Day 1 :
Keynote Forum
Hua-Lin Wu
National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan
Keynote: Diverse biological functions of thrombomodulin in cells and wound healing
Time : 09:00-09:30
Biography:
Hua-Lin Wu is a chair person and presently working as distinguished professor of department biochemistry and molecular biology in the college of medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan. He has completed his PhD in Ohio State University. Then he started working as distinguished professor in National Cheng Kung University in 2002 to at present. He has awarded with 24th Wusanlien Award (2001) and also “The 16th National Chair Professorship Award” in 2013. His research interest includes Vascular biology, Haemostasis and fibrinolysis and Protein drug development.
Abstract:
Thrombomodulin (TM) is a type I transmembrane glycoprotein that was formerly identified as an anticoagulant factor in endothelial cells (ECs) in 1982. It can form a complex with thrombin to facilitate the activation of protein C in the blood circulation. The activated protein C will catalyze the cleavage and inactivation of coagulation factors to constrain the blood coagulation cascade. However, TM was also identified in various cell types which do not have direct contact with blood circulation, indicating that TM may have distinct biological functions in different cell types and contexts. In our studies we demonstrated that TM was highly concentrated at the cell-cell contact region in ECs and keratinocytes, where it functions as an adhesion protein, in conjunction with cadherin/occludin, to stabilize cell-cell junctions. Moreover, we also demonstrated that lectin domain of TM is essential for cell-cell adhesion and LeY oligo-saccharide is the ligand of the lectin domain. The cytoplasmic domain of TM can be anchored to F-actin through actin linker protein ezrin. In addition, TM expression is involved in the epithelial/mesenchymal transition in cancer cells. On the other hands, we demonstrated that TM functions as a novel plasminogen (Plg) receptor in migrating cells. The dissociation constant of Plg and TM is about 10-7M as determined by Biacore plasma resonance system. TM, plg and urokinase Plg activator was colocalized at the leading edges in the migrating ECs. It is possible that TM expression can promote Plg activation to facilitate the pericellular proteilysis in front of migrating ECs to facilitate cell migration, invasion and angiogenesis.
Keynote Forum
Sarka Kubinova
Institute of Experimental Medicine CAS, Czech Republic
Keynote: Non-thermal air plasma in skin wound healing
Time : 09:30-10:00
Biography:
Sarka Kubinova has completed her graduation from Charles University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Czech Republic. She has completed her post-graduation from 1st Medical Faculty of Charles University, Czech Republic and started working at the Institute of Experimental Medicine (IEM) of the Czech Academy of Science where she has continued her research. Presently she is working at the IEM as the Head of the Department of Biomaterials and Biophysical Methods.
Abstract:
Non-thermal plasma (NTP) is a partially ionized gas generated from a flow of neutral gas in a locally high-strength electric field, while the gas remains at atmospheric pressure and near ambient temperature. Due to its non-specific antimicrobial properties, NTP represents an effective tool for skin disinfection and treatment of chronic wounds and other skin pathologies. Generally, the underlying biological effects of non-thermal plasma are caused by accumulation of ROS /RNS species and modulation of cellular processes related to redox signaling. We have previously demonstrated NTP system generating atmospheric pressure air plasma that shown antibacterial effects and improved the healing efficacy of acute skin wounds in rats and small animals. In addition, repeated application of NTP remarkably improved the healing of chronic wounds of various causalities in veterinary medicine in small animals and sport horses. In the recent study, we analyzed the effect of NTP on the healing of the full-thickness skin wound model in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. The skin wounds were exposed to three daily plasma treatments for 1.5 minutes and were evaluated 3, 7 and 14 days after the wounding by histological and gene expression analysis. NTP treatment significantly enhanced wound contraction on day 7 when compared to the untreated diabetic wounds and control non-diabetic wounds. Gene expression analysis after 7 days revealed an increased expression of an inflammatory marker IL-1b, IL-6, iNos, COX-2 and CCL2 in diabetic wounds, which was significantly reduced after the NTP treatment. On the other hand, the number of CD68+ macrophages and the amount of collagen in the wound area did not differ after the NTP treatment. In summary, the NTP treatment improved the healing efficacy and reduced inflammatory reaction of acute skin wounds in the model of diabetic rats. The obtained results confirm the safety and suitability of NTP applications for the future therapy in patients.
