteases. The biosensors gave detection sensitivities of 0.015-0.13 units/ml, which are at detectable human neutrophil elastase levels present in chronic wound fluid. Thus, the physical and interactive biochemical properties of the nano-based biosensors are suitable for interfacing with protease sequestrant prototype wound dressings. A discussion of the relevance of protease sensors and cellulose nanomaterials to current chronic wound dressing design and technology is included.

  15. 8. SIDE VIEW OF NORTHEASTERN ROCKFACED DRESSED AND MORTARED STONE ...

    Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

    8. SIDE VIEW OF NORTHEASTERN ROCKFACED DRESSED AND MORTARED STONE BRIDGE ABUTMENT (LEFT) AND DRESSED, DRY-LAID RETAINING WALL (RIGHT). FACING WEST. - Coverts Crossing Bridge, Spanning Mahoning River along Township Route 372 (Covert Road), New Castle, Lawrence County, PA

  16. 10. SIDE VIEW OF SOUTHEASTERN ROCKFACED DRESSED AND MORTARED STONE ...

    Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

    10. SIDE VIEW OF SOUTHEASTERN ROCKFACED DRESSED AND MORTARED STONE BRIDGE ABUTMENT (RIGHT) AND DRESSED, DRY-LAID RETAINING WALL (LEFT). FACING NORTHWEST. - Coverts Crossing Bridge, Spanning Mahoning River along Township Route 372 (Covert Road), New Castle, Lawrence County, PA

  17. Investigating the Victim Pseudomaturity Effect: How a Victim's Chronological Age and Dress Style Influences Attributions in a Depicted Case of Child Sexual Assault.

    PubMed

    Rogers, Paul; Lowe, Michelle; Reddington, Katie

    2016-01-01

    Three-hundred and seven members of the UK public read a hypothetical child sexual abuse case in which the victim's chronological age (12 versus 15 years old) and dress style (sexualized versus nonsexualized) were experimentally manipulated before completing 22 assault severity and blame attribution items. It was predicted that the 15-year-old and the sexually dressed victim would be blamed more for her own abuse. In addition, males were expected to be more blaming generally, but especially of the older and/or sexually dressed victim. Results were generally in line with predictions, highlighting the role seemingly controllable victim characteristics play in blaming child sexual abuse victims. Findings are discussed in relation to defensive attributions, gender stereotyping and the newly suggested victim pseudomaturity effect. Criminal justice, victim welfare, and rape myth implications together with methodological issues and ideas for future research work are also considered.

  18. Prophylactic Sacral Dressing for Pressure Ulcer Prevention in High-Risk Patients.

    PubMed

    Byrne, Jaime; Nichols, Patricia; Sroczynski, Marzena; Stelmaski, Laurie; Stetzer, Molly; Line, Cynthia; Carlin, Kristen

    2016-05-01

    Patients in intensive care units are likely to have limited mobility owing to hemodynamic instability and activity orders for bed rest. Bed rest is indicated because of the severity of the disease process, which often involves intubation, sedation, paralysis, surgical procedures, poor nutrition, low flow states, and poor circulation. These patients are predisposed to the development and/or the progression of pressure ulcers not only because of their underlying diseases, but also because of limited mobility and deconditioned states of health. To assess whether treating high-risk patients with a prophylactic sacral dressing decreases the incidence of unit-acquired sacral pressure ulcers. An evidence-based tool for identifying patients at high risk for pressure ulcers was used in 3 intensive care units at an urban tertiary care hospital and academic medical center. Those patients deemed at high risk had a prophylactic sacral dressing applied. Incidence rates were collected and compared for the 7 months preceding use of the dressings and for 7 months during the trial period when the dressing was used. After the sacral dressing began being used, the number of unit-acquired sacral pressure ulcers decreased by 3.4 to 7.6 per 1000 patient days depending on the unit. A prophylactic sacral dressing may help prevent unit-acquired sacral pressure ulcers. Implementation of an involved care team with heightened awareness and increased education along with a prophylactic sacral dressing in patients deemed high risk for skin breakdown are all essential for success. ©2016 American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.

  19. Evaluation of Six Split-thickness Skin Graft Donor-site Dressing Materials in a Swine Model

    PubMed Central

    Masella, Pamela C.; Balent, Eric M.; Carlson, Terri L.; Lee, Karen W.

    2013-01-01

    Background: Numerous dressings for split-thickness skin graft donor sites are commercially available with no conclusive evidence-based consensus regarding the optimal dressing choice. This study was conducted to identify which of 5 commonly used materials promotes wound healing most effectively for use on split-thickness donor sites in comparison with our standard dressing, Xeroform (petrolatum gauze). Methods: Twenty-four partial-thickness wounds were created on the backs of 4 pigs using a dermatome. Wounds (n = 4 per dressing type per pig) were treated with Xeroform, Opsite (polyurethane film), Kaltostat ( calcium sodium alginate), DuoDERM (hydrocolloid), Aquacel (hydrofiber), and Mepilex (silicone foam). Full-thickness skin samples were excised at 3 or 5 days and evaluated histologically for reepithelialization and inflammation. Comparisons also included incidence of infection, ease of use, and cost analyses. Results: DuoDERM elicited the greatest percent reepithelialization (81%) and Mepilex the lowest (33%) after 3 days (P = 0.004). All dressings demonstrated complete reepithelialization except Mepilex (85%) at 5 days. There were no infections and inflammation was mild among all treatments. Mepilex was easiest to use, whereas Aquacel, Kaltostat, and Opsite were most difficult (P = 0.03). Xeroform was most cost-effective and Aquacel most expensive. Combined scoring revealed DuoDERM = Xeroform > Opsite = Mepilex > Kaltostat > Aquacel. Conclusions: DuoDERM and Xeroform were most effective overall. DuoDERM tended to outperform all dressings in reepithelialization at 3 days, while Xeroform was least expensive, easy to use, and demonstrated rapid reepithelialization. These findings suggest that Xeroform may be preferred for use on large donor-site areas. DuoDERM may be more appropriate for small donor sites when healing time is a priority. PMID:25289278

  20. Honey as a dressing for chronic wounds in adults.

    PubMed

    Fox, Carolyn

    2002-10-01

    The aim of this review was to identify whether in adults with chronic wounds the use of honey as a wound dressing improves wound management outcomes. As no randomized controlled trials or comparative studies comparing the use of honey as a chronic wound dressing with usual treatment could be found, the review is based on case studies and serial case studies. These were reviewed using a framework broadly based on wound care case study guidelines (Nelson, 2000) and cohort study guidelines (Greenhalgh and Donald, 2000). Based on the case studies reviewed, honey appears to be a useful dressing in adults with chronic wounds, but the available evidence is weak and therefore must be interpreted with caution.

  1. A new methodology for evaluating the damage to the skin barrier caused by repeated application and removal of adhesive dressings.

    PubMed

    Waring, Mike; Bielfeldt, Stephan; Mätzold, Katja; Wilhelm, Klaus-Peter

    2013-02-01

    Chronic wounds require frequent dressing changes. Adhesive dressings used for this indication can be damaging to the stratum corneum, particularly in the elderly where the skin tends to be thinner. Understanding the level of damage caused by dressing removal can aid dressing selection. This study used a novel methodology that applied a stain to the skin and measured the intensity of that stain after repeated application and removal of a series of different adhesive types. Additionally, a traditional method of measuring skin barrier damage (transepidermal water loss) was also undertaken and compared with the staining methodology. The staining methodology and measurement of transepidermal water loss differentiated the adhesive dressings, showing that silicone adhesives caused least trauma to the skin. The staining methodology was shown to be as effective as transepidermal water loss in detecting damage to the stratum corneum and was shown to detect disruption of the barrier earlier than the traditional technique. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

  2. Managers, Teachers, Students, and Parents' Opinions Concerning Changes on Dress Code Practices as an Educational Policy

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Birel, Firat Kiyas

    2016-01-01

    Problem Statement: Dressing for school has been intensely disputed and has led to periodic changes in dress codes since the foundation of the Turkish republic. Practitioners have tried to put some new practices related to school dress codes into practice for redressing former dress code issues involving mandatory dress standards for both students…

  3. Economics of pressure-ulcer care: review of the literature on modern versus traditional dressings.

    PubMed

    San Miguel, L; Torra i Bou, J E; Verdú Soriano, J

    2007-01-01

    Published evidence suggests that some of the benefits of modern dressings--longer wear times and less frequent dressing changes--make them more cost-effective than traditional gauze dressings in pressure ulcer management.

  4. A Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial of Honey-Impregnated Dressing for Treating Diabetic Foot Ulcer.

    PubMed

    Imran, Muhammad; Hussain, Muhammad Barkaat; Baig, Mukhtiar

    2015-10-01

    To investigate the effect of Beri-honey-impregnated dressing on diabetic foot ulcer and compare it with normal saline dressing. A randomized, controlled trial. Sughra Shafi Medical Complex, Narowal, Pakistan and Bhatti International Trust (BIT) Hospital, Affiliated with Central Park Medical College, Lahore, from February 2006 to February 2010. Patients with Wagner's grade 1 and 2 ulcers were enrolled. Those patients were divided in two groups; group A (n=179) treated with honey dressing and group B (n=169) treated with normal saline dressing. Outcome measures were calculated in terms of proportion of wounds completely healed (primary outcome), wound healing time, and deterioration of wounds. Patients were followed-up for a maximum of 120 days. One hundred and thirty six wounds (75.97%) out of 179 were completely healed with honey dressing and 97 (57.39%) out of 169 wtih saline dressing (p=0.001). The median wound healing time was 18.00 (6 - 120) days (Median with IQR) in group A and 29.00 (7 - 120) days (Median with IQR) in group B (p < 0.001). The present results showed that honey is an effective dressing agent instead of conventional dressings, in treating patients of diabetic foot ulcer.

  5. Dress codes and appearance policies: challenges under federal legislation, part 2: title VII of the civil rights act and gender.

    PubMed

    Mitchell, Michael S; Koen, Clifford M; Darden, Stephen M

    2014-01-01

    As more and more individuals express themselves with tattoos and body piercings and push the envelope on what is deemed appropriate in the workplace, employers have an increased need for creation and enforcement of reasonable dress codes and appearance policies. As with any employment policy or practice, an appearance policy must be implemented and enforced without regard to an individual's race, color, gender, national origin, religion, disability, age, or other protected status. A policy governing dress and appearance based on the business needs of an employer that is applied fairly and consistently and does not have a disproportionate effect on any protected class will generally be upheld if challenged in court. By examining some of the more common legal challenges to dress codes and how courts have resolved the disputes, health care managers can avoid many potential problems. This article, the second part of a 3-part examination of dress codes and appearance policies, focuses on the issue of gender under the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Pertinent court cases that provide guidance for employers are addressed.

  6. [A Contrivance for Closure and Dressing of Orocutaneous Fistula Developed in Advanced Oral Cancer].

    PubMed

    Nariai, Yoshiki; Akutsu, Junichi; Okuma, Satoe; Odawara, Sho; Kanno, Takahiro; Sekine, Joji

    2017-11-01

    Orocutaneous fistula sometimes occurs in locallyadvanced unresectable or recurrent oral squamous cell carcinoma. The developed orocutaneous fistula results in constant leakage of saliva, ingested foods and liquids and decline in patients' quality of life(QOL). A 47-year-old Japanese man had received treatment for tongue carcinoma. At the routine follow-up, a cystic lesion in the right submandibular region was detected. Biopsyof the specimen of the cystic lesion revealed squamous cell carcinoma. After chemotherapy, an orocutaneous fistula between the right oropharyngeal and the right submandibular region developed and graduallyincreased. Although closure and dressing of the orocutaneous fistula with various materials was attempted, it was ultimatelyunsuccessful. Finally, application of a rubber film and silicone adhesive agent to the skin was successful for closure and dressing of the fistula. Orocutaneous fistula is one of major contributors to decline in patients' QOL. The sharing of information regarding effective methods or materials for closure and dressing of orocutaneous fistula is necessaryto maintain patients' QOL.

  7. Non-healing foot ulcers in diabetic patients: general and local interfering conditions and management options with advanced wound dressings.

    PubMed

    Uccioli, Luigi; Izzo, Valentina; Meloni, Marco; Vainieri, Erika; Ruotolo, Valeria; Giurato, Laura

    2015-04-01

    Medical knowledge about wound management has improved as recent studies have investigated the healing process and its biochemical background. Despite this, foot ulcers remain an important clinical problem, often resulting in costly, prolonged treatment. A non-healing ulcer is also a strong risk factor for major amputation. Many factors can interfere with wound healing, including the patient's general health status (i.e., nutritional condition indicated by albumin levels) or drugs such as steroids that can interfere with normal healing. Diabetic complications (i.e., renal insufficiency) may delay healing and account for higher amputation rates observed in diabetic patients under dialysis treatment. Wound environment (e.g., presence of neuropathy, ischaemia, and infection) may significantly influence healing by interfering with the physiological healing cascade and adding local release of factors that may worsen the wound. The timely and well-orchestrated release of factors regulating the healing process, observed in acute wounds, is impaired in non-healing wounds that are blocked in a chronic inflammatory phase without progressing to healing. This chronic phase is characterised by elevated protease activity (EPA) of metalloproteinases (MMPs) and serine proteases (e.g., human neutrophil elastase) that interfere with collagen synthesis, as well as growth factor release and action. EPA (mainly MMP 9, MMP-8 and elastase) and inflammatory factors present in the wound bed (such as IL-1, IL-6, and TNFa) account for the catabolic state of non-healing ulcers. The availability of wound dressings that modulate EPA has added new therapeutic options for treating non-healing ulcers. The literature confirms advantages obtained by reducing protease activity in the wound bed, with better outcomes achieved by using these dressings compared with traditional ones. New technologies also allow a physician to know the status of the wound bed environment, particularly EPA, in a clinical

  8. Measuring the microbiome of chronic wounds with use of a topical antimicrobial dressing – A feasibility study

    PubMed Central

    Labbie, Michele; Willing, Benjamin

    2017-01-01

    Background Polymicrobial communities colonize all wounds, and biofilms are hypothesized to be a key link to the chronic state and stalled healing. Molecular methods offer greater insight when studying microbial ecology in chronic wounds, as only a small fraction of wound bacteria are cultured by currently available methods and studies have shown little agreement between culture and molecular based approaches. Some interventions, like dressings with oxidized silver, are reported to help the stalled wounds move to a normal healing trajectory but the underlying mechanisms are difficult to measure. One hypothesis is that the use of topical antimicrobial dressings targets the wound microbiome and reduces bioburden. Objectives Our objective was to determine if culture-independent molecular methods could be used to identify the microbial composition in chronic wounds, and measure the microbiome over time when a topical antimicrobial dressing is used to reduce bioburden. Methods Patients with chronic wounds defined as >6 weeks in duration and not taking systemic antibiotics were recruited to participate. A wound contact layer containing silver oxynitrate was applied immediately after routine sharp debridement material was collected and swabs of the wound bed taken. Next-generation sequencing of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene in each specimen was used to measure the microbiome. Results Distinct bacterial communities were observed between swab and debridement samples, highlighting spatial differences and the importance of sampling consistency. The microbial communities appeared to be similar between different diabetes statuses, but different among the three wound categories included. Conclusions Culture-independent methods can be applied to measure the microbiome of chronic wounds even when a topical antimicrobial dressing is applied to the wound. PMID:29155834

  9. SU-F-T-379: Dosimetric Impacts of Topical Agents and Dressings On Skin in Radiotherapy

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Tse, K; Morley, L; Cashell, A

    Purpose: This study investigated the superficial dose enhancement in the application of topical agents, clinical materials (thermal mask and bolus) and dressings in megavoltage photon beam radiotherapy. Different topical skin agents, clinical materials and dressings were evaluated and compared for their skin dosimetric impacts on the patients during radiation treatment. Methods: Superficial dose enhancements, or percentage doses with and without the studying materials, were measured using the 6 MV (Field size = 10×10 cm{sup 2}) photon beams produced by a Varian TrueBeam linear accelerator. Twelve topical agents, five dressings (dry and wet conditions) and three clinical materials were studied. Amore » solid water phantom was used with a MOSFET dose detector (TN-1002RD, Thomson and Nielsen Electronic, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) located under a 1-mm PMMA slab to measure the skin dose. The distance between the radiation source and phantom surface was set to 100 cm in all measurements. The topical agents were distributed evenly with 1.5 mm thickness using our specific sample holder on the phantom surface. Extrapolations were made of 0.5 mm thickness for the agents to provide meaningful clinical value. Results: By comparing surface doses without studying materials, it is found that no topical agents had superficial dose enhancement higher than the clinical materials namely, thermoplastic mask (128%), 5-mm Superflab™ bolus (158%) and 10-mm Superflab™ bolus (171%) regarding the same thickness. Superficial dose enhancement of dry dressing did not exceed 110.5%, while wet dressings produced higher dose enhancements (133% for wet Mepilex lite and 141% for wet Mepilex Ag transfer). Conclusion: It is concluded that the evaluated topical agents and dry dressings did not increase the superficial dose to a concerning level, even using excessive thickness in every fraction of radiation treatment. Wet dressings were found producing the bolus effect, but was still substantially

  10. Dressings and topical agents for arterial leg ulcers.

    PubMed

    Forster, Rachel; Pagnamenta, Fania

    2015-06-29

    were resolved through discussion. One trial met the inclusion criteria, which was a small trial that compared 2% ketanserin ointment in polyethylene glycol (PEG) with vehicle alone (PEG) control, changed twice a day in 40 participants with arterial leg ulcers. The overall quality of the evidence was low with a single small included study which showed inadequate reporting of the results and had too short a follow-up time (eight weeks) to be able to capture sufficient healing events to allow comparisons to be made. In addition, the study was of low methodological quality. The majority of the 'risk of bias' domains received an 'unclear' risk rating as very little information was provided in the text on the methods of the study. The trial demonstrated increased wound healing in the ketanserin group, compared with the control group, but the trial was too small and had too short a follow-up period (eight weeks) to be able to determine whether there was any difference in healing rates. It should also be noted that ketanserin is not licensed in all countries for use in humans. There is insufficient evidence to determine whether the choice of topical agent or dressing affects the healing of arterial leg ulcers.

  11. Biophysical effects of repetitive removal of adhesive dressings on peri-ulcer skin.

    PubMed

    Zillmer, R; Agren, M S; Gottrup, F; Karlsmark, T

    2006-05-01

    To study the effect of repeated removal of four different adhesive dressings on peri-ulcer skin using quantitative non-invasive techniques. Forty-five patients with open (n = 29) or healed (n = 16) venous leg ulcers were included. Peri-ulcer skin was treated for 14 days with patches of two different hydrocolloid-based adhesive dressings, one polyurethane adhesive and one soft silicone adhesive dressing. Normal skin of the patients' ventral forearm was also treated identically. Adhesive patches of the dressings were replaced every second day. The skin barrier function was assessed by measuring transepidermal water loss and stratum corneum hydration by measuring electrical conductance. Thirty-nine patients completed the study. The hydrocolloid adhesives increased transepidermal water loss and conductance while the polyurethane and soft silicone adhesives did not influence these parameters significantly compared with adjacent non-treated peri-ulcer skin. For normal forearm skin, similar relative effects among the four adhesives were found. Repetitive treatment with hydrocolloid-based adhesive dressings induced major functional alterations of the stratum corneum. In contrast, a polyurethane adhesive and a soft silicone adhesive dressing did not alter transepidermal water loss or conductance of peri-ulcer skin.

  12. Methoxyflurane analgesia for burns dressings

    PubMed Central

    Packer, Kathleen J.

    1972-01-01

    The requirements for analgesia for burns dressings are discussed. Methoxyflurane has proved satisfactory in a clinical trial, and can be administered by one of two types of vaporizer. The possibility of nephrotoxicity due to methoxyflurane has not been eliminated. PMID:5024149

  13. LGBTQ Women, Appearance Negotiations, and Workplace Dress Codes.

    PubMed

    Reddy-Best, Kelly L

    2018-01-01

    The purpose of this study was to explore LGBTQ women's experiences with unwritten or formal dress codes at work. I asked: What are LGBTQ women's experiences in the workplace with appearance management, and what are LGBTQ women's experiences navigating the written and unwritten dress codes in the workplace? To answer the research question, interviews were conducted with 24 self-identifying LGBTQ women. Six key themes emerged from the data. Themes included (1) expressed sexual identity in appearance, (2) unwritten dress codes in work environments did not always allow for expression of sexual identity in appearance, (3) motivations for pressure or desire to conceal expression of sexual identity in appearance at work, (4) negotiations of revealing or concealing sexual identity in appearance in the workplace impacted levels of comfort and confidence, (5) verbal and nonverbal negative experiences related to appearance at work, and (6) received compliments about appearance at work.

  14. [ALEA study. Treatment of chronic wounds infected by the application of silver dressings nanocrystalline combined with dressings hydrocellular].

    PubMed

    Verdú Soriano, José; Nolasco Bonmati, Andreu

    2010-10-01

    This study was conducted with the objective to assess, in real clinical conditions in primary care and geriatric centers, application and utility of nanocrystalline silver dressings dressings combined with hydrocellular in relation to the development during 20 shifts dressing or complete healing of the characteristics of the lesions included in the study Prospective observational multicenter open, repeated measures. It could include injuries of different etiologies (pressure ulcers stage 11-111, lower limb and traumatic wounds or surgical origin), with clinical signs of local infection (at least three of the following: redness, purulent discharge, heat, edema and pain). Only one wound was included per patient. An analysis of effectiveness by intention to treat all lesions included. We recruited 103 patients who met the inclusion criteria but were collected in which 77 patients were used for nanocrystalline silver dressings in some phase of the study, They had a median of 80 years of age and 58.4% were women. By type of injury: 53.2% pressure ulcers, 31.2% lower extremity ulcers and 14.3% traumatic or surgical wounds. Over 50% of the lesions was older than eight months and a larger area of 22.75 cm2. At first, 70.1% had redness, purulent discharge 64.9%, 37.7% heat edema 42.9% and 65.8% pain. Remained in the study a median of 42.5 days at a rate of change of dressing every 2.5. During this time in 96.1% of the lesions were removed for clinical signs of local infection in a statistically significant (p < or = 0.001). 27.3% healed from injuries and those not healed, 92.9% experienced improvement, and its healing curves were statistically significant (p < 0.05). 92.2% of clinicians assessed treatment with these products as good or excellent. The use of the products used in this study consistent with the concept and PLH TIME, has proved useful in this type of injury reducing the clinical signs of infection, promoting granulation tissue and necrotic removing the burden

  15. The role of one-shot learning in #TheDress.

    PubMed

    Drissi Daoudi, Leila; Doerig, Adrien; Parkosadze, Khatuna; Kunchulia, Marina; Herzog, Michael H

    2017-03-01

    #TheDress is remarkable in two aspects. First, there is a bimodal split of the population in the perception of the dress's colors (white/gold vs. black/blue). Second, whereas interobserver variance is high, intra-observer variance is low, i.e., the percept rarely switches in a given individual. There are two plausible routes of explanations: either one-shot learning during the first presentation of the image splits observers into two different, stable populations, or the differences are caused by stable traits of observers, such as different visual systems. Here, we hid large parts of the image by white occluders. The majority of naïve participants perceived the dress as black and blue. With black occluders, the majority of observers perceived the dress as white and gold. The percept did not change when we subsequently presented the full image, arguing for a crucial role of one-shot learning. Next, we investigated whether the first fixation determines the perceived color in naïve observers. We found no such effect. It remains thus a puzzling question where the source of variability in the different percepts comes from.

  16. Enhanced wound contraction in fresh wounds dressed with honey in Wistar rats (Rattus Novergicus).

    PubMed

    Osuagwu, F C; Oladejo, O W; Imosemi, I O; Aiku, A; Ekpos, O E; Salami, A A; Oyedele, O O; Akang, E U

    2004-01-01

    Due to reports that honey accelerates wound healing, an investigation on its role in wound contraction in fresh wounds inflicted on wistar rats was carried out. Twenty adult male wistar rats had 2cm by 2cm square wound inflicted on their right dorsolateral trunk. They were divided into two groups. The experimental group had their wounds dressed with honey while the control group had normal saline dressing. Wound dressing was done every five days and measurements taken at each dressing. Wound morphology was also assessed. Dressing with honey significantly enhanced percentage wound contraction on day 10 with value of 79.20+/-2.94 compared to control value of 53.50+/-4.32. p=0.0. The mean wound measurement on day 10 reduced significantly in honey group, 1.15+/-0.18 compared to control group 2.38+/-0.28. p=0.002. However, there was no significant difference in fibroblast count per high power field in honey group 68.0+/-2.59 compared to control 90.2+/-17.40, p=0.242. Honey dressing increased mean blood vessel count per high power field, 18.8+/-3.77 albeit non significantly when compared to control value of 13.4+/-2.44, p=0.264. Also honey dressing caused increased granulation tissue formation in wounds dressed with honey compared to control group. Our study suggests that honey dressing enhances wound contraction in fresh wounds which is one of the key features of wound healing.

  17. Seeing "the Dress" in the Right Light: Perceived Colors and Inferred Light Sources.

    PubMed

    Chetverikov, Andrey; Ivanchei, Ivan

    2016-08-01

    In the well-known "dress" photograph, people either see the dress as blue with black stripes or as white with golden stripes. We suggest that the perception of colors is guided by the scene interpretation and the inferred positions of light sources. We tested this hypothesis in two online studies using color matching to estimate the colors observers see, while controlling for individual differences in gray point bias and color discrimination. Study 1 demonstrates that the interpretation of the dress corresponds to differences in perceived colors. Moreover, people who perceive the dress as blue-and-black are two times more likely to consider the light source as frontal, than those who see the white-and-gold dress. The inferred light sources, in turn, depend on the circadian changes in ambient light. The interpretation of the scene background as a wall or a mirror is consistent with the perceived colors as well. Study 2 shows that matching provides reliable results on differing devices and replicates the findings on scene interpretation and light sources. Additionally, we show that participants' environmental lighting conditions are an important cue for perceiving the dress colors. The exact mechanisms of how environmental lighting and circadian changes influence the perceived colors of the dress deserve further investigation.

  18. Hemostatic kaolin-polyurethane foam composites for multifunctional wound dressing applications.

    PubMed

    Lundin, Jeffrey G; McGann, Christopher L; Daniels, Grant C; Streifel, Benjamin C; Wynne, James H

    2017-10-01

    There are numerous challenges associated with the acute care of traumatic limb injuries in forward military settings. A lack of immediate medical facilities necessitates that the wound dressing perform multiple tasks including exudate control, infection prevention, and physical protection of the wound for extended periods of time. Here, kaolin was incorporated into recently developed robust polyurethane (PU) hydrogel foams at 1-10wt% in an effort to impart hemostatic character. ATR-IR and gel fraction analysis demonstrated that the facile, one-pot synthesis of the PU hydrogel was unaffected by kaolin loading, as well as the use of a non-toxic catalyst, which significantly improved cytocompatibility of the materials. Kaolin was generally well dispersed throughout the PU matrix, though higher loadings exhibited minor evidence of aggregation. Kaolin-PU composites exhibited burst release of ciprofloxacin over 2h, the initial release rates of which increased with kaolin loading. Kaolin loading imparted excellent hemostatic character to the PU foams at relatively low loading levels (5wt%). This work demonstrates the simple and inexpensive synthesis of robust, hemostatic, and absorptive kaolin-PU foams that have promising potential as multifunctional wound dressing materials. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  19. A study of long-term stability and antimicrobial activity of chlorhexidine, polyhexamethylene biguanide, and silver nanoparticle incorporated in sericin-based wound dressing.

    PubMed

    Ampawong, Sumate; Aramwit, Pornanong

    2017-09-01

    In this study, three kinds of antiseptics which were 0.05% chlorhexidine, 0.2% polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB), or 200 ppm silver nanoparticle was introduced to incorporate in the sericin-based scaffold to produce the antimicrobial dressing for the treatment of infected chronic wound. The effects of antiseptic incorporation on the stability, release of sericin, and short-term and long-term (6 months) antimicrobial activity of the sericin dressing against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria were investigated. We showed that the incorporation of each antiseptic did not have significant effect on the internal morphology (pore size ~ 73-105 μm), elasticity (Young's modulus ~ 200-500 kPa), and the sericin release behavior of the sericin-based dressing. The release of sericin from the dressing was prolonged over 120 h and thereafter. Comparing among three antiseptics, 0.05% chlorhexidine incorporated in the sericin dressing showed the highest immediate and long-term (6 months) antimicrobial effect (largest inhibition zone) against most bacteria either gram-positive or gram-negative bacteria. The in vivo safety test following ISO10993 standard (Biological evaluation of medical devices - Part 6: Tests for local effects after implantation) confirmed that the sericin dressing incorporating 0.05% chlorhexidine did not irritate to tissue, comparing with the commercial material used generally in clinic (Allevyn®, Smith & Nephew). We suggested the sericin dressing incorporating 0.05% chlorhexidine for the treatment of infected chronic wound. Chlorhexidine would reduce the risk of infection while the sericin may promote wound healing.

  20. Enhancing pressure ulcer prevention using wound dressings: what are the modes of action?

    PubMed

    Call, Evan; Pedersen, Justin; Bill, Brian; Black, Joyce; Alves, Paulo; Brindle, C Tod; Dealey, Carol; Santamaria, Nick; Clark, Michael

    2015-08-01

    Recent clinical research has generated interest in the use of sacral wound dressings as preventive devices for patients at risk of ulceration. This study was conducted to identify the modes of action through which dressings can add to pressure ulcer prevention, for example, shear and friction force redistribution and pressure distribution. Bench testing was performed using nine commercially available dressings. The use of dressings can reduce the amplitude of shear stress and friction reaching the skin of patients at risk. They can also effectively redirect these forces to wider areas which minimises the mechanical loads upon skeletal prominences. Dressings can redistribute pressure based upon their effective Poisson ratio and larger deflection areas, providing greater load redistribution. © 2013 The Authors. International Wound Journal © 2013 Medicalhelplines.com Inc and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  1. In Vitro Parallel Evaluation of Antibacterial Activity and Cytotoxicity of Commercially Available Silver-Containing Wound Dressings.

    PubMed

    Yunoki, Shunji; Kohta, Masushi; Ohyabu, Yoshimi; Iwasaki, Tetsuji

    2015-01-01

    This study evaluated the in vitro antibacterial activity and cytotoxicity of various commercially available silver-containing dressings (Ag dressing). Biohesive Ag (hydrocolloid, silver sulfadiazine), Aquacel® Ag (nonwoven fabric, ionic silver [Ag]), Algisite™ Ag (nonwoven fabric, Ag), Mepilex® Ag (foam, silver sulfate), and PolyMem® Ag (foam, nanocrystalline silver) were tested for characteristics of Ag release, antibacterial activity, and cytotoxicity. The release of Ag was investigated in cell culture medium at immersion periods of 6, 24, and 48 hours. The antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were accessed by a disc diffusion test. The cytotoxicity was evaluated using V79 cells, by an extraction method. The cytotoxicity was not a monotonic function of the antibacterial activity among the Ag dressings and could not be simply explained by Ag-release properties. Biohesive Ag was regarded as a slow-release Ag dressing, showing the lowest cytotoxicity, while the antibacterial activity was classified as "strong" or "significant" against the two species of bacteria. Aquacel Ag and Algisite Ag showed higher antibacterial activity and cytotoxic effects, which were supported by the higher Ag release. Mepilex Ag showed the highest release of Ag, and the cytotoxicity was the highest among the Ag dressings. However, the antibacterial activity was classified as "significant" or "no activity" for P. aeruginosa and S. aureus, respectively. PolyMem Ag showed the lowest Ag release, and the antibacterial activity classified as "significant" or "no activity" for S. aureus and P. aeruginosa, respectively, whereas the cytotoxicity was similar to those of Aquacel Ag and Algisite Ag. The efficacy and adverse effects of the Ag dressings revealed differences that should be considered by clinicians during wound management.

  2. Randomized clinical trial to compare negative-pressure wound therapy approaches with low and high pressure, silicone-coated dressing, and polyurethane foam dressing.

    PubMed

    Lavery, Lawrence A; La Fontaine, Javier; Thakral, Gaurav; Kim, Paul J; Bhavan, Kavita; Davis, Kathryn E

    2014-03-01

    This study was designed to compare two approaches to negative-pressure wound therapy: 125-mmHg pressure with a polyurethane foam dressing and 75-mmHg pressure with a silicone-coated dressing. Forty patients with diabetic foot wounds, after incision and drainage or amputation for infection, were assigned randomly to negative-pressure wound therapy with 75-mmHg continuous pressure with a silicone-covered dressing (75-mmHg group) or 125-mmHg with a polyurethane foam dressing (125-mmHg group) for up to 4 weeks or until surgical closure. There was no difference in the proportion of wounds that were closed surgically (75-mmHg group, 50 percent; 125-mmHg group, 60 percent), wounds that demonstrated 50 percent wound area reduction (75-mmHg group, 65 percent; 125-mmHg group, 80 percent), or wounds that demonstrated 50 percent wound volume reduction after 4 weeks of therapy (75-mmHg group, 95 percent; 125-mmHg group, 90 percent). The authors' results suggest that there was no difference in outcomes in wounds treated with low pressure (75 mmHg) with a silicone-coated interface and high pressure (125 mmHg) with a polyurethane foam interface. Therapeutic, II.

  3. Exploratory Development of an Ultra fast-Curing Wound Dressing

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1990-11-30

    sterilization of medical devices. The principle advantage of using ionization techniques is that the dressings can be sterilized in hermetically...containing these combinations were no more advantageous than any of the other combinations; and (2) the existing chromatographic methods were not...Chromatography was performed on an AllTech OctaDecyl Silane I (ODS) column (4.6 mm x 250 mm - 5 u) using 1% acetic acid-methanol (60:40) as the mobile phase

  4. Latino/Hispanic Alzheimer's caregivers experiencing dementia-related dressing issues: corroboration of the Preservation of Self model and reactions to a "smart dresser" computer-based dressing aid.

    PubMed

    Mahoney, Diane Feeney; Coon, David W; Lozano, Cecil

    2016-11-01

    To gain an understanding of Latino/Hispanic caregivers' dementia-related dressing issues, their impressions of using a "smart" context-aware dresser to coach dressing, and recommendations to improve its acceptability. The same Latina moderator conducted all the caregiver focus groups. She followed a semi-structured interview guide that was previously used with White and African American family caregivers who experienced Alzheimer's disease related dressing challenges. From that study, the Preservation of Self model emerged. Using a deductive qualitative analytic approach, we applied the thematic domains from the Preservation of Self model to ascertain relevance to Latino/Hispanic caregivers. Twenty Latino/Hispanic experienced caregivers were recruited, enrolled, and participated in one of three focus groups. The majority were female (75%) and either the spouse (25%) or adult child (35%). Striking similarities occurred with the dressing challenges and alignment with the Preservation of Self model. Ethnic differences arose in concerns over assimilation weakening the Latino culture of family caregiving. Regional clothing preferences were noted. Technology improvement recommendations for our system, called DRESS, included developing bilingual prompting dialogs and video modules using the local vernacular to improve cultural sensitivity. Caregivers identified the potential for the technology to enable user privacy, empowerment, and exercise as well as offering respite time for themselves. Findings suggest dementia-related dressing issues were shared in common by different racial/ethnic groups but the response to them was influenced by cultural dynamics. For the first time Latino/Hispanic voices are heard to reflect their positive technology impressions, concerns, and recommendations in order to begin to address the cultural digital disparities divide.

  5. Impact of School Uniforms on Student Discipline and the Learning Climate: A Comparative Case Study of Two Middle Schools with Uniform Dress Codes and Two Middle Schools without Uniform Dress Codes

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Dulin, Charles Dewitt

    2016-01-01

    The purpose of this research is to evaluate the impact of uniform dress codes on a school's climate for student behavior and learning in four middle schools in North Carolina. The research will compare the perceptions of parents, teachers, and administrators in schools with uniform dress codes against schools without uniform dress codes. This…

  6. Impact of an absorbent silver-eluting dressing system on lower extremity revascularization wound complications.

    PubMed

    Childress, Beverly B; Berceli, Scott A; Nelson, Peter R; Lee, W Anthony; Ozaki, C Keith

    2007-09-01

    Surgical wounds for lower extremity revascularization are prone to infection and dehiscence. Acticoat Absorbent, an antimicrobial dressing, offers sustained release of ionic silver. We hypothesized that immediate application of Acticoat as a postoperative dressing would reduce wound complications in patients undergoing leg revascularization. All infrainguinal revascularization cases involving leg incisions at a single Veterans Administration Medical Center were identified from July 1, 2002, to September 30, 2005. The control group received conventional dressings, while the treatment group received an Acticoat dressing. Wound complication rates were captured via National Surgical Quality Improvement Program data. Patient characteristics and procedure distributions were similar between groups. The wound complication rate fell 64% with utilization of the Acticoat-based dressing (control 14% [17/118], treatment 5% [7/130]; P = 0.016). An Acticoat-based dressing system offers a potentially useful, cost-effective adjunct to reduce open surgical leg revascularization wound complications.

  7. Technics study on high accuracy crush dressing and sharpening of diamond grinding wheel

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jia, Yunhai; Lu, Xuejun; Li, Jiangang; Zhu, Lixin; Song, Yingjie

    2011-05-01

    Mechanical grinding of artificial diamond grinding wheel was traditional wheel dressing process. The rotate speed and infeed depth of tool wheel were main technics parameters. The suitable technics parameters of metals-bonded diamond grinding wheel and resin-bonded diamond grinding wheel high accuracy crush dressing were obtained by a mount of experiment in super-hard material wheel dressing grind machine and by analysis of grinding force. In the same time, the effect of machine sharpening and sprinkle granule sharpening was contrasted. These analyses and lots of experiments had extent instruction significance to artificial diamond grinding wheel accuracy crush dressing.

  8. A prospective, randomised study of a novel transforming methacrylate dressing compared with a silver-containing sodium carboxymethylcellulose dressing on partial-thickness skin graft donor sites in burn patients.

    PubMed

    Assadian, Ojan; Arnoldo, Brett; Purdue, Gary; Burris, Agnes; Skrinjar, Edda; Duschek, Nikolaus; Leaper, David J

    2015-06-01

    This prospective, randomised study compares a new transforming methacrylate dressing (TMD) with a silver-containing carboxymethylcellulose dressing (CMC-Ag) after application to split-thickness skin graft (STSG) donor sites. This was an unblinded, non-inferiority, between-patient, comparison study that involved patients admitted to a single-centre burn unit who required two skin graft donor sites. Each patient's donor sites were covered immediately after surgery: one donor site with TMD and the other with CMC-Ag. The donor sites were evaluated until healing or until 24 days post-application, whichever came first. Study endpoints were time to healing, daily pain scores, number of dressing changes, patient comfort and physicians' and patients' willingness to use the dressings in the future. Nineteen patients had both the dressings applied. No statistically significant difference was noted in time to healing between the two dressings (14·2 days using TMD compared with 13·2 days using CMC-Ag). When pain scores were compared, TMD resulted in statistically significantly less pain at three different time periods (2-5 days, 6-10 days and 11-15 days; P < 0·001 at all time periods). Patients also reported greater comfort with TMD (P < 0·001). Users rated TMD as being less easy to use because of the time and technique required for application. Reductions in pain and increased patient comfort with the use of the TMD dressing, compared with CMC-Ag, were seen as clinical benefits as these are the major issues in donor site management. © 2013 The Authors. International Wound Journal © 2013 Medicalhelplines.com Inc and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  9. Women in relationships with cross-dressing men: a descriptive study from a nonclinical setting.

    PubMed

    Brown, G R

    1994-10-01

    Over a 6-year period, 106 women involved with men who cross-dress (mostly heterosexual transvestites) completed a questionnaire regarding themselves, their male partners, and their relationships. Interview data supplemented these questionnaires for 75% of the respondents. All respondents were recruited from nonclinical settings. The "modal" female partner was a 40-year-old Protestant, Caucasian woman, who was a firstborn child, in her first marriage. She was more likely than other women her age to be childless, and to have earned at least a 2-year college degree. She was no more likely to have had lesbian experiences or substance use problems than comparably aged American women. She had been married to her cross-dressing mate for 13 years and had known of his activities for 9 years. A quarter of women reported at least occasional sexual arousal to their mate's cross-dressing. The two variables associated with low acceptance of cross-dressing were discovery of their partner's cross-dressing after marriage and lack of sexual arousal to cross-dressing stimuli. Low acceptance was unrelated to firstborn status, amount of exposure to cross-dressing activities, or having had children. This group may be more representative of women in relationships with cross-dressing men than previous reports limited to cross-dressers and spouses who are in treatment.

  10. Synthesis and characterization of tragacanth gum based hydrogels by radiation method for use in wound dressing application

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Singh, Baljit; Varshney, Lalit; Francis, Sanju; Rajneesh

    2017-06-01

    Keeping in view the inherent wound healing ability of tragacanth gum (TG), mucoadhesive and gel forming nature of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), in the present work, an attempt has been made to prepare the antibiotic drug 'gentamicin' and analgesic drug 'lidocaine' loaded sterile TG-PVA-PVP hydrogel dressings for care of wound infection and wound pain together. These polymers were characterized by cryo-SEM, AFM, FTIR, XRD, 13C NMR, TGA, DSC and swelling studies. Drug release mechanism and kinetic models, network parameters and other properties like haemolysis, mucoadhesion, water vapor permeability, microbial penetration, antioxidant activities and oxygen permeability were also determined. The results showed wound fluid absorption and slow drug release ability of hydrogel films. These polymer films were found to be blood compatible, permeable to water vapor and O2, and impermeable to microorganism. Further, the synergic effects of mucoadhesive, antimicrobial and antioxidant nature of hydrogel dressings will make them suitable candidate for wound management.

  11. Single and two-mode mechanical squeezing of an optically levitated nanodiamond via dressed-state coherence

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ge, Wenchao; Bhattacharya, M.

    2016-10-01

    Nonclassical states of macroscopic objects are promising for ultrasensitive metrology as well as testing quantum mechanics. In this work, we investigate dissipative mechanical quantum state engineering in an optically levitated nanodiamond. First, we study single-mode mechanical squeezed states by magnetically coupling the mechanical motion to a dressed three-level system provided by a nitrogen-vacancy center in the nanoparticle. Quantum coherence between the dressed levels is created via microwave fields to induce a two-phonon transition, which results in mechanical squeezing. Remarkably, we find that in ultrahigh vacuum quantum squeezing is achievable at room temperature with feedback cooling. For moderate vacuum, quantum squeezing is possible with cryogenic temperature. Second, we present a setup for two mechanical modes coupled to the dressed three levels, which results in two-mode squeezing analogous to the mechanism of the single-mode case. In contrast to previous works, our study provides a deterministic method for engineering macroscopic squeezed states without the requirement for a cavity.

  12. Colour Vision: Understanding #TheDress.

    PubMed

    Brainard, David H; Hurlbert, Anya C

    2015-06-29

    A widely-viewed image of a dress elicits striking individual variation in colour perception. Experiments with multiple variants of the image suggest that the individual differences may arise through the action of visual mechanisms that normally stabilise object colour. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  13. Feasibility of monomodal analgesia with IV alfentanil during burn dressing changes at bedside (in spontaneously breathing non-intubated patients).

    PubMed

    Fontaine, Mathieu; Latarjet, Jacques; Payre, Jacqueline; Poupelin, Jean-Charles; Ravat, François

    2017-03-01

    The severe pain related to repeated burn dressing changes at bedside is often difficult to manage. However these dressings can be performed at bedside on spontaneously breathing non-intubated patients using powerful intravenous opioids with a quick onset and a short duration of action such as alfentanil. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of the protocol which is used in our burn unit for pain control during burn dressing changes. Cohort study began after favorable opinion from local ethic committee has been collected. Patient's informed consent was collected. No fasting was required. Vital signs for patients were continuously monitored (non-invasive blood pressure, ECG monitoring, cutaneous oxygen saturation, respiratory rate) all over the process. Boluses of 500 (±250) mcg IV alfentanil were administered. A continuous infusion was added in case of insufficient analgesia. Adverse reactions were collected and pain intensity was measured throughout the dressing using a ten step verbal rating scale (VRS) ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain conceivable). 100 dressings (35 patients) were analyzed. Median age was 45 years and median burned area 10%. We observed 3 blood pressure drops, 5 oxygen desaturations (treated with stimulation without the necessity of ventilatory support) and one episode of nausea. Most of the patients (87%) were totally conscious during the dressing and 13% were awakened by verbal stimulation. Median total dose of alfentanil used was 2000μg for a median duration of 35min. Pain scores during the procedure were low or moderate (VRS mean=2.0 and maximal VRS=5). Median satisfaction collected 2h after the dressing was 10 on a ten step scale. Pain control with intravenous alfentanil alone is efficient and appears safe for most burn bedside repeated dressings in hospitalized patients. It achieves satisfactory analgesia during and after the procedure. It is now our standard analgesic method to provide repeated

  14. An Assistive Technology System that Provides Personalized Dressing Support for People Living with Dementia: Capability Study.

    PubMed

    Burleson, Winslow; Lozano, Cecil; Ravishankar, Vijay; Lee, Jisoo; Mahoney, Diane

    2018-05-01

    Individuals living with advancing stages of dementia (persons with dementia, PWDs) or other cognitive disorders do not have the luxury of remembering how to perform basic day-to-day activities, which in turn makes them increasingly dependent on the assistance of caregivers. Dressing is one of the most common and stressful activities provided by caregivers because of its complexity and privacy challenges posed during the process. In preparation for in-home trials with PWDs, the aim of this study was to develop and evaluate a prototype intelligent system, the DRESS prototype, to assess its ability to provide automated assistance with dressing that can afford independence and privacy to individual PWDs and potentially provide additional freedom to their caregivers (family members and professionals). This laboratory study evaluated the DRESS prototype's capacity to detect dressing events. These events were engaged in by 11 healthy participants simulating common correct and incorrect dressing scenarios. The events ranged from donning a shirt and pants inside out or backwards to partial dressing-typical issues that challenge a PWD and their caregivers. A set of expected detections for correct dressing was prepared via video analysis of all participants' dressing behaviors. In the initial phases of donning either shirts or pants, the DRESS prototype missed only 4 out of 388 expected detections. The prototype's ability to recognize other missing detections varied across conditions. There were also some unexpected detections such as detection of the inside of a shirt as it was being put on. Throughout the study, detection of dressing events was adversely affected by the relatively smaller effective size of the markers at greater distances. Although the DRESS prototype incorrectly identified 10 of 22 cases for shirts, the prototype preformed significantly better for pants, incorrectly identifying only 5 of 22 cases. Further analyses identified opportunities to improve the

  15. Peroxide-based oxygen generating topical wound dressing for enhancing healing of dermal wounds.

    PubMed

    Chandra, Prafulla K; Ross, Christina L; Smith, Leona C; Jeong, Seon S; Kim, Jaehyun; Yoo, James J; Harrison, Benjamin S

    2015-01-01

    Oxygen generating biomaterials represent a new trend in regenerative medicine that aims to generate and supply oxygen at the site of requirement, to support tissue healing and regeneration. To enhance the healing of dermal wounds, we have developed a highly portable, in situ oxygen generating wound dressings that uses sodium percarbonate (SPO) and calcium peroxide (CPO) as chemical oxygen sources. The dressing continuously generated oxygen for more than 3 days, after which it was replaced. In the in vivo testing on porcine full-thickness porcine wound model, the SPO/CPO dressing showed enhanced wound healing during the 8 week study period. Quantitative measurements of wound healing related parameters, such as wound closure, reepithelialization, epidermal thickness and collagen content of dermis showed that supplying oxygen topically using the SPO/CPO dressing significantly accelerated the wound healing. An increase in neovascularization, as determined using Von Willebrand factor (vWF) and CD31 staining, was also observed in the presence of SPO/CPO dressing. This novel design for a wound dressing that contains oxygen generating biomaterials (SPO/CPO) for supplying topical oxygen, may find utility in treating various types of acute to chronic wounds. © 2015 by the Wound Healing Society.

