Abstract Objective A prospective, randomized, two center clinical study was conducted to evaluate the impact on wound healing of Suprathel® in donor sites of split-thickness skin grafts. Suprathel® ...represents an absorbable, synthetic wound dressing with properties of natural epithelium. Methods 22 burn patients who were treated with split-thickness skin grafts, and with a mean age of 39.6 years were included in the study. Donor sites of skin grafts were randomly selected; partly treated with Jelonet® and partly treated with Suprathel® . First gauze change was carried out the fifth day postoperatively followed by regular wound inspection until complete re-epithelization. The study focused on patient pain score, healing time, analysis of wound bed, ease of care, and treatment costs. Results There was no significant difference between the two materials tested regarding healing time and re-epithelization. There was a significantly lower pain score for patients treated with Suprathel® ( p = 0.0002). Suprathel® became transparent when applied and allowed close monitoring of wound healing. In contrast to Jelonet® , Suprathel® showed excellent plasticity with better attachment and adherence to wound surfaces. Throughout the healing process it detached from wounds without damaging the new epithelial surface. In addition, wound areas treated with Suprathel® required less frequent dressing changes. It also demonstrated excellent ease of care. This, altogether with the significant pain reduction, presented a positive feedback by patients and healthcare professionals who both rated Suprathel® as their treatment preference. Though Jelonet® is more cost effective as dressing material, the study revealed an overall reduction in total treatment costs achieved with Suprathel®. Conclusion Suprathel® represents a solid, reliable epidermal skin substitute with impact on wound healing, patient comfort and ease of care. The material effectiveness contributes to the reduction of overall treatment costs.
Sea ice is a dynamic biogeochemical reactor and a double interface actively interacting with both the atmosphere and the ocean. However, proper understanding of its annual impact on exchanges, and ...therefore potentially on the climate, notably suffer from the paucity of autumnal and winter data sets. Here we present the results of physical and biogeochemical investigations on winter Antarctic pack ice in the Weddell Sea (R. V. Polarstern AWECS cruise, June–August 2013) which are compared with those from two similar studies conducted in the area in 1986 and 1992. The winter 2013 was characterized by a warm sea ice cover due to the combined effects of deep snow and frequent warm cyclones events penetrating southward from the open Southern Ocean. These conditions were favorable to high ice permeability and cyclic events of brine movements within the sea ice cover (brine tubes), favoring relatively high chlorophyll‐a (Chl‐a) concentrations. We discuss the timing of this algal activity showing that arguments can be presented in favor of continued activity during the winter due to the specific physical conditions. Large‐scale sea ice model simulations also suggest a context of increasingly deep snow, warm ice, and large brine fractions across the three observational years, despite the fact that the model is forced with a snowfall climatology. This lends support to the claim that more severe Antarctic sea ice conditions, characterized by a longer ice season, thicker, and more concentrated ice are sufficient to increase the snow depth and, somehow counterintuitively, to warm the ice.
Key Points
Winter Weddell Sea pack ice (Antarctica) remains warm and permeable due to large snow depth and frequent occurrence of warm cyclonic events
These conditions trigger brine dynamics and associated sea ice biogeochemical processes
Of the limited number of winter Weddell Sea pack ice studies (3), this one reveals higher snow depth, negative freeboard, and higher Chl‐a
Abstract Autologous split skin grafts are the most reliable method for closing third degree burns. Under this scheme, donor sites as well as second degree burns under conservative treatment, however, ...would benefit from rapid wound closure. For this treatment, biological as well as synthetic materials are available. For the improvement of these materials, primary goals are pain reduction and easy handling in the absence of biological risk. From a synthetic copolymer mainly based on dl -lactic acid a new skin substitute was developed, marketed as Suprathel® . Within the scope of a bicentric study Suprathel® was compared versus paraffin gauze intraindividually applied on split skin donor sites. Wound pain was measured on the Visual Pain Analog Scale over a period of 10 days as the critical criterion. Accordingly Suprathel® versus Omiderm® were compared on second degree burns (degree 2a, partial thickness burns). In both study parts, Suprathel® significantly reduced pain. Its easy handling was superior compared to other materials. The Suprathel® membrane adhered rapidly to the wound thus protecting against infections and promoting wound healing. No allergic reactions were observed. The ability of the material to resorb ensured pain-free removal after complete healing of the wound.
Smelter emissions had a negative effect on the ecophysiology of
Empetrum nigrum (crowberry), a species growing on heavy metal contaminated sites.
Chlorophyll, organic (citric and malic acids) and ...abscisic acid (ABA) contents and stem water potential were measured to indicate possible physiological effects of heavy metal deposition on
Empetrum nigrum L. (crowberry). The leaves and stems of
E. nigrum were collected at distances of 0.5 and 8 km from the Cu–Ni smelter at Harjavalta, south-west Finland. All the investigated parameters were clearly affected by heavy metal emissions. Chlorophyll contents in the leaves and organic acid contents in the leaves and stems were lower close to the emission source. Generally found increase in organic acid contents with increasing Ni concentrations was not found, which might be due to the lower production of organic acids measured by decreased photosynthesis near the smelter. In contrast, ABA contents in stems and leaves in general, were higher in plants growing 0.5 km from the pollution source. Close to the smelter the stem water potential of
E. nigrum was less negative during the day but more negative during the night. These results suggest that smelter emissions have a negative effect on the ecophysiology of
