Directly bone-anchored implants for fixation of aural epistheses

In cases of missing outer ears, generally, epistheses are attached to eye-glasses which gives insecure attachment and a fairly poor cosmetic result. A new method for stable episthesis attachment is being tested in Gothenburg, Sweden. Threaded, cylindrical titanium implants are inserted with a meticulous technique in the temporal bone of the patient. At the next stage, 3–4 months later, the implants are connected to abutments which are allowed to penetrate the skin, To these abutments a silicone episthesis is attached. Presently, 7 patients who had no outer ear because of congenital disorders, hereditary diseases or status post trauma or tumour surgery have been operated and followed for up to $\text{1}\text{2}$ have been no problems reported with the bone anchorage or the skin penetration.     

钛颗粒负荷对切应力作用下骨髓间质干细胞F-actin表达和DNA含量的影响

假体磨损碎屑颗粒是引起假体一骨界面无菌性炎症和骨溶解而致全关节置换术失败的主要原因之一。磨屑颗粒所诱发的骨溶解须有周围骨组织中成骨细胞分泌足够的骨基质以弥补丢失的骨量，而成骨细胞正常的数量和质量有赖于其来源骨髓祖细胞—骨髓问质干细胞的正常增殖分化能力的维持。为了探讨磨屑钛颗粒对大鼠骨髓间质干细胞(Rat MSCs，rMSCs)产生细胞毒性的可能细胞分子机制，选用健康3月龄SD雄性大鼠，采用Percoll等密度梯度离心法分离获取rMSCs，经体外传代纯化培养后，与不同直径、不同负荷浓度、不同负荷作用时间的钛颗粒悬液共孵育，再采用精准的流室系统对钛颗粒负荷的rMSCs施加一定的流体剪切应力(Fluid shear stress，FSS)后立刻固定细胞，经免疫荧光抗体染色，结合激光共聚焦显微镜技术和图像分析软件定性定量分析rMSCs F—actin表达和DNA含量的变化情况。同时设置相应的未经钛颗粒孵育的rMSCs细胞为对照组细胞。结果显示，切应力作用可上调rMSCs胞内F—actin的表达。亚微(Submieron)直径(0．9μm)的钛颗粒负荷对rMSCs F—actin表达和DNA含量的抑制作用最为显著，并伴有凋亡小体出现；直径为2．7μm的钛颗粒负荷产生的抑制作用略为减弱，而较大直径(6．9μm)的抑制效应最弱。相同条件下，钛颗粒负荷对F—actin的抑制效应有一定的时间和浓度依赖性：以0．1wt％浓度对F—actin表达和DNA含量的抑制效应最为明显，亦有凋亡小体的出现；随着浓度的降低，抑制作用亦减弱，以0．01wt％浓度最弱；随着作用时间的延长，F—actin表达和DNA含量逐渐降低，至实验中的32h达到最低值。提示：磨屑颗粒对rMSCs活力的抑制作用是假体无菌性松动的可能分子机制，对其具体细胞分子机制进行深入研究，必将有助于有效防治假体松动药物的研发应用以及人工关节材料的优化设计，从而为全关节置换术患者真正带来福音。     

Evaluation of quantitative aerosol techniques for use in bronchoprovocation studies

