Gas-to-liquid permeation in silicon-containing, crosslinked, glassy copotymers of methyl methacrylate

Copolymers of methyl methacrylate with disiloxane derivatives have been proposed as biomaterials for contact lens applications. Although glassy, these copolymers exhibit high oxygen permeability and adequate wettability so that they can be used for manufacture of hard, extended wear lenses. CrossHnked copolymers of poly(methyl methacrylate-co-1,3-bis(methacryloxymethyl)-1,1,3,3-tetramethyl-disiloxane), P(MMA-co-BMTDS), containing from 0.085 to 0.53 mole fraction of BMTDS were prepared and tested for oxygen permeation using a novel apparatus which simulates the atmosphere/lens/cornea conditions. The gas-to-liquid dissolved oxygen permeability, P_gd, was determined and it was found to increase with BMTDS content Permeability values for P(MMA-co-BMTDS) at 34°C were significantly higher than for pure homopolymer PMMA, although these copolymers were glassy at this temperature. The increased oxygen permeation was attributed to increased oxygen solubility in the copolymers due to the presence of the -Si-0-bonds.     

Occupational IgE-mediated allergy to Tribolium confusum (confused flour beetle)

BACKGROUND: We report on IgE-mediated allergy in a worker caused by Tribolium confusum (confused flour beetle). These beetles lived in the "old" flour to which he was exposed in his work. CASE REPORT: A 35-year-old, nonatopic mechanic in a rye crispbread factory developed rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and asthmatic symptoms, as well as urticaria on his wrists, lower arms, hands, neck, and face, during the maintenance and repair of machines contaminated by flour. This flour had been in and on the machines for a long time, and it contained small beetles. The patient did not suffer any symptoms when handling fresh, clean flour. RESULTS: Skin prick tests with standard environmental allergens, storage mites, enzymes, flours, and molds were negative. A prick test with flour from the machines gave a 10-mm reaction. An open application of the same flour caused urticarial whealing on the exposed skin. Prick tests with fresh flour from the factory were negative. A prick test with minced T. confusum from the flour in the machines gave a 7-mm reaction. Histamine hydrochloride 10 mg/ml gave a 7-mm reaction. Specific serum IgE antibodies to T. confusum were elevated at 17.2 kU/l. Prick tests with the flour from the machines were negative in five control patients. CONCLUSIONS: The patient had occupational contact urticaria, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and asthmatic symptoms from exposure to flour. His symptoms were caused by immediate allergy to the beetle T. confusum. Immediate allergy to this beetle has rarely been reported in connection with respiratory symptoms, but it may be more common. Contact urticaria from this source has not been reported before.     

Sputum induction as a research tool for the study of human respiratory mucus

The study objectives were to compare in vitro transportability and physical properties of respiratory mucus, obtained invasively by direct collection (DC) right after endotracheal intubation and non-invasively by sputum induction with 3% hypertonic saline solution inhalation (SI) 24 h before the anesthesia. Twenty-two patients with no pulmonary disease scheduled for elective abdominal surgical procedures were studied. The parameters analyzed and the main results are as follows. (1) Transportability by cilia (MCT), SI was higher than DC (0.94+/-0.25 and 0.62+/-0.25; P<0.001). There was a significant correlation between the two methods and DC could be estimated by: DC=0.21+(0.44 SI) (r=0.44; P<0.001). (2) Transportability by cough (CC), SI was higher than DC (68.23+/-32.1 and 33.58+/-19.04 mm; P=0.002). (3) Contact angle (CA), SI was lower than DC (10+/-3 degrees and 22+/-14 degrees ; P=0.025). (4) Rheological properties (no significant difference obtained between SI and DC). These results indicated that SI changes mucus physical properties and transportability in non-expectorators.     

Human Th1 cells preferentially induce interleukin (IL)-1β while Th2 cells induce IL-1 receptor antagonist production upon cell/cell contact with monocytes

The role of human T cells in the induction and regulation, upon cell/cell contact, of inflammatory responses by monocytic cells was investigated. The production of interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) by the monocytic THP-1 cell line was measured upon contact with either Th1 or Th2 cell clones. CD4⁺ T cell clones specific for purified protein derivative of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, predominantly Th1 [high interferon (IFN)-γ and low IL-4 producers], or tetanus toxoid, predominantly Th2 (low IFN-γ and high IL-4 producers), were generated. Cell membranes from antigen-stimulated, but not from resting T cell clones induced dose-dependent cytokine production by THP-1 cells. Th1 clones induced higher levels of IL-1β production (484–806 pg/ml) than did Th2 clones (21–114 pg/ml). In contrast, Th1 clones induced lower levels of IL-1Ra (0.9–7.8 ng/ml) than did Th2 clones (7.0–49.6 ng/ml). Similar results were obtained when T cell clones were activated by cross-linked CD3 and CD28. IL-1β production by THP-1 cells correlated with IFN-γ production by T cell clones but was unaffected by IFN-γ neutralization. IL-1Ra production by THP-1 cells correlated with IL-4 production by T cells and was partially inhibited by IL-4 neutralization. These data indicate that activated Th1 and Th2 cells express different molecules on the cell surface able to induce distinct pro-inflammatory (IL-1β) or anti-inflammatory (IL-1Ra) responses in monocytes. This differential induction of molecules with opposite effects on inflammation stresses the functional heterogeneity in CD4⁺ T cells.     

