To evaluate patient acceptance, optical properties and the clinical feasibility of flexible compared with rigid hysteroscopes, 142 patients undergoing outpatient hysteroscopy were included in a prospective, randomized clinical trial. The flexible hysteroscope was used in 70 patients, and the rigid instrument in 72. At different stages of the hysteroscopy the level of pain experienced by the women was assessed using a 10 cm visual analogue scale. Optical properties characterized by the parameters intrauterine visibility, hysteroscopic view and diagnostic accuracy were ranked by the surgeons using a 5-point scale (1 = excellent to 5 = insufficient), and duration of the hysteroscopy was measured. Hysteroscopy was successful in 87.5 and 100% of patients in the flexible and rigid groups respectively. With the use of rigid telescopes, discomfort at introduction and during the hysteroscopy was significantly greater (median 1.7 versus 0.7, P = 0.003; 3.1 versus 1.2, P < 0.001 respectively), but optical properties were judged to be far superior (P < 0.001 for all three comparisons) and procedure time was significantly shorter (median 70 versus 120 s, P = 0.003). In conclusion, outpatient hysteroscopy seems to be less painful when using flexible telescopes. However, rigid hysteroscopes provide superior optical qualities and permit a more rapid performance with higher success rates at much lower cost. 相似文献
Summary: Various poly(ε‐caprolactone‐block‐1,4‐dioxan‐2‐one) (P(CL‐block‐PDX)) block copolymers were prepared according to the living/controlled ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of 1,4‐dioxan‐2‐one (PDX) as initiated by in situ generated ω‐aluminium alkoxides poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) chains in toluene at 25 °C. 1 1H NMR, PCS and TEM measurements have attested for the formation of colloids attributed to a growing PPDX core surrounded by a solvating PCL shell during the polymerization of PDX promoted by ω‐Al alkoxide PCL chains in toluene. The thermal behavior of the P(CL‐block‐PDX) copolymers was studied by DSC; showing two distinct melting temperatures (as well as two glass transition temperatures) similar to those of the respective homopolyesters. Finally, the thermal degradation of the P(CL‐block‐PDX) block copolymers was investigated by TGA simultaneously coupled to a FT‐IR spectrometer and a mass spectrometer for evolved gas analysis (EGA). The degradation occurred in two consecutive steps involving a first unzipping depolymerization of the PPDX blocks followed by the degradation of the PCL blocks via both ester pyrolysis and unzipping reactions.
TEM observation of P(CL‐block‐PDX) block copolyesters ( = 11 600 and = 22 100) as formed by vaporization starting from a diluted suspension in toluene/TCE mixture solvent (50/50 v/v). 相似文献
Summary: Light‐induced reversible changes in elasticity of semi‐interpenetrating network (semi‐IPN) films bearing azobenzene moieties were achieved under both ultraviolet (UV) and visible light irradiation. The semi‐IPN film was prepared by a cationic copolymerization of azobenzene‐containing vinyl ethers in a linear polycarbonate (PC) film as a matrix. When the irradiation was switched on and off, the semi‐IPN film showed rapid reversible deformation with the same behavior occurring over a range of wavelengths, including both the UV and visible regions. The observed reversible deformation of the film was attributed to the decrease in the film's elasticity, which was assumed to be caused by the frequent trans‐cis cycling isomerization of azobenzene moieties taking place during the UV and visible light irradiation. This cycling makes it difficult for the azobenzene groups to aggregate, thus hindering their ability to function as pseudo‐crosslinking points.
To test the hypothesis that chronic immune stimulation of a peripheral lymph node induces the formation of additional mature adipocytes in adjacent adipose tissue, one popliteal lymph node of large male rats was stimulated by local injection of 10 microg or 20 microg lipopolysaccharide three times a week for 6 weeks. Adipocyte volumes in sites defined by their anatomical relations to the stimulated and homologous unstimulated popliteal lymph nodes were measured, plus adipocyte complement of the popliteal depot, and the lipid and protein content of adipocytes and adipose stroma. The higher dose of lipopolysaccharide doubled the mass of the locally stimulated lymph node and the surrounding adipose tissue enlarged by the appearance of additional mature adipocytes. Similar but smaller changes were observed in the popliteal adipose depot of the unstimulated leg and in a nodeless depot. The lipid content of the adipocytes decreased and that of the stroma increased dose-dependently in all samples measured but the changes were consistently greater in the depot surrounding the stimulated lymph node. The protein content of both adipocytes and stroma increased in samples surrounding the stimulated node. We conclude that chronic immune stimulation of lymphoid tissues induces the formation of more adipocytes in the adjacent adipose tissue. These findings suggest a mechanism for the selective hypertrophy of lymphoid-containing adipose depots in the HIV-associated adipose redistribution syndrome. 相似文献
The purpose of this study was to use a model of aging to examine the relationships between passive properties of the calf
muscles and plantarflexion concentric isokinetic torque characteristics. Eighty-one active women 20–84 years of age were tested
using a Kin-Com isokinetic dynamometer interfaced with electromyography (EMG). The passive properties were tested by stretching
the muscles from relaxed plantarflexion to a maximal dorsiflexion (DF) angle at a rate of 5°·s–1 (0.087 rad·s–1) with minimal raw EMG activity (<0.05 mV). The maximal concentric torque was tested from maximal passive DF into plantarflexion
at four randomly ordered velocities of 30, 60, 120, and 180°·s–1. Pearson correlation coefficients (Bonferroni adjusted) indicated a hierarchical order of high to moderate positive correlations
between four passive properties and the peak and mean concentric torque for all test velocities. Correlation coefficients
for the four passive properties ranged from 0.50 to 0.78 (P<0.001), and the coefficients of determination (r2) from higher to lower were: (1) maximal DF passive resistive torque (r2: 0.50–0.62), (2) length extensibility (r2: 0.40–0.49), (3) maximal muscle length (r2: 0.28–0.41), and (4) passive elastic stiffness in the last half of the full-stretch range of motion (r2: 0.25–0.31). The maximal DF passive resistive torque and the length extensibility accounted for 50–62% and 40–49% of the
variability in the concentric torque, respectively. The results indicate that the concentrically stronger calf muscles of
active women were positively correlated with passively stronger, longer, and stiffer calf muscles, which are characteristics
of the calf muscles of younger women. Further studies are needed to examine whether therapeutic interventions, such as stretching
and strengthening, can promote adaptations in the calf muscles of older women to attain these more youthful characteristics.
Electronic Publication 相似文献
General models are developed for static and dynamic geometric and material passive responses. The models are applied to data
obtained from the main pulmonary arteries of calves and dogs. The structural model predicts distortions by simultaneous stretching
and bending in a concise manner. Parameters are obtained by a fiveelement material model. This latter predicts static and
dynamic, nonlinear, frequency-dependent, viscoelastic responses observed in biomaterials over the entire strain range irrespective
of the nature of loading. Validity and baseline parameter values are investigated for the inactivated state, developed by
poisoning the smooth muscle with potassium cyanide. Complexities, related to nonlinear (strain-dependent) and colloidal (thixotropic)
properties of tissues, are analyzed. These properties enter into functional responses in a complex manner that can modify
substantially concepts of material components and vary appreciably between physiologic circumstances and laboratory evaluations.
We propose that, in general, evaluations of material responses must account for these properties. 相似文献