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Because of the prevalence of meniscal injuries and the difficulty treating irreparable tears and large defects, there has been increasing research and resultant engineering strategies over the past 20 years that have resulted in development of various meniscal scaffolds and meniscal implants. At this time, meniscal allograft transplant may be the "standard" consideration for the nonarthritis, meniscal deficient, stable, and properly aligned painful knee, but challenges include availability, preoperative planning and sizing, costs, and logistics. Newer tissue-engineered implants can minimize these concerns, and recent systematic review shows these may provide short-term improvement in knee pain and function. However, studies demonstrating long-term improvements remain pending, and it is unclear whether these implants will result in outcomes better than meniscal allograft transplant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This descriptive study investigated how cancer patient characteristics and utilization of CAM resources, services, and activities at a regional cancer center were associated with patients' understanding of their health needs, emotional health, and their ability to self-manage their condition.Design: Cross-sectional questionnaire. Sixty-one patients completed a mailed 17-item paper and pencil survey about their sociodemographics, use of CAM offerings, barriers, and perceived benefits.Setting: Mail-based survey completed by cancer patients in a southern state.Main Outcome Measures: As a result of participating in the center's cancer support services, patients indicated if: (1) they had a better understanding of their health needs; (2) their emotional health has improved; and (3) they take better care of themselves when they are at home and in the community.Results: Participants reported using 0.93 (±1.20) CAM activities (e.g., yoga), 0.62 (±0.71) resources (e.g., the library), and 1.62 (±1.34) services (e.g., monthly support groups), although also reported experiencing 0.74 (±0.81) barriers (e.g., transportation) to accessing these offerings. Perceived benefits were interrelated, where those perceiving CAM offerings to improve their understanding of their health needs also perceived improved emotional health (χ2 = 27.93, P < 0.001) and better self-care (χ2 = 30.90, P < 0.001).Conclusions: Greater utilization of CAM offerings was also associated with greater perceived benefits. These results highlight the benefits of CAM therapies for cancer patients' well-being. Integration of CAM therapies in standard cancer care should be encouraged to complement cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare in vivo force degradation of elastomeric chains of four different companies over a period of 6 weeks using digital force gauge. Methods A total of 25 participants making the total sample size of 100 were included in this split mouth study. Force degradation of four elastomeric chain samples from different manufacturers, Super Slick Chain (TP Orthodontics), AlastiK (3M Unitek), Dyna-Link elastomeric chain (G&H Orthodontics), and Memory Chain (American Orthodontics), was evaluated and compared among each other using a digital force gauge in the intraoral environment at six time intervals (immediate, 1 hour, 24 hours, 1 week, 3 weeks, and 6 weeks). The elastomeric chain samples were stretched to a fixed distance of 16 mm throughout the study period. Results There was a significant difference between the force degradation values of elastomeric chains supplied by different manufacturers (P < 0.001). Maximum force degradation in all four groups was recorded in the first hour of placement. After 6 weeks, the force degradation was found to be least with Super Slick chain (55% ± 5%) and maximum with Dyna-Link chain (63% ± 4%). Conclusions Three of four elastomeric chains sustained an amount of force that can be considered adequate for canine retraction. Only one elastomeric chain suffered a major loss of force in such a way making it difficult to continue the retraction of canine after 6 weeks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Serum hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) and microneutralization (MN) antibodies are often used as a correlate of protection for influenza. However, these manual assays are labor-intensive and difficult to standardize due to variability in biologic reagents used and subjective interpretation of the results. Methods Sera with known HAI and MN titers were used to assess a novel test based on the inhibition of fluorescence ‘dequenching’. Whole influenza virions (A/California/07/2009 (H1N1), A/Hong Kong/4801/2014 (H3N2) and B/Brisbane/60/2008) labelled with 1,1′-dioctadecyl-3,3,3′,3′-tetramethylindodicarbocyanine perchlorate (DiD) were exposed to serial dilutions of serum and mixed with turkey red blood cells followed by acidification of the media (pH 5.0–5.5). The H1N1 and B/Brisbane strains were high hemagglutinating while the H3N2 strain had low hemagglutinating activity. In some experiments, labelled virions were subjected to repetitive freeze-thaw cycles prior to use in the assay. Results In the absence of detectable HAI/MN antibodies, there