  16. Nanomaterials from bacterial cellulose for antimicrobial wound dressing

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liyaskina, E.; Revin, V.; Paramonova, E.; Nazarkina, M.; Pestov, N.; Revina, N.; Kolesnikova, S.

    2017-01-01

    Bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) is widely used in biomedical applications. BNC has attracted increasing attention as a novel wound dressing material, but it has no antimicrobial activity. To get over this problem in the present study the BNC was saturated with antibiotic fusidic acid (FA). The subject of the experiment was BNC, produced by bacteria Gluconacetobacter sucrofermentans B-11267. The resulting biocomposites have high antibiotic activity against Staphylococcus aureus and can be used in medicine as a wound dressing. The structure of BNC was analyzed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).

  17. Dressed Hard States and Black Hole Soft Hair.

    PubMed

    Mirbabayi, Mehrdad; Porrati, Massimo

    2016-11-18

    A recent, intriguing Letter by Hawking, Perry, and Strominger suggests that soft photons and gravitons can be regarded as black hole hair and may be relevant to the black hole information paradox. In this Letter we make use of factorization theorems for infrared divergences of the S matrix to argue that by appropriately dressing in and out hard states, the soft-quanta-dependent part of the S matrix becomes essentially trivial. The information paradox can be fully formulated in terms of dressed hard states, which do not depend on soft quanta.

  18. Dressings and topical agents for preventing pressure ulcers.

    PubMed

    Moore, Zena E H; Webster, Joan

    2013-08-18

    Pressure ulcers, which are localised injury to the skin, or underlying tissue or both, occur when people are unable to reposition themselves to relieve pressure on bony prominences. Pressure ulcers are often difficult to heal, painful and impact negatively on the individual's quality of life. The cost implications of pressure ulcer treatment are considerable, compounding the challenges in providing cost effective, efficient health services. Efforts to prevent the development of pressure ulcers have focused on nutritional support, pressure redistributing devices, turning regimes and the application of various topical agents and dressings designed to maintain healthy skin, relieve pressure and prevent shearing forces. Although products aimed at preventing pressure ulcers are widely used, it remains unclear which, if any, of these approaches are effective in preventing the development of pressure ulcers. To evaluate the effects of dressings and topical agents on the prevention of pressure ulcers, in people of any age without existing pressure ulcers, but considered to be at risk of developing a pressure ulcer, in any healthcare setting. In February 2013 we searched the following electronic databases to identify reports of relevant randomised clinical trials (RCTs): the Cochrane Wounds Group Specialised Register; the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library); Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (The Cochrane Library); Ovid MEDLINE; Ovid MEDLINE (In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations); Ovid EMBASE; and EBSCO CINAHL. We included RCTs evaluating the use of dressings, topical agents, or topical agents with dressings, compared with a different dressing, topical agent, or combined topical agent and dressing, or no intervention or standard care, with the aim of preventing the development of a pressure ulcer. We assessed trials for their appropriateness for inclusion and for their risk of bias. This was done by two review

  19. Wound dressings from naturally-occurring polymers: A review on homopolysaccharide-based composites.

    PubMed

    Naseri-Nosar, Mahdi; Ziora, Zyta Maria

    2018-06-01

    Wound dressings are designed to support the wound bed and protect it from the factors that may delay or impede its healing such as contaminations and moisture-loss, thereby facilitating and accelerating the healing process. The materials used to prepare wound dressings include natural and synthetic polymers, as well as their combinations, in the forms of films, sponges and hydrogels. Polysaccharides are naturally-occurring polymers that have been extensively used as wound dressing materials. Homopolysaccharides are a class of polysaccharides consist of only one type of monosaccharide. The current review intends to overview the studies in which wound dressings from naturally-occurring polymers, based on homopolysaccharides, were prepared and evaluated. Homopolysaccharides such as cellulose, chitosan, chitin, pullulan, starch and β-glucan were considered. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  20. Dressings as an adjunct to pressure ulcer prevention: consensus panel recommendations.

    PubMed

    Black, Joyce; Clark, Michael; Dealey, Carol; Brindle, Christopher T; Alves, Paulo; Santamaria, Nick; Call, Evan

    2015-08-01

    The formulation of recommendations on the use of wound dressings in pressure ulcer prevention was undertaken by a group of experts in pressure ulcer prevention and treatment from Australia, Portugal, UK and USA. After review of literature, they concluded that there is adequate evidence to recommend the use of five-layer silicone bordered dressings (Mepilex Border Sacrum(®) and 3 layer Mepilex Heel(®) dressings by Mölnlycke Health Care, Gothenburg, Sweden) for pressure ulcer prevention in the sacrum, buttocks and heels in high-risk patients, those in Emergency Department (ED), intensive care unit (ICU) and operating room (OR). Literature on which this recommendation is based includes one prospective randomised control trial, three cohort studies and two case series. Recommendations for dressing use in patients at high risk for pressure injury and shear injury were also provided. © 2014 The Authors. International Wound Journal © 2014 Medicalhelplines.com Inc and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  1. Dressings and Products in Pediatric Wound Care

    PubMed Central

    King, Alice; Stellar, Judith J.; Blevins, Anne; Shah, Kara Noelle

    2014-01-01

    Significance: The increasing complexity of medical and surgical care provided to pediatric patients has resulted in a population at significant risk for complications such as pressure ulcers, nonhealing surgical wounds, and moisture-associated skin damage. Wound care practices for neonatal and pediatric patients, including the choice of specific dressings or other wound care products, are currently based on a combination of provider experience and preference and a small number of published clinical guidelines based on expert opinion; rigorous evidence-based clinical guidelines for wound management in these populations is lacking. Recent Advances: Advances in the understanding of the pathophysiology of wound healing have contributed to an ever-increasing number of specialized wound care products, most of which are predominantly marketed to adult patients and that have not been evaluated for safety and efficacy in the neonatal and pediatric populations. This review aims to discuss the available data on the use of both more traditional wound care products and newer wound care technologies in these populations, including medical-grade honey, nanocrystalline silver, and soft silicone-based adhesive technology. Critical Issues: Evidence-based wound care practices and demonstration of the safety, efficacy, and appropriate utilization of available wound care dressings and products in the neonatal and pediatric populations should be established to address specific concerns regarding wound management in these populations. Future Directions: The creation and implementation of evidence-based guidelines for the treatment of common wounds in the neonatal and pediatric populations is essential. In addition to an evaluation of currently marketed wound care dressings and products used in the adult population, newer wound care technologies should also be evaluated for use in neonates and children. In addition, further investigation of the specific pathophysiology of wound healing in

  2. Wound Healing Potential of Intermittent Negative Pressure under Limited Access Dressing in Burn Patients: Biochemical and Histopathological Study

    PubMed Central

    Muguregowda, Honnegowda Thittamaranahalli; Kumar, Pramod; Govindarama, Padmanabha Udupa Echalasara

    2018-01-01

    BACKGROUND Malondialdehyde (MDA) is an oxidant that causes damage to membranes, DNA, proteins, and lipids at the cellular level. Antioxidants minimize the effects of oxidants and thus help in formation of healthy granulation tissues with higher level of hydroxyproline and total protein. This study compared the effect of limited access dressing (LAD) with conventional closed dressing biochemically and histopathologically. METHODS Seventy-two 12-65 years old burn patients with mean wound size of 14 cm2 were divided to two groups of LAD (n=37), and conventional dressing groups (n=35). Various biochemical parameters were measured in granulation tissue. Histopathological analysis of the granulation tissue was studied too. RESULTS LAD group showed significant increase in hydroxyproline, total protein, GSH, and GPx and decrease in MDA levels compared to conventional dressing group. A significant negative correlation between GSH and MDA was noted in LAD group, but in conventional dressing group there was no significant correlation. A significant negative correlation between GPx and MDA was noticed in LAD group, but in conventional dressing group was not significant. There was a histologically fewer inflammatory cells, increased and well organized extracellular matrix deposit, more angiogenesis in LAD group after 10 days while the difference was significant between the groups. CONCLUSION Our study showed a significant reduction in oxidative stress biomarker of MDA, increase in hydroxyproline, total protein, antioxidants and amount of ECM deposition, number of blood vessels and a decrease in the amount of inflammatory cells and necrotic tissues in LAD group indicating the better healing effect of burn wounds. PMID:29651393

  3. Painful dressing changes for chronic wounds: assessment and management.

    PubMed

    Solowiej, Kazia; Upton, Dominic

    Wound pain can arise from the wound itself, continuing wound treatment and anticipatory pain, which occurs in some patients as a consequence of negative experiences of care. Specifically, pain caused by the removal and application of dressings has been identified as a major contributor to wound pain, from both patient and health professional perspectives. This article reviews literature on the impact of pain at dressing change, and provides practical suggestions for assessment and management of pain during wound care.

  4. Counterconformity: An Attribution Model of Adolescents' Uniqueness-Seeking Behaviors in Dressing

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Ling, I-Ling

    2008-01-01

    This article explores how an attribution model will illustrate uniqueness-seeking behavior in dressing in the Taiwanese adolescent subculture. The study employed 443 senior high school students. Results show that the tendency of uniqueness-seeking behavior in dressing is moderate. However, using cluster analysis to segment the counterconformity…

  5. DRESS syndrome with thrombotic microangiopathy revealing a Noonan syndrome

    PubMed Central

    Bobot, Mickaël; Coen, Matteo; Simon, Clémentine; Daniel, Laurent; Habib, Gilbert; Serratrice, Jacques

    2018-01-01

    Abstract Rationale: The life-threatening drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome occurs most commonly after exposure to drugs, clinical features mimic those found with other serious systemic disorders. It is rarely associated with thrombotic microangiopathy. Patient concerns: We describe the unique case of a 44-year-old man who simultaneously experienced DRESS syndrome with thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) after a 5 days treatment with fluindione. Diagnoses: Clinical evaluation leads to the discovery of an underlying lymphangiomatosis, due to a Noonan syndrome. Intervetions: The anticoagulant was withdrawn, and corticosteroids (1 mg/kg/day) and acenocoumarol were started. Outcomes: Clinical improvement ensued. At follow-up the patient is well. Lessons: The association of DRESS with TMA is a rare condition; we believe that the presence of the underlying Noonan syndrome could have been the trigger. Moreover, we speculate about the potential interrelations between these entities. PMID:29642153

  6. Elastic adhesive dressing treatment of bleeding wounds in trauma victims.

    PubMed

    Naimer, S A; Chemla, F

    2000-11-01

    Conventional methods for hemorrhage control in the trauma patient fall short of providing a full solution for the life-threatening bleeding injury. The tourniquet is limited specifically to injuries of the distal limbs. Local pressure or tight bandaging with military bandages is cumbersome and often insufficient. Therefore, we sought a superior method to stop bleeding in emergency situations. Our objective is report and description of our experience with this method. Since 1992 our trauma team repeatedly encountered multiple trauma victims presenting with bleeding wounds. We achieved hemorrhage control by means of an adhesive elastic bandage applied directly over a collection of 4 x 4 gauze pads placed on the wound surface. The roll is then wrapped around the body surface, over the bleeding site, until sufficient pressure is reached to terminate ongoing hemorrhage. Three typical cases are described in detail. Adhesive elastic dressing compression was successful in fully controlling bleeding without compromise of distal blood flow. Our method corresponded to the demand for an immediate, effective and lasting form of hemorrhage control without complications. Furthermore, this technique proved successful even over body surfaces normally recognized as difficult to compress. We experienced equal favorable success while working during transit by either ambulance or helicopter transportation. We find our preliminary experience using elastic adhesive dressing for bleeding control encouraging and suggest that this may substitute existing practices as the selected treatment when indicated. This method is presently underrecognized for this purpose. Development of a single unit bandage may further enhance success in the future.

  7. Sulthiame-induced drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome.

    PubMed

    Fong, Choong Yi; Hashim, Nurmaira; Gan, Chin Seng; Chow, Tak Kuan; Tay, Chee Geap

    2016-11-01

    Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome is a rare and potentially life-threatening acute drug-induced hypersensitivity reaction. Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) predominantly aromatic AEDs are commonly reported in DRESS. To date there are no reports of sulthiame AED causing DRESS syndrome. We report a 10-year-old girl of Indian descent with AED resistant epilepsy on maintenance sodium valproate and clonazepam. Sulthiame AED was initiated to try to improve her seizure control. Five weeks after commencing sulthiame, she developed fever with a diffuse erythematous morbilliform maculopapular rash, elevated transaminases and atypical lymphocytes. At day 3 of illness, she deteriorated with worsening elevation of liver transaminases, thrombocytopenia, progression of rash, hepatosplenomegaly, pneumonitis and markedly elevated inflammatory markers. Immunomodulatory treatment of pulse methylprednisolone was given from day 7 which was associated with improvement inflammatory markers and complete resolution of rash from day 30 of illness. The diagnosis of sulthiame-induced DRESS syndrome was made based on clinical, laboratory and skin histology findings. She was HLA-B heterozygous for HLA-B ∗ 15:123 and 15:240 and HLA-A homozygous for HLA-A ∗ 11:01:09. Both these HLA-A and HLA-B typing has not been reported before in cutaneous drug reactions. This is the first reported case of sulthiame-induced DRESS syndrome. Our case expands the list of possible susceptible HLA alleles associated with cutaneous drug reactions. It also raises the awareness of possible DRESS syndrome among patients commenced on sulthiame who will require immediate discontinuation of sulthiame and consideration of prompt treatment of corticosteroids. Copyright © 2016 European Paediatric Neurology Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  8. Effectiveness of bridge V.A.C. dressings in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers

    PubMed Central

    Nather, Aziz; Hong, Ng Yau; Lin, Wong Keng; Sakharam, Joshi Abhijit

    2011-01-01

    Objectives This is a prospective study of the clinical efficacy of the V.A.C. Granufoam Bridge Dressing for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers. Materials and methods Five consecutive patients with diabetic foot ulcers were treated with V.A.C. Granufoam Bridge Dressings and studied over a period of 22–48 days. The indications for treatment included diabetic patients with open ray amputation wounds and wounds post-drainage for abscess with exposed deep structures. Clinical outcome was measured in terms of reduction in wound dimensions, presence of wound granulation, microbial clearance, and development of wound complications. Results Our results showed that with V.A.C. therapy, wound healing occurred in all patients. The number of dressings required ranged from 8 to 10. The baseline average wound size was 23.1 cm2. Wound areas shrunk by 18.4–41.7%. All subjects achieved 100% wound bed granulation with an average length of treatment of 33 days. Microbial clearance was achieved in all cases. All wounds healed by secondary intention in one case and four cases required split-thickness skin grafting. Conclusion The V.A.C. Granufoam Bridge Dressing is effective in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers. It promotes reduction of wound area, wound bed granulation, and microbial clearance. By allowing placement of the suction pad outside the foot, it allowed patients to wear protective shoes and to walk non-weight bearing with crutches during V.A.C. therapy. PMID:22396825

  9. Theoretical derivation of laser-dressed atomic states by using a fractal space

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Duchateau, Guillaume

    2018-05-01

    The derivation of approximate wave functions for an electron submitted to both a Coulomb and a time-dependent laser electric fields, the so-called Coulomb-Volkov (CV) state, is addressed. Despite its derivation for continuum states does not exhibit any particular problem within the framework of the standard theory of quantum mechanics (QM), difficulties arise when considering an initially bound atomic state. Indeed the natural way of translating the unperturbed momentum by the laser vector potential is no longer possible since a bound state does not exhibit a plane wave form explicitly including a momentum. The use of a fractal space permits to naturally define a momentum for a bound wave function. Within this framework, it is shown how the derivation of laser-dressed bound states can be performed. Based on a generalized eikonal approach, a new expression for the laser-dressed states is also derived, fully symmetric relative to the continuum or bound nature of the initial unperturbed wave function. It includes an additional crossed term in the Volkov phase which was not obtained within the standard theory of quantum mechanics. The derivations within this fractal framework have highlighted other possible ways to derive approximate laser-dressed states in QM. After comparing the various obtained wave functions, an application to the prediction of the ionization probability of hydrogen targets by attosecond XUV pulses within the sudden approximation is provided. This approach allows to make predictions in various regimes depending on the laser intensity, going from the non-resonant multiphoton absorption to tunneling and barrier-suppression ionization.

  10. Mepilex Ag: an antimicrobial, absorbent foam dressing with Safetac technology.

    PubMed

    Barrett, Simon

    This article examines the role of a unique dressing-Mepilex Ag--that incorporates the rapid and sustained antimicrobial action of ionic silver with the benefits of Safetac soft silicone adhesive technology. The combined attributes of each component of this dressing allow both the control of pain and infection to be achieved simultaneously. This dual approach to the management of wounds is of significance since the evidence suggests that wound infection and the release of pro-inflammatory modulators result in both local pain and delayed healing. In this respect the control and treatment of pain is as important as the treatment of infection itself. A review of the clinical evidence relating to Safetac technology clearly demonstrates that it can be used to prevent dressing-related trauma, minimize pain at dressing change, and control exudate when used on a wide range of wound types and skin injuries. In combination with silver, this technology has been shown in in-vitro studies to have an almost instant and sustainable antimicrobial effect on a broad range of pathogens associated with delayed healing. Finally, in small clinical and case studies, Mepilex Ag has been shown to control wound bioburden and improve healing rates.

  11. The effect of negative pressure wound therapy with antibacterial dressings or antiseptics on an in vitro wound model.

    PubMed

    Matiasek, J; Domig, K J; Djedovic, G; Babeluk, R; Assadian, O

    2017-05-02

    The aim of this study was to investigate the bacterial bioburden in experimental in vitro wounds during the application of conventional negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT), with and without antimicrobial dressings (polyhexanide, silver), against NPWT instillation of octenidine. Experimental wounds produced in an in vitro porcine wound model were homogenously contaminated with bacterial suspension and treated with NPWT and different options. Group A: non-antimicrobial polyurethane foam dressing; group B: antimicrobial polyurethane foam dressing containing silver; group C: antimicrobial gauze dressing containing polyhexanide; group D: non-antimicrobial polyurethane foam dressing intermittently irrigated with octenidine; group E: negative control (non-antimicrobial polyurethane foam dressing without NPWT). Standard biopsies were harvested after 24 and 28 hours. This study demonstrated that the use of NPWT with intermitted instillation of octenidine (group D) or application of silver-based polyurethane foam dressings (group B) is significantly superior against Staphylococcus aureus colonisation in experimental wounds compared with non-antimicrobial polyurethane foam dressing (group A) after 48 hours. Surprisingly, the polyhexanide-based dressing (group C) used in this model showed no statistical significant effect compared with the control group (group E) after 24 or 48 hours of treatment. Both intermitted instillation of octenidine and silver-based dressings in standard NPWT were significantly superior compared with non-antimicrobial polyurethane foam dressings or PHMB coated gauze dressing after 48 hours.

  12. Formulation of Novel Layered Sodium Carboxymethylcellulose Film Wound Dressings with Ibuprofen for Alleviating Wound Pain

    PubMed Central

    Vinklárková, Lenka; Vetchý, David; Bernatonienė, Jurga

    2015-01-01

    Effective assessment and management of wound pain can facilitate both improvements in healing rates and overall quality of life. From a pharmacological perspective, topical application of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the form of film wound dressings may be a good choice. Thus, the aim of this work was to develop novel layered film wound dressings containing ibuprofen based on partially substituted fibrous sodium carboxymethylcellulose (nonwoven textile Hcel NaT). To this end, an innovative solvent casting method using a sequential coating technique has been applied. The concentration of ibuprofen which was incorporated as an acetone solution or as a suspension in a sodium carboxymethylcellulose dispersion was 0.5 mg/cm2 and 1.0 mg/cm2 of film. Results showed that developed films had adequate mechanical and swelling properties and an advantageous acidic surface pH for wound application. An in vitro drug release study implied that layered films retained the drug for a longer period of time and thus could minimize the frequency of changing the dressing. Films with suspended ibuprofen demonstrated higher drug content uniformity and superior in vitro drug release characteristics in comparison with ibuprofen incorporation as an acetone solution. Prepared films could be potential wound dressings for the effective treatment of wound pain in low exuding wounds. PMID:26090454

  13. Effect of music intervention on burn patients' pain and anxiety during dressing changes.

    PubMed

    Hsu, Kuo-Cheng; Chen, Li Fen; Hsiep, Pi Hsia

    2016-12-01

    For burn patients, the daily dressing process causes pain and anxiety. Although drugs can relieve them, the degree of pain during dressing changes is often moderate to severe. Therefore, relevant supporting interventions, like music as an ideal intervention, could alleviate the patient's pain. This study investigated the impact of music intervention at dressing change time on burn patients' pain and anxiety. This was a prospective, randomized clinical trial; patients were randomly assigned into control (standard intervention) and experimental groups (crystal music intervention) for five consecutive days (35 patients in each group). Patients' pain and anxiety measurements were collected before, during, and after dressing changes and morphine usage was recorded. The study period was October 2014 to September 2015. There was no difference in morphine dosage for both groups. By the fourth day of music intervention, burn patients' pain before, during, and after dressing changes had significantly decreased; anxiety on the fourth day during and after dressing changes had also significantly decreased. Nurses may use ordered prescription analgesics, but if non-pharmacological interventions are increased, such as providing timely music intervention and creating a friendly, comfortable hospital environment, patients' pain and anxiety will reduce. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd and ISBI. All rights reserved.

  14. Economic impact of Tegaderm chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) dressing in critically ill patients.

    PubMed

    Thokala, Praveen; Arrowsmith, Martin; Poku, Edith; Martyn-St James, Marissa; Anderson, Jeff; Foster, Steve; Elliott, Tom; Whitehouse, Tony

    2016-09-01

    To estimate the economic impact of a Tegaderm TM chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) gel dressing compared with a standard intravenous (i.v.) dressing (defined as non-antimicrobial transparent film dressing), used for insertion site care of short-term central venous and arterial catheters (intravascular catheters) in adult critical care patients using a cost-consequence model populated with data from published sources. A decision analytical cost-consequence model was developed which assigned each patient with an indwelling intravascular catheter and a standard dressing, a baseline risk of associated dermatitis, local infection at the catheter insertion site and catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSI), estimated from published secondary sources. The risks of these events for patients with a Tegaderm CHG were estimated by applying the effectiveness parameters from the clinical review to the baseline risks. Costs were accrued through costs of intervention (i.e. Tegaderm CHG or standard intravenous dressing) and hospital treatment costs depended on whether the patients had local dermatitis, local infection or CRBSI. Total costs were estimated as mean values of 10,000 probabilistic sensitivity analysis (PSA) runs. Tegaderm CHG resulted in an average cost-saving of £77 per patient in an intensive care unit. Tegaderm CHG also has a 98.5% probability of being cost-saving compared to standard i.v. dressings. The analyses suggest that Tegaderm CHG is a cost-saving strategy to reduce CRBSI and the results were robust to sensitivity analyses.

  15. Multi-dressing suppression and enhancement and all-optical switching in parametrically amplified four-wave mixing

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Xinghua; Zhang, Dan; Sun, Ming; Li, Kangkang; Wang, Zhiguo; Zhang, Yanpeng

    2018-04-01

    We study different dressing effects in parametrically amplified four-wave mixing (PA-FWM) processes. By seeding a weak probe laser into the Stokes or anti-Stokes channel of the FWM, the gain process is generated in the so-called bright twin beams which are the probe and conjugate beams. The dressing types dramatically affect the gain factors in both the probe and conjugate channels. The gain factor of the FWM signal decreases under the cascade-type dressing and the signal's shape splits into two dips under this dressing type. However, the intensity of the FWM signal changes from suppression to enhancement under the parallel-type dressing. We will apply this switching process to all-optical switching.

  16. French national wound management survey: choice criteria of dressings.

    PubMed

    Meaume, Sylvie; Barrois, Brigitte; Faucher, Nathalie

    Across Europe, wound care management is organized differently, and in some countries such as the UK or Denmark, wound healing centres have been implemented. In France, a large number of health professionals are not sufficiently educated in wound care management during their vocational training. The rapid evolution of dressings has changed wound management practices and has given rise to new professional recommendations. This national survey was carried out in France in 2009, including 465 health professionals, to determine the criteria they use to choose a dressing and their habits of care with acute or chronic wounds. Around 73% of respondents were nurses and, on average, participants took care of 43 wounds per month. It was also found that 89% of the health professionals who took part prefer the sequential treatment of the wound based on its appearance. Regardless of whether the wound is acute or chronic, the priorities for wound care and the choice of dressing are the management of the exudate and the prevention or treatment of infection. These results put into evidence the adequacy of the recommendations by these practitioners and the good correlation between the choice of dressing and the local therapeutic goal. To reach the same level of expertise, the professional training for health professionals who are less frequently involved in wound care is necessary.

  17. [Modern biomaterials as hemostatic dressings in kidney nephron sparing surgery (NSS)--murine model. A preliminary report].

    PubMed

    Nowacki, Maciej; Jundziłł, Arkadiusz; Bieniek, Miłosz; Kowalczyk, Tomasz; Kloskowski, Tomasz; Drewa, Tomasz

    2012-01-01

    Kidney cancer is now days, one of the main problems in oncological urology. More frequent cases detection of this type of cancer and the implementation of modern methods of treatment, involves the public and good diagnostic radiological imaging methods. Approximately 40% of renal tumors are detected clinically as a changes in T1N0M0 stage. This means that in these patients, surgery can be performed using the method of nephron sparing surgery (NSS), far from consisting the implementation of radical nephrectomy. Unfortunately, despite the saving nature of this type of treatment, NSS methods are associated with local recurrence of tumor formation. Another problem is intra operative bleeding, that's why in order to stop this negative process surgeons currently use hemostatic dressings. Potentially and clinically significant solution could be a combination of this two main problematics points of concern, through the use of modern biomaterials coated on oncostatic substances as a haemostatic dressings, to the prevention of tumor recurrence. The aim of this work, was to present preliminary report of the use of advanced biomaterials, as haemostatic dressings in an experimental technique of nephron sparing surgery on an murine model. In the experiment we use two types of biomaterials and the standard haemostatic dressing used in the nephron sparing surgery (NSS) as a control. We use a polycaprolactone biomaterial obtained by electrospinning. As a second type of biomaterial, we use a homogeneous material with a structure similar to wool, also obtained from medical polycaprolactone by electrospinning. As an murine (in vivo) model in the study, we use 10 C57BL/J mice (with the local ethical committee permission). 8 mice were used in the present study, 2 mice were constituted as a separate control for obtaining the bleeding data. Kidney melanoma cells were implanted under the C57B1/J B16 mouse kidney fibrous capsule, one week before NSS. After 3 weeks the animals were

  18. Comparison of DNA Damage and Apoptosis Induced By Silver Nanoparticle-containing Dressing Materials During Wound Healing.

    PubMed

    Choi, Young Suk; Gwak, Heui-Chul; Park, Jae Keun; Lim, Ji Yun; Yeo, Eui Dong; Park, Eunseok; Kim, Junyong; Lee, Young Koo

    2018-04-13

    Silver nanoparticle (AgNP)-containing dressings are used worldwide for the treatment of wounds; however, many studies have indicated that AgNPs are toxic to humans and cause cell death, primarily via apoptosis. In this study, the investigators compare the apoptotic effects of various AgNP dressing materials, with the hypothesis that nanosilver would be less toxic than ionic silver. For the in vivo experiments, Sprague-Dawley (SD) and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats were treated with 5 dressing materials: Aquacel Ag (product A, silver ion; ConvaTec, Berkshire, UK), Acticoat (product B, AgNP; Smith & Nephew, Fort Worth, TX), Medifoam Silver (product C, silver ion; Genewel Science Co Ltd, Seongnam, South Korea), PolyMem Silver (product D, AgNP; Ferris Mfg Corp, Fort Worth, TX), and Vaseline-impregnated dressing gauze (control; Unilever, London, UK). All treatments were applied 3 times per week. After 14 days of treatment, the SD and STZ rats were euthanized, and wound samples were examined for apoptosis. The analysis included immunohistochemistry, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining, Western blotting, and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction for a semiquantitative evaluation of apoptosis. The AgNP-containing dressing materials were more cytotoxic than the silver dressings. Compared with the AgNP dressing materials, no significant levels of apoptotic factors were observed in the silver dressing-treated wounds. The TUNEL staining showed that product C-dressed wounds contained the most apoptotic cells, while some apoptotic cells were observed in product B-dressed wounds. Moreover, apoptotic gene expression was altered, including a decline in B-cell lymphoma-2 and activation of caspase-3. This was most evident in wounds treated with product C. Interestingly, apoptotic gene expression was not induced in product A-treated wounds. Finally, product D had a relatively lower silver concentration and was less toxic

  19. Feasibility study of the sterilization of pigskin used as wound dressings by neutral electrolyzed water.

    PubMed

    Ge, Liangpeng; Zhang, Xiaochun; Cao, Chuan; Gu, Zhaobin; Liu, Zuohua; Liu, Lubin; Lin, Baozhong

    2012-06-01

    Neutral electrolyzed water (NEW) is considered to be a high-level biodegradable disinfectant with sporicidal, bactericidal, and virucidal activity. It has also been reported to accelerate wound healing; thus, it is particularly attractive for the elimination or minimization of the microbial population of skin grafts to be used as wound dressings. Pigskins were sterilized with different concentrations of NEW and with different methods. The feasibility of pigskin sterilization by NEW was evaluated through microbiological analyses, viability assays, histologic assessments, contact cytotoxicity assays, and extract cytotoxicity assays. NEW has strong bactericidal effects on pigskin microorganisms, does not change skin graft histologic properties, and has no cytotoxicity; however, skin viability was significantly reduced after NEW treatment. Although NEW treatment is a very safe and effective method for nonviable pigskin dressing sterilization, to obtain a complete sterilization of pigskin grafts, available chlorine concentration of NEW as well as sterilization time and methods should be optimized. Copyright © 2012 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

  20. Papain incorporated chitin dressings for wound debridement sterilized by gamma radiation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Singh, Durgeshwer; Singh, Rita

    2012-11-01

    Wound debridement is essential for the removal of necrotic or nonviable tissue from the wound surface to create an environment conducive to healing. Nonsurgical enzymatic debridement is an attractive method due to its effectiveness and ease of use. Papain is a proteolytic enzyme derived from the fruit of Carica papaya and is capable of breaking down a variety of necrotic tissue substrates. The present study was focused on the use of gamma radiation for sterilization of papain dressing with wound debriding activity. Membranes with papain were prepared using 0.5% chitin in lithium chloride/dimethylacetamide solvent and sterilized by gamma radiation. Fluid absorption capacity of chitin-papain membranes without glycerol was 14.30±6.57% in 6 h. Incorporation of glycerol resulted in significant (p<0.001) increase in the absorption capacity. Moisture vapour transmission rate of the membranes was 4285.77±455.61 g/m2/24 h at 24 h. Gamma irradiation at 25 kGy was found suitable for sterilization of the dressings. Infrared (IR) spectral scanning has shown that papain was stable on gamma irradiation at 25-35 kGy. The irradiated chitin-papain membranes were impermeable to different bacterial strains and also exhibited strong bactericidal action against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The fluid handling characteristics and the antimicrobial properties of chitin-papain membranes sterilized by gamma radiation were found suitable for use as wound dressing with debriding activity.

  1. Airborne bacterial dispersal during and after dressing and bed changes on burns patients.

    PubMed

    Bache, Sarah E; Maclean, Michelle; Gettinby, George; Anderson, John G; MacGregor, Scott J; Taggart, Ian

    2015-02-01

    It is acknowledged that activities such as dressing changes and bed sheet changes are high-risk events; creating surges in levels of airborne bacteria. Burns patients are particularly high dispersers of pathogens; due to their large, often contaminated, wound areas. Prevention of nosocomial cross-contamination is therefore one of the major challenges faced by the burns team. In order to assess the contribution of airborne spread of bacteria, air samples were taken repeatedly throughout and following these events, to quantify levels of airborne bacteria. Air samples were taken at 3-min intervals before, during and after a dressing and bed change on a burns patient using a sieve impaction method. Following incubation, bacterial colonies were enumerated to calculate bacterial colony forming units per m(3) (cfu/m(3)) at each time point. Statistical analysis was performed, whereby the period before the high-risk event took place acted as a control period. The periods during and after the dressing and bed sheet changes were examined for significant differences in airborne bacterial levels relative to the control period. The study was carried out four times, on three patients with burns between 35% total burn surface area (TBSA) and 51% TBSA. There were significant increases in airborne bacteria levels, regardless of whether the dressing change or bed sheet change took place first. Of particular note, is the finding that significantly high levels (up to 2614cfu/m(3)) of airborne bacteria were shown to persist for up to approximately 1h after these activities ended. This is the most accurate picture to date of the rapidly changing levels of airborne bacteria within the room of a burns patient undergoing a dressing change and bed change. The novel demonstration of a significant increase in the airborne bacterial load during these events has implications for infection control on burns units. Furthermore, as these increased levels remained for approximately 1h afterwards

  2. Early versus delayed dressing removal after primary closure of clean and clean-contaminated surgical wounds.

    PubMed

    Toon, Clare D; Lusuku, Charnelle; Ramamoorthy, Rajarajan; Davidson, Brian R; Gurusamy, Kurinchi Selvan

    2015-09-03

    Most surgical procedures involve a cut in the skin that allows the surgeon to gain access to the deeper tissues or organs. Most surgical wounds are closed fully at the end of the procedure (primary closure). The surgeon covers the closed surgical wound with either a dressing or adhesive tape. The dressing can act as a physical barrier to protect the wound until the continuity of the skin is restored (within about 48 hours) and to absorb exudate from the wound, keeping it dry and clean, and preventing bacterial contamination from the external environment. Some studies have found that the moist environment created by some dressings accelerates wound healing, although others believe that the moist environment can be a disadvantage, as excessive exudate can cause maceration (softening and deterioration) of the wound and the surrounding healthy tissue. The utility of dressing surgical wounds beyond 48 hours of surgery is, therefore, controversial. To evaluate the benefits and risks of removing a dressing covering a closed surgical incision site within 48 hours permanently (early dressing removal) or beyond 48 hours of surgery permanently with interim dressing changes allowed (delayed dressing removal), on surgical site infection. In March 2015 we searched the following electronic databases: The Cochrane Wounds Group Specialised Register; The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library); Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE) (The Cochrane Library); Ovid MEDLINE; Ovid MEDLINE (In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations); Ovid EMBASE; and EBSCO CINAHL. We also searched the references of included trials to identify further potentially-relevant trials. Two review authors independently identified studies for inclusion. We included all randomised clinical trials (RCTs) conducted with people of any age and sex, undergoing a surgical procedure, who had their wound closed and a dressing applied. We included only trials that compared

  3. Early versus delayed dressing removal after primary closure of clean and clean-contaminated surgical wounds.

    PubMed

    Toon, Clare D; Ramamoorthy, Rajarajan; Davidson, Brian R; Gurusamy, Kurinchi Selvan

    2013-09-05

    Most surgical procedures involve a cut in the skin that allows the surgeon to gain access to the deeper tissues or organs. Most surgical wounds are closed fully at the end of the procedure (primary closure). The surgeon covers the closed surgical wound with either a dressing or adhesive tape. The dressing can act as a physical barrier to protect the wound until the continuity of the skin is restored (within about 48 hours) and to absorb exudate from the wound, keeping it dry and clean, and preventing bacterial contamination from the external environment. Some studies have found that the moist environment created by some dressings accelerates wound healing, although others believe that the moist environment can be a disadvantage, as excessive exudate can cause maceration (softening and deterioration) of the wound and the surrounding healthy tissue. The utility of dressing surgical wounds beyond 48 hours of surgery is, therefore, controversial. To evaluate the benefits and risks of removing a dressing covering a closed surgical incision site within 48 hours permanently (early dressing removal) or beyond 48 hours of surgery permanently with interim dressing changes allowed (delayed dressing removal), on surgical site infection. In July 2013 we searched the following electronic databases: The Cochrane Wounds Group Specialised Register; The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library); Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE) (The Cochrane Library); Ovid MEDLINE; Ovid MEDLINE (In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations); Ovid EMBASE; and EBSCO CINAHL. We also searched the references of included trials to identify further potentially-relevant trials. Two review authors independently identified studies for inclusion. We included all randomised clinical trials (RCTs) conducted with people of any age and sex, undergoing a surgical procedure, who had their wound closed and a dressing applied. We included only trials that compared

  4. Effect of virtual reality distraction on pain among patients with hand injury undergoing dressing change.

    PubMed

    Guo, Chunlan; Deng, Hongyan; Yang, Jian

    2015-01-01

    To assess the effect of virtual reality distraction on pain among patients with a hand injury undergoing a dressing change. Virtual reality distraction can effectively alleviate pain among patients undergoing a dressing change. Clinical research has not addressed pain control during a dressing change. A randomised controlled trial was performed. In the first dressing change sequence, 98 patients were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group, with 49 cases in each group. Pain levels were compared between the two groups before and after the dressing change using a visual analog scale. The sense of involvement in virtual environments was measured using the Pearson correlation coefficient analysis, which determined the relationship between the sense of involvement and pain level. The difference in visual analog scale scores between the two groups before the dressing change was not statistically significant (t = 0·196, p > 0·05), but the scores became statistically significant after the dressing change (t = -30·792, p < 0·01). The correlation between the sense of involvement in a virtual environment and pain level during the dressing was statistically significant (R(2) = 0·5538, p < 0·05). Virtual reality distraction can effectively alleviate pain among patients with a hand injury undergoing a dressing change. Better results can be obtained by increasing the sense of involvement in a virtual environment. Virtual reality distraction can effectively relieve pain without side effects and is not reliant on a doctor's prescription. This tool is convenient for nurses to use, especially when analgesics are unavailable. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  5. Effectiveness of Aloe Vera gel compared with 1% silver sulphadiazine cream as burn wound dressing in second degree burns.

    PubMed

    Shahzad, Muhammad Naveed; Ahmed, Naheed

    2013-02-01

    To assess the efficacy of Aloe Vera gel compared with 1% silver sulfadiazine cream as a burn dressing for the treatment of superficial and partial thickness burns. This Interventional Comparative study was carried out at the Burn unit and Plastic surgery department, Nishtar Hospital Multan, Pakistan from July 2008 to December 2010. A total of 50 patients with superficial and partial thickness burns were divided into two equal groups randomly by consecutive sampling method, one group was dressed with Aloe Vera gel while the other was treated with 1% silversulphadiazine cream, and the results regarding duration of wound epithelialization, pain relief and cost of treatment were compared. In patients treated with Aloe Vera gel, healing of burn wounds were remarkably early than those patients treated with 1% silver sulfadiazine. All the patients of Aloe Vera group were relieved of pain earlier than those patients who were treated with SSD. Thermal burns patients dressed with Aloe Vera gel showed advantage compared to those dressed with SSD regarding early wound epithelialization, earlier pain relief and cost-effectiveness.

  6. Functional poly(ε-caprolactone)/chitosan dressings with nitric oxide-releasing property improve wound healing.

    PubMed

    Zhou, Xin; Wang, He; Zhang, Jimin; Li, Xuemei; Wu, Yifan; Wei, Yongzhen; Ji, Shenglu; Kong, Deling; Zhao, Qiang

    2017-05-01

    Wound healing dressings are increasingly needed clinically due to the large number of skin damage annually. Nitric oxide (NO) plays a key role in promoting wound healing, thus biomaterials with NO-releasing property receive increasing attention as ideal wound dressing. In present study, we prepared a novel functional wound dressing by combining electrospun poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) nonwoven mat with chitosan-based NO-releasing biomaterials (CS-NO). As-prepared PCL/CS-NO dressing released NO sustainably under the physiological conditions, which was controlled by the catalysis of β-galactosidase. In vivo wound healing characteristics were further evaluated on full-thickness cutaneous wounds in mice. Results showed that PCL/CS-NO wound dressings remarkably accelerated wound healing process through enhancing re-epithelialization and granulation formation and effectively improved the organization of regenerated tissues including epidermal-dermal junction, which could be ascribed to the pro-angiogenesis, immunomodulation, and enhanced collagen synthesis provided by the sustained release of NO. Therefore, PCL/CS-NO may be a promising candidate for wound dressings, especially for the chronic wound caused by the ischemia. Serious skin damage caused by trauma, surgery, burn or chronic disease has become one of the most serious clinical problems. Therefore, there is an increasing demand for ideal wound dressing that can improve wound healing. Due to the vital role of nitric oxide (NO), we developed a novel functional wound dressing by combining electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) mat with NO-releasing biomaterial (CS-NO). The sustained release of NO from PCL/CS-NO demonstrated positive effects on wound healing, including pro-angiogenesis, immunomodulation, and enhanced collagen synthesis. Hence, wound healing process was remarkably accelerated and the organization of regenerated tissues was effectively improved as well. Taken together, PCL/CS-NO dressing may be a promising

  7. [Therapeutically active dressings--biomaterials in a study of collagen glycation].

    PubMed

    Pielesz, Anna; Paluch, Jadwiga

    2012-01-01

    Active dressings (biomaterials, hydrogels) are cross-linked three-dimensional macromolecular networks. One of the most important properties of active dressings, is their ability for controlled uptake, release and retention of molecules. The formation of advanced glycation end products AGEs progressively increases with normal aging. However, AGE products are formed at accelerated rates in age and stress-related diseases (burns, in wound healing) and also in vitro. The aim will be also to develop a series of gels showing ability of controlled uptake, release and retention of molecules. The hydrogels can be used as biologically and therapeutically (antibacterial and anticancer) active biomaterials. The following materials and reagents were used in the examination: dried plants: Equisetum arvense L., Pulmonaria officinalis L., Agropyron repens. Non-defatted films were extracted from the dried plants. The suspension was stirred and extracted. Temperature was controlled using a water bath. The filtrate was vacuum condensed. The gelling precipitate was poured onto Petri plates and dried. The swelling ratio and the percent loading were calculated. The released amount of CaCl2 at different time intervals was determined by measuring the conductivity. The extent of glycation in collagen was measured. Novel types of swelling hydrogels have been prepared from dried plants and alginic acid. The active dressings showed swelling in aqueous medium, swelling characteristics were dependent on the chemical composition of hydrogel. The hydrogels were also loaded with CaCl2 and their potential for release was judged by measuring conductivity. The activity of hydrogels--active dressings on collagen incubated with glucose showed an decrease in glycation. So, hydrogels--active dressings, a known antiglycating agent which have therapeutic role in wound healing.

  8. Chronic Hepatitis C Therapy in Liver Cirrhosis Complicated by Telaprevir-Induced DRESS.

    PubMed

    Mousa, Omar Y S; Khalaf, Rossa; Shannon, Rhonda L; Egwim, Chukwuma I; Zela, Scott A; Ankoma-Sey, Victor

    2014-01-01

    Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) is a rare yet severe adverse drug-induced reaction with up to 10% mortality rate. Recent clinical trials reported an association between DRESS and telaprevir (TVR), an NS3/4A protease inhibitor of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) virus genotype 1. Its diagnosis is challenging given the variable pattern of cutaneous eruption and the myriad internal organ involvement. We present two patients who are middle-aged, obese, and white with CHC cirrhosis. They both developed a progressive diffuse, painful pruritic maculopapular rash at weeks 8 and 10 of CHC therapy with TVR, Peg-Interferon alfa-2a, and Ribavirin. They had no exposures to other medications that can cause this syndrome. Physical exam and labs and skin biopsy supported a "Definite" clinical diagnosis of DRESS, per RegiSCAR criteria. Thus Telaprevir-based triple therapy was discontinued and both patients experienced rapid resolution of the systemic symptoms with gradual improvement of eosinophilia and the skin eruption. These two cases illustrate the paramount importance of having a high index of suspicion for TVR-induced DRESS, critical for early diagnosis. Immediate discontinuation of TVR is essential in prevention of a potentially life-threatening complication. Risk factors for development of DRESS in patients receiving TVR remain to be elucidated.

  9. Influence of dressing application time after breast augmentation on cutaneous colonization: A randomized clinical trial.

    PubMed

    Mendes, D A; Veiga, D F; Veiga-Filho, J; Loyola, A B A T; Paiva, L F; Novo, N F; Sabino-Neto, M; Ferreira, L M

    2018-06-01

    Concepts regarding the best way to treat a surgical wound vary, in literature, ranging from no dressing use to dressing maintenance for 24 to 48 hours or until suture removal. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of the length of dressing maintenance after breast augmentation with implants on cutaneous colonization and surgical site infection. This is a two-arm, parallel group, randomized clinical trial. Eighty patients who were candidates for augmentation mammoplasty with silicone implants were randomly allocated to two groups, in which the dressing was removed on postoperative day 1 (group A, n = 40) or postoperative day 6 (group B, n = 40). Cutaneous colonization was examined by culturing samples collected before and after dressing removal. The criteria defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were used to assess surgical site infection. No significant difference regarding cutaneous colonization was observed between groups before dressing application. On postoperative day 6, significantly more bacterial growth was observed in group A (p = 0.01). No surgical site infection occurred. We concluded that maintaining the dressing for 6 days led to a lower cutaneous colonization but did not influence surgical site infection rates. Copyright © 2018 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  10. Development of the upper-body dressing scale for a buttoned shirt: a preliminary correlational study.