Astroglia—Neuron interactions that promote long-term neuronal survival

Besides intrinsic determinants of cell growth, epigenetic signals have been proposed to regulate development and maintenance of neurons. Here we provide evidence that cerebral astrocytes contribute significantly to the set of environmental influences that are required for long-term survival of neurons derived from the mammalian central nervous system. Cerebral astrocytes in serum-free culture express diffusible and non-diffusible neuron-supporting signals, including cell-adhesive neurite growth-promoting glycoproteins, diffusible neurotrophic factors as well as membrane-bound molecules that mediate cell contact interactions. The combination and synergistic interaction of these environmental signals markedly enhance the survival of brain neurons. While astroglia-derived cell-adhesive substrates that include a high molecular weight complex consisting of laminin β-chains and proteoglycan (Matthiessen et al., 1989) stimulate neurite outgrowth, they fail to enhance long-term neuronal survival when additional neurotrophic and cell-contact interactions are lacking. Astrocytes release a diffusible neurotrophic activity that, when permanently applied, maintains long-term survival of central neurons in culture. The soluble neurotrophic activity seems to interact synergistically with cell-bound signals which are also required for long-term survival and which are expressed by astrocytes and neurons, but not by fibroblasts. Among neurons from different brain areas, such as hippocampus, cerebral cortex and septum, regional differences in their responsiveness to the astroglial neurotrophic activity have been observed.     

虚拟咬合运动初步仿真模拟的研究与实现

我们试验了利用VR技术进行虚拟咬合仿真制作的全部过程。首先,采用光学三维测量仪对上下颌石膏模型进行数字化,通过预处理获取有效的三角网格曲面模型;其次,对咬合运动模型进行合理的简化,分解为一系列的平移运动和旋转运动;通过动态刷新完成开闭口运动、侧移运动的计算机运动仿真,可视化地观察咬合运动;然后利用模型碰撞检测算法动态地计算咬合接触位,并详细地分析了咬合接触时的咬合点位置分布和咬合剖切面上的咬合点接触关系;最后讨论了目前虚拟咬合仿真存在的问题和今后研究的方向。     

胫骨外侧髁骨折塌陷对关节轴线及接触压力的影响

目的:研究在胫骨外侧髁骨折中关节面塌陷和外侧半月板切除对膝关节轴线、接触面积及压力的影响。方法:6个新鲜尸体膝关节标本制成胫骨外侧髁劈裂骨折模型,通过使用支撑垫片制成关节面塌陷0、1、2、4和6mm。膝关节在屈膝0°,负荷500N和屈膝30°,负荷350N。通过数码相机记录关节轴线的变化;而关节内外间隙的压力和压力扩散则由F-Scan感应器记录。每个标本在保留和切除外侧半月板下进行测试。结果:随着关节面塌陷高度的增加,膝关节外翻角度、外侧间隙的平均和最大的接触压力逐渐增加,而接触面积则逐渐减少。在屈膝0°,关节面塌陷6mm时,外翻角度平均增加7.6°,平均接触压力和最大接触压力分别增加208%和97%;而接触面积则减少33%。在同一关节面塌陷高度,切除半月板平均增加38%的外翻角度和外侧间隙45%的接触压力;而接触面积则减少26%。结论:研究结果表明在治疗胫骨外髁劈裂骨折中,减少关节面的塌陷十分重要,特别是在需切除半月板的时候。     

Social contact,social attitudes,and twin similarity

The nature of the relationship between social contact and attitude similarity between twins was investigated using longitudinal data from a sample of Australian twins. Earlier research has suggested that social attitudes are not explained solely by shared environment; rather there are both genetic and environmental components that explain variance in social attitudes. Using three types of analyses we investigated the magnitude of the relationship and the direction of causation between attitude similarity and social contact. Longitudinal analysis of within-pair variance by level of contact suggests that attitude similarity leads to contact among the females and that similarity is both genetically and environmentally based. Analyses using a crosslag regression model suggest that similarity causes contact among MZ females. Biometrical analyses indicate differences in direction of causation for males and females. Among females, both genetic and shared environmental parameter estimates could be equated across contact groups, suggesting little relationship between contact and similarity. Among males, findings of smaller estimated heritability in the high-contact group suggest that similarity causes contact. However, an increased estimate of the contribution of shared environmental variance in the high-contact males could additionally suggest that contact leads to similarity.