were consistent and substantial increases from baseline DiD fluorescence upon acidification. Sera with known high titer HAI/MN antibodies reduced or completely prevented DiD dequenching at low dilutions with progressive increases in fluorescence at higher dilutions, which permitted a reproducible assignment of an antibody ‘titer’ based on baseline and acidified DiD fluorescence values. The ‘titers’ measured by the DiD dequenching assay were highly correlated with HAI/MN results for the H1N1 and B strains (Spearman’s correlation coefficients (r s ) 0.874 to 0.946, p < 10 −7 to 10 −35 ). Correlations with HAI/MN titres for the low-hemagglutinating H3N2 strain tested were lower but remained statistically significant (r s 0.547–0.551, p < 0.004). Freeze-thawing of the DiD pre-stained virus stocks had no significant impact on the results of the assay. Conclusions The DiD dequenching assay may be a labour-saving and more objective alternative to the classic serologies. This novel assay could theoretically be standardized across laboratories using pre-stained virions and has the potential to be fully automated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] The scarcity of drinking water is a worldwide major issue in the current scenario. Using the solar still, an abundantly available saline water can be desalinated to obtain drinking water. However, solar still faces the issue of low productivity. The area of contact between the absorber plate of the solar still and the saline/impure water plays a crucial role in the evaporation of saline/impure water to obtain distilled water. The modifications in the geometry of the absorber plate is one of the enhancement techniques to improve the productivity of solar still. In the article, the impact of the fins integrated absorber plate, use of baffles, use of corrugated and stepped absorber plate was reviewed on the productivity of solar still. The effect of geometrical parameters of fins, baffles, steps and corrugations has also been reviewed. The use of fins on absorber plate reduces the thermal resistant to heat flow and distributes the heat along the water depth. The use of fins and baffles reduces the preheating time of saline water. The use of corrugated and stepped absorber plates increases the exposure area for the absorption of solar energy and the contact area among the absorber plate and saline water. For the same mass of saline water, the use of fins was observed better than the use of corrugation. Whereas for the same depth of water, the use of corrugation was observed better than the use of fins. The summary of results of the latest state-of-art-of literature on modification in the geometry of absorber plates is presented in tabular form. The discussion on comparative study among the various configuration of geometrical modification, key findings, and the scope of future scope is presented at the end of the article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Needle-free vaccine delivery systems have many potential advantages including increased vaccine compliance and decreased risk of needlestick injuries and syringe reuse. The Med-Jet® H4 is a gas-powered, auto-disabling disposable syringe jet injector. The Med-Jet family of products are currently being used in dermatology, podiatry, pain management and veterinary practices. The objectives of this study were to assess patient attitudes, time-efficiency, safety and immunogenicity of the seasonal influenza vaccine delivered by Med-Jet compared to the traditional needle-and-syringe. Methods A total of 80 patients were randomized 2:1:1 to receive a commercial trivalent vaccine by Med-Jet or needle injection from a single-dose or multi-dose vial. Patient attitudes were assessed pre-randomization and post-immunization. Safety data were collected for 21 days post-immunization. Efficiency of vaccine administration was measured through a time-and-motion study. Humoral and cellular responses were assessed on Days 0 and 21. Results Overall, the participants readily accepted Med-Jet vaccination despite greater frequency of transient local reactions (eg: redness, swelling) immediately following immunization. Vaccine administration took slightly longer with the Med-Jet, but this difference decreased over time. Geometric mean hemagglutination inhibition titers, seroconversion and seroprotection rates in the Med-Jet and needle groups were equivalent for all influenza strains in the vaccine. Microneutralization responses were also essentially identical. There were no significant differences between the groups in the frequency of functional CD4 + T cells, memory subset distribution or poly-functionality. Conclusions These data suggest that the Med-Jet is an acceptable means of delivering seasonal influenza vaccine. The system was attractive to subjects, rapidly learned by skilled vaccine nurses and elicited both humoral and cellular responses that were indistinguishable from those elicited with needle injection. While other studies have assessed the humoral response to jet injection of influenza vaccine, to our knowledge, this study is the first to assess the cellular aspect of this response. (ClinTrials.gov -NCT03150537). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]