    PubMed

    Suzuki, Makoto; Yamada, Sumio; Omori, Mikayo; Hatakeyama, Mayumi; Sugimura, Yuko; Matsushita, Kazuhiko; Tagawa, Yoshikatsu

    2008-09-01

    A patient with poststroke hemiparesis learns to use the nonparetic arm to compensate for the weakness of the paretic arm to achieve independence in dressing. This is the learning process of new component actions on dressing. The purpose of this study was to develop the Upper-Body Dressing Scale (UBDS) for buttoned shirt dressing, which evaluates the component actions of upper-body dressing, and to provide preliminary data on internal consistency of the UBDS, as well as its reproducibility, validity, and sensitivity to clinical change. Correlational study of concurrent validity and reliability in which 63 consecutive stroke patients were enrolled in the study and were assessed repeatedly by the UBDS and the dressing item of Functional Independent Measure (FIM). Fifty-one patients completed the 3-wk study. The Cronbach's coefficient alpha of UBDS was 0.88. The principal component analysis extracted two components, which explained 62.3% of total variance. All items of the scale had high loading on the first component (0.65-0.83). Actions on the paralytic side were the positive loadings and actions on the healthy side were the negative loadings on the second component. Intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.87. The level of correlation between UBDS score and FIM dressing item scores was -0.72. Logistic regression analysis showed that only the score of UBDS on the first day of evaluation was a significant independent predictor of dressing ability (odds ratio, 0.82; 95% confidence interval, 0.71-0.95). The UBDS scores for paralytic hand passed into the sleeve, sleeve pulled up beyond the elbow joint, and sleeve pulled up beyond the shoulder joint were worse than the score for the other components of the task. These component actions had positive loading on the second component, which was identified by the principal component analysis. The UBDS has good internal consistency, reproducibility, validity, and sensitivity to clinical changes of patients with poststroke

  11. Using transparent polyurethane film and hydrocolloid dressings to prevent pressure ulcers.

    PubMed

    Dutra, R A A; Salomé, G M; Alves, J R; Pereira, V O S; Miranda, F D; Vallim, V B; de Brito, M J A; Ferreira, L M

    2015-06-01

    To compare the performance and effectiveness of a hydrocolloid dressing (HD) and a transparent polyurethane film (PF) in preventing pressure ulcer (PU) development. The study was conducted in the intensive care unit, coronary care unit and medical clinic of the Holy House of Mercy of Passos, Brazil. Data were collected 48 hours after admission and during hospitalisation. The Braden scale was used for PU risk assessment. Consecutive eligible patients without PUs were randomly assigned by lottery to the two groups, either the HD or PF group. Of the 160 eligible patients, significant between-group differences were found in the mean total number of dressing changes (HD, 6.09±1.655 changes; PF, 5.59±2.036 changes; p=0.010), and mean number of dressing changes in the sacral region (HD, 2.50±0.871; PF, 2.05±0.825; p=0.001), with the PF group requiring significantly fewer changes than the HD group. The most common reasons for changing dressings in both groups were moisture (PF 51.1%; HD 47.9%) and shear (HD 43%; PF 38.9%), with a significant difference in shear between groups. The incidence of PUs was significantly lower (p=0.038) in the PF group (8.7%) compared with that in the HD group (15%). The results suggest that the transparent polyurethane film had a better performance and was more effective than the hydrocolloid dressing in preventing PU development.

  12. She Wears the Pants: The Reform Dress as Technology in Nineteenth-Century America.

    PubMed

    Mas, Catherine

    This article examines the American dress-reform movement, detailing the ways in which reformers conceptualized clothing as a social and bodily technology. In the mid-nineteenth century, women began making and wearing the "reform dress"-a costume consisting of pants and shortened, lightweight skirts-as an alternative to burdensome feminine fashions. When ridiculed in public for wearing overtly masculine garments, dress reformers insisted their clothing was healthful, functional, and natural. This article discusses women's use of medical science and technical knowledge in their rejection of fashion, promotion of sexual equality, and efforts to change mainstream clothing practices. When approached from a technological perspective, the reform dress reveals broader tensions in an industrializing American society, such as changing gender relations and new understandings of the relationship between humans and technology.

  13. 43. Dressing rooms and corridor in basement on west side ...

    Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

    43. Dressing rooms and corridor in basement on west side of building, looking south. (July 1991) A nearly identical corridor with dressing rooms ran along the east side of the basement, and the two corridors were connected by a short hallway at the north end. The theatre seats seen in hallway in this photo are from Seattle's Orpheum Theatre which was demolished in 1967. - Fox Theater, Seventh Avenue & Olive Way, Seattle, King County, WA

  14. Effects of a just-in-time educational intervention placed on wound dressing packages: a multicenter randomized controlled trial.

    PubMed

    Kent, Dea J

    2010-01-01

    I compared the effects of a just-in-time educational intervention (educational materials for dressing application attached to the manufacturer's dressing package) to traditional wound care education on reported confidence and dressing application in a simulated model. Nurses from a variety of backgrounds were recruited for this study. The nurses possessed all levels of education ranging from licensed practical nurse to master of science in nursing. Both novice and seasoned nurses were included, with no stipulations regarding years of nursing experience. Exclusion criteria included nurses who spent less than 50% of their time in direct patient care and nurses with advanced wound care training and/or certification (CWOCN, CWON). Study settings included community-based acute care facilities, critical access hospitals, long-term care facilities, long-term acute care facilities, and home care agencies. No level 1 trauma centers were included in the study for geographical reasons. Participants were randomly allocated to control or intervention groups. Each participant completed the Kent Dressing Confidence Assessment tool. Subjects were then asked to apply the dressing to a wound model under the observation of either the principal investigator or a trained observer, who scored the accuracy of dressing application according to established criteria. None of the 139 nurses who received traditional dressing packaging were able to apply the dressing to a wound model correctly. In contrast, 88% of the nurses who received the package with the educational guide attached to it were able to apply the dressing to a wound model correctly (χ2 = 107.22, df = 1, P = .0001). Nurses who received the dressing package with the attached educational guide agreed that this feature gave them confidence to correctly apply the dressing (88%), while no nurse agreed that the traditional package gave him or her the confidence to apply the dressing correctly (χ2 = 147.47, df = 4, P < .0001). A

  15. Difficult clinical management of antituberculosis DRESS syndrome complicated by MRSA infection: A case report.

    PubMed

    Wang, Li; Li, Lin-Feng

    2017-03-01

    Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome is a severe drug-induced hypersensitivity reaction characterized by skin rash, fever, blood abnormalities, and multiple organ involvement. The diagnosis of DRESS syndrome is often delayed because of its variable presentation. Prompt withdrawal of the culprit drug is the definitive treatment. DRESS syndrome induced by antituberculosis drugs has rarely been reported. A 50-year-old man admitted to our hospital with recurrent episodes of progressive rash, fever, eosinophilia, lymphadenopathy, hepatic, and pulmonary involvement were experienced after repeat trials of the same antituberculosis drugs. We diagnosed it as DRESS caused by antituberculosis drugs. The case responded well to treatment with systemic corticosteroids and intravenous immunoglobulins. However, repeated bouts of infection with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus occurred during treatment (clavicular osteomyelitis and knee septic arthritis). He was cured after treatment with linezolid. The patient was discharged on day 112. At 8-month follow-up, there was no relapse of drug eruption and joint swelling. Early diagnosis and prompt withdrawal of all suspected drugs is a key tenet of the treatment of DRESS. Our case report highlights the risks inherent in delayed diagnosis of DRESS and the challenges in the clinical management of this condition. Pulmonary manifestations with radiological changes on chest X-ray and CT can be seen in DRESS. These changes need to be differentiated from those caused by pulmonary infections. Clavicular osteomyelitis infected with MRSA may be caused by iatrogenic injury during subclavian vein catheterization. This type of MRSA infections should be treated for 4 to 6 weeks. Blood eosinophilia could be a useful marker of disease progression and treatment response in patients with DRESS. However, more experience and clinical evidence is needed to confirm this.

  16. Estimating predictive hydrological uncertainty by dressing deterministic and ensemble forecasts; a comparison, with application to Meuse and Rhine

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Verkade, J. S.; Brown, J. D.; Davids, F.; Reggiani, P.; Weerts, A. H.

    2017-12-01

    Two statistical post-processing approaches for estimation of predictive hydrological uncertainty are compared: (i) 'dressing' of a deterministic forecast by adding a single, combined estimate of both hydrological and meteorological uncertainty and (ii) 'dressing' of an ensemble streamflow forecast by adding an estimate of hydrological uncertainty to each individual streamflow ensemble member. Both approaches aim to produce an estimate of the 'total uncertainty' that captures both the meteorological and hydrological uncertainties. They differ in the degree to which they make use of statistical post-processing techniques. In the 'lumped' approach, both sources of uncertainty are lumped by post-processing deterministic forecasts using their verifying observations. In the 'source-specific' approach, the meteorological uncertainties are estimated by an ensemble of weather forecasts. These ensemble members are routed through a hydrological model and a realization of the probability distribution of hydrological uncertainties (only) is then added to each ensemble member to arrive at an estimate of the total uncertainty. The techniques are applied to one location in the Meuse basin and three locations in the Rhine basin. Resulting forecasts are assessed for their reliability and sharpness, as well as compared in terms of multiple verification scores including the relative mean error, Brier Skill Score, Mean Continuous Ranked Probability Skill Score, Relative Operating Characteristic Score and Relative Economic Value. The dressed deterministic forecasts are generally more reliable than the dressed ensemble forecasts, but the latter are sharper. On balance, however, they show similar quality across a range of verification metrics, with the dressed ensembles coming out slightly better. Some additional analyses are suggested. Notably, these include statistical post-processing of the meteorological forecasts in order to increase their reliability, thus increasing the reliability

  17. A retrospective study on the use of a dental dressing to reduce dry socket incidence in smokers.

    PubMed

    Murph, James T; Jaques, Susan H; Knoell, Alexander N; Archibald, Geoffrey D; Yang, Stan

    2015-01-01

    This study assessed the effectiveness of using an oxidized cellulose dental dressing in order to reduce the rate of alveolar osteitis after posterior tooth extraction in smokers. Dry socket incidences of heavy smokers from 4 independent dental clinics, which routinely used oxidized cellulose dental dressings to mitigate dry socket formation between March 2011 and December 2012, were compiled and evaluated. All extraction sites healed uneventfully except for those cases that developed dry sockets. Overall, 1.7% of male patients and 2.2% of female patients developed dry sockets. No conclusive relationship was found between the number of cigarettes smoked and dry socket formation among patients in this study. The results of this study were consistent with the view that gender, age, postextraction regimen, and multiple extractions affect dry socket formation. The results indicate that an oxidized cellulose dental dressing postextraction is a safe and effective method for mitigating dry socket formation among smokers.

  18. Febuxostat hypersensitivity: another cause of DRESS syndrome in chronic kidney disease?

    PubMed

    Paschou, E; Gavriilaki, E; Papaioannou, G; Tsompanakou, A; Kalaitzoglou, A; Sabanis, N

    2016-11-01

    Febuxostat is a xanthine oxidase inhibitor that during the last years has successfully replaced allopurinol treatment in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and hyperuricemia. Several adverse events have been observed during therapy with febuxostat. DRESS (Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms) syndrome induced by febuxostat has been poorly described, mainly in patient with CKD who previously developed allopurinol hypersensitivity syndrome. DRESS syndrome is characterized by manifold cutaneous reactions and systemic disorders with potential devastating consequences. The underlying pathogenetic mechanisms remain unidentified, though immune responses are often complicated. P-i concept can partially explain the phenomenon. The role of renal insufficiency appears to be crucial and further investigation is required. The present article describes the case of a CKD patient that developed febuxostat-related DRESS syndrome.

  19. Guanidine hydrochloride embedded polyurethanes as antimicrobial and absorptive wound dressing membranes with promising cytocompatibility.

    PubMed

    Sahraro, Maryam; Yeganeh, Hamid; Sorayya, Marziyeh

    2016-02-01

    Preparation and assessments of novel absorptive wound dressing materials with efficient antimicrobial activity as well as very good cytocompatibility were described in this work. An amine terminated poly(hexamethylene guanidine hydrochloride) was prepared and used as curing agent of different epoxy-terminated polyurethane prepolymers. The structures of prepared materials were elucidated by evaluation of their (1)H NMR and FTIR spectra. The recorded tensile strength of membranes confirmed the excellent dimensional stability of the film type dressings even at fully hydrated conditions. Therefore, these dressings could protect the wound bed from external forces during the healing period. The structurally optimized dressing membranes could preserve the desired moist environment over the wounded area, as a result of their balanced equilibrium, water absorption and water vapor transmission rate. Therefore, a very good condition for stimulation of self-healing of wound bed was attained. Also, owing to the presence of guanidine hydrochloride moieties embedded into the structure of dressings, efficient antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans were detected. In vitro cytotoxicity assay of the prepared dressings revealed cytocompatibility of these materials against fibroblast cells. Therefore, they could support cell growth and proliferation at the wounded area. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  20. The analytic structure of non-global logarithms: Convergence of the dressed gluon expansion

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Larkoski, Andrew J.; Moult, Ian; Neill, Duff Austin

    Non-global logarithms (NGLs) are the leading manifestation of correlations between distinct phase space regions in QCD and gauge theories and have proven a challenge to understand using traditional resummation techniques. Recently, the dressed gluon ex-pansion was introduced that enables an expansion of the NGL series in terms of a “dressed gluon” building block, defined by an all-orders factorization theorem. Here, we clarify the nature of the dressed gluon expansion, and prove that it has an infinite radius of convergence as a solution to the leading logarithmic and large-N c master equation for NGLs, the Banfi-Marchesini-Smye (BMS) equation. The dressed gluonmore » expansion therefore provides an expansion of the NGL series that can be truncated at any order, with reliable uncertainty estimates. In contrast, manifest in the results of the fixed-order expansion of the BMS equation up to 12-loops is a breakdown of convergence at a finite value of α slog. We explain this finite radius of convergence using the dressed gluon expansion, showing how the dynamics of the buffer region, a region of phase space near the boundary of the jet that was identified in early studies of NGLs, leads to large contributions to the fixed order expansion. We also use the dressed gluon expansion to discuss the convergence of the next-to-leading NGL series, and the role of collinear logarithms that appear at this order. Finally, we show how an understanding of the analytic behavior obtained from the dressed gluon expansion allows us to improve the fixed order NGL series using conformal transformations to extend the domain of analyticity. Furthermore, this allows us to calculate the NGL distribution for all values of α slog from the coefficients of the fixed order expansion.« less

  1. The analytic structure of non-global logarithms: Convergence of the dressed gluon expansion

    DOE PAGES

    Larkoski, Andrew J.; Moult, Ian; Neill, Duff Austin

    2016-11-15

    Non-global logarithms (NGLs) are the leading manifestation of correlations between distinct phase space regions in QCD and gauge theories and have proven a challenge to understand using traditional resummation techniques. Recently, the dressed gluon ex-pansion was introduced that enables an expansion of the NGL series in terms of a “dressed gluon” building block, defined by an all-orders factorization theorem. Here, we clarify the nature of the dressed gluon expansion, and prove that it has an infinite radius of convergence as a solution to the leading logarithmic and large-N c master equation for NGLs, the Banfi-Marchesini-Smye (BMS) equation. The dressed gluonmore » expansion therefore provides an expansion of the NGL series that can be truncated at any order, with reliable uncertainty estimates. In contrast, manifest in the results of the fixed-order expansion of the BMS equation up to 12-loops is a breakdown of convergence at a finite value of α slog. We explain this finite radius of convergence using the dressed gluon expansion, showing how the dynamics of the buffer region, a region of phase space near the boundary of the jet that was identified in early studies of NGLs, leads to large contributions to the fixed order expansion. We also use the dressed gluon expansion to discuss the convergence of the next-to-leading NGL series, and the role of collinear logarithms that appear at this order. Finally, we show how an understanding of the analytic behavior obtained from the dressed gluon expansion allows us to improve the fixed order NGL series using conformal transformations to extend the domain of analyticity. Furthermore, this allows us to calculate the NGL distribution for all values of α slog from the coefficients of the fixed order expansion.« less

  2. Evaluation of Amniotic Membrane Effectiveness in Skin Graft Donor Site Dressing in Burn Patients.

    PubMed

    Salehi, Seyed Hamid; As'adi, Kamran; Mousavi, Seyed Jaber; Shoar, Saeed

    2015-12-01

    Although the recipient site in burn wounds is dressed with universally accepted materials, the ideal management of split-thickness skin donor sites remains controversial. The aim of our study is to compare two methods of wound dressing in donor sites of split-thickness skin graft in patients undergoing burn wound reconstructive surgery. Forty-two consecutive patients with second- and third-degree burns with a total body surface area between 20 and 40 % were enrolled in this randomized clinical trial conducted in Motahari Burn Hospital in Tehran, Iran. In each patient, two anatomic areas with similar features were randomly selected as intervention and control donor sites. The intervention site was dressed with amniotic membrane, whereas the control site was treated with Vaseline-impregnated gauze. Wounds were examined daily by expert surgeons to measure the clinical outcomes including duration of healing, severity of pain, and infection rate. The mean ± SD age of patients was 31.17 ± 13.72 years; furthermore, burn percentage had a mean ± SD of 31.19 ± 10.56. The mean ± SD of patients' cooperation score was 1.6 ± 0.79 in the intervention group compared with 2.93 ± 0.71 in the control group, revealing a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). Duration of wound healing was significantly shorter (P < 0.05) in the intervention group (17.61 ± 2.56 days) compared with the control group (21.16 ± 3.45 days). However, there was no significant difference in terms of wound infection rate between donor sites in the control and intervention groups (P > 0.05). Amniotic membrane as an alternative for dressing of skin graft donor sites provides significant benefits by increasing patients' comfort via diminishing the number of dressing changes and facilitating the process of wound healing.

  3. An in vitro test of the efficacy of an anti-biofilm wound dressing.

    PubMed

    Said, Jawal; Walker, Michael; Parsons, David; Stapleton, Paul; Beezer, Anthony E; Gaisford, Simon

    2014-10-20

    Broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents, such as silver, are increasingly being formulated into medicated wound dressings in order to control colonization of wounds by opportunistic pathogens. Medicated wound dressings have been shown in-vitro to be effective against planktonic cultures, but in-vivo bacteria are likely to be present in biofilms, which makes their control and eradication more challenging. Recently, a functional wound dressing (AQUACEL(®) Ag+ Extra™ (AAg + E)) has been developed that in addition to silver contains two agents (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and benzethonium chloride (BC)) designed to disrupt biofilms. Here, the efficacy of AAg + E is demonstrated using a biofilm model developed in an isothermal microcalorimeter. The biofilm was seen to remain viable in the presence of unmedicated dressing, silver-containing dressing or silver nitrate solution. In the presence of AAg + E, however, the biofilm was eradicated. Control experiments showed that neither EDTA nor BC alone had a bactericidal effect, which means it is the synergistic action of EDTA and BC disrupting the biofilm with silver being bactericidal that leads to the product's efficacy. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  4. Experimental Comparison of Efficiency of First Aid Dressings in Burning White Phosphorus on Bacon Model.

    PubMed

    Witkowski, Wojciech; Surowiecka-Pastewka, Agnieszka; Biesaga, Magdalena; Gierczak, Tomasz

    2015-08-12

    The aim of this study was to determine effectiveness of first aid dressings in extinguishing burning white phosphorous (WP), eliminating WP pieces from the surface, inhibiting re-ignition on the model (fresh bacon covered with military uniform), and preventing from late re-ignition caused by persistent WP pieces. Burning WP was extinguished with several dressings: tactical Military Dressing (WJ10), wet gauze, 2 hydrocolloids, and 3 prototypes of hydrocolloids developed by the authors. All examined dressings were effective in extinguishing WP provided that the entire area of the burning substance was completely covered. Moist gauze was especially effective in extinguishing WP, and also removed and absorbed the majority of the WP mass, preventing deeper penetration of WP particles. The immediate re-ignition was observed when all the remaining examined dressings were removed from the bacon. A stream of water was dangerous, as it splashed and transferred pieces of WP around. Moist gauze placed on burning WP for approximately 3 min was most effective in extinguishing WP and removing most of the WP pieces. We recommend moist gauze, used once or twice, as the best primary means for WP elimination and preventing tissue penetration. As a dressing used for medical evacuation (MEDEVAC), or as a second step after complete removal of visible WP, innovative hydrocolloid or hydrogel dressings should be used.

  5. Dress-Related Responses to the Columbine Shootings: Other-Imposed and Self-Designed.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Ogle, Jennifer Paff; Eckman, Molly

    2002-01-01

    An inductive content analysis approach was used to examine 155 dress-related newspaper articles following the Columbine High School shootings in 1999. Analysis revealed two dress-related responses: (1) other-imposed regulation to protect students and deter them from expressing hatred and (2) self-designed acts of resistance for grieving. (Contains…

  6. Dynamical Casimir-Polder force on a partially dressed atom near a conducting wall

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Messina, Riccardo; Vasile, Ruggero; Passante, Roberto

    2010-12-15

    We study the time evolution of the Casimir-Polder force acting on a neutral atom in front of a perfectly conducting plate, when the system starts its unitary evolution from a partially dressed state. We solve the Heisenberg equations for both atomic and field quantum operators, exploiting a series expansion with respect to the electric charge and an iterative technique. After discussing the behavior of the time-dependent force on an initially partially dressed atom, we analyze a possible experimental scheme to prepare the partially dressed state and the observability of this new dynamical effect.

  7. 21 CFR 169.115 - French dressing.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-04-01

    ..., lecithin, or polyglycerol esters of fatty acids. (d) Nomenclature. The name of the food is “French dressing...) Monosodium glutamate. (5) Tomato paste, tomato puree, catsup, sherry wine. (6) Eggs and ingredients derived from eggs. (7) Color additives that will impart the color traditionally expected. (8) Stabilizers and...

  8. 21 CFR 169.115 - French dressing.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-04-01

    ..., lecithin, or polyglycerol esters of fatty acids. (d) Nomenclature. The name of the food is “French dressing...) Monosodium glutamate. (5) Tomato paste, tomato puree, catsup, sherry wine. (6) Eggs and ingredients derived from eggs. (7) Color additives that will impart the color traditionally expected. (8) Stabilizers and...

  9. 21 CFR 169.115 - French dressing.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-04-01

    ..., lecithin, or polyglycerol esters of fatty acids. (d) Nomenclature. The name of the food is “French dressing...) Monosodium glutamate. (5) Tomato paste, tomato puree, catsup, sherry wine. (6) Eggs and ingredients derived from eggs. (7) Color additives that will impart the color traditionally expected. (8) Stabilizers and...

  10. Preparation of SMART wound dressings based on colloidal microgels and textile fibres

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cornelius, Victoria J.; Majcen, Natasa; Snowden, Martin J.; Mitchell, John C.; Voncina, Bojana

    2007-01-01

    Wound dressings and other types of wound healing technologies are experiencing fast-paced development and rapid growth. As the population ages, demand will continue to rise for advanced dressings used to treat chronic wounds, such as pressure ulcers, venous stasis ulcers, and diabetic ulcers. Moist wound dressings, which facilitate natural wound healing in a cost-effective manner, will be increasingly important. In commercially available hydrogel / gauze wound dressings the gel swells to adsorb wound excreta and provide an efficient non adhesive particle barrier. An alternative to hydrogels are microgels. Essentially discrete colloidal gel particles, as a result of their very high surface area to volume ratio compared to bulk gels, they have a much faster response to external stimuli such as temperature or pH. In response to either an increase or decrease in solvent quality these porous networks shrink and swell reversibly. When swollen the interstitial regions within the polymer matrix are available for further chemistry; such as the incorporation of small molecules. The reversible shrinking and swelling as a function of external stimuli provides a novel drug release system. As the environmental conditions of a wound change over its lifetime, tending to increase in pH if there is an infection combining these discrete polymeric particles with a substrate such as cotton, results in a smart wound dressing.

  11. The use of prophylactic dressings in the prevention of pressure ulcers: a literature review.

    PubMed

    Cornish, Lynn

    2017-06-02

    Pressure ulcers pose a significant burden to both patients and health care resources. There are an increasing number of studies that have examined the use of prophylactic dressings, and their ability to redistribute pressure and protect the skin from shear and friction damage. This literature review examines six studies conducted on this controversial subject. Brindle and Wegelin ( 2012 ; Chaiken, 2012 ; Cubit et al, 2012 ; Santamaria et al, 2012) all examined the role of dressings to prevent pressure ulcers, and Call et al (2013a ; 2013b ), conducted in vitro research into the mode of dressings. Current research suggests that while further research is required, the use of prophylactic dressings have a place alongside standard measures, in helping to prevent pressure, shear and friction damage.

  12. Highly Absorbent Antibacterial Hemostatic Dressing for Healing Severe Hemorrhagic Wounds

    PubMed Central

    Li, Ting-Ting; Lou, Ching-Wen; Chen, An-Pang; Lee, Mong-Chuan; Ho, Tsing-Fen; Chen, Yueh-Sheng; Lin, Jia-Horng

    2016-01-01

    To accelerate healing of severe hemorrhagic wounds, a novel highly absorbent hemostatic dressing composed of a Tencel®/absorbent-cotton/polylactic acid nonwoven base and chitosan/nanosilver antibacterial agent was fabricated by using a nonwoven processing technique and a freeze-drying technique. This study is the first to investigate the wicking and water-absorbing properties of a nonwoven base by measuring the vertical wicking height and water absorption ratio. Moreover, blood agglutination and hemostatic second tests were conducted to evaluate the hemostatic performance of the resultant wound dressing. The blending ratio of fibers, areal weight, punching density, and fiber orientation, all significantly influenced the vertical moisture wicking property. However, only the first two parameters markedly affected the water absorption ratio. After the nonwoven base absorbed blood, scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation showed that erythrocytes were trapped between the fibrin/clot network and nonwoven fibers when coagulation pathways were activated. Prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) blood agglutination of the resultant dressing decreased to 14.34 and 50.94 s, respectively. In the femoral artery of the rate bleeding model, hemostatic time was saved by 87.2% compared with that of cotton cloth. Therefore, the resultant antibacterial wound dressing demonstrated greater water and blood absorption, as well as hemostatic performance, than the commercially available cotton cloth, especially for healing severe hemorrhagic wounds. PMID:28773912

  13. Rural School District Dress Code Implementation: Perceptions of Stakeholders after First Year

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Wright, Krystal M.

    2012-01-01

    Schools are continuously searching for solutions to solve truancy, academic, behavioral, safety, and climate issues. One of the latest trends in education is requiring students to adhere to dress codes as a solution to these issues. Dress codes can range from slightly restrictive clothing to the requiring of a uniform. Many school district…

  14. Development and formulation of Moringa oleifera standardised leaf extract film dressing for wound healing application.

    PubMed

    Chin, Chai-Yee; Jalil, Juriyati; Ng, Pei Yuen; Ng, Shiow-Fern

    2018-02-15

    M.oleifera is a medicinal plant traditionally used for skin sores, sore throat and eye infections. Recently, the wound healing property of the leaves of M. oleifera was has been well demonstrated experimentally in both in vivo and in vitro models. However, there is a lack of research which focuses on formulating M.oleifera into a functional wound dressing. In this study, the M.oleifera leaf standardized aqueous extract with highest potency in vitro migration was formulated into a film for wound healing application. Firstly, M. oleifera leaf were extracted in various solvents (aqueous, 50%, 70% and 100% ethanolic extracts) and standardized by reference standards using UHPLC technique. The extracts were then tested for cell migration and proliferation using HDF and HEK cell lines. M. oleifera leaf aqueous extract was then incorporated into alginate-pectin (SA-PC) based film dressing. The film dressings were characterized for the physicochemical properties and the bioactives release from the M. oleifera leaf extract loaded film dressing was also investigated using Franz diffusion cells. All extracts were found to contain vicenin-2, chlorogenic acid, gallic acid, quercetin, kaempferol, rosmarinic acid and rutin. Among all M. oleifera extracts, aqueous standardized leaf extracts showed the highest human dermal fibroblast and human keratinocytes cells proliferation and migration properties. Among the film formulations, SA-PC (3% w/v) composite film dressing containing M. oleifera aqueous leaf extract was found to possess optimal physicochemical properties as wound dressing. A potentially applicable wound dressing formulated as an alginate-pectin film containing aqueous extracts of M. oleifera has been developed. The dressing would be suitable for wounds with moderate exudates. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  15. A multi-center, randomized, clinical trial comparing adhesive polyurethane foam dressing and adhesive hydrocolloid dressing in patients with grade II pressure ulcers in primary care and nursing homes

    PubMed Central

    2013-01-01

    Background Pressure ulcers (PrUs) are ischemic wounds in the skin and underlying tissues caused by long-standing pressure force over an external bone or cartilaginous surface. PrUs are an important challenge for the overall health system because can prolong patient hospitalization and reduce quality of life. Moreover, 95% of PrUs are avoidable, suggesting they are caused by poor quality care assistance. PrUs are also costly, increasing national costs. For example, they represent about 5% of overall annual health expenses in Spain. Stages I and II PrUs have a combined prevalence of 65%. According main clinical guidelines, stage II PrUs (PrU-IIs) are usually treated by applying special dressings (polyurethane or hydrocolloid). However, little scientific evidence regarding their efficacy has been identified in scientific literature. Our aim is to assess the comparative efficacy of adhesive polyurethane foam and hydrocolloid dressings in the treatment of PrU-IIs in terms of healed ulcer after 8 weeks of follow-up. Methods/design This paper describes the development and evaluation protocol of a randomized clinical trial of two parallel treatment arms. A total of 820 patients with at least 1 PrU-II will be recruited from primary health care and home care centers. All patients will receive standardized healing procedures and preventive measures (e.g. positional changes and pressure-relieving support surfaces), following standardized procedures. The main outcome will be the percentage of wounds healed after 8 weeks. Secondary outcomes will include cost-effectiveness, as evaluated by cost per healed ulcer and cost per treated patient and safety evaluated by adverse events. Discussion This trial will address the hypothesis that hydrocolloid dressings will heal at least 10% more stage II PrUs and be more cost-effective than polyurethane foam dressings after 8 weeks. Trial registration This trial has been registered with controlled-trials number ISCRCTN57842461 and Eudra

  16. Chitosan-based dressing for the treatment of external/accessible bleedings in children with bleeding tendency.

    PubMed

    Misgav, Mudi; Kenet, Gili; Martinowitz, Uriel

    2014-03-01

    Bleeding episodes in patients with congenital or acquired bleeding disorders are usually managed with factor concentrates or blood products. However, external and accessible bleeds may effectively be managed with topical hemostasis. After the application of the Hemcon, a Food and Drug Administration-approved chitosan-based hemostatic dressing was used as the "last resort" to successfully control external bleeds in 2 patients with severe bleeding disorders. We describe a single-center experience with this dressing, including its use in pediatric patients as the first mode of therapy. A total of 5 patients (median age 2 y) with severe bleeding disorders were treated with topical chitosan-based dressing for a total of 6 bleeding episodes. The dressing was used either after the failure of extensive systemic therapy or as the first choice of treatment. In 4 of the 6 episodes, bleeding ceased immediately alleviating the need for systemic therapy. There was no rebleeding after the removal of the dressing and no adverse events or local skin reactions were recorded. Hemostatic dressings, such as the chitosan, should be encouraged for the treatment of external/accessible bleeds, especially among the pediatric patients with bleeding tendency.

  17. A simplified model for TIG-dressing numerical simulation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ferro, P.; Berto, F.; James, M. N.

    2017-04-01

    Irrespective of the mechanical properties of the alloy to be welded, the fatigue strength of welded joints is primarily controlled by the stress concentration associated with the weld toe or weld root. In order to reduce the effects of such notch defects in welds, which are influenced by tensile properties of the alloy, post-weld improvement techniques have been developed. The two most commonly used techniques are weld toe grinding and TIG dressing, which are intended to both remove toe defects such as non-metallic intrusions and to re-profile the weld toe region to give a lower stress concentration. In the case of TIG dressing the weld toe is re-melted to provide a smoother transition between the plate and the weld crown and to beneficially modify the residual stress redistribution. Assessing the changes to weld stress state arising from TIG-dressing is most easily accomplished through a complex numerical simulation that requires coupled thermo-fluid dynamics and solid mechanics. However, this can be expensive in terms of computational cost and time needed to reach a solution. The present paper therefore proposes a simplified numerical model that overcomes such drawbacks and which simulates the remelted toe region by means of the activation and deactivation of elements in the numerical model.

  18. Dress: Images of America. Elementary Version.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Franklin, Edward; And Others

    Designed to accompany an audiovisual filmstrip series devoted to presenting a visual history of life in America, this guide contains an elementary school (grades 2-6) unit which traces the history of dress in America over the last century. Using authentic visuals including posters, paintings, advertising, documentary photography, movies, cartoons,…

  19. Polariton condensation with saturable molecules dressed by vibrational modes

    DOE PAGES

    Cwik, Justyna A.; Reja, Sahinur; Littlewood, Peter B.; ...

    2014-02-01

    Here, polaritons, mixed light-matter quasiparticles, undergo a transition to a condensed, macroscopically coherent state at low temperatures or high densities. Recent experiments show that coupling light to organic molecules inside a microcavity allows condensation at room temperature. The molecules act as saturable absorbers with transitions dressed by molecular vibrational modes. Motivated by this, we calculate the phase diagram and spectrum of a modified Tavis-Cummings model, describing vibrationally dressed two-level systems, coupled to a cavity mode. Coupling to vibrational modes can induce re-entrance, i.e. a normal-condensed-normal sequence with decreasing temperature and can drive the transition first-order.

  20. Comprehensive In Situ Killing of Six Common Wound Pathogens With Manuka Honey Dressings Using a Modified AATCC-TM100.

    PubMed

    Watson, Denis; Bergquist, Stephen; Nicholson, Julie; Norrie, David H

    2017-06-28

    While Manuka honey in vitro is strongly antimicrobial, there have been, to the best of the authors' knowledge, no studies showing that dressings impregnated with Manuka honey can kill organisms in the dressing itself. The investigators used the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists' 100 test methodology to compare honey-impregnated dressings with control dressings (without honey) on the ability to kill common wound pathogens. Organisms were chosen after a review of the causal organisms found in actual wound infections over a 12-month period in a busy outpatient wound clinic. Even when the dressings were challenged daily with further inoculated organisms, > 5-log reductions were routinely noted across a range of pathogens, including multiple drug-resistant species using dressings containing Manuka honey relative to the control. The results presented herein show that when well-characterized medical-grade Manuka honey is used in dressings (ie, a minimum of 400 mg methylglyoxal/kg) these dressings can comprehensively kill common wound pathogens associated with infected wounds.

  1. The Efficacy of Gelam Honey Dressing towards Excisional Wound Healing

    PubMed Central

    Tan, Mui Koon; Hasan Adli, Durriyyah Sharifah; Tumiran, Mohd Amzari; Abdulla, Mahmood Ameen; Yusoff, Kamaruddin Mohd

    2012-01-01

    Honey is one of the oldest substances used in wound management. Efficacy of Gelam honey in wound healing was evaluated in this paper. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups of 24 rats each (untreated group, saline group, Intrasite Gel group, and Gelam honey group) with 2 cm by 2 cm full thickness, excisional wound created on neck area. Wounds were dressed topically according to groups. Rats were sacrificed on days 1, 5, 10, and 15 of treatments. Wounds were then processed for macroscopic and histological observations. Gelam-honey-dressed wounds healed earlier (day 13) than untreated and saline treated groups, as did wounds treated with Intrasite Gel. Honey-treated wounds exhibited less scab and only thin scar formations. Histological features demonstrated positive effects of Gelam honey on the wounds. This paper showed that Gelam honey dressing on excisional wound accelerated the process of wound healing. PMID:22536292

  2. Hierarchy of Dysfunction Related to Dressing Performance in Stroke Patients: A Path Analysis Study.

    PubMed

    Fujita, Takaaki; Nagayama, Hirofumi; Sato, Atsushi; Yamamoto, Yuichi; Yamane, Kazuhiro; Otsuki, Koji; Tsuchiya, Kenji; Tozato, Fusae

    2016-01-01

    Previous reports indicated that various dysfunctions caused by stroke affect the level of independence in dressing. These dysfunctions can be hierarchical, and these effects on dressing performance can be complicated in stroke patients. However, there are no published reports focusing on the hierarchical structure of the relationships between the activities of daily living and balance function, motor and sensory functions of the affected lower limb, strength of the abdominal muscles and knee extension on the unaffected side, and visuospatial deficits. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the hierarchical and causal relationships between dressing performance and these dysfunctions in stroke patients. This retrospective study included 104 first-time stroke patients. The causal relationship between the dressing performance and age, time post stroke, balance function, motor and sensory functions of the affected lower limb, strength of the abdominal muscles and knee extension on the unaffected side, and visuospatial deficits were examined using path analysis. A hypothetical path model was created based on previous studies, and the goodness of fit between the data and model were verified. A modified path model was created that achieved an almost perfect fit to the data. Balance function and abdominal muscle strength have direct effects on dressing performance, with standardized direct effect estimates of 0.78 and 0.15, respectively. Age, motor and sensory functions of the affected lower limb, and strength of abdominal muscle and knee extension on the unaffected side have indirect effects on dressing by influencing balance function. Our results suggest that dressing performance depends strongly on balance function, and it is mainly influenced by the motor function of the affected lower limb.

  3. Innovative dressing and securement of tunneled central venous access devices in pediatrics: a pilot randomized controlled trial.

    PubMed

    Ullman, Amanda J; Kleidon, Tricia; Gibson, Victoria; McBride, Craig A; Mihala, Gabor; Cooke, Marie; Rickard, Claire M

    2017-08-30

    Central venous access device (CVAD) associated complications are a preventable source of patient harm, frequently resulting in morbidity and delays to vital treatment. Dressing and securement products are used to prevent infectious and mechanical complications, however current complication rates suggest customary practices are inadequate. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of launching a full-scale randomized controlled efficacy trial of innovative dressing and securement products for pediatric tunneled CVAD to prevent complication and failure. An external, pilot, four-group randomized controlled trial of standard care (bordered polyurethane dressing and suture), in comparison to integrated securement-dressing, suture-less securement device, and tissue adhesive was undertaken across two large, tertiary referral pediatric hospitals in Australia. Forty-eight pediatric participants with newly inserted tunneled CVADs were consecutively recruited. The primary outcome of study feasibility was established by elements of eligibility, recruitment, attrition, protocol adherence, missing data, parent and healthcare staff satisfaction and acceptability, and effect size estimates for CVAD failure (cessation of function prior to completion of treatment) and complication (associated bloodstream infection, thrombosis, breakage, dislodgement or occlusion). Dressing integrity, product costs and site complications were also examined. Protocol feasibility was established. CVAD failure was: 17% (2/12) integrated securement-dressing; 8% (1/13) suture-less securement device; 0% tissue adhesive (0/12); and, 0% standard care (0/11). CVAD complications were: 15% (2/13) suture-less securement device (CVAD associated bloodstream infection, and occlusion and partial dislodgement); 8% (1/12) integrated securement-dressing (partial dislodgement); 0% tissue adhesive (0/12); and, 0% standard care (0/11). One CVAD-associated bloodstream infection occurred, within the suture

  4. Antimicrobial activity of silver nanoparticles impregnated wound dressing

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shinde, V. V.; Jadhav, P. R.; Patil, P. S.

    2013-06-01

    In this work, silver nanoparticles were synthesized by simple wet chemical reduction method. The silver nitrate was reduced by Sodium borohydride used as reducing agent and Poly (vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) as stabilizing agent. The formation of silver nanoparticles was evaluated by UV-visible spectroscope and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Absorption spectrum consist two plasmon peaks at 410 and 668 nm revels the formation of anisotropic nanoparticles confirmed by TEM. The formation of silver nanoparticles was also evidenced by dynamic light scattering (DLS) study. DLS showed polydisperse silver nanoparticles with hydrodynamic size 32 nm. Protecting mechanism of PVP was manifested by FT-Raman study. Silver nanoparticles were impregnated into wound dressing by sonochemical method. The Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion methods were used for antimicrobial susceptibility testing. The antimicrobial activity of the samples has been tested against gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli and gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus.

  5. Use of a copolymer dressing on superficial and partial-thickness burns in a paediatric population.

    PubMed

    Everett, M; Massand, S; Davis, W; Burkey, B; Glat, P M

    2015-07-01

    Despite extensive research into the treatment of partial-thickness burns, to date there has not been the emergence of a preeminent modality. This pilot study, the first such study to be performed in a burn unit in the US, was designed to evaluate the efficacy and outcomes of the application of copolymer dressing (Suprathel; PolyMedics Innovations Corporation, Stuttgart, Germany) for both superficial and deeper partial-thickness burns. The copolymer dressing was used as a primary wound dressing to treat superficial and deep partial-thickness burns (average 5% total body surface area) in paediatric patients. Burns were debrided within 24 hours, at bedside, in the burn unit or in the operating room. The copolymer dressing was then applied directly to the wound and covered with a non-adherent second layer and an absorptive outer dressing. After discharge, patients were seen every 5-7 days until healed. Parameters evaluated included average hospital length of stay, average number of intravenous doses of narcotics administered, pain score at first follow-up visit, average time to complete re epithelialisation, incidence of burn wound infection, and patient/parent satisfaction on a 4-point scale. We also evaluated our experience with the dressing. Data were evaluated retrospectively under an Investigational Review Board approved protocol. Of the 17 patients assessed the average hospital length of stay was 1.4 days during which the average number of intravenous narcotic doses administered before copolymer dressing application was 1.5 and after was 0.1 doses. At the first follow-up visit, average pain score was 1.2 on a 10-point scale and the average time to re epithelialisation was 9.5 days. There was no incidence of burn wound infection. Patient/parent satisfaction was average of 3.66 on a 4-point scale. The staff had found that the self-adherence and elasticity of the dressing made it easy to apply and stay adherent, especially in areas of difficult contour. There were

  6. Novel biodegradable composite wound dressings with controlled release of antibiotics: results in a guinea pig burn model.

    PubMed

    Elsner, Jonathan J; Egozi, Dana; Ullmann, Yehuda; Berdicevsky, Israela; Shefy-Peleg, Adaya; Zilberman, Meital

    2011-08-01

    Approximately 70% of all people with severe burns die from related infections despite advances in treatment regimens and the best efforts of nurses and doctors. Silver ion-eluting wound dressings are available for overcoming this problem. However, there are reports of deleterious effects of such dressings due to cellular toxicity that delays the healing process, and the dressing changes needed 1-2 times a day are uncomfortable for the patient and time consuming for the stuff. An alternative concept in wound dressing design that combines the advantages of occlusive dressings with biodegradability and intrinsic topical antibiotic treatment is described herewith. The new composite structure presented in this article is based on a polyglyconate mesh and a porous poly-(dl-lactic-co-glycolic acid) matrix loaded with gentamicin developed to provide controlled release of antibiotics for three weeks. In vivo evaluation of the dressing material in contaminated deep second degree burn wounds in guinea pigs (n=20) demonstrated its ability to accelerate epithelialization by 40% compared to an unloaded format of the material and a conventional dressing material. Wound contraction was reduced significantly, and a better quality scar tissue was formed. The current dressing material exhibits promising results, does not require frequent bandage changes, and offers a potentially valuable and economic approach to treating the life-threatening complication of burn-related infections. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd and ISBI. All rights reserved.

  7. Comparison of three different dressings for partial thickness burns in children: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

    PubMed

    Gee Kee, Emma; Kimble, Roy M; Cuttle, Leila; Stockton, Kellie

    2013-11-25

    In the paediatric population, pain and distress associated with burn injuries during wound care procedures remain a constant challenge. Although silver dressings are the gold standard for burn care in Australasia, very few high-level trials have been conducted that compare silver dressings to determine which will provide the best level of care clinically. Therefore, for paediatric patients in particular, identifying silver dressings that are associated with lower levels of pain and rapid wound re-epithelialisation is imperative. This study will determine whether there is a difference in time to re-epithelialisation and pain and distress experienced during wound care procedures among Acticoat™, Acticoat™ combined with Mepitel™ and Mepilex Ag™ dressings for acute, paediatric partial thickness burns. Children aged 0 to 15 years with an acute partial thickness (superficial partial to deep partial thickness inclusive) burn injury and a burn total body surface area of ≤ 10% will be eligible for the trial. Patients will be randomised to one of the three dressing groups: (1) Acticoat™ or (2) Acticoat™ combined with Mepitel™ or (3) Mepilex Ag™. A minimum of 28 participants will be recruited for each treatment group. Primary measures of pain, distress and healing will be repeated at each dressing change until complete wound re-epithelialisation occurs or skin grafting is required. Additional data collected will include infection status at each dressing change, physical function, scar outcome and scar management requirements, cost effectiveness of each dressing and staff perspectives of the dressings. The results of this study will determine the effects of three commonly used silver and silicone burn dressing combinations on the rate of wound re-epithelialisation and pain experienced during dressing procedures in acute, paediatric partial thickness burn injuries. Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12613000105741.

  8. Allergic contact dermatitis caused by acrylic-based medical dressings and adhesives.

    PubMed

    Mestach, Lien; Huygens, Sara; Goossens, An; Gilissen, Liesbeth

    2018-06-11

    Acrylates and methacrylates are acrylic resin monomers that are known to induce skin sensitization as a result of their presence in different materials, such as nail cosmetics, dental materials, printing inks, and adhesives. Allergic contact dermatitis resulting from the use of modern wound dressings containing them has only rarely been reported. To describe 2 patients who developed allergic contact dermatitis caused by acrylic-based modern medical dressings and/or adhesives. The medical charts of patients observed since 1990 were retrospectively reviewed for (meth)acrylate allergy resulting from contact with such materials, and their demographic characteristics and patch test results were analysed. Two patients were observed in 2014 and 2016 who had presented with positive patch test reactions to several acrylic-based dressings and/or adhesive materials, and to several (meth)acrylates, that is, hydroxyethyl acrylate, hydroxyethyl methacrylate, ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate, bisphenol A-glycidyl methacrylate/epoxy-acrylate, urethane diacrylate, and/or penta-erythritol acrylate. Allergic contact dermatitis needs to be considered in patients with eczematous reactions or delayed healing following the use of acrylic-based modern dressings or adhesives. However, identification of the culprit allergen is hampered by poor cooperation from the producers, so adequate labelling of medical devices is an urgent necessity. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  9. Assessment of Chicken-Egg Membrane as a Dressing for Wound Healing.

