Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of intra-articular vancomycin powder in reducing prosthetic joint infections (PJIs) in primary hip and knee arthroplasty through a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

A research in Pubmed, Embase and Cochrane databases was performed to identify randomized clinical trials comparing intra-articular vancomycin use to conventional antibiotic prophylaxis in total hip or knee arthroplasty patients, assessing postoperative infection rates, adverse drug reactions, and venous thrombotic events. Statistical analysis was performed using R (RStudio 2024.04.2), and heterogeneity was assessed with the I² test.

A total of 1485 patients from five randomized clinical trials were included, with 737 receiving intra-articular vancomycin. The infection rate was 0.54 % in the intervention group and 1.73 % in the control group (RR 0.37; 95 % CI 0.02-8.95; p = 0.369; I² = 49 %), showing no statistically significant difference between the groups. Adverse reactions to the glycopeptide were reported in six cases (0.8 %) in the intervention group compared to four cases (0.5 %) in the control group (RR 1.50; 95 % CI 1.50-150; p = 0.001; I² = 0 %). Regarding thrombotic events, there was one case in 647 patients in the intervention group and three cases in 660 patients in the control group (RR 0.45; 95 % CI 0.03-7.02; p = 0.169; I² = 0 %).

Although no significant difference was found, the intervention group showed a trend toward lower infection rates. Additional RCTs with larger sample sizes are required to confirm these findings.

The prospective registration of the meta-analysis was conducted on PROSPERO in July 2024 with the protocol number 565988.

This scoping review focuses on drug delivery systems based on soft materials designed for the administration of drugs with anti-Trichomonas vaginalis activity. It primarily examines their use in addressing human trichomoniasis, exploring their physicochemical characteristics, in vitro and in vivo evaluation and identifying existing challenges and gaps. Given the economic burden and the One Health approach, formulations developed aiming at treating animal infections - cattle and poultry - were also discussed. The review involved searching electronic databases, such as PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, to find studies published until May 2024; out of the 103 articles retrieved, 18 fulfilled the eligibility criteria. This study investigated soft-nanoparticle formulations, including polymericand lipid-based systems, and their incorporation into suitable formulations for topical application, including hydrogels and polymeric films. Additionally, the discussion covered toxicology and highlighted the knowledge gaps related to the potential use of these formulations in humans. Anti-trichomonas soft nano-based formulations emerge as promising candidates for treating gynecological and animal infections. In conclusion, further preclinical testing is necessary, as none of the formulations have progressed to human clinical trials and have only been evaluated in animal models.

TiNb-based alloys are needed as mech. biocompatible materials, despite having low wear resistance.This topic, not yet well-researched, is being addressed here.Titanium-niobium alloys with 10, 25 and 35 Nb wt% were DC plasma nitrided at temperatures 600-900 °C.Originally, they featured distinct balances of α, β and α" phases.To probe the heating effects on the bulks, the alloys were thermally treated (TT) at the same nitriding temperaturesThey disclose a strong structural and microstructural dependence with the nitriding temperatures and niobium fractions, which intricately rule the mech. properties of both bulks and layer/substrate systems.The nitriding produces ∼1 μm thick nitride layers (TiN, Ti₂N) at top surfaces, with high hardness (H) and elastic modulus (E).Beneath lie β-rich regions, spread over 20-50 μm thick layers, with embedded α_N precipitates whose size vary inversely with the Nb wt% and heating conditions.These layers formation involve a competing effect between N and Nb, which are α and β stabilizers, resp.The nitrided Ti10Nb present the highest variations compared to TT substrates: H ∼ 16 GPa (4.7x) and E ∼ 230 GPa (91 %).The H/E ratio, an indicative of tribol. resistance, increases in all the nitrided surfaces, while it diminishes in the TT bulks.The overall conclusion is that parameters must be carefully chosen for each Ti-Nb compositionHowever, under the requirements of low-modulus bulks and wear protective cases for use in bone prostheses, plasma nitridings must be carried out at temperatures near T_β.The Ti25Nb nitrided at 700 °C meets these criteria best.