Keynote Forum
Berillo Dmitriy
Aarhus University, Denmark
Keynote: Cryogel based on polyelectrolyte complex for growth factor delivery
Time : 10:00-10:30
Biography:
Berillo Dmitriy has completed his PhD in organic chemistry at KazNU al Farabi (Almaty, KZ) in 2010. He was a visiting PhD student and then postdoctoral researcher at the Biomaterials and Biosensors groups at Lund University (Sweden) in 2008-2009 and 2010-2014, respectively. He has worked as a Senior Researcher in the Laboratory of Biosensors and Bioinstruments at Nazarbayev University (KZ). He was awarded Marie Curie Research Individual Fellowship in 2016, and he had successfully accomplished the project at the School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences at the University of Brighton (UK) from 2016 to 2018. Since 2018 he is a Senior Researcher in Sensor Group at Aarhus University (Denmark). His research interest in preparation of scaffolds for water purification from toxic pollutants and for regenerative medicine for example the study the differentiation of stem cells into osteoblasts within a novel biocompatible scaffold with immobilized growth factor. He designed cryogels preparation based on noncovalent interactions: Polyelectrolyte complexes; self-assembly of Fmoc-diphenylalanine under cryoconditions; scaffolds based on non-covalent interactions such as metal-polymer coordinated complexes etc.; enzymatically cross-linked proteins under cryoconditions, stimuli-responsive cryogels.
Abstract:
Bone regeneration is one of the most actively researched fields of regenerative medicine and bone fractures are the most common injuries of all large organs, especially in the aging population. Critical size defects require large-scale surgical interventions and auto-grafting is accepted as the gold standard treatment due to its osteogenic, osteoconductive and osteoinductive potentials. Issues such as a shortage of allografts, rejection issues and associated pain and morbidity from autografts require the development of alternative tissue engineering approaches that combine the principles of engineering and biology to create biomaterials, which are able to mimic or regenerate functionally active tissues. In this study a variety of natural polymer-based macroporous materials (biomaterials) were developed. Cryogels composed of chitosan (CHI), hydroxyapatite (HA), heparin (Hep) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) were prepared cross-linked by glutaraldehyde (GA) and treated with glycine. Addition of PVA into the reaction mixture slowed down the formation of a polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) between chitosan and heparin, allowing proper mixing, and producing to homogeneous preparation. Freezing of the CHI-HA-GA and PVA-Hep-GA mixture led to the formation of a non-stoichiometric PEC between opposite charged groups of CHI and Hep, which makes further efficient immobilization of bone morphogenic protein 2 (BMP-2) possible, due to electrostatic interactions. It was shown that the obtained cryogel matrix, loaded with BMP-2, stimulates the differentiation of rat BMSCs into the osteogenic lineage. Rat BMSCs attach to cryogel loaded with BMP-2 and express osteocalcin in vitro. Obtained composite cryogel with PEC may have a high potential for bone regeneration applications. In our future work, we plan to demonstrate the clinical efficacy of prepared cryogel for bone regeneration in an animal model. The following work is devoted to exploration of similar PEC and other biocompatible scaffolds for efficient attachment, migration and differentiation of BMSCs into chondrocytes for efficient regeneration of intervertebral disc.
Keynote Forum
Ray M Merrill
Brigham Young University, USA
Keynote: Ecological evidence for lower risk of lymphoma with greater exposure to sunlight and higher altitude
Time : 10:45-11:15
Biography:
Ray M Merrill received his academic training in statistics and public health. He is a former Cancer Prevention Fellow at the National Cancer Institute, USA, and current fellow of the American College of Epidemiology and the American Academy of Helath Behavior. He is now a professor in the Department of Public Health, Brigham Young University. He has won various awards for his research. He is the author of more than 280 peer-reviewed publications, including text books titled Environmental Epidemiology, Reproductive Epidemiology, Principles of Epidemiology Workbook, Fundamentals of Epidemiology and Biostatics, Behavioral Epidemiology, Statistical Methods in Epidemiologic Research, Introduction to Epidemiology, and Fundamental Mathematics for Epidemiology Study.
Abstract:
Introduction: Sunlight exposure may influence vitamin D-related immune modulation and motility of T lymphocytes, thereby impacting Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Altitude may also be associated with these cancers through an oxygen-related mechanism or radiation hormesis.
Methods: An ecological study design was used, with county-level lymphoma, sunlight, altitude, urban residency, poverty, smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity data for 16 cancer registries (607 counties) in the contiguous United States, 2012-2016.
Results: Higher rates of Hodgkin lymphoma and NHL are associated with being male, older and white or black for NHL. Tobacco smoking, urban residency, obesity, and physical inactivity are not associated with these cancers. Both increased sunlight exposure and higher altitude are independently associated with lower rates of Hodgkin lymphoma and NHL, after adjusting for age, sex, and race. The inverse association between sunlight and Hodgkin lymphoma is only in the lower altitudes. The inverse association between sunlight and NHL is more pronounced with higher altitude.
Conclusion: Greater sunlight exposure and higher altitude are independently associated with lower rates of Hodgkin lymphoma and NHL. The inverse associations are dependent on altitude, with the relationship only in lower altitudes for Hodgkin lymphoma and more pronounced in higher altitude for NHL.
