UNASSIGNED: Multiple techniques are available for closing skin defects, such as skin grafts, flaps and tissue expansion. The tissue extender MID SEW (MID, France) was developed to achieve dermatotraction or suture reinforcement. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of this innovative silicone extender for large surgical wounds.
UNASSIGNED: A single-centre retrospective and observational study on an unselected consecutive cohort of patients treated with a tissue extender was conducted. Indications, initial and final wound surfaces, and adverse events (AEs) were retrieved from electronic medical records. The main outcome measure was the time to complete wound closure.
UNASSIGNED: We identified 50 patients from July 2017 to December 2018. Patients underwent cutaneous tumour-wide excision (n=44), or pilonidal disease surgical treatment (n=6). The average initial wound area was 53.3±42.4cm2. Healing was complete, without secondary dehiscence, within the first seven days after device withdrawal for 41 patients (82%). At least one AE was experienced by eight patients (16%) during the study period: five inflammation; five wound dehiscence; two skin necrosis; and one pain.
UNASSIGNED: This case series suggests that the tissue extender may be effective and safe in its dermatotraction and suture reinforcement indications in the treatment of large wounds after wide excision of skin cancer or treatment of pilonidal disease.
UNASSIGNED: This work was supported in part by the Hospices Civils de Lyon, France and in part by the University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, France. OB co-owns the patent on the MID SEW system. The authors have no other conflicts of interest to declare.

Objective: To assess the efficacy of silicone earplugs in protecting workers exposed to noise in a typical manufacturing environment, and to provide training interventions for workers who do not achieve the anticipated noise reduction levels, as well as examining the spectral characteristics of earplug attenuation. Methods: From June to August 2022, a total of 294 noise-exposed workers in two manufacturing enterprises equipped with the same type of earplug were studied by cluster sampling method, by conducting questionnaire surveys, collecting data, fitting tests, and providing trainings, the current noise exposure levels of workers in the industry as well as the perception about the earplug were understood. Additionally, the attenuation before and after intervention in workplace were measured, the spectral characteristics of noise reduction were were described and compared. Results: The percentage of workers with Personal Attenuation Rating (PAR) of 0 is 32.7% (96/294), and the baseline pass rates are all below 60%. There were no significant differences in pass rates based on gender, age, noise exposure, education level, or cognition of earplug effectiveness. After adjusting the way that earplugs are worn or changing the type of earplugs, all workers were able to meet their noise reduction requirements. The median PAR improvement for both companies is above 10 dB. The noise attenuation of the earplug vary with frequency, with lower attenuation at 4 000 Hz and higher attenuation at 8 000 Hz, showing some deviation from the nominal values. Conclusion: The difference between the actual sound attenuation value of earplugs and the nominal value is related to the noise frequency. When using silicone earplugs, attention should be paid to the spectral composition of the noise in the workplace.
目的： 评估制造业企业噪声暴露工人佩戴某预制型硅胶耳塞的防护效果，对未达到预期降噪水平的工人进行培训干预，并了解耳塞衰减的频谱特征。 方法： 于2022年6至8月，选择两家配发同种耳塞的制造企业，采用整群抽样方法选择294名噪声暴露岗位工人作为研究对象，通过问卷调查、资料收集、声衰减测试及培训干预，对企业工人声暴露现状及对佩戴耳塞的主观认知、耳塞佩戴的实际衰减及干预后的衰减及硅胶耳塞降噪的频谱特征进行描述与组间比较。 结果： 基线个人声衰减值（personal attenuation rating，PAR）值为0的工人占32.7%（96/294），两企业PAR基线通过率均不足60%；不同性别、年龄、接噪工龄、受教育程度及工人对耳塞主观认知差异的PAR基线通过率差异均无统计学意义（P>0.05）。干预后两企业工人PAR提升值中位数均>10 dB；不同频率的PAR差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）；PAR与标称值在4 000 Hz处差距较大。 结论： 耳塞的实际声衰减值与标称值之间的差值与噪声频率有关，使用硅胶耳塞时需要关注场所噪声的频谱成份。.

