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Bone substitutes are being increasingly used in surgery as over two millions bone grafting procedures are performed worldwide per year. Autografts still represent the gold standard for bone substitution, though the morbidity and the inherent limited availability are the main limitations. Allografts, i.e. banked bone, are osteoconductive and weakly osteoinductive, though there are still concerns about the residual infective risks, costs and donor availability issues. As an alternative, xenograft substitutes are cheap, but their use provided contrasting results, so far. Ceramic-based synthetic bone substitutes are alternatively based on hydroxyapatite (HA) and tricalcium phosphates, and are widely used in the clinical practice. Indeed, despite being completely resorbable and weaker than cortical bone, they have exhaustively proved to be effective. Biomimetic HAs are the evolution of traditional HA and contains ions (carbonates, Si, Sr, Fl, Mg) that mimic natural HA (biomimetic HA). Injectable cements represent another evolution, enabling mininvasive techniques. Bone morphogenetic proteins (namely BMP2 and 7) are the only bone inducing growth factors approved for human use in spine surgery and for the treatment of tibial nonunion. Demineralized bone matrix and platelet rich plasma did not prove to be effective and their use as bone substitutes remains controversial. Experimental cell-based approaches are considered the best suitable emerging strategies in several regenerative medicine application, including bone regeneration. In some cases, cells have been used as bioactive vehicles delivering osteoinductive genes locally to achieve bone regeneration. In particular, mesenchymal stem cells have been widely exploited for this purpose, being multipotent cells capable of efficient osteogenic potential. Here we intend to review and update the alternative available techniques used for bone fusion, along with some hints on the advancements achieved through the experimental research in this field.

Unsweetened almond milk has less than half the calories of skim dairy milk. It has the same consistency of whole milk, and it has more vitamins and minerals than soy milk. If you can handle tree-nuts, then you have no excuse not to use almond milk every day of your life.With so many diets and eating habits out there-- like vegan, gluten-free, and low-carb-- it can be confusing to try keeping up with what kind of food is acceptable for specialty eaters. The beauty of almond milk is that it fits all of those eating habits and so many more.

Artificial oxygen carriers have emerged as potential substitutes for red blood cells in situations of major blood loss, including accidents, surgical procedures, trauma, childbirth, stomach ulcers, hemorrhagic shock, and blood vessel ruptures which can lead to sudden reduction in blood volume. The therapeutic delivery of oxygen utilizing artificial oxygen carriers as red blood cell substitutes presents a promising avenue for treating a spectrum of disease models. Apart from that, the recent advancement of artificial oxygen carriers intended to supplant conventional blood transfusions draws significant attention due to the exigencies of warfare and the ongoing challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there is a pressing need to formulate stable, non-toxic, and immunologically inert oxygen carriers. Even though numerous challenges are encountered in the development of artificial oxygen carriers, their applicability extends to various medical treatments, encompassing elective and cardiovascular surgeries, hemorrhagic shock, decompression illness, acute stroke, myocardial infarction, sickle cell crisis, and proficient addressing conditions such as cerebral hypoxia. Therefore, this paper provides an overview of therapeutic oxygen delivery using assorted types of artificial oxygen carriers, including hemoglobin-based, perfluorocarbon-based, stem cell-derived, and oxygen micro/nanobubbles, in the treatment of diverse disease models. Additionally, it discusses the potential side effects and limitations associated with these interventions, while incorporating completed and ongoing research and recent clinical developments. Finally, the prospective solutions and general demands of the perfect artificial oxygen carriers were anticipated to be a reference for subsequent research endeavors. Graphical Abstract

The aim of this study was to show that 6% hydroxyethyl starch (HES) 130/0.4 achieves a better resuscitation of the microcirculation than normal saline solution (SS), during early goal-directed therapy (EGDT) in septic patients. Patients with severe sepsis were randomized for EGDT with 6% HES 130/0.4 (n = 9) or SS (n = 11). Sublingual microcirculation was evaluated by sidestream dark field imaging 24 hours after the beginning of EGDT. On admission, there were no differences in Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score, mean arterial pressure, lactate, or central venous oxygen saturation. After 24 hours, no difference arose in those parameters. Sublingual capillary density was similar in both groups (21 ± 8 versus 20 ± 3 vessels/mm 2); but capillary microvascular flow index, percent of perfused capillaries, and perfused capillary density were higher in 6% HES 130/0.4 (2.5 ± 0.5 versus 1.6 ± 0.7, 84 ± 15 versus 53 ± 26%, and 19 ± 6 versus 11 ± 5 vessels/mm 2, respectively, P < .005). Fluid resuscitation with 6% HES 130/0.4 may have advantages over SS to improve sublingual microcirculation. A greater number of patients would be necessary to confirm these findings.