Keynote Forum
Valdis Folkmanis
University of Latvia, Latvia
Keynote: Psychomotor function of children with autistic spectrum disorder – is a progress possible in six months period?
Biography:
Valdis Folkmanis holds a position of professor a dean of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Latvia. His scientific work is related to Montessori therapeutic methods with specific interests on the effect of different methods of therapy on improvement of life skills of children with Autism spectrum disorders. He is a founder of the Centre of Social Pediatrics in Riga, Latvia, and serves a director of this center for more than fifteen years. He is an author of multiple publications in scientific journals and participated with presentations at different international medical conferences and congresses.
Abstract:
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a diagnosis that describes a social communication deficits and repetitive sensorymotor behaviours. The effect of different kinds of therapies in the case of ASD is proposed but not fully proven, and scientific evidence is controversial. In this study we aimed to investigate progress in psychomotor function of children with ASD that participated in different kinds of therapies. The study sample consisted of 100 children 2-5 years old that attended the Children Clinical University Hospital and the Social Paediatrics Centre of the University of Latvia at 2013-2015. After initial assessment of psychomotor function by child’s physician, children participated in different kinds of therapies or did not participate in any therapy, according to decision of their parents. The second assessment was performed 6-8 months after the baseline examination. Multiple logistic regression models adjusted for age, compliance of development to age norms, and initial diagnosis of a child were built for the association between attendance of therapies and improvement of psychomotor functions. In fully adjusted multiple logistic regression models, participation in any kind of the therapy was significantly associated with improvement of some or all psychomotor functions. For example, Montessori therapy was especially effective for improvement of hearing and fine motor skills (odds ratio, OR=19.3 [95% confidence interval, CI 1,7; 221.1], and OR=3.8 [2.81; 757.0], respectively). To conclude: Attending a therapy is essential for children with ASD, but specific type of a therapy should be matched to the needs of each child individually
- Epidemiology and Infectious Diseases | Epidemiology and Public Health | Epidemiology and Cancers | Epidemiology and Nursing Care | Wound Healing and Tissue Repair | Wound Care Research | Skin and Wound Care| Tissue Science and Regenerative Medicine | Skin and Wound Healing| Stemcells and Tissue Regeneration | Skin and Cosmetic Dermatology
Location: Meeting Hall: Rhine
Chair
Hua-Lin Wu
National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan
Session Introduction
Ning Cheng
Lanzhou University, China
Title: Relationships among hbv infection and gallbladder disease and diabetes mellitus in Jinchang cohort
Biography:
Ning Cheng has established the Jinchang cohort in China, as the largest multi-metal exposure cohort in the world, who is mainly engaged in the research of prevention and treatment strategies and measures for diabetes and cancer. The risk factors, etiology, pathogenesis, early diagnosis and evaluation of intervention effect of diabetes and tumor were carried out through Jinchang cohort.
Abstract:
Objectives: To reveal the relationship between hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and cholecystitis gallstones, cholecystitis gallstones and diabetes mellitus (DM) in Jinchang cohort.
Methods: A total of 48,000 subjects aged 19 to 90 participated in a baseline examination from 2011 to 2013 in Jinchang cohort. Among the subjects, 33,355 underwent follow-up examination from 2014 to 2015, for average follow-up period of 3.2 years. Logistic and Cox regression were used to analyze the effects of different HBV infection status on cholecystitis and gallstone and different state of cholecystitis gallstone on DM by estimating the odds ratio (OR), hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI), based on Jinchang cohort.
Results: The prevalence of cholecystitis in the Jinchang cohort was 10.20% overall, 13.40% in females, and 8.17% in males. The incidence of cholecystitis in the Jinchang cohort was 6.32% overall, 8.50% in females, and 5.50% in males. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that age, drinking, BMI and family history of hypertension are risk factors of cholecystitis and high education level, frequently exercise were protective factors of cholecystitis.
The prevalence of gallstones in the Jinchang cohort was 13.01% overall, 16.64% in females, 10.73% in males. Theincidence of gallstones in the Jinchang cohort was 3.23% overall, 3.35% in females, 3.17% in males. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that age, BMI, FBG and TG were the risk factors of gallstones and frequently exercise was the protective factors of gallstones. Compared with the non-infection HBV, HBV infection replication would increase the risk of cholecystitis, the OR
(95%CI) were 1.27(1.11-1.46). Compared with non-infection HBV, HBV infection replication would also increase the risk of incidence of cholecystitis and the HR (95%CI) were 1.54(1.26-1.87). Compared with no gallstones group, gallstones would increase the prevalence risk of DM, the OR (95%CI) were 2.90(2.54-3.30) in females, 2.16(1.99-2.34) overall. Compared with no gallstones group, gallstones also would increase the risk of incidence of DM. The HR (95%CI) were 1.46(1.22-1.76) in males, 2.81(2.25-3.51) in females, 1.83(1.59-2.10) overall.
