Comparative in vitro study on a ultra-high roughness and dense titanium coating

A new implant surface has been developed with the purpose of avoiding as much stress shielding as possible, and thus prolong the prosthesis lifespan. The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro effect of this new ultra-high roughness and dense Titanium (Ti) surface (PG60, Ra = 74 microm) in comparison with medium (TI01, Ra = 18 microm) and high (TI60, Ra = 40 microm) roughness and open porous coatings; all the coatings were obtained by vacuum plasma spraying. MG63 osteoblast-like cells were seeded on the tested materials and polystyrene, as control, for 3 and 7 days. Cells proliferated on the material surfaces similarly to the control. Alkaline phosphatase activity had lower values for TI60 than TI01 (p < 0.0005) and PG60 (p < 0.005). Osteocalcin levels measured on TI60 were significantly (p < 0.0005) lower in comparison with TI01 and PG60 at 7 days. Procollagen-I synthesis reduced with increasing roughness and the lowest data was found for PG60. While at 3 days Transforming Growth Factor beta1 levels augmented with increasing roughness, at 7 days TI60, the high roughness surface, was significantly lower than PG60 (p < 0.005) and TI01 (p < 0.001). All tested materials showed significantly higher Interleukin-6 levels than those of polystyrene at both experimental times. Nitric Oxide activity on TI01 was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than on TI60 and polystyrene. In conclusion, the new ultra-high roughness and dense coating PG60 provided a good biological response, even though, at least in vitro, it behaved similarly to the coatings already used in orthopaedics.     

The beneficial effects of fractional CO2 laser treatment on perineal changes during puerperium and breastfeeding period: a multicentric study

Lasers in Medical Science - Childbirth is a great change in woman life because of hormonal, physical and psychological alterations that are associated with this process. Dyspareunia and perineal...     

Choice of neurosurgical approach in the treatment of cranial base lesions

The authors describe a series of surgical approaches that they found particularly useful for the exposure and removal of lesions involving the skull base. These are: 1) fronto-naso-orbital approach; 2) frontotemporo-orbito-zygomatic approach; 3) subtemporal transpetrosal approach; 4) temporo-suboccipital transpetrosal approach (retrolabyrinthine presigmoid; transsigmoid; translabyrintine amend transcochlear presigmoid); 5) dorsolateral approach to the foramen magnum and lower clivus.As the approaches are complex and carry potential risks of morbidity, not only it is important to have a good knowledge of basic anatomy but also to closely follow the indications for each one. In this type of surgery where it is often difficult to achieve complete removal of the lesion by a single route of attack, more than one approach may be employed in different surgical steps. Finally, all these approaches demand extremely scrupulos surgical reconstruction to avoid dangerous postoperative complications that may jeopardize the previous work of the surgeon.     

Immunological changes among workers occupationally exposed to styrene

The functional status of the immune system was investigated in a group of 71 workers exposed to styrene and in 65 control subjects, recruited according to the same selection criteria and comparable as to sex, age, and confounding variables. Air and biological monitoring were used to characterize styrene exposure (median of the main urinary metabolites in the next-morning spot samples: 106 mg/g creatinine). Phenotypic analysis of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) by automated flow cytometry revealed a reduced proportion of T lymphocyte subsets (CD3⁺, CD4⁺ and CD4⁺45⁺), with no changes in CD8⁺, and a higher proportion of B lymphocytes (CD19⁺) among styrene-exposed workers. The exposed workers showed a higher proportion of activation markers, namely DR and interleukin-2 receptors (CD25). Immunoglobulin subclasses were comparable in the two groups. An increased prevalence of abnormally low values was apparent for CD2⁺, CD3⁺, CD4⁺, CD4⁺45⁺ and CD11b subsets among workers exposed to styrene, whereas CD19⁺, DR⁺ and CD25⁺ showed an increased prevalence of abnormally high values. Natural killer-related phenotypes (CD56⁺, CD56+16⁺, and CD56⁺16^–) were more expressed among styrene workers, with average increase of 30%. However, the frequency distribution of the lytic activity of natural killer cells against K-562 target cells was shifted towards lower values in the exposed workers as compared to control subjects. Dose-response relationships between indices of internal dose and prevalence of abnormal values were detectable for T lymphocyte subsets, NK phenotypes, and activation markers. These findings suggest that moderate exposure to styrene is associated with an altered distribution of lymphocyte subsets. The decreased proportion of T lymphocytes, mainly of T helper-inducer cells, could hamper regulatory functions, thus suggesting a negative modulation by styrene exposure. Since a proper balance between immunocycte subsets is important for immunological responses, such changes should be regarded as adverse effects.     

Identification of the central vestibular projections in man: a positron emission tomography activation study

The cerebral representation of space depends on the integration of many different sensory inputs. The vestibular system provides one such input and its dysfunction can cause profound spatial disorientation. Using positron emission tomography (PET), we measured regional cerebral perfusion with various vestibular stimulations to map central vestibular projections and to investigate the cerebral basis of spatial disorientation. We showed that the temporoparietal cortex, the insula, the putamen, and the anterior cingulate cortex are the cerebral projections of the vestibular system in man and that the spatial disorientation caused by unilateral vestibular stimulation is associated with their asymmetric activation.     

Malaria vaccines

Significant progress has been made in the development of the malaria vaccine during the last 20 years. Ninety percent of the 300–500 million clinical cases of malaria per year worldwide occur in Africa. Thus, research must be directed toward the 1 million African children under 5 years of age who die every year of malaria. An asexual blood-stage vaccine, capable of reducing severe and complicated malaria and malaria-related mortality, is therefore an important public health tool in these countries. Although knowledge of the parasite's biology is incomplete, research has allowed insight into some of the mechanisms that the parasite uses to evade host immunity. This is the basis for adopting an antigenic cocktail approach toward obtaining a synthetic or recombinant subunit vaccine such as the synthetic Colombian Malaria vaccine SPf 66. During the development of Spf66, field trials under both low and high malaria endemicity areas in Latin America and Africa have been carried out. The results from these studies showed a protective efficacy ranging between 38.8 and 60.2% againstPlasmodium falciparum malaria. Given the characteristics of the normal immune response to malaria (relatively short-lived and not completely effective), it is understandable that the main goal is to try to increase the host's natural immunity. The best candidates for designing a malaria vaccine are the proteins required for parasite survival, those with low mutation rates and conserved epitopes. Because these proteins play an important role in multiple or alternative steps during the invasion process, they should be the targets against which a protective immune response should be elicited. The interaction between the malaria parasite and its host is complex. It is therefore crucial to define new ways of improving the immune response—such as directly modifying the chemical structure of epitopes or using new adjuvants or DNA immunization techniques—to produce novel vaccines against this disease.     

Focus group: implications for program evaluation of mental health services

The focus group is a qualitative research method that involves group interaction based on a selected topic. It generally involves eight to 12 individuals who discuss a particular topic under the direction of a moderator who promotes interaction and guides the discussion on the topic of interest. This paper presents theoretical perspectives and a review of focus group methodology applied in related disciplines. A research project, which applied the focus group methodology, is described to illustrate important principles in utilizing this qualitative research technique. Information related to preparation for focus group sessions, structure, setting, participants, principles related to conducting the session and analysis are presented. The relevance of this methodology for research and practice in mental health also is discussed.