Prohypertensive Effect of Gestational Personal Exposure to Fine Particulate Matter. Prospective Cohort Study in Non-smoking and Non-obese Pregnant Women

Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM) is a recognized risk factor for elevated blood pressure (BP) and cardiovascular disease in adults, and this prospective cohort study was undertaken to evaluate whether gestational exposure to PM(2.5) has a prohypertensive effect. We measured personal exposure to fine particulate matter (PM(2.5)) by personal air monitoring in the second trimester of pregnancy among 431 women, and BP values in the third trimester were obtained from medical records of prenatal care clinics. In the general estimating equation model, the effect of PM(2.5) on BP was adjusted for relevant covariates such as maternal age, education, parity, gestational weight gain (GWG), prepregnancy BMI, environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), and blood lead level. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) increased in a linear fashion across a dosage of PM(2.5) and on average augmented by 6.1?mm Hg (95% CI, 0.6-11.6) with log unit of PM(2.5) concentration. Effects of age, maternal education, prepregnancy BMI, blood lead level, and ETS were insignificant. Women with excessive gestational weight gain (>18?kg) had higher mean SBP parameters by 5.5?mmHg (95% CI, 2.7-8.3). In contrast, multiparous women had significantly lower SBP values (coeff.?=?-4.2?mm Hg; 95% CI, -6.8 to -1.6). Similar analysis performed for diastolic blood pressure (DBP) has demonstrated that PM(2.5) also affected DBP parameters (coeff.?=?4.1; 95% CI, -0.02 to 8.2), but at the border significance level. DBP values were positively associated with the excessive GWG (coeff.?=?2.3; 95% CI, 0.3-4.4) but were inversely related to parity (coeff.?=?-2.7; 95% CI, -4.6 to -0.73). In the observed cohort, the exposure to fine particulate matter during pregnancy was associated with increased maternal blood pressure.     

兔膝关节内注射透明质酸钠后胶原纤维及关节外相关韧带组织的变化

目的:在兔固定的膝关节内定期注入透明质酸钠,观察关节内外组织的变化。方法:实验于2003-10/2004-04在大连医科大学完成。实验分组:新西兰兔24只,随机分为透明质酸钠组、生理盐水组、单纯对照组,每组8只。实验干预:用树脂绷带将兔右膝关节固定于伸直位,膝关节注射部位开窗,左膝自由活动(自身对照侧)。透明质酸钠组膝关节腔内注入透明质酸钠0.1mL,生理盐水组注射同等剂量的生理盐水,单纯对照组不向关节内注射任何药物,每周1次,共5次。实验评估:5周后麻醉下处死动物,去除外固定,采用改良Clarke-Weeknesser关节伸屈范围检查标准测量右膝关节的活动范围;采用改良的Rydell-Balazes肉眼粘连评分标准评估膝关节内纤维粘连情况;光镜下观察股间肌、股直肌、髌内外侧支持带的纤维变性情况。结果:动物饲养过程中死亡4只,进入结果分析透明质酸钠组7只,生理盐水组6只,单纯对照组7只。①右膝关节的活动范围:透明质酸钠组大于生理盐水组和单纯对照组[(37.86±2.94)°,(15.67±2.23)°,(14.29±1.96)°,P<0.01]。②膝关节内纤维粘连评分:透明质酸钠组小于生理盐水组和单纯对照组(1.44±0.49,3.33±0.44,3.44±0.57,P<0.01)。③光镜下透明质酸钠组股间肌、股直肌的纤维变性较生理盐水组和单纯对照组减轻,髌内外侧支持带胶原纤维成分的变化也减轻。结论:在固定的兔膝关节内注射透明质酸钠不但可以明显抑制关节内的纤维性粘连;还可以抑制关节外股间肌、股直肌、髌内外侧支持带的组织变性。     

Polyurethane-Based Porous Carbons Suitable for Medical Application

The main aim of the study was to synthesize and analyze spectral data to determine the structure and stereometry of the carbon-based porous material internal structure. Samples of a porous biomaterial were synthesized through anionic polymerization following our own patent and then carbonized. The samples were investigated using MALDI ToF MS, FTIR ATR spectroscopy, optic microscopy, SEM, confocal laser scanning microscopy and CMT imaging. The analysis revealed the chemical and stereological structure of the obtained porous biomaterial. Then, the parameters characterizing the pore geometry and the porosity of the samples were calculated. The developed material can be used to collect adsorption of breathing phase samples to determine the parity composition of exhaled air.     

Surgery Training System Supported by Organic Materials

The aim of the study was the qualitative assessment of new materials based on a polycarbonate matrix in terms of its use in 3D printing and its processing and geometric modification (cutting). Filaments made of the new material doped with talc in five different proportions were visually inspected with a microscope. The calibration and test models were made using the FFF (fused filament fabrication) technique. In addition, its susceptibility to the drill and the behavior of the shavings were assessed and the temperature changing during drilling was measured. The implant was inserted to measure its resonance stability in each of the holes made and translated into the value of the implant stability quotient (ISQ) ranging from 1 to 100. The results were compared to those obtained for the training model of the skull bone. The amount of filler has been shown to affect the composite. Moreover, due to the properties of talc, a compatibilizer (polyol) was used. Differences were observed between the model made of the commercial material, the model made of the dried, tested material, and the model made of the undried material. It was confirmed that the presence of water in the material during its processing is important.