High resolution solid-state 29si nmr spectroscopy of silicone gels used to fill breast prostheses

We have used ²⁹Si solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to study the chemical structure of the silicone gels in virgin and explanted breast prostheses. Despite evidences of alteration in the morphological appearance of the silicone gel inside the breast prosthesis, our results do not reveal changes in the chemical nature and structure of the silicone gels after implantation. In addition to the main ²⁹Si resonance peak at ?22.26 ppm that corresponds to the resonance frequency of the D repeat unit of the polysiloxane chains, the high sensitivity of our NMR technique allows the detection of very low concentrations of silicone compounds. Within our experimental detection limit of 0.2%, no signal between ?90 ppm and ?150 ppm are observed. This indicates that no silica products are present inside the gel of the prostheses. Furthermore, our ²⁹Si NMR spectra indicate differences in the chemical compositions of the silicone gels from different manufacturers.     

Study of nerve regeneration in centrocentral anastomosis

Summary Nerve regeneration was studied in a model of centrocentral anastomosis (CCA) performed on the sciatic nerve of the rat. Experimental CCA was made by suturing the proximal end of the peroneal branch on the proximal end of the sural branch, placing between them a peroneal nerve graft (Group I, 20 rats) or a silicone chamber (Group II, 12 rats). Nerve grafts had a length of 5mm and silicone chambers 7 mm. In six silicone chambers an 1 mm nerve graft was placed in the centre of the tube. In group I animals anterograde degeneration was studied by cutting the graft 60 days after surgery. In group II, nerve regeneration was studied 2, 4 and 8 weeks after surgery. Results indicate that in CCA: 1) regenerated axons coming from one nerve end grow into the graft but do not cross the contralateral suture line; 2) regeneration is poorer in silicone chambers than in nerve grafts; and, 3) in silicone chambers regeneration is related to time. The reduction in the regenerative capability in CCA seems to be related to the alteration of nerve sprouts aiming for the peripheral targets.     

Macrophage response to microtextured silicone

Seven different silicone surface textures were tested for effect on macrophage spreading and metabolic activity in vitro. Variables of the textured arrays that could modify spreading were determined to be the size, spacing between, depth, density, and orientation of the individual surface events and the roughness of the surfaces. Cells were influenced by the size of the events and the roughness of the surfaces more than any other variables. Cell morphology data, surface area and perimeter, could be divided into discrete regions that correlated well with the size of the events. Cell dimensions on 5μm textures were smallest while those on smooth silicone and glass surfaces were the largest. Surface texture events may be modifying contact guidance of the cells or interacting with specific transmembrane proteins to alter cell shape and function. The mitochondrial activity of cells attached to the textured silicones was determined by measuring the amount of reduced MTT directly through live cells. Cells on polystyrene (PS), 5VP and 8VP textures were metabolically more active than cells on the other textures. PMA was used to stimulate cells on the various textures. PMA-stimulated cells, on the smaller textures, 2VP, 5VP and 5CP, were less active than test cells that were not stimulated. The inability of PMA to stimulate these cells may be due to a structural alteration of protein kinase C. An hypothesis is introduced that includes a possible mechanism of how a micrometre-sized surface texture could modify cell function.     

Evaluation of Mechanical Properties of ZY-1 Maxillofacial Prosthetic Materials

Objective Maxillofacial prosthetic materials are used to replace facial parts lost through disease or trauma. Silicone rubbers are the materials of choice. The silicone elastomer A-2186 is a widely used maxillofacial prosthetic material. It is a pourable two-component silicone rubber cured by a platinum catalyst. Used as a prosthetic material, A-2186 has short working time and good mechanical properties. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the physical properties of new prosthetic materials based on addition-type silicone elastomer （ZY-1）, and compared the mechanical properties with those of A-2186, Methods Hardness, tensile strength, ultimate elongation, tear strength and adhesive bonding strength of ZY-1 and A-2186 were compared. Statistical analyses were done using a two-way analysis of variance （ANOVA）. Results The hardness and ultimate elongation of ZY-1 is similar to A-2186. However, tensile strength, tear strength of ZY-1 were higher than those of A-2186. Conclusion ZY-1 addition-type silicone elastomer processed good mechanical properties for use as a maxillofacial prosthetic material.     

