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In this study, zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorod arrays as antibiotic agent carriers were grown on polyetheretherketone (PEEK) substrates using a chemical synthesis method. With the concentration of ammonium hydroxide in the precursor solution kept at 4 M, ZnO nanorod arrays with diameters in the range of 100–400 nm and a loading density of 1.7 mg/cm2 were grown onto the PEEK substrates. Their drug release profiles and the antibacterial properties of the antibiotic agent/ZnO/PEEK samples in the buffer solution were investigated. The results showed that the concentrations of antibiotic agents (ampicillin or vancomycin) released from the samples into the buffer solution were higher than the value of minimum inhibitory concentration of 90% for Staphylococcus aureus within the 96 h test. The bioactivities of ampicillin and vancomycin on substrates also showed around 40% and 80% on the Staphylococcus aureus, respectively. In the antibacterial activity test, sample with the suitable loading amount of antibiotic agent had a good inhibitory effect on the growth of Staphylococcus aureus.

Background: Pathology of the long head of the biceps tendon (LHB) is commonly associated with rotator cuff tears (RCTs). Superior labral anterior-posterior (SLAP) lesions can also occur with RCTs. The purpose of this study was to include SLAP lesions as part of LHB pathology in surgical cases of RCT and define the role of SLAP lesions in RCTs. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated clinical data from 176 cases of complete RCT undergoing surgery. During surgery, the LHB was arthroscopically examined. A modified 6-type classification was used to describe the LHB pathology in these cases: tendinitis, subluxation, dislocation, partial tear, complete rupture and SLAP lesions. The relationship of LHB pathology to different characteristics of RCTs was statistically analyzed. Results: Of RCT cases, 33% had Type 1 (tendinitis), 11% had Type 2 (subluxation), 9% had Type 3 (dislocation), 16% had Type 4 (partial tear), 7% had Type 5 (complete rupture) and 6% had Type 6 (SLAP) lesions. The remaining 18% of cases had no obvious LHB pathology. LHB pathology were associated with RCTs of a long duration (> 3 months), large area (> 5 cm 2), and multiple or subscapularis tendon involvement. Seventy four percent of patients with affected shoulders underwent simultaneous surgery for both LHB pathology and RCTs. Conclusion: Most patient with RCTs with chronic, massive, and multiple or subscapularis tendon involvement also had LHB injury. SLAP lesions, which we classified as a subgroup of LHB pathology, should be identified during rotator cuff surgery and treated appropriately.

In this work, silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) were decorated on thiol (–SH) grafted graphene oxide (GO) layers to investigate the antibacterial activities in Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa). The quasi-spherical, nano-sized Ag NPs were attached to the GO surface layers, as confirmed by using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), respectively. The average size of GO-Ag nanocomposites was significantly reduced (327 nm) from those of pristine GO (962 nm) while the average size of loaded Ag NPs was significantly smaller than the Ag NPs without GO. Various concentrations of AgNO3 solutions (0.1, 0.2, and 0.25 M) were loaded into GO nanosheets and resulted in the Ag contents of 31, 43, and 65%, respectively, with 1–2 nm sizes of Ag NPs anchored on the GO layers. These GO-Ag samples have negative surface charges but the GO-Ag 0.2 M sample (43% Ag) demonstrated the highest antibacterial efficiency. At 10 ppm load of GO-Ag suspension, only a GO-Ag 0.2 M sample yielded slight bacterial inhibition (5.79–7.82%). As the GO-Ag content was doubled to 20 ppm, the GO-Ag 0.2 M composite exhibited ~49% inhibition. When the GO-Ag 0.2 M composite level was raised to 100 ppm, almost 100% inhibition efficiencies were found on both Staphylococcus aureus (S.A.) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P.A.), which were significantly higher than using pristine GO (27% and 33% for S.A. and P.A.). The combined effect of GO and Ag nanoparticles demonstrate efficient antibacterial activities.