To investigate airway physiology by use of inhaled aerosols, it is frequently necessary to measure the actual amount of material deposited on the airway wall as well as the site of particle deposition. To satisfy these needs, radiolabeled aerosols and gamma camera techniques have been used to measure regional deposition of inhaled particles. To make quantitative measurements of the amount deposited, previous investigators have used a "phantom" technique to indirectly calibrate the gamma camera for the attenuation of gamma rays through the lungs and chest wall. For this calibration, the phantom is a simulated lung containing a known amount of radioactivity. Radioactive counts emitted from the phantom are assumed to be attenuated in the same manner as the intact human lung. The present article describes a technique to determine directly the amount of inhaled aerosol deposited in the lung and simultaneously to calibrate the gamma camera for each individual subject. We used right angle light scattering and a gamma camera to measure individual values of the deposition fraction (DF) of inhaled aerosol deposited in the lung and the coefficient of attenuation (AC) of gamma rays in normal and obstructed lungs of human subjects. Radiolabeled monodisperse aerosols 1 and 2 microns in diameter were used. Knowledge of the activity of the inhaled aerosol (microcurie per liter), the volume inhaled, and the measured DF determined each subject's AC (counts per minute per microcurie). DF varied by an order of magnitude in normal (0.04 to 0.48) and obstructed (0.16 to 0.75) of subjects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Crystalluria in marathon runners

Summary Epidemiological evidence suggests that marathon runners have a higher incidence of renal stone formation than occurs in the general population. Since crystalluria and stone disease are thought to be related, we subjected urine samples from a group of marathon runners to particle counting and sizing in a Coulter Counter equipped with a population accessory unit. The volume-size distribution curves so obtained were bimodal with one peak occurring in the 2–5 m diameter range and a second in the 15–32 m diameter range—a pattern that is remarkably similar to the distributions reported for recurrent idiopathic stone formers and distinctly different to those recorded for control subjects. Analyses by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray powder diffraction revealed other features which are regarded as typical of stone formers' crystalluria. These physicochemical data indicate that marathon runners may be at increased risk of urinary stone formation.     

微乳液反应法制备磺胺嘧啶银均匀微晶及其最佳处方评价

目的：应用微乳液反应法制备磺胺嘧啶银均匀微晶,均匀制得的微晶的粒径大小约为2～4um,均匀微晶的结晶性好,纯度高。用均匀设计方法优化条件,制备的均匀的微晶平均粒径大小为2.09um,实验结果达到预测结果要求。结论：用微乳液反应法能获得磺胺嘧啶银均匀微晶。     

Is a Titanium Implant for Total Knee Arthroplasty Better? A Randomized Controlled Study

BackgroundLighter weight and lower modulus are potential advantages of titanium (Ti) implants over cobalt chrome (CoCr) implants in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). This study was conducted to determine whether Ti implants in TKA resulted in better clinical outcomes and radiologic results.MethodsOne hundred and eight patients (216 knees) with knee arthritis warranting bilateral primary TKA were randomly allocated to undergo Ti rotating-platform TKA in one knee and CoCr rotating-platform TKA in the contralateral knee. The mean follow-up period was 5.3 years (range, 1-7 years). The weight of Ti implants was one-third lighter than that of CoCr implants (133.9 g vs 390.1 g, P < .01). Clinical outcomes were evaluated using clinical scores, patient preferences (lightness, comfort, naturalness, and satisfaction), gait analysis (kinetic and kinematic data), range of motion, and degree of pain. Radiologic results were evaluated based on the radiolucent line (RLL), degree of medial tibial bone loss, and loosening as seen on X-ray.ResultsNo significant differences were observed in clinical scores or patient preference. Regarding implant weight, approximately 70% of patients did not perceive the Ti implant as lighter. No significant differences were observed in gait analysis, range of motion, or degree of pain. The RLL was seen in 9% of the Ti implant group and 19% of the CoCr implant group.ConclusionThe lighter Ti implant did not show any clinical benefit over CoCr implants. The lightness of the Ti implant is not sufficient to matter or be noticeable. However, the Ti implant showed lower rate of RLL than the CoCr implant.Level of Evidencelevel I, randomized controlled trial.     