Conclusions: HBV infection replication would increase the risk of cholecystitis, which was an independent risk for cholecystitis. HBV carriers could increase the risk of gallstones, which was an independent risk for gallstones in males. Gallstones would increase the risk of DM, which was an independent risk factor for DM.
Lilian Tzivian
University of Latvia, Latvia
Title: Problems of burnout in nurses: Stress, work tension and workability – Results from Latvian study
Biography:
ilian Tzivian completed her PhD in Epidemiology in 2013 and currently holds a proffessorship in the Univeristy of Latvia. She specialized in environmental epidemiology, age-related processes, scuh as mental health and pre-demential changes, and on stress and quality of life. She is a member of main scientific societies that focuse on epidemiology of aging, quality of life, and Alzheimer disease. She is actively engaged in several national and international projects and working groups, and is an author more than 25 of publications in highly impacted scientific journals on this thematic.
Abstract:
In aging societies there is increased interest in keeping older people in the workforce, especially true in the health care system. Increasing age of the population and of the staff leads to a shortage of health care workers. Relationships between burnout, work stress, workability, and quality of life are still underestimated of nurses, and the investigation of these problems was the main aim of our cross-sectional study. Workability (1 to 10 scale) and work stress (questions on anxiety and depressive symptoms) were assessed using self-reported questionnaires.We built a work tension index (WTI) from 10-items efforts/rewards scale. Professional burnout was assessed using questions on irritation, depressiveness and weariness. Multiple linear regression models adjusted for presence of children, year of experience, wage and position were built to investigate the association between work stress and workability. We investigated the effect measure modification of this association by age (dichotomized on median of 45 years). Study sample included 232 nurses aged 18-79, with median 19 years of experience, mostly worked full wage. In fully adjusted regression models, workability was associated with work stress (effect estimate, β=-0.03 [95% confidence interval -0.04; -0.01] and with position (β=-0.23 [-0.42; -0.05]). Younger participants had stronger association than those older than 45 years, proposing age as effect measure modifier in the association between stress and workability. In addition, higher WTI increased a possibility of burnout (β=11.2 [1.0; 21.3]). To conclude: Nurses should be particularly treated to reduce their level of stress to prevent a shortage of health care workers.
Yana Bai
Lanzhou University, China
Title: Relationship between gallstone and metabolic syndrome in Jinchang Cohort
Biography:
Yana Bai has established the Jinchang cohort in China, as the largest multi-metal exposure cohort in the world, who is mainly engaged in the research of prevention and treatment strategies and measures for diabetes and cancer. The risk factors, etiology, pathogenesis, early diagnosis and evaluation of intervention effect of diabetes and tumor were carried out through Jinchang cohort.
Abstract:
Objectives: To reveal the relationship between gallstone and metabolic syndrome, in order to provide evidence for prevention and treatment of gallstones and metabolic syndrome Jinchang cohort.
Methods: The baseline eventually included 20,969 people and a total of 11,872 people completed the follow-up.The study was used to analyze the relationship between metabolic syndrome and the risk of gallstones, and was also used to analyze the effects of gallstones on the development of metabolic syndrome, and calculate the risk ratio and its 95% confidence interval (HR, 95%CI), based on Jinchang cohort.
Results: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 34.8%, 36% and 33.2% in the total population, men and women. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that age, drinking, BMI and family history of hypertension are risk factors of cholecystitis and high education level, frequently exercise were protective factors of cholecystitis. The prevalence of gallstones in the Jinchang cohort was 13.01% overall, 16.64% in females, 10.73% in males.After adjusting for age, smoking, drinking et al, the prevalence risk (OR, 95%CI) of gallstones in men, women and the general population with metabolic syndrome was respectively 1.57 (1.33-1.85), 1.87 (1.55-2.26) and 1.58 (1.40-1.78) for those without metabolic syndrome. The incidence of gallstones in the general population with metabolic syndrome was 4.1%, and the incidence of gallstones in the population without metabolic syndrome was 2% in the Jinchang cohort. After adjusting for age, smoking, drinking et al, the risk of gallstones in the total population and female population with metabolic syndrome was higher than that of those without metabolic syndrome, with HR (95%CI) of 1.291 (1.016-1.642) and 1.466 (1.094-1.964). Along with the increase in number of abnormal metabolic syndrome components, the incidence of gallstones also gradually rise, when there are five abnormal metabolic components, the incidence of gallstones of total population reached 10.9%, the women reached 12.5%. The risk of gallstones in women and total population with the five abnormal metabolic components are respectively 7.922 times and 5.011 times that of normal population. Cholecystectomy was found to be significantly associated with incident type 2 diabetes mellitus among individuals with prediabetes (HR = 1.703;95% CI, 1.299–2.233).
