Strategies of nanoparticles integration in polymer fibers to achieve antibacterial effect and enhance cell proliferation with collagen production in tissue engineering scaffolds

Current design strategies for biomedical tissue scaffolds are focused on multifunctionality to provide beneficial microenvironments to support tissue growth. We have developed a simple yet effective approach to create core-shell fibers of poly(3-hydroxybuty-rate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV), which are homogenously covered with titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles. Unlike the blend process, co-axial electrospinning enabled the uniform distribution of nanoparticles without the formation of large aggregates. We observed 5 orders of magnitude reduction in Escherichia coli survival after contact with electrospun scaffolds compared to the non-material control. In addition, our hybrid cores-shell structure supported significantly higher osteoblast proliferation after 7 days of cell culture and profound generation of 3D networked collagen fibers after 14 days. The organic-inorganic composite scaffold produced in this study demonstrates a unique combination of antibacterial properties and increased bone regeneration properties. In summary, the multifunctionality of the presented core-shell cPHBV+sTiO2 scaffolds shows great promise for biomedical applications.

Current Demographics and Roles of Florida Community Health Workers: Implications for Future Recruitment and Training

The high prevalence of health disparity diseases (e.g., obesity, Type 2 diabetes) among underserved populations in the United States suggests the need for increased resources to prevent these diseases and to improve health care access and quality in underserved communities. Community health workers are valuable resources and facilitators of health care access and quality treatment. The purpose of the present study is to provide descriptive information about community health workers in Florida and to provide recommendations for improved training and expansion of community health workers' roles in research and intervention. The study participants were 396 adults (85.1% Female, 75.5% Community health workers) who completed the 2015 Florida Community Health Workers Census. Participants were recruited by the Health Council of South Florida through emails and phone calls to members of the Florida Community Health Worker Coalition and various organizations. It was found that several groups disproportionately affected by health disparities were underrepresented among the community health workers who participated in the census and among the communities served by these community health workers. Actions are needed to improve and increase the recruitment and training of community health workers in Florida.

[Dementia in Whipple's disease?: relevance of infectious etiologies]

HISTORY AND CLINICAL FINDINGS

A 69-year old patient who had been treated for joint pain over a long time was admitted because of weight loss and dementia. He was confused and cachectic with edema and skin hyperpigmentation.

INVESTIGATIONS

Laboratory findings indicated chronic infection. Duodenal biopsy revealed Whipple's disease. The PCR of cerebrospinal fluid for Tropheryma whipplei was negative.

TREATMENT AND COURSE

During treatment with ceftriaxon and intravenous fluid therapy the patient's mental state improved. However his motoric state remained insufficient.

CONCLUSION

Whipple's disease should be considered in dementia, even more in previous "rheumatic symptoms", in order to avoid ineffective (immunosuppressive) treatment with unfortunate consequences.

[Cervical arteriovenous malformation of the right vertebral artery]

The authors report on a cervical arteriovenous malformation in the current region of the A. vertebralis dextra. The clinical neurological deficiencies improved after ligature of this artery. Attention is drawn to problems of differential diagnosis and the differentiated application of neuroradiological methods of examination.

[Course and form variations of cyclothymic phases in lithium therapy]

The authors have attempted by means of a statistical survey to quantify changes in the course and, in particular the phase-related and non-phase-related form of cyclothymic phases during long-term lithium treatment.

[The importance of occupational therapy in a social therapeutic program]

The author in his present paper attempts to outline some of the more important aspects of, and theoretical and practical problems associated with, the integration of occupational therapy into a large-scale sociotherapeutic program.