The use of a biodegradable collagen/vicryl composite membrane to repair partial nephrectomy in rabbits

Summary A composite membrane produced from collagen and vicryl mesh has been used to cover the kidney surface following partial nephrectomy in rabbits. The membrane readily held sutures, gave satisfactory haemostasis, and prevented leakage of urine. The experiments showed that the prosthesis biodegraded in less than twenty weeks. The only observed long-term effect of the material was thickening of the renal capsule. The results indicate that this membrane may be a suitable reparative materal for use in traumatised kidneys in humans.     

抗蠕虫药物涂肤霜剂对旋毛虫病的实验疗效

本文报道抗蠕虫药物涂肤霜剂对小鼠旋毛虫病的实验疗效。这些霜剂分别含甲苯达唑(MD)、阿苯达唑(AD)、左旋咪唑(LVM)及HD+LVM。对肠道内成虫、移行期幼虫及肌肉内成囊期幼虫的减虫率(％)分别为:MD78.35,74.05,及32.50;AD68.11,98.72,及100;LVM38.98,6.31,及39.19;MD+LVM74.40,85.34,及99.56。     

Sealing ability of occlusal resin composite restoration using four restorative procedures

The purpose of this work was to investigate fluid flow after restoration using four restorative procedures. Micro‐gap, internal dye leakage, and micropermeability of bonded interfaces were also investigated. Each tooth was mounted, connected to a fluid flow‐measuring device, and an occlusal cavity was prepared. Fluid flow after cavity preparation was recorded as the baseline measurement, and the cavity was restored using one of four restorative procedures: bonding with total‐etch (Single Bond 2) or self‐etch (Clearfil SE Bond) adhesives without lining; or lining with resin‐modified glass‐ionomer cement (GIC) (Fuji Lining LC) or conventional GIC (Fuji IX) and then bonding with the total‐etch adhesive. Fluid flow was recorded after restoration and at specific time‐points up to 6 months thereafter and recorded as a percentage. Micro‐gap formation was analyzed using resin replicas and scanning electron microscopy. Internal leakage of 2% methylene blue dye was observed under a light microscope. In micro‐permeability testing, fluorescent‐dye penetration was investigated using confocal laser microscopy. None of the restorative procedures provided a perfectly sealed restoration. Glass‐ionomer lining did not reduce fluid flow after restoration, and micro‐gaps were frequently detected. The self‐etch adhesive failed to provide a better seal than the total‐etch adhesive, and even initial gap formation was rarely observed for the former. Penetration of methylene blue and fluorescent dyes was detected in most restorations.     

胡芦巴胶对混合粉制面包及生面团品质的影响

去皮高粱粉和粟米粉作面包用粉的替代物，以不同比例添加使用。胡芦巴胶部分替代面粉，替代率可达０．９％，研究了胡芦巴胶对流变特征及面包品质的影响。添加胶越多，生面团吸水量亦越高；添加胡芦巴胶后，生面团的稳定时间、断裂时间和机械耐力指数均有提高。按４∶１的面粉／高粱粉配方，添加０．６％胶可增大面包体积２１．８％，而０．９％的胶添加量能增大面包体积２１．３８％．     

Plasma and Red Blood Cell PUFAs in Home Parenteral Nutrition Paediatric Patients—Effects of Lipid Emulsions