Conclusions: Metabolic syndrome can increase the risk of gallstones in the general population and women, and with the increase of abnormal number of components of metabolic syndrome, the risk of gallstones increases gradually.
Biography:
Walter Wigger-Alberti has completed his graduation from University of Kiel as Medical Doctor and from University of Jena as Dermatologist in 1997. He has completed his dermatological residencies at University of Zurich, Switzerland, with occupational dermatology and skin physiology. He then started working as the Head of the Skin Physiology Lab in Jena where he continued his research. Presently he is working as CEO and Clinical Advisor Dermatology at bioskin GmbH in Hamburg.
Abstract:
Objective: Most wound healing conditions are beneficial in a professional wound care setting as well as for selftreatment of acute, superficial wounds. The purpose of this randomized, controlled, investigator-blinded investigation was to determine the local tolerability, wound healing efficacy and cosmetic outcome of a novel wound healing ointment in an intra-individual comparison of 4 treatment regimens using an abrasive wound model.
Methods: Standardized abrasive wounds were induced on the inner forearms of 30 healthy subjects and 4 treatment regimens were randomly allocated to test areas (wound healing ointment covered with standard first aid dressing, wound healing ointment covered with gauze, standard first aid dressing alone, untreated area covered with gauze). Wounds were treated once daily for 11 days. Local tolerability and wound healing were assessed using visual scoring and digital photography on 5 different days. The cosmetic outcome was evaluated during a follow-up visit on Day 31.
Results: The wound healing ointment exhibited excellent local tolerability with superior assessments in comparison to treatment utilizing only dressings without ointment. Significant differences between AUC values for re-epithelization and overall wound healing efficacy were demonstrated in favor of treatment with the wound healing ointment in comparison to dry wound healing conditions. Wounds treated with the wound healing ointment showed a faster onset of healing and the cosmetic outcome was rated as being superior for the wound healing ointment both by the investigator and the subject.
Conclusion: Superficial cutaneous wounds treated with the novel wound healing ointment displayed a significant improvement of wound healing with an earlier onset of re-epithelization, faster wound closure and a better cosmetic outcome. Clinically relevant accelerated wound healing compared to traditional dry healing could be shown demonstrating the benefits of moist wound healing conditions also in the treatment of minor, superficial wounds.
Abdulaziz Binkanan
King Saud University, Saudi Arabia
Title: The effect of educational program on nurses’ knowledge about pressure ulcer
Biography:
Abdulaziz Binkanan has completed his graduation from King Saud University in Saudi Arabia as Nursing Specialist. Then, he started working in King Saud Medical City. Later on, he obtained his Master’s degree from De Montfort University in United Kingdom and continued working at King Saud Medical City in the capital of Saudi Arabia.
Abstract:
Background & Aim: Pressure ulcer is a global issue and lack of knowledge about pressure ulcer among nurses has been found. Therefore, the aim of this study is to determine the effectiveness of an educational program on nurses’ knowledge related to pressure ulcer. Moreover, if they have lack of knowledge related to pressure ulcer or the prevention and care of the pressure ulcer, then the lack of knowledge can be eliminated by the educational program
or not.
Material & Methods: 52 registered nurses work in a medical city participated in this study and deal with pressure ulcer on daily basis. Quasi- experimental design in which the study has two parts (Quantitative)- A pre-test and post-test design used. A questionnaire distributed to the nurses to assess their knowledge before conducting the educational program. Then the educational program delivered to them; after that, the same questionnaire given to them for comparison. After the collection of data, the ratio of the correct answers of the pre-test and post-test were compared. Statistical Package for Social Science was used.
Results: After implementing the educational program majority of nurses provided the correct answers to the same questionnaire and the lack of knowledge can be eliminated by the educational program. Moreover, around 25% correct answers of the questionnaire while in the post-test, the nurses gave approximately 97% correct answers.
Conclusions: Among several studies, many of the studies are considered in this study to provide a clear perception that the educational and training program can enhance the knowledge of nurses related to the pressure ulcer. Moreover, the study and results show that there is a need of associational and a professional training program in this field.
Nikifor Asatiani
Technical University of Liberec, Czech Republic
Title: Analysis of drug release kinetics from electrospun-based nanofibrous wound dressings
Time : 14:30-14:55
Biography:
Nikifor Asatiani has completed her graduation from Technical University of Liberec (Czech Republic), in 2018 with the specialties including Nonwoven materials, Tissue Engineering and Nanomaterials. Later on, he continued his research in development of electrospun-based wound dressings. Presently he is working at the Technical University and the Institute for Nanomaterials, Advanced Technology and Innovation at the Liberec City.
