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This paper explores the possibility of using biodegradable cross-linked gelatines as antibiotic devices for a long-term elution (80 days). Capillary electrophoresis (CE) has been utilized to evaluate the mass percentage of vancomycin and gelatine contemporary released from differently cross-linked vancomycin loaded gelatine samples in an elution time ranging from 24 to 1920 h. While the solubilization kinetic of gelatine samples differently cross-linked can be very close described by the simplified Higuchi model, the vancomycin release kinetic is contemporary governed by both the Fickian diffusion process trough the gelatine matrix network and the dissolution process of the matrix due to its degradation. Comparing the antibiotic eluting kinetics from gelatine at diverse cross-linking degree we observed that the degradation of the proteic matrix appears to have a minor influence in the drug release control. Vancomycin released from all the gelatine partially cross-linked samples results active against Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus faecalis which represent the most pathogens commonly isolated in orthopaedic infections. Vancomycin overcomes the minimum inhibitory concentration for both the bacteria in the whole range of elution time. Cross-linked gelatine devices appear to represent a useful biodegradable delivery system for local anti-infective therapy in arthoplasty.

The Authors present a paper with a dual goal: in vitro evaluation of the elution of vancomycin and monitoring of its bactericidal action when the antibiotic is used in acrylic cement. Discs of cement with different concentrations of vancomycin alone or combined with meropenem were prepared. To assess the elution of vancomycin the discs were kept in physiological solution and periodically sampled for five weeks. The bactericidal action was assessed by putting the antibiotic discs in contact with colonies of Staphylococcus, Enterococcus, Pseudomonas and Escherichia coli . Two combinations of antibiotic-loaded cement were tested: the first one to act as a spacer and the second to stabilise the revision prosthesis.

We investigated the peroxidation potential of fat emulsions in all-in-one solutions (AIOs). Three 20% emulsions were compared: soybean oil (SO; 60% polyunsaturated fatty acids [PUFAs], α-tocopherol:PUFAs = 0.44), soybean plus medium-chain triacylglycerol (SO-MCT; 31% PUFAs, α-tocopherol:PUFAs = 0.35), and olive oil (OO; 21% PUFAs, α-tocopherol:PUFAs = 1.42). For each emulsion, six AIO solutions were prepared by adding 250 mL of emulsion to a lipid-free solution. Lipid peroxide (LPX) and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations were evaluated in fat emulsions, lipid-free solutions, and AIOs immediately (T0) and 24 h (T24) after lipid addition. Statistical analysis was done with analysis of variance. Fat emulsion LPX in SO-MCT was lower than that in SO ( P = 0.015) and OO ( P = 0.024); LPX in SO was greater than that in OO ( P = 0.013); MDA in SO was greater than that in SO-MCT ( P = 0.001) and OO ( P = 0.013); and MDA in SO-MCT was greater than that in OO ( P = 0.001). In comparison with MDA at AIO-T0, MDA at AIO-T24 increased in SO ( P = 0.005) and SO-MCT ( P < 0.001) and decreased in OO ( P = 0.003); at AIO-T24, LPX was greater in SO, but not significantly. In AIO bags, LPX occurred within 24 h after the addition of the lipid emulsion and seemed to be directly related to the PUFA content and inversely related to the α-tocopherol:PUFA ratio of the emulsion.