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The primary aim of this study was to evaluate mid- to long-term survival of an all-polyethylene pegged glenoid component used in anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA). The secondary aim was to review clinical and radiologic outcomes.A retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected local arthroplasty register of consecutive patients undergoing TSA with an all-polyethylene pegged glenoid between January 2009 and December 2018 was undertaken. In total, 108 TSAs using this implant were performed in our unit in 98 patients (18 men and 80 women), with 10 patients undergoing bilateral TSA. The mean age at the time of the operation was 71.3 years (range, 44-87 years). The mean follow-up period was 5.1 years (range, 2-10.6 years). In addition to survival analysis, clinical evaluation included the postoperative Oxford Shoulder Score, Constant score, and visual analog scale (VAS) pain score, as well as range-of-motion assessment. Radiologic outcomes included an assessment of radiolucency based on the Lazarus grade.Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed a 6-year survival estimate of 94.1% for all-cause revision. Revision was required in 6 patients: 4 for cuff failure and 2 for instability. At follow-up, the mean Oxford Shoulder Score was 38.2 (standard deviation [SD], 12.3); mean Constant score, 59.3 (SD, 17.0); and mean VAS pain score, 1.8 (SD, 2.5). Mean forward elevation at final follow-up was 111⁰ (SD, 26.6⁰); mean abduction, 102⁰ (SD, 34.0⁰). Clinical outcomes were maintained at long-term follow-up (8 years), with the exception of the VAS pain score, which increased by 2.1 points (P = .034). Radiologic assessment revealed that 28 patients had radiolucency consistent with Lazarus grade ≥ 3 with clinical outcomes not being affected.Mid- to long-term follow-up indicates a low revision rate and good clinical survivorship for cemented, all-polyethylene glenoid components. No patients, so far, have undergone revision for glenoid loosening, but radiographic follow-up has shown that 36% of these implants have signs of radiolucency. Further follow-up is required to determine longer-term survivorship.

The limitations of non-biodegradable polymers have paved the way for biodegradable polymers in the pharmaceutical and biomedical sciences over the years. Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), also known as "Smart polymer", is one of the most successfully developed biodegradable polymers due to its favorable properties, such as biodegradability, biocompatibility, controllable drug release profile, and ability to alter surface with targeting agents for diagnosis and treatment. The release behavior of drugs from PLGA delivery devices is influenced by the physicochemical properties of PLGA. In this review, the current state of the art of PLGA, its synthesis, physicochemical properties, and degradation are discussed to enunciate the boundaries of future research in terms of its applicability with the optimized design in today's modern age. The fundamental objective of this review is to highlight the significance of PLGA as a polymer in the field of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, neurological disorders, dentistry, orthopedics, vaccine therapy, theranostics and lastly emerging epidemic diseases like COVID-19. Furthermore, the coverage of recent PLGA-based drug delivery systems including nanosystems, microsystems, scaffolds, hydrogels, etc. has been summarized. Overall, this review aims to disseminate the PLGA-driven revolution of the drug delivery arena in the pharmaceutical and biomedical industry and bridge the lacunae between material research, preclinical experimentation, and clinical reality.

In this work, graphene is initially dispersed in surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfonate (SDBS) in an aqueous solution. Sonication followed by centrifugation is the process used to disperse the graphene in an aqueous solution with the aid of SDBS. The concentration of graphene is determined using UV–Vis-NIR spectroscopy. A higher concentration of graphene is achieved just above the critical micelle concentration of SDBS in an aqueous solution. To further improve the concentration of graphene in an aqueous solution of SDBS, a second surfactant polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) is used. The mixed surfactant strategy has increased the concentration of graphene in an aqueous solution by ∼ 400% as compared to SDBS aided dispersion of graphene in an aqueous solution. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) observations reveal the few-layer dispersion of graphene in an aqueous solution with the aid of mixed surfactants; while SDBS assisted dispersion of graphene in an aqueous solution shows the few layers to 10 s of layers of graphene nanosheets.

Graphene oxide is successfully synthesized using Hummer’s method and Hummer’s method with additional KMnO4. Hummer’s method with additional KMnO4 shows higher oxidation of graphite as compared to Hummer’s method. The reduction of graphene oxide using sodium hydrosulfite shows some of functional group remains on the lattice of graphite as clear from FTIR spectra. Further, acid treatment of graphene is carried using H2SO4 at 90 °C for 90 min, showing removal of functional group of graphene from the surface revealed by XRD and obtaining more pure graphene.

Carbon black (CB) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) reinforced 80/20 (wt/wt) polypropylene (PP)/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) blends and its composites in presence of dual compatibilizer are processed using twin screw extruder followed by injection moulding. The two-step processing is adopted to disperse the MWNTs and CB in 80/20 (wt/wt) PP/ ABS blends in presence of dual compatibilizer. Initially, MWNTs are dispersed with ABS using melt-mixing followed by addition in PP matrix in presence of CB and dual compatibilizer using melt-mixing. A solution experiments is performed to selectively etch the PP and ABS phase respectively show the migration of MWNTs in the PP phase; and CB is localized in the PP phase. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation revel the formation of matrix-droplet morphology for MWNTs and CB in 80/20 (wt/wt) PP/ ABS blends and its composites in presence of dual compatibilizer. The average droplet diameter (Dd) measured using SEM images shows decrease in Dd values with the incorporation of MWNTs and CB in 80/20 (wt/wt) PP/ ABS blends and its composites in presence of dual compatibilizer along with calculated interparticle distance (ID) as compared to pure blend. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) studies shows the percent crystallinity (Xc) and lamellae thickness of MWNTs and CB filled 80/20 (wt/wt) PP/ ABS blends and its composites in presence of dual compatibilizer increases as compared to pure blend. The tensile properties increases significantly for MWNTs and CB filled 80/20 (wt/wt) PP/ABS blends and its hybrid composites in presence of dual compatibilizer due to the refined morphology and increase in crystallinity. In addition, the thermal stability is enhanced significantly for the selectively localized MWNTs and CB in PP phase of 80/20 (wt/wt) PP/ABS blends and its composites in the presence of dual compatibilizer as compared to pure blend established using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The composition of 2.5 wt% of CB filled 80/20 (wt/wt) PP/ABS blends and its composites in presence of dual compatibilizer and MWNTs is the optimized concentration to achieve the highest enhancement in tensile properties, crystallinity, morphology refinement and thermal stability.

Coronavirus disease‐19 (COVID‐19) infection causing severe gastrointestinal complications is rare. A 9‐year‐old child after recovering from mild COVID‐19 infection developed small bowel gangrene due to superior mesenteric artery thrombosis. He required resection of entire necrotic small bowel along with caecum causing ultra‐short bowel syndrome. Reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) done on the resected specimen was positive for COVID‐19. He was maintained on individualized parenteral nutrition for 3 months. A living donor intestinal transplant was performed using 200 cm of ileum donated by the patient's father. The graft function was satisfactory and was not complicated with thrombosis, infection, reactivation of latent COVID‐19 or rejection. He could be weaned off completely from parenteral nutrition by postoperative day 21. The donor had an uneventful recovery. Six month follow‐up was satisfactory with the child achieving complete enteral autonomy as well as target goal nutrition. Thrombotic phenomena associated with COVID‐19 infection can affect larger vessel‐like superior mesenteric artery leading to small bowel gangrene. Intestine transplant could be done safely after 3 months of recovery from COVID‐19 without any adverse outcomes. Further studies are required to establish optimal timing and safety of small bowel transplant in this situation.