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Vaginal reconstruction is necessary for various congenital and acquired conditions, including vaginal aplasia, trauma, tumors, and gender incongruency. Current surgical and non-surgical treatments often result in significant complications. Decellularized vaginal matrices (DVMs) from human tissue offer a promising alternative, but require effective sterilization to ensure safety and functionality. This study aimed to develop a sterilization method for decellularized human vaginal wall scaffolds. Based on our previously implemented decellularization technique with minor modifications, we designed and examined three sterilization methods consisting of (i) chemical decellularization, (ii) decellularization with additional peracetic acid/hydrogen peroxide (PAA/H 2 O 2 ); (iii) decellularization with antibiotic and antimycotic (AAE) based treatment. Sterilization efficacy was evaluated through controlled contamination with common vaginal microbes and sterility testing subsequent to each sterilization method. The extracellular matrix (ECM) structure was assessed via histological staining. Decellularization alone reduced some added bacterial contaminants but did not achieve complete sterilization. PAA/H 2 O 2 -sterilization resulted in severe ECM damage, rendering it unsuitable. The AAE-treatment demonstrated effective sterilization without compromising the ECM structure. Combined decellularization and AAE-based treatment forms a viable sterilization method for human vaginal wall tissue, maintaining ECM integrity and achieving effective micro-organism elimination. This method holds potential for clinical application in vaginal transplantation.

One (1P), two (2P), three (3P) or four (4P) pulses of light supplied by a xenon lamp, were applied to young lettuce plants grown in pots. The lamp used in the trial was similar to those used for fruit surface sterilization. Total flavonols were measured in leaves using the Dualex method. In a first trial conducted in greenhouse conditions, 6 days after the pulsed light (PL) treatment, flavonols were increased by 312% and 525% in the 3P and 4P treatments, respectively, in comparison to the those in the untreated control. Changes in the chlorophyll fluorescence parameters suggest that the PL treatment may induce limited and transient damage to the photosynthetic machinery and that the damage increases with the increasing number of pulses. The performance parameters were not significantly affected by PL and recovered fully by 6 days after the treatments. The 1P and the 2P treatments 6 days after the treatment showed a 28.6% and a 32.5% increase, respectively, in net photosynthetic assimilation, when compared to that of the control. However, 8 days after the treatment, there was no longer a difference between the treatments and the control in net photosynthetic assimilation. Eight days after the light treatment, the 3P treatment showed a 38.4% increase in maximal net photosynthetic assimilation over that of the control, which is an indication of positive long-term adaptation of photosynthetic capacity. As a whole, our observations suggest that PL could be used on field or greenhouse crops to increase their phytochemical content. No long-lasting or strong negative effects on photosynthesis were associated with PL within the range of doses we tested; some observations even suggest that certain treatments could result in an additional positive effect. This conclusion is supported by a second trial conducted in phytotrons. More studies are required to better understand the roles of the different wavelengths supplied by PL and their interactions.

Deficiencies in the sterile processing of medical instruments contribute to poor outcomes for patients, such as surgical site infections, longer hospital stays, and deaths. In low resources settings, such as some rural and semi-rural areas and secondary and tertiary cities of developing countries, deficiencies in sterile processing are accentuated due to the lack of access to sterilization equipment, improperly maintained and malfunctioning equipment, lack of power to operate equipment, poor protocols, and inadequate quality control over inventory. Inspired by our sterile processing fieldwork at a district hospital in Sierra Leone in 2013, we built an autonomous, shipping-container-based sterile processing unit to address these deficiencies. The sterile processing unit, dubbed \"the sterile box,\" is a full suite capable of handling instruments from the moment they leave the operating room to the point they are sterile and ready to be reused for the next surgery. The sterile processing unit is self-sufficient in power and water and features an intake for contaminated instruments, decontamination, sterilization via non-electric steam sterilizers, and secure inventory storage. To validate efficacy, we ran tests of decontamination and sterilization performance. Results of 61 trials validate convincingly that our sterile processing unit achieves satisfactory outcomes for decontamination and sterilization and as such holds promise to support healthcare facilities in low resources settings.

Recent studies have shown that plasma can efficiently inactivate microbial pathogens such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses in addition to degrading toxins. Moreover, this technology is effective at inactivating pathogens on the surface of medical and dental devices, as well as agricultural products. The current practical applications of plasma technology range from sterilizing therapeutic medical devices to improving crop yields, as well as the area of food preservation. This review introduces recent advances and future perspectives in plasma technology, especially in applications related to disinfection and sterilization. We also introduce the latest studies, mainly focusing on the potential applications of plasma technology for the inactivation of microorganisms and the degradation of toxins.

The lack of readily available sterilization processes for medicine and dentistry practices in the developing world is a major risk factor for the propagation of disease. Modern medical facilities in the developed world often use autoclave systems to sterilize medical instruments and equipment and process waste that could contain harmful contagions. Here, we show the use of broadband light-absorbing nanoparticles as solar photothermal heaters, which generate high-temperature steam for a standalone, efficient solar autoclave useful for sanitation of instruments or materials in resource-limited, remote locations. Sterilization was verified using a standard Geobacillus stearothermophilus-based biological indicator.

