Development of nanofibrous scaffolds containing polylactic acid modified with turmeric and hydroxyapatite/vivianite nanoparticles for wound dressing applications

Damaging the outer layer of the body (the skin) has been a common issue for decades. Fabrication of nanofibrous membranes via the electrospinning technique for the sake of making the wound healing process more facile has caught a lot of interest. For this purpose, a polymeric scaffold of polylactic acid (PLA) was doped with nanoparticles with different concentrations of turmeric/hydroxyapatite/vivianite/graphene oxide. The obtained membrane was tested by XRD, SEM, FTIR, and XPS. The surface topography of the scaffold has experienced changes upon adding different concentrations of the nanoparticles. The contact angle was measured by water droplets. It accentuated change in CA starting from 43.9o for pure condition of PLA to 67.7o for PLA/turmeric/vivianite. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) test stated that the PLA scaffold features are thermally stable in relatively high-temperature conditions initiating from room temperature to about 300 °C, meeting the maximum loss in mass of about 5 %. The cell viability was carried out in prepared vitro for the sample which contains PLA/turmeric/vivianite/GO, it was elucidated that the IC50 was around 3060 μg/ml.

[Vitamin D deficiency in recently pregnant women]

We have evaluated the prevalence of the 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25VTD) deficiency in recently pregnant women and new mothers in the area of Liege, Belgium. The study took place in November 2006. Twenty four women who underwent a positive pregnancy test and 65 new mothers were enrolled. The level of 25VTD did not differ between the two groups. Only 12% of the pregnant women and 14% of the new mothers (>12 ng/ml) had an optimal level of 25VTD (>30 ng/ ml). We also observed a severe 25VTD deficiency in 21% of pregnant women and 32% of new mothers. Our results showed that more than 80% of pregnant women and new mothers in the area of Liege presented a deficiency in 25VTD. In Belgium, daily vitamin supplementation of pregnant women is common, but the level of vitamin D3 concentration range from 10 microg (400 UI) to zero microg. In our area, vitamin D production in the skin is not always important enough to achieve optimal levels. Our data show that vitamin D supplementation of pregnant women is not enough and that 25VTD deficiency is not diagnosed in this high-risk population. Children born from deficient mothers will present a higher risk of suffering from bone mineral diseases as well as other pathologies, as type 1 diabetes or neurological disorders. Of course, this insufficiency will also have an impact on mother's bone reserve, but these mothers will also be at higher risk for preeclampsia.

Changes in B-type natriuretic peptide levels in hemodialysis and the effect of depressed left ventricular function

B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a cardiac neurohormone specifically secreted by the cardiac ventricles in response to volume expansion, pressure overload, and resultant increased wall tension. Previous research has shown elevated BNP levels in patients with volume overload caused by end-stage renal disease (ESRD). This pilot study was designed to describe the relative reduction in BNP that occurs as a result of hemodialysis (HD) in relation to baseline left ventricular function. Hemodialysis patients (n = 34) with ESRD were enrolled in a prospective manner. All patients had blinded serum BNP levels measured at the initiation and termination of HD. Levels of BNP were also measured in the dialysate and any residual urine, if available. In addition, monthly urea reduction ratio (URR) and Kt/V were obtained. The most recent measurement of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) by any method was obtained from chart review. The BNP reduction ratio (BNPRR) was calculated by the following expression: pre-BNP-post-BNP/pre-BNP. The mean age was 50.8 years, 50.0% were male, and 55.9% were African American. A mean of 3239.4 mL of fluid was removed during HD. The mean pre-BNP, post-BNP, and change in BNP were 556.3 +/- 451.5 pg/mL, 538.6 +/- 488.3 pg/mL, and -17.6 +/-147.0 pg/mL. Of the 27 patients who had both pre-BNP and post-BNP values in the measurable range (< 1,300 pg/mL), BNP rose in 9 (33.3%) and fell in 18 (66.7%). The BNPRR had the following correlations: volume removed, r = -0.33, P = .07; Kt/V, r = -0.51, P = .01; URR, r = -0.34, P = .09; and change in body weight, r = -0.33, P = .07. The BNPRR was not correlated with time on dialysis or change in blood pressure. A total of 20 patients had LVEF recorded and post-BNP levels in the measurable range. For this group, the BNPRR values stratified by lowest to highest LVEF group were 4.6%, 19.1%, and 21.8%; P = .95 for trend. The BNP values were elevated in ESRD patients and decreased slightly during HD. This change was more pronounced in patients with normal or mildly impaired LVEF. The BNPRR correlated with the volume removed, change in body weight, and Kt/V. Future research with the BNPRR as a potential marker of the adequacy of volume removal in HD is warranted.

