Suture tensor

The suture tensor is a simple stainless steel device that pulls the ends of a running subcuticular suture in opposite directions, maintaining the desired closure. The benefits of the use of this device may include minimization of train-track and excisional scarification (via the enhanced maintenance of "tenting"), time savings, and flexibility and durability for the sporting or physically active patient.     

Response of multicellular tumor spheroids to liposomes containing TNF-α

Summary This publication describes a new model to investigate the influence of tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) on a three-dimensional glial cell aggregate under defined, standardized, reproducible conditions using the glioma cell line A 172.The cells are initially grown as normal monolayer culture until they reach a cell density of up to 1×10⁶. Subsequently they are grown as spheroids by the liquid overlay technique. Spheroids grown in this way were divided into ten groups of more than 50 cell aggregates. Three groups were coincubated with free TNF- in increasing dosages (100 ng/ml, 200 ng/ml and 1000 ng/ml); three groups were incubated with empty liposomes (0.2 mg/ml, 0.4 mg/ml and 2 mg/ml); three groups received liposomes which had been loaded with TNF-, and one group, which received no treatment, served as control.The diameter of the spheroids ranged from 80 m to 350 m. There was no significant difference in growth between the 3 groups treated with free TNF-. Comparing spheroids treated with TNF- with those which had been coincubated with empty liposomes, there was a significant difference (p<0.001) in growth, which correlated with the amount of liposomes. Similarly, free TNF- had a significantly (P<0.001) stronger growth-inhibiting effect as compared to liposomes loaded with TNF-. Comparing the groups treated with liposomes only to those treated with liposomes loaded with TNF-, the latter exhibited a more marked (although not significantly) growth-inhibiting effect.The preliminary conclusion is that the major growth-inhibiting effect seems to be mediated by the liposomes. This phenomenon is in agreement with results obtained in monolayer cultures.     

A multivariate analysis of mental hospital recidivism

This study identifies health problems, instrumental activities of daily living, employment status, and number of previous admissions as significant factors of recidivism to a mental health residential facility. The study, conducted over a 5-year period, includes measures on 32 predictor variables collected either on admission, on discharge, or 12-15 months following discharge or on readmission. The study's results are interpreted in light of current changes in the mental health service delivery system including the interactive role of physical and mental illnesses, expanding access to community-based generic services, focusing on functional skills and their development or remediation, and the changing criteria for measuring mental health effectiveness.