Background: Mixed lipid emulsions (LE) containing fish oil present several advantages compared to the sole soybean oil LE, but little is known about the safety of essential fatty acids (EFA) profile in paediatric patients on long-term Parenteral Nutrition (PN). Aim of the study: to assess glycerophosfolipid polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) levels on plasma and red blood cell (RBC) membrane of children on long term PN with composite LE containing fish oil (SMOF), and to compare it with a group receiving olive oil LE (Clinoleic^®) and to the reference range for age, previously determined on a group of healthy children. Results: A total of 38 patients were enrolled, median age 5.56 (0.9–21.86) years, 15 receiving Clinoleic^®, 23 receiving SMOF. Patients on SMOF showed significantly higher levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), lower levels of arachidonic acid (ARA) and Mead acid (MEAD)/ARA ratio in plasma and RBC compared with patients on Clinoleic^® and with healthy children. Triene:tetraene (T:T) ratio of both groups of patients did not differ from that of healthy children-median plasma (MEAD/ARA: 0.01, interquartile rage (IQR) 0.01, p = 0.61 and 0.02, IQR 0.02, p = 0.6 in SMOF and Clinoleic^® patients, respectively), and was considerably lower than Holman index (>0.21). SMOF patients showed no statistically significant differences in growth parameters compared with Clinoleic^® patients. Patients of both groups showed stiffness class F0-F1 of liver stiffness measure (LSM) 5.6 (IQR 0.85) in SMOF patients and 5.3 (IQR 0.90) in Clinoleic^® patients, p = 0.58), indicating absence of liver fibrosis. Conclusions: Fatty acids, measured as concentrations (mg/L), revealed specific PUFA profile of PN patients and could be an accurate method to evaluate nutritional status and eventually to detect essential fatty acid deficiency (EFAD). SMOF patients showed significantly higher EPA, DHA and lower ARA concentrations compared to Clinoleic^® patients. Both LEs showed similar hepatic evolution and growth.     

聚氨酯与铁电陶瓷粉复合物的电致感应性能研究

利用双辊制备了一系列热塑性弹性体聚氨酯（PU）和铁电钛酸锆酸铅盐（PZT）的电感应PZT／PU复合物。X－衍射和SE镜结果显示,复合物中,在铁电相中PZT陶瓷粉呈现结晶态并且均匀分布在PU基体中,复合物的弹性模量和相对电容率随着复合物中PZT体积分数增加而升高,在高压电场下,低PZT含量的复合物呈现负的电致伸缩应力,当PZT体积分数增加到6％以上时,在某个临界电场下,复合物呈现出电致伸缩应力反转的特性,即电致伸缩应力从负转变为正,并且发生应力反转的临界电场随着复合物中PZT体积分数的增加而降低,PU的电致伸缩特性与PZT在高电场下极化反转效应结合,导致了PZT／PU复合物这种有趣的性能,因此PZT／PU复合物将在高电压场方面作为传感器开关材料得到广泛应用。     

The Vascular Basis of the Pronator Quadratus Muscle Flap and Its Use in Clinical Cases

Background  Pronator quadratus (PQ) is a deeply situated muscle in the forearm which may occasionally be utilized for soft-tissue reconstruction. The purpose of this anatomical and clinical study was to confirm vascular supply of PQ muscle (PQM) in order to optimize its transfer and confirm its utility in clinical situations. Methods  In Part A of the anatomical study, fresh human cadavers ( n = 7) were prepared with an intra-arterial injection of lead oxide and gelatin solution, and PQM and neurovascular pedicle were dissected ( n = 14). In the anatomical study Part B, isolated limbs of embalmed human cadavers ( n = 12) were injected with India ink-gelatin mixture and PQ were dissected. Results  PQ is a type II muscle flap, with one major pedicle, the anterior interosseous (AI) vessels and two minor pedicles from the radial and ulnar vessels. The mean dimensions of the muscle were 5.5 × 5.0 × 1.0 cm ³ , mean pedicle length was 9.6 cm, and the mean diameter of the artery and the vein was 2.3 mm and 2.8 mm, respectively. The dorsal cutaneous perforating branch (DPB) of the artery supplied the skin over the dorsal forearm and wrist. This branch also anastomosed with the 1, 2 intercompartmental supraretinacular artery (ICSRA). Conclusion  This study confirms the potential utility and vascular basis of the PQM flap and its associated cutaneous paddle. In the clinical part, two patients with nonhealing wounds exposing the median nerve and flexor tendons in the distal forearm were treated using the PQM flap with good results.     

