Functionalized magnetite silica thin films fabricated by MAPLE with antibiofilm properties

We report on the fabrication of magnetite/salicylic acid/silica shell/antibiotics (Fe(3)O(4)/SA/SiO(2)/ATB) thin films by matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE) to inert substrates. Fe(3)O(4)-based powder have been synthesized and investigated by XRD and TEM. All thin films were studied by FTIR, SEM and in vitro biological assays using Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa reference strains, as well as eukaryotic HEp-2 cells. The influence of the obtained nanosystems on the microbial biofilm development as well as their biocompatibility has been assessed. For optimum deposition conditions, we obtained uniform adherent films with the composition identical with the raw materials. Fe(3)O(4)/SA/SiO(2)/ATB thin films had an inhibitory activity on the ability of microbial strains to initiate and develop mature biofilms, in a strain- and antibiotic-dependent manner. These magnetite silica thin films are promising candidates for the development of novel materials designed for the inhibition of medical biofilms formed by different pathogenic agents on common substrates, frequently implicated in the etiology of chronic and hard to treat infections.

Diagnosis and treatment of atraumatic vascular insufficiency of the upper extremity: female smoker's syndrome

A retrospective analysis of 30 angiograms in 29 patients performed at Doctor's Hospital since June of 1989 was carried out. Of these, 15 patients with 16 involved extremities presented with no antecedent trauma and significant symptoms of arterial insufficiency with impending digital necrosis. Eleven were female and four were male. Underlying medical problems included renal failure in four, diabetes in two, scleroderma in two and vasculitis in one. A unique group of six patients had no prior underlying medical problems. All six patients were female and all were smokers. A surprisingly high incidence of major arterial occlusion was noted. The radiographic features appeared distinct from the common causes of vascular insufficiency in the hand, that is, Raynaud's, thromboangiitis obliterans (Buerger's disease), and ulnar artery thrombosis from repetitive microtrauma (hypothenar hammer syndrome). This review is intended to discuss the evaluation and management of this group of patients.