The delivery of sterile products to the sterile field is essential to perioperative practice. The use of protective packaging for sterilized items is crucial to helping ensure that patients receive sterile items for surgical procedures. AORN’s “Recommended practices for selection and use of packaging systems for sterilization” offers guidance to perioperative team members in evaluating, selecting, and using packaging systems that permit sterilization of the contents, prevent contamination of sterilized items until the package is opened for use, protect the items from damage during transport and storage, and permit aseptic delivery of the items to the sterile field.

The study was conducted with the aim of developing an automatic timing reminder device based on embedded systems to manage the cooling period of sterilized items autoclave in the Sterile Processing Department (SPD). The primary objective was to reduce the wet packs incidence rate and potential contamination risks by ensuring that sterilized items are allowed to cool for a minimum of 30 minutes before handling. The device, which utilizes the ATMEGA328 as the central control chip, incorporates a diffuse reflection type photoelectric sensor switch and encompasses modules for storage, power supply, speaker, display screen, real-time clock, and working indicator lights. It was programmed with Arduino 1.8.19 software to initiate timing upon sensor obstruction and emit reminders at predetermined intervals. Installed on a sterilizer cart using plastic cable ties, the device was tested over a 4-week period against a control group that relied on traditional methods for determining cooling time. The study monitored cooling time compliance rate, wet packs incidence rate, the frequency with which SPD technicians touched sterilized items, and technician satisfaction through a self-designed survey. The experimental group, using the timing reminder device, achieved a significantly higher cooling time compliance rate of 92.93% compared to the control group's 72.92%. The wet packs incidence rate in the experimental group was markedly lower at 0.18%, contrasted with the control group's 0.49%. Furthermore, the number of times SPD technicians touched sterilized items in the experimental group was significantly reduced compared to the control group. Additionally, the satisfaction score in the experimental group was notably higher than that of the control group. The automatic timing reminder device, developed based on embedded systems technology, demonstrates good cost-effectiveness and high satisfaction among SPD technicians. It effectively standardizes the management process of autoclave. Therefore, the device holds significant potential for widespread application in other SPDs. Future research will further explore the potential applications of embedded systems in the healthcare field to expand its value in various medical procedures.

Sterilization of a material carries the risk of unwanted changes in physical and chemical structure. The choice of method is a challenge—the process must be efficient, without significantly changing the properties of the material. In the presented studies, we analyzed the effect of selected sterilization/disinfection techniques on the properties of nanofibrous polyurethane biomaterial. Both radiation techniques (UV, gamma, e-beam) and 20 minutes’ contact with 70% EtOH were shown not to achieve 100% sterilization efficiency. The agar diffusion test showed higher sterilization efficiency when using an antimicrobial solution (AMS). At the same time, none of the analyzed techniques significantly altered the morphology and distribution of fiber diameters. EtOH and e-beam sterilization resulted in a significant reduction in material porosity together with an increase in the Young’s modulus. Similarly, AMS sterilization increased the value of Young’s modulus. In most cases, the viability of cells cultured in contact with the sterilized materials was not affected by the sterilization process. Only for UV sterilization, cell viability was significantly lower and reached about 70% of control after 72 h of culture.

Luminal instruments are characterized by their slender internal lumens, which make them particularly challenging to clean and dry. A common drying method used by Sterile Processing Department (SPD) technicians involves blowing high-pressure air into one end of the lumen to expel moisture. However, this process generates a significant amount of aerosols that may contain bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms. These aerosols can increase the microbial load in the SPD environment, leading to secondary contamination of other medical devices and posing health risks to SPD staff. Current methods used in SPD to reduce aerosols, such as gauze pockets and perforated boxes, have shown limited effectiveness. This study designed and fabricated a self-activating air filtration device, which primarily consists of four components: a centrifugal fan, a high-efficiency air filter, an acrylic box, and a diffuse reflective photoelectric switch. The total cost of the device is approximately $25. To verify the functionality of the device, we selected 20 sets of endoscopic instrument packs, 40 suction tubes, and 20 plastic hoses. The device's efficacy in reducing airborne dust particles and biological aerosols was evaluated, and a simple smoke test was conducted to assess its reliability. Compared to results obtained without a HEPA filter, the self-activating air filtration device achieved a substantial reduction in airborne dust particles across various sizes: 79.34% for 0.3μm, 78.66% for 0.5μm, 76.58% for 1.0μm, 76.15% for 2.5μm, 72.55% for 5.0μm, and 75.00% for 10μm particles, with an average reduction of 76.36% (calculated using the median). No bacterial growth was observed on the ten culture plates sampled using the device, whereas five out of the ten culture plates sampled without the HEPA filter exhibited bacterial growth, resulting in a positivity rate of 50%. The differences were statistically significant. Additionally, the smoke test confirmed that the device effectively prevented contaminated air from escaping through the top opening of the acrylic box. The self-activating air filtration device significantly reduces the aerosols generated during the drying of luminal instruments, thereby mitigating the risks that aerosols pose to both the environment and staff health. Its automatic on-off functionality and low cost of use and maintenance make it a valuable solution for aerosol control in SPD and other hospital settings.