The value of a pantaloon cast test in surgical decision making for chronic low back pain patients: a systematic review of the literature supplemented with a prospective cohort study

The results of lumbar fusion in chronic low back pain (LBP) patients vary considerably, and there is a need for proper patient selection. Lumbosacral orthoses have been widely used to predict outcome, however, with little scientific support. The aim of the present study was to determine the value of a pantaloon cast test in selecting chronic LBP patients for lumbar fusion or conservative management. First, a systematic review of the literature was carried out in which two independent reviewers identified studies in Medline, Cochrane and Current Contents databases. Three papers met the selection criteria. In the only study with a control group, a significantly better outcome after fusion compared to conservative treatment was found in patients who reported significant pain relief while in a cast (i.e. a positive cast test). The results of lumbar fusion, however, were not significantly different for patients with a positive and those with a negative cast test. In addition to the review, a clinical cohort study of 257 LBP patients, who had been allocated to either lumbar fusion or conservative management by a temporary external transpedicular fixation trial, was performed. Prior to allocation, all had undergone a pantaloon cast test. Patients with no history of prior spine surgery and with a positive pantaloon cast test had a better outcome after lumbar fusion than those treated conservatively (P = 0.002, χ ² test). In patients with previous spine operations the outcomes were poor and the test was of no value. From the literature and the present patient cohort, it was concluded that only in chronic LBP patients without prior spine surgery, a pantaloon cast test with substantial pain relief suggests a favorable outcome of lumbar fusion compared to conservative management. The test has no value in patients who have had previous spine surgery.     

Release of corrosion products from amalgam in phosphate containing solutions

Abstract— The effect of phosphate concentration on corrosion was compared for two types of amalgam: a conventional alloy (ANA 68) and a high-Cu admixed alloy (Dispersalloy). The test specimens were stored for 4 months in electrolytes containing 85 mM NaCl and 85 mM NaCl with 2.5, 10, or 100 mM phosphate buffer respectively. The solutions were renewed each month and analyzed for Cu, Zn, Sn, Hg, and Ag in an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The surfaces and cross-sections of the specimens were studied in a scanning electron microscope (SEM) with an energy dispersive detector (EDAX). The corrosion products, mainly Sn-compounds, at the surface of the amalgams were less in the solutions containing high concentrations of phosphate. In cross-section subsurface corrosion of the high-Cu amalgam was observed especially in specimens immersed in the NaCl solution without phosphate. The conventional amalgam showed surface corrosion only. The decrease in release of elements with time from the conventional amalgam in all the experimental solutions might indicate passivation. For the high-Cu amalgam the release of elements increased with time, except for Cu and Sn in the solution with 100 mM phosphate, indicating that phosphate inhibits corrosion of the Cu-Sn-phases. Release of corrosion products from the high-Cu amalgam was more dependent on the presence of phosphate than the conventional amalgam.     

Microvasculature of bone

The three dimensional vascular microarchitecture of mercox resin on the lateral surface of parietal bone in Wistar strain adult male rats (b. w. 260–350 g.) was studied in relation to bone formation by SEM observation of corrosion casts. The microarchitecture was a single layer of network composed of precapillary artery, capillary and postcapillary vein, which were serpigious, sometimes joined with the vein from the vascular foramen of bone. The meshes of this network, which were irregular and varied in size, existed apart from the bone surface. According to the report of Iwaku and Ozawa (1986), it was reported that the vascular microarchitecture of the bone surface was very changable during the process of bone remodeling and this network, which was shown on the flat bone surface in this study, was very similar to one in the resting phase and/or the period in which the bone formation further advanced. From these facts and the morphological features of the bone surface observed here by SEM, it is suggested that this vascular network was closely related with the resting stage and/or the period in which bone formation further advanced in bone remodeling.     

肾小球微血管构型的扫描电子显微镜观察

应用微血管铸型扫描电镜技术研究8例成人肾脏的肾小球微血管构筑,结果发现:1.输入小动脉在肾小球血管极处分为2～5支小球内小叶微动脉。输入小动脉血管铸型的直径为126.35±20.5μm。2.肾小球是由小球内小叶微动脉、毛细血管、毛细血管网小叶间交通支和毛细血管输出根所构成的近似于球状体,小球内每个毛细血管网小叶均是一个独立的机能解剖学单位;3.299个肾小球均有一支输出小动脉,只有一个肾小球有两支输出小动脉。输出小动脉的血管铸型直径为91.35±11.7μm。4.输出小动脉起始处具有毛细血管前括约肌装置,此结构在调控肾小球内的微循环血流有着重要意义。     