    PubMed

    Guarderas, Fernando; Leavell, Yaowaree; Sengupta, Trisha; Zhukova, Mariya; Megraw, Timothy L

    2016-03-01

    To examine the efficacy of the folk remedy of chicken-egg membrane dressing on wound healing. Full-thickness excisional wounds were created on 14 male Sprague-Dawley rats in 2 separate trials. Each animal received 2 wounds on the upper back. One wound was untreated, and the other was dressed with chicken-egg membrane to assess its impact on wound healing. Half of the rats received egg membrane treatment on the inferior wound, whereas the other half received egg membrane treatment on the superior wound. Membrane replacement, wound debridement, and imaging were done on days 5, 8, and 10 and then imaging continued on days 12, 14, 16, 18, and 20 of the experiment. Healing rate was measured based on the wound area over the 20 days of the experiment. The wounds dressed with chicken-egg membrane had a significantly (P < .01) faster rate of healing compared with the control at the early stages of healing between days 0 and 5. This group healed 21% faster during this early phase, compared with the control group. Overall, however, wound healing rates were indistinguishable from days 5 to 20. Chicken-egg membrane dressing significantly improves healing of cutaneous wounds in the early stages of wound healing.

  10. Control of traumatic wound bleeding by compression with a compact elastic adhesive dressing.

    PubMed

    Naimer, Sody Abby; Tanami, Menachem; Malichi, Avishai; Moryosef, David

    2006-07-01

    Compression dressing has been assumed effective, but never formally examined in the field. A prospective interventional trial examined efficacy and feasibility of an elastic adhesive dressing compression device in the arena of the traumatic incident. The primary variable examined was the bleeding rate from wounds compared before and after dressing. Sixty-two consecutive bleeding wounds resulting from penetrating trauma were treated. Bleeding intensity was profuse in 58%, moderate 23%, and mild in 19%. Full control of bleeding was achieved in 87%, a significantly diminished rate in 11%, and, in 1 case, the technique had no influence on the bleeding rate. The Wilcoxon test for variables comparing bleeding rates before and after the procedure obtained significant difference (Z = -6.9, p < 0.01). No significant complications were observed. Caregivers were highly satisfied in 90% of cases. Elastic adhesive dressing was observed as an effective and reliable technique, demonstrating a high rate of success without complications.

  11. Diluted povidone-iodine versus saline for dressing metal-skin interfaces in external fixation.

    PubMed

    Chan, C K; Saw, A; Kwan, M K; Karina, R

    2009-04-01

    To compare infection rates associated with 2 dressing solutions for metal-skin interfaces. 60 patients who underwent distraction osteogenesis with external fixators were equally randomised into 2 dressing solution groups (diluted povidone-iodine vs. saline). Fixations were attained using either rigid stainless steel 5-mm diameter half pins or smooth stainless steel 1.8-mm diameter wires. Half-pin fixation had one metal-skin interface, whereas wire fixation had 2 interfaces. Patients were followed up every 2 weeks for 6 months. Of all 788 metal-skin interfaces, 143 (18%) were infected: 72 (19%) of 371 in the diluted povidone-iodine group and 71 (17%) of 417 in the saline group. Dressing solution and patient age did not significantly affect infection rates. Half-pin fixation was more likely to become infected than wire fixation (25% vs 15%). Saline is as effective as diluted povidone-iodine as a dressing solution for metal-skin interfaces of external fixators. Saline is recommended in view of its easy availability and lower costs.

  12. DRESS syndrome with thrombotic microangiopathy revealing a Noonan syndrome: Case report.

    PubMed

    Bobot, Mickaël; Coen, Matteo; Simon, Clémentine; Daniel, Laurent; Habib, Gilbert; Serratrice, Jacques

    2018-04-01

    The life-threatening drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome occurs most commonly after exposure to drugs, clinical features mimic those found with other serious systemic disorders. It is rarely associated with thrombotic microangiopathy. We describe the unique case of a 44-year-old man who simultaneously experienced DRESS syndrome with thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) after a 5 days treatment with fluindione. Clinical evaluation leads to the discovery of an underlying lymphangiomatosis, due to a Noonan syndrome. The anticoagulant was withdrawn, and corticosteroids (1 mg/kg/day) and acenocoumarol were started. Clinical improvement ensued. At follow-up the patient is well. The association of DRESS with TMA is a rare condition; we believe that the presence of the underlying Noonan syndrome could have been the trigger. Moreover, we speculate about the potential interrelations between these entities.

  13. A Controlled-Phase Gate via Adiabatic Rydberg Dressing of Neutral Atoms

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Keating, Tyler; Deutsch, Ivan; Cook, Robert; Biederman, Grant; Jau, Yuan-Yu

    2014-05-01

    The dipole blockade effect between Rydberg atoms is a promising tool for quantum information processing in neutral atoms. So far, most efforts to perform a quantum logic gate with this effect have used resonant laser pulses to excite the atoms, which makes the system particularly susceptible to decoherence through thermal motional effects. We explore an alternative scheme in which the atomic ground states are adiabatically ``dressed'' by turning on an off-resonant laser. We analyze the implementation of a CPHASE gate using this mechanism and find that fidelities of >99% should be possible with current technology, owing primarily to the suppression of motional errors. We also discuss how such a scheme could be generalized to perform more complicated, multi-qubit gates; in particular, a simple generalization would allow us to perform a Toffoli gate in a single step.

  14. Effectiveness and Value of Prophylactic 5-Layer Foam Sacral Dressings to Prevent Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries in Acute Care Hospitals

    PubMed Central

    2017-01-01

    PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness and value of prophylactic 5-layer foam sacral dressings to prevent hospital-acquired pressure injury rates in acute care settings. DESIGN: Retrospective observational cohort. SAMPLE AND SETTING: We reviewed records of adult patients 18 years or older who were hospitalized at least 5 days across 38 acute care hospitals of the University Health System Consortium (UHC) and had a pressure injury as identified by Patient Safety Indicator #3 (PSI-03). All facilities are located in the United States. METHODS: We collected longitudinal data pertaining to prophylactic 5-layer foam sacral dressings purchased by hospital-quarter for 38 academic medical centers between 2010 and 2015. Longitudinal data on acute care, hospital-level patient outcomes (eg, admissions and PSI-03 and pressure injury rate) were queried through the UHC clinical database/resource manager from the Johns Hopkins Medicine portal. Data on volumes of dressings purchased per UHC hospital were merged with UHC data. Mixed-effects negative binomial regression was used to test the longitudinal association of prophylactic foam sacral dressings on pressure injury rates, adjusted for hospital case-mix and Medicare payments rules. RESULTS: Significant pressure injury rate reductions in US acute care hospitals between 2010 and 2015 were associated with the adoption of prophylactic 5-layer foam sacral dressings within a prevention protocol (−1.0 cases/quarter; P = .002) and changes to Medicare payment rules in 2014 (−1.13 cases/quarter; P = .035). CONCLUSIONS: Prophylactic 5-layer foam sacral dressings are an effective component of a pressure injury prevention protocol. Hospitals adopting these technologies should expect good value for use of these products. PMID:28816929

  15. Unravelling nocebo effect: the mediating effect of anxiety between anticipation and pain at wound dressing change.

    PubMed

    Woo, Kevin Y

    2015-07-01

    The purpose of this study was to examine the mediating effect of anxiety in the relationship between anticipation and pain in people with chronic wounds. Pain is common in people with chronic wounds. Anticipation or negative expectation of discomfort has been shown to have an augmenting effect on pain; also known as nocebo hyperalgesia. This was a cross-sectional study with repeated measures. Prior to dressing change, anticipatory pain level was evaluated by a 11-point numerical rating scale and anxiety by the Six-items State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-6). During wound dressing changes, pain was measured before dressing removal, at dressing removal, at cleansing and dressing application using the numerical scale. Analysis was completed based on the data from a convenience sample of 96 patients. Participants reported more pain at cleansing and dressing removal than baseline. High levels of anticipation, anxiety and pain at dressing change for wounds were related to heavy exudate and wound that were covered with necrotic tissue. Finally, the relationship between anticipation and pain perception was mediated by anxiety. Anticipation of pain triggers anxiety that can lead to increased pain. There is a need to incorporate evaluation of anxiety and personal expectations as part of comprehensive pain assessment. Clinicians should be aware of the impact of emotions and anticipation on overall pain experience. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  16. Media Frames regarding Teacher Dress: Implications for Career and Technical Education Teacher Preparation

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Freeburg, Beth Winfrey; Workman, Jane E.

    2010-01-01

    The purpose of this study was to explore teacher dress in United States schools as presented in the newspaper. Twenty-nine articles were examined to answer three questions. Results revealed: (a) the newspaper provided four contexts for processing information about teacher dress--roles, control, impression management, and educational learning…

  17. Observables, gravitational dressing, and obstructions to locality and subsystems

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Donnelly, William; Giddings, Steven B.

    2016-11-01

    Quantum field theory—our basic framework for describing all nongravitational physics—conflicts with general relativity: the latter precludes the standard definition of the former's essential principle of locality, in terms of commuting local observables. We examine this conflict more carefully, by investigating implications of gauge (diffeomorphism) invariance for observables in gravity. We prove a dressing theorem, showing that any operator with nonzero Poincaré charges, and in particular any compactly supported operator, in flat-spacetime quantum field theory must be gravitationally dressed once coupled to gravity, i.e., it must depend on the metric at arbitrarily long distances, and we put lower bounds on this nonlocal dependence. This departure from standard locality occurs in the most severe way possible: in perturbation theory about flat spacetime, at leading order in Newton's constant. The physical observables in a gravitational theory therefore do not organize themselves into local commuting subalgebras: the principle of locality must apparently be reformulated or abandoned, and in fact we lack a clear definition of the coarser and more basic notion of a quantum subsystem of the Universe. We discuss relational approaches to locality based on diffeomorphism-invariant nonlocal operators, and reinforce arguments that any such locality is state-dependent and approximate. We also find limitations to the utility of bilocal diffeomorphism-invariant operators that are considered in cosmological contexts. An appendix provides a concise review of the canonical covariant formalism for gravity, instrumental in the discussion of Poincaré charges and their associated long-range fields.

  18. 12. Influence of Wound Dressing on the Fracture Healing Effect of Low-Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound (LIPUS).

    PubMed

    Naruse, Koji; Uchino, Masataka; Hirakawa, Noriko; Toyama, Masahiro; Miyajima, Genyo; Mukai, Manabu; Urabe, Ken; Uchida, Kentaro; Itoman, Moritoshi

    2016-08-01

    We have conducted a basic study on the influences on ultrasonic properties when LIPUS is applied through wound dressing. According to the results of ex vivo experiments conducted to date, LIPUS showed ultrasonic properties such as transmittance, coefficient of transmission, and a non-uniformity ratio through film wound dressing better than other wound dressing, and it was considered that LIPUS's effect for fracture healing was not influenced by film wound dressing. Then, we discussed the influence on the effect of LIPUS through film wound dressing. Thirty male 8-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were used for the trial. After creating close transverse femoral fractures on the right legs of these 30 rats, they were divided into 3 groups of 10; LIPUS through wound dressing (Group A), LIPUS without wound dressing (Group B), and No LIPUS treatment (Group C). OPSITE Wound, which was thought to have the least influence on ultrasound properties, was used for this trial. Group A and B received LIPUS for 20 minutes a day from the first day after the fractures. LIPUS was generated from Teijin Pharma's device for a basic experiment. When treating Group A, the wound dressing was pasted on the ultrasound terminal in order to apply LIPUS through the dressing. We assessed the time-oriented morphological change of each group in anesthetized condition using simple radiographs on the 8th, 16th, and 24th day after the fractures. Six rats in Group A, 2 in Group B, and 1 in Group C died in anesthesia, and we discussed the remaining 4 rats in Group A, 8 in Group B, and 9 in Group C. We defined more than one teleost callus bridging as bone-union. We also counted a bone remodeling when we recognized the absorption of existing cortical bone and the transformation of new bone to cortical bone in simple radiographs. As a result, compared with Group C, we recognized that both bone union and remodeling accelerated remarkably in Group B, but not in Group A. It suggested that LIPUS through wound

  19. Pesticide seed dressings can affect the activity of various soil organisms and reduce decomposition of plant material.

    PubMed

    Zaller, Johann G; König, Nina; Tiefenbacher, Alexandra; Muraoka, Yoko; Querner, Pascal; Ratzenböck, Andreas; Bonkowski, Michael; Koller, Robert

    2016-08-17

    Seed dressing with pesticides is widely used to protect crop seeds from pest insects and fungal diseases. While there is mounting evidence that especially neonicotinoid seed dressings detrimentally affect insect pollinators, surprisingly little is known on potential side effects on soil biota. We hypothesized that soil organisms would be particularly susceptible to pesticide seed dressings as they get in direct contact with these chemicals. Using microcosms with field soil we investigated, whether seeds treated either with neonicotinoid insecticides or fungicides influence the activity and interaction of earthworms, collembola, protozoa and microorganisms. The full-factorial design consisted of the factor Seed dressing (control vs. insecticide vs. fungicide), Earthworm (no earthworms vs. addition Lumbricus terrestris L.) and collembola (no collembola vs. addition Sinella curviseta Brook). We used commercially available wheat seed material (Triticum aesticum L. cf. Lukullus) at a recommended seeding density of 367 m(-2). Seed dressings (particularly fungicides) increased collembola surface activity, increased the number of protozoa and reduced plant decomposition rate but did not affect earthworm activity. Seed dressings had no influence on wheat growth. Earthworms interactively affected the influence of seed dressings on collembola activity, whereas collembola increased earthworm surface activity but reduced soil basal respiration. Earthworms also decreased wheat growth, reduced soil basal respiration and microbial biomass but increased soil water content and electrical conductivity. The reported non-target effects of seed dressings and their interactions with soil organisms are remarkable because they were observed after a one-time application of only 18 pesticide treated seeds per experimental pot. Because of the increasing use of seed dressing in agriculture and the fundamental role of soil organisms in agroecosystems these ecological interactions should

  20. Dadih bamboo ampel (bambusa vulgaris) and bamboo gombong (gigantochloa verticilata) 2 and 3 days fermented : effect on salad dressing hedonic quality

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ginting, Nurzainah

    2018-03-01

    The study aims to find time of fermentation of dadih and hedonic quality of dadih salad dressing. Goat milk was fermented in two kinds of bamboo: bamboo Ampel (Bambusa vulgaris) and bamboo Gombong (Gigantochloa verticilata) with different days; i.e. 2 and 3 days which will then became dadih while the dadih then were used as a raw material for making salad dressing. In Indonesia today there is an increasing on vegetable salad demand due to understanding of the benefits of consuming vegetables. One form of vegetable preparation is vegetable salad that is generally used as non local dressings. This research was conducted from April to May 2017 using Factorial Completely Randomized Design with 2 factors; i.e factor 1 (2 and 3 days fermented dadih) and factor 2 (bamboo types : bamboo Ampel and bamboo Gombong) with 4 replications. The parameters were flavor, color, aroma and texture (hedonic evaluation) where there were 25 panelists in doing evaluation. The results showed that 2 days fermented in bamboo ampel significantly (P <0.05) were preferred.

  1. Polymer-xerogel composites for controlled release wound dressings.

    PubMed

    Costache, Marius C; Qu, Haibo; Ducheyne, Paul; Devore, David I

    2010-08-01

    Many polymers and composites have been used to prepare active wound dressings. These materials have typically exhibited potentially toxic burst release of the drugs within the first few hours followed by a much slower, potentially ineffective drug release rate thereafter. Many of these materials also degraded to produce inflammatory and cytotoxic products. To overcome these limitations, composite active wound dressings were prepared here from two fully biodegradable and tissue compatible components, silicon oxide sol-gel (xerogel) microparticles that were embedded in tyrosine-poly(ethylene glycol)-derived poly(ether carbonate) copolymer matrices. Sustained, controlled release of drugs from these composites was demonstrated in vitro using bupivacaine and mepivacaine, two water-soluble local anesthetics commonly used in clinical applications. By systematically varying independent compositional parameters of the composites, including the hydrophilic:hydrophobic balance of the tyrosine-derived monomers and poly(ethylene glycol) in the copolymers and the porosity, weight ratio and drug content of the xerogels, drug release kinetics approaching zero-order were obtained. Composites with xerogel mass fractions up to 75% and drug payloads as high as 13% by weight in the final material were fabricated without compromising the physical integrity or the controlled release kinetics. The copolymer-xerogel composites thus provided a unique solution for the sustained delivery of therapeutic agents from tissue compatible wound dressings. 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  2. Evaluation of a new pressure ulcer preventive dressing containing ceramide 2 with low frictional outer layer.

    PubMed

    Nakagami, Gojiro; Sanada, Hiromi; Konya, Chizuko; Kitagawa, Atsuko; Tadaka, Etsuko; Matsuyama, Yutaka

    2007-09-01

    This paper is a report of an evaluation of the effectiveness of a newly developed dressing for preventing persistent erythema and pressure ulcer development and improving the water-holding capacity without increasing the skin pH in bedridden older patients. Shear forces and skin dryness play important roles in persistent erythema and pressure ulcer development. To eliminate these risks, we developed a dressing to reduce shear forces and improve the water-holding capacity. However, the effects of this dressing in clinical settings remain unknown. An experimental bilateral comparison study was conducted at a hospital in Japan in 2004 with 37 bedridden older patients at risk of pressure ulcer development. The dressing was randomly applied to the right or left greater trochanter for 3 weeks. No dressing was applied to the opposite side as a control. The skin was monitored weekly during the 3-week application for persistent erythema and pressure ulcer development. Skin hydration and pH were also assessed during the intervention and for 1 week after dressing removal. The incidence of persistent erythema was significantly lower in the intervention area than the control area [P = 0.007, RR 0.18 (95% CI: 0.05-0.73) and NNT 4.11 (2.50-11.63) ]. No pressure ulcers occurred in either the intervention or control area. Skin hydration increased significantly during dressing application and remained high after removal (P < 0.001) relative to the control area. Skin pH decreased significantly during the application (P < 0.001) but returned to control levels after removal (P = 0.38). This safe and effective dressing can be used for patients with highly prominent bones and dry skin to prevent pressure ulcers.

  3. Chitosan-aluminum monostearate composite sponge dressing containing asiaticoside for wound healing and angiogenesis promotion in chronic wound.

    PubMed

    Phaechamud, Thawatchai; Yodkhum, Kotchamon; Charoenteeraboon, Juree; Tabata, Yasuhiko

    2015-05-01

    There are many factors that delay healing in chronic wounds including lowering level of growth factors and increasing exudate level comprising high amount of tissue destructive enzymes. Asiaticoside possesses interesting wound healing and angiogenic activities that are employed to stimulate tissue regeneration in wound healing application. This study attempted to develop chitosan-aluminum monostearate (Alst) composite sponge containing asiaticoside for use as an absorbent medical dressing in chronic wound. N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) was used to enhance homogeneity of asiaticoside in the polymer composite matrix. The sponge dressings were prepared by lyophilization and dehydrothermal treatment (DHT). Functional group interaction, crystallinity, and morphology of the prepared sponges were investigated using FT-IR, PXRD, and SEM, respectively. Physicochemical properties, porosity, hydrophilic/hydrophobic properties and mechanical property, were evaluated. Wound dressing properties, water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), fluid absorbency, oxygen permeation (OP), and bio-adhesive property, were investigated. In vitro asiaticoside release study was conducted using immersion method. Cytotoxicity was studied in normal human dermal fibroblast (NHDF) and normal human epidermal keratinocyte (NHEK). Angiogenic activity of asiaticoside was evaluated using chick-chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay. FT-IR and PXRD results revealed the amidation after DHT to enhance the crystallinity of the prepared sponges. The prepared sponges had high porosity comprising high Alst-loaded amount that exhibited more compact structure. Alst enhanced hydrophobicity therefore it reduced the fluid absorption and WVTR together with bio-adhesion of the prepared sponge dressings. Porosity of all sponges was more than 85% therefore resulting in their high OP. Enhancing hydrophobicity of the material by Alst and more homogeneity caused by NMP eventually retarded the asiaticoside release for 7 days. The

  4. Effect of Film Dressing on Acute Radiation Dermatitis Secondary to Proton Beam Therapy

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Arimura, Takeshi, E-mail: arimura-takeshi@medipolis.org; Department of Radiology, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima; Ogino, Takashi

    Purpose: Acute radiation dermatitis (ARD) is one of the most common adverse events of proton beam therapy (PBT), and there is currently no effective method to manage ARD. The purpose of this study was to examine the prophylactic effect of a film dressing using Airwall on PBT-induced ARD compared with standard skin managements. Methods and Materials: A total of 271 patients with prostate cancer who were scheduled for PBT at our center were divided into 2 groups based on their own requests: 145 patients (53%) chose Airwall (group A) and 126 patients (47%) received standard treatments (group B). We evaluatedmore » irradiated skin every other day during PBT and followed up once a week for a month after completion of PBT. Results: Grade 0, 1, 2, and 3 dermatitis were seen in 2, 122, 21, and 0 and 0, 65, 57, and 4 patients in groups A and B, respectively (P<.001). Numbers of days to grades 1 and 2 ARD development were 34.9 ± 14.3 and 54.7 ± 10.3 and 31.8 ± 11.3 and 54.4 ± 11.6 in groups A and B, respectively. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups. Eighteen patients (12%) in group A who experienced problems in the region covered with Airwall switched to standard skin care after peeling the film off. Conclusions: Film dressing using Airwall reduced the severity of ARD without delaying the response time of the skin to proton beam irradiation compared with standard skin management. Hence, film dressing is considered a promising measure for preventing ARD secondary to PBT.« less

  5. Protease Inhibition by Oleic Acid Transfer From Chronic Wound Dressings to Albumin

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Edwards, J. V.; Howley, Phyllis; Davis, Rachel M.

    High elastase and cathepsin G activities have been observed in chronic wounds. These levels can inhibit healing through degradation of growth factors, cytokines, and extracellular matrix proteins. Oleic acid (18:1) is a non-toxic elastase inhibitor with some potential for redressing the imbalance of elastase activity found in chronic wounds. Cotton wound dressing material was characterized as a transfer carrier for affinity uptake of 18:1 by albumin under conditions mimicking chronic wounds. 18:1-treated cotton was examined for its ability to bind and release the fatty acid in the presence of albumin. The mechanism of 18:1 uptake from cotton and binding bymore » albumin was examined with both intact dressings and cotton fiber-designed chromatography. Raman spectra of the albumin-18:1 complexes under liquid-liquid equilibrium conditions revealed fully saturated albumin-18:1 complexes with a 1:1 weight ratio of albumin:18:1. Cotton chromatography under liquid-solid equilibrium conditions revealed oleic acid transfer from cotton to albumin at 27 mole equivalents of 18:1 per mole albumin. Cotton was contrasted with hydrogel, and hydrocolloid wound dressing for its comparative ability to lower elastase activity. Each dressing material evaluated was found to release 18:1 in the presence of albumin with significant inhibition of elastase activity. The 18:1-formulated wound dressings lowered elastase activity in a dose dependent manner in the order cotton gauze > hydrogel > hydrocolloid. In contrast the cationic serine protease Cathepsin G was inihibited by 18:1 within a narrow range of 18:1-cotton formulations. Four per cent Albumin solutions were most effective in binding cotton bound-18:1. However, 2% albumin was sufficient to transfer quantities of 18:1 necessary to achieve a significant elastase-lowering effect. Formulations with 128 mg 18:1/g cotton gauze had equivalent elastase lowering with 1 - 4% albumin. 18:1 bound to cotton wound dressings may have promise in

  6. Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS): A National Analysis of Data from 10-Year Post-marketing Surveillance.

    PubMed

    Renda, Francesca; Landoni, Giovanni; Bertini Malgarini, Renato; Assisi, Alessandro; Azzolini, Maria Luisa; Mucchetti, Marta; Pimpinella, Giuseppe; Pani, Luca

    2015-12-01

    Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) is a rare, severe and potentially fatal cutaneous adverse drug reaction (the mortality rate is up to 10 %) associated with numerous and apparently heterogeneous drugs. The aetiology is unknown. To report Italian cases of DRESS over a 10-year period. We searched the National Pharmacovigilance Network (NPN) for the term 'drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms' from 1 January 2004 to 1 January 2014, to identify all reports of DRESS. Each case was checked to avoid duplication. In the NPN, we identified 91 serious cases of DRESS: 68 were spontaneous, still-unpublished reports, while 23 additional cases were derived from screening of the scientific literature, performed by marketing authorization holders. Notably, the single common element linking all cases of DRESS was intake of a drug containing an aromatic ring. Thanks to the largest national DRESS case series ever reported, we were able to hypothesize, for the first time, that there is an association between use of drugs containing an aromatic ring in their chemical structure and DRESS. This might aid understanding of the aetiology of DRESS and facilitate diagnosis.

  7. Cross Dressing and Gender Dysphoria in People with Learning Disabilities: A Descriptive Study

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Parkes, Georgina; Hall, Ian; Wilson, Daniel

    2009-01-01

    We aimed to determine the characteristics of people with learning disability who cross-dress or who have gender dysphoria. Using a retrospective review of anonymised data from clinical records about people referred to a specialist service. All 13 participants cross-dressed and 12 were biological males. Only one person was in a core transsexual…

  8. In vitro microbial inhibition and cellular response to novel biodegradable composite wound dressings with controlled release of antibiotics.

    PubMed

    Elsner, J J; Berdicevsky, I; Zilberman, M

    2011-01-01

    About 70% of all people with severe burns die from related infections, despite advances in treatment regimens and the best efforts of nurses and doctors. Although silver-eluting wound dressings are available for addressing this problem, there is growing evidence of the deleterious effects of such dressings in delaying the healing process owing to cellular toxicity. A new concept of antibiotic-eluting composite wound dressings is described here. These dressings are based on a polyglyconate mesh coated with a porous poly-(dl-lactic-co-glycolic acid) matrix loaded with antibiotic drugs. The effect of antibiotic release on bacterial inhibition was studied, and cell cytotoxicity was examined. The dressings resulted in a 99.99% decrease in the viable counts of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus albus at very high initial inoculations of 10⁷-10⁸ CFU ml⁻¹ after only 1 day, while such a decrease in Staphylococcus aureus was obtained within 3 days. Bacterial inhibition zones around the dressing material were found to persist for 2 weeks, indicating a long-lasting antimicrobial effect. Despite severe toxicity to bacteria, the dressing material was found to have no toxic effect on cultured fibroblasts, indicating that the new antibiotic-eluting wound dressings represent an effective option for selective treatment of bacterial infections. Copyright © 2010 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  9. Reducing pain in acute herpes zoster with plain occlusive dressings: a case report.

    PubMed

    Keegan, David A

    2015-04-25

    The pain of acute herpes zoster (shingles) is severe and difficult to control. The medications used to control pain have a variety of important and potentially serious side effects. To the best of my knowledge, this is the first case report of using a plain topical occlusive dressing to reduce the pain of herpes zoster, avoiding the use of medication. A 40-year-old Caucasian man and a qualified physician (the author), developed a dermatomal vesicular rash consistent with herpes zoster. Applying plain topical occlusive dressings reduced the severity of his pain to an ignorable level. Plain topical occlusive dressings provide effective pain relief for acute herpes zoster, thereby avoiding the risks accompanying medication use.

  10. Systematic review of the use of prophylactic dressings in the prevention of pressure ulcers.

    PubMed

    Clark, Michael; Black, Joyce; Alves, Paulo; Brindle, Ct; Call, Evan; Dealey, Carol; Santamaria, Nick

    2014-10-01

    This systematic review considers the evidence supporting the use of prophylactic dressings for the prevention of pressure ulcer. Electronic database searches were conducted on 25 July 2013. The searches found 3026 titles and after removal of duplicate records 2819 titles were scanned against the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Of these, 2777 were excluded based on their title and abstract primarily because they discussed pressure ulcer healing, the prevention and treatment of other chronic and acute wounds or where the intervention was not a prophylactic dressing (e.g. underpads, heel protectors and cushions). Finally, the full text of 42 papers were retrieved. When these 42 papers were reviewed, 21 were excluded and 21 were included in the review. The single high-quality randomised controlled trial (RCT) and the growing number of cohort, weak RCT and case series all suggest that the introduction of a dressing as part of pressure ulcer prevention may help reduce pressure ulcer incidence associated with medical devices especially in immobile intensive care unit patients. There is no firm clinical evidence at this time to suggest that one dressing type is more effective than other dressings. © 2014 The Authors. International Wound Journal © 2014 Medicalhelplines.com Inc and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  11. Ward nurses' use of wound dressings before and after a bespoke education programme.

    PubMed

    Smith, G; Greenwood, M; Searle, R

    2010-09-01

    A survey of ward nurses in medical, surgical, orthopaedic and rehabilitation specialties in relation to their care of wounds and their choice and use of wound dressings was carried out in May and August 2009 at St Mary's Hospital. Isle of Wight, UK. The objectives were to find out the distribution of wound types, and their characteristics, that were treated by ward nurses in the hospital, and to assess clinical practice in the use of wound dressings, before and after a bespoke programme of education and training. A visual framework to aid the ward nurses in the choice of dressings and frequency of change was introduced after the May 2009 survey. Following the nurses' education and training programme a repeat survey, using the same methodology, was conducted in August 2009. In the initial survey, 172 wounds were included (mean number of wounds per patient 1.64) and in the repeat one, 159 (mean number of wounds per patient 1.54). In both phases of the survey, the most common wound type was pressure ulcers, followed by surgical wounds; over 60% of the wounds were pressure ulcers, of which around half were category 1, and one-third were category 2. No category 4 ulcers were recorded. About one-third of the wounds had a duration of more than 21 days. On average, wound dressings were left in place for between two and three days, with 35% of dressings being changed on a daily basis. The mean cost of dressings per wound per week was observed to be lower in the repeat survey than in the initial one (£9.02 and £11.23 respectively). The number of undesirable reasons for changing the dressing was lower in the second phase than the first. The methodology of the surveys provided meaningful and valuable results over a short timescale, and increased understanding of wound types, their characteristics, and clinical practice. The surveys showed that data that can be collected in a short period using a simple tool can yield complex and revealing data trends. They also showed that

  12. Triple tailored nonlinear dispersion of dressed four- and six-wave mixing

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sun, Yanyong; Wang, Zhiguo; Zhang, Zhaoyang; Gu, Bingling; Wang, Kun; Yang, Gaoguo; Zhang, Yanpeng

    2018-06-01

    We investigate the spectral signals and spatial images of a probe transmission signal, four-wave mixing (FWM), and six-wave mixing (SWM) under double dressing effects in an inverted Y-type system. Especially, we get the triple tailored nonlinear dispersion (about 60 MHz) of the dressed FWM and SWM through the interaction between electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) windows and the Kerr nonlinearity. Moreover, SWM and dressed FWM with narrow linewidth are obtained through the tailoring of the three EIT windows, which is much narrower than the EIT. In addition, we first elaborate the modulation effect from the self-Kerr coefficient of FWM on the spot. We also investigate the spatial characteristics (defocusing, shifting, and splitting) of FWM and SWM induced by tailored self-Kerr and cross-Kerr effects among the relative fields. Such spatial shifting, splitting induced by the tailored nonlinear dispersion can be used for a higher contrast and high speed switch as well as a high resolution router.

  13. Single and Combined Effects of Pesticide Seed Dressings and Herbicides on Earthworms, Soil Microorganisms, and Litter Decomposition.

    PubMed

    Van Hoesel, Willem; Tiefenbacher, Alexandra; König, Nina; Dorn, Verena M; Hagenguth, Julia F; Prah, Urša; Widhalm, Theresia; Wiklicky, Viktoria; Koller, Robert; Bonkowski, Michael; Lagerlöf, Jan; Ratzenböck, Andreas; Zaller, Johann G

    2017-01-01

    Seed dressing, i.e., the treatment of crop seeds with insecticides and/or fungicides, aiming to protect seeds from pests and diseases, is widely used in conventional agriculture. During the growing season, those crop fields often receive additional broadband herbicide applications. However, despite this broad utilization, very little is known on potential side effects or interactions between these different pesticide classes on soil organisms. In a greenhouse pot experiment, we studied single and interactive effects of seed dressing of winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum L. var. Capo ) with neonicotinoid insecticides and/or strobilurin and triazolinthione fungicides and an additional one-time application of a glyphosate-based herbicide on the activity of earthworms, soil microorganisms, litter decomposition, and crop growth. To further address food-web interactions, earthworms were introduced to half of the experimental units as an additional experimental factor. Seed dressings significantly reduced the surface activity of earthworms with no difference whether insecticides or fungicides were used. Moreover, seed dressing effects on earthworm activity were intensified by herbicides (significant herbicide × seed dressing interaction). Neither seed dressings nor herbicide application affected litter decomposition, soil basal respiration, microbial biomass, or specific respiration. Seed dressing did also not affect wheat growth. We conclude that interactive effects on soil biota and processes of different pesticide classes should receive more attention in ecotoxicological research.

  14. The safety and efficacy of bacterial nanocellulose wound dressing incorporating sericin and polyhexamethylene biguanide: in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies.

    PubMed

    Napavichayanun, Supamas; Yamdech, Rungnapha; Aramwit, Pornanong

    2016-03-01

    In our previous work, we have attempted to develop a novel bacterial nanocellulose wound dressing which composed of both polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) as an antimicrobial agent and sericin as an accelerative wound healing component. The loading sequence and concentration of PHMB and sericin were optimized to provide the wound dressing with the most effective antimicrobial activity and enhanced collagen production. In this study, further in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies of this novel wound dressing were performed to evaluate its safety, efficacy, and applicability. For the in vitro cytotoxic test with L929 mouse fibroblast cells, our novel dressing was not toxic to the cells and also promoted cell migration as good as the commercially available dressing, possibly due to the component of sericin released. When implanted subcutaneously in rats, the lower inflammation response was observed for the novel dressing implanted, comparing to the commercially available dressing. This might be that the antimicrobial PHMB component of the novel dressing played a role to reduce infection and inflammation reaction. The clinical trial patch test was performed on the normal skin of healthy volunteers to evaluate the irritation effect of the dressing. Our novel dressing did not irritate the skin of any volunteers, as characterized by the normal levels of erythema and melanin and the absence of edema, papule, vesicle, and bullae. Then, the novel dressing was applied for the treatment of full-thickness wounds in rats. The wounds treated with our novel dressing showed significantly lower percentage of wound size and higher extent of collagen formation mainly due to the activity of sericin. We concluded that our novel bacterial nanocellulose incorporating PHMB and sericin was a safe and efficient wound dressing material for further investigation in the wound healing efficacy in clinic.

  15. Dress codes and appearance policies: challenges under federal legislation, part 3: Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the National Labor Relations Act.

    PubMed

    Mitchell, Michael S; Koen, Clifford M; Darden, Stephen M

    2014-01-01

    As more and more individuals express themselves with tattoos and body piercings and push the envelope on what is deemed appropriate in the workplace, employers have an increased need for creation and enforcement of reasonable dress codes and appearance policies. As with any employment policy or practice, an appearance policy must be implemented and enforced without regard to an individual's race, color, sex, national origin, religion, disability, age, or any other protected status. A policy governing dress and appearance based on the business needs of an employer that is applied fairly and consistently and does not have a disproportionate effect on any protected class will generally be upheld if challenged in court. By examining some of the more common legal challenges to dress codes and how courts have resolved the disputes, health care managers can avoid many potential problems. This article, the third part of a 3-part examination of dress codes and appearance policies, focuses on the issues of race and national origin under the Civil Rights Act, disability under the Americans With Disabilities Act, and employees' rights to engage in concerted activities under the National Labor Relations Act. Pertinent court cases that provide guidance for employers are addressed.

  16. What #theDress reveals about the role of illumination priors in color perception and color constancy

    PubMed Central

    Aston, Stacey; Hurlbert, Anya

    2018-01-01

    The disagreement between people who named #theDress (the Internet phenomenon of 2015) “blue and black” versus “white and gold” is thought to be caused by individual differences in color constancy. It is hypothesized that observers infer different incident illuminations, relying on illumination “priors” to overcome the ambiguity of the image. Different experiences may drive the formation of different illumination priors, and these may be indicated by differences in chronotype. We assess this hypothesis, asking whether matches to perceived illumination in the image and/or perceived dress colors relate to scores on the morningness-eveningness questionnaire (a measure of chronotype). We find moderate correlations between chronotype and illumination matches (morning types giving bluer illumination matches than evening types) and chronotype and dress body matches, but these are significant only at the 10% level. Further, although inferred illumination chromaticity in the image explains variation in the color matches to the dress (confirming the color constancy hypothesis), color constancy thresholds obtained using an established illumination discrimination task are not related to dress color perception. We also find achromatic settings depend on luminance, suggesting that subjective white point differences may explain the variation in dress color perception only if settings are made at individually tailored luminance levels. The results of such achromatic settings are inconsistent with their assumed correspondence to perceived illumination. Finally, our results suggest that perception and naming are disconnected, with observers reporting different color names for the dress photograph and their isolated color matches, the latter best capturing the variation in the matches. PMID:28793353

  17. Assessment of amniotic and polyurethane membrane dressings in the treatment of burns.

    PubMed

    Adly, O A; Moghazy, A M; Abbas, A H; Ellabban, A M; Ali, O S; Mohamed, B A

    2010-08-01

    As allograft and xenografts are not available in Islamic countries, amniotic membrane seems to be an effective alternative in the management of deep burns. Its proven bioactivities and modest price suggest that it might be superior to synthetic dressings. Forty-six patients were enrolled in this randomized, controlled clinical trial conducted in the Burn Unit at Suez Canal University Hospital, Ismailia, Egypt. All age groups and both gender were included in the study. Only patients with less than 50% total body surface area burned were included, thus minimizing the dropouts in both groups. All were either second or third degree. These patients were randomly assigned either to group I: amniotic membrane (Biomembrane) dressing, or group II: polyurethane membrane (Tegaderm) dressing. Those in group I demonstrated a significantly lower rate of infection and required less frequent dressing changes than those in group II. They also sustained less electrolyte and albumin loss. The rate of healing in the amniotic membrane group was significantly faster than in the polyurethane group. Furthermore, pain was significantly less when Biomembrane was used. Based on these findings, we recommend the use of lyophilized gamma-irradiated amniotic membrane as an effective alternative for allograft and xenografts in Islamic countries and the Jewish population.

  18. The effect of inhalation aromatherapy with damask rose (Rosa damascena) essence on the pain intensity after dressing in patients with burns: A clinical randomized trial

    PubMed Central

    Bikmoradi, Ali; Harorani, Mehdi; Roshanaei, Ghodratollah; Moradkhani, Shirin; Falahinia, Golam Hossein

    2016-01-01

    Background: Pain is one of the common problems encountered by patients with burns, which increases after each dressing. This study aimed to investigate the effect of inhalation aromatherapy with damask rose essence on the pain of patients with burns that is caused after dressing. Materials and Methods: A randomized clinical trial was conducted on 50 patients with second- and third-degree burn wounds. The baseline pain of the patients was assessed 30 min before they entered into the dressing room on the first and second days of intervention. The patients in the experimental group inhaled five drops of damask rose essence 40% in distilled water, while those in the control group inhaled five drops of distilled water as placebo. The pain intensity was assessed using Visual Analogue Scale at 15 and 30 min after the patients exited from the dressing room. Data were analyzed by SPSS (version 18) using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: There was significant difference between the mean of pain intensity before and after intervention at 15 and 30 min after dressing (P < 0.001). Moreover, there was significant difference in reduction of pain intensity before and after aromatherapy in the experimental group (P < 0.05). Also, there was a significant reduction in severity of pain after dressing in the experimental group compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Inhalation aromatherapy with damask rose could be effective for relieving the pain caused after dressing in patients with burns. Therefore, it could be suggested as a complementary therapy in burn patients for pain relief. PMID:27186201

  19. Dressing for alveolopalatal wounds after alveolar bone grafting.

    PubMed

    Kondoh, Shoji; Matsuo, Kiyoshi; Yuzuriha, Shunsuke; Kikuchi, Nirou; Ban, Ryokuya

    2003-09-01

    Cotton gauze with alpha cyanoacrylate was used for alveolopalatal wound dressing after alveolar bone grafting to treat 93 alveolar clefts in 74 cleft patients to reduce mechanical injuries, tension for wound dehiscence, and adhesion of food remnants. T-shaped cotton gauze was put on the gingivoperiosteal flaps and was impregnated with cyanoacrylate. The procedure required no preoperative preparation and its intraoperative execution took less than 5 minutes. The gauze with cyanoacrylate was removed approximately 1 week after surgery. No infection was observed at any of the operational sites, but tiny fistulas developed at four of them. The mean bone graft score was 1.4 point. No complications such as thermal injury resulted from the use of cyanoacrylate. Gauze impregnated with cyanoacrylate proved to be a convenient and dependable dressing for alveolopalatal wounds resulting from gingivoperiosteoplasty for alveolar bone grafting.

  20. 9. View to west of Tropic Dressing Room (typical). ...

    Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

    9. View to west of Tropic Dressing Room (typical). - Natick Research & Development Laboratories, Climatic Chambers Building, U.S. Army Natick Research, Development & Engineering Center (NRDEC), Natick, Middlesex County, MA

  1. Role of multi-layer foam dressings with Safetac in the prevention of pressure ulcers: a review of the clinical and scientific data.

    PubMed

    Davies, Phil

    2016-01-01

    controlled trials, to assess the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of using multi-layer foam dressings with Safetac as a component of standard PU prevention strategies. The results of these studies indicate that the application of multi-layer foam dressings containing Safetac can reduce the occurrence of PUs on anatomical locations such as the sacrum and the heel, and underneath medical devices. Scientists have also developed and used laboratory methods to gain a better understanding of how prophylactic dressings work. The results of these studies indicate that the composition of foam dressings containing Safetac (i.e. their multi-layer structure) sets them apart from other dressings due to their ability to mediate the effects of physical forces (i.e. pressure, friction and shear) and control microclimate, all of which contribute to pressure ulceration. The evidence pool clearly indicates that the prophylactic use of multi-layer foam dressings with Safetac as a component of standard prevention measures is beneficial to the clinician, the health-care provider and the patient. It should be noted that the findings outlined in this review may not be transferable to other products as their makeup and components are likely to differ significantly from those of multi-layer foam dressings with Safetac. As the importance of evidence-based practice and the need for cost-effective care continues to grow, clinicians and provider should carefully consider this point when selecting prophylactic dressings for PU prevention.

  2. Atom-field dressed states in slow-light waveguide QED

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Calajó, Giuseppe; Ciccarello, Francesco; Chang, Darrick; Rabl, Peter

    2016-03-01

    We discuss the properties of atom-photon bound states in waveguide QED systems consisting of single or multiple atoms coupled strongly to a finite-bandwidth photonic channel. Such bound states are formed by an atom and a localized photonic excitation and represent the continuum analog of the familiar dressed states in single-mode cavity QED. Here we present a detailed analysis of the linear and nonlinear spectral features associated with single- and multiphoton dressed states and show how the formation of bound states affects the waveguide-mediated dipole-dipole interactions between separated atoms. Our results provide both a qualitative and quantitative description of the essential strong-coupling processes in waveguide QED systems, which are currently being developed in the optical and microwave regimes.

  3. Face-masks for facial atopic eczema: consider a hydrocolloid dressing.

    PubMed

    Rademaker, Marius

    2013-08-01

    Facial involvement of atopic eczema in young children can be difficult to manage. Chronic scratching and rubbing, combined with parental reluctance to use topical corticosteroids on the face, often results in recalcitrant facial eczema. While wet wraps are a useful management option for moderate/severe atopic eczema involving the trunk and limbs they are difficult to use on the face. We describe the use of a face-mask using a widely available adhesive hydrocolloid dressing (DuoDerm extra thin) in three children with recalcitrant facial atopic eczema. Symptomatic control of itch or soreness was obtained within hours and the facial atopic eczema was markedly improved by 7 days. The face-masks were easy to apply, each lasting 1-4 days. One patient had a single adjuvant application of a potent topical corticosteroid under the hydrocolloid dressing. All three patients had long remissions (greater than 3 months) of their facial eczema, although all continued to have significant eczema involving their trunk and limbs. Face-masks made from hydrocolloid dressings, with or without topical corticosteroids, are worth considering in children with recalcitrant facial eczema. © 2012 The Author. Australasian Journal of Dermatology © 2012 The Australasian College of Dermatologists.

  4. Student Dress Codes and Uniforms. Research Brief

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Johnston, Howard

    2009-01-01

    According to an Education Commission of the States "Policy Report", research on the effects of dress code and school uniform policies is inconclusive and mixed. Some researchers find positive effects; others claim no effects or only perceived effects. While no state has legislatively mandated the wearing of school uniforms, 28 states and…

  5. Antimicrobial-impregnated dressing combined with negative-pressure wound therapy increases split-thickness skin graft engraftment: a simple effective technique.

    PubMed

    Wu, Cheng-Chun; Chew, Khong-Yik; Chen, Chien-Chang; Kuo, Yur-Ren

    2015-01-01

    Immobilization and adequate surface contact to wounds are critical for skin graft take. Techniques such as the tie-over dressing, cotton bolster, and vacuum-assisted closure are used to address this, but each has its limitations. This study is designed to assess the effect of antimicrobial-impregnated dressing (AMD) combined with negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) on skin graft survival. Retrospective case-control study : Patients with chronic or contaminated wounds treated with split-thickness skin graft. A broad spectrum of wounds was included, from causes such as trauma, burns, chronic diabetic ulcers, and infection. Antimicrobial-impregnated dressing, which contains 0.2% polyhexamethylene biguanide, with NPWT MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE:: Success of skin graft : In the AMD group, all skin grafts achieved 100% take without secondary intervention. No infection or graft failure was observed in any patients, and no complications, such as hematoma or seroma formation, were noted, although in the control group partial loss of skin grafts was noted in 3 patients. Infection and inadequate immobilization were thought to be the main reasons. There were no hematoma or seroma formations in the control group. Use of an AMD dressing with NPWT after split-thickness skin grafting can be an effective method to ensure good graft to wound contact and enhances skin graft take in chronic and contaminated wounds.

