Search

Hybrid carbon fibers with self-assembled and well-aligned zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoarrays can lead to novel structural materials that enable promising applications in multifunctional composites with beneficial properties including enhanced interlaminar mechanical properties and potential load sensing capabilities. In this paper, atomic layer deposition (ALD) and hydrothermal methods were integrated to synthesize ZnO nanoarrays in the shape of aligned nanowires and nanorods on carbon fiber fabrics. The surface morphology of ZnO nanoarrays were controlled by adjusting the reagent concentrations and hydrothermal reaction time. As-synthesized hybrid fibers were characterized to understand their critical properties including nanostructure morphology, crystal structures, ZnO weight concentration, and contact angle between water and ZnO nanoarrays. The results demonstrated that the ZnO nanostructures and morphology can be controlled and optimized for lightweight composite applications.

Amputations associated with trauma carry significant morbidity in addition to risk of limb loss due to tissue damage, contamination, and risk of infection. The timing of formal amputation closure in this situation varies among surgeons, with some allowing the wound to remain open for some time after debridement, whereas others perform formal amputation and closure at the index operation if debridement is adequate. The presence of infection after closure of an amputation has the potential to result in a higher amputation ( i.e., a below-knee amputation to an above-knee amputation). Our goal was to examine the relationship of timing of closure to stump infection and eventual level of amputation. A review was performed of all patients admitted to a Level I trauma center over a six-year period with amputations during the initial admission after trauma. Amputations of either an arm (above or below the elbow) or a leg (above or below the knee) were included. The number of days between adequate debridement as judged by the operating surgeon and closure of the amputation and whether there was an infection after closure were evaluated. Also investigated was the relationship between infection after closure and a higher level of amputation. Between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2015, 63 patients (ages 15–81 years, mean age 45.1 ± 18.4) underwent an amputation of a leg or an arm. Fifty-four were male, nine were female, the mean injury severity score was 20.9 ± 10.4, and the mean lactate level at admission was 3.4 ± 1.7. Of the 63 patients, 53 patients had an amputation of a leg and 10 had an amputation of an arm. The overall infection rate was 32 per cent, and the mean time until closure was 6.7 ± 11.1 days. Comparing closure times in those with and without infection after closure, the mean intervals were 3.1 ± 9.7 and 8.4 ± 11.4 days, respectively ( P = 0.01). The receiver operating characteristic curve c-statistic was 0.69 ( P = 0.04). Sensitivity of various times to closure for avoiding infection was examined and was optimized at five days with infection rates above five days of 5.3 per cent versus at or below five days to closure of 43.2 per cent ( P = 0.0029). Infection resulted in a higher level of amputation in 40 per cent of those who had an infection. Based on these data, delay in closure of an amputation even after debridement appears adequate was associated with a lower rate of infection and the presence of infection resulted in a higher amputation level in more than a third of studied patients. Delay of formal amputation closure for at least five days after adequate debridement is acheived is associated with a significantly reduced rate of infection.

Background Exercise and heat trigger dehydration and an increase in extracellular fluid osmolality, leading to deficits in exercise performance and thermoregulation. Evidence from previous studies supports the potential for deep-ocean mineral water to improve recovery of exercise performance post-exercise. We therefore wished to determine whether acute rehydration and muscle strength recovery was enhanced by deep-ocean mineral water following a dehydrating exercise, compared to a sports drink or mountain spring water. We hypothesized that muscle strength would decrease as a result of dehydrating exercise, and that recovery of muscle strength and hydration would depend on the type of rehydrating fluid. Methods Using a counterbalanced, crossover study design, female (n = 8) and male (n = 9) participants performed a dehydrating exercise protocol under heat stress until achieving 3% body mass loss. Participants rehydrated with either deep-ocean mineral water (Deep), mountain spring water (Spring), or a carbohydrate-based sports drink (Sports) at a volume equal to the volume of fluid loss. We measured relative hydration using salivary osmolality (Sosm) and muscle strength using peak torque from a leg extension maneuver. Results Sosm significantly increased (p

Since the Transfusion Requirements in Critical Care trial, studies have shown that acutely ill patients can drift as a low as 5 g/dL. This study reviews a transfusion trigger change to 6.5 g/dL, which we hypothesize will conserve resources and improve quality of care. This is a retrospective chart review at an urban Level I trauma center from January through December 2015 after our trauma service changed the transfusion trigger from 7 to 6.5 g/dL. Outcomes in patients before (TT7) and after (TT6.5) the change in transfusion threshold were then compared. One hundred thirty-one discrete patients were included in this trial, with 285 instances of a hemoglobin of 7 g/dL or less and 178 transfusions. Seventy-two patients were before the change in threshold and 59 after. There was no change in length of hospital stay, ICU stay, ventilator days, mortality, and organ system failure after change in the transfusion threshold. After initiation of a more conservative threshold, 72 units of blood were saved. Decreased transfusion threshold was associated with no worse outcomes associated with decreased resource utilization.

Immune tolerance is a highly regulated state and involves diverse mechanisms. Central to the induction of tolerance is the targeted modulation of T-cell activities (both effector and regulatory), in which transcription factors play a significant role. The nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) family is a family of transcription factors that not only are critically involved in diverse T-cell responses but also are regulated by many mechanisms to maintain tolerance and T-cell homeostasis. NF-κB, as a transcription factor, has been extensively studied in recent decades, and the molecular mechanisms that regulate NF-κB activities have been well documented. However, recent studies have revealed exciting new roles for NF-κB; in addition to its transcriptional activity, NF-κB can also activate diverse epigenetic mechanisms that mediate extensive chromatin remodeling of target genes to regulate T-cell activities. In this review article, we highlight recent discoveries and emerging opportunities in targeting NF-κB family members as well as their associated chromatin modifiers in the induction of immune tolerance and in the clinical treatment of immune diseases.

Feline obesity elicits a plethora of metabolic responses leading to comorbidities, with potential reversal during weight loss. The specific metabolic alterations and biomarkers of organ dysfunction are not entirely understood. Untargeted, high-throughput metabolomic technologies may allow the identification of biological components that change with weight status in cats, increasing our understanding of feline metabolism. The objective of this study was to utilize untargeted metabolomic techniques to identify biomarkers and gain mechanistic insight into the serum metabolite changes associated with reduced food intake and weight loss in overweight cats. During a four-wk baseline period, cats were fed to maintain body weight. For 18 wk following baseline, cats were fed to lose weight at a rate of ~1.5% body weight/wk. Blood serum metabolites were measured at wk 0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 16. A total of 535 named metabolites were identified, with up to 269 of them being altered (p- and q- values &lt, 0.05) at any time point. A principal component analysis showed a continual shift in metabolite profile as weight loss progressed, with early changes being distinct from those over the long term. The majority of lipid metabolites decreased with weight loss, however, ketone bodies and small lipid particles increased with weight loss. The majority of carbohydrate metabolites decreased with weight loss. Protein metabolites had a variable result, with some increasing, but others decreasing with weight loss. Metabolic mediators of inflammation, oxidative stress, xenobiotics, and insulin resistance decreased with weight loss. In conclusion, global metabolomics identified biomarkers of reduced food intake and weight loss in cats, including decreased markers of inflammation and/or altered macronutrient metabolism.