Abstract:
Wound healing often requires use of antibiotics, which might produce negative side effects like trouble sleeping, headache, diarrheas, etc. Thus, there is heightened interest of local delivery of a drug to a wound. Accordingly, electrospinning is a versatile method to produce biologically functional nanofibrous wound dressings for further applications in tissue engineering as local drug delivery systems. However, kinetics of drug release from such systems is still poorly understood. The purpose of this study is to develop nanofibrous wound dressing materials modified with incorporation of drugs. Moreover, the aim is to investigate drug release kinetics from the obtained wound dressings considering different drug loadings. Additionally, cell interactions and cytotoxicity of the fabricated mats was investigated. Finally, an attempt to establish a mathematical model for prediction of release kinetics of examined drug delivery system, proceeding from experimentally obtained data and on the basis of the solution of the diffusion equation, has been made. The fabricated nanofibrous mats in this study had biphasic kinetics of drug release. The mat with lower concentration was able to release the drug in a sustained manner for at least 7 days; Increment of the drug loading supported cells proliferation; None of tested drug loading was found cytotoxic. The characterization of the process of drug release from nanofibres and the development of a mathematical model for the calculation of drug concentration will facilitate the design and preparation of nanofibrous wound dressings. The main impact of this study is therefore mainly in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Furthermore, in the pharmaceutical industry, due to its perspective to avoid adverse effects and reduction of the required dosages; the importance of such research is proofed by the growing interest of leading pharmaceutical companies in this field.
Helena P Felgueiras
University of Minho, Portugal
Title: Mechanically resistant, biodegradable PVA/CA dressings functionalized with LL37 peptide reduce microbial burden
Biography:
Helena P Felgueiras has completed her graduation in Biomedical Engineering from University of Minho (Portugal). In 2014, she completed her PhD in Biomedical Engineering with specialization in biomaterials at Université Paris 13, France. Presently, she is working at the Centre for Textile Science and Technology (2C2T) as a Junior Researcher, developing medical textiles.
Abstract:
Statement of the Problem: Typically, acute wound healing is a well-organized process that evolves in a predictable amount of time. Chronic wounds (CW) result from gradual tissue degradation, and are characterized by defective cell matrix, high bacteria counts, prolonged inflammation and moisture imbalance. Antimicrobial dressings, that combine dressing and antibiotics, have been suggested as potential strategies to treat CW. However, the rising of antibiotic-resistant pathogens has turned these systems obsolete, revealing antimicrobial-peptides (AMPs), which display a broad spectrum of activity against pathogens and act rapidly at multiple sites within microbial cells, as viable alternatives.
Methodology: In this work, poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and cellulose-acetate (CA) were prepared via casting/phase-inversion method in the form of films. Different PVA/CA ratios were tested. Their mechanical, thermal and biodegradation profiles were followed. The films capacity to absorb exudates was also determined. Films were functionalized with LL-37 peptide. This AMP is endowed with immunoregulatory abilities, with great potential for wound healing, and important antimicrobial features.
Findings: Results revealed the homogeneity of the fashioned dressings, their thermal stability and mechanical resistance above skin, namely tensile strength. As the content of CA increased, the films absorbancy decreased. Dressing’s degradation was more important at basic pHs (i.e. simulated body fluid at pH 9). LL-37 was more efficient against Gram positive bacteria (i.e. Staphylococcus epidermidis) than Gram negative. In vitro, clotting time was significantly accelerated by this AMP presence in the dressings. Overall, the PVA/CA functionalized films demonstrated their potential for applications in wound healing.
Yi-Kai Hong
National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan
Title: The synergistic effect of tumor endothelial marker 1 and platelet-derived growth factor in wound healing
Biography:
Yi-Kai Hong is pursuing his PhD in Institution of Basic Medical Sciences at National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan. His research project is to investigate the biological function of tumor endothelial marker1( TEM1), which is also known as endosialin, in skin fibroblasts. TEM1 is a type I trans-membrane glycoprotein, which belongs to the same family as thrombomodulin.