  6. A comparison of skin graft success in the head & neck with and without the use of a pressure dressing.

    PubMed

    Dhillon, M; Carter, C P; Morrison, J; Hislop, W S; Currie, W J R

    2015-06-01

    The success of skin grafting is dependent on the interplay between many factors including nutrient uptake and vascular in-growth. To allow this, it is important that the graft is immobile and traditionally a 'pressure dressing' has been placed over the graft to improve outcome and graft 'take'. We present the findings of our comparative study of full-thickness skin grafts performed in the head, neck and face region over a period of 24 months. We felt that there was an unacceptably high infection rate and graft failure using pressure dressings. Data was collected retrospectively from the case notes on 70 patients who had undergone full-thickness skin grafting to the head, neck and face over a 2 year period. Thirty-five patients underwent grafting with pressure dressing and 35 without. The group with the pressure dressing had the same 'bolster' specification-type dressing and those without had their graft 'quilted' in and chloramphenicol ointment applied topically. Success was determined by the percentage 'take' of the grafts and absence of infection i.e. purulence. Infection in those with a pressure dressing stood at 26 % in contrast to those without, at 9 %. Without a pressure dressing we observed no total graft failures, compared to 6 % in those with a pressure dressing. The results confirmed the perception that there was a higher infection and graft failure rate where a pressure dressing was applied; however, this was not a statistically significant difference and a randomised control trial with a larger sample size would be required to validate the results.

  7. Economic and clinical contributions of an antimicrobial barrier dressing: a strategy for the reduction of surgical site infections.

    PubMed

    Leaper, David; Nazir, Jameel; Roberts, Chris; Searle, Richard

    2010-01-01

    In patients at risk of surgical site infection (SSI), there is evidence that an antimicrobial barrier dressing (Acticoat* ) applied immediately post-procedure is effective in reducing the incidence of infection. The objective of this study was to assess when it is appropriate to use an antimicrobial barrier dressing rather than a post-operative film dressing, by evaluating the net cost and budget impact of the two strategies. An economic model was developed, which estimates expected expenditure on dressings and the expected costs of surgical site infection during the initial inpatient episode, based on published literature on the pre-discharge costs of surgical infection and the efficacy of an antimicrobial barrier dressing in preventing SSI. At an SSI risk of 10%, an antimicrobial barrier dressing strategy is cost neutral if the incidence of infection is reduced by at least 9% compared with a post-operative film dressing. At 35% efficacy, expenditure on dressings would be higher by £30,760 per 1000 patients, and the cost of treating infection would be lower by £111,650, resulting in a net cost saving of £80,890. The break-even infection risk for cost neutrality is 2.6%. Although this cost analysis is based on published data, there are limitations in methodology: the model is dependent on and subject to the limitations of the data used to populate it. Further studies would be useful to increase the robustness of the conclusions, particularly in a broader range of surgical specialties. A strategy involving the use of an antimicrobial barrier dressing in patients at moderate (5-10%) or high (>10%) risk of infection appears reasonable and cost saving in light of the available clinical evidence.

  8. A comparison of suit dresses and summer clothes in the terms of thermal comfort

    PubMed Central

    2013-01-01

    Background Fanger’s PMV equation is the result of the combined quantitative effects of the air temperature, mean radiant temperature, relative air velocity, humidity, activity level and clothing insulation. Methods This paper contains a comparison of suit dresses and summer clothes in terms of thermal comfort, Fanger’s PMV equation. Studies were processed in the winter for an office, which locates in Ankara, Turkey. The office was partitioned to fifty square cells. Humidity, relative air velocity, air temperature and mean radiant temperature were measured on the centre points of these cells. Thermal comfort analyses were processed for suit dressing (Icl = 1 clo) and summer clothing (Icl = 0.5 clo). Results Discomfort/comfort in an environment for different clothing types can be seen in this study. The relationship between indoor thermal comfort distribution and clothing type was discussed. Graphics about thermal comfort were sketched according to cells. Conclusions Conclusions about the thermal comfort of occupants were given by PMV graphics. PMID:24355097

  9. Effect of Most-to-Least Prompting Procedure on Dressing Skill of Students with Autism

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Çetrez-Iscan, Galibiye; Nurçin, Elçin; Fazlioglu, Yesim

    2016-01-01

    Dressing skill is one of the necessary self-care skills that is taught to individuals with autism in order for them to be able to live independently. Typically, developing individuals can acquire dressing skill on their own; however, children with autism have difficulties in learning such skill without systematic teaching. Thus, teaching dressing…

  10. Bio-inspired crosslinking and matrix-drug interactions for advanced wound dressings with long-term antimicrobial activity.

    PubMed

    Dhand, Chetna; Venkatesh, Mayandi; Barathi, Veluchami Amutha; Harini, Sriram; Bairagi, Samiran; Goh Tze Leng, Eunice; Muruganandham, Nandhakumar; Low, Kenny Zhi Wei; Fazil, Mobashar Hussain Urf Turabe; Loh, Xian Jun; Srinivasan, Dinesh Kumar; Liu, Shou Ping; Beuerman, Roger W; Verma, Navin Kumar; Ramakrishna, Seeram; Lakshminarayanan, Rajamani

    2017-09-01

    There is a growing demand for durable advanced wound dressings for the management of persistent infections after deep burn injuries. Herein, we demonstrated the preparation of durable antimicrobial nanofiber mats, by taking advantage of strong interfacial interactions between polyhydroxy antibiotics (with varying number of OH groups) and gelatin and their in-situ crosslinking with polydopamine (pDA) using ammonium carbonate diffusion method. Polydopamine crosslinking did not interfere with the antimicrobial efficacy of the loaded antibiotics. Interestingly, incorporation of antibiotics containing more number of alcoholic OH groups (N OH  ≥ 5) delayed the release kinetics with complete retention of antimicrobial activity for an extended period of time (20 days). The antimicrobials-loaded mats displayed superior mechanical and thermal properties than gelatin or pDA-crosslinked gelatin mats. Mats containing polyhydroxy antifungals showed enhanced aqueous stability and retained nanofibrous morphology under aqueous environment for more than 4 weeks. This approach can be expanded to produce mats with broad spectrum antimicrobial properties by incorporating the combination of antibacterial and antifungal drugs. Direct electrospinning of vancomycin-loaded electrospun nanofibers onto a bandage gauze and subsequent crosslinking produced non-adherent durable advanced wound dressings that could be easily applied to the injured sites and readily detached after treatment. In a partial thickness burn injury model in piglets, the drug-loaded mats displayed comparable wound closure to commercially available silver-based dressings. This prototype wound dressing designed for easy handling and with long-lasting antimicrobial properties represents an effective option for treating life-threatening microbial infections due to thermal injuries. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

  11. A Prospective Randomized Clinical Study of the Influence of Primary Closure or Dressing on Post-operative Morbidity after Mandibular Third Molar Surgery

    PubMed Central

    Egbor, Peter E; Saheeb, Birch D

    2014-01-01

    Objective: The aim of the following study is to determine the effect of primary closure or dressing on post-operative morbidity after impacted lower third molar surgery. Materials and Methods: This was a randomized clinical study of 72 patients who had surgical extraction of impacted mandibular third molars. The subjects were divided into two groups of A and B. Group A had total closure (primary closure) and Group B had whitehead varnish dressing of the socket. Pain, swelling and trismus were evaluated pre-operatively using visual analogue scale, flexible tape measuring method and inter-incisal distance measurement with Vernier Callipers respectively as well as post-operatively on 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 7th day. Results: The study participants consisted of 27 males and 45 females in a ratio 1:1.7. With a mean age of 24.7 ± 4.9 years (range 19-33 years) for Group A and 25.5 ± 4.3 years (range 20-39 years) for Group B. Post-operative pain was not significantly affected by the closure techniques (P > 0.05). Dressing was found to significantly reduce the degree of swelling and trismus peaking on the 2nd day (P = 0.0207 and P = 0.010 respectively). Conclusion: The use of dressing was more effective than primary closure to reduce the degree of swelling and trismus though its effect on post-operative pain reduction was not significant. PMID:25191094

  12. Composite wound dressings of pectin and gelatin with aloe vera and curcumin as bioactive agents.

    PubMed

    Tummalapalli, Mythili; Berthet, Morgane; Verrier, Bernard; Deopura, B L; Alam, M S; Gupta, Bhuvanesh

    2016-01-01

    Aloe vera and curcumin loaded oxidized pectin-gelatin (OP-Gel) matrices were used as antimicrobial finishes on nonwoven cotton fabrics to produce composite wound care devices. The drug release characteristics of the biocomposite dressings indicated that curcumin is released through a biphasic mechanism - erosion of the polymeric matrix, followed by diffusion, while aloe vera is released upon leaching of the polymeric matrix. A 50/50 composition of aloe vera/curcumin was used to fabricate OP-Gel-Aloe Curcumin dressings. However, contrary to our expectations, OP-Gel-Aloe Curcumin dressings exhibited lesser antimicrobial activity compared to OP-Gel-Aloe and OP-Gel-Curcumin dressings. The cytocompatibility of the fabricated dressings was evaluated using NIH3T3 mouse fibroblast cells. OP-Gel-Aloe treated fibroblasts had the highest viability, with the matrices providing a substrate for good cell attachment and proliferation. On the other hand, OP-Gel-Curcumin and OP-Gel-Aloe Curcumin seemed to have induced apoptosis in NIH3T3 cells. In vivo wound healing analysis was carried out using an excisional splint wound model on C57BL/6J mice. OP-Gel-Aloe treated wounds exhibited very rapid healing with 80% of the wound healing in just 8 days. Furthermore, aloe vera exerted a strong anti-inflammatory effect and prominent scar prevention. Histological examination revealed that an ordered collagen formation and neovascularization could be observed along with migration of nuclei. Therefore, OP-Gel-Aloe biocomposite dressings are proposed as viable materials for effective wound management. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  13. A systematic review of silver-releasing dressings in the management of infected chronic wounds.

    PubMed

    Lo, Shu-Fen; Hayter, Mark; Chang, Chee-Jen; Hu, Wen-Yu; Lee, Ling-Ling

    2008-08-01

    This paper is a systematic review with the objective of determining the effectiveness of silver-releasing dressing in the management of infected chronic wounds. Chronic wounds exhibit increased bacterial burdens which not only result in a negative physical impact on patients, impairing their quality of life, but also increase treatment costs. Silver dressings are wound products designed to control and inhibit infection and provide a wound environment conducive to healing. However, there is limited evidence on their effectiveness in doing so. A systematic review of literature from 1950-May 2007 was conducted using the PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane, MEDLINE, British Nursing Index, EBSCO Host, OCLC, Proquest and PsychInfo databases. The review included randomised or non-randomised control trials, published in English or non-English, of silver-releasing dressings in infected chronic wounds. Of the over 1957 potentially releasing studies examined, 14 pertinent articles involving 1285 participants were identified. Almost all the participants reported one or more statistically significant outcomes. The main points to emerge from this review of studies are that silver-releasing dressings show positive effects on infected chronic wounds. The quality of the trials was limited by the potential for bias associated with inadequate concealment, no detailed description of the outcome measurement and no reported intention-to-treat analysis. Moreover, problems existed in some studies with confounding factors. The review clearly highlights the need for well-designed, methodologically standardised outcome measurement research into the effectiveness of silver-releasing dressings. It also points to the need for a comprehensive assessment of wound bed status in further studies. This review strengthens the case for the use of silver dressings when managing infected chronic wounds. They appear more effective and are tolerated well by patients. However, their use should be accompanied by a

  14. Politicas de uniformes y codigos de vestuario (Uniforms and Dress-Code Policies). ERIC Digest.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Lumsden, Linda

    This digest in Spanish examines schools' dress-code policies and discusses the legal considerations and research findings about the effects of such changes. Most revisions to dress codes involve the use of uniforms, typically as a way to curb school violence and create a positive learning environment. A recent survey of secondary school principals…

  15. Dressed Gain from the Parametrically Amplified Four-Wave Mixing Process in an Atomic Vapor.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Zhaoyang; Wen, Feng; Che, Junling; Zhang, Dan; Li, Changbiao; Zhang, Yanpeng; Xiao, Min

    2015-10-14

    With a forward cone emitting from the strong pump laser in a thermal rubidium atomic vapor, we investigate the non-degenerate parametrically amplified four-wave mixing (PA-FWM) process with dressing effects in a three-level "double-Λ" configuration both theoretically and experimentally. By seeding a weak probe field into the Stokes or anti-Stokes channel of the FWM, the gain processes are generated in the bright twin beams which are called conjugate and probe beams, respectively. However, the strong dressing effect of the pump beam will dramatically affect the gain factors both in the probe and conjugate channels, and can inevitably impose an influence on the quantum effects such as entangled degree and the quantum noise reduction between the two channels. We systematically investigate the intensity evolution of the dressed gain processes by manipulating the atomic density, the Rabi frequency and the frequency detuning. Such dressing effects are also visually evidenced by the observation of Autler-Townes splitting of the gain peaks. The investigation can contribute to the development of quantum information processing and quantum communications.

  16. Dressed Gain from the Parametrically Amplified Four-Wave Mixing Process in an Atomic Vapor

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Zhaoyang; Wen, Feng; Che, Junling; Zhang, Dan; Li, Changbiao; Zhang, Yanpeng; Xiao, Min

    2015-10-01

    With a forward cone emitting from the strong pump laser in a thermal rubidium atomic vapor, we investigate the non-degenerate parametrically amplified four-wave mixing (PA-FWM) process with dressing effects in a three-level “double-Λ” configuration both theoretically and experimentally. By seeding a weak probe field into the Stokes or anti-Stokes channel of the FWM, the gain processes are generated in the bright twin beams which are called conjugate and probe beams, respectively. However, the strong dressing effect of the pump beam will dramatically affect the gain factors both in the probe and conjugate channels, and can inevitably impose an influence on the quantum effects such as entangled degree and the quantum noise reduction between the two channels. We systematically investigate the intensity evolution of the dressed gain processes by manipulating the atomic density, the Rabi frequency and the frequency detuning. Such dressing effects are also visually evidenced by the observation of Autler-Townes splitting of the gain peaks. The investigation can contribute to the development of quantum information processing and quantum communications.

  17. Clinical potential of a silk sericin-releasing bioactive wound dressing for the treatment of split-thickness skin graft donor sites.

    PubMed

    Siritientong, Tippawan; Angspatt, Apichai; Ratanavaraporn, Juthamas; Aramwit, Pornanong

    2014-01-01

    An ethyl alcohol-precipitated silk sericin/PVA scaffold that controlled the release of silk sericin was previously developed and applied for the treatment of full-thickness wounds in rats and demonstrated efficient healing. In this study, we aimed to further evaluate the clinical potential of this scaffold, hereafter called "silk sericin-releasing wound dressing", for the treatment of split-thickness skin graft donor sites by comparison with the clinically available wound dressing known as "Bactigras®". In vitro characterization and in vivo evaluation for safety of the wound dressings were performed. A clinical trial of the wound dressings was conducted according to standard protocols. The sericin released from the wound dressing was not toxic to HaCat human keratinocytes. A peel test indicated that the silk sericin-releasing wound dressing was less adhesive than Bactigras®, potentially reducing trauma and the risk of repeated injury upon removal. There was no evidence of skin irritation upon treatment with either wound dressing. When tested in patients with split-thickness skin graft donor sites, the wounds treated with the silk sericin-releasing wound dressing exhibited complete healing at 12 ± 5.0 days, whereas those treated with Bactigras® were completely healed at 14 ± 5.2 days (p = 1.99 × 10(-4)). In addition, treatment with the silk sericin-releasing wound dressing significantly reduced pain compared with Bactigras® particularly during the first 4 postoperative days (p = 2.70 × 10(-5) on day 1). We introduce this novel silk sericin-releasing wound dressing as an alternative treatment for split-thickness skin graft donor sites.

  18. Evaluation of dressings to aid healing of mulesing wounds on sheep.

    PubMed

    Levot, G W; Hughes, P B; Kaldor, C J

    1989-11-01

    Five proprietary and one experimental dressing were compared with no treatment in their ability to aid healing of mulesing wounds in over 1900 young lambs. Healing was judged as the completeness of shrinkage of the mulesing cuts and the condition of scabs on the new skin surface. When assessed at 21 d it was found that treatment with Heriots Crown Wound Powder or Coopers Mulesing Powder offered a significant advantage over leaving the wounds untreated. Neither aqueous organophosphate washes, Defiance nor Defiance containing 0.08% chlorfenvinphos offered any healing advantage over controls. However, washing the wounds with an aqueous organophosphate solution aided healing more than the Defiance-based dressings. It was considered that the powders or the washes encouraged quick scab formation either by creating a dry covering (powders) or by washing away blood and allowing fast drying of the wound. The Defiance-type dressings slowed healing by keeping the wound moist for up to 10 d, but healing was not significantly different to the untreated group by 21 d.

  19. An investigation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm growth on novel nanocellulose fibre dressings.

    PubMed

    Powell, Lydia C; Khan, Saira; Chinga-Carrasco, Gary; Wright, Chris J; Hill, Katja E; Thomas, David W

    2016-02-10

    Nanocellulose from wood is a novel biomaterial, which is highly fibrillated at the nanoscale. This affords the material a number of advantages, including self-assembly, biodegradability and the ability to absorb and retain moisture, which highlights its potential usefulness in clinical wound-dressing applications. In these in vitro studies, the wound pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 was used to assess the ability of two nanocellulose materials to impair bacterial growth (<48 h). The two nanocelluloses had a relatively small fraction of residual fibres (<4%) and thus a large fraction of nanofibrils (widths <20 nm). Scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy imaging demonstrated impaired biofilm growth on the nanocellulose films and increased cell death when compared to a commercial control wound dressing, Aquacel(®). Nanocellulose suspensions inhibited bacterial growth, whilst UV-vis spectrophotometry and laser profilometry also revealed the ability of nanocellulose to form smooth, translucent films. Atomic force microscopy studies of the surface properties of nanocellulose demonstrated that PAO1 exhibited markedly contrasting morphology when grown on the nanocellulose film surfaces compared to an Aquacel(®) control dressing (p<0.05). This study highlights the potential utility of these biodegradable materials, from a renewable source, for wound dressing applications in the prevention and treatment of biofilm development. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  20. Combination Growth Factor Therapy via Electrostatically Assembled Wound Dressings Improves Diabetic Ulcer Healing In Vivo.

    PubMed

    Almquist, Benjamin D; Castleberry, Steven A; Sun, Julia B; Lu, Alice Y; Hammond, Paula T

    2015-10-01

    Chronic skin ulcerations are a common complication of diabetes mellitus, affecting up to one in four diabetic individuals. Despite the prevalence of these wounds, current pharmacologic options for treating them remain limited. Growth factor-based therapies have displayed a mixed ability to drive successful healing, which may be due to nonoptimal delivery strategies. Here, a method for coating commercially available nylon dressings using the layer-by-layer process is described to enable both sustained release and independent control over the release kinetics of vascular endothelial growth factor 165 and platelet-derived growth factor BB. It is shown that the use of strategically spaced diffusion barriers formed spontaneously by disulfide bonds enables independent control over the release rates of incorporated growth factors, and that in vivo these dressings improve several aspects of wound healing in db/db mice. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  1. Honey-based dressings and wound care: an option for care in the United States.

    PubMed

    Pieper, Barbara

    2009-01-01

    Honey-based wound dressings have been used worldwide since ancient times. A honey product received US Federal Drug Administration approval in 2007, making this dressing an option for wound care. Honey has been found to exert anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects without antibiotic resistance, promote moist wound healing, and facilitate debridement. However, it may cause a stinging pain. As is true of any wound dressing, its use must be carefully selected and monitored. Continued research is needed to add to its evidence base. This article provides a summary of the current evidence base for the use of honey and a review of its therapeutic effects and discusses implications for WOC nursing practice.

  2. Combined effects of oregano essential oil and salt on the growth of Escherichia coli in salad dressing.

    PubMed

    Cattelan, Marília Gonçalves; Nishiyama, Yara Paula de Oliveira; Gonçalves, Tânia Maria Vinturim; Coelho, Alexandre Rodrigo

    2018-08-01

    There is a broad research interest in the search for alternatives to chemical additives for use as natural food preservatives. Although many natural compounds have biological in vitro properties evidenced, in situ studies are still scarce. This study evaluated the effect of oregano essential oil (OEO) and salt (NaCl) concentrations against Escherichia coli (ATCC 8739), in salad dressing, using the response surface methodology. The experiment included a 2 2 central composite rotatable design (CCRD) in a total of 11 formulations of salad dressings. Oregano essential oil was characterized by gas chromatography and salad dressings by ash, lipids, proteins and moisture. OEO was composed mainly by carvacrol (65.1%) and p-cymene (12.0%). Salad dressings showed similar chemical profiles. A mathematical model for the prediction of the antibacterial activity in salad dressing was obtained. The results revealed that the interaction between OEO and salt showed effect on the bacterial count. However, the effect of salt was negative suggesting that the highest NaCl concentrations decreases the bacterial count. Therefore, within the parameters studied, the use of OEO to control E. coli in salad dressing can be considered promising and allows reduction in the levels of salt to be incorporated in food. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  3. [Heel pressure ulcers. Comparative study between heel protective bandage and hydrocellular dressing with special form for the heel].

    PubMed

    Torra i Bou, Joan-Enric; Rueda López, Justo; Camañes, Gemma; Herrero Narváez, Elias; Blanco Blanco, Joan; Martínez-Esparza, Elvira Hernández; Aneas Alcántara, Jesús; Verdú Soriano, José

    2002-05-01

    The heels, together with the sacra area, are one of the most frequent spots where pressure sores appear here in Spain. Any preventive measure against pressure sores on heels needs be oriented towards two main objectives: effective relief of pressure and its compatibility with localized care and skin inspection in order to detect lesions early on at least once a day. The authors planned a comparative, multi-centered, open, labeled and controlled study in which patients were assigned to two groups receiving these treatments: one received traditional preventive pressure sore treatment and a protective bandage on their heels while the other used a special Allevyn Heel hydrocellular dressing to protect their heels. The patients took part in this study over an eight week period. The response variable used to determine the effectiveness of the preventive measure in this study was the appearance of pressure sores. At the beginning, 130 patients were included in this study, 65 in each one of the treatment groups. In the bandage group, 50 patients finished this study while 61 in the dressing group finished this study. The appearance of pressure sores in the protective bandage group occurred in 44% of the patients, 22 out of 50, while in the dressing group, the occurrence rate was 3.3%, 2 out of 61 patients with a value of "ji" squared p < 0.001. The risk factor to develop a pressure sore brought us a value of relative risk of 13.42 (IC 95%: 3.31-54.3) in the group wearing the protective bandage compared to the group wearing the dressing. The results of this study allow us to accept as valid the alternate hypothesis that there exist significant statistical differences between both treatment methods in favor of the Allevyn Heel dressing instead of the protective heel bandage. The use of this dressing, even though it is more expensive a priori than the protective bandage, in terms of unit cost for the product, has proven to be more effective in preventing pressure sores, and

  4. Open burn wound dressing: a practical option in resource constrained settings

    PubMed Central

    Olawoye, O.A.; Osinupebi, O.O.; Ayoade, B.A.

    2013-01-01

    Summary Various types of wound care products abound for the treatment of burn injuries. Most of these products are rather expensive and beyond the means of many patients in poorer countries. This poses a challenge to burn care workers in these environments and calls for the adoption of practical solutions with the use of less expensive and readily available alternatives. The aim of this study is to review the outcome of our burn patients managed with topical silver sulphadiazine dressing in terms of time to wound healing and length of hospital stay. Consecutive burn patients admitted over a four year period were included in the study. The patients were resuscitated along standard protocols and their wounds were dressed daily with dermazin. The demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients were retrieved and analyzed using the SPSS version 16. The primary outcome measure for the study was the time to complete re-epithelialization of the wounds and discharge of the patients. 144 patients with a M: F ratio of 2.3: 1 were managed during the period. The age range was 4 months to 81.9 years with a median age of 26 years. The TBSA range was 1 to 99% with a median of 28.5%. The mean duration from time of injury to wound healing was 21.5 days with a median of 17 days. Open burn wound dressing with silver sulphadiazine offers a satisfactory outcome and should be considered for burn dressing in low resource settings. PMID:24563642

  5. Efficacy of chitosan dressing on endoscopic sinus surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

    PubMed

    Zhou, Jing-Chun; Zhang, Jing-Jing; Zhang, Wei; Ke, Zhao-Yang; Zhang, Bo

    2017-09-01

    Chitosan dressing might be promising to promote the recovery following endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). However, the results remain controversial. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to explore the influence of chitosan dressing on ESS. PubMed, EMbase, Web of science, EBSCO, and Cochrane library databases were systematically searched. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effect of chitosan dressing on endoscopic sinus surgery were included. Two investigators independently searched articles, extracted data, and assessed the quality of included studies. The primary outcomes were synechia and hemostasis. Meta-analysis was performed using random-effect model. Four RCTs involving 268 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Overall following ESS, compared with control intervention, chitosan dressing significantly reduced synechia (RR = 0.25; 95% CI 0.13-0.49; P < 0.0001) and promoted hemostasis (RR = 1.70; 95% CI 1.37-2.11; P < 0.00001), but showed no impact on granulations (RR = 1.18; 95% CI 0.72-1.95; P = 0.52), mucosal edema (RR = 0.88; 95% CI 0.60-1.29; P = 0.51), crusting (RR = 0.85; 95% CI 0.48-1.53; P = 0.60), and infection (RR = 0.88; 95% CI 0.51-1.52; P = 0.64). Compared to control intervention, chitosan dressing could significantly decrease edema and improve hemostasis, but had no effect on granulations, mucosal edema, crusting and infection.

  6. Attempts to control Fusarium root rot of bean by seed dressing.

    PubMed

    Gilardi, G; Baudino, M; Gullino, M L; Garibaldi, A

    2008-01-01

    In summer 2006, a root rot caused by Fusarium oxysporum was observed in commercial farms on common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) on the cv Billò and Borlotto. A study was undertaken in order to evaluate the efficacy of different biological control agents applied as seed dressing. In the presence of a medium-high disease incidence, among the biocontrol agents tested, Trichoderma harzianum T 22, Bacillus subtilis QST 713, followed by Pseudomonas chlororaphis, provided generally the best control. Their efficacy was also consistent in the different trials. Also the mixture of T. harzianum + T. viride provide a good disease control. Streptomyces griseoviridis and the 3 strains of Fusarim oxysporum, although less effective, provided a partial control of the disease. The fungicide mancozeb provided only a partial disease control.

  7. A survey of the effective factors in students' adherence to university dress code policy, using the theory of reasoned action

    PubMed Central

    KAVEH, MOHAMMAD HOSSEIN; MORADI, LEILA; HESAMPOUR, MARYAM; HASAN ZADEH, JAFAR

    2015-01-01

    Introduction Recognizing the determinants of behavior plays a major role in identification and application of effective strategies for encouraging individuals to follow the intended pattern of behavior. The present study aimed to analyze the university students’ behaviors regarding the amenability to dress code, using the theory of reasoned action (TRA). Methods In this cross sectional study, 472 students were selected through multi-stage random sampling. The data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire whose validity was confirmed by specialists. Besides, its reliability was confirmed by conducting a pilot study revealing Cronbach’s alpha coefficients of 0.93 for attitude, 0.83 for subjective norms, 0.94 for behavioral intention and 0.77 for behavior. The data were entered into the SPSS statistical software and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (Mann-Whitney, correlation and regression analysis). Results Based on the students’ self-reports, conformity of clothes to the university’s dress code was below the expected level in 28.87% of the female students and 28.55% of the male ones. The mean scores of attitude, subjective norms, and behavioral intention to comply with dress code policy were 28.78±10.08, 28.51±8.25 and 11.12±3.84, respectively. The students of different colleges were different from each other concerning TRA constructs. Yet, subjective norms played a more critical role in explaining the variance of dress code behavior among the students. Conclusion Theory of reasoned action explained the students’ dress code behaviors relatively well. The study results suggest paying attention to appropriate approaches in educational, cultural activities, including promotion of student-teacher communication. PMID:26269790

  8. Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of a Transparent Antimicrobial Dressing for Managing Central Venous and Arterial Catheters in Intensive Care Units

    PubMed Central

    Bernatchez, Stéphanie F.; Ruckly, Stéphane; Timsit, Jean-François

    2015-01-01

    Objective To model the cost-effectiveness impact of routine use of an antimicrobial chlorhexidine gluconate-containing securement dressing compared to non-antimicrobial transparent dressings for the protection of central vascular lines in intensive care unit patients. Design This study uses a novel health economic model to estimate the cost-effectiveness of using the chlorhexidine gluconate dressing versus transparent dressings in a French intensive care unit scenario. The 30-day time non-homogeneous markovian model comprises eight health states. The probabilities of events derive from a multicentre (12 French intensive care units) randomized controlled trial. 1,000 Monte Carlo simulations of 1,000 patients per dressing strategy are used for probabilistic sensitivity analysis and 95% confidence intervals calculations. The outcome is the number of catheter-related bloodstream infections avoided. Costs of intensive care unit stay are based on a recent French multicentre study and the cost-effectiveness criterion is the cost per catheter-related bloodstream infections avoided. The incremental net monetary benefit per patient is also estimated. Patients 1000 patients per group simulated based on the source randomized controlled trial involving 1,879 adults expected to require intravascular catheterization for 48 hours. Intervention Chlorhexidine Gluconate-containing securement dressing compared to non-antimicrobial transparent dressings. Results The chlorhexidine gluconate dressing prevents 11.8 infections /1,000 patients (95% confidence interval: [3.85; 19.64]) with a number needed to treat of 85 patients. The mean cost difference per patient of €141 is not statistically significant (95% confidence interval: [€-975; €1,258]). The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio is of €12,046 per catheter-related bloodstream infection prevented, and the incremental net monetary benefit per patient is of €344.88. Conclusions According to the base case scenario, the

  9. Advanced Hemostatic Dressing Development Program: Animal Model Selection Criteria and Results of a Study of Nine Hemostatic Dressings in a Model of Severe Large Venous Hemorrhage and Hepatic Injury in Swine

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2003-09-01

    Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Westlake, OH), submitted the Hemarrest dressing. This dressing was a thin, sheet-like pad with a mixture of epsilon aminocaproic acid ...chloric acid salt purified bovine corium collagen. It was prepared in a compacted nonwoven web form (7.0 7.0 cm). Ethicon, Inc. (Somerville, NJ...may be related to enhanced platelet procoagulant activity and annexin V binding.46 Another derivative of gallic acid , bis- muth subgallate, appears to

  10. The Effect of Academics' Dress and Gender on Student Perceptions of Instructor Approachability and Likeability

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Chatelain, Amber M.

    2015-01-01

    This study sought to discover student perceptions of academics' dress and gender and their impact on perceived instructor approachability and likeability. Three categories of dress were examined: casual, business casual and professional. The results of this study suggest students at career-arts institutions perceive female teachers as less…

  11. Does the Use of Clean or Sterile Dressing Technique Affect the Incidence of Wound Infection?

    PubMed

    Kent, Dea J; Scardillo, Jody N; Dale, Barbara; Pike, Caitlin

    The purpose of this article is to examine the evidence and provide recommendations for the use of clean or sterile dressing technique with dressing application to prevent wound infection. In all persons with acute or chronic wounds, does the use of clean or sterile dressing technique affect incidence of wound infection? A search of the literature was performed by a trained university librarian, which resulted in 473 articles that examined any age group that dealt with application of a wound dressing using either sterile or nonsterile technique. A systematic approach was used to review titles, abstracts, and text, yielding 4 studies that met inclusion criteria. Strength of the evidence was rated using rating methodology from Essential Evidence Plus: Levels of Evidence and Oxford Center for Evidence-Based Medicine, adapted by Gray and colleagues. Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice Nursing Research Appraisal Tool was used to rate the quality of the evidence. All 4 studies reported no significant difference in the rate of wound infection when using either clean or sterile technique with dressing application. The strength of the evidence for the identified studies was identified as level 2 (1 level A, 3 level B). The study sizes were variable, and the wounds included do not represent the continuum of wounds clinically encountered across the board. Evidence indicates that the use of clean technique for acute wound care is a clinically effective intervention that does not affect the incidence of infection. There is no recommendation that can be made regarding type of dressing technique for a chronic wound due to the lack of evidence in the literature.

  12. Growth factors, silver dressings and negative pressure wound therapy in the management of hard-to-heal postoperative wounds in obstetrics and gynecology: a review.

    PubMed

    Stanirowski, Paweł Jan; Wnuk, Anna; Cendrowski, Krzysztof; Sawicki, Włodzimierz

    2015-10-01

    The last two decades witnessed the development of numerous innovative regimens for the management of patients with abnormally healing and infected wounds. Growth factors, negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) and antiseptic dressings containing silver are examples of methods with best documented efficacy, being widely used in the treatment of acute and chronic post-traumatic wounds, burns and ulcers of various etiology. As far as obstetrics and gynecology are concerned, prevention and treatment of infected, hard-to-heal postoperative wounds is of crucial importance. This article reviews the available literature to discuss the possibilities for use, efficacy and cost-effectiveness of growth factors, NPWT and silver dressings in the treatment of difficult-to-heal postsurgical wounds in obstetrics and gynecology. An extensive search of the English and Polish literature via PubMed and EMBASE databases was undertaken for articles published between January 1960 and April 30, 2014 to identify articles that described and assessed use, efficacy and cost-effectiveness of growth factors, silver dressings and NPWT in patients with hard-to-heal postoperative wounds following obstetric or gynecological surgery. Literature review regarding the use of growth factors, NPWT and silver dressings suggests that these methods may play an important role in the management of wounds after invasive obstetric and gynecological procedures. Obese patients, patients after vulvectomy or prior radiation therapy may benefit most, however, due to non-numerous randomized reports, prospective studies on the use of above-mentioned methods in the treatment of postsurgical wounds following obstetric and gynecological interventions are required.

  13. Effects of Diode Laser, Gaseous Ozone, and Medical Dressings on Enterococcus faecalis Biofilms in the Root Canal Ex Vivo

    PubMed Central

    Vlassakidis, Alexander; Niepel, Mediha; Hoedke, Daniela; Schulze, Julia; Neumann, Konrad; Moter, Annette; Noetzel, Jörn

    2017-01-01

    The objective was to compare the antibacterial effects of adjunctive disinfection using diode laser and gaseous ozone compared to the medical dressings calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) and chlorhexidine gel (CHX-Gel) on Enterococcus faecalis biofilms in human root canals ex vivo. Root canals of 180 human extracted teeth were infected by E. faecalis and divided into 3 main groups (G): G1, control; G2, instrumentation and irrigation using 0.9% NaCl; G3, instrumentation and irrigation using 1% NaOCl. In each main group, the following treatments were applied: gaseous ozone, diode laser, and medical dressings of Ca(OH)2 or CHX-Gel for 7 days (n = 15). Reduction of colony forming units (CFUs) inside the root canal of planktons and frequencies of adherent bacteria after treatment were calculated. Bacterial reduction was significantly affected by the irrigation protocol (p < 0.0005) and the disinfection method (p < 0.0005), and a significant interaction between both factors could be observed (p < 0.0005; ANOVA). In G3 (instrumentation using 1% NaOCl), no significant effect of disinfection methods could be demonstrated on planktonic bacteria (p = 0.062; ANOVA) and frequencies of adherent bacteria (p > 0.05; chi-square test). Instrumentation and irrigation using NaOCl combined with ozone or laser application resulted in comparable bacterial reduction on E. faecalis to the application of medical dressings. PMID:28567421

  14. Enhancing in situ hydrogen peroxide generation of greige cotton nonwoven wound dressings via ascorbate stabilized copper micro- and nano-particles

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Understanding how wound dressings may be designed to address critical unsolved issues in wound repair and treatment influences the development of dressings and new concepts of promoting healing. The vast majority of commercial dressing materials focus on the physical aspects of wounds, e.g., acting ...

  15. Dressing effects on the occurrence scattering time retardation and advance in a dusty plasma

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lee, Myoung-Jae; Jung, Young-Dae; Hanyang Plasma Team

    2017-10-01

    The dressing effects on the occurrence scattering time for the dust-dust interaction are investigated in a complex plasma. The first-order eikonal analysis is applied to obtain the scattering amplitude and the occurrence scattering time for the dust-dust interaction. The result shows that dressing effect enhances the retardation phenomena of the occurrence scattering time in the forward scattering domain. It is shown that the oscillatory behavior of the scaled occurrence scattering time is getting more significant with an increase of the Debye length. It is also found that the retardation domain of the occurrence scattering time increases with a decrease of the Debye length. The variation of the occurrence scattering time retardation and advance due to the dressing effect is also discussed.

  16. 21 CFR 878.4015 - Wound dressing with poly (diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride) (pDADMAC) additive.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... ammonium chloride) (pDADMAC) additive. 878.4015 Section 878.4015 Food and Drugs FOOD AND DRUG...) additive. (a) Identification. A wound dressing with pDADMAC additive is intended for use as a primary... Dressing With Poly (Diallyl Dimethyl Ammonium Chloride) (pDADMAC) Additive.” See § 878.1(e) for...

  17. 21 CFR 878.4015 - Wound dressing with poly (diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride) (pDADMAC) additive.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-04-01

    ... ammonium chloride) (pDADMAC) additive. 878.4015 Section 878.4015 Food and Drugs FOOD AND DRUG...) additive. (a) Identification. A wound dressing with pDADMAC additive is intended for use as a primary... Dressing With Poly (Diallyl Dimethyl Ammonium Chloride) (pDADMAC) Additive.” See § 878.1(e) for...

  18. 21 CFR 878.4015 - Wound dressing with poly (diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride) (pDADMAC) additive.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-04-01

    ... ammonium chloride) (pDADMAC) additive. 878.4015 Section 878.4015 Food and Drugs FOOD AND DRUG...) additive. (a) Identification. A wound dressing with pDADMAC additive is intended for use as a primary... Dressing With Poly (Diallyl Dimethyl Ammonium Chloride) (pDADMAC) Additive.” See § 878.1(e) for...

  19. 21 CFR 878.4015 - Wound dressing with poly (diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride) (pDADMAC) additive.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-04-01

    ... ammonium chloride) (pDADMAC) additive. 878.4015 Section 878.4015 Food and Drugs FOOD AND DRUG...) additive. (a) Identification. A wound dressing with pDADMAC additive is intended for use as a primary... Dressing With Poly (Diallyl Dimethyl Ammonium Chloride) (pDADMAC) Additive.” See § 878.1(e) for...

  20. 21 CFR 878.4015 - Wound dressing with poly (diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride) (pDADMAC) additive.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-04-01

    ... ammonium chloride) (pDADMAC) additive. 878.4015 Section 878.4015 Food and Drugs FOOD AND DRUG...) additive. (a) Identification. A wound dressing with pDADMAC additive is intended for use as a primary... Dressing With Poly (Diallyl Dimethyl Ammonium Chloride) (pDADMAC) Additive.” See § 878.1(e) for...

  1. Association of Alpha Tocopherol and Ag Sulfadiazine Chitosan Oleate Nanocarriers in Bioactive Dressings Supporting Platelet Lysate Application to Skin Wounds.

    PubMed

    Bonferoni, Maria Cristina; Sandri, Giuseppina; Rossi, Silvia; Dellera, Eleonora; Invernizzi, Alessandro; Boselli, Cinzia; Cornaglia, Antonia Icaro; Del Fante, Claudia; Perotti, Cesare; Vigani, Barbara; Riva, Federica; Caramella, Carla; Ferrari, Franca

    2018-02-09

    Chitosan oleate was previously proposed to encapsulate in nanocarriers some poorly soluble molecules aimed to wound therapy, such as the anti-infective silver sulfadiazine, and the antioxidant α tocopherol. Because nanocarriers need a suitable formulation to be administered to wounds, in the present paper, these previously developed nanocarriers were loaded into freeze dried dressings based on chitosan glutamate. These were proposed as bioactive dressings aimed to support the application to wounds of platelet lysate, a hemoderivative rich in growth factors. The dressings were characterized for hydration capacity, morphological aspect, and rheological and mechanical behavior. Although chitosan oleate nanocarriers clearly decreased the mechanical properties of dressings, these remained compatible with handling and application to wounds. Preliminary studies in vitro on fibroblast cell cultures demonstrated good compatibility of platelet lysate with nanocarriers and bioactive dressings. An in vivo study on a murine wound model showed an accelerating wound healing effect for the bioactive dressing and its suitability as support of the platelet lysate application to wounds.

  2. Association of Alpha Tocopherol and Ag Sulfadiazine Chitosan Oleate Nanocarriers in Bioactive Dressings Supporting Platelet Lysate Application to Skin Wounds

    PubMed Central

    Bonferoni, Maria Cristina; Dellera, Eleonora; Invernizzi, Alessandro; Cornaglia, Antonia Icaro; Perotti, Cesare; Vigani, Barbara; Caramella, Carla; Ferrari, Franca

    2018-01-01

    Chitosan oleate was previously proposed to encapsulate in nanocarriers some poorly soluble molecules aimed to wound therapy, such as the anti-infective silver sulfadiazine, and the antioxidant α tocopherol. Because nanocarriers need a suitable formulation to be administered to wounds, in the present paper, these previously developed nanocarriers were loaded into freeze dried dressings based on chitosan glutamate. These were proposed as bioactive dressings aimed to support the application to wounds of platelet lysate, a hemoderivative rich in growth factors. The dressings were characterized for hydration capacity, morphological aspect, and rheological and mechanical behavior. Although chitosan oleate nanocarriers clearly decreased the mechanical properties of dressings, these remained compatible with handling and application to wounds. Preliminary studies in vitro on fibroblast cell cultures demonstrated good compatibility of platelet lysate with nanocarriers and bioactive dressings. An in vivo study on a murine wound model showed an accelerating wound healing effect for the bioactive dressing and its suitability as support of the platelet lysate application to wounds. PMID:29425164

  3. Extra-large negative pressure wound therapy dressings for burns - Initial experience with technique, fluid management, and outcomes.

    PubMed

    Fischer, Sebastian; Wall, Jennifer; Pomahac, Bohdan; Riviello, Robert; Halvorson, Eric G

    2016-03-01

    The use of negative-pressure-wound-therapy (NPWT) is associated with improved outcomes in smaller burns. We report our experience using extra-large (XL) NPWT dressings to treat ≥15% total body surface area (TBSA) burned and describe our technique and early outcomes. We also provide NPWT exudate volume for predictive fluid resuscitation in these critically ill patients. We retrospectively reviewed patients treated with XL-NPWT from 2012 to 2014. Following excision/grafting, graft and donor sites were sealed with a layered NPWT dressing. We documented wound size, dressing size, NPWT outputs, graft take, wound infections, and length of stay (LOS). Mean NPWT exudate volume per %TBSA per day was calculated. Twelve burn patients (mean TBSA burned 30%, range 15-60%) were treated with XL-NPWT (dressing TBSA burned and skin graft donor sites range 17-44%). Average graft take was 97%. No wound infections occurred. Two patients had burns ≥50% TBSA and their LOS was reduced compared to ABA averages. XL-NPWT outputs peaked at day 1 after grafting followed by a steady decline until dressings were removed. Average XL-NPWT dressing output during the first 5 days was 101±66mL/%BSA covered per day. 2 patients developed acute kidney injury. The use of XL-NPWT to treat extensive burns is feasible with attention to application technique. NPWT dressings appear to improve graft take, and to decrease risk of infection, LOS, and pain and anxiety associated with wound care. Measured fluid losses can improve patient care in future applications of NPWT to large burn wounds. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd and ISBI. All rights reserved.

  4. Autoclavable physically-crosslinked chitosan cryogel as a wound dressing.

    PubMed

    Takei, Takayuki; Danjo, So; Sakoguchi, Shogo; Tanaka, Sadao; Yoshinaga, Takuma; Nishimata, Hiroto; Yoshida, Masahiro

    2018-04-01

    Moist wounds were known to heal more rapidly than dry wounds. Hydrogel wound dressings were suitable for the moist wound healing because of their hyperhydrous structure. Chitosan was a strong candidate as a base material for hydrogel wound dressings because the polymer had excellent biological properties that promoted wound healing. We previously developed physically-crosslinked chitosan cryogels, which were prepared solely by freeze-thawing of a chitosan-gluconic acid conjugate (CG) aqueous solution, for wound treatment. The CG cryogels were disinfected by immersing in 70% ethanol before applying to wounds in our previous study. In the present study, we examined the influence of autoclave sterilization (121°C, 20 min) on the characteristics of CG cryogel because complete sterilization was one of the fundamental requirements for medical devices. We found that optimum value of gluconic acid content of CG, defined as the number of the incorporated gluconic acid units per 100 glucosamine units of chitosan, was 11 for autoclaving. An increased crosslinking level of CG cryogel on autoclaving enhanced resistance of the gels to enzymatic degradation. Furthermore, the autoclaved CG cryogels retained favorable biological properties of the pre-autoclaved CG cryogels in that they showed the same hemostatic activity and efficacy in repairing full-thickness skin wounds as the pre-autoclaved CG cryogels. These results showed the great potential of autoclavable CG cryogels as a practical wound dressing. Copyright © 2017 The Society for Biotechnology, Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  5. Preparation of silver-chitosan nanocomposites and coating on bandage for antibacterial wound dressing application

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Susilowati, Endang, E-mail: endwati@yahoo.co.id; Ashadi; Maryani

    Bandage is a medical device that is essential for wound dressing. To improve the performance of the bandage, it has been coated by silver-chitosan nanocomposites (Ag/Chit) with pad-dry-cure method. The nanocomposites were performed by chemical reduction method at room temperature using glucose as reducing agent, sodium hydroxide (NaOH) as accelerator reagent, silver nitrate (AgNO{sub 3}) as metal precursor and chitosan as stabilizing agent. Localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) absorption band of silver nanoparticles was investigated using UV-Vis spectrophotometer. The bandage coated Ag/Chit nanocomposites (B-Ag/Chit) were characterized by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM).more » In addition, antibacterial activity of the bandage toward Gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram negative (Escherichia coli) were also studied. The formation of silver nanoparticles was confirmed by the appearance of LSPR absorption peak at 412.2 – 423.2 nm. Coating of nanocomposite cause increasing rigidity of bandage and decreasing on crystallinity. The bandages of B-Ag/Chit demonstrated good activity against both Gram positive (S. aureus) and Gram negative (E.Coli). Thus the bandages have a potential to be used for antibacterial wound dressing application.« less

  6. Preparation and evaluation of biocomposites as wound dressing material.

    PubMed

    Ramnath, V; Sekar, S; Sankar, S; Sankaranarayanan, C; Sastry, T P

    2012-12-01

    Collagen was isolated from the chrome containing leather waste (CCLW) which is a major solid waste in leather industry. Composite films were made using sago starch (SG), soya protein (SY), and collagen (C) and were cross linked with glutaraldehyde (G).The films prepared were characterized for their physico chemical properties like tensile strength, infrared spectra, thermogravimetric analysis, surface morphology, and water absorption studies. Better mechanical properties and surface morphology were observed for SG-SY-G-C films compared to other films prepared using collagen. The composite films prepared were used as wound dressing material on the experimental wounds of rats and healing pattern was evaluated using planimetric, biochemical, and histopathological studies. These studies have revealed better wound healing capacity of SG-SY-G-C film and utilization of CCLW in the preparation of value added product like wound dressing material.

