Gel-One

Shape memory gels, one of the primary modern smart materials, hold great promise in a myriad of applications spanning from soft robotics to medical devices. Nevertheless, most shape memory gels rely on water, organic solvents, and ionic liquids as dispersion mediums, posing the risks of freezing, dehydration, and toxicity to humans or environment. Herein, we have developed a thermoresponsive shape memory eutectogel by introducing an oleanolic acid-modified polyacrylamide network into a deep eutectic solvent (DES)...

OBJECTIVE: To summarise evidence on the effectiveness of Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) gel and Leucocyte and Platelet Rich Fibrin (L-PRF) gel as agents promoting ulcer healing compared with the standard wound dressing techniques alone. DESIGN: Systematic review. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Individual patient randomised controlled trials on skin ulcers of all types excluding traumatic lesions.Intervention group: treatment with topical application of L-PRF gel or PRP gel to the wound surface...

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is responsible for virtually all cervical cancers in women. HPV infection and persistency may lead to different-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions that can result in high-grade lesions and cancer. The objective was to prospectively evaluate the results of using a Coriolus-versicolor -based vaginal gel (Papilocare® ) on HPV-dependent low-grade cervical lesion repair in a real-life scenario. HPV-positive women ≥ 25 years with ASCUS/LSIL cervical cytology results and concordant colposcopy images were included, receiving the vaginal gel one cannula/day for 21 days (first month) + one cannula/alternate days (five months)...

This study produced two gels: one solely using psyllium fiber (GP) and another combining this fiber with linseed oil (GL+P). Both gels replaced 15% and 30% of the animal fat content of salamis. The objective was to evaluate the impact of this lipid reformulation on the technological, nutritional, oxidative, and sensory properties of the salamis. The lipid reformulation did not alter the evolution of pH and lactic acid bacteria during processing. The addition of GL+P did not interfere with the product's drying process...

Some low-molecular-weight substances are able to self-assemble into fiber-like structures (strings) to form gels. One of the examples of such substances is trifluoroacetylated alpha-aminoalcohols (TFAAAs) able to gelate in many organic solvents. Here we report the formation and describe the properties of a layer of an altered solvent covering the strings' surface. The altered solvent layer has a different refractive index and melts at a temperature about several degrees lower than that of the bulk solvent. Moreover, the bulk solvent's melting temperature was also decreased by values far beyond the one expected according to Raoult's law...

The investigation of the absorption of drug delivery systems, designed for the transport of therapeutic molecules inside the body, could be relatively simplified by the fluorophore association and tracking by means of bio-imaging techniques (i.e., optical in vivo imaging or confocal and multiphoton microscopy). However, when a fluorescence signal comes out from the skin, its specific detection can be problematic. Skin high autofluorescence can hinder the observation of administered exogenous fluorophores conjugated to drug delivery systems, making it more challenging to detect their biodistribution...

The present work was focused on doping of 1% and 5% both of Nd2 O3 and Sm2 O3 in geopolymer gels. One of the main goals was to determine the influence of the behavior of Nd and Sm as dopants and structural nanoparticles changes of the final geopolymer formed. It is shown that the disorder formed by alkali activation of metakaolin can accommodate the rare earth cations Nd3+ and Sm3+ into their aluminosilicate framework structure. The main geopolymerization product identified in gels is Al-rich (Na)-AS-H gel comprising Al and Si in tetrahedral coordination...

The growing interest in the appearance and color of teeth has led to the emergence of a wide range of teeth whitening methods, both in dental offices and in patients' homes. Concerns about the possible side effects or toxic effects of peroxide-based whitening gels leads to the identification of alternative whitening methods, based on natural compounds with mild action on tooth enamel and remineralizing effect. In this context, this study describes the preparation and in vitro analysis of whitening gels based on natural active agents-bromelain, quince and whey-using organic (polyacrylate, polyethylene glycol) and/or inorganic (silicate) excipients...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The purpose of this systematic review is to discuss emerging evidence in the field of viscosupplementation for chronic knee pain secondary to Osteoarthritis (OA). This review focuses on types of viscosupplementation that are clinically available currently, evidence to support their use, contraindications, and adverse events. RECENT FINDINGS: OA, also known as degenerative joint disease, is the most common form of arthritis in the United States, affecting 54...

BACKGROUND: Each year, in high-income countries alone, approximately 100 million people develop scars. Excessive scarring can cause pruritus, pain, contractures, and cosmetic disfigurement, and can dramatically affect people's quality of life, both physically and psychologically. Hypertrophic scars are visible and elevated scars that do not spread into surrounding tissues and that often regress spontaneously. Silicone gel sheeting (SGS) is made from medical-grade silicone reinforced with a silicone membrane backing and is one of the most commonly used treatments for hypertrophic scars...

