A study on platelet function in idiopathic scoliosis

Because platelets and muscle cells share the same contractile proteins--actin and myosin--platelets may serve as a model for muscle research. To study the functional abnormalities and ultrastructural changes of platelets and to determine whether or not abnormalities in muscle contractile proteins and collagen play an important role in the pathogenesis of idiopathic scoliosis, the bleeding time, the platelet aggregation test, and the titers of platelet plasminogen activator inhibitors were measured and the electron microscopic findings were examined in 52 idiopathic scoliosis patients aged 7 to 28 years and in 49 normal individuals aged 8 to 38 years as a control group. We found no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the bleeding time, the platelet aggregation test, and the titers of platelet plasminogen activator inhibitors. In the electron microscopic findings, no specific abnormalities were found in platelets of idiopathic scoliosis patients. We concluded that idiopathic scoliotic patients have normal morphology and function of platelets, and there is no important role of contractile proteins in the pathogenesis of idiopathic scoliosis. In addition, since the bleeding time was in the normal range, no evidence of subendothelial collagen dysfunction was found in the idiopathic scoliosis patients.     

Study on liver injury models induced by CCl4 D-Gal and ANIT in mice

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Effects of sera from burn patients on human hepatocytic viscoelasticity

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Numerical Simulation of Conical and Linear-Shaped Charges Using an Eulerian Elasto-Plastic Multi-Material Multi-Phase Flow Model with Detonation

This study developed a hydrocode to numerically simulate both conical and linear-shaped charges using an Eulerian multi-material and multi-phase flow model. Elasto-plastic solids and the detonation of a high explosive charge were modeled using a Johnson–Cook material model and the programmed burn model, respectively. Further, the plasticity of the solids was calculated using a radial return mapping algorithm. The model was solved using a high-resolution computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technique on Cartesian grids. Material interfaces were tracked using the level-set method, and the boundary conditions were imposed using the ghost fluid method. The developed hydrocode was validated using high-speed impact problems. Consequently, the developed hydrocode was used to successfully simulate the evolution and penetration of metal jets in shaped charges after a detonation.     

Necrotizing fasciitis following transobturator tape procedure: a case report and literature review

A 51-year-old diabetic woman was referred to our unit with a history of increasing pain in her right thigh and gait disturbance, 10 days following surgery for treatment of stress urinary incontinence with a transobturator tape. Examination elicited a tender right thigh associated with swelling and erythema. Inspection of the vagina revealed an exposed mesh through the vaginal erosion. Plain radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging revealed large thigh abscesses suggestive of gas gangrene from the pelvis to the calf. The mesh was completely removed; extensile incisions, as well as aggressive debridement of all necrotic tissue in the thigh and calf, were performed. A diagnosis of necrotizing fasciitis with gas extending to the lower leg level was confirmed. After mesh removal, abscess drainage and debridement, the patient recovered with antibiotics and daily wound care. Three months after the operation, the patient showed no recurrence of the infection.     

Percutaneous sacroplasty with the use of C-arm flat-panel detector CT: technical feasibility and clinical outcome

Purpose  

Sacroplasty for sacral insufficiency fractures (SIFs) has been performed mostly under computed tomography (CT) or fluoroscopy guidance. The purposes of this study are to describe technical tips and clinical outcomes of sacroplasty under C-arm flat panel detector CT (C-arm CT) guidance, and to compare the cement distributions shown on C-arm CT with those on multi-detector CT (MDCT).     

The development of an intervention programme to reduce whole-body vibration exposure at work induced by a change in behaviour: a study protocol

Background  

Whole body vibration (WBV) exposure at work is common and studies found evidence that this exposure might cause low back pain (LBP). A recent review concluded there is a lack of evidence of effective strategies to reduce WBV exposure. Most research in this field is focussed on the technical implications, although changing behaviour towards WBV exposure might be promising as well. Therefore, we developed an intervention programme to reduce WBV exposure in a population of drivers with the emphasis on a change in behaviour of driver and employer. The hypothesis is that an effective reduction in WBV exposure, in time, will lead to a reduction in LBP as WBV exposure is a proxy for an increased risk of LBP.     

PLENARY LECTURES-PL3 Vascular dysfunctions and platelet activations by arsenic: two major contributing factors to cardiovascular disease

Arsenic in drinking water is a worldwide health problem that is associated with cardiovascular disease, but the cause is currently unknown. In order to examine whether arsenic affects vasomotor tone in blood vessels, we investigated the effect of arsenic on agonist-induced vasorelaxation and vasoconstriction using the isolated rat aortic rings in in vitro organ bath system.