Abstract:
Tumor endothelial marker 1 (TEM1), also known as endosialin or CD248, is a type I transmembrane glycoprotein containing a C-type lectin-like domain. It is specifically expressed in smooth muscle cells, pericytes, and fibroblasts. Dermal fibroblasts play a pivotal role in cutaneous wound healing, especially in the proliferative and remodeling phases. However, the mechanism by which TEM1 physiologically regulate wound healing remains to be unexplored. In the process of wound healing, both TEM1 and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor α (PDGFRα) expressions were significantly up-regulated in myofibroblasts in the granulation tissues. A delayed wound healing was observed in TEM1 deficiency mice. Fibroblast activation, collagen deposition, and proliferation of fibroblasts were decreased in granulation tissues in the wounds of TEM1 deleted mice. The migration, adhesion, and proliferation activities in NIH3T3 cells were attenuated when TEM1 expression was knockdown by short hairpin RNA. The signal transduction, mitogenic and chemoattractive effects induced by PDGF-BB were inhibited by TEM1 silencing. Furthermore, TEM1 and PDGFRα were co-localized in sub-cellular organelles in dermal fibroblasts. The association of TEM1 and PDGFRα was also demonstrated by co-immunoprecipitation. In conclusion, we demonstrated that TEM1, in cooperation with PDGFRα, plays a critical role in wound healing by enhancing the mitogenic and chemoattractive effects of PDGF-BB and collagen deposition in myofibroblasts.
Sara S Abou Zekry
American university in Cairo, Egypt
Title: Natural products as wound healing agents
Biography:
Sara S Abouzekry has completed her BSc in Pharmacy from Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt in 2007. She has completed her Master of Science degree in Biotechnology from the American University in Cairo, Egypt early this year. She is interested in biomedical applications of nanofibers in wound healing. In her thesis project, multiple natural products known for their antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties were electrospun into nanofibers in order to test their wound healing activity. Currently she is working on developing new formulas for wound healing while working as a Research Assistant in the biology department in the American University in Cairo.
Abstract:
Honey, pomegranate peel extract (PPP) and bee venom (BV), were used in combination with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to develop a novel nanofibrous wound dressing. Methanolic PPP was prepared and mixed with either manuka honey (MH) or lyophilized multiflora honey powder (LH) together with BV to have a total of three formulas: MH/PPP, MH/PPP/BV and LH/PPP/BV. The formulas were tested for their antibacterial activity, cytotoxicity, and wound healing activity in an excisional wound rat model. Scanning electron microscopy showed that LH fibers had smaller and more uniform diameter than MH fibers. Moderate swelling and higher weight loss capacities were detected when compared to PVA mats. Antibacterial tests showed significant antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E. coli compared to negative controls (P < 0.0001). No cytotoxicity was observed. In vivo wound healing study showed that all treatment groups enhanced wound healing as shown by increased wound closure percentages compared to negative control groups at days 3, 5 and 10 (P < 0.0001), and histological examination. In comparison to treatment groups, Medihoney® calcium alginate dressing significantly enhanced healing compared to negative controls at days 3 and 5. However, healing was delayed afterwards. These results indicate that MH/PPP/BV nanofibres are promising for wound healing.
Abdulaziz Binkanan
King Saud University, Saudi Arabia
Title: The impact of appropriate assessment of pressure ulcer among clinicians
Biography:
Abdulaziz Binkanan has completed his graduation from King Saud University in Saudi Arabia as Nursing Specialist. Then, he started working in King Saud Medical City. Later on, he obtained his Master’s degree from De Montfort University in United Kingdom and continued working at King Saud Medical City in the capital of Saudi Arabia.
Abstract:
According to the study of Tayyib, Coyer and Lewis (2016), the rate of pressure ulcers (PU) in hospitalized patients has increased. Therefore, the appropriate assessment of pressure ulcer plays a crucial rule and has a huge impact on variety of aspects such as the evaluation, treatment plan and level of risk. Engles et al. (2016) stated that appropriate assessment of wounds in pressure ulcer is the key factor that helps in limiting the further growth of pressure ulcer. Moreover, early assessment practices help in understanding different patterns of the patient life such as nutrition, mental status, mobility and physical activity of a person. Thus, proper or appropriate assessments help clinicians to understand patient needs by which they understand the factors which has caused pressure ulcer. According to Eva (2016), the assessment is the fundamental tool which impacts on diagnostic practices of clinicians in an efficient way (Eva et al., 2016). By taking appropriate assessment of patient with pressure ulcer, healthcare professionals evaluate that to which extent patient needs treatment and prevention of pressure ulcer. On the other hand, by taking assessment of pressure ulcer, clinicians undertake the prolonged course of treatment so as to fully heal the wounds.