弱呼吸敏感电极研究

应用物理学，化学和工艺等方法，分别处理５种国内外敏感器，以组成相应呼吸敏感电极，结果显示，各种电极的气－电转换性能有明显改善，其中以上海复旦片性能达到弱呼吸敏感电极要求。     

光固化复合树脂修补方法的比较研究

本研究评价了喷砂、氢氟酸(HF)、氢氟酸处理后涂KH-570乙醇液等方法时国产GD光固化复合树脂以及进口VIVADENT复合树脂的修补效果.结果表明:9.6%HF处理国产树脂、喷砂处理进口树脂均获得最大的修补强度,HF KH-570处理方法虽为每种材料中之最小者,但与其它修补方法间无显著性差异.     

Migration and chemical modification of silicone in women with breast prostheses

Studies using magnetic resonance spectroscopy in human volunteers to evaluate their livers in vivo and to analyze their blood in vitro suggest that there are measurable amounts of silicon compounds in the blood of some women with implants and that there is migration of silicone to other organs such as the liver.     

Multicoil Dixon chemical species separation with an iterative least-squares estimation method.

This work describes a new approach to multipoint Dixon fat-water separation that is amenable to pulse sequences that require short echo time (TE) increments, such as steady-state free precession (SSFP) and fast spin-echo (FSE) imaging. Using an iterative linear least-squares method that decomposes water and fat images from source images acquired at short TE increments, images with a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and uniform separation of water and fat are obtained. This algorithm extends to multicoil reconstruction with minimal additional complexity. Examples of single- and multicoil fat-water decompositions are shown from source images acquired at both 1.5T and 3.0T. Examples in the knee, ankle, pelvis, abdomen, and heart are shown, using FSE, SSFP, and spoiled gradient-echo (SPGR) pulse sequences. The algorithm was applied to systems with multiple chemical species, and an example of water-fat-silicone separation is shown. An analysis of the noise performance of this method is described, and methods to improve noise performance through multicoil acquisition and field map smoothing are discussed.     

颞区液态硅胶注射后的并发症和处理

自１９９２年以来共收治２０例颞区液态硅胶注射后出现并发症的病人。综合其并发症主要有：（１）局部凹凸不平；（２）疼痛或压痛；（３）在局部或向周围皮下组织内浸润形成硬结；（４）肿胀或青紫。采用颞部发际内切口取出注射之硅胶，对颞部凹陷者于颞区纵切口处辅加一横切口，形成适当大小的蒂在前方的颞肌筋膜瓣翻转１８０°充填颞区，对向眼周及面颊浸润者采用重睑切口、下睑袋整形切口或鱼尾纹切口取出硅胶或同时行上下睑整形术，所有病人都自觉满意。认为利用上述这些切口一方面能满意地取出注射之硅胶，又不会在面部留下明显刀口瘢痕。颞肌筋膜瓣因其血运丰富、不被吸收、质地柔软，不失为一种良好的颞区凹陷充填材料。     

Silicone-Coated Polypropylene Hollow-Fiber Oxygenator: Experimental Evaluation and Preliminary Clinical Use

Background. A membrane oxygenator consisting of a microporous polypropylene hollow fiber with a 0.2-μm ultrathin silicone layer (cyclosiloxane) was developed. Animal experimental and preliminary clinical studies evaluated its reliability in bypass procedures.

Methods. Five 24-hour venoarterial bypass periods were conducted on dogs using the oxygenator (group A). In 5 controls, bypass periods were conducted using the same oxygenator without silicone coating (group B). As a preliminary clinical study, 14 patients underwent cardiopulmonary bypass with the silicone-coated oxygenator.

Results. Eight to 16 hours (mean, 12.2 hours) after initiation of bypass, plasma leakage occurred in all group B animals, but none in group A. The O₂ and CO₂ transfer rates after 24 hours in group A were significantly higher than at termination of bypass in group B (p < 0.005 and p < 0.03, respectively). Scanning electron microscopy of silicone-coated fibers after 24 hours of bypass revealed no damage to the silicone coating of the polypropylene hollow fibers. In the clinical study, the oxygenator showed good gas transfer, acceptable pressure loss, low hemolysis, and good durability.

Conclusions. This oxygenator is more durable and offers greater gas transfer capabilities than the previous generation of oxygenators.