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International Wound Journal Aug 2023The aim of this study was to summarise the best evidence for the prevention and control of pressure ulcer at the support surface based on the site and stage of the...
The aim of this study was to summarise the best evidence for the prevention and control of pressure ulcer at the support surface based on the site and stage of the pressure ulcer in order to reduce the incidence of pressure ulcer and improve the quality of care. In accordance with the top-down principle of the 6 S model of evidence-based resources, evidence from domestic and international databases and websites on the prevention and control of pressure ulcer on support surfaces, including randomised controlled trials, systematic reviews, evidence-based guidelines, and evidence summaries, was systematically searched for the period from January 2000 to July 2022. Evidence grading based on the Joanna Briggs Institute Evidence-Based Health Care Centre Evidence Pre-grading System (2014 version), Australia. The outcomes mainly embraced 12 papers, including three randomised controlled trials, three systematic reviews, three evidence-based guidelines, and three evidence summaries. The best evidence summarised included a total of 19 recommendations in three areas: type of support surface selection assessment, use of support surfaces, and team management and quality control.
Topics: Humans; Pressure Ulcer; Beds; Incidence; Australia; Quality Control
PubMed: 36891753
DOI: 10.1111/iwj.14109 -
ACS Nano Jun 2023Through the magic of "active matter"─matter that converts chemical energy into mechanical work to drive emergent properties─biology solves a myriad of seemingly... (Review)
Review
Through the magic of "active matter"─matter that converts chemical energy into mechanical work to drive emergent properties─biology solves a myriad of seemingly enormous physical challenges. Using active matter surfaces, for example, our lungs clear an astronomically large number of particulate contaminants that accompany each of the 10,000 L of air we respire per day, thus ensuring that the lungs' gas exchange surfaces remain functional. In this Perspective, we describe our efforts to engineer artificial active surfaces that mimic active matter surfaces in biology. Specifically, we seek to assemble the basic active matter components─mechanical motor, driven constituent, and energy source─to design surfaces that support the continuous operation of molecular sensing, recognition, and exchange. The successful realization of this technology would generate multifunctional, "living" surfaces that combine the dynamic programmability of active matter and the molecular specificity of biological surfaces and apply them to applications in biosensors, chemical diagnostics, and other surface transport and catalytic processes. We describe our recent efforts in bio-enabled engineering of living surfaces through the design of molecular probes to understand and integrate native biological membranes into synthetic materials.
Topics: Bioengineering; Cell Membrane; Engineering; Biosensing Techniques
PubMed: 37294942
DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c03138 -
Quantitative Plant Biology 2023In 1997, Barthlott and Neinhuis published a groundbreaking article entitled "Purity of the sacred lotus, or escape from contamination in biological surfaces" that caused...
In 1997, Barthlott and Neinhuis published a groundbreaking article entitled "Purity of the sacred lotus, or escape from contamination in biological surfaces" that caused a true paradigm shift in surface science. In this article, they explained the water-repellent and self-cleaning properties of plants, attributing the superhydrophobicity to nano- and micrometric wax textures on the surface of the leaves. This became known as the "Lotus Effect". In the late 1980s, Barthlott already demonstrated the microtexture of plant surfaces and its effect on wetting. However, this knowledge remained confined to botany until the 1997 article popularized it. The dissemination of this knowledge to the materials science community led to the development of countless synthetic superhydrophobic surfaces and a better understanding of wetting mechanisms. The story of this discovery and its consequences demonstrates the relevance of atypical approaches and emphasizes the urgency of respecting biodiversity.
PubMed: 38156077
DOI: 10.1017/qpb.2023.15 -
Colloids and Surfaces. B, Biointerfaces Nov 2023The spread of bacteria through contaminated surfaces is a major issue in healthcare, food industry, and other economic sectors. The widespread use of antibiotics is not... (Review)
Review
The spread of bacteria through contaminated surfaces is a major issue in healthcare, food industry, and other economic sectors. The widespread use of antibiotics is not a sustainable solution in the long term due to the development of antibiotic resistance. Therefore, surfaces with antibacterial properties have the potential to be a disruptive approach to combat microbial contamination. Different methods and approaches have been studied to impart or enhance antibacterial properties on surfaces. The surface roughness and texture are inherent parameters that significantly impact the antibacterial properties of a surface. They are also directly related to the previously employed machining and treatment methods. This review article discusses the correlation between surface roughness and antibacterial properties is presented and discussed. It begins with an introduction to the concepts of surface roughness and texture, followed by a description of the most commonly utilized machining methods and surface. A thorough analysis of bacterial adhesion and growth is then presented. Finally, the most recent studies in this research area are comprehensively reviewed. The studies are sorted and classified based on the utilized machining and treatment methods, which are divided into mechanical processes, surface treatments and coatings. Through the systematic review and record of the recent advances, the authors aim to assist and promote further research in this very promising and extremely important direction, by providing a systematic review of recent advances.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacteria; Bacterial Adhesion; Surface Properties
PubMed: 37837687
DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2023.113584