BACKGROUND: This prospective clinical study evaluates the effect of a silicone stent tube (SST) on the success rate of endonasal-endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (EN-DCR) to treat primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction.
METHODS: Patients were randomly assigned to receive EN-DCR with or without SST intubation over a period of 3 months. The surgery was performed using standardized techniques. Patients were assessed at three different timepoints: one day, 12 weeks and 24 weeks after the surgery. The results were compared in order to evaluate statistical differences. Surgical success was determined by means of positive irrigation procedures, as well as by the improvement of symptoms and a high level of patient satisfaction.
RESULTS: A total of 56 randomized cases completed 24 weeks of follow up. 1 Patient dropped out due to malignant genesis of the nasolacrimal duct obstruction. After 24 weeks of follow up no statistically significant differences in levels of epiphora (p > .10) or patency (p > .16) were revealed. Comparisons regarding changes in time did not show levels of significance (p > .28).
CONCLUSIONS: This study could not confirm a statistically significant benefit or disadvantage for SST Insertion in EN-DCR.

METHODS: A 64-year-old man presented with a 3-year history of right wrist pain and swelling 33 years after a silicone scaphoid arthroplasty for chronic scaphoid nonunion. Radiographs demonstrated a deformed scaphoid implant, carpal and distal radius cysts, and mild carpal collapse. He elected to undergo a wrist arthrodesis with a dorsal fusion plate after failing conservative management.
CONCLUSIONS: Although carpal bone silicone implant arthroplasties of the wrist have long been abandoned, our patient was pain free and fully functional for 3 decades. He was pleased to undergo serial examinations with radiographs for 30 years without any therapeutic intervention.

UNASSIGNED: Skin breakdown is common in the intensive care unit (ICU). This pilot evaluation aimed to determine whether a nurse-constructed urinary catheter securement device using a silicone adhesive could reduce the complications of blistering and other skin breakdowns in a high-risk ICU population with Foley catheters.
UNASSIGNED: A prospective, non-randomised performance improvement study using a convenience sample was carried out.
UNASSIGNED: The study sample consisted of 29 patients with urethral Foley catheters and any degree of thigh oedema in a surgical ICU at an academic quarternary medical center.
UNASSIGNED: Patients were fitted with a standard acrylic-adhesive catheter securement device on one thigh and a nurse-constructed device on the contralateral thigh. At the beginning of each 12-hour shift, the nurse moved the Foley catheter from one securement device to the other; the nurse recorded the assessment findings at the end of the shift.
UNASSIGNED: The average age of the 29 patients was 61±16 (range 20-87) years. Visible skin compromise occurred in 21% of the time with the standard acrylic securement device; an equal percentage of men and women developed skin breakdown. Oedema status was a significant factor related to skin breakdown. There was no visible damage to the skin associated with the nurse-constructed silicone-adhesive device.
UNASSIGNED: A silicone adhesive urinary catheter securement device causes less skin damage than one with acrylic adhesive. One-step application, pain-free and atraumatic removal, and reliable securement are essential considerations in product development.

BACKGROUND: Post-Covid Syndrome, Sick Building Syndrome, Silicone Breast Syndrome, Choric Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia -Autoimmunity to the Autonomic Nervous System.

Oil spills in the ocean and the release of contaminated wastewater from industries cause significant harm to the ecosystem and water sources. To tackle this environmental problem, oil-water mixture separation has been the subject of extensive research over the past few decades. Improving oil absorbents is crucial in removing organic contaminants from wastewater produced by industrial activities. To this end, there is an increasing need for materials that can efficiently and flexibly recover oils from contaminated ocean waters, industrial wastewater, and other sources. Silicones are often used for this purpose because of their exceptional mechanical and thermal durability, as well as their low toxicity. The materials produced from silicones, such as foam, sponge, or substrate, exhibit excellent oil-absorbing properties (maximum oil absorption range, 23.2-77 g/g) and outstanding compression cycles. This article review highlights the advancements in the manufacturing of silicone-based products that have been extensively researched for oil-water separation. Understanding the interdependencies that determine the structure, performance, and manufacturing strategy is essential to producing selective oil absorbents with more commercial potential in the future. Recycling of silicones has also become increasingly important as a goal for the circular economy.

