一种防脱出易制作义眼台的研制

目的探讨一种新型简易防脱出的义眼台的制作方法与效果。方法根据眼球摘除后的解剖特点设计义眼台大小,选择聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯和涤纶布为材料制作复合材料义眼台,并对6只家兔行眼球摘除后置入义眼台,经HE染色观察及肉眼观察术后不同时间置入物与眼周围组织的解剖关系。结果聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯部分与组织无黏连,涤纶布形成牢固黏连,周围有纤维组织长入并包绕,义眼台无脱出、移位。结论以聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯和涤纶布为材料制作复合义眼台,方法简易,效果可靠,组织相容性好,术后反应轻,值得在临床上推广使用。     

Novel explant model to study mechanotransduction and cell-cell communication.

To understand in situ behavior of osteocytes, we characterized a model of osteocytes in their native bone matrix and demonstrated real-time biologic activity of osteocytes while bending the bone matrix. Using 43 male Sprague-Dawley rats, dumbbell-shaped explants were harvested from stainless steel femoral implants after 6-12 weeks and incubated in culture medium or fixed. Sixteen specimens were used to determine bone volume density (BV/TV), volumetric bone mineral density (BMD) and histology for different implantation periods. Osteocyte viability was evaluated by L-lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in 12 cultured explants. Confocal microscopy was used to assess tracer diffusion in three explants and changes in osteocyte pH of a mechanically loaded explant. From 6 to 12 weeks, explant BV/TV and volumetric BMD trended up 92.5% and 101%, respectively. They were significantly and highly correlated. Tissues were uniformly intramembranous and all bone cell types were present. Explants maintained LDH activity through culture day 8. Diffusion at 200 microM was limited to 1,209 Da. Explants appeared capable of reproducing complex bone biology. This model may be useful in understanding osteocyte mechanotransduction in the context of a physiologically relevant bone matrix.     

Cysteine proteases of parasites: A remarkable diversity of function

Summary Papain family cysteine proteases function primarily intracellularly in higher eukaryotes, but are often extracellular proteases in protozoan helminths. The utility of this class of enzymes is reflected in the diversity of functions they perform in both parasite life cycles and the pathogenesis of parasitic diseases. Examples include secretion of proteases into the gut of parasitic worms for hemoglobin degradation, release from the surface of nematodes to degrade cuticular proteins during molting, and facilitating excystment of protozoa.     

Value of contrast-enhanced MRI of breast after silicone implant

Summary Early recognition of recurrence and work-up of clinically indeterminate lesions may be impaired after reconstruction with silicone implants due to superimposition of the implant or to scarring. This study was undertaken to evaluate the use of contrast-enhanced MRI in patients with silicone implant after breast cancer. Contrast-enhanded MRI was offered to 169 patients. Comparative two- to three-view mammography was also performed in 169 patients, as well as comparative sonography in 144 patients. Conventional imaging and clinical examination detected only 8/13 recurrences, whereas 12/13 were detected by MRI. One recurrence had been visible as a strongly enhancing 2-mm dot in a previous examination (2 years before), but was not called. It was therefore counted as false negative. In addition, multicentricity was detected by MRI alone in two of three cases. MRI correctly diagnosed scar tissue in all cases with indeterminate findings. However, due to false-positive calls caused by enhancing granulomas specificity could not be improved. Contrast-enhanded MRI allowed decisive additional information in our study group and improved the sensitivity significantly (concerning all diagnoses). Contrast-enhanded MRI is recommended in patients with diagnostic problems or high risk of recurrence after silicone implants.      

A clinical and radiological two‐year follow‐up study of maxillary overdentures on osseointegrated implants

In order to satisfy the need to restore the aesthetics, phonetics and comfort and to facilitate optimal hygiene procedures, 20 edentulous patients were treated with a new concept of overdenture therapy on implants ad modum Brånemark. After 24±3.5 months the patients were re‐examined. They were asked to answer a questionnaire and use a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) to give their opinion on the prosthetic treatment. The results indicate that an implant‐retained overdenture in the maxilla with this design can satisfy the patients needs in aesthetics, phonetics and comfort and can 1 facilitate oral hygiene measures.     

Enucleation combined with orbital implants for malignant melanoma of the uvea

Advanced malignant melanomas of the uvea unsuited for an eye salvaging approach require enucleation of the tumor containing eye. A series of 68 patients is reported who underwent enucleation combined with insertion of a spherical dura-encased implant after 30 Gray pre-irridiation therapy of the orbit. Postoperative results with special attention to cosmetic outcome and motility of the prosthesis suggest that the insertion of an orbital implant should be preferred to the enucleation with no implant.     

Progress toward re‐engineering non‐ribosomal peptide synthetase proteins: a potential new source of pharmacological agents

Many important pharmaceutical agents, including vancomycin, bleomycin, cyclosporin, and several antibiotics, are produced by non‐ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) enzymes in microorganisms. The NRPS pathway produces an extensive library of products using multienzyme complexes acting in an assembly‐line fashion. Engineering an NRPS system to produce an even greater variety of products, some of which may also have beneficial therapeutic value, would be an enormous advantage. Several approaches have been successful in generating novel NRPS products: mutational biosynthesis during which nonnatural substrates are fed to an organism; domain and module swapping between different species to generate hybrid enzymes; and rational site‐directed mutagenesis, based either on phylogeny or computational prediction, intended to switch substrate specificity and produce altered products. This review will highlight the progress in these areas and describe research in the future that will extend the capacity for re‐engineering NRPS systems. Drug Dev. Res. 66:9–18, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

螺旋CT及CAD技术在人工关节定制设计中的应用研究

随着生物医用材料研制和医学的迅速发展，以及生活水平、医疗保健、康复水平的提高，人们对自身组织、器官及骨骼缺损的修复和置换方面的要求日益提高，尤其对人造骨骼和人工关节的需求越来越广泛。由于计算机断层成像技术CT（computed tomography）已经成为显示和研究人体内部结构非常有用的手段，将计算机辅助设计技术CAD（Computer aided design）和计算机辅助工程CAE（Computer aided Engineering）等相关技术应用于人造骨骼和内置假体的设计，不仅可以提高产品的设计质量，同时，结合CT和计算机三维重建方法，     

Design and conduct of occupational epidemiology studies: III. Design aspects of case-control studies

Currently available approaches for the design of occupational case-control studies are reviewed. An accompanying paper reviews methods of analysis. We commence by drawing a distinction between cohort-based and registry-based studies. Methods for selecting cases and controls are then reviewed, including cumulative incidence and incidence density sampling, matching, sources of controls, and issues in control selection. Finally, the advantages and disadvantages of the case-control approach are summarized.