By alkaline treatment, Ca(2+) activation, and biomimetic mineralization, the nanocomposites (CaDHCAp/BC) consisting of calcium-deficient carbonate-containing hydroxyapatite (CaDHCAp) GSK3326595 datasheet in the three-dimensional (3D) network of BC nanofibers were synthesized.

RESULTS: The CaDHCAp/BC nanocomposites obtained were characterized by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD). The results indicated that alkaline treatment improved the apatite nucleation ability of

BC, and the apatite crystals deposited along BC nanofibers were partially substituted with calcium carbonate and the uniform spherical apatite particles were composed of squama-shaped nano-sized apatite crystals. The crystallite sizes of apatite crystals are below 10 nm

and the crystallinities are below 1 %. The formation mechanism of CaDHCAp crystals along the BC fibers was described.

CONCLUSION: Alkaline treatment was introduced before the biomimetic mineralization process. Compared with the results without alkaline treatment, the mineralization efficiency was obviously improved. The nanocomposites obtained may have potential application as an orthopedic biomaterial. (C) 2008 Society of Chemical Industry”
“Blood stream infections (BSIs) remain one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality for patients receiving allogeneic Selleckchem MI-503 hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). In the present study, we evaluated the incidence and characteristics of BSIwithin 1year after allogeneic HSCT in 269 consecutive adult patients who received antibacterial prophylaxis with levofloxacin. Cumulative incidence of BSI was 12%(95% confidence interval, 8 selleck products 16%). Bacteria were responsible for 30 out of the 32 BSIs, while fungi were responsible for 2 episodes of BSI. The median onset of BSI was day 8 (range 1 328 days) post transplant, and 66% of BS occurred before neutrophil recovery. Gram-positive organisms accounted for 60%(n = 518) of bacteremia, and gram-negative isolates

for 40%(n = 512) of the cases. Coagulasenegative staphylococci were the most commonly isolated gram-positive pathogens (53% of the cases), while Escherichia coli was the most commonly isolated gram-negative bacteria (58% of the cases). Candida albicans and Candida guillermondii were isolated from patients with candidemia. Resistance to uoroquinolones (FQ) was common with 13% of gram-positive isolates being susceptible to FQ, while 50% of the gram-negative rods were susceptible to FQ. Crude mortality and mortality attributable to BSI were both 3%(1 of 32). In conclusion, our data suggest that despite the emergence of antibiotic resistance, FQ prophylaxis may be considered an appealing approach in allogeneic HSCT recipients and is also worth evaluating in randomized studies.