Military medicine
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The purpose of the present study was to create resorbable nanoparticles (NPs) using poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) to develop novel antibacterial therapeutics for the treatment of chronic wound infections that are susceptible to recurrent infections. By first performing a release study, it was possible to predict the behavior of the different PLGA NP formulations and assess the efficacy of the nanocomposite drug delivery system. These PLGA NP formulations consisted of varying ratios of PLGA without polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and PLGA with PVA (PLGA-PVA) (i.e., 25:75[PLGA25], 50:50[PLGA50], and 75:25[PLGA75]). ⋯ The PLGA25:PLGA50 loaded with gentamicin produced a zone of inhibition of 14 mm, which again showed that MRSA was intermediate to this formulation. Overall, these PLGA NP formulations showed the sustained antibacterial potential of a burst release, followed by a sustained release of antibiotics from antibiotics loaded PLGA NPs in a controlled manner. In the future, this can help prevent the emergence of recurrent infections in the treatment of chronic wounds and reduce the number of medical dressing changes.
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Approximately 89% of all service members with amputations do not return to duty. Restoring intuitive neural control with somatosensory sensation is a key to improving the safety and efficacy of prosthetic locomotion. However, natural somatosensory feedback from lower-limb prostheses has not yet been incorporated into any commercial prostheses. ⋯ We developed a neuroprosthesis with intuitive bidirectional control and somatosensation and evoking phase-dependent locomotor reflexes, we aspire to significantly improve the prosthetic rehabilitation and long-term functional outcomes of U.S. amputees. We implanted the skin and bone integrated pylon with peripheral neural interface pylon into the cat distal tibia, electromyographic electrodes into the residual gastrocnemius muscle, and nerve cuff electrodes on the distal tibial and sciatic nerves. Results. The bidirectional neural interface that was developed was integrated into the existing passive Free-Flow Foot and Ankle prosthesis, WillowWood, Mount Sterling, OH. The Free-Flow Foot was chosen because it had the highest Index of Anthropomorphicity among lower-limb prostheses and was the first anthropomorphic prosthesis brought to market. Conclusion. The cats walked on a treadmill with no cutaneous feedback from the foot in the control condition and with their residual distal tibial nerve stimulated during the stance phase of walking.
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In light of the COVID-19 (Coronovirus Disease 2019) pandemic, the use of personal protective equipment has become essential to reduce viral transmission and maintain public health. Viruses, particularly human coronavirus and influenza, pose significant challenges because of their various transmission routes. UMF Corporation's innovation, Micrillon, aims to address these challenges by creating durable, antiviral technology for textiles without harmful chemicals, reducing viral transmission risks. ⋯ The study demonstrates that Micrillon technology effectively inhibits viral activity, particularly in gloves, fabrics, and fibers. The innovation not only shows high antiviral efficacy against both Human Coronavirus and Influenza but also promises a reusable, sustainable solution, mitigating environmental impact and reducing the use of harmful chemicals in personal protective equipment. The technology holds promise for widespread use in health care and hospitality, offering a layer of protection while being environmentally conscious. Further development of such technologies can significantly reduce infection risks while minimizing environmental harm.
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Acute Compartment Syndrome (ACS) is a severe trauma caused by elevated intra-muscle-compartment pressure (ICP). The current standard method for diagnosis is to insert a needle into the muscle sterilely under anesthesia. However, to secure the environment is sometimes not easy and leads to delays in diagnosis. Recently, we have focused on shear wave ultrasound elastography (SWE) as an alternative, which can be done concisely in unclean environment and without anesthesia. We would like to report the usefulness of SWE for ACS diagnosis using 2-pedal walking turkey model recently developed in our lab. ⋯ SWE seems to be a substitute measure of ICP in diagnosing ACS. With regard to our in vivo ACS model using turkey, survival at 50 mmHg ICP for 6 hours and 6 weeks post ACS would be an appropriate situation.
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The initial management of penetrating ocular injuries is a major sight-threatening problem for both civilian and military medicine. A novel device (Eye-Aid) temporarily tamponades leakage from such injuries while being easy to remove upon arrival to specialized ophthalmologic care. Eye-Aid consists of a protective eye shield with an adhesive backing that connects to a portable canister containing rapidly deployable thermoresponsive foam. The aim of this study was to compare the use of the novel Eye-Aid device to control in a new live swine ocular injury model. ⋯ This study describes the first development of an in vivo large animal ocular injury model that realistically approximates the emergent time course and pathophysiology of patients with full-thickness corneal open globe injuries. It also gives the first description of using thermoreversible hydrogel foam for such injuries. Eye-Aid was found to be significantly better than control for treatment of such injuries, based on measurements of both structure and pressure. Assuming that the absence of an ALC-reflex demonstrates complete anterior chamber collapse, the Eye-Aid group demonstrated a 79% eye "save" rate compared to only 14% in the control group, as described earlier. This results in a Number Needed to Treat of 3 for this finding. Eye-Aid additionally demonstrated several characteristics that would be beneficial in a device targeted for emergent deployment by non-ophthalmologists.