E. nigrum even though it is considered to be a tolerant species to heavy metals.
The main aim of this study was to determine how the application of a mulch cover (a mixture of household biocompost and woodchips) onto heavy metal-polluted forest soil affects (i) long-term survival ...and growth of planted dwarf shrubs and tree seedlings and (ii) natural revegetation. Native woody plants (Pinus sylvestris, Betula pubescens, Empetrum nigrum, and Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) were planted in mulch pockets on mulch-covered and uncovered plots in summer 1996 in a highly polluted Scots pine stand in southwest Finland. Spreading a mulch layer on the soil surface was essential for the recolonization of natural vegetation and increased dwarf shrub survival, partly through protection against drought. Despite initial mortality, transplant establishment was relatively successful during the following 10 yr. Tree species had higher survival rates, but the dwarf shrubs covered a larger area of the soil surface during the experiment. Especially E. nigrum and P. sylvestris proved to be suitable for revegetating heavy metal-polluted and degraded forests. Natural recolonization of pioneer species (e.g., Epilobium angustifolium, Taraxacum coll., and grasses) and tree seedlings (P. sylvestris, Betula sp., and Salix sp.) was strongly enhanced on the mulched plots, whereas there was no natural vegetation on the untreated plots. These results indicate that a heavy metal-polluted site can be ecologically remediated without having to remove the soil. Household compost and woodchips are low-cost mulching materials that are suitable for restoring heavy metal-polluted soil.
Corneal stroma contains an extracellular matrix of orthogonal lamellae formed by parallel and equidistant fibrils with a homogeneous diameter of ∼35 nm. This is indispensable for corneal transparency ...and mechanical functions. However, the mechanisms controlling corneal fibrillogenesis are incompletely understood and the conditions required for lamellar stacking are essentially unknown. Under appropriate conditions, chick embryo corneal fibroblasts can produce an extracellular matrix in vitro resembling primary corneal stroma during embryonic development. Among other requirements, cross-links between fibrillar collagens, introduced by tissue transglutaminase-2, are necessary for the self-assembly of uniform, small diameter fibrils but not their lamellar stacking. By contrast, the subsequent lamellar organization into plywood-like stacks depends on lysyl aldehyde-derived cross-links introduced by lysyl oxidase activity, which, in turn, only weakly influences fibril diameters. These cross-links are introduced at early stages of fibrillogenesis. The enzymes are likely to be important for a correct matrix deposition also during repair of the cornea.
Mechanisms of growth limitation and lamellar stacking of collagen fibrils in cornea remain elusive.
Covalent collagen cross-links are formed by catalysis involving both lysyl oxidases and tissue transglutaminase-2.
Aldehyde-derived and isopeptide cross-linking of collagen determine lamellar stacking and lateral fibril growth, respectively.
Two types of covalent collagen cross-linking are indispensable for correct corneal morphogenesis.
Demonstrations and practical experiments are important constituents of the teaching of surgical principles and techniques to residents in ophthalmology. The objective was to develop an eye-support ...device for experimental and didactic use during vitreoretinal microsurgery in vitro.
Various eye-support devices with different light sources and illumination intensities were designed and tested. The main components of the final prototype are a high-intensity halogen lamp, a flexible light guide, a cylinder with a mirror inside, and a replaceable, transparent eye support with a ring-adapter. Light from the point source is reflected via the light guide into the cylinder and through the eye support transsclerally into the eye.
The device illuminates the retina and the vitreous body sufficiently. It accentuates the transparent appearance of the retina and makes the three-dimensional structure more visible, for example, in case of retinal detachment. Subretinal tissue can be visualized and differentiated more precisely.
The device is useful, in the teaching of residents and in experimental vitreoretinal surgery.
Woodchip bedding for sheep in Northern Norway Hansen, I; Jørgensen, G. H. M; Lind, V ...
Acta agriculturae Scandinavica. Section A, Animal science,
06/2012, Letnik:
62, Številka:
2
Journal Article
Recenzirano
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a woodchip-based deep litter on the health and welfare of sheep. Two different sizes of woodchips (small: 2.5 cm and large: 5.0 cm) were tested ...in combination, both with or without Sphagnum peat. Ten groups of seven adult, pregnant ewes of the Norwegian White breed were randomly allotted to pens containing one of the bedding mixtures. Resting behaviour, animal cleanliness and the temperature development in the bedding were measured over four months. The woodchip size and peat supplement did not affect resting behaviour, although ewes housed on straw bedding were cleaner than those kept on woodchip-based bedding. The fewer the days since the addition of fresh litter substrate, the cleaner the animals. In conclusion, the welfare of sheep was acceptable when housed on woodchip-based bedding, and generally good when housed on straw bedding.
Uptake of Al, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Ca, K, Mg, P, and S in Empetrum nigrum L. ssp. hermaphroditum Hagerup and Vaccinium myrtillus L. from Ni, Cu and SO2 contaminated sites in Sør-Varanger, northern Norway, ...were investigated. The primary objective was to study the effect of airborne heavy metal pollution on foliar element composition of these two dwarf shrubs. Ni distribution and availability in soils clearly indicate atmospheric deposition of Ni particulates in Sør-Varanger. Foliar Ni concentrations in E. hermaphroditum and V. myrtillus increased in relation to plant available Ni in corresponding soils. Leaves of E. hermaphroditum generally contained higher concentrations of Ni than leaves of V. myrtillus. Emissions influenced some features of leaf elemental composition of the two species in very different ways. In leaves of V. myrtillus, S increased in proportion to Ni and Cu, while levels of Mn decreased. In leaves of E. hermaphroditum, Fe increased in proportion to Ni and Cu, while levels of Ca decreased.
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