This study examines the compliance of the digital marketing strategies used by formula companies and social media influencers in promoting commercial milk formula (CMF) for infants and young children with the International Code of Marketing of Breast‐milk Substitutes (International Code) and the Hong Kong Code of Marketing of Formula Milk and Related Products, and Food Products for Infants & Young Children (HK Code). Content analyses on influencers' posts, websites and social media sites of five major formula companies were conducted to identify the digital marketing strategies used, evidence of product cross‐promotion, and compliance with the International and HK Codes. Statistical analyses were performed to assess the associations between marketing strategies and social media interactions (likes/comments/shares). The findings revealed widespread noncompliance to the two codes by both influencers and formula companies. Of 1036 influencer (n = 493) and formula company (n = 543) materials mentioned products covered by the Codes, all influencer materials and 95% of company materials violated at least two provisions of the Codes. Persistent brand promotion and cross‐promotion strategies were observed in CMF marketing in Hong Kong, with tactics such as parents' sharing, showing images of happy children and families, and celebrity endorsements leading to higher social media interactions. The extensive CMF promotion by influencers and the covert cross‐promotion and brand promotion are of particular concern given the lack of regulation in this area. The study calls for a comprehensive review and introduction of legalisation in Hong Kong to govern CMF marketing, ensuring enforcement as outlined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child. International and Hong Kong Codes that aim to control the marketing and promotion of commercial milk formula were extensively violated by both manufacturers and social media influencers in Hong Kong, highlighting the urgent need for enforceable legislation to protect breastfeeding. Summary Digital marketing of commercial milk formula products in Hong Kong violated both the International and Hong Kong Codes. Almost all materials by influencers and formula companies violated at least two provisions in the codes. The extensive promotion of commercial milk formula products by influencers is of particular concern given the lack of regulation in this area. Covert cross‐promotion and brand promotion of formula milk products was widespread in Hong Kong. A review and legalisation to govern the marketing of commercial milk formula is needed to protect breastfeeding.

\"In Field Roast, Chef Tommy McDonald shares fundamental techniques and tips that will enable you to make your own vegan meats at home--for everyday (sandwiches, burgers, meatloaf) to holiday (stuffed roast, anyone?), as well as recipes for using them in every meal from breakfast through dinner. The 100 recipes are flexible: want to make your own plant-based meats? Great! Want to use Field Roast products instead? That will work too. All you need are grains, veggies, and spices--easy-to-find whole food ingredients for authentic, hearty taste. With basics such as cutlets and sausages, along with dishes like Burnt Ends Biscuit Sandwich, Chicken Fried Field Roast and Waffles, Pastrami on Rye, Tuscan Shepherd's Pie, Curry Katsu, (and even some favorite desserts), Field Roast brings new meaning to plant-based meat\"--Amazon.

Bioactive glasses (BGs) have been a focus of research for over five decades for several biomedical applications. Although their use in bone substitution and bone tissue regeneration has gained important attention, recent developments have also seen the expansion of BG applications to the field of soft tissue engineering. Hard and soft tissue repair therapies can benefit from the biological activity of metallic ions released from BGs. These metallic ions are incorporated in the BG network not only for their biological therapeutic effects but also in many cases for influencing the structure and processability of the glass and to impart extra functional properties. The “classical” elements in silicate BG compositions are silicon (Si), phosphorous (P), calcium (Ca), sodium (Na), and potassium (K). In addition, other well-recognized biologically active ions have been incorporated in BGs to provide osteogenic, angiogenic, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial effects such as zinc (Zn), magnesium (Mg), silver (Ag), strontium (Sr), gallium (Ga), fluorine (F), iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), boron (B), lithium (Li), titanium (Ti), and copper (Cu). More recently, rare earth and other elements considered less common or, some of them, even “exotic” for biomedical applications, have found room as doping elements in BGs to enhance their biological and physical properties. For example, barium (Ba), bismuth (Bi), chlorine (Cl), chromium (Cr), dysprosium (Dy), europium (Eu), gadolinium (Gd), ytterbium (Yb), thulium (Tm), germanium (Ge), gold (Au), holmium (Ho), iodine (I), lanthanum (La), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), niobium (Nb), nitrogen (N), palladium (Pd), rubidium (Rb), samarium (Sm), selenium (Se), tantalum (Ta), tellurium (Te), terbium (Tb), erbium (Er), tin (Sn), tungsten (W), vanadium (V), yttrium (Y) as well as zirconium (Zr) have been included in BGs. These ions have been found to be particularly interesting for enhancing the biological performance of doped BGs in novel compositions for tissue repair (both hard and soft tissue) and for providing, in some cases, extra functionalities to the BG, for example fluorescence, luminescence, radiation shielding, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties. This review summarizes the influence of incorporating such less-common elements in BGs with focus on tissue engineering applications, usually exploiting the bioactivity of the BG in combination with other functional properties imparted by the presence of the added elements.