Organotin compounds (OTs) are well studied in various environmental compartments, with a critical focus on the water column as their primary entry point into aquatic ecosystems. In this context, a method for the analysis of organotin (OTs) in water using silicone rubber-based passive sampling was optimized, validated, and field-tested. Validation covered crucial parameters, including the limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification (LOQ), accuracy, precision, linearity, and matrix effect. The method was shown to be robust (R2 ≥ 0.99), with recoveries between 70.2 and 114.6%, and precise (CV < 12.8%) (N = 3). LODCw and LOQCw were ≤15 and ≤ 48 pg Sn L-1, respectively, for TBT and TPhT. The matrix effect showed to be low (>-20% ME < 20%) for all OTs but TPhT (69.4%). The silicone rubber-water partition coefficients (Log Ksr,w) were estimated at 3.37 for MBT, 3.77 for DBT, 4.17 for TBT, 3.49 for MPhT, 3.83 for DPhT, and 4.22 for TPhT. During the field study carried out between October 2021 and February 2022 at the entrance of the Port of Santos navigation channel (Southeastern Brazil), sampling rates ranged between 4.1 and 4.6 L d-1, and the equilibrium was achieved for MBT, DBT, MPhT, and DPhT after ∼45 days of deployment. The freely dissolved concentrations varied between 134 and 165 pg Sn L-1 for TBT, 388 and 610 pg Sn L-1 for DBT, and 1114 and 1509 pg Sn L-1 for MBT, while MPhT, DPhT, and TPhT were below the limit of detection. Results pointed out that J-FLEX® rubber-based passive sampling is a suitable and reliable alternative method for the continuous monitoring of OTs in the water column.

In a sixty-eight-bed level-IV NICU, an increased incidence of hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) from noninvasive ventilation (NIV) devices was identified. The aim of this quality improvement project was to decrease HAPIs from NIV by 10%. A literature review and the Plan-Do-Study-Act were implemented. The intervention included a customized silicone foam dressing under NIV, an NIV skincare bundle, and multidisciplinary support. Hospital-acquired pressure injury rates were tracked over 3 years postinterventions. The incidence of HAPIs declined by 20% from 0.2 per 1,000 patient days to 0.05 per 1,000 patient days. Relative risk was 4.6 times greater prior to intervention (p = .04). Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) failure was not noted and measured by the percentage of patients on ventilators pre- and postintervention. Customized silicone foam dressings under NIV, NIV skincare bundle, and multidisciplinary team support may decrease HAPIs in neonates without CPAP failure.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate in situ the influence of sweat, oil, sunscreen, and disinfectant solution on the color stability, hardness, and roughness of elastomer for facial prostheses.
METHODS: Standardized and intrinsically pigmented specimens remained in contact with human skin from the same person for 30 days, considering exposures (n = 36 per group), absent of exposition (Control, C); sweat and oiliness contact (SO); sweat and oiliness associated with sunscreen (SOS); 0.12% chlorhexidine digluconate immersion (CD0.12%); and all agents exposed (SOSCD). The main variables were color change (CIELab and National Standard Bureau system, NBS), Shore A hardness, and surface roughness, measured at baseline and 30 days. Qualitative analyses were performed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The data were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis tests (color) and two-way ANOVA (hardness and roughness) with Sidak post-test (α = 0.05).
RESULTS: CD0.12% (1.54 ± 0.49) and SOSCD (2.10 ± 1.03) had similar effects and caused the smallest color changes, considered mild and noticeable (NBS), respectively. SOS promoted the greatest color change (6.99 ± 1.43, NBS: large) and hardness (17.97 ± 0.56); SOS promoted intermediate roughness (3.48 ± 1.05) between SOSCD (2.25 ± 0.53), and two similar groups: C (4.46 ± 0.95), and CD0.12% (4.39 ± 1.26). The qualitative analysis showed an irregular, dense, dry, and whitish layer on the surface of the specimens exposed to sunscreen, which was reduced when in contact with 0.12% chlorhexidine digluconate.
CONCLUSIONS: Endogenous and exogenous factors are capable of altering elastomer properties. The 0.12% chlorhexidine digluconate minimized the changes caused by sweat, oil, and sunscreen.