[Psychiatric disorders induced by drug dependence other than alcohol]

Most of psychoactive substances abuse or dependence disorders are associated to another psychiatric disorders. Depression, anxiety and psychotic disorders are the more frequent comorbid disorders. Psychiatric comorbidity is induced by acute consumption of psychoactive agents, chronic consumption or withdrawal. Psychiatric disorders are more frequent when patient are assessed immediately after the withdrawal. Main biological factors implicated in the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders associated to dependence disorders are: increase in norepinephrine activity, during withdrawal, activation of locus coeruleus, kinding induced by repeated withdrawals. Psychotic disorders in opiate dependent patients can be induced by withdrawals. These psychotic disorders are more often described after methadone discontinuation. Consumption of cocaine can provocate paranoid delusions. Phenylcyclidine provocates sensorial distortion or delusive disorders resembling schizophrenia. Flash backs, following withdrawal realized brief and transient psychotic disorders. They can occur up to one year after the end of the intoxication. The occurrence of depression in dependent patients is frequent. Depressed patients are at risk for suicide. Retrospective studies showed that near of 40% of the subjects died from suicide have presented alcohol or drug abuse or dependence. Withdrawal from opiates provocates depression. Clinical picture included apathy, blunting of the affects, sadness and loss of interest. Cocaine consumption provocates manic-like disinhibition at the beginning of the intoxication. Long term consumption and withdrawal increase the risk of depression.

[Prospective evaluation of antidepressant discontinuation]

The authors prospectively assessed symptoms induced by the interruption of antidepressants in 16 patients (11 women and 5 men), aged from 33 to 85 years (mean = 52.4 +/- 16.4), treated with antidepressants since at least two weeks. All patients were free of alcohol abuse or dependence disorder and of other dependence to psychoactive substances. None of them presented medical illness. Diagnosis were made by separate evaluations by two authors and confirmed with a semistructered assessment instrument: the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (Lifetime Version). All patients were submitted to a brutal discontinuation of their antidepressant agent. Patients were assessed twice, before the interruption of the antidepressant, and 72 hours later. Effects of antidepressant interruption were assessed by several means. Modification of anxiety and depression were evaluated using the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and the Hamilton Anxiety Scale. Symptoms of withdrawal were assessed with Cassano and al.'s scale SESSH including an evaluation of anxiety, agitation, irritability, anergy, difficulty on concentrating, depersonalization, sleep and appetite disorders, muscle pains, nausea, tremor, sweating, altered taste, hyperosmia, paresthesias, photophobia, motor incoordination, dizziness, hyperacousia pain, delirium. Fourteen of the 16 patients (87.5%) presented modifications of their somatic or psychic state 3 days after the interruption of the antidepressant treatment. Most frequent symptoms were: increase in anxiety (31%), increase in irritability (25%), sleep disorders (19%), decrease of anergia and fatigue (19%). Mean scores of anxiety and depression were not significantly modified by the withdrawal. Following TCAs interruption (7 patients) most frequent symptoms were sleep disorders; increase in anxiety, nausea. Among patients withdrawn from SSRIs (6 patients), most frequent symptoms were increase in anxiety, increase in irritability, headache. Patients also presented a decrease of nausea, and of anorexia.