RMIT University

About: RMIT University is a education organization based out in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Health care. The organization has 40468 authors who have published 82923 publications receiving 1729499 citations. The organization is also known as: Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology & Melbourne Technical College.

Nano-structured antimicrobial surfaces: From nature to synthetic analogues.

Abstract: The scientific and industrial interest in antimicrobial surfaces has significantly increased in recent times. This interest is largely in response to the persistent microbial contamination of industrial and, importantly, medical implant surfaces. Bacterial contamination of implant surfaces often leads to infection at the implant-tissue interface, and with the prevalence of increasing levels of antimicrobial resistance, the treatment of these infections is becoming far more challenging. Recently, many naturally occurring, high-aspect-ratio surface topographies have been discovered that exhibit high levels of biocidal efficacy. These include epicuticular lipid nano-architectures that are formed on the surfaces of insect wings, such as cicadae and dragonflies. The antimicrobial activity of such surfaces has been found to be a consequence of the physical interactions between the nanoscale topography of the substrate and the attaching pathogenic cells, meaning that the activity is independent of biochemical surface functionality. Importantly, these desirable surface properties can be translated to synthetic biomimetic surfaces, which, when mimicked, lead to a substantial increase in the antimicrobial properties of such surfaces. This paper reviews the recent advances in understanding the basis of these mechanical antimicrobial mechanisms, and discusses the progress being made towards the fabrication of optimised, biocompatible, synthetic analogues.

Tiotropium for stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a meta-analysis

Abstract: Background: A systematic review was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of tiotropium, a long acting anticholinergic drug, on clinical events, symptom scales, pulmonary function, and adverse events in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods: A systematic search was made of the Cochrane trials database, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and a hand search of 20 respiratory journals. Missing data were obtained from authors and the manufacturer. Randomised controlled trials of ⩾12 weeks’ duration comparing tiotropium with placebo, ipratropium bromide, or long acting β2 agonists (LABA) were reviewed. Studies were pooled to yield odds ratios (OR) or weighted mean differences with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: Nine trials (8002 patients) met the inclusion criteria. Tiotropium reduced the odds of a COPD exacerbation (OR 0.73; 95% CI 0.66 to 0.81) and related hospitalisation (OR 0.68; 95% CI 0.54 to 0.84) but not pulmonary (OR 0.50; 95% CI 0.19 to 1.29) or all-cause (OR 0.96; 95% CI 0.63 to 1.47) mortality compared with placebo and ipratropium. Reductions in exacerbations and hospitalisations compared with LABA were not statistically significant. Similar patterns were evident for quality of life and symptom scales. Tiotropium yielded greater increases in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) from baseline to 6–12 months than did placebo, ipratropium, and LABA. Decline in FEV1 over 1 year was 30 ml (95% CI 7 to 53) slower with tiotropium than with placebo and ipratropium (data were not available for LABA). Reports of dry mouth and urinary tract infections were increased with tiotropium. Conclusions: Tiotropium reduced COPD exacerbations and related hospitalisations, improved quality of life and symptoms, and may have slowed the decline in FEV1. Long term trials are warranted to evaluate the effects of tiotropium on decline in FEV1 and to clarify its role compared with LABA.

Liquid Metal Marbles

Abstract: Liquid metal marbles that are droplets of liquid metal encapsulated by micro- or nanoparticles are introduced. Droplets of galinstan liquid metal are coated with insulators (including Teflon and silica) and semiconductors (including WO3, TiO2, MoO3, In2O3 and carbon nanotubes) by rolling over a powder bed and also by submerging in colloidal suspensions. It is shown that these marbles can be split and merged, can be suspended on water, and are even stable when moving under the force of gravity and impacting a flat solid surface. Furthermore, the marble coating can operate as an active electronic junction and the nanomaterial coated liquid metal marble can act as a highly sensitive electrochemical based heavy metal ion sensor. This new element thus represents a significant platform for the advancement of research into soft electronics.