In addition, appropriate assessment help clinicians to diagnose that how a person gained an ulcer, for example, the study of Park, Lee and Kwon (2016), examined that clinicians diagnose the reasons which cause skin tissues damage as a result at such part or area of damage skin the supply of blood is reduced, and due to the lack of blood supply, a person could diagnosed with pressure ulcer (EPUAP and NPUAP guidelines). According to the study of Lee and Kim (2016), healthcare practitioners were involved in an assessment process with the intention to determine the prevalence of pressure ulcer cases in the England. They found 24,674 patients with adverse PU condition. Proper assessment has provided assistance to clinicians to perceive the information of patients’ urinary incontinence, smoking, dry skin, terminal illness and chronic systemic condition; these are all the major symptoms which originates PU in old people. The study of Guy (2019), comprehends that clinicians who do not perform assessment cannot diagnose reasons that what activities the patient needs to stop. Therefore, diagnosis and assessment empower clinicians to consider different ways that can allow patient to prevent skin from damaging. Assessment also allows management to perceive the parameters like length, width and depth of pressure ulcer. According to the management guidelines of the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) assessment plays a critical role in determining solution to the problems such as pressure ulcer disease in patients (Boyko, Longaker and Yang, 2018). Moreover, assessment practice is the golden standard in diagnosing, treatment and management of PU.
Helen Oladunni OLADELE
Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals, Nigeria
Title: Health-related quality of life and wound care practices among patients with chronic wounds in a Southwestern Nigerian Community
Biography:
Helen Oladunni Oladele is a Registered Nurse, Registered Midwife, Registered Public Health Nurse, Registered Nurse Educator and an examiner with the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria. She has completed her graduation from Department of Nursing Science, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. She has completed her Master’s degree in Medical/Surgical Nursing specialty. She has clinical nursing work experience in maternity, neonatal and medical pediatrics for over a decade. She has been involved in hospital based nursing education since year 2002 with keen interests in Wound Care, Nursing Process and Standardized Nursing Languages (SNLs). Presently, she is working at the Department of Nursing Education, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals’ Complex, Ile-Ife. She is currently pursuing a Doctoral degree in Medical Surgical Nursing, at the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun state, Nigeria.
Abstract:
Introduction & Aim: Chronic Wounds (CWs) are a common problem around the world, known to affect quality of life with varying patients’ perception among cultures. This study determined the effects of CWs on the health- related quality of life (HRQoL) and identified wound care practices among a select population in southwestern Nigeria.
Methodology: Sixty (60) adult patients >18 years of age with wound duration >3 months were chosen by convenience non-probability sampling at the point of accessing outpatient care. A pretested, semi-structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire and one guided interview were used to collect data; same were coded for confidentiality and input for statistical analysis.
Findings: The average respondent age was 48.3 years (range, 18-80 years). Male to female ratio was 1:1.2, with 71.7% married, 96.7% of the Yoruba ethnic group, and 40% traders by occupation. The average wound duration was 23.2 months (range, 3-240 months). Trauma was the most common etiology of CWs followed by infection. There was no relationship between wound duration and patients’ gender. Most patients accessed care from more than one source simultaneously. The presence of CWs adversely affected the quality of life (R = -.288; P = .025). Many patients had varying degrees of abnormality in their mental health.
Conclusion: CWs are associated with poorer HRQoL, and simultaneous reception of care from multiple sources was common. These suggest a need to pay attention to psychological aspects of patients with CWs.
Karim Montasser
Helwan University, Egypt
Title: Staphylococcus aureus to antiseptic quaternary ammonium compounds
Biography:
Karim Montasser is a lecturer of clinical microbiology and infection control at faculty of medicine- Helwan university- Cairo- Egypt. His research interest is Clinical microbiology
Abstract:
Objectives: This study determined the prevalence of qac and smr genes in clinical Staphylococcus aureus isolates from hospital-acquired infections and their susceptibility to quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) and antibiotics, and correlated the presence of antiseptic resistance genes with antibiotic resistance.
Methods: Susceptibility of 150 non-duplicate clinical S. aureus isolates to antimicrobials and benzalkonium chloride (BAC) was determined by disk diffusion and MIC method, respectively. Resistant strains were analysed by multiplex PCR for the presence of qac and smr genes.
Results: Reduced susceptibility to BAC was detected in 30% of isolates (MIC cut-off >8mg/L). QAC resistance genes were detected in 13 isolates with reduced BAC susceptibility. The most frequently detected genes were qacA/B (10 isolates; 22.2%), followed by qacJ (10; 22.2%), smr (8; 17.8%), qacG (8; 17.8%) and qacH (3; 6.7%). There was a strong positive correlation between presence of QAC resistance genes and higher BAC MIC associated with qacA/B, qacJ and smr genes. There was a statistically significant prevalence of antiseptic resistance genes among isolates resistant to cefoxitin, ciprofloxacin, clindamycin, oxacillin, tetracycline and erythromycin.
Conclusion: This study highlights the prevalence of qac and smr genes in clinical S. aureus isolates with resistance to QACs. There was an association between the presence of antiseptic resistance genes and resistance to different antibiotics, which may be attributed to the presence of both groups of genes on the same plasmid or to selection of resistant strains. More studies are needed on the clinical relevance of the presence of genes controlling resistance to antiseptics.