OBJECTIVE: Case reports of severe acute localized reactions (SALR) following intraarticular (IA) hyaluronic acid (HA) injections for knee osteoarthritis (OA) have been described. We compared surrogate SALR measures between patients using hylan G-F 20 and specific non-hylan G-F 20 HA products. DESIGN: Knee OA patients were identified from the Optum Clinformatics dataset (January 2006 to June 2016), stratified into hylan G-F 20 and non-hylan G-F 20 HA users, matched by single or multiple injection products...

Background : Osteoarthritis is most prevalent in the knee and drives the growing incidence of total knee arthroplasty. There is a need to explore non-surgical treatment options to increase the portfolio of alternatives available. The study aimed to determine the clinical response to an autologous bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) intra-articular injection compared to an active comparator. Methods : The study was a prospective, single-blinded, randomized controlled pilot study...

Organic/inorganic hybrid composite materials with the dispersed phases in sizes down to a few tens of nanometers raised very great interest. In this paper, it is shown that silica/epoxy nanocomposites with a silica content of 6 wt % may be obtained with an " in situ " sol-gel procedure starting from two precursors: tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and 3-aminopropyl-triethoxysilane (APTES). APTES also played the role of a coupling agent. The use of advanced techniques (bright-field high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, HRTEM, and combined small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS/WAXS) performed by means of a multirange device Ganesha 300 XL+) allowed us to evidence a multisheet structure of the nanoparticles instead of the gel one typically obtained through a sol-gel route...

Three phenolic acids, p -coumaric, ferulic and caffeic acid as well as cinnamic acid were added to raw potatoes and sweet potatoes before frying. A distinct mitigation of acrylamide was not detected. Fried samples were analysed for postulated adducts of a direct reaction between acrylamide and these phenolic acids using LC-MS. In a model system with pure compounds (phenylacrylic acid and acrylamide) heated on 10% hydrated silica gel one specific adduct (respective m/z for M ​+ ​H+ ) was formed in each reaction...

Doping tests for the illegal use of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) have been developed. We developed a new Western blotting method to detect and distinguish endogenous erythropoietin (Epo, 35-38 kDa) and exogenous ESAs (epoetin α and β, 38-42 kDa; darbepoetin α, 47-50 kDa; epoetin β pegol, 93-110 kDa). Epo and ESAs are glycoproteins and deglycosylation using peptide-N-glycosidase F shifted all Epo and ESA bands except epoetin β pegol to 22 kDa. We cut the bands of Epo and ESAs from SDS-PAGE gels and analyzed them by Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS)...

Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) is a widely utilized technique for macromolecule and protein analysis. While multiple methods exist to visualize the separated protein bands on gels, one of most popular methods of staining the proteins is with Coomassie dye. A more recent approach is to use Bio-Rad stain-free technology for visualizing protein bands with UV light and achieve similar or greater sensitivity than that of Coomassie dye. Here, we developed a method to further amplify the sensitivity of stain-free gels using carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester (CFSE) staining...

In this study, a new hat-type electroencephalogram (EEG) device with candle-like microneedle electrodes (CMEs), called an EEG-Hat, was designed and fabricated. CMEs are dry EEG electrodes that can measure high-quality EEG signals without skin treatment or conductive gels. One of the challenges in the measurement of high-quality EEG signals is the fixation of electrodes to the skin, i.e., the design of a good EEG headset. The CMEs were able to achieve good contact with the scalp for heads of different sizes and shapes, and the EEG-Hat has a shutter mechanism to separate the hair and ensure good contact between the CMEs and the scalp...

PURPOSE: To critically discuss the randomized clinical trials (RCTs) on glaucoma medical therapy for the management of pediatric glaucoma. METHODS: RCTs on glaucoma drugs carried out on pediatric subjects with ocular hypertension and glaucoma were identified through systematic searches. The methods of the RCTs and the safety and the efficacy of the glaucoma drugs were reviewed and discussed. RESULTS: We included five RCTs. One study compared dorzolamide with 0...

BACKGROUND: Precise insertion of pedicle screws is important to avoid injury to closely adjacent neurovascular structures. The standard method for the insertion of pedicle screws is based on anatomical landmarks (free-hand technique). Head-mounted augmented reality (AR) devices can be used to guide instrumentation and implant placement in spinal surgery. This study evaluates the feasibility and precision of AR technology to improve precision of pedicle screw insertion compared to the current standard technique...

OBJECTIVE: To compare effectiveness and safety of oral misoprostol (50 μg every four hours as needed), low dose vaginal misoprostol (25 to 50 μg every six hours as needed), and our established dinoprostone vaginal gel (one to two mg every six hours as needed) induction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Consenting women with a live term single cephalic fetus for indicated labor induction were randomized (3N = 511). Prior uterine surgery or non-reassuring fetal surveillance were exclusions...