  7. Low Grade Elastic Compression Regimen for Venous Leg Ulcers-An Effective Compromise for Patients Requiring Daily Dressing Changes

    PubMed Central

    Dabiri, Ganary; Hammerman, Scott; Falanga, Vincent

    2014-01-01

    Venous leg ulcers affect millions of patients worldwide and are a tremendous financial burden on our healthcare system. The hallmark of venous disease of the lower extremities is venous hypertension, and compression is the current mainstay of treatment. However, many patients are noncompliant, in part because of the complexity of the dressings and the difficulties with application and removal. The aim of our study was to determine an effective compression dressing regimen for patients with venous leg ulcers who require changing the ulcer primary dressing twice daily. We used two layers of a latex free tubular elastic bandage for compression. The primary endpoint of our study was increased wound healing rate and our secondary endpoint was complete wound closure. All active study subjects had positive healing rates at week 4 and week 8. Two subjects achieved complete wound closure by week 8. We conclude that compression with a latex-free tubular elastic bandage can be safely used in patients with venous leg ulcers requiring frequent dressing changes. This type of compression allows for daily inspection of wounds, dressing changes at home, flexibility in the context of clinical trials, and is a compromise for patients that are intolerant to compression dressings. PMID:24267477

  8. Comparison of antimicrobial activity of selected, commercially available wound dressing materials.

    PubMed

    Szweda, Piotr; Gorczyca, Grzegorz; Tylingo, Robert

    2018-05-02

    The aim of our study was to examine the antimicrobial potential of eight selected, commercially available wound dressings containing different antimicrobial agents: silver, chlorhexidine acetate, povidone-iodine, and manuka honey. The materials were tested against four reference strains of bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus (PCM 2051), Staphylococcus epidermidis (PCM 2118), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), and Escherichia coli (K12), using the disc diffusion-like method and a time-killing assay. For both experiments, the highest activity against all four tested strains of bacteria was observed in the case of Mepilex Ag, which contains silver as an antibacterial agent. Incubation for four hours of a 10x10mm 2 piece of this material in 10ml cells suspension (concentration: 10 9 -10 10 CFU/ml) resulted in complete elimination of bacteria of all four strains tested. The same results were obtained for a povidone-iodine containing dressing, Inadine, though its activity was lower in the disc diffusion assay. Silvercel, Aquacel Ag and Melgisorb Ag, which also contain silver, also exhibited a satisfactory level of activity. In the case of Aquacel Ag, 24 hours' incubation resulted in complete elimination of the cells of both Gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.The Escherichia coli cells were killed after only four hours' treatment. High effectiveness against Escherichia coli was also demonstrated for Silvercel. However, 24 hours' includation was required for complete elimination of the cells of this bacteria strain. High activity against all tested bacteria, but only in the disc diffusion assay, was observed for Algivon, which contains manuka honey. The Medisorb Silver Pad, containing silver, and Bactigras, which contains chlorhexidine acetate, revealed much lower antimicrobial activity, particularly noticeable in the time-killing assay. In addition, we also tested the anti-staphylococcal activity of a biopolymer material impregnated with

  9. Honey: A Biologic Wound Dressing.

    PubMed

    Molan, Peter; Rhodes, Tanya

    2015-06-01

    Honey has been used as a wound dressing for thousands of years, but only in more recent times has a scientific explanation become available for its effectiveness. It is now realized that honey is a biologic wound dressing with multiple bioactivities that work in concert to expedite the healing process. The physical properties of honey also expedite the healing process: its acidity increases the release of oxygen from hemoglobin thereby making the wound environment less favorable for the activity of destructive proteases, and the high osmolarity of honey draws fluid out of the wound bed to create an outflow of lymph as occurs with negative pressure wound therapy. Honey has a broad-spectrum antibacterial activity, but there is much variation in potency between different honeys. There are 2 types of antibacterial activity. In most honeys the activity is due to hydrogen peroxide, but much of this is inactivated by the enzyme catalase that is present in blood, serum, and wound tissues. In manuka honey, the activity is due to methylglyoxal which is not inactivated. The manuka honey used in wound-care products can withstand dilution with substantial amounts of wound exudate and still maintain enough activity to inhibit the growth of bacteria. There is good evidence for honey also having bioactivities that stimulate the immune response (thus promoting the growth of tissues for wound repair), suppress inflammation, and bring about rapid autolytic debridement. There is clinical evidence for these actions, and research is providing scientific explanations for them.

  10. [Effectiveness of the transparent sterile dressing vs standard to fix the peripheral venous catheter (PVC) on the incidence of phlebitis. A randomized controlled trial].

    PubMed

    Forni, Cristiana; D'Alessandro, Fabio; Gambino, Orazio; Amodeo, Alfredo; Pignotti, Elettra; Zanotti, Enrichetta; Tremosini, Morena; Trofa, Carmela; Sabattini, Tania; Matino, Federica; Genco, Rossana; Schiavone, Miguel; Bombino, Caterina; Mini, Sandra; Rocchegiani, Laura; Notarnicola, Teresa; Capezzali, Daniela; Boschi, Rita; Loro, Loretta

    2012-01-01

    Effectiveness of the transparent sterile dressing vs standard to fix the peripheral venous catheter (PVC), on the incidence of phlebitis. A randomized controlled trial. The type of dressing could contribute to the incidence of phlebitis, infiltration and accidental removals but the results of the studies are contrasting and samples are limited. To compare the effectiveness of a transparent polyurethane sterile dressing on the rate of phlebitis associated to peripheral venous catheter (PVC) vs a non sterile sticking plaster in use in current practice (standard dressing). Randomized controlled trial. Participants. 1061 PVCs (703 patients, adults and children) at a research orthopedic hospital in the north of Italy; 540 PVCs allocated to receive the sterile and 521 the standard dressing. 96 PVCs were excluded for phlebitis, 48 (9.6%) in the sterile and 48 (10.1%) in the standard dressing group, RR 0.96 (95%CI 0.697 - 1.335). Accidental removal of the PVCs was more frequent with the sterile dressing (9.6% vs 6.3%) but the number of catheters removed without complications was larger in the standard dressing group (48.9% vs 54.9% P=0.0503). Eighty-five PVCs were replaced for detachment of the dressing (50, 9.2% sterile and 35, 6.7% standard dressing). The cheapest transparent sterile dressing costs 32 cents while the standard 9 cents. A sticking non sterile plasters is not influential on the rate of phlebitis and ensures an good fix of the PVC compared the transparent sterile dressing to of polyurethane film.

  11. A wearable wound moisture sensor as an indicator for wound dressing change: an observational study of wound moisture and status.

    PubMed

    Milne, Stephen D; Seoudi, Ihab; Al Hamad, Hanadi; Talal, Talal K; Anoop, Anzila A; Allahverdi, Niloofar; Zakaria, Zain; Menzies, Robert; Connolly, Patricia

    2016-12-01

    Wound moisture is known to be a key parameter to ensure optimum healing conditions in wound care. This study tests the moisture content of wounds in normal practice in order to observe the moisture condition of the wound at the point of dressing change. This study is also the first large-scale observational study that investigates wound moisture status at dressing change. The WoundSense sensor is a commercially available moisture sensor which sits directly on the wound in order to find the moisture status of the wound without disturbing or removing the dressing. The results show that of the 588 dressing changes recorded, 44·9% were made when the moisture reading was in the optimum moisture zone. Of the 30 patients recruited for this study, 11 patients had an optimum moisture reading for at least 50% of the measurements before dressing change. These results suggest that a large number of unnecessary dressing changes are being made. This is a significant finding of the study as it suggests that the protocols currently followed can be modified to allow fewer dressing changes and less disturbance of the healing wound bed. © 2015 The Authors. International Wound Journal published by Medicalhelplines.com Inc and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  12. Identification of tetrodotoxin and fish species in a dried dressed fish fillet implicated in food poisoning.

    PubMed

    Hwang, Deng-Fwu; Hsieh, Yu-Wen; Shiu, Yu-Cheng; Chen, Shu-Kong; Cheng, Chao-An

    2002-02-01

    There were five victims of neurotoxic food poisoning from a dried dressed fish fillet in Changhua County, Taiwan, in February 2000. The toxicity of the dried dressed fish fillets was 243 mouse units per g according to a tetrodotoxin bioassay. The partially purified toxin was identified as tetrodotoxin and anhydrotetrodotoxin. The sequence of the 376-nucleotide region in the cytochrome b gene of the mitochondrial DNA exhibited the same genotype as that of the toxic puffer fish Lagocephalus lunaris. The same single restriction site for Hinfl was found in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products from the dried dressed fish fillet and the muscle of L. lunaris, yielding two DNA fragments of 170 and 206 bp. However, no restriction site for Hinfl was found in the PCR products from other toxic puffer fishes, including Takifugu niphobles, Takifugu oblongus, and Takifugu rubripes. Therefore, the species of the dried dressed fish fillet was identified as L. lunaris and its causative agent was identified as tetrodotoxin.

  13. Early use of negative pressure therapy in combination with silver dressings in a difficult breast abscess.

    PubMed

    Richards, Alastair J; Hagelstein, Sue M; Patel, Girish K; Ivins, Nicola M; Sweetland, Helen M; Harding, Keith G

    2011-12-01

    Combining silver-based dressings with negative pressure therapy after radical excision of chronically infected breast disease is a novel application of two technologies. One patient with complex, chronic, infected breast disease underwent radical excision of the affected area and was treated early with a combination of silver-based dressings and topical negative pressure therapy. The wound was then assessed sequentially using clinical measurements of wound area and depth, pain severity scores and level of exudation. It is possible to combine accepted techniques with modern dressing technologies that result in a positive outcome. In this case, the combination of a silver-based dressing with negative pressure therapy following radical excision proved safe and was well tolerated by the patient. Full epithelisation of the wound was achieved and there was no recurrence of the infection for the duration of the treatment. © 2011 The Authors. © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd and Medicalhelplines.com Inc.

  14. Leaching of the Neonicotinoids Thiamethoxam and Imidacloprid from Sugar Beet Seed Dressings to Subsurface Tile Drains.

    PubMed

    Wettstein, Felix E; Kasteel, Roy; Garcia Delgado, Maria F; Hanke, Irene; Huntscha, Sebastian; Balmer, Marianne E; Poiger, Thomas; Bucheli, Thomas D

    2016-08-24

    Pesticide transport from seed dressings toward subsurface tile drains is still poorly understood. We monitored the neonicotinoid insecticides imidacloprid and thiamethoxam from sugar beet seed dressings in flow-proportional drainage water samples, together with spray applications of bromide and the herbicide S-metolachlor in spring and the fungicides epoxiconazole and kresoxim-methyl in summer. Event-driven, high first concentration maxima up to 2830 and 1290 ng/L for thiamethoxam and imidacloprid, respectively, were followed by an extended period of tailing and suggested preferential flow. Nevertheless, mass recoveries declined in agreement with the degradation and sorption properties collated in the groundwater ubiquity score, following the order bromide (4.9%), thiamethoxam (1.2%), imidacloprid (0.48%), kresoxim-methyl acid (0.17%), S-metolachlor (0.032%), epoxiconazole (0.013%), and kresoxim-methyl (0.003%), and indicated increased leaching from seed dressings compared to spray applications. Measured concentrations and mass recoveries indicate that subsurface tile drains contribute to surface water contamination with neonicotinoids from seed dressings.

  15. 40 CFR 432.1 - General Applicability.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... waters of the U.S. from facilities engaged in the slaughtering, dressing and packing of meat and poultry products for human consumption and/or animal food and feeds. Meat and poultry products for human... STANDARDS MEAT AND POULTRY PRODUCTS POINT SOURCE CATEGORY § 432.1 General Applicability. As defined more...

  16. [Radiation load on the skin using a silicone-coated polyamide wound dressing during photon and electron radiotherapy].

    PubMed

    Thilmann, C; Adamietz, I A; Ramm, U; Mose, S; Saran, F; Böttcher, H D

    1996-05-01

    Silicone-coated polyamide wound dressing is frequently used for the supportive treatment in patients with radiation induced skin lesions. The use of this kind of dressing during radiotherapy with high energy beams shifts the dose built-up effect towards the skin surface. Thus the dose delivered to the skin increases. The present work quantifies changes of the skin dose by a commercial silicon-coated polyamide wound dressing. The dependence on the beam quality and on different treatment techniques is investigated. Measurements were performed with photon (60Co, 6 MV, 42 MV) and electron (7 MeV, 20 MeV, 40 MeV) beams using thin LiF thermoluminescence dosimeters (TLD) in a perspex phantom. The beams were directed perpendicularly to the phantom surface. For 60Co and 6 MV photon beams the skin dose was evaluated in vivo at different beam arrangements and at a given reference dose. For 60Co, 6 MV and 42 MV photon beams wound dressing caused a dose increase on the surface of the perspex phantom by a factor of 1.65, 1.39 and 1.33 respectively. Using oblique or rotational techniques for 60Co and 6 MV photon irradiation the wound dressing increased the skin dose but less compared to perpendicular beam direction. For electron beams the skin dose is relatively high (from 84% to 92%) and an increase by a dressing has no clinical relevance (factor 1.03 to 1.05). The silicone-coated polyamide wound dressing causes no relevant skin dose increase during radiation treatment with electron beams and can be left on the skin during irradiation. During radiation treatment with photon beams like 60Co and 6 MV the protective procedure should be adapted to skin changes, in case of strong skin reactions a removal during the time of irradiation should be considered.

  17. Reliability and validity of the upper-body dressing scale in Japanese patients with vascular dementia with hemiparesis.

    PubMed

    Endo, Arisa; Suzuki, Makoto; Akagi, Atsumi; Chiba, Naoyuki; Ishizaka, Ikuyo; Matsunaga, Atsuhiko; Fukuda, Michinari

    2015-03-01

    The purpose of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of the Upper-body Dressing Scale (UBDS) for buttoned shirt dressing, which evaluates the learning process of new component actions of upper-body dressing in patients diagnosed with dementia and hemiparesis. This was a preliminary correlational study of concurrent validity and reliability in which 10 vascular dementia patients with hemiparesis were enrolled and assessed repeatedly by six occupational therapists by means of the UBDS and the dressing item of the Functional Independence Measure (FIM). Intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.97 for intra-rater reliability and 0.99 for inter-rater reliability. The level of correlation between UBDS score and FIM dressing item scores was -0.93. UBDS scores for paralytic hand passed into the sleeve and sleeve pulled up beyond the shoulder joint were worse than the scores for the other components of the task. The UBDS has good reliability and validity for vascular dementia patients with hemiparesis. Further research is needed to investigate the relation between UBDS score and the effect of intervention and to clarify sensitivity or responsiveness of the scale to clinical change. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  18. Dress Codes in Post-Apartheid South African Workplaces

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Grant, Terri; Nodoba, Gaontebale

    2009-01-01

    There are many factors that influence dress code decision making in formal and informal business arenas. In South Africa, with its colonial and apartheid history followed by an exuberant resurgence of Africanism, factors such as diversity of race, ethnicity, religion, and culture play a critical role in lifestyle and worldview. These many and…

  19. The wound-healing effects of a next-generation anti-biofilm silver Hydrofiber wound dressing on deep partial-thickness wounds using a porcine model.

    PubMed

    Davis, Stephen C; Li, Jie; Gil, Joel; Valdes, Jose; Solis, Michael; Higa, Alex; Bowler, Philip

    2018-06-11

    Topical antimicrobials are widely used to control wound bioburden and facilitate wound healing; however, the fine balance between antimicrobial efficacy and non-toxicity must be achieved. This study evaluated whether an anti-biofilm silver-containing wound dressing interfered with the normal healing process in non-contaminated deep partial thickness wounds. In an in-vivo porcine wound model using 2 pigs, 96 wounds were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 dressing groups: anti-biofilm silver Hydrofiber dressing (test), silver Hydrofiber dressing (control), or polyurethane film dressing (control). Wounds were investigated for 8 days, and wound biopsies (n = 4) were taken from each dressing group, per animal, on days 2, 4, 6, and 8 after wounding and evaluated using light microscopy. No statistically significant differences were observed in the rate of reepithelialisation, white blood cell infiltration, angiogenesis, or granulation tissue formation following application of the anti-biofilm silver Hydrofiber dressing versus the 2 control dressings. Overall, epithelial thickness was similar between groups. Some differences in infiltration of specific cell types were observed between groups. There were no signs of tissue necrosis, fibrosis, or fatty infiltration in any group. An anti-biofilm silver Hydrofiber wound dressing did not cause any notable interference with normal healing processes. © 2018 Medicalhelplines.com Inc and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  20. DRESS syndrome associated with type 2 diabetes in a child

    PubMed Central

    Erdem, Semiha Bahceci; Bag, Ozlem; Karkiner, Canan Sule Unsal; Korkmaz, Huseyin Anil; Can, Demet

    2016-01-01

    Drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome is an uncommon, life-threatening drug reaction. The basic findings are skin rash, multiorgan involvement, and eosinophilia. Most of the aromatic anticonvulsants, such as phenytoin, phenobarbital and carbamazepine can induce DRESS. Herein we report a 14-year-old patient with DRESS syndrome related to carbamazepine use. The patient presented with signs of involvement of the skin, lungs, liver, and microscopic hematuria. Carbamazepine treatment was discontinued; antihistamines and steroids were started. Hyperglycemia, commencing on the first dose of the steroid given, persisted even after the discontinuation of steroids and improvement of other signs. There were no signs of pancreatitis or type 1 diabetes clinically in laboratory tests. Her blood glucose levels were regulated at first with insulin and later with metformin. Within 1 year of follow-up, still regulated with oral antidiabetics, she has been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Formerly, long-term sequelae related to “drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms syndrome” such as hepatic and renal failure, type 1 diabetes mellitus, Grave's disease, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, and lupus have also been reported. However, up to date, no cases with type 2 diabetes have been reported as long-term sequelae. To our knowledge, this is the first case in the literature presenting with type 2 diabetes as long-term sequelae. PMID:26862317

  1. Vitamin D status in Jordan: dress style and gender discrepancies.

    PubMed

    Batieha, A; Khader, Y; Jaddou, H; Hyassat, D; Batieha, Z; Khateeb, M; Belbisi, A; Ajlouni, K

    2011-01-01

    Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent worldwide and has been linked to many diseases. The aims of the present study were to assess the vitamin D status of Jordanians at the national level and to identify groups of the population at high risk for vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D status was assessed in a national sample of 5,640 subjects aged ≥7 years. The study involved interviews, laboratory measurements of 25(OH)D and others, and physical measurements. The present report deals, exclusively, with subjects aged >18 years. The prevalence of low vitamin D status [25(OH)D <30 ng/ml] was 37.3% in females compared to 5.1% in males. Dress style in females was independently related to low vitamin D status; women wearing 'Hijab' (adjusted OR = 1.7, p = 0.004) or 'Niqab' (adjusted OR = 1.5, p = 0.061) were at a higher risk for low vitamin D status than were western-dressed women. The high prevalence of low vitamin D status in females in contrast with a low prevalence in males, together with a higher prevalence in women wearing Hijab or Neqab, calls for action to increase the population's awareness and to develop strategies to reduce this risk among women, particularly those wearing dress styles that cover most or all of their skin. Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel.

  2. Control of electronic transport in graphene by electromagnetic dressing

    PubMed Central

    Kristinsson, K.; Kibis, O. V.; Morina, S.; Shelykh, I. A.

    2016-01-01

    We demonstrated theoretically that the renormalization of the electron energy spectrum near the Dirac point of graphene by a strong high-frequency electromagnetic field (dressing field) drastically depends on polarization of the field. Namely, linear polarization results in an anisotropic gapless energy spectrum, whereas circular polarization leads to an isotropic gapped one. As a consequence, the stationary (dc) electronic transport in graphene strongly depends on parameters of the dressing field: A circularly polarized field monotonically decreases the isotropic conductivity of graphene, whereas a linearly polarized one results in both giant anisotropy of conductivity (which can reach thousands of percents) and the oscillating behavior of the conductivity as a function of the field intensity. Since the predicted phenomena can be observed in a graphene layer irradiated by a monochromatic electromagnetic wave, the elaborated theory opens a substantially new way to control electronic properties of graphene with light. PMID:26838371

  3. Control of electronic transport in graphene by electromagnetic dressing.

    PubMed

    Kristinsson, K; Kibis, O V; Morina, S; Shelykh, I A

    2016-02-03

    We demonstrated theoretically that the renormalization of the electron energy spectrum near the Dirac point of graphene by a strong high-frequency electromagnetic field (dressing field) drastically depends on polarization of the field. Namely, linear polarization results in an anisotropic gapless energy spectrum, whereas circular polarization leads to an isotropic gapped one. As a consequence, the stationary (dc) electronic transport in graphene strongly depends on parameters of the dressing field: A circularly polarized field monotonically decreases the isotropic conductivity of graphene, whereas a linearly polarized one results in both giant anisotropy of conductivity (which can reach thousands of percents) and the oscillating behavior of the conductivity as a function of the field intensity. Since the predicted phenomena can be observed in a graphene layer irradiated by a monochromatic electromagnetic wave, the elaborated theory opens a substantially new way to control electronic properties of graphene with light.

  4. Hydroxyethyl cellulose hydrogel for wound dressing: Fabrication, characterization and in vitro evaluation.

    PubMed

    El Fawal, Gomaa F; Abu-Serie, Marwa M; Hassan, Mohamed A; Elnouby, Mohamed S

    2018-05-01

    In this study, new hydrogel membranes were developed based on hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) supplemented with tungsten oxide for further implementing in wound treatment. HEC hydrogel membranes were fabricated and crosslinked using citric acid (CA). Various tests were carried out including FTIR, XRD, porosity measurements, swelling, mechanical properties, gel fraction, and thermal gravimetric analysis to evaluate the efficiency of the prepared membranes as wound dressing material. In addition, wound healing activity of the examined membranes for human dermal fibroblast cell line was investigated employing in vitro scratching model. Furthermore, the potency of the prepared membranes to suppress wound complications was studied via determination of their anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activities exploiting MTT, ELISA, and disk agar diffusion methods. The results demonstrated that the HEC hydrogel membranes revealed an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial efficacy. Moreover, HEC improved the safety of tungsten oxide toward normal human cells (white blood cells and dermal fibroblast). Furthermore, HEC membranes loaded with WO 3 revealed the highest activities against Salmonella sp. pursued by P. aeruginosa in compared with the negative HEC hydrogel membrane. The current approach corroborated that HEC amended by tungsten oxide could be applied as a promising safe candidate for wound dressing material. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  5. Challenged Dress Code Prohibited Clothing with Offensive Illustrations.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Kozlowski, James C.

    2001-01-01

    Discusses the extent to which public recreation programs can regulate attire which many people might consider offensive, noting that the U.S. Supreme Court states that school boards have the authority to decide what constitutes appropriate behavior and dress in public schools. One case involving a student who wanted to wear a Marilyn Manson…

  6. Treatment of pressure sores in spina bifida patients with calcium alginate and foam dressings.

    PubMed

    Ausili, E; Paolucci, V; Triarico, S; Maestrini, C; Murolo, D; Focarelli, B; Rendeli, C

    2013-06-01

    Prospective study on local treatment of pressure sores using calcium alginate and foam dressings in spina bifida patients. Investigate if this sequential approach is valid and safe for selected patients with neurological impairments. Using European Pressure Ulcer Grading System, after clinical evaluation of local sore, selected patients of Spina Bifida Center of Rome were treated with sequential calcium alginate and foam dressings for 12 weeks. Pressure ulcere surfaces were measured monthly by ulcer tracing. The endpoints were the mean absolute areas surface reduction during every month and number of patients achieving a 50% or more during study. 14 patients (7 males aged 12-24 years) with spina bifida and pressure sores were treated. Mean and standard deviation of mean surface area reduction were 12.5 ± 7.5 cm 2 at start of the study versus 3.7 ± 5.2 cm 2 after 12 weeks, p < 0.001. 75% of the patients reached mean surface area reduction of 50% during trial. Dressing tolerance was good in every patient. Calcium alginate and foam dressings are valid and safe approach in the treatment of pressure sores in selected patients with spina bifida. In fact, they protect the wound and create an environment favorable to healing.

  7. 12. VIEW, LOOKING SOUTH FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, SHOWING DRESSING ...

    Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

    12. VIEW, LOOKING SOUTH FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, SHOWING DRESSING FROM AND WORK/CHAMBER ROOM - U.S. Naval Submarine Base, New London Submarine Escape Training Tank, Albacore & Darter Roads, Groton, New London County, CT

  8. Clinical and economic benefit of enzymatic debridement of pressure ulcers compared to autolytic debridement with a hydrogel dressing.

    PubMed

    Waycaster, Curtis; Milne, Catherine T

    2013-07-01

    results should be interpreted with caution. Specifically, the findings may not necessarily be generalized to other hydrogel dressings, healthcare settings, age groups, or to wounds of other etiologies.

  9. A simple route to develop transparent doxorubicin-loaded nanodiamonds/cellulose nanocomposite membranes as potential wound dressings.

    PubMed

    Luo, Xiaogang; Zhang, Hao; Cao, Zhenni; Cai, Ning; Xue, Yanan; Yu, Faquan

    2016-06-05

    The objective of this study is to develop transparent porous nanodiamonds/cellulose nanocomposite membranes with controlled release of doxorubicin for potential applications as wound dressings, which were fabricated by tape casting method from dispersing carboxylated nanodiamonds and dissolving cellulose homogeneously in 7 wt% NaOH/12 wt% urea aqueous solution. By adjusting the carboxylated nanodiamonds content, various nanocomposite membranes were obtained. The structure and properties of these membranes have been investigated by light transmittance measurements, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), tensile tests, water loss analyses, etc. The drug loading and release was investigated using doxorubicin hydrochloride as a model drug. In vitro cytotoxicity assay of the membranes was also studied. This work presented a proof-of-concept utility of these membranes for loading and release of bioactive compounds to be employed as a candidate for wound dressing. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  10. Greater intensity and frequency of Cryptosporidium and Giardia oocyst shedding beyond the neonatal period is associated with reductions in growth, carcase weight and dressing efficiency in sheep.

    PubMed

    Jacobson, Caroline; Williams, Andrew; Yang, Rongchang; Ryan, Una; Carmichael, Ian; Campbell, Angus J; Gardner, Graham E

    2016-09-15

    Associations between intensity and frequency of Cryptosporidium and Giardia shedding with growth, carcase weight and dressing% were investigated using a longitudinal study of 1182 lambs on eight Australian farms. Live weight was recorded and faecal samples were collected on three sampling occasions; weaning (approximately 12 weeks of age), post-weaning (approximately 19 weeks) and pre-slaughter (approximately 29 weeks). Hot standard carcase weight (HSCW) and dressing% were measured at slaughter. Faecal samples were screened for presence and concentration of Cryptosporidium, Giardia and Haemonchus oocysts using a quantitative PCR. Trichostrongylid eggs were quantified with modified McMaster faecal worm egg count (WEC). Protozoan shedding intensity was categorised as high (above median oocyst concentration in positive sheep), low (below median oocyst concentration in positive sheep) or not detected. Shedding was also categorised for shedding type (no shedding, single Giardia infection, single Cryptosporidium infection, concurrent Giardia and Cryptosporidium infection) and lambs were categorised for frequency of shedding (shedding identified on 0, 1, 2 or 3 occasions). Associations of parasite shedding intensity category, shedding type, shedding frequency, WEC and Haemonchus status (positive or negative) with lamb production were assessed using general linear models (HSCW and dressing%) and linear mixed effects models (live weight). High Cryptosporidium parvum shedding was associated with lower live weight, ranging 2.31-4.52kg over the 3 sampling occasions. Cryptosporidium parvum shedding was associated with less HSCW in high (3.22kg less) and low (3.22kg less) shedding lambs post-weaning, and high (2.21kg less) and low (2.60kg less) shedding lambs pre-slaughter as well as lower dressing% (2.7% lower in high shedding lambs post-weaning). Cryptosporidium (all species) shedding pre-slaughter was associated with reduced dressing% in both high (1.25% lower) and low (1

  11. Novel bilayer wound dressing based on electrospun gelatin/keratin nanofibrous mats for skin wound repair.

    PubMed

    Yao, Chun-Hsu; Lee, Chia-Yu; Huang, Chiung-Hua; Chen, Yueh-Sheng; Chen, Kuo-Yu

    2017-10-01

    A bilayer membrane (GKU) with a commercial polyurethane wound dressing as an outer layer and electrospun gelatin/keratin nanofibrous mat as an inner layer was fabricated as a novel wound dressing. Scanning electron micrographs showed that gelatin/keratin nanofibers had a uniform morphology and bead-free structure with average fiber diameter of 160.4nm. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay using L929 fibroblast cells indicated that the residues released from the gelatin/keratin composite nanofibrous mat accelerated cell proliferation. Cell attachment experiments revealed that adhered cells spread better and migrated deeper into the gelatin/keratin nanofibrous mat than that into the gelatin nanofibrous mat. In animal studies, compared with the bilayer membrane without keratin, gauze and commercial wound dressing, Comfeel®, GKU membrane gave much more number of blood vessels and a greater reduction in wound area at 4days, and better wound repair at 14days with a thicker epidermis and larger number of newly formed hair follicles. GKU membrane, thus, could be a good candidate for wound dressing applications. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  12. The effect of concentration of tackifying agent on adhesive and skin-protective properties of ceramide 2-containing hydrocolloid dressings.

    PubMed

    Kohta, M; Iwasaki, T

    2015-01-01

    In the treatment of pressure ulcers and leg ulcers it is necessary to achieve an effective balance between adhesive and skin-protective properties. We speculated that addition of a tackifying agent (TA) to ceramide 2-containing hydrocolloid dressings would increase their adhesiveness under dry conditions and reduce their adhesiveness under wet conditions because dry tack converts to wet tack after water absorption. We prepared ceramide 2-containing hydrocolloid dressings with varying amounts of TA. Basic characteristics of the test ceraminde dressings, such as initial tack force and peeling force, were evaluated using standard methods. Peeling force and stratum corneum (SC) removal on healthy human skin were also evaluated at 20 minutes, 7 hours, and 72 hours. In addition, the effect of 10 repeated applications on transepidermal water loss (TEWL) was investigated on the skin of hairless mice under dry and wet conditions. Statistical analyses were performed using one-way analysis of variance followed by Dunnett's multiple comparison test. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. On a stainless steel substrate, initial tack force and 180° peeling force increased as TA content increased. Twenty minutes after application on human skin, peeling force and SC removal increased with increasing TA content. When TA contents were over 10%, significant differences in peeling force and SC removal were obtained compared with ceramide 2-containing hydrocolloid dressings without TA (p<0.05). However, a TA content-dependent increase in peeling force was not evident 7 hours and 72 hours after application. Under dry conditions, TEWL increased with repeated application and peeling. Conversely, no significant increases in TEWL were evident under wet conditions after 10 repeated applications and peelings. Our data demonstrate that the initial attachment of ceramide 2-containing hydrocolloid dressings to the skin increases with addition of TA. Skin damage can be

  13. [Frequency of contact sensitization to modern dressings used to treat chronic leg ulcer].

    PubMed

    Garval, E; Plee, J; Lesage, C; Grange-Prunier, A; Bernard, P; Perceau, G

    2018-05-01

    Allergic contact dermatitis around chronic leg ulcers (CLU) is a common complication in patients presenting CLU and prolongs healing times. The aim of this study was to describe the rate of sensitization to modern dressings (MD) used in these patients and to assess whether there is a relation between the number of sensitizations and ulcer type, the time from onset of the ulcer, and patient age and gender. We conducted a retrospective study at Reims University Hospital between 2010 and 2014 that included all patients with CLU of vascular etiology surrounded by eczematous lesions, and who had one of the patch-tests in the following 3 series: European baseline±leg ulcers±corticosteroids. Among the 73 patients included, 43 % were polysensitized. Thirty-three patients (45 %) were sensitized to MD (38 % to hydrocolloids, 18 % to hydrogels, 7 % to hydrocellular dressings, 7 % to hydrofiber dressings, 5 % to contact layers and 3 % to alginates). Median age and sex did not differ between "polysensitized" patients and "non-polysensitized" patients (P=0.84 and P=0.25, respectively). Polysensitization was more frequent among patients presenting ulcers for more than 5 years (P=0.032). Practically half of all patients presenting CLU with surrounding contact dermatitis had sensitization to modern dressings (mostly hydrocolloids and hydrogels). The rate of sensitization increased with the length of presence of CLU. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

  14. Surgical site infections following colorectal cancer surgery: a randomized prospective trial comparing common and advanced antimicrobial dressing containing ionic silver.

    PubMed

    Biffi, Roberto; Fattori, Luca; Bertani, Emilio; Radice, Davide; Rotmensz, Nicole; Misitano, Pasquale; Cenciarelli, Sabine; Chiappa, Antonio; Tadini, Liliana; Mancini, Marina; Pesenti, Giovanni; Andreoni, Bruno; Nespoli, Angelo

    2012-05-23

    An antimicrobial dressing containing ionic silver was found effective in reducing surgical-site infection in a preliminary study of colorectal cancer elective surgery. We decided to test this finding in a randomized, double-blind trial. Adults undergoing elective colorectal cancer surgery at two university-affiliated hospitals were randomly assigned to have the surgical incision dressed with Aquacel Ag Hydrofiber dressing or a common dressing. To blind the patient and the nursing and medical staff to the nature of the dressing used, scrub nurses covered Aquacel Ag Hydrofiber with a common wound dressing in the experimental arm, whereas a double common dressing was applied to patients of control group. The primary end-point of the study was the occurrence of any surgical-site infection within 30 days of surgery. A total of 112 patients (58 in the experimental arm and 54 in the control group) qualified for primary end-point analysis. The characteristics of the patient population and their surgical procedures were similar. The overall rate of surgical-site infection was lower in the experimental group (11.1% center 1, 17.5% center 2; overall 15.5%) than in controls (14.3% center 1, 24.2% center 2, overall 20.4%), but the observed difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.451), even with respect to surgical-site infection grade 1 (superficial) versus grades 2 and 3, or grade 1 and 2 versus grade 3. This randomized trial did not confirm a statistically significant superiority of Aquacel Ag Hydrofiber dressing in reducing surgical-site infection after elective colorectal cancer surgery. Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT00981110.

  15. Dress Fashion in Feminist and Child Rights Campaigns in Ghanaian Public Sculptures of the 1990s

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Essel, Osuanyi Quaicoo; Opoku-Mensah, Isaac

    2017-01-01

    This article examines how dress fashion in outdoor sculptures of the 1990s in the Accra cityscape accentuated feminist activism, sensitised child right campaigns, and encouraged girl-child education in support of governmental efforts and activism of civil society organisations in Ghana. It gives attention to how dress fashion of the time was used…

  16. 150 patient experiences with a soft silicone foam dressing.

    PubMed

    Bateman, Sharon Dawn

    Pain, malodour and exudate from acute and chronic wounds can be catastrophic to the patient. Excessive exudate results in significant tissue damage to the wound bed and surrounding skin, reduces quality of life, and often requires costly specialist service input. Effective wound assessment and management including appropriate dressing choice is, therefore, paramount to ensure wound healing can take place in a timely manner. This observational evaluation explores 150 ward-based patients who presented with acute and chronic exuding wounds; it examines and evaluates the proposed benefits of the Cutimed(®) Siltec foam dressing range over a 4-month period in an acute hospital setting. The outcomes of the evaluation were exudate management, maceration reduction, atraumatic application and removal, non-adherence and patient experience. The evaluation highlights not only an overall positive improvement in exudate management and maceration reduction, non-adherence, atraumatic application and removal but also emphasises the importance of a positive patient experience in the wound-care journey.

  17. Acemannan-containing wound dressing gel reduces radiation-induced skin reactions in C3H mice

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Roberts, D.B.; Travis, E.L.

    To determine (a) whether a wound dressing gel that contains acemannan extracted from aloe leaves affects the severity of radiation-induced acute skin reactions in C3H mice; (b) if so, whether other commercially available gels such as a personal lubricating jelly and a healing ointment have similar effects; and (c) when the wound dressing gel should be applied for maximum effect. Male C3H mice received graded single doses of gamma radiation ranging from 30 to 47.5 Gy to the right leg. In most experiments, the gel was applied daily beginning immediately after irradiation. Dose-response curves were obtained by plotting the percentagemore » of mice that reached or exceeded a given peak skin reaction as a function of dose. Curves were fitted by logit analysis and ED{sub 50} values, and 95% confidence limits were obtained. The average peak skin reactions of the wound dressing gel-treated mice were lower than those of the untreated mice at all radiation doses tested. The ED{sub 50} values for skin reactions of 2.0-2.75 were approximately 7 Gy higher in the wound dressing gel-treated mice. The average peak skin reactions and the ED{sub 50} values for mice treated with personal lubricating jelly or healing ointment were similar to irradiated control values. Reduction in the percentage of mice with skin reactions of 2.5 or more was greatest in the groups that received wound dressing gel for at least 2 weeks beginning immediately after irradiation. There was no effect if gel was applied only before irradiation or beginning 1 week after irradiation. Wound dressing gel, but not personal lubricating jelly or healing ointment, reduces acute radiation-induced skin reactions in C3H mice if applied daily for at least 2 weeks beginning immediately after irradiation. 31 refs., 4 figs., 1 tab.« less

  18. What Is the Correct Answer about The Dress' Colors? Investigating the Relation between Optimism, Previous Experience, and Answerability.

    PubMed

    Karlsson, Bodil S A; Allwood, Carl Martin

    2016-01-01

    The Dress photograph, first displayed on the internet in 2015, revealed stunning individual differences in color perception. The aim of this study was to investigate if lay-persons believed that the question about The Dress colors was answerable. Past research has found that optimism is related to judgments of how answerable knowledge questions with controversial answers are (Karlsson et al., 2016). Furthermore, familiarity with a question can create a feeling of knowing the answer (Reder and Ritter, 1992). Building on these findings, 186 participants saw the photo of The Dress and were asked about the correct answer to the question about The Dress' colors (" blue and black," "white and gold," "other, namely…," or "there is no correct answer" ). Choice of the alternative "there is no correct answer" was interpreted as believing the question was not answerable. This answer was chosen more often by optimists and by people who reported they had not seen The Dress before. We also found that among participants who had seen The Dress photo before, 19%, perceived The Dress as "white and gold" but believed that the correct answer was "blue and black ." This, in analogy to previous findings about non-believed memories (Scoboria and Pascal, 2016), shows that people sometimes do not believe the colors they have perceived are correct. Our results suggest that individual differences related to optimism and previous experience may contribute to if the judgment of the individual perception of a photograph is enough to serve as a decision basis for valid conclusions about colors. Further research about color judgments under ambiguous circumstances could benefit from separating individual perceptual experience from beliefs about the correct answer to the color question. Including the option "there is no correct answer " may also be beneficial.

  19. Custom-fit polymeric membrane dressing masks in the treatment of second degree facial burns.

    PubMed

    Weissman, Oren; Hundeshagen, Gabriel; Harats, Moti; Farber, Nimrod; Millet, Eran; Winkler, Eyal; Zilinsky, Isaac; Haik, Josef

    2013-09-01

    Second degree facial burns usually impart high wound site pain levels and patient discomfort due to the abundance of facial sensory innervation, as well as the development of edema and inflammation that accompany wound healing. Frequent changing of adherent dressings causes additional procedural pain and may prolong healing due to recurring damage to the wound bed. We applied face masks, made on-site from a drug free polymeric membrane dressing, to 8 patients with superficial and deep 2nd degree facial burns. Time to full re-epithlialization was recorded during treatment. Pain, overall comfort, and result satisfaction were evaluated using a questionnaire (10-point Likert scales. From 1=minimum to 10=maximum) on follow-up (mean follow up 14.4 months, range 9-18). These results were compared to a historical cohort of patients with facial burns that were treated with an antibiotic ointment. Results showed mean re-epithelialization time of 6.5 days (as compared to 8.5 days in the cohort group), low pain ratings (mean: 2.6; range: 4.7 in the control group), mixed comfort levels (mean: 4.7/10; 4 in the control group) and high result satisfaction (mean: 7.8; 6.2 in the control group). Nursing staff described pain-free dressing changes and positively noted non-adherence and high absorbance capacity of the polymer, necessitating less dressing changes. Inflammation was contained to the actual site of injury. No complications in terms of infection or allergic reaction were observed. Overall, the polymeric membrane facial dressing seems to be a promising means of reducing pain and ensuring uninterrupted wound healing in 2nd degree facial burns. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd and ISBI. All rights reserved.

  20. Generation of three-qubit Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger states of superconducting qubits by using dressed states

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Xu; Chen, Ye-Hong; Shi, Zhi-Cheng; Shan, Wu-Jiang; Song, Jie; Xia, Yan

    2017-12-01

    Combining the advantages of the dressed states and superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) qubits, we propose an efficient scheme to generate Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger (GHZ) states for three SQUID qubits. Firstly, we elaborate how to generate GHZ states of three SQUID qubits by choosing a set of dressed states suitably. Then, we compare the scheme by using dressed states with that via the adiabatic passage. Lastly, the influence of various decoherence factors, such as cavity decay, spontaneous emission and dephasing, is analyzed numerically. All of the results show that the GHZ state can be obtained fast and with high fidelity and that the present scheme is robust against the cavity decay and spontaneous emission. In addition, our scheme is more stable against the dephasing than the adiabatic scheme.

  1. 9. VIEW OF SOUTHERN ROCKFACED DRESSED AND MORTARED STONE ABUTMENT, ...

    Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

    9. VIEW OF SOUTHERN ROCKFACED DRESSED AND MORTARED STONE ABUTMENT, SHOWING STEEL CROSSBEAMS, TORSIONAL DIAGONAL STRUTS, AND WOODEN STRINGERS. FACING SOUTHWEST. - Coverts Crossing Bridge, Spanning Mahoning River along Township Route 372 (Covert Road), New Castle, Lawrence County, PA

  2. Bi-Layer Wound Dressing System for Combat Casualty Care

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2004-08-01

    25] P.G. Bowler. 2003. The 105 bacterial growth guideline: reassessing its clinical relevance to wound healing. Ostomy /Wound Management 49: 44-53...33] M. Briggs, I. Torra, and J.E. Bou. 2003. Understanding the origin of wound pain during dressing change. Ostomy /Wound Management 49: 10-11

  3. Plasticized polyvinylchloride as a temporary dressing for burns.

    PubMed Central

    Wilson, G; French, G

    1987-01-01

    Plasticized polyvinylchloride film has been used in this burns unit for a long time for dressings before the ward round, before surgery, and when the burned patient is transferred from the casualty department to the burns unit. Plasticized polyvinylchloride film is easy to use, safe, and causes no pain. Most importantly, in the present financial climate, it is cheap. PMID:3103775

  4. A multi-center, randomized, clinical trial comparing adhesive polyurethane foam dressing and adhesive hydrocolloid dressing in patients with grade II pressure ulcers in primary care and nursing homes.

    PubMed

    Guillén-Solà, Mireia; Soler Mieras, Aina; Tomàs-Vidal, Antònia M

    2013-12-21

    Pressure ulcers (PrUs) are ischemic wounds in the skin and underlying tissues caused by long-standing pressure force over an external bone or cartilaginous surface. PrUs are an important challenge for the overall health system because can prolong patient hospitalization and reduce quality of life. Moreover, 95% of PrUs are avoidable, suggesting they are caused by poor quality care assistance. PrUs are also costly, increasing national costs. For example, they represent about 5% of overall annual health expenses in Spain. Stages I and II PrUs have a combined prevalence of 65%. According main clinical guidelines, stage II PrUs (PrU-IIs) are usually treated by applying special dressings (polyurethane or hydrocolloid). However, little scientific evidence regarding their efficacy has been identified in scientific literature. Our aim is to assess the comparative efficacy of adhesive polyurethane foam and hydrocolloid dressings in the treatment of PrU-IIs in terms of healed ulcer after 8 weeks of follow-up. This paper describes the development and evaluation protocol of a randomized clinical trial of two parallel treatment arms. A total of 820 patients with at least 1 PrU-II will be recruited from primary health care and home care centers. All patients will receive standardized healing procedures and preventive measures (e.g. positional changes and pressure-relieving support surfaces), following standardized procedures. The main outcome will be the percentage of wounds healed after 8 weeks. Secondary outcomes will include cost-effectiveness, as evaluated by cost per healed ulcer and cost per treated patient and safety evaluated by adverse events. This trial will address the hypothesis that hydrocolloid dressings will heal at least 10% more stage II PrUs and be more cost-effective than polyurethane foam dressings after 8 weeks. This trial has been registered with controlled-trials number ISCRCTN57842461 and EudraCT 2012-003945-14.

  5. Use of Collagen Extracellular Matrix Dressing for the Treatment of a Recurrent Venous Ulcer in a 52-Year-Old Patient.

    PubMed

    González, Arturo

    2016-01-01

    This case study describes treatment for a 52-year-old man with a recurrent venous leg ulcer using a collagen dressing with extracellular matrix. The patient was admitted to the wound care service for a 3-week-old recurrent venous ulcer. Treatment included application of a collagen dressing with extracellular matrix twice weekly or as needed by the patient; application of a secondary dressing (4 × 4 gauze); and coverage with an expandable netting or gauze using a conforming stretch gauze bandage and latex-free dressing retention tape. The initial venous leg ulcer in this patient required 10 weeks to achieve closure. Ninety-eight percent resolution of the recurrent ulcer had occurred within 4 weeks of treatment, with complete closure at 7 weeks. The average healing time for recurrent venous ulcers is reported in the literature to be longer than initial venous ulcers. In the case provided, collagen ECM dressings promoted complete wound healing in 49 days.

  6. Stimulation of Wound Healing by Electroactive, Antibacterial, and Antioxidant Polyurethane/Siloxane Dressing Membranes: In Vitro and in Vivo Evaluations.

    PubMed

    Gharibi, Reza; Yeganeh, Hamid; Rezapour-Lactoee, Alireza; Hassan, Zuhair M

    2015-11-04

    A series of novel polyurethane/siloxane-based wound dressing membranes was prepared through sol-gel reaction of methoxysilane end-functionalized urethane prepolymers composed of castor oil and ricinoleic methyl ester as well as methoxysilane functional aniline tetramer (AT) moieties. The samples were fully characterized and their physicochemical, mechanical, electrical, and biological properties were assayed. The biological activity of these dressings against fibroblast cells and couple of microbes was also studied. It was revealed that samples that displayed electroactivity by introduction of AT moieties showed a broad range of antimicrobial activity toward different microorganisms, promising antioxidant (radical scavenging) efficiency and significant activity for stimulation of fibroblast cell growth and proliferation. Meanwhile, these samples showed appropriate tensile strength and ability for maintaining a moist environment over a wound by controlled equilibrium water absorption and water vapor transmission rate. The selected electroactive dressing was subjected to an in vivo assay using a rat animal model and the wound healing process was monitored and compared with analogous dressing without AT moieties. The recorded results showed that the electroactive dressings induced an increase in the rate of wound contraction, promoted collagen deposition, and encouraged vascularization in the wounded area. On the basis of the results of in vitro and in vivo assays, the positive influence of designed dressings for accelerated healing of a wound model was confirmed.