Face transplantation: A longitudinal histological study focusing on chronic active and mucosal rejection in a series with long-term follow-up

The 2007 Banff working classification of skin-containing Tissue Allograft Pathology addressed only acute T cell–mediated rejection in skin. We report the longitudinal long-term histological follow-up of six face transplant recipients, focusing on chronic and mucosal rejection. We identified three patterns suggestive of chronic rejection (lichen planus-like, vitiligo-like and scleroderma-like). Four patients presented lichen planus-like and vitiligo-like chronic rejection at 52 ± 17 months posttransplant with severe concomitant acute T cell–mediated rejection. After lichen planus-like rejection, two patients developed scleroderma-like alterations. Graft vasculopathy with C4d deposits and de novo DSA led to subsequent graft loss in one patient. Chronic active rejection was frequent and similar patterns were noted in mucosae. Concordance between 124 paired skin and mucosal biopsies acute rejection grades was low (κ = 0.2, p = .005) but most grade 0/I mucosal rejections were associated with grade 0/I skin rejections. We defined discordant (grade≥II mucosal rejection and grade 0/I skin rejection) (n = 55 [70%]) and concordant (grade≥II rejection in both biopsies) groups. Mucosal biopsies of the discordant group displayed lower intra-epithelial GranzymeB/FoxP3 ratios suggesting a less aggressive phenotype (p = .08). The grading system for acute rejection in mucosa may require phenotyping. Whether discordant infiltrates reflect a latent allo-immune reaction leading to chronic rejection remains an open question.     

Reinforced HEAV'D therapy for adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia: Improved results and revised prognostic criteria

Thirty-six adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) were treated with adriamycin, vincristine. prednisolone, and asparaginase for remission induction, followed by vincristine-adriamycin-cyclophosphamide consolidation courses, cranial irradiation, a short ara-C plus VM-26 pulse, and vincristine plus cyclophosphamide rotating weekly with ara-C plus VM-26 for three months (reinforced HEAV'D). Thirty-one patients achieved a complete remission (86 per cent). Compared with historical results from a prior study, age >30 years, absolute blast count >15 × 10⁹/1, and CD10-negative immunophenotype were not associated with higher relapse rate and shorter survival, suggesting a positive effect from intensification therapy with ara-C and VM-26 in these poor prognostic categories. However, patients with an abnormal karyotypic pattern or a positive molecular study for BCR-ABL rearrangement detecting t(9;22) had a far greater likelihood of treatment failure (probability of remission at 3 years 0·10) than those with normal karyotype or negative molecular study (probability 0·70), and those not studied or with insufficient methaphases (probability 0·50) (p<0·05 by log-rank test). These results underline the prognostic importance of chromosomal abnormalities and the usefulness of ara-C and VM-26 in the management of adult ALL.     

Preformation of microvascular composite free flaps in the rat as an animal model

For optimal reconstruction of large defects after tumor surgery of the head and neck, composite flaps may be necessary. We describe the design of microsurgically reanastomosed composite skin flaps, using porous polyethylene or titanium implants as a back side in an animal model. The epigastric skin of 48 healthy adult Wistar rats was prepared for the subdermal insertion of porous polyethylene implants (pore size: 100–200 m) and titanium mesh implants having different forms and sizes. Two to 6 weeks after this procedure the flaps were lifted, transposed to the other side and the epigastric vessels were reanastomosed microsurgically. Eighty-three per cent of the skin flaps containing the titanium implants survived when the transplantation occurred 2 weeks after insertion of the implants. Concurrently all flaps with the implanted porous polyethylene (1 mm thick) showed signs of skin necrosis. Survival of the polyethylene loaded flaps improved to 50% when the flaps were left 4 weeks at the donor site. The influence of the implant form on the survival of the flaps was investigated with different implant shapes with flap necrosis being greatest when concave implants were used. Histopathological evaluation of the titanium flaps showed a thin capsule around the implants and a minimal inflammatory reaction. All porous polyethylene implants resulted in a pronounced chronic infection. Transplantation of flaps containing perforated metals (such as the titanium mesh) was possible 2 weeks after insertion of the implant, whereas neovascularization of flaps with porous material required more than 4 weeks growth in situ to ensure at least a 50% viability of the skin. An advantage of the metal implants is the possibility of its use in correcting form by modelling.