Activity

To synthesize and characterize a novel resin-based dental material containing 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) surface-modified halloysite-clay nanotubes (HNTs) for long-term delivery of guest molecules.

The optimal concentrations of HNT (10, 15, 20 wt.%) and silane (0, 2, 4 vol.%sil) to be incorporated into the resin-based materials were determined (15 wt.%HNT, 4 vol.%sil) after assessment of the mechanical properties (DC%, degree of conversion; FS, flexural strength; FM, flexural modulus; and UTS, ultimate tensile strength). The HNTsil-powder was loaded with chlorhexidine (CHX) to evaluate the effect of the silanization on drug release. Resin-discs were prepared for the following groups RES (resin), HNT (resin+15 wt.%HNT), HNTsil (resin+15 wt.%HNT silanized), HNT-CHX (resin+15 wt.%HNT loaded with chlorhexidine), HNTsil-CHX (resin+15 wt.%HNTsil-CHX), and 0.2 vol.%CHX (resin+0.2 vol.%CHX solution). Specimens were stored in water for 1, 3, 5, 10, and 15 days at 37 °C. Aliquots from each time point and the final 15-day specimens were evaluated for the zone of inhibition (ZOI) against Streptococcus mutans. 2,2,2-Tribromoethanol CHX release was analyzed using spectrophotometry at absorbance of 300 nm. Data were statistically analyzed (α = 0.05).

All materials presented similar DC%. Reduced FS but increased FM was detected for 20 wt.%HNT-4%APTES. Groups with 15 wt.% and 20 wt.%HNT with/without APTES presented higher values of UTS. Agar diffusion data indicates that the HNTsil-CHX had a greater ZOI than all other groups over 15 days. HNTsil-CHX had the highest absorbance for day 1 but presented similar values to other groups every time point after.

Silanization of nanotubes followed by encapsulation of chlorhexidine is a promising technique for long-term delivery of guest molecules.

Silanization of nanotubes followed by encapsulation of chlorhexidine is a promising technique for long-term delivery of guest molecules.

The optimal overall treatment time (OTT) from radical surgery to the end of adjuvant radiation therapy for some squamous cell carcinomas has been found to impact treatment outcomes. This study aims to identify the impact of OTT on overall survival (OS) for women with completely resected, node-positive squamous cell carcinomas of the vulva.

The National Cancer Data Base was queried for women with surgically resected, node-positive vulvar squamous cell carcinomas between 2004 and 2016 who were treated with adjuvant radiation therapy. Kaplan-Meier analysis with log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards tests were utilized for OS calculations.

A total of 1500 women met inclusion criteria. The median OTT was 104days. Shorter OTT was associated with age, facility volume, private insurance, and duration of post-operative hospitalization. Median OS with OTT≤104days was 56.1months vs 45.4months if ≥105days (p=0.015). On multivariable Cox analysis, OTT was independently associated with an increased risk of death of 0.4% per additional day (95%CI 1.001-1.007, p=0.003), as were age at diagnosis (HR 1.031 [95%CI 1.024-1.037], p<0.001), number of nodes positive (HR 1.031 [95%CI 1.024-1.037], p=0.006), the use of concurrent chemotherapy (HR 0.815 [95%CI 0.693-0.960], p=0.014) and increasing pT/pN stage. After propensity adjustment for factors predicting a shorter OTT, OTT continued to be associated with an increased risk of death per additional day (HR 1.004 [95%CI 1.001-1.007], p=0.007).

Overall treatment time is an independent risk factor for death in women being treated with adjuvant radiation therapy following complete resection of node-positive squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva.

Overall treatment time is an independent risk factor for death in women being treated with adjuvant radiation therapy following complete resection of node-positive squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva.SARS-CoV-2 antibody development and immunity will be crucial for the further course of the pandemic. Until now, it has been assumed that patients who are infected with SARS-CoV-2 will develop antibodies as has been the case with other coronaviruses, like MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV. In the present study, we analyzed the development of antibodies in 77 patients with an oncologic diagnosis 26 days after positive RT-qPCR testing for SARS-CoV2. RT-qPCR and anti-SARS-CoV2-antibody methods from BGI (MGIEasy Magnetic Beads Virus DNA/RNA Extraction Kit) and Roche (Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoassay) were used, respectively, according to the manufacturers’ specifications. Surprisingly, antibody development was detected in only 6 of 77 individuals with a confirmed history of COVID-19. Despite multiple testing, the remaining patients did not show measurable antibody concentrations in subsequent tests. These results undermine the previous hypothesis that SARS-CoV2 infections are regularly associated with antibody development and cast doubt on the provided immunity to COVID-19. Understanding the adaptive and humoral response to SARS-CoV2 will play a key role in vaccine development and gaining further knowledge on the pathogenesis.

We aimed to determine if balanced crystalloids compared with saline improve outcomes in critically ill adults admitted with low plasma bicarbonate.

We performed a secondary analysis of the Isotonic Solutions and Major Adverse Renal Events Trial (SMART). We included patients who presented to the Emergency Department with a first measured plasma bicarbonate less than 20mmol/L. Among these patients, we compared the effect of balanced crystalloid versus saline on the primary outcome of major adverse kidney events within 30days (MAKE30), defined as a composite of death, new renal-replacement therapy, or persistent renal dysfunction (final inpatient creatinine ≥200% baseline). Secondary outcomes included 30day in-hospital mortality, receipt of new RRT, persistent renal dysfunction, incident AKI, and vasopressor-free days.

Among the 2029 patients with an initial plasma bicarbonate concentration<20mmol/L, there was no difference in the incidence of MAKE30 between those assigned to balanced crystalloid versus saline (21.8% vs 21.3%; P=0.93). Secondary outcomes were similar between the balanced crystalloid and saline groups.

Among critically ill adults presenting to the Emergency Department, initial plasma bicarbonate concentration does not appear to be a useful marker to guide the selection of balanced crystalloid versus saline.

Among critically ill adults presenting to the Emergency Department, initial plasma bicarbonate concentration does not appear to be a useful marker to guide the selection of balanced crystalloid versus saline.