Mead is a traditional drink obtained from diluted honey with the appropriate yeast inoculations. However, the production of mead is time-consuming, and the process often takes several months to accomplish. During the elaboration of mead, sluggish and stuck fermentations often occur and lead to the production of undesirable flavours. To improve the condition of longan mead production in Taiwan, multiple yeast inoculations with different strains of yeast were examined in this study. The physicochemical properties and mead aroma compounds were measured. Longan mead without multiple inoculations, but with added yeast nutrients, displayed a sharp increase in ethanol content compared with the inoculated groups without yeast nutrients. However, the physicochemical properties of every mead reached almost the same endpoint at the end of the fermentation time (day 22). Moreover, differences among the groups were observed in their aroma compounds. Some aroma compounds, such as 2-methyltetrahydrothiophen-3-one, 1-propanol and 2-methylbutyl acetate, were only found in the double-inoculation groups, whereas other aroma compounds, such as phenethyl acetate and linalool, were only found in the single-yeast inoculation groups. These results demonstrate that multiple inoculations have a positive effect on longan mead fermentation. This technique could assist local producers in elaborating a longan mead of acceptable quality.

In this study, polyetheretherketone (PEEK) materials coated with various ratios of two kinds of antibiotic agents (ampicillin and/or vancomycin salts) were prepared. A modified 3D printer based on fused deposition modeling was employed to prepare PEEK disks. Coating ampicillin and/or vancomycin salts onto the PEEK disks was carried out using the biodegradable poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) polymer as a binder and a control unit for the drug release in the buffer solution. The effects of various rations of ampicillin and/or vancomycin salts in the PLGA polymer on the PEEK substrates, the release profiles of various drugs, and antibacterial activities of the samples were investigated. Temperature of the heated nozzle in a commerical 3D printer was set at 340 °C. After systemic investigations of the qualities of PEEK disks, a diameter of the heated nozzle of 0.6 mm in the 3D printer was employed for the preparation of PEEK disks. Results of drug release profiles from samples into buffer solution show that the antibacterial activities of samples can continue up to 28 days. In the inhibition zone test of samples, the release amounts of antibiotic agents from the PEEK samples can inhibit S. aureus with activity of over 40% in 30 days tests and most of them can have inhibition activities of higher than 60% during the test. These results showed that a simple and low-cost 3D printing method for the preparation of PEEK/antibiotic agents/PLGA samples can have further applications in biomedical-related technology.

BackgroundAtypical subtrochanteric fracture and femoral fracture have been considered to be rare complications related to long-term bisphosphonates use. A reduced bone turnover rate may lead to delayed bone healing. Limited data have revealed that teriparatide treatment may reverse the effect of bisphosphonates and be effective in bone healing.MethodsWe reviewed patients with atypical subtrochanteric and femoral fracture related to bisphosphonates use between January 2008 and December 2014. Thirteen female patients were enrolled. Radiographic findings were compatible with the characteristics of atypical fracture. Surgical intervention was performed for all, and teriparatide use was advised postoperatively. Outcome measures included perioperative results, and clinical and radiographic outcome.ResultsOf the 13 female patients enrolled, 10 had subtrochanteric and 6 had proximal femoral fracture; 3 had bilateral fractures. The mean age of the patients at surgery was 70.15±6.36 years. Most fractures (68.8%) presented prodromal thigh pain. All patients were treated with an intramedullary fixation system without severe complications. The patients were divided into 2 groups based on whether they had received treatment with teriparatide or not. The mean time to bone union was 4.4 months in the teriparatide-treated group, and 6.2 months in the non-teriparatide-treated group (p=0.116). Six patients (75%) in the teriparatide-treated group and 4 (50%) in the non-teriparatide-treated group (p= 0.3) achieved bone union within 6 months. The means of the modified Harris Hip Score and Numerical Rating Scale were significantly better in the teriparatide-treated group at postoperative 6 months. Seven patients had the same ability to walk at the 1-year follow-up as they did before the atypical fracture.ConclusionsTeriparatide treatment in patients with atypical fracture may help in fracture healing, hip function recovery, and pain relief in this reduced bone turnover patient group.

In this study, we developed a surface modification of 3D printing PLA disks. The relative optical density of the S. aureus in the solution can reduce to 40% using the PLA disk directly absorbed with suitable antibiotic agents.