  7. Comparative effectiveness of different wound dressings for patients with partial-thickness burns: study protocol of a systematic review and a Bayesian framework network meta-analysis

    PubMed Central

    Jiang, Qiong; Chen, Zhao-Hong; Wang, Shun-Bin; Chen, Xiao-Dong

    2017-01-01

    Introduction Selecting a suitable wound dressing for patients with partial-thickness burns (PTBs) is important in wound care. However, the comparative effectiveness of different dressings has not been studied. We report the protocol of a network meta-analysis designed to combine direct and indirect evidence of wound dressings in the management of PTB. Methods and analysis We will search for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the wound-healing effect of a wound dressing in the management of PTB. Searches will be conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, the Cochrane Wounds Group Specialised Register and CINAHL. A comprehensive search strategy is developed to retrieve articles reporting potentially eligible RCTs. Besides, we will contact the experts in the field and review the conference proceedings to locate non-published studies. The reference lists of articles will be reviewed for any candidate studies. Two independent reviewers will screen titles and abstracts of the candidate articles. All eligible RCTs will be obtained in full text to perform a review. Disagreement on eligibility of an RCT will be solved by group discussion. The information of participants, interventions, comparisons and outcomes from included RCTs will be recorded and summarised. The primary outcome is time to complete wound healing. Secondary outcomes include the proportion of burns completely healed at the end of treatment, change in wound surface area at the end of treatment, incidence of adverse events, etc. Ethics and dissemination The result of this review will provide evidence for the comparative effectiveness of different wound dressings in the management of PTB. It will also facilitate decision-making in choosing a suitable wound dressing. We will disseminate the review through a peer-review journal and conference abstracts or posters. Trial registration number PROSPERO CRD42016041574; Pre-results. PMID:28336737

  8. Is soil dressing a way once and for all in remediation of arsenic contaminated soils? A case study of arsenic re-accumulation in soils remediated by soil dressing in Hunan Province, China.

    PubMed

    Su, Shiming; Bai, Lingyu; Wei, Caibing; Gao, Xiang; Zhang, Tuo; Wang, Yanan; Li, Lianfang; Wang, Jinjin; Wu, Cuixia; Zeng, Xibai

    2015-07-01

    The investigation of arsenic (As) re-accumulation in an area previously remediated by soil dressing will help in sustainable controlling the risks of As to local ecosystems and should influence management decisions about remediation strategies. In this study, As content in an area remediated by soil dressing and the possible As accumulation risk in agricultural products were investigated. The results indicated that after 7 years of agricultural activities, the average As content (24.6 mg kg(-1)) in surface soil of the investigated area increased by 83.6% compared with that (13.4 mg kg(-1)) in clean soil. Of the surface soil samples (n = 88), 21.6% had As levels that exceeded the limits of the Environmental Quality Standard for Soils of China (GB 15618-1995) and 98.9% of the surface soil samples with As contents exceeding that in clean soil was observed. Soil dressing might be not a remediation method once and for all in some contaminated areas, even though no significant difference in available As content was found between clean (0.18 mg kg(-1)) and surface (0.22 mg kg(-1)) soils. The foreign As in surface soil of the investigated area mainly specifically sorbed with soil colloid or associated with hydrous oxides of Fe and Al, or existed in residual fraction. The upward movement of contaminated soil from the deeper layers and the atmospheric deposition of slag particles might be responsible for the re-accumulation of As in the investigated area. Decreases in soil pH in the investigated soils and the fact that no plant samples had As levels exceeding the limits of the National Food Safety Standards for Contaminants of China (GB 2762-2012) were also observed.

  9. The Use of Vacuum-Assisted Closure and GranuFoam Silver® Dressing in the Management of Diabetic Foot Ulcer.

    PubMed

    Günal, Özgür; Tuncel, Umut; Turan, Aydin; Barut, Sener; Kostakoglu, Naci

    2015-10-01

    The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the efficacy of vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) and GranuFoam Silver® dressing (KCI, San Antonio, TX) compared with conventional GranuFoam® dressing in the management of diabetic foot ulcers. Twenty-one consecutive patients treated with conventional or silver-coated foam dressing were reviewed retrospectively. The wound duration was 6 mo. Group 1 (n=10) received conventional foam dressing (GranuFoam) and group 2 (n=11) received silver-coated foam dressing (GranuFoam Silver). The wound surface area, duration of treatment, bacteriology, and recurrence were compared between the groups. The mean age of the patients was 61.70±10.52 y in group 1 and 67.27±11.28 y in group 2. In group 1, the average surface area of the wounds was 45.30±46.96 cm2 and 18.40±23.48 cm2 in the pre-treatment and post-treatment periods, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between two measurements (p=0.005). Average duration of the treatment was 25.50±27.13 d in this group. In group 2, average surface area of the wounds in the pre-treatment and post-treatment periods were 41.55±36.03 cm2 and 7.64±3.91 cm2, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between two measurements (p=0.003). Average duration of the treatment was 10.09±3.51 d in this group. The patients treated with silver-impregnated polyurethane foam dressing had reduced recurrence (2 vs. 7 wounds, p=0.030) and increased number of the culture-negative cases at the end of the treatment. With the results of the study, it was concluded that VAC GranuFoam silver dressing can be superior to conventional GranuFoam dressing in reducing the recurrence rate of infected diabetic foot ulcers.

  10. Moving beyond Dance, Dress, and Dining in Multicultural Canada

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Sensoy, Ozlem; Sanghera, Raj; Parmar, Geetu; Parhar, Nisha; Nosyk, Lianne; Anderson, Monica

    2010-01-01

    The mainstream curriculum is extremely efficient in furthering a neoliberal multicultural discourse, what is described as the dance, dress, and dining, or heroes and holidays, or Taco Tuesday approaches to diversity. Given this, doing anything else is an ongoing challenge. This paper shares details of a government-university-school collaboration…

  11. 9 CFR 108.9 - Dressing rooms and other facilities.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... 9 Animals and Animal Products 1 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Dressing rooms and other facilities. 108.9 Section 108.9 Animals and Animal Products ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT... running water, soap, towels, and the like. They shall be in sufficient number, ample in size, conveniently...

  12. Antimicrobial cerium ion-chitosan crosslinked alginate biopolymer films: A novel and potential wound dressing.

    PubMed

    Kaygusuz, Hakan; Torlak, Emrah; Akın-Evingür, Gülşen; Özen, İlhan; von Klitzing, Regine; Erim, F Bedia

    2017-12-01

    Wound dressings require good antiseptic properties, mechanical strength and, more trustably, natural material ingredients. Antimicrobial properties of cerium ions and chitosan are known and alginate based wound dressings are commercially available. In this study, the advantages of these materials were combined and alginate films were crosslinked with cerium(III) solution and chitosan added cerium(III) solution. Films were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), light transmittance, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), swelling experiments, water vapor transmittance tests, and mechanical stretching tests. The antibacterial and physical properties of the films were compared with those of conventional calcium alginate films. Both cerium ion crosslinked and cerium ion-chitosan crosslinked alginate films gained antibacterial activity against Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria. Cerium alginate-chitosan films showed high resistance to being deformed elastically. Results show that cerium alginate-chitosan films can be flexible, ultraviolet-protecting, and antibacterial wound dressings. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  13. Topical petrolatum gel alone versus topical silver sulfadiazine with standard gauze dressings for the treatment of superficial partial thickness burns in adults: a randomized controlled trial.

    PubMed

    Genuino, Glenn Angelo S; Baluyut-Angeles, Kathrina Victoria; Espiritu, Andre Paolo T; Lapitan, Marie Carmela M; Buckley, Brian S

    2014-11-01

    Non-extensive superficial partial thickness burns constitute a major proportion of burns. Conventional treatment involves regular changing of absorptive dressings including the application of a topical antimicrobial, commonly silver sulfadiazine. A systematic review has found insufficient evidence to support or refute such antimicrobial prophylaxis. Another review compared silver sulfadiazine dressings with other occlusive and non-antimicrobial dressings and found insufficient evidence to guide practice. Other research has suggested that dressings with petrolatum gel are as effective as silver sulfadiazine. Single-center, randomized, controlled parallel group trial comparing conventional silver sulfadiazine dressings with treatment with petrolatum gel alone. Consenting adults 18-45 years old with superficial partial thickness burns≤10% total body surface area seen within 24h of the injury were randomized to daily dressing either with petrolatum gel without top dressings or conventional silver sulfadiazine treatment with gauze dressings. Primary outcomes were blinded assessment of time to complete re-epithelialization, wound infection or allergic contact dermatitis. Secondary outcomes included assessment of ease, time and pain of dressing changes. 26 patients were randomized to petrolatum and 24 to silver sulfadiazine dressings. Follow up data available for 19 in each group. Mean time to re-epithelialization was 6.2 days (SD 2.8) in the petrolatum group and 7.8 days (SD 2.1) in the silver sulfadiazine group (p=0.050). No wound infection or dermatitis was observed in either group. Scores for adherence to wound, ease of dressing removal and time required to change dressings were significantly better in the petrolatum treatment arm (p<0.01). Petrolatum gel without top dressings may be at least as effective as silver sulfadiazine gauze dressings with regard to time to re-epithelialization, and incidence of infection and allergic contact dermatitis. Petrolatum gel

  14. A preliminary study of silver sodium zirconium phosphate polyurethane foam wound dressing on wounds of the distal aspect of the forelimb in horses.

    PubMed

    Kelleher, Maureen E; Kilcoyne, Isabelle; Dechant, Julie E; Hummer, Emma; Kass, Philip H; Snyder, Jack R

    2015-04-01

    To determine if application of silver sodium zirconium phosphate polyurethane semi-occlusive foam (SPF) dressing would improve measures of wound healing and decrease bacterial contamination compared with a non-adherent, absorbent dressing applied to wounds created on the distal aspect of the equine limb. Controlled randomized experimental study. Adult Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred horses (n = 5). One 6.25 cm(2) wound was created on the dorsomedial aspect of the proximal metacarpus on each forelimb. A SPF dressing was applied to 1 randomly assigned limb as a treatment and a non-adherent, absorbent dressing was applied to the opposite limb as control. Bandages were changed every 3 days for 60 days. Granulation tissue was scored every 3 days, wound area measured every 6 days, and wound bed was cultured every 12 days. SPF-treatment wounds had significantly decreased wound area and decreased granulation tissue scores when evaluated <30 days and over the 60 day study, although complete wound healing times were not significantly different. Bacteria were cultured from all wounds at varying times throughout the study. The SPF wound dressing improved some measures of wound healing compared with the control dressing, most significantly during the first 30 days. This suggests that the SPF wound dressing may be useful in the early management of wounds on the equine lower limb. Further studies using the SPF dressing are needed to characterize the temporal and cellular effects on wound healing and evaluate this dressing in a clinical environment. © Copyright 2014 by The American College of Veterinary Surgeons.

  15. Papain wound dressings obtained from poly(vinyl alcohol)/calcium alginate blends as new pharmaceutical dosage form: Preparation and preliminary evaluation.

    PubMed

    Dutra, J A P; Carvalho, S G; Zampirolli, A C D; Daltoé, R D; Teixeira, R M; Careta, F P; Cotrim, M A P; Oréfice, R L; Villanova, J C O

    2017-04-01

    Transparent, soft, flexible, mechanically resistant films, which are ideal for use as wound dressings were prepared in the presence of 2% papain, a proteolytic enzyme that can play a role in the chemical debridement of the skin and can accelerate the healing process. The films, based on poly(vinyl alcohol):calcium alginate blends with increasing concentrations of polysaccharide (10, 20, and 30% v/v), were obtained by casting method. FTIR and DSC analyses were performed to assess the composition and miscibility of blends. Mechanical properties such as tensile strength, elasticity modulus, and elongation at breakpoint were evaluated. The influence of different concentrations of calcium alginate on physical attributes of films like wettability, swelling capacity and mechanical properties was determined. The stability of papain in the films was assessed indirectly by hemolytic activity assay employing direct contact method and confirmed by technique based on blood agar diffusion. Preliminary cytotoxicity was evaluated with the XTT method. The results showed that at the polymer concentrations tested, the blends were miscible. The increase in the content of the calcium alginate increased the wettability and swelling capacity of the films, which is desirable in wound dressings. On the other hand, mechanical resistance decreased without causing breakage of the films during the swelling tests. The hemolytic activity of the films was maintained during the studied period, suggesting the stability of papain in the proposed formulations. Cellular viability indicated that the films were non-toxic. The analysis of the results showed that it is possible to prepare interactive and bioactive wound dressing containing papain from blends of PVA and calcium alginate polymers. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  16. Studies on the disposable obstetrical dressings sterilized by radiation and the effect of its application

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Haiqiao, Wang; Sujing, Sun

    1993-10-01

    In order to attain an optimum sterilization treatment to obstetric dressings, a new product made by us, with 60Coγ-ray, the effects of radiation on standard bacteria pseudomonas aeruginosa ATcc27853, Escherichia coli ATcc25922, Staphylococcus aureus ATcc25923, Clostridium PB6KA, short Bacillus E60163202 and HBSAg were studied. Results showed that at the absorbed dose of 10 kGy, all the bacteria, bacillus and HBSAg were killed off, and sterilized with the dose, the dressings can completely accord with the demands of hygiene, which was further confirmed by microbiological and poisonous tests and the effects of clinical application. In Nov. 1988, the dressings was awarded the excellent prize in the 1st international exhibition of patent, new technique and new equipment in Guangzhou; its effective application is also reported in the paper.

  17. Negative pressure and nanocrystalline silver dressings for nonhealing ulcer: A randomized pilot study.

    PubMed

    Sáez-Martín, Luis C; García-Martínez, Lourdes; Román-Curto, Concepción; Sánchez-Hernández, Miguel V; Suárez-Fernández, Ricardo M

    2015-01-01

    Chronic wounds have a high prevalence and wound care, treatment, and prevention consume large quantities of resources. Chronic wounds are a growing challenge for clinicians. A prospective randomized pilot study was conducted to assess the effectiveness in terms of reduction in area and safety of the combined use of negative-pressure wound therapy and nanocrystalline silver dressings as compared to negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) alone in the management of outpatients with chronic wounds. A total of 17 patients were included in the study, 10 were treated with the combined method and 7 with NPWT. Patients were followed for 6 weeks, with a final assessment at 3 months. Clinical improvement, microbiologic data, and toxicity of silver were evaluated. The antibacterial effects of ionic silver together with the development of granulation tissue promoted by NPWT reduced significantly the median extension of the wound between weeks 3 and 6 of treatment. The combination with silver also reduced bacterial colonization with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the bacterial load on the surface of the wound. The silver levels correlated positively with the extension of the wound, although in none of the patients' toxic levels were reached. The combination of NPWT with nanocrystalline silver dressings was safe and as effective as NPWT alone. © 2015 by the Wound Healing Society.

  18. Sex-specific but not sexually explicit: pupillary responses to dressed and naked adults.

    PubMed

    Attard-Johnson, Janice; Bindemann, Markus

    2017-05-01

    Dilation of the pupils is an indicator of an observer's sexual interest in other people, but it remains unresolved whether this response is strengthened or diminished by sexually explicit material. To address this question, this study compared pupillary responses of heterosexual men and women to naked and dressed portraits of male and female adult film actors. Pupillary responses corresponded with observers' self-reported sexual orientation, such that dilation occurred during the viewing of opposite-sex people, but were comparable for naked and dressed targets. These findings indicate that pupillary responses provide a sex-specific measure, but are not sensitive to sexually explicit content.

  19. Sanctions Connected to Dress Code Violations in Secondary School Handbooks

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Workman, Jane E.; Freeburg, Elizabeth W.; Lentz-Hees, Elizabeth S.

    2004-01-01

    This study identifies and evaluates sanctions for dress code violations in secondary school handbooks. Sanctions, or consequences for breaking rules, vary along seven interrelated dimensions: source, formality, retribution, obtrusiveness, magnitude, severity, and pervasiveness. A content analysis of handbooks from 155 public secondary schools…

  20. Electrospun Fibers as a Dressing Material for Drug and Biological Agent Delivery in Wound Healing Applications

    PubMed Central

    Gizaw, Mulugeta; Thompson, Jeffrey; Faglie, Addison; Lee, Shih-Yu; Neuenschwander, Pierre; Chou, Shih-Feng

    2018-01-01

    Wound healing is a complex tissue regeneration process that promotes the growth of new tissue to provide the body with the necessary barrier from the outside environment. In the class of non-healing wounds, diabetic wounds, and ulcers, dressing materials that are available clinically (e.g., gels and creams) have demonstrated only a slow improvement with current available technologies. Among all available current technologies, electrospun fibers exhibit several characteristics that may provide novel replacement dressing materials for the above-mentioned wounds. Therefore, in this review, we focus on recent achievements in electrospun drug-eluting fibers for wound healing applications. In particular, we review drug release, including small molecule drugs, proteins and peptides, and gene vectors from electrospun fibers with respect to wound healing. Furthermore, we provide an overview on multifunctional dressing materials based on electrospun fibers, including those that are capable of achieving wound debridement and wound healing simultaneously as well as multi-drugs loading/types suitable for various stages of the healing process. Our review provides important and sufficient information to inform the field in development of fiber-based dressing materials for clinical treatment of non-healing wounds. PMID:29382065

  1. Exploratory Development of an Ultrafast-Curing Wound Dressing

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1988-11-30

    removed at will. 0 Control water vapor and oxygen exchange, thus maintaining a moist environment for rapid healing. * Gradually deliver broad-spectrum...removal without precipitating another bjeeding episode, (c) promotion of normal wound healing under moist , aseptic environment, and (d) prevention of...conditions, the field dressing is capable of maintaining the wound moist , but aseptic. And, as explained in the following paragraphs, it is ncm

  2. Designing cellulosic and nanocellulosic sensors for interface with a protease sequestrant wound-dressing prototype: implications of material selection for dressing and protease sensor design

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    An intelligent dressing is a self-adjusting material with multifunctional properties and/or a biosensor-interface designed to treat specific pathological issues of wounds at a molecular or cellular level. The ability to detect and treat excessive protease levels in wounds, one indicator of chronic w...

  3. Superficial Burn Wound Healing with Intermittent Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Under Limited Access and Conventional Dressings

    PubMed Central

    Honnegowda, Thittamaranahalli Muguregowda; Padmanabha Udupa, Echalasara Govindarama; Rao, Pragna; Kumar, Pramod; Singh, Rekha

    2016-01-01

    BACKGROUND Thermal injury is associated with several biochemical and histopathological alteration in tissue. Analysis of these objective parameters in research and clinical field are common to determine healing rate of burn wound. Negative pressure wound therapy has been achieved wide success in treating chronic wounds. This study determines superficial burn wound healing with intermittent negative pressure wound therapy under limited access and conventional dressings METHODS A total 50 patients were randomised into two equal groups: limited access and conventional dressing groups. Selective biochemical parameters such as hydroxyproline, hexosamine, total protein, and antioxidants, malondialdhyde (MDA), wound surface pH, matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), and nitric oxide (NO) were measured in the granulation tissue. Histopathologically, necrotic tissue, amount of inflammatory infiltrate, angiogenesis and extracellular matrix deposition (ECM) were studied to determine wound healing under intermittent negative pressure. RESULTS Patients treated with limited access have shown significant increase in the mean hydroxyproline, hexosamine, total protein, reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and decrease in MDA, MMP-2, wound surface pH, and NO. Histopathologic study showed that there was a significant difference after 10 days of treatment between limited access vs conventional dressing group, Median (Q1, Q3)=3 (2, 4.25) vs 2 (1.75, 4). CONCLUSION Limited access was shown to exert its beneficial effects on wound healing by increasing ground substance, antioxidants and reducing MMP-2 activity, MDA, NO and providing optimal pH, decreasing necrotic tissue, amount of inflammatory infiltrate, increasing ECM deposition and angiogenesis. PMID:27853690

  4. Management of External Hemorrhage in Tactical Combat Casualty Care: Chitosan-Based Hemostatic Gauze Dressings--TCCC Guidelines-Change 13-05.

    PubMed

    Bennett, Brad L; Littlejohn, Lanny F; Kheirabadi, Bijan S; Butler, Frank K; Kotwal, Russ S; Dubick, Michael A; Bailey, Jeffrey A

    2014-01-01

    Hemorrhage remains the leading cause of combat death and a major cause of death from potentially survivable injuries. Great strides have been made in controlling extremity hemorrhage with tourniquets, but not all injuries are amenable to tourniquet application. Topical hemostatic agents and dressings have also contributed to success in controlling extremity and compressible junctional hemorrhage, and their efficacy continues to increase as enhanced products are developed. Since the addition of Combat Gauze™ (Z-Medica Corporation, Wallingford, CT, USA; http://www.z-medica.com/) in April 2008 to the Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) Guidelines, there are consistent data from animal studies of severe hemorrhage that chitosan-based hemostatic gauze dressings developed for battlefield application are, at least, equally efficacious as Combat Gauze. Successful outcomes are also reported using newer chitosan-based dressings in civilian hospital-based surgical case reports and prehospital (battlefield) case reports and series. Additionally, there have been no noted complications or safety concerns in these cases or across many years of chitosan-based hemostatic dressing use in both the military and civilian prehospital sectors. Consequently, after a decade of clinical use, there is added benefit and a good safety record for using chitosan-based gauze dressings. For these reasons, many specific US military Special Operations Forces, NATO militaries, and emergency medical services (EMS) and law enforcement agencies have already implemented the widespread use of these new recommended chitosan-based hemostatic dressings. Based on the past battlefield success, this report proposes to keep Combat Gauze as the hemostatic dressing of choice along with the new addition of Celox™ Gauze (Medtrade Products Ltd., Crewe, UK; http://www.celoxmedical.com/usa/products /celox-gauze/) and ChitoGauze® (HemCon Medical Technologies, Portland, OR, USA; http://www.hemcon.com/) to the TCCC

  5. Smart Dressings Based on Nanostructured Fibers Containing Natural Origin Antimicrobial, Anti-Inflammatory, and Regenerative Compounds

    PubMed Central

    Andreu, Vanesa; Mendoza, Gracia; Arruebo, Manuel; Irusta, Silvia

    2015-01-01

    A fast and effective wound healing process would substantially decrease medical costs, wound care supplies, and hospitalization significantly improving the patients’ quality of life. The search for effective therapeutic approaches seems to be imperative in order to avoid the aggravation of chronic wounds. In spite of all the efforts that have been made during the recent years towards the development of artificial wound dressings, none of the currently available options combine all the requirements necessary for quick and optimal cutaneous regeneration. Therefore, technological advances in the area of temporary and permanent smart dressings for wound care are required. The development of nanoscience and nanotechnology can improve the materials and designs used in topical wound care in order to efficiently release antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and regenerative compounds speeding up the endogenous healing process. Nanostructured dressings can overcome the limitations of the current coverings and, separately, natural origin components can also overcome the drawbacks of current antibiotics and antiseptics (mainly cytotoxicity, antibiotic resistance, and allergies). The combination of natural origin components with demonstrated antibiotic, regenerative, or anti-inflammatory properties together with nanostructured materials is a promising approach to fulfil all the requirements needed for the next generation of bioactive wound dressings. Microbially compromised wounds have been treated with different essential oils, honey, cationic peptides, aloe vera, plant extracts, and other natural origin occurring antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and regenerative components but the available evidence is limited and insufficient to be able to draw reliable conclusions and to extrapolate those findings to the clinical practice. The evidence and some promising preliminary results indicate that future comparative studies are justified but instead of talking about the beneficial or

  6. 1. GENERAL SETTING; LOOKING SOUTHWEST INTO RAILROAD CORRIDOR; BUILDING 92 ...

    Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

    1. GENERAL SETTING; LOOKING SOUTHWEST INTO RAILROAD CORRIDOR; BUILDING 92 IS PARTIALLY VISIBLE AT UPPER RIGHT; BUILDING 168 (1960 HOG KILL) AT LOWER LEFT - Rath Packing Company, Hog Dressing Building, Sycamore Street between Elm & Eighteenth Streets, Waterloo, Black Hawk County, IA

  7. Terbinafine-loaded wound dressing for chronic superficial fungal infections.

    PubMed

    Paskiabi, Farnoush Asghari; Bonakdar, Shahin; Shokrgozar, Mohammad Ali; Imani, Mohammad; Jahanshiri, Zahra; Shams-Ghahfarokhi, Masoomeh; Razzaghi-Abyaneh, Mehdi

    2017-04-01

    In spite of developing new drugs and modern formulations, the treatments of chronic fungal infections are still challenging. Fibrous wound dressings are new suggestions for the treatment of chronic superficial infections. In the present study, we formulated an antifungal agent, terbinafine hydrochloride (TFH), which is a hydrophobic drug, in wound dressings prepared by electrospun polycaprolactone, polycaprolactone/gelatin (50:50 w/w) and gelatin. To obtain more water-stable meshes, the preparations were treated by glutaraldehyde and their properties were determined before and after treatment. The morphology of fibrous meshes was observed by scanning electron microscopy. Drug loading efficiency and release rate were measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and the release rate was monitored for 144h. Antifungal tests were performed on Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida albicans cultured on Muller-Hinton agar. The toxicity of the meshes was measured after 24h and 14days by MTT assay. Terbinafine loading of polycaprolactone/gelatin (50:50) was 100% and it released the highest amount of TFH too. In antifungal tests, all samples were able to hinderT. mentagrophytes and A. fumigatus but not C. albicans growth among them, polycaprolactone fibers made the largest inhibition zone. In MTT assay, none of prepared samples showed toxicity against L929 cells. Teken together, the prepared TFH-loaded PCL/gelatin electrospun meshes were able to release TFH slowly and in a steady state in time. With respect to no obvious cytotoxicity in MTT assay and stong antifungal activity toward T. mentagrophytesin vitro, these TFH-based meshes could be considered as potential candidates in clinical application as wound dressing for treatment of chronic dermatophytosis. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  8. Viability of murine norovirus in salads and dressings and its inactivation using heat-denatured lysozyme.

    PubMed

    Takahashi, Hajime; Tsuchiya, Tomoki; Takahashi, Michiko; Nakazawa, Moemi; Watanabe, Tomoka; Takeuchi, Akira; Kuda, Takashi; Kimura, Bon

    2016-09-16

    In recent years, a number of food poisoning outbreaks due to the contamination of norovirus in ready-to-eat (RTE) foods such as salads have been reported, and this issue is regarded as a global problem. The risk of contamination of fresh vegetables with norovirus has been previously reported, but the survivability of norovirus that contaminates salads remains unknown. In addition, there have been limited reports on the control of norovirus in food products by using inactivating agents. In this study, the viability of norovirus in various types of salads and dressings was examined using murine norovirus strain 1 (MNV-1) as a surrogate for the closely related human norovirus. In addition, the inactivation of MNV-1 in salads was examined using heat-denatured lysozyme, which had been reported to inactivate norovirus. MNV-1 was inoculated in 4 types of salads (coleslaw, thousand island salad, vinaigrette salad, egg salad) and 3 types of dressings (mayonnaise, thousand island dressing, vinaigrette dressing), stored at 4°C for 5days. The results revealed that in the vinaigrette dressing, the infectivity of MNV-1 decreased by 2.6logPFU/mL in 5days, whereas in the other dressings and salads, the infectivity of MNV-1 did not show any significant decrease. Next, 1% heat-denatured lysozyme was added to the 4 types of salads, and subsequently it was found that in 2 types of salads (thousand island salad, vinaigrette salad), the infectivity of MNV-1 decreased by >4.0logPFU/g, whereas in coleslaw salad, a decrease of 3.0logPFU/g was shown. However, in egg salads, the infectivity of MNV-1 did not show such decrease. These results suggest that norovirus can survive for 5days in contaminated salads. Further, these findings also indicated that heat-denatured lysozyme had an inactivating effect on norovirus, even in salads. In the future, heat-denatured lysozyme can be used as a novel norovirus-inactivating agent, although it is essential to investigate the mechanism of inactivating

  9. Flare-ups incidence and severity after using calcium hydroxide as intracanal dressing.

    PubMed

    Ghoddusi, Jamileh; Javidi, Maryam; Zarrabi, Mohammad Hasan; Bagheri, Hossein

    2006-01-01

    Acute pain and swelling following endodontic treatment are a challenge for both the patient and the dentist. According to previous studies, the incidence of flare-ups increases after endodontic treatment of teeth with necrotic pulps. Calcium hydroxide is currently used as a multi-purpose drug in root canal therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence and severity of flare-ups after treatment of pulpless teeth using calcium hydroxide as an intracanal dressing. Sixty patients with single-root necrotic teeth participated in this study. These patients were randomly divided into three groups of 20. The patients were treated in Group A in a single-visit approach, in group B with a two-visit approach without any intracanal dressing and group C with a two-visit approach using calcium hydroxide as an intracanal dressing for one week. All of the patients were followed for 72 hours after each treatment session. The information about the incidence and severity of pain and swelling was recorded in tables, using a modified Visual Analogue Scale for pain severity measurement and a scale with four degrees for measuring the severity of swelling. The data were analyzed by chi-square test and GENMODE procedure.

  10. Controlled Release of Chitosan and Sericin from the Microspheres-Embedded Wound Dressing for the Prolonged Anti-microbial and Wound Healing Efficacy.

    PubMed

    Aramwit, Pornanong; Yamdech, Rungnapha; Ampawong, Sumate

    2016-05-01

    One approach in wound dressing development is to incorporate active molecules or drugs in the dressing. In order to reduce the frequency of dressing changes as well as to prolong wound healing efficacy, wound dressings that can sustain the release of the active molecules should be developed. In our previous work, we developed chitosan/sericin (CH/SS) microspheres that released sericin in a controlled rate. However, the difficulty of applying the microspheres that easily diffuse and quickly degrade onto the wound was its limitations. In this study, we aimed to develop wound dressing materials which are easier to apply and to provide extended release of sericin. Different amounts of CH/SS microspheres were embedded into various compositions of polyvinyl alcohol/gelatin (PVA/G) scaffolds and fabricated using freeze-drying and glutaraldehyde crosslinking techniques. The obtained CH/SS microspheres-embedded scaffolds with appropriate design and formulation were introduced as a wound dressing material. Sericin was released from the microspheres and the scaffolds in a sustained manner. Furthermore, an optimized formation of the microspheres-embedded scaffolds (2PVA2G+2CHSS) was shown to possess an effective antimicrobial activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. These microspheres-embedded scaffolds were not toxic to L929 mouse fibroblast cells, and they did not irritate the tissue when applied to the wound. Finally, probably by the sustained release of sericin, these microspheres-embedded scaffolds could promote wound healing as well as or slightly better than a clinically used wound dressing (Allevyn®) in a mouse model. The antimicrobial CH/SS microspheres-embedded PVA/G scaffolds with sustained release of sericin would appear to be a promising candidate for wound dressing application.

  11. Neurotensin-loaded collagen dressings reduce inflammation and improve wound healing in diabetic mice.

    PubMed

    Moura, Liane I F; Dias, Ana M A; Suesca, Edward; Casadiegos, Sergio; Leal, Ermelindo C; Fontanilla, Marta R; Carvalho, Lina; de Sousa, Hermínio C; Carvalho, Eugénia

    2014-01-01

    Impaired wound healing is an important clinical problem in diabetes mellitus and results in failure to completely heal diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), which may lead to lower extremity amputations. In the present study, collagen based dressings were prepared to be applied as support for the delivery of neurotensin (NT), a neuropeptide that acts as an inflammatory modulator in wound healing. The performance of NT alone and NT-loaded collagen matrices to treat wounds in streptozotocin (STZ) diabetic induced mice was evaluated. Results showed that the prepared dressings were not-cytotoxic up to 72h after contact with macrophages (Raw 264.7) and human keratinocyte (HaCaT) cell lines. Moreover, those cells were shown to adhere to the collagen matrices without noticeable change in their morphology. NT-loaded collagen dressings induced faster healing (17% wound area reduction) in the early phases of wound healing in diabetic wounded mice. In addition, they also significantly reduced inflammatory cytokine expression namely, TNF-α (p<0.01) and IL-1β (p<0.01) and decreased the inflammatory infiltrate at day 3 post-wounding (inflammatory phase). After complete healing, metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) is reduced in diabetic skin (p<0.05) which significantly increased fibroblast migration and collagen (collagen type I, alpha 2 (COL1A2) and collagen type III, alpha 1 (COL3A1)) expression and deposition. These results suggest that collagen-based dressings can be an effective support for NT release into diabetic wound enhancing the healing process. Nevertheless, a more prominent scar is observed in diabetic wounds treated with collagen when compared to the treatment with NT alone. © 2013.

  12. Hydrogel-gauze dressing for moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis: development and efficacy study on atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice.

    PubMed

    Ng, Shiow-Fern; Lew, Pit-Chin; Sin, Yong-Boey

    2014-11-01

    Topical emollients are known to provide symptomatic relief for atopic dermatitis. In hospitals, wet-wrap therapy has been shown to benefit children with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD), but the application of wet-wraps is tedious and time-consuming. Topical emollients have low residence time and often dry out easily. The aim of this work was to develop a hydrogel-gauze dressing that is not only easy to apply but also rehydrates and traps moisture to provide longer relief for AD patients. In this study, a prototype hydrogel-gauze dressing was developed with varying ratios of sodium carboxymethylcellulose (NaCMC) and propylene glycol. The hydrogel-gauze dressings were assessed based on the moisture vapor transmission rate, moisture absorption, mechanical properties and storage stability over three months. Then, the efficacy of the hydrogel-gauze dressing was compared to topical emollients using transgenic NC/Nga mice with AD-like lesions. The NaCMC hydrogel-gauze dressings significantly lowered transepidermal water loss, and the animals displayed a faster recovery, which indicates that hydrogel-gauze dressings can trap moisture more effectively and accelerate AD healing. Hence, we propose that hydrogel-gauze dressings can potentially become an alternative to wet-wrap therapy due to the ease of application and the higher efficacy compared to topical products.

  13. Methylated spirit burns following traditional hair dressing practice.

    PubMed

    Michael, Afieharo I; Iyun, Ayodele O

    2018-02-01

    Methylated spirit burns have been reported following domestic uses such as igniting fondues. It has also been used as an accelerant for self-immolation. We report the first documented case of severe methylated spirit burns sustained during traditional hair dressing. Increased awareness on the dangers of methylated spirit as well as making it less readily available for domestic use is warranted. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd and ISBI. All rights reserved.

  14. The link between the peel force of adhesive dressings and subjective discomfort in volunteer subjects.

    PubMed

    Dykes, P J; Heggie, R

    2003-07-01

    The study compared the level of discomfort experienced by healthy volunteers on the removal of a range of adhesive wounds. This was an open, within subject comparative study of six adhesive dressings in 24 volunteers. The test site was the lower back. Allocation of test materials to the test sites was randomised. The peel force of removal was recorded after 24 hours of application using a device that removed the dressing at a constant speed and angle to the skin surface. The discomfort experienced at each removal was assessed by the subjects themselves using an electronic visual analogue scale. Overall, Mepilex Border was given a significantly lower discomfort score (p < or = 0.01) by the subjects than the other dressings. There were no clear differences between the five other products tested. Tielle and Allevyn Adhesive had significantly higher (p < or = 0.05) peel force than the other products. Mepilex Border caused less discomfort on removal than Duoderm Extra Thin, Biatain and Versiva, even though the peel force was similar. Tielle and Allevyn had higher peel force, but the levels of discomfort were not significantly higher for these products. It may be that the level of discomfort experienced by subjects on removal of an adhesive dressing is not entirely dependent on the peel force and that other aspects of the interaction of the skin surface and adhesive play a role.

  15. Virtual restorative environment therapy as an adjunct to pain control during burn dressing changes: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

    PubMed

    Small, Charlotte; Stone, Robert; Pilsbury, Jane; Bowden, Michael; Bion, Julian

    2015-08-05

    The pain of a severe burn injury is often characterised by intense background pain, coupled with severe exacerbations associated with essential procedures such as dressing changes. The experience of pain is affected by patients' psychological state and can be enhanced by the anxiety, fear and distress caused by environmental and visual inputs. Virtual Reality (VR) distraction has been used with success in areas such as burns, paediatrics and oncology. The underlying principle of VR is that attention is diverted from the painful stimulus by the use of engaging, dynamic 3D visual content and associated auditory stimuli. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies undertaken during VR distraction from experimental pain have demonstrated enhancement of the descending cortical pain-control system. The present study will evaluate the feasibility of introducing a novel VR system to the Burns Unit at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham for dressing changes: virtual restorative environment therapy (VRET). The study will also explore the system's impact on pain during and after the dressing changes compared to conventional analgesia for ward-based burn dressing changes. A within-subject crossover design will be used to compare the following three conditions: 1. Interactive VRET plus conventional analgesics. 2. Passive VRET with conventional analgesics. 3. Conventional analgesics alone. Using the Monte Carlo method, and on the basis of previous local audit data, a sample size of 25 will detect a clinically significant 33 % reduction in worst pain scores experienced during dressing changes. The study accrual rate is currently slower than predicted by previous audits of admission data. A review of the screening log has found that recruitment has been limited by the nature of burn care, the ability of burn inpatients to provide informed consent and the ability of patients to use the VR equipment. Prior to the introduction of novel interactive technologies for

  16. 7. GENERAL VIEW OF GUT SHANTY ON LEVEL 3; LOOKING ...

    Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

    7. GENERAL VIEW OF GUT SHANTY ON LEVEL 3; LOOKING SOUTHEAST; HOG VISCERA WERE SORTED AND CLEANED WITH HOT WATER ON LONG STAINLESS STEEL TABLES - Rath Packing Company, Hog Dressing Building, Sycamore Street between Elm & Eighteenth Streets, Waterloo, Black Hawk County, IA

  17. Sex-specific but not sexually explicit: pupillary responses to dressed and naked adults

    PubMed Central

    Bindemann, Markus

    2017-01-01

    Dilation of the pupils is an indicator of an observer's sexual interest in other people, but it remains unresolved whether this response is strengthened or diminished by sexually explicit material. To address this question, this study compared pupillary responses of heterosexual men and women to naked and dressed portraits of male and female adult film actors. Pupillary responses corresponded with observers' self-reported sexual orientation, such that dilation occurred during the viewing of opposite-sex people, but were comparable for naked and dressed targets. These findings indicate that pupillary responses provide a sex-specific measure, but are not sensitive to sexually explicit content. PMID:28572991

  18. [Potentially toxic antibiotics concentrations after administration using impregnated dressing in a severe burned patient: A case report].

    PubMed

    Dupouey, Julien; Wiramus, Sandrine; Albanese, Jacques; Guilhaumou, Romain; Blin, Olivier

    2016-10-01

    Severe burned patients present high risk of skins infections, frequently due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Impregnated dressings with amikacin or colistin could be a good alternative to obtain effective concentration directly at the infected site. Therapeutic drug monitoring for these antibiotics is currently recommended after an intravenous administration to obtain effective and non-toxic plasmatic concentrations. However, data are lacking about systemic exposition and risk of toxicity after an administration with impregnated dressings. We report the case of a severe burned patient with cutaneous infection treated with amikacin and colistin impregnated dressings, for which plasmatic pharmacokinetic profiles were performed. Copyright © 2016 Société française de pharmacologie et de thérapeutique. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

  19. DRESS syndrome due to antibiotic therapy of osteoarticular infections in children: two case reports.

    PubMed

    Ramírez, A; Abril, J C; Cano, J

    2015-01-01

    Osteoarticular infection in children frequently occurs before 10 years of age. Surgical drainage is sometimes required, whereas acute osteomyelitis can be treated with antibiotic therapy alone. The duration of antibiotic therapy varies, 2 weeks is sufficient for septic arthritis, whereas 6 weeks is often required for complicated cases. Some of these antibiotic drugs present direct complications with low clinical impact in certain individuals. Hypersensitivity to these drugs causes different reactions in children. DRESS syndrome (Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms) is a severe and potentially life-threatening drug reaction. It is characterised by high fever, malaise, lymphadenopathy and skin rash. From a clinical perspective, these symptoms can lead to an exacerbation of the initial infectious process for which treatment was commenced. The liver is the organ most often affected in DRESS syndrome associated with haematological changes, potentially similar to sepsis. We present two cases of children with osteoarticular infections who developed DRESS syndrome after antibiotic therapy. Both patients made a complete recovery after cessation of the antibiotic drugs used. Copyright © 2014 SECOT. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.

  20. Histopathology of the Exanthema in DRESS Is Not Specific but May Indicate Severity of Systemic Involvement.

    PubMed

    Gonçalo, Margarida M; Cardoso, José C; Gouveia, Miguel P; Coutinho, Inês; Gameiro, Ana R; Brites, Maria M; Tellechea, Óscar E

    2016-06-01

    Exanthema in drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) has no specific clinical diagnostic hallmark and there are few histopathologic studies. The aim of this study was to describe dermal-epidermal histopathologic features in DRESS and correlate them with the culprit drug, viral reactivation, or systemic organ involvement. Skin biopsies were independently evaluated by 2 dermatopathologists who characterized the main histological patterns and scored dermal and epidermal changes, which were further correlated with clinical and laboratorial data. In 15 DRESS patients (9 male/6 female patients, mean age 53.3 years), the main observation was lymphocyte exocytosis (1.87 ± 1.25), spongiosis (0.93 ± 0.94), scattered keratinocyte necrosis (1.70 ± 1.44), basal cell vacuolization (2.13 ± 1.42), lymphocyte infiltration around dermal vessels (2.93 ± 0.92) or at the dermal-epidermal junction (2.07 ± 1.12), often with eosinophils and extravasated erythrocytes, swollen endothelial cells, and intravascular neutrophils but no vasculitis. Histopathologic patterns were classified mainly as spongiotic (5), erythema multiforme-like (3), or lichenoid (2). There was a significant positive correlation between the intensity of lymphocyte infiltration and the severity of hepatic cytolysis (r = 0.51; P < 0.05) and eosinophilia (r = 0.51; P < 0.05). No correlation was observed between the intensity and type of dermal inflammation and the degree of epidermal damage or the culprit drug. Human herpes virus type 6-positive patients had a pseudolymphomatous reaction or a perifollicular localization of the infiltrate. Histopathology in DRESS is variable with no specific diagnostic aspect, but there is a possible correlation between the intensity of the lymphocyte infiltrate and DRESS severity, namely, liver cytolysis.

  1. Beta-glucan-loaded nanofiber dressing improves wound healing in diabetic mice.

    PubMed

    Grip, Jostein; Engstad, Rolf Einar; Skjæveland, Ingrid; Škalko-Basnet, Nataša; Isaksson, Johan; Basnet, Purusotam; Holsæter, Ann Mari

    2018-06-01

    The increased prevalence of chronic wounds requires novel treatment options. The aim of this study was to develop a beta-glucan (βG)-loaded nanofiber wound dressing. Nanofibers were prepared using the needle-free Nanospider™ technology, an electrospinning method which enables the production of nanofibers at an industrial scale. The βG was selected as active ingredient based on its confirmed wound healing potential in both animals and humans. Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and polyethylene oxide (PEO) were included as copolymers. Rheological profiles of spinning solutions containing HPMC, PEO, βG, ethanol and water, were optimized. The nanofiber formation was confirmed by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), and both nanofibers with (βG-nanofibers) or without βG (NoβG-nanofibers) were evaluated by their swelling index and FT-IR spectroscopy. The formulations, active ingredient and excipients were tested for their possible in vitro toxicity in keratinocytes. Finally, the wound healing potential of the nanofibers was tested in externally induced excisional wounds in male diabetic db/db mice. Three different doses of βG-nanofibers and the βG-free, NoβG-nanofibers, were evaluated for their in vivo wound healing efficacy. All nanofiber-treatments provided improved wound healing as compared to the negative control (water). All βG-nanofiber treated groups exhibited significantly improved wound healing as compared to the NoβG-nanofiber treated group, indicating the potential of βG-nanofibers as wound dressing. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  2. Bacterial Growth Kinetics under a Novel Flexible Methacrylate Dressing Serving as a Drug Delivery Vehicle for Antiseptics

    PubMed Central

    Forstner, Christina; Leitgeb, Johannes; Schuster, Rupert; Dosch, Verena; Kramer, Axel; Cutting, Keith F.; Leaper, David J.; Assadian, Ojan

    2013-01-01

    A flexible methacrylate powder dressing (Altrazeal®) transforms into a wound contour conforming matrix once in contact with wound exudate. We hypothesised that it may also serve as a drug delivery vehicle for antiseptics. The antimicrobial efficacy and influence on bacterial growth kinetics in combination with three antiseptics was investigated in an in vitro porcine wound model. Standardized in vitro wounds were contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA; ATCC 33591) and divided into six groups: no dressing (negative control), methacrylate dressing alone, and combinations with application of 0.02% Polyhexamethylene Biguanide (PHMB), 0.4% PHMB, 0.1% PHMB + 0.1% betaine, 7.7 mg/mL Povidone-iodine (PVP-iodine), and 0.1% Octenidine-dihydrochloride (OCT) + 2% phenoxyethanol. Bacterial load per gram tissue was measured over five days. The highest reduction was observed with PVP-iodine at 24 h to log10 1.43 cfu/g, followed by OCT at 48 h to log10 2.41 cfu/g. Whilst 0.02% PHMB resulted in a stable bacterial load over 120 h to log10 4.00 cfu/g over 120 h, 0.1% PHMB + 0.1% betaine inhibited growth during the first 48 h, with slightly increasing bacterial numbers up to log10 5.38 cfu/g at 120 h. These results indicate that this flexible methacrylate dressing can be loaded with various antiseptics serving as drug delivery system. Depending on the selected combination, an individually shaped and controlled antibacterial effect may be achieved using the same type of wound dressing. PMID:23698780

  3. Fast adiabatic quantum state transfer and entanglement generation between two atoms via dressed states

    PubMed Central

    Wu, Jin-Lei; Ji, Xin; Zhang, Shou

    2017-01-01

    We propose a dressed-state scheme to achieve shortcuts to adiabaticity in atom-cavity quantum electrodynamics for speeding up adiabatic two-atom quantum state transfer and maximum entanglement generation. Compared with stimulated Raman adiabatic passage, the dressed-state scheme greatly shortens the operation time in a non-adiabatic way. By means of some numerical simulations, we determine the parameters which can guarantee the feasibility and efficiency both in theory and experiment. Besides, numerical simulations also show the scheme is robust against the variations in the parameters, atomic spontaneous emissions and the photon leakages from the cavity. PMID:28397793

  4. Nanosilver–Silica Composite: Prolonged Antibacterial Effects and Bacterial Interaction Mechanisms for Wound Dressings

    PubMed Central

    Ge, Yanling; Palva, Airi; Nordström, Katrina

    2017-01-01

    Infected superficial wounds were traditionally controlled by topical antibiotics until the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Silver (Ag) is a kernel for alternative antibacterial agents to fight this resistance quandary. The present study demonstrates a method for immobilizing small-sized (~5 nm) silver nanoparticles on silica matrix to form a nanosilver–silica (Ag–SiO2) composite and shows the prolonged antibacterial effects of the composite in vitro. The composite exhibited a rapid initial Ag release after 24 h and a slower leaching after 48 and 72 h and was effective against both methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Escherichia coli (E. coli). Ultraviolet (UV)-irradiation was superior to filter-sterilization in retaining the antibacterial effects of the composite, through the higher remaining Ag concentration. A gauze, impregnated with the Ag–SiO2 composite, showed higher antibacterial effects against MRSA and E. coli than a commercial Ag-containing dressing, indicating a potential for the management and infection control of superficial wounds. Transmission and scanning transmission electron microscope analyses of the composite-treated MRSA revealed an interaction of the released silver ions with the bacterial cytoplasmic constituents, causing ultimately the loss of bacterial membranes. The present results indicate that the Ag–SiO2 composite, with prolonged antibacterial effects, is a promising candidate for wound dressing applications. PMID:28878170

  5. Quantitative Analysis of Standardized Dress Code and Minority Academic Achievement

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Proctor, J. R.