医用钛合金在三种不同生理电解液中的耐腐蚀行为研究

利用电化学方法研究医用钛合金在0.9%NaCl生理盐水，模拟人工唾液，模拟人工体液中的腐蚀情况，分析腐蚀电位和腐蚀电流密度，扫面电镜观察腐蚀表面形貌，CA-A型接触角测试仪测试钛合金表面被腐蚀后接触角的变化。实验表明：钛合金在三种生理电解液中的腐蚀情况依次是：模拟人工唾液〉模拟人工体液〉0.9%NaCl生理盐水。扫面电镜观察表明，医用钛合金在0.9% NaCl生理盐水腐蚀后，表面出现了许多腐蚀孔，经模拟人体体液腐蚀后，表面变得粗糙不平整，腐蚀孔数目变化不大，钛合金经人工唾液腐蚀后，腐蚀孔数目增多，部分腐蚀孔孔径明显增大。经三种生理电解液腐蚀后，钛合金表面接触角都减小。结论：医用钛合金在人工唾液中的腐蚀最严重，在临床应用中应给予相应的防范措施。     

错畸形患者的Howes值测量分析

目的:本研究采用Howes法评估牙弓骨量与牙量的协调性,探讨其在正畸临床诊断与矫治设计确定拔牙与非拔牙中的应用价值。方法:选取第四军医大学口腔医学院正畸门诊患者80人,男、女拔牙与非拔牙各20例。测量牙量(TM)、双尖牙弓宽径(PMD)、双尖牙根尖基骨宽径(PMBAW)、基骨弓长度(BAL),并计算PMD/TM、PMBAW/TM、BAL/TM值,对其进行统计学处理与分析。结果:男女两组比较TM、PMD、PMBAW、BAL值有显著性差异,男性大于女性;但PMD/TM、PMBAW/TM、BAL/TM值无统计学意义;拔牙组与非拔牙组比较,PMD/TM、PMBAW/TM、BAL/TM值有显著性差异。结论:采用Howes法评估牙弓骨量与牙量对正畸临床的诊断和拔牙与非拔牙矫治设计有一定的指导意义。     

防止银器文物变色的唑系复合缓蚀剂Ⅰ. 缓蚀剂成膜处理工艺与防变色性能的评定

:通过按正交法设计的紫外光照曝露等加速大气腐蚀实验 ,研究了用于防止银变色的唑系复合缓蚀剂成膜处理的工艺 ,并评定其对模拟文物银试片的防变色性能。采用极化曲线和交流阻抗Nyquist图 ,讨论了防变色作用的电化学机理。实验结果表明 ,缓蚀剂 PMTA、MBI和 MBO具有较好的协同作用 ,银试片在 5 0°C、p H 3.0、组分 MBO∶ PMTA∶ MBI为 1∶ 1 .7∶ 3(摩尔比 )、复合缓蚀剂浓度为 0 .0 1 89mol/L的溶液中 4h成膜处理后 ,经 48h硫华气氛和 36h紫外光曝露腐蚀实验 ,无色斑出现 ,表明缓蚀膜明显地提高了银试片的抗变色能力     

舌肌和翼内肌微血管几何学构筑的研究

本文应用微血管腐蚀铸型扫描电镜,观察了2例3岁幼儿的舌肌和翼内肌的微血管构型。在扫描电镜下,舌肌内的毛细血管网构型分三类:1.花蕊样毛细血管袢;2.云朵样毛细血管网;3.多角形套状毛细血管网。毛细血管铸型的直径为5.3±1.5μm,描述了动脉铸型表面上的内皮细胞核压痕和前毛细血管括约肌压痕的形态特征。讨论了血管袢的结构形态及其机能意义,为理解骨骼肌的微循环的过程提供了形态学基础。     

铜合金上渗硅层的耐磨耐蚀性

介绍了铜合金在渗剂粉末中高效渗硅,获得无孔的渗硅层。对渗硅层的组织、零件的表面形状和保温时间对渗硅层厚度的影响、摩擦学行为、腐蚀电位等进行了测定,并进行了初步的探讨,说明铜合金上的渗硅层在硫酸介质中具有耐蚀、耐磨(耐磨性提高3倍以上)、减摩等良好性能。     

大鼠肺微血管和肺泡铸型的扫描电镜观察

用扫描电镜观察以甲基丙烯酸甲酯灌注鼠的肺微血管和肺泡。胸膜下毛细血管较稀疏,网孔粗大。毛细血管部分成锐角折返,亦可见毛细血管盲端。肺泡隔毛细血管均成扁平状膨大,且相