The effect of respiratory activity,non-invasive respiratory support and facemasks on aerosol generation and its relevance to COVID-19

Respirable aerosols (< 5 µm in diameter) present a high risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Guidelines recommend using aerosol precautions during aerosol-generating procedures, and droplet (> 5 µm) precautions at other times. However, emerging evidence indicates respiratory activities may be a more important source of aerosols than clinical procedures such as tracheal intubation. We aimed to measure the size, total number and volume of all human aerosols exhaled during respiratory activities and therapies. We used a novel chamber with an optical particle counter sampling at 100 l.min^-1 to count and size-fractionate close to all exhaled particles (0.5–25 µm). We compared emissions from ten healthy subjects during six respiratory activities (quiet breathing; talking; shouting; forced expiratory manoeuvres; exercise; and coughing) with three respiratory therapies (high-flow nasal oxygen and single or dual circuit non-invasive positive pressure ventilation). Activities were repeated while wearing facemasks. When compared with quiet breathing, exertional respiratory activities increased particle counts 34.6-fold during talking and 370.8-fold during coughing (p < 0.001). High-flow nasal oxygen 60 at l.min^-1 increased particle counts 2.3-fold (p = 0.031) during quiet breathing. Single and dual circuit non-invasive respiratory therapy at 25/10 cm.H₂O with quiet breathing increased counts by 2.6-fold and 7.8-fold, respectively (both p < 0.001). During exertional activities, respiratory therapies and facemasks reduced emissions compared with activities alone. Respiratory activities (including exertional breathing and coughing) which mimic respiratory patterns during illness generate substantially more aerosols than non-invasive respiratory therapies, which conversely can reduce total emissions. We argue the risk of aerosol exposure is underappreciated and warrants widespread, targeted interventions.     

金银花颗粒在旋风分离器中的流场数值模拟分析

目的 针对金银花颗粒在旋风分离器中的运动行为过程进行研究,考察不同设计参数和操作工艺条件下,颗粒在设备内部的运动过程变化规律。方法 基于仿真模拟技术,考察受不同设备长径比、入口进气雷诺数、颗粒质量流量3个因素影响的金银花颗粒在分离器内的运动规律,并以金银花颗粒得粉率为验证指标参数,对模型可靠性进行了分析。结果 通过仿真模拟得到了各个不同工艺条件下的金银花颗粒运动轨迹分布,计算出了对应设备的颗粒得粉率。提出金银花颗粒分离的最佳工艺建议为设备长径比5∶1,入口进气雷诺数3.23×10⁴,颗粒质量流量80.1 mg/s,得到的金银花颗粒得粉率为96.30%。结论 为旋风分离器内金银花颗粒的有关研究提供指导,同时改善旋风分离器在控制和设计上的不足。     

表面改性与致孔对干姜醇提物压片关键性能改善的研究

目的 以干姜Zingiberis Rhizoma醇提物为研究对象,研究表面改性、聚集与致孔相结合的共处理方式改善干姜醇提物的压片关键性能。方法 以共聚维酮（plasdone S-630,PVP/VA）和碳酸氢铵分别为改性剂和致孔剂,采用喷雾干燥共处理方法制备不同比例的干姜醇提物改性复合粉体,测定并比较各粉体的密度、流动性、粒径、孔隙率和压缩性等粉体学性质和抗张强度、屈服压、功和能等相关压片性质,并采用扫描电子显微镜（SEM）对各粒子表面形态进行表征。结果 仅加入共聚维酮或碳酸氢铵制备的复合粒子的孔隙率、抗张强度（TS）、有效功（Esp）和能（E2）均优于原粉粒子。此外,相比于碳酸氢铵或共聚维酮单独制备的复合粒子,碳酸氢铵-共聚维酮（7.0%、14.0%、21.0%）共喷雾制备的复合粒子所压制片剂的抗张强度进一步提升：分别为（1）3.8～9.7、4.0～12.5、4.2～13.7倍和（2）1.5～2.1、1.3～2.2、1.2～1.8倍。即同时加入共聚维酮和碳酸氢铵制备的多孔复合粒子使上述性质得到进一步改善。另外,崩解时间会随共聚维酮加入而有所延长（9～14 min）,碳酸氢铵的致孔作用...