    2013-01-01

    This study was designed to investigate if a statistically significant variance exists in African American and Hispanic students' attendance and Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test scores in mathematics before and after the implementation of a standardized dress code. For almost two decades supporters and opponents of public school…

  6. The use of modern dressings in managing split-thickness skin graft donor sites: a single-centre randomised controlled trial.

    PubMed

    Kazanavičius, M; Cepas, A; Kolaityte, V; Simoliuniene, R; Rimdeika, R

    2017-06-02

    To identify the most appropriate, most suitable and most efficient dressing for split-thickness skin graft (STSG) donor sites. Comparing the wound healing rate, pain severity and duration, as well as the dressing change frequency in four randomised patient groups. A single-centre non-blinded randomised controlled trial was carried out during 2010-2014. All patients treated for skin defects/lesions (due to burns, trauma or ulcers) using STSG were included in the study. All patients were randomly allocated in four different donor site treatment groups; polyurethane (PU group, Mepilex); polyurethane with silicone membrane (PUSM group; Mepilex border,); transparent, breathable film (TBF group; Mepitel film) and cotton gauze dressings (CG group) using Excel 2007. We evaluated: wound healing time, pain severity and duration, the frequency of dressing change, donor site re-epithelialisation, donor site complications (signs of inflammation or infection). Patients were assessed on postoperative days: 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18 and 21. After random allocation of study participants the number of patients in each group were: PU group n=25; PUSM group n=24; TBF group n=24; CG group n=25. The groups were homogenous according to gender, age, main pathology, donor site area and wound size. The STSG donor site healing time varied from 9 to 21 days. The mean healing time in the CG group was 14.76 days, whereas in the PU, PUSM, and TBF group it was significantly shorter; 12.25 days, 11.63 days and 10 days, respectively. Patients in the TBF group demonstrated the most rapid healing time with 66.7% of STSG donor sites healed by postoperative day 9. The pain duration interval in modern dressing groups (PU, PUSM and TBF groups) was 0-9 days, whereas it was 6-18 day in the CS group. Pain intensity mean on postoperative day 1 was 2.21 in the PU group; 1.67 in the PUSM group; 1.46 in the TBF group and 3.04 in the CG group. The average pain duration in Group PU, PUSM, and TBF was 4.08 days; 2

  7. Orion EFT-1 Wet Dress Rehearsal

    NASA Image and Video Library

    2014-11-05

    In the Hangar A&E control room, displays are seen during a dress rehearsal for the launch of the United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket for the upcoming Orion Flight Test. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted flight test of Orion is scheduled to launch Dec. 4, 2014 atop a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket, and in 2018 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket.

  8. Off-loading total contact cast in combination with hydrogel and foam dressing for management of diabetic plantar ulcer of the foot.

    PubMed

    Vaseenon, Tanawat; Thitiboonsuwan, Songwut; Cheewawattanachai, Chaiyarit; Pimchoo, Punngam; Phanphaisarn, Areerak

    2014-12-01

    The total contact cast is considered to be an effective method of off-loading a diabetic non-infected pressure ulcer. However complications have been reported in 1 to 15% of cases, e.g. prolonged healing of the ulcer. Debridement with modern dressings has been reported to be effective in promoting wound healing; however there have been few reported studies of the combination of modern dressings with the cast. To evaluate the effectiveness of a combination of treatments on healing rates in diabetic non-infected plantar ulcer of the foot. This retrospective study with prospective data collection was conducted between September 2010 and August 2012. Twenty diabetic patients with plantar neuropathic ulcer were treated using a combination of a contact cast plus hydrogel andfoam dressings. The size and location of the ulcer, ulcer healing, foot deformities and complications were evaluated. Of 21 ulcers, 20 (95.2%) healed completely in a mean time of 30.1 days (range 14 to 70 days). Healing times for forefoot and midfoot ulcers were 22.6 and 26.8 days, respectively, which is significantly shorter than the 51.7 days for heel ulcers. One patient who had an unhealed ulcer developed a severe infection two months after treatment, which necessitated below the knee amputation. There were three cases of recurrence of the ulcers after casting. Off-loading casting combined with modern dressings had a high rate of healing in short-term treatment of diabetic non-infected pressure ulcers. Recurrence of ulcers and new site abrasions were common complications; those complications may have been caused by association with bone deformity or improper footwear.

  9. Clinical effectiveness of a silicone foam dressing for the prevention of heel pressure ulcers in critically ill patients: Border II Trial.

    PubMed

    Santamaria, N; Gerdtz, M; Liu, W; Rakis, S; Sage, S; Ng, A W; Tudor, H; McCann, J; Vassiliou, T; Morrow, F; Smith, K; Knott, J; Liew, D

    2015-08-01

    Critically ill patients are at high risk of developing pressure ulcers (PU), with the sacrum and heels being highly susceptible to pressure injuries. The objective of our study was to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of a new multi-layer, self-adhesive soft silicone foam heel dressing to prevent PU development in trauma and critically ill patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). A cohort of critically ill patients were enrolled at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. Each patient had the multi-layer soft silicone foam dressing applied to each heel on admission to the emergency department. The dressings were retained with a tubular bandage for the duration of the patients' stay in the ICU. The skin under the dressings was examined daily and the dressings were replaced every three days. The comparator for our cohort study was the control group from the recently completed Border Trial. Of the 191 patients in the initial cohort, excluding deaths, loss to follow-up and transfers to another ward, 150 patients were included in the final analysis. There was no difference in key demographic or physiological variables between the cohorts, apart from a longer ICU length of stay for our current cohort. No PUs developed in any of our intervention cohort patients compared with 14 patients in the control cohort (n=152; p<0.001) who developed a total of 19 heel PUs. We conclude, based on our results, that the multi-layer soft silicone foam dressing under investigation was clinically effective in reducing ICU-acquired heel PUs. The findings also support previous research on the clinical effectiveness of multi-layer soft silicone foam dressings for PU prevention in the ICU.

  10. Physico-chemical properties and efficacy of silk fibroin fabric coated with different waxes as wound dressing.

    PubMed

    Kanokpanont, Sorada; Damrongsakkul, Siriporn; Ratanavaraporn, Juthamas; Aramwit, Pornanong

    2013-04-01

    Silk fibroin (SF) has been widely used as a wound dressing material due to its suitable physical and biological characteristics. In this study, a non-adhesive wound dressing which applies to cover the wound surface as an absorbent pad that would absorb wound fluid while accelerate wound healing was developed. The modification of SF fabrics by wax coating was purposed to prepare the non-adhesive wound dressing that is required in order to minimize pain and risk of repeated injury. SF woven fabrics were coated with different types of waxes including shellac wax, beeswax, or carnauba wax. Physical and mechanical properties of the wax-coated SF fabrics were characterized. It was clearly observed that all waxes could be successfully coated on the SF fabrics, possibly due to the hydrophobic interactions between hydrophobic domains of SF and waxes. The wax coating improved tensile modulus and percentage of elongation of the SF fabrics due to the denser structure and the thicker fibers coated. The in vitro degradation study demonstrated that all wax-coated SF fabrics remained up to 90% of their original weights after 7 weeks of incubation in lysozyme solution under physiological conditions. The wax coating did not affect the degradation behavior of the SF fabrics. A peel test of the wax-coated SF fabrics was carried out in the partial- and full-thickness wounds of porcine skin in comparison to that of the commercial wound dressing. Any wax-coated SF fabrics were less adhesive than the control, as confirmed by less number of cells attached and less adhesive force. This might be that the wax-coated SF fabrics showed the hydrophobic property, allowing the loosely adherence to the hydrophilic wound surface. In addition, the in vivo biocompatibility test of the wax-coated SF fabrics was performed in Sprague-Dawley rats with subcutaneous model. The irritation scores indicated that the carnauba wax-coated SF fabric was not irritant while the shellac wax or beeswax-coated SF

  11. Polyurethane Foam Wound Dressing Technique for Areola Skin Graft Stabilization and Nipple Protection After Nipple-Areola Reconstruction.

    PubMed

    Satake, Toshihiko; Muto, Mayu; Nagashima, Yu; Haga, Shoko; Homma, Yuki; Nakasone, Reiko; Kadokura, Marina; Kou, Seiko; Fujimoto, Hiroshi; Maegawa, Jiro

    2018-04-01

    We describe a new wound management technique using a soft dressing material to stabilize the areola skin graft and protect the nipple after nipple-areola reconstruction at the final stage of breast reconstruction. We introduced a center-fenestrated multilayered hydrocellular polyurethane foam dressing material that provides adequate pressure and retains a moist environment for a smooth skin graft "take." Moreover, the reconstructed nipple can be monitored at any time through the fenestrated window for adequate blood circulation. Altogether, this simple and inexpensive wound dressing technique improves the clinical outcome. Level of Evidence IV This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

  12. Polymeric Multilayers that Localize the Release of Chlorhexidine from Biologic Wound Dressings

    PubMed Central

    Agarwal, Ankit; Nelson, Tyler B.; Kierski, Patricia R.; Schurr, Michael J.; Murphy, Christopher J.; Czuprynski, Charles J.; McAnulty, Jonathan F.; Abbott, Nicholas L.

    2012-01-01

    Biologic wound dressings contain animal-derived components and are susceptible to high infection rates. To address this issue, we report an approach that permits incorporation of non-toxic levels of the small-molecule antiseptic ‘chlorhexidine’ into biologic dressings. The approach relies on the fabrication of polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEMs) films containing poly(allylaminehydrochloride) (PAH), poly(acrylicacid) (PAA), and chlorhexidine acetate (CX) on elastomeric poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) sheets. The PEMs (20-100 nm thick) are subsequently stamped onto the wound-contact surface of a synthetic biologic dressing, Biobrane, which contains collagen peptides. Chlorhexidine loading in the PEMs was tailored by tuning the number of (CX/PAA) bilayers deposited, providing burst release of up to 0.98±0.06 μg/cm2 of CX over 24 h, followed by zero order release of 0.35±0.04 μg/cm2/day for another week. Although the CX concentrations released were below the reported in vitro cytotoxicity limit (5 μg/mL over 24 h) for human dermal fibroblasts, they killed 4 log10 counts of pathogenic bacteria Staphylococcus aureus in solution. The CX/PEMs could be stamped onto Biobrane with high efficiency to provide CX release kinetics and in-vitro antibacterial activity similar to that on PDMS stamps. In a full-thickness ‘splinted’ dermal wound-model in normal wild-type mice, the CX-functionalized Biobrane showed no decrease in either its adherence to the wound-bed or wound-closure rate over 14 days. The murine wounds topically inoculated with ~105 CFU/cm2 of S. aureus and treated with CX-functionalized Biobrane demonstrated a 3 log10 decrease in the wound's bacterial burden within 3 days, compared to persistent bacterial colonization found in wounds treated with unmodified Biobrane (n=10 mice, p<0.005). Overall, this study presents a promising approach to prevent bacterial colonization in wounds under biologic dressings. PMID:22784602

  13. Structure/function relations of hemostatic nonwoven dressings based on greige cotton

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    A variety of natural and synthetic fibers are employed in hemostatic dressings. Here we demonstrate the use of greige cotton as a functional fiber, which when combined with hydrophilic and hydrophobic fibers in hydroentangled nonwoven materials, promotes accelerated clotting. A biophysical approach...

  14. Aggregation work at polydisperse micellization: ideal solution and "dressed micelle" models comparing to molecular dynamics simulations.

    PubMed

    Burov, S V; Shchekin, A K

    2010-12-28

    General thermodynamic relations for the work of polydisperse micelle formation in the model of ideal solution of molecular aggregates in nonionic surfactant solution and the model of "dressed micelles" in ionic solution have been considered. In particular, the dependence of the aggregation work on the total concentration of nonionic surfactant has been analyzed. The analogous dependence for the work of formation of ionic aggregates has been examined with regard to existence of two variables of a state of an ionic aggregate, the aggregation numbers of surface active ions and counterions. To verify the thermodynamic models, the molecular dynamics simulations of micellization in nonionic and ionic surfactant solutions at two total surfactant concentrations have been performed. It was shown that for nonionic surfactants, even at relatively high total surfactant concentrations, the shape and behavior of the work of polydisperse micelle formation found within the model of the ideal solution at different total surfactant concentrations agrees fairly well with the numerical experiment. For ionic surfactant solutions, the numerical results indicate a strong screening of ionic aggregates by the bound counterions. This fact as well as independence of the coefficient in the law of mass action for ionic aggregates on total surfactant concentration and predictable behavior of the "waterfall" lines of surfaces of the aggregation work upholds the model of "dressed" ionic aggregates.

  15. Counterconformity: an attribution model of adolescents' uniqueness-seeking behaviors in dressing.

    PubMed

    Ling, I-Ling

    2008-01-01

    This article explores how an attribution model will illustrate uniqueness-seeking behavior in dressing in the Taiwanese adolescent subculture. The study employed 443 senior high school students. Results show that the tendency of uniqueness-seeking behavior in dressing is moderate. However, using cluster analysis to segment the counterconformity behavior of the subjects, the study demonstrates that there are two conspicuous types of segmentation "markets": rubber stamp and self-determined. The attribution models investigate the susceptibilities to informational and normative influence which have different direction impacts and weights on the adolescents' counterconformity behavior. More interestingly, path analyses indicate that consumer self-confidence mediates the relationship between informational influence and counterconformity behavior only on the rubber stamp type. This study then discusses how the adolescent consumers' need for uniqueness could be used in better understanding consumer behavior and the role consumption plays in their expression of identity.

  16. Dressed to Present: Ratings of Classroom Presentations Vary with Attire

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Gurung, Regan A. R.; Kempen, Laura; Klemm, Kayla; Senn, Rebecca; Wysocki, Rosie

    2014-01-01

    This study investigates the effects of formality of dress on ratings of classroom presentations. Participants (N = 65, 66% women) from a Midwestern university in the United States rated three female students giving a presentation designed for a health psychology class in one of four outfits: casual, party, business casual, or business formal.…

  17. Formal or Informal? The Impact of Style of Dress and Forms of Address on Business Students' Perceptions of Professors

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Sebastian, Richard J.; Bristow, Dennis

    2008-01-01

    In this article, the authors examine the effects of style of dress, forms of address, and gender of the stimulus person on business students' perceptions of professors' attributes. Student participants (125 women, 132 men) rated the stimulus person on indexes of attractiveness, trustworthiness, credibility, and likeability. Style of dress and form…

  18. Sowing simulation tests of a pneumatic drill equipped with systems aimed at reducing the emission of abrasion dust from maize dressed seed.

    PubMed

    Biocca, Marcello; Conte, Elisa; Pulcini, Patrizio; Marinelli, Enzo; Pochi, Daniele

    2011-01-01

    The utilization of dressed seed for spring sowing is a widespread practice to control some pests with reduced doses of chemical products. However some insecticides employed in maize seed dressing, namely belonging to the neonicotinoid family and fipronil, have been claimed to play a role in the decline of honeybees (Apis mellifera L.). Pneumatic drills used in maize sowing are charged with contributing to the dispersion of the abrasion dust produced by dressed seeds, favoring the contamination of the honeybee habitat. Different devices similar to air deflectors have been introduced on pneumatic drills in order to reduce dust drift. During previous field tests carried out by the authors during recent years reduction of dust concentration both in the air and at soil surface has been shown as a consequence of their application. As field tests are affected by the variability of environmental parameters (namely wind speed and direction) the results are not always reliable, comparable and of a general validity. This paper refers to a sowing simulation test system in which pneumatic drills can be tested at a fixed point under controlled conditions of the main environmental parameters. In the test area, protected by external influences, artificial wind conditions are created by means of a fan. The drill, suitably placed in the test area, operates the seed distribution "sur place" by means of an electric engine connected to the drill's driving wheel. A 22.5 m long sampling area, leeward with respect to the drill position, has been identified. Along the sampling area a series of Petri dishes has been placed, with the aim of capturing the depositing dust and providing the concentration of the active ingredients (a.i.) at ground level. At the same time, three air samplers with PTFE diskette filters have been used for the detection of the a.i. The test system has been used for the test of a pneumatic drill, equipped with and without air deflectors, using maize seed dressed with

  19. Which are the colors of the dress? Review of an atypical optic illusion.

    PubMed

    González Martín-Moro, J; Prieto Garrido, F; Gómez Sanz, F; Fuentes Vega, I; Castro Rebollo, M; Moreno Martín, P

    2018-04-01

    In 2015 the picture of a dress went viral on social media. A significant proportion of the population saw it as golden and white (G&W), while another significant proportion saw it as blue and black (B&B). The aim of this article is to review the related literature. Bibliographic search conducted in Pubmed and Google. The algorithm used was: (color OR colour) AND (dress OR #thedress). The search was limited to the years 2015-2017. No language restrictions were used. The references of the located articles were used to widen the search. The search algorithm retrieved 23 articles related to the topic. Most of the works have been published in journals in the field of perception. Most works address the topic from the point of view of chromatic constancy. Genetic factors seem to have a low weight in the way the dress is perceived. There are few studies on the potential influence of ocular factors. This illusion has gained little attention in ophthalmology journals. Although colour constancy is certainly involved, there is still no theory available to explain the dichotomous character of this optical illusion. Copyright © 2018 Sociedad Española de Oftalmología. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

  20. The enhanced total body wrap--the new frontier in dressing care for burns.

    PubMed

    Low, O-Wern; Chong, Si Jack; Tan, Bien-Keem

    2013-11-01

    The management of extensive burns with their associated high fluid exudate following burn excision and skin grafting has always posed a challenge in burn wound care. The ideal dressing should protect the wound from physical damage and micro-organisms; be comfortable and durable; allow high humidity at the wound; and be able to allow maximal activity for wound healing without retarding or inhibiting any stage of the process. The dressing technique described in this paper fulfils all the criteria above and at the same time provides an efficient channel to effectively clear the excessive exudate produced while keeping the wounds moist. Advantages conferred include accurate charting of wound exudate; reduced frequency of dressing changes; lower infection rates through prevention of strike-through; and securing and improving the viability of skin grafts. An enhancement to a technique previously described by us through the use of long thin strips of VAC sponges to transmit negative pressure, the enhanced Total Body Wrap aims to provide ideal conditions to promote healing in burns. Using negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT), this technique is simple and straightforward enough to be applied in majority of tertiary centres around the world. Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

  1. The Effect of a Third Generation Hemostatic Dressing in a Subclavian Artery and Vein Transection Porcine Model

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2014-04-01

    The MSD is comprised of a syringe applicator filled with compressed chitosan coated sponges which are delivered into the wound at the site of the...transmitted effectively to the deep subclavian vessels to stop hemorrhage. As a result of their non-compressible nature and paucity of effective field...followed by three minutes of compression to the packed dressing. The mini- sponge dressing (MSD) is a novel product that utilizes compressed, chitosan

  2. Antibacterial anti-oxidant electroactive injectable hydrogel as self-healing wound dressing with hemostasis and adhesiveness for cutaneous wound healing.

    PubMed

    Zhao, Xin; Wu, Hao; Guo, Baolin; Dong, Ruonan; Qiu, Yusheng; Ma, Peter X

    2017-04-01

    Injectable self-healing hydrogel dressing with multifunctional properties including anti-infection, anti-oxidative and conductivity promoting wound healing process will be highly desired in wound healing application and its design is still a challenge. We developed a series of injectable conductive self-healed hydrogels based on quaternized chitosan-g-polyaniline (QCSP) and benzaldehyde group functionalized poly(ethylene glycol)-co-poly(glycerol sebacate) (PEGS-FA) as antibacterial, anti-oxidant and electroactive dressing for cutaneous wound healing. These hydrogels presented good self-healing, electroactivity, free radical scavenging capacity, antibacterial activity, adhesiveness, conductivity, swelling ratio, and biocompatibility. Interestingly, the hydrogel with an optimal crosslinker concentration of 1.5 wt% PEGS-FA showed excellent in vivo blood clotting capacity, and it significantly enhanced in vivo wound healing process in a full-thickness skin defect model than quaternized chitosan/PEGS-FA hydrogel and commercial dressing (Tegaderm™ film) by upregulating the gene expression of growth factors including VEGF, EGF and TGF-β and then promoting granulation tissue thickness and collagen deposition. Taken together, the antibacterial electroactive injectable hydrogel dressing prolonged the lifespan of dressing relying on self-healing ability and significantly promoted the in vivo wound healing process attributed to its multifunctional properties, meaning that they are excellent candidates for full-thickness skin wound healing. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  3. Biodegradable soy wound dressings with controlled release of antibiotics: Results from a guinea pig burn model.

    PubMed

    Egozi, Dana; Baranes-Zeevi, Maya; Ullmann, Yehuda; Gilhar, Amos; Keren, Aviad; Matanes, Elias; Berdicevsky, Israela; Krivoy, Norberto; Zilberman, Meital

    2015-11-01

    There is growing interest in the development of biodegradable materials from renewable biopolymers, such as soy protein, for biomedical applications. Soy protein is a major fraction of natural soybean and has the advantages of being economically competitive, biodegradable and biocompatible. It presents good water resistance as well as storage stability. In the current study, homogenous antibiotic-loaded soy protein films were cast from aqueous solutions. The antibiotic drug gentamicin was incorporated into the films in order to inhibit bacterial growth, and thus prevent or combat infection, upon its controlled release to the surrounding tissue. The current in vivo study of the dressing material in contaminated deep second-degree burn wounds in guinea pigs (n=20) demonstrated its ability to accelerate epithelialization with 71% epithelial coverage compared to an unloaded format of the soy material (62%) and a significant improved epithelial coverage as compared to the conventional dressing material (55%). Our new platform of antibiotic-eluting wound dressings is advantageous over currently used popular dressing materials that provide controlled release of silver ions, due to its gentamicin release profile, which is safer. Another advantage of our novel concept is that it is based on a biodegradable natural polymer and therefore does not require bandage changes and offers a potentially valuable and economic approach for treating burn-related infections. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd and ISBI. All rights reserved.

  4. Wide topical negative pressure wound dressing treatment for patients undergoing abdominal dermolipectomy following massive weight loss.

    PubMed

    Dragu, Adrian; Schnürer, Stefan; Unglaub, Frank; Wolf, Maya B; Beier, Justus P; Kneser, Ulrich; Horch, Raymund E

    2011-11-01

    Postbariatric plastic surgery is considered to be a high-risk procedure, which entails such frequent minor complications as postoperative seroma, bleeding and wound dehiscence. These occur with a high incidence, especially, following postbariatric abdominal dermolipectomy. In order to reduce these complication rates, a new type of dressing with wide abdominal topical negative pressure (TNP) application was applied. We performed abdominal dermolipectomy in 23 obese patients. The average body mass index was 32.8 kg/m(2), and the median age of the patients was 42.9 years. Ten patients received conventional standard dressings (control group I), whereas the other 13 patients received a wide TNP dressing including the ventral and lateral trunk (negative pressure group II). Postoperative exudate volumes were collected, tallied and documented for each group separately until all drains could be removed. The conventionally treated control group (I) showed a significantly higher postoperative secretion volume compared with the negative pressure group (II). In addition, the average time to postoperative final drain removal was significantly lower in the negative pressure group (II) compared with the control group (I). The results indicate that widely applied external TNP wound dressing on the ventral and lateral trunk following postbariatric abdominal dermolipectomy leads to a significant reduction in exudate formation, enables early drain removal and thus, decreases length of hospitalization.

  5. The efficacy of music therapy protocols for decreasing pain, anxiety, and muscle tension levels during burn dressing changes: a prospective randomized crossover trial.

    PubMed

    Tan, Xueli; Yowler, Charles J; Super, Dennis M; Fratianne, Richard B

    2010-01-01

    The purpose of this study was to explore the efficacy of two music therapy protocols on pain, anxiety, and muscle tension levels during dressing changes in burn patients. Twenty-nine inpatients participated in this prospective, crossover randomized controlled trial. On two consecutive days, patients were randomized to receive music therapy services either on the first or second day of the study. On control days, they received no music. On music days, patients practiced music-based imagery (MBI), a form of music-assisted relaxation with patient-specific mental imagery before and after dressing changes. Also, on music days during dressing changes, the patients engaged in music alternate engagement (MAE), which consisted of active participation in music making. The dependent variables were the patients' subjective ratings of their pain and anxiety levels and the research nurse's objective ratings of their muscle tension levels. Two sets of data were collected before, three sets during, and another two sets after dressing changes. The results showed significant decrease in pain levels before (P < .025), during (P < .05), and after (P < .025) dressing changes on days the patients received music therapy in contrast to control days. Music therapy was also associated with a decrease in anxiety and muscle tension levels during the dressing changes (P < .05) followed by a reduction in muscle tension levels after dressing changes (P < .025). Music therapy significantly decreases the acute procedural pain, anxiety, and muscle tension levels associated with daily burn care.

  6. Modelling the cost implications of using carboxymethylcellulose dressing compared with gauze in the management of surgical wounds healing by secondary intention in the US and UK.

    PubMed

    Guest, Julian F; Ruiz, Francis J

    2005-02-01

    To estimate the costs of using carboxymethyl cellulose dressing (CMCD; Aquacel* Hydrofiber) compared to gauze in managing surgical wounds healing by secondary intention in the US and UK. This was a modelling study performed from the perspective of payers (i.e. the hospital and community sector in the US and the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK). Clinical outcomes attributable to managing surgical wounds healing by secondary intention with gauze were obtained from the published literature in the English language. There were no published studies on wounds healing by secondary intention with CMCD. Hence, the analysis conservatively assumed that wound healing rates associated with gauze would be the same for CMCD. These data were combined with resource utilisation estimates derived from a panel of clinicians enabling us to perform decision modelling. The models were used to determine the expected direct healthcare costs eight weeks after the surgical wounds were dressed by CMCD or gauze and left to heal by secondary intention in the US and UK. All wounds are expected to heal within eight weeks, irrespective of dressing. Managing abscesses and other surgical wounds with CMCD instead of gauze in the US is expected to reduce costs by 4% in both wound types (i.e. $247 and $507 respectively) per patient over eight weeks. In the UK, managing abscesses and other surgical wounds with CMCD instead of gauze is expected to reduce costs by 30% (574 pounds) and 12% (581 pounds) respectively per patient over eight weeks. The lower cost of managing CMCD-treated patients is due to decreased nursing costs associated with a lower frequency of CMCD changes compared to gauze dressing changes. Dressing surgical wounds healing by secondary intention with CMCD instead of gauze is expected to lead to a reduction in healthcare costs in both the US and UK. Hence, the purchase price of a dressing is not indicative of the cost effectiveness of a given method of surgical wound care.

  7. Evaluation of sericin/collagen membranes as prospective wound dressing biomaterial.

    PubMed

    Akturk, Omer; Tezcaner, Aysen; Bilgili, Hasan; Deveci, M Salih; Gecit, M Rusen; Keskin, Dilek

    2011-09-01

    Sericin, a silk protein, has high potential for use in biomedical applications. In this study, wound dressing membranes of Sericin (S) and Collagen (C) were prepared by glutaraldehyde cross-linking at S/C; 2:1, 1:1, 1:2, and 0:1 weight ratios. They were stable in water for 4 weeks. However, increasing the proportion of sericin had decreasing effect on the membrane stability. Water swelling property of membranes was enhanced with sericin. The highest water swelling was obtained in 1:1 group (9.06 g/g), but increasing collagen or sericin content in the membranes had a diminishing effect. Highest water vapor transmission rate was obtained with 1:2 group (1013.80 g/m(2)/day). Oxygen permeability results showed that 1:2 (7.67 mg/L) and 2:1 (7.85 mg/L) S/C groups were better than the other groups. While sericin decreased the tensile strength and elongation of membranes, it increased modulus. Sericin also increased brittleness of membranes, but their UTS range (24.93-44.92 MPa) was still suitable for a wound dressing. Membranes were not penetrable to microorganisms. Cytotoxicity studies showed that fibroblasts and keratinocytes attached and gained their characteristic morphologies. They also proliferated on membranes significantly. After 1 week of subcutaneous implantation, a fibrous capsule formed around all membranes with an acute inflammation. Sericin containing membranes showed signs of degradation (at 2nd week), while collagen only membranes remained largely intact. Eventually, sericin containing membranes degraded in 3 weeks with moderate inflammatory response. Overall results suggest that sericin/collagen membranes would be favorable as wound dressing material when sericin ratio is less than or equal to the collagen component. Copyright © 2011 The Society for Biotechnology, Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  8. Personality characteristics and sexual functioning of 188 cross-dressing men.

    PubMed

    Brown, G R; Wise, T N; Costa, P T; Herbst, J H; Fagan, P J; Schmidt, C W

    1996-05-01

    The literature on cross-dressing men has been primarily limited to self-identified patients at psychiatric clinics who are in distress. To understand the personality trait characteristics and sexual functioning of nonpatient cross-dressers, 188 non-treatment-seeking male cross-dressers completed the NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI) and the Derogatis Sexual Functioning Inventory (DSFI). Respondents were classified as transvestites (TV; N = 83), transgenderists (TG; N = 61), or transsexuals (TS; N = 44) based on self-report and the nature of their cross-gender activities (e.g., use of female hormones, desire for sex reassignment, and amount of time spent in female role). These diagnostic groups did not differ on the five broad personality domains of the NEO-PI, but TS men scored higher than TV and TG men on the Aesthetics facet scale of Openness to Experience (O). In terms of the DSFI scales, TS men reported lower sexual drive than TV and TG men, and TS and TG men exhibited greater psychiatric symptoms and feminine gender role, and poorer body image than TV men. Upon exclusion of a group of 49 respondents who previously sought treatment for psychological problems, no significant differences emerged among the three diagnostic groups on the NEO-PI domain and facet scales. Consideration of the DSFI scales showed that TS men experienced less sexual drive, more psychiatric symptoms, and a greater feminine gender role than TV or TG men. This study suggests that cross-dressers not seen for clinical reasons are virtually indistinguishable from non-cross-dressing men using a measure of personality traits, a sexual functioning inventory, and measures of psychological distress. These results emphasize the importance of using clinical significance criteria as required by DSM-IV guidelines before diagnosing men who cross-dress with an axis I disorder.

  9. Hybrid Nanoscale Architecture of Wound Dressing with Super Hydrophilic, Antimicrobial, and Ultralow Fouling Attributes.

    PubMed

    Depan, D; Misra, R D K

    2015-02-01

    Currently available wound dressings to heal thermal and chronic wounds are unable to respond to the challenges of resistance to bacterial infection, protein adsorption, and increased levels of wound exudates. To this end, we have conceived the fabrication of a new and ideal wound dressing with a number of key attributes. They include effective antimicrobial activity in a controlled manner, ultralow fouling property that provides resistance to protein adsorption and bacterial adhesion, maintain a moist but not saturated environment to promote healing, and is non-adherent and effective in the presence of heavy wound exudate. The novel approach to reduce infection and bacterial colonization involves incorporation of a unique silver-clay nanohybrid architecture in zwitterionic polymer, poly(sulfobetaine). The innovative concept of silver-clay hybrid structure enables us to obtain high, sustained, and diffusion-controlled antimicrobial activity of silver eluting polymer. The sustained and diffusion-controlled high antimicrobial efficiency is obtained through a process involving in situ precipitation of silver nanoparticles with large surface area on the surface of clay platelets. Furthermore, the use of recently developed zwitterionic polymer, poly(sulfobetaine) [poly(SB)] for wound dressing, provides antifouling property, which resists protein adsorption.

  10. Biological wound dressings sterilized with gamma radiation: Mexican clinical experience

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Martínez-Pardo, M. E.; Ley-Chávez, E.; Reyes-Frías, M. L.; Rodríguez-Ferreyra, P.; Vázquez-Maya, L.; Salazar, M. A.

    2007-11-01

    Biological wound dressings sterilized with gamma radiation, such as amnion and pig skin, are a reality in Mexico. These tissues are currently processed in the tissue bank and sterilized in the Gamma Industrial Irradiation Plant; both facilities belong to the Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Nucleares (ININ) (National Institute of Nuclear Research). With the strong support of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the bank was established at the ININ and the Mexican Ministry of Health issued its sanitary license on July 7, 1999. The Quality Management System of the bank was certified by ISO 9001:2000 on August 1, 2003; the scope of the system is "Research, Development and Processing of Biological Tissues Sterilized with Gamma Radiation". At present, more than 150 patients from 16 hospitals have been successfully treated with these tissues. This paper presents a brief description of the tissue processing, as well as the present Mexican clinical experience with children and adult patients who underwent medical treatment with radiosterilized amnion and pig skin, used as biological wound dressings on burns and ocular surface disorders.

  11. A neuron-astrocyte transistor-like model for neuromorphic dressed neurons.

    PubMed

    Valenza, G; Pioggia, G; Armato, A; Ferro, M; Scilingo, E P; De Rossi, D

    2011-09-01

    Experimental evidences on the role of the synaptic glia as an active partner together with the bold synapse in neuronal signaling and dynamics of neural tissue strongly suggest to investigate on a more realistic neuron-glia model for better understanding human brain processing. Among the glial cells, the astrocytes play a crucial role in the tripartite synapsis, i.e. the dressed neuron. A well-known two-way astrocyte-neuron interaction can be found in the literature, completely revising the purely supportive role for the glia. The aim of this study is to provide a computationally efficient model for neuron-glia interaction. The neuron-glia interactions were simulated by implementing the Li-Rinzel model for an astrocyte and the Izhikevich model for a neuron. Assuming the dressed neuron dynamics similar to the nonlinear input-output characteristics of a bipolar junction transistor, we derived our computationally efficient model. This model may represent the fundamental computational unit for the development of real-time artificial neuron-glia networks opening new perspectives in pattern recognition systems and in brain neurophysiology. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  12. Silver-Zinc Redox-Coupled Electroceutical Wound Dressing Disrupts Bacterial Biofilm

    PubMed Central

    Roy, Sashwati; Khanna, Savita; Hemann, Craig; Deng, Binbin; Das, Amitava; Zweier, Jay L.; Wozniak, Daniel; Sen, Chandan K.

    2015-01-01

    Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm is commonly associated with chronic wound infection. A FDA approved wireless electroceutical dressing (WED), which in the presence of conductive wound exudate gets activated to generate electric field (0.3–0.9V), was investigated for its anti-biofilm properties. Growth of pathogenic P. aeruginosa strain PAO1 in LB media was markedly arrested in the presence of the WED. Scanning electron microscopy demonstrated that WED markedly disrupted biofilm integrity in a setting where silver dressing was ineffective. Biofilm thickness and number of live bacterial cells were decreased in the presence of WED. Quorum sensing genes lasR and rhlR and activity of electric field sensitive enzyme, glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase was also repressed by WED. This work provides first electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy evidence demonstrating that WED serves as a spontaneous source of reactive oxygen species. Redox-sensitive multidrug efflux systems mexAB and mexEF were repressed by WED. Taken together, these observations provide first evidence supporting the anti-biofilm properties of WED. PMID:25803639

  13. Prospective randomised controlled trial of nanocrystalline silver dressing versus plain gauze as the initial post-debridement management of military wounds on wound microbiology and healing.

    PubMed

    Fries, C A; Ayalew, Y; Penn-Barwell, J G; Porter, K; Jeffery, S L A; Midwinter, M J

    2014-07-01

    Recent conflicts have been characterised by the use of improvised explosive devices causing devastating injuries, including heavily contaminated wounds requiring meticulous surgical debridement. After being rendered surgical clean, these wounds are dressed and the patient transferred back to the UK for on-going treatment. A dressing that would prevent wounds from becoming colonised during transit would be desirable. The aim of this study was to establish whether using nanocrystalline silver dressings, as an adjunct to the initial debridement, would positively affect wound microbiology and wound healing compared to standard plain gauze dressings. Patients were prospectively randomised to receive either silver dressings, in a nanocrystalline preparation (Acticoat™), or standard of care dressings (plain gauze) following their initial debridement in the field hospital. On repatriation to the UK microbiological swabs were taken from the dressing and the wound, and an odour score recorded. Wounds were followed prospectively and time to wound healing was recorded. Additionally, patient demographic data were recorded, as well as the mechanism of injury and Injury Severity Score. 76 patients were recruited to the trial between February 2010 and February 2012. 39 received current dressings and 37 received the trial dressings. Eleven patients were not swabbed. There was no difference (p=0.1384, Fishers) in the primary outcome measure of wound colonisation between the treatment arm (14/33) and the control arm (20/32). Similarly time to wound healing was not statistically different (p=0.5009, Mann-Whitney). Wounds in the control group were scored as being significantly more malodorous (p=0.002, Mann-Whitney) than those in the treatment arm. This is the first randomised controlled trial to report results from an active theatre of war. Performing research under these conditions poses additional challenges to military clinicians. Meticulous debridement of wounds remains the

  14. Toxicity of Aluminum Silicates Used in Hemostatic Dressings Toward Human Umbilical Veins Endothelial Cells, HeLa Cells, and RAW267.4 Mouse Macrophages

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2011-09-01

    ORIGINAL ARTICLE Toxicity of Aluminum Silicates Used in Hemostatic Dressings Toward Human Umbilical Veins Endothelial Cells, HeLa Cells, and RAW267.4...not known. Clay minerals are generally considered nontoxic to humans and have been widely used in cosmetics and as excipient in drugs and foods...Bentonite, which has a long history in pharmaceutical formulations,7 along with kaolin are listed in the US Pharmacopeia.8 The sensitivity of some human

  15. Unveiling the mechanisms of dressed-photon-phonon etching based on hierarchical surface roughness measure

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Naruse, Makoto; Yatsui, Takashi; Nomura, Wataru; Kawazoe, Tadashi; Aida, Masaki; Ohtsu, Motoichi

    2013-02-01

    Dressed-photon-phonon (DPP) etching is a disruptive technology in planarizing material surfaces because it completely eliminates mechanical contact processes. However, adequate metrics for evaluating the surface roughness and the underlying physical mechanisms are still not well understood. Here, we propose a two-dimensional hierarchical surface roughness measure, inspired by the Allan variance, that represents the effectiveness of DPP etching while conserving the original two-dimensional surface topology. Also, we build a simple physical model of DPP etching that agrees well with the experimental observations, which clearly shows the involvement of the intrinsic hierarchical properties of dressed photons, or optical near-fields, in the surface processing.

  16. Superabsorbent polymer-containing wound dressings have a beneficial effect on wound healing by reducing PMN elastase concentration and inhibiting microbial growth.

    PubMed

    Wiegand, C; Abel, M; Ruth, P; Hipler, U C

    2011-11-01

    A comprehensive in vitro approach was used to assess the effects of superabsorbent polymer (SAP) containing wound dressings in treatment of non-healing wounds. A slight negative effect on HaCaT cells was noted in vitro which is most likely due to the Ca(2+) deprivation of the medium by binding to the SAP. It could be shown that SAP wound dressings are able to bind considerable amounts of elastase reducing enzyme activity significantly. Furthermore, SAP's inhibit the formation of free radicals. The SAP-containing wound dressings tested also exhibited a significant to strong antimicrobial activity effectively impeding the growth of gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria as well as yeasts. In conclusion, in vitro data confirm the positive effect of SAP wound dressings observed in vivo and suggest that they should be specifically useful for wound cleansing.

  17. Efficacy and cost-effectiveness of octenidine wound gel in the treatment of chronic venous leg ulcers in comparison to modern wound dressings.

    PubMed

    Hämmerle, Gilbert; Strohal, Robert

    2016-04-01

    The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness of an octenidine-based wound gel in the treatment of chronic venous leg ulcers. For this purpose, 49 wounds were treated with either modern wound-phase-adapted dressings alone (treatment arm 1; n = 17), octenidine wound gel plus modern wound-phase-adapted dressings (treatment arm 2; n = 17) or octenidine wound gel alone (treatment arm 3; n = 15). During the study period of 42 days with dressing changes every 3-5 days, wound healing characteristics and treatment costs of different dressings were analysed. Wound size reduction was significantly better (P = 0·028) in both octenidine wound gel treatment arms compared to modern dressings alone with total reductions of 14·6%, 64·1% and 96·2% in treatment arms 1-3. Early wound healing was merely observed under octenidine wound gel treatment (n = 9), whereby lowest treatment costs were generated by octenidine wound gel alone (€20·34/dressing change). As a result, the octenidine wound gel is cost-effective and well suitable for the treatment of chronic venous leg ulcers, considering both safety and promotion of wound healing. © 2014 The Authors. International Wound Journal © 2014 Medicalhelplines.com Inc and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  18. Angioimmunoblastic T-Cell Lymphoma Mimicking Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS Syndrome)

    PubMed Central

    Mangana, Joanna; Guenova, Emmanuella; Kerl, Katrin; Urosevic-Maiwald, Mirjana; Amann, Valerie C.; Bayard, Cornelia; Dummer, Reinhard; French, Lars E.

    2017-01-01

    Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITCL) is a rare, aggressive lymphoma which derives from follicular helper T cells, commonly affecting the elderly population. It accounts for 2% of all non-Hodgkin lymphomas, with a reported 5-year overall survival rate of less than 30%. Very often, the clinical picture of AITCL encompasses systemic symptoms such as generalized lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, skin rash, anemia, and polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia. Here we report on the case of a female patient who presented with clinical features resembling drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS syndrome) prior to the definitive diagnosis of AITCL. The index of suspicion for cutaneous manifestations of lymphoma, and especially AITCL, must be high, particularly in atypical clinical courses of drug eruptions or if skin lesions relapse and are refractory to standard high-dose systemic corticosteroids. PMID:28611626

  19. Patient controlled sedation using a standard protocol for dressing changes in burns: patients' preference, procedural details and a preliminary safety evaluation.

    PubMed

    Nilsson, Andreas; Steinvall, Ingrid; Bak, Zoltan; Sjöberg, Folke

    2008-11-01

    Patient controlled sedation (PCS) enables patients to titrate doses of drugs by themselves during different procedures involving pain or discomfort. We studied it in a prospective crossover design using a fixed protocol without lockout time to examine it as an alternative method of sedation for changing dressings in burned patients. Eleven patients with >10% total burn surface area (TBSA) had their dressings changed, starting with sedation by an anaesthetist (ACS). The second dressing change was done with PCS (propofol/alfentanil) and the third time the patients had to choose ACS or PCS. During the procedures, data on cardiopulmonary variables, sedation (bispectral index), pain intensity (VAS), procedural details, doses of drugs, and patients' preferences were collected to compare the two sedation techniques. The study data indicated that wound care in burned patients is feasible with a standardized PCS protocol. The patients preferred PCS to ACS on the basis of self-control, and because they had less discomfort during the recovery period. Wound care was also considered adequate by the staff during PCS. No respiratory (respiratory rate/transcutaneous PCO(2)) or cardiovascular (heart rate/blood pressure) adverse events were recorded at any time during any of the PCS procedures. The doses of propofol and alfentanil and BIS index decrease were less during PCS than ACS. Procedural pain was higher during PCS but lower after the procedure. We suggest that PCS using a standard protocol is an interesting alternative to anaesthetist-provided sedation during dressing changes. It seems effective, saves resources, is safe, and at same time is preferred by the patients. The strength of these conclusions is, however, hampered by the small size of this investigation and therefore further studies are warranted.

  20. Measuring children’s distress during burns dressing changes: literature search for measures appropriate for indigenous children in South Africa

    PubMed Central

    Louw, Quinette; Grimmer-Somers, Karen; Schrikk, Angie

    2011-01-01

    Background Virtual reality is consistently reported as effective in reducing pain and anxiety in children during burns dressing changes in recent Western studies. Pain scales are a commonly reported outcome measure. Virtual reality is persuasive for all children in distress during medical procedures, because it is a nonaddictive, novel, and inexpensive form of distraction which can be applied repeatedly with good effect. We intend to use virtual reality in South Africa for the many children hospitalized with severe burns from mechanisms rarely seen in the Western world (paraffin/kerosene stoves exploding, electrical fires, shack/township fires, boiling liquid spills). Many severely burnt children are indigenous South Africans who did not speak English, and whose illiteracy levels, cultures, family dynamics, and experiences of pain potentially invalidate the use of conventional pain scales as outcome measures. The purpose of this study was to identify objective measures with sound psychometric properties and strong clinical utility, to assess distress during burns dressing changes in hospitalized indigenous South African children. Choice of measures was constrained by the burns dressing change environment, the ethics of doing no harm whilst measuring distress in vulnerable children, and of capturing valid measures of distress over the entire burns dressing change procedure. Methods We conducted two targeted systematic reviews of the literature. All major library databases were searched, and measures with strong psychometric properties and sound clinical utility were sought. Results Seven potentially useful measures were identified, ie, child’s and caregivers’ heart rate, which was measured continuously throughout the procedure, observed physical manifestations of distress using different scales (FLACCs [Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability Scale] and/ or Pain Behavior Checklist), time taken, and number of staff required to complete the procedure, and staff