A topical pharmaceutical or cosmetic formulation is disclosed, comprising two polymer membranes enclosing probiotic bacteria having antimicrobial activities against skin pathogens sandwiched therebetween, one of the membranes being semipermeable and having a pore size which does not allow penetration of the bacteria, and medical and cosmetic uses thereof. Preferably the probiotic bacteria are of the order Lactobacillales, most preferably of the strain L. plantarum 8P-A3 (DSM 32835).

Methods for treating a wound or promote wound healing are provided, comprising the step of administering a composition including an effective amount of β-1 adrenergic receptor antagonist to a subject in need thereof. Also provided is apparatus for wound healing, comprising a dressing and a composition including an effective amount of β-1 adrenergic receptor antagonist.

Films for medical devices and/or packaging include polyethylene-poly(ethylene oxide) amphiphilic graft copolymers (PE-g-PEO) in their base polymer formulations of polyethylene and poly(ethylene oxide). The films may be treated to include a nitric-oxide releasing agent incorporated into the PE-g-PEO. Also, microbial agents for inclusion in medical devices are provided, which comprise: an olefin-poly(ethylene oxide) amphiphilic graft copolymer, wherein a portion of the poly(ethylene oxide) comprises end groups converted to a nitric oxide-releasing agent. The amphiphilic graft copolymer of the microbial agents may comprise a polyethylene-poly(ethylene oxide) amphiphilic graft copolymer (PE-g-PEO), a polypropylene-poly(ethylene oxide) amphiphilic graft copolymer (PP-g-PEO), or mixtures thereof.

Films for medical devices and/or packaging include polyethylene-poly(ethylene oxide) amphiphilic graft copolymers (PE-g-PEO) in their base polymer formulations of polyethylene and poly(ethylene oxide). The films may be treated to include a nitric-oxide releasing agent incorporated into the PE-g-PEO. Also, microbial agents for inclusion in medical devices are provided, which comprise: an olefin-poly(ethylene oxide) amphiphilic graft copolymer, wherein a portion of the poly(ethylene oxide) comprises end groups converted to a nitric oxide-releasing agent. The amphiphilic graft copolymer of the microbial agents may comprise a polyethylene-poly(ethylene oxide) amphiphilic graft copolymer (PE-g-PEO), a polypropylene-poly(ethylene oxide) amphiphilic graft copolymer (PP-g-PEO), or mixtures thereof.

Systems, methods, and apparatuses for generating and releasing iodine are described. Some embodiments may include a dressing member including a plurality of iodine-forming reagents and a water-swellable material. In some embodiments, the dressing member may include water-swellable fibers. The water-swellable fibers may each include a water-swellable material in which iodine-forming reagents are dispersed. As liquid comes into contact with and is absorbed by the water-swellable material, the iodine-forming reagents may come into contact with each other, causing an iodine-forming reaction to occur, producing iodine.

A furniture fitting for an item of seating furniture. The furniture fitting has a base portion attaching to a furniture base that stands on a floor, a seat face portion attaching a seat face unit having a seat face, and a leg rest portion attaching a leg rest unit having a leg rest face. The seat face portion is attached to the base portion for movement between upper and lower terminal positions, and the leg rest portion is attached to the seat face portion for movement between a stowage terminal position and a use terminal position. The leg rest portion via a rear and a front pivot lever is attached to the seat face portion. A gear device kinematically couples the movement of the seat face portion in relation to the base portion to the movement of the leg rest portion in relation to the seat face portion.

Disclosed is a device including a substrate and a gel layer made of a hydrophilic polymer having a hydroxyl group. The gel layer is fixed to at least a part on a surface of the substrate in a thickness of 1 nm to 3,000 nm and an elastic modulus of a device surface is 6.00×10.sup.3 Pa or less.

Disclosed is a device including a substrate and a gel layer made of a hydrophilic polymer having a hydroxyl group. The gel layer is fixed to at least a part on a surface of the substrate in a thickness of 1 nm to 3,000 nm and an elastic modulus of a device surface is 6.00×10.sup.3 Pa or less.

The technology defined in the present document generally relates to a method for enhancing hair growth on an area of a skin of a subject. The method comprises topically applying a composition comprising at least one light-absorbing molecule to the skin; and exposing said applied composition to actinic light to cause activation of the composition. Activation of the applied composition triggers enhancement of hair growth on the skin.

A device includes a substrate and a hydrophilic polymer layer made of a hydrophilic polymer having a hydroxyl group. The hydrophilic polymer layer having a hydroxyl group is fixed to at least a part of a surface of the substrate and the hydrophilic polymer further has an amide group. A liquid film retention time of the device is 15 seconds or more. The device has a surface of a substrate which is hydrophilized. A method for producing the device by a simple method is also disclosed.