[Status of 3D Printing Technology for Preparing Bioceramic Materials]

3D printing technology has great advantages in small batch and personalized customization, so it has attracted much attention in the biomedical field. The consumables available for 3D printing include polymer, metal, ceramic and derived materials. Biomedical ceramics, with high melting point and poor toughness, are the most difficult materials to be used in 3D printing. The progress of 3D printing ceramic preparation process using ceramic powder, ceramic slurry, ceramic wire, ceramic film and other different raw materials as consumables are reviewed, and the surface roughness, size, density and other parameters of ceramics prepared by SLS, 3DP, DIW, IJP, SL, DLP, FDM, LOM and other different processes are compared. The study also summarizes the clinical application status of 3D printed bioceramics in the field of hard tissue repair such as bone tissue engineering scaffolds and dental prostheses. The SL ceramic additive manufacturing technology based on the principle of UV polymerization has better manufacturing precision, forming quality and the ability to prepare large-size parts, and can also endow bioceramics with better biological properties, mechanical properties, antibacterial, tumor treatment and other functions by doping trace nutrients and surface functional modification. Compared with the traditional subtractive manufacturing process, the bioceramics prepared by 3D printing not only have good mechanical properties, but also often have better biocompatibility and osteoconductivity.

Sustainability Considerations for Consumables Used in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories

Introduction

The 6th edition of the Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories includes Appendix L on sustainability that describes a series of considerations for biocontainment facilities. But many biosafety practitioners may not be familiar with sustainability options that are available, feasible, and safe for laboratory settings as training in this realm is not common.

Methods

With a particular focus on consumable products used in containment laboratory operations, a comparative assessment was made regarding sustainability activities employed in the healthcare setting, where significant advances have been achieved.

Results

Table 1 has been created that describes various consumables that result in waste as part of normal laboratory operations, and the biosafety and infection prevention considerations have been highlighted along with options regarding waste elimination or minimization that have been successfully employed.

Conclusion

Even if a containment laboratory has already been designed, constructed, and is in operation, sustainability opportunities exist for the reduction of environmental impacts without compromising safety.

Costing Methods as a Means to Measure the Costs of Pharmacogenomics Testing

Clinical implementation of pharmacogenomics and personalized medicine interventions relies on addressing important financial aspects of the delivery of genetic testing to the patients, be it from public or private providers. Details on how to determine the cost items of the genetic testing are often limited. The goal of this study is to present a costing methodology in order to estimate and measure the costs as far as the technical process of pharmacogenomics testing is concerned. Moreover, an overall cost mindset strategy based on the selective genotyping workflow to guide specialized laboratories of interest effectively is provided. We particularly accounted for the resources consumed within the laboratory premises such as cost of reagents for DNA isolation, cost of consumables, cost of personnel, while costs associated with patient recruitment, blood sample collection and maintenance, administration costs in the hospital, and costs of blood sample shipment were not taken into consideration. Our article presents the first-time detailed information on a costing framework for pharmacogenomic testing that could be employed to laboratories involved in routine clinical implementation of pharmacogenomics.

Incorporating Aesthetic Devices into a Dermatologic Practice

Background: Lasers and energy-based devices allow physicians to provide quality care to patients and achieve optimal clinical results. Objective: We sought to review the benefits and drawbacks of purchasing and leasing energy-based devices and to highlight key factors that are important to consider when incorporating these devices into a practice. Methods: A PubMed search was conducted for articles on purchasing or leasing lasers and energy-based devices in dermatology. Key reports and personal commentaries on incorporating these technologies into practice are summarized in this review. Results: Energy-based devices are clinical and financial investments and can provide outstanding results for patients and result in substantial gratification for a practice. There are a variety of factors to consider when selecting specific lasers and energy-based devices. Conclusions: Capital resources, aesthetic practice values, expertise in using the device, patient demographics, location of the practice, clinic space requirements, and regulations should be considered when buying or leasing a device.

Resale Product and Accessory Opportunities for Audiology Practices

Patients need and/or want access to any number of products, including consumables and durable goods, and accessories as part of their audiology care. Audiologists have an opportunity to offer products and accessories for resale from their clinical office. Several methods for reselling items to established patients including an overview of an ecommerce approach successfully implemented by several individual audiology private practices will be reviewed. Upon completion, readers will be familiar with the general steps for incorporating an e-shop within an existing business Web site. Additionally, insights as to effective tactics for generating e-shop revenue will be shared.

Synthetic Polymer Contamination in Bottled Water

Eleven globally sourced brands of bottled water, purchased in 19 locations in nine different countries, were tested for microplastic contamination using Nile Red tagging. Of the 259 total bottles processed, 93% showed some sign of microplastic contamination. After accounting for possible background (lab) contamination, an average of 10.4 microplastic particles >100 um in size per liter of bottled water processed were found. Fragments were the most common morphology (66%) followed by fibers. Half of these particles were confirmed to be polymeric in nature using FTIR spectroscopy with polypropylene being the most common polymer type (54%), which matches a common plastic used for the manufacture of bottle caps. A small fraction of particles (4%) showed the presence of industrial lubricants. While spectroscopic analysis of particles smaller than 100 um was not possible, the adsorption of the Nile Red dye indicates that these particles are most probably plastic. Including these smaller particles (6.5-100 um), an average of 325 microplastic particles per liter of bottled water was found. Microplastic contamination range of 0 to over 10,000 microplastic particles per liter with 95% of particles being between 6.5 and 100 um in size. Data suggests the contamination is at least partially coming from the packaging and/or the bottling process itself. Given the prevalence of the consumption of bottled water across the globe, the results of this study support the need for further studies on the impacts of micro- and nano- plastics on human health.

Management of leg and pressure ulcer in hospitalized patients: direct costs are lower than expected

BACKGROUND

In Germany, cost calculations on the financial burden of wound treatment are scarce. Studies for attributable costs in hospitalized patients estimate for pressure ulcer additional costs of € 6,135.50 per patient, a calculation based on the assumption that pressure ulcers will lead to prolonged hospitalization averaging 2 months. The scant data available in this field prompted us to conduct a prospective economical study assessing the direct costs of treatment of chronic ulcers in hospitalized patients.

STUDY DESIGN

The study was designed and conducted as an observational, prospective, multi-centre economical study over a period of 8 months in three community hospitals in Germany.

PATIENTS

Direct treatment costs for leg ulcer (n=77) and pressure ulcer (n=35) were determined observing 67 patients (average age: 75±12 years). 109 treatments representing 111 in-ward admissions and 62 outpatient visits were observed. During a total of 3,331 hospitalized and 867 outpatient wound therapies, 4,198 wound dressing changes were documented.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Costs of material were calculated on a per item base. Direct costs of care and treatment, including materials used, surgical interventions, and personnel costs were determined.

RESULTS

An average of € 1,342 per patient (€ 48/d) was spent for treatment of leg ulcer (staff costs € 581, consumables € 458, surgical procedures € 189, and diagnostic procedures € 114). On average, each wound dressing change caused additional costs of € 15. For pressure ulcer, € 991 per patient (€ 52/d) was spent on average (staff costs € 313, consumables € 618, and for surgical procedures € 60). Each wound dressing change resulted in additional costs of € 20 on average.

CONCLUSION

When direct costs of chronic wounds are calculated on a prospective case-by-case basis for a treatment period over 3 months, these costs are lower than estimated to date. While reduction in prevalence of chronic wounds along with optimised patient care will result in substantial cost saving, this saving might be lower than expected. Our results, however, do not serve as basis for making any conclusions on cost-benefit analysis for both, the affected individual, as well as for the society.