Deposition of bioactive coatings composed of zinc oxide, cyclodextrin and cefepime (ZnO/CD/Cfp) was performed by the Matrix Assisted Pulsed Laser Evaporation (MAPLE) technique. The obtained nanostructures were characterized by X-ray diffraction, IR microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The efficient release of cefepime was correlated with an increased anti-biofilm activity of ZnO/CD/Cfp composites. In vitro and in vivo tests have revealed a good biocompatibility of ZnO/CD/Cfp coatings, which recommend them as competitive candidates for the development of antimicrobial surfaces with biomedical applications. The release of the fourth generation cephalosporin Cfp in a biologically active form from the ZnO matrix could help preventing the bacterial adhesion and the subsequent colonization and biofilm development on various surfaces, and thus decreasing the risk of biofilm-related infections.

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Background: Facial blemishes resulting from skin disorders have a significant effect on the patient's self-esteem and impact quality of life (QOL). Aim: To assess the impact of a corrective cosmetic (CC) on QOL on top of skin quality parameters. Methods: An international observational study was conducted on subjects with visible facial flaws that would benefit from a corrective cosmetic. Investigators collected data regarding demographics, QOL using the Skindex-16 scale, skin dryness and tautness, subject and investigator satisfaction, cosmetic acceptability and tolerance at baseline and after 4 to 6 weeks of daily use. Results: A total of 1840 subjects participated; the mean age was 31.5±11.1 and 95% were women. Acne accounted for 48.9% of skin conditions, followed by melasma (16.7%) and rosacea (15.3%). Of the subjects 81.2% had at least 10% of the face affected and the condition was rated as disfiguring by 45.3% of the subjects; 45.0% and 44.4%, respectively, had neither taut nor dry skin at baseline. Baseline Skindex-16 scores for symptoms, emotions, functioning and overall were 1.4±1.3, 3.5±1.6, 2.4±1.8 and 2.4±1.3, respectively, on a scale from 0 to 6. Compliance was 96.0±10.6%. At the end of the study, Skindex-16 scores had significantly (p<0.0001) improved for all parameters, as did skin dryness and tautness. Subject and investigator satisfaction were high or very high; cosmetic acceptability was high or very high and local tolerance good or very good. Conclusion: The tested corrective cosmetic significantly improved the QOL of subjects with significant facial flaws, skin tautness and dryness, and was well tolerated.

There are numerous articles on the discovery of this arterial polygon, its history being quite long, beginning with the Antiquity and up to the Modern Era. Making an analysis of the primary and secondary sources on this topic, the purpose of this article is to identify the significant moments of the discovery of this arterial polygon, which is an anatomical structure with great importance for neurologists and neurosurgeons. We will present the contributions to this topic from Renaissance and early Modern Era anatomists, such as Andreas Vesalius, Jean Fernel, Gabriel Fallopius, Giulio Cesare Casseri, Adriaan van den Spiegel, Johann Vesling, and Johann Jakob Wepfer von Schaffhausen. We also pointed out that the contribution of the famous British anatomist Sir Thomas Willis (1621–1675) was the most important one. He published De Cerebri Anatome , in 1664, in which he described the vascular arrangement laying at the base of the brain, accompanying it by the exquisite drawings of Christopher Wren. Thus, he demonstrated to the medical world that he had reached the greatest understanding of the structure and function of the circular arterial anastomosis. For this excellent discovery, his followers honored him by giving his name to this arterial circle.

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