Search

Sutures provide mechanical support for wound closure after various traumas and surgical operations. Absorbable sutures are increasingly favored as they eliminate the need for secondary procedures and minimize additional damage to the wound site. In this study, chitosan sutures were produced using the dry jet-wet spinning method, achieving number 7-0 sutures (approximately 76 μm diameter) with a homogeneous surface. FTIR analysis demonstrated molecular interactions between chitosan and TiO 2 or curcumin, confirming successful incorporation. The addition of 3% TiO 2 increased the tensile strength of chitosan sutures by 12.32%, reaching 189.41 MPa. Morphological analysis revealed smooth surfaces free of pores and bubbles, confirming the production of high-quality sutures. Radical scavenging activity analysis showed that curcumin-loaded sutures exhibited 43% scavenging ability after 125 h, which was significantly higher compared to pure chitosan sutures. In vitro antibacterial tests demonstrated that curcumin-loaded sutures provided 98.87% bacterial inactivation against S. aureus within 24 h. Additionally, curcumin release analysis showed a cumulative release of 77% over 25 h. The bioactivity of the sutures was verified by hydroxyapatite layer formation after incubation in simulated body fluid, supporting their potential for tissue regeneration. These findings demonstrate that TiO 2 reinforcement and curcumin loading significantly enhance the functional properties of chitosan sutures, making them strong candidates for biocompatible and absorbable surgical applications.

Objectives: Laboratory testing, crucial for medical diagnosis, has 3 phases: preanalytical, analytical, and postanalytical. This study set out to demonstrate whether automating tube labeling through artificial intelligence (AI) support enhances efficiency, reduces errors, and improves outpatient phlebotomy services., Methods: The NESLI tube-labeling robot (Labenko Informatics), which uses AI models for tube selection and handling, was used for the experiments. The study evaluated the NESLI robot's operational performance, including labelling time, technical problems, tube handling success, and critical stock alerts. The robot's label readability was also tested on various laboratory devices. This research will contribute to the field's understanding of the potential impact of automated tube-labeling systems on laboratory processes in the preanalytical phase., Results: NESLI demonstrated high performance in labeling processes, achieving a success rate of 99.2% in labeling parameters and a success rate of 100% in other areas. For nonlabeling parameters, the average labeling time per tube was measured at 8.96 seconds, with a 100% success rate in tube handling and critical stock warnings. Technical issues were promptly resolved, affirming the NESLI robot's effectiveness and reliability in automating the tube-labeling processes., Conclusions: Robotic systems using AI, such as NESLI, have the potential to increase process efficiency and reduce errors in the preanalytical phase of laboratory testing. Integration of such systems into comprehensive information systems is crucial for optimizing phlebotomy services and ensuring timely and accurate diagnostics., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of American Society for Clinical Pathology. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the wear and fracture resistance of single crowns produced from newly developed 3D printer resins used to produce permanent crowns and currently used composite CAD/CAM discs, after being thermomechanically aged in a chewing simulator., Materials and Methods: A total of 112 stainless steel die models simulating mandibular left first molars were produced, 8 for each group. Single crowns were produced from 3 different discs (Grandio Voco [GR], breCAM HIPC [HC], and Shofu HC [SF]) by CAD/CAM milling method and manufactured from from 4 different permanent composite resins (Nexdent C&B MFH [ND], Permanent Bridge Saremco [PB], VarseoSmile Crownplus [VSC], and Şenertek P-Crown [PC]) using the 3D printing method. Stereomicroscopy, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Finite Element Method (FEM) analysis was performed. Data were analyzed using ANOVA, paired-t tests and Tukey's HSD test (alpha = 0.05)., Results: As a result of thermomechanical aging, significant difference was found between the groups in wear and fracture resistance (P < .05). The highest wear resistance was found in the VSC group, and the lowest wear resistance in the PC group. As a result of the compression test, the highest fracture resistance was noted in the GR group and the lowest in the PC group. FEM analysis performed to validate fracture experiments showed an 87% similarity to the in-vitro data., Conclusions: The crowns in all groups produced by CAD/CAM milling and 3D printing provided acceptable in vitro wear and fracture resistance for clinical application. The wear and fracture resistance of resin-based materials should be supported by clinical studies., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethical approval: After ethical approval and consent of the individuals to participate in this study, all the methods were carried out in accordance with the relevant guidelines and regulations of Declaration of Helsinki. The study protocol was registered and approved by the ethical committee. In order to use the first premolar teeth extracted for periodontal and orthodontic reasons, an ethical committee approval was obtained from Inonu University Scientific Research and Publication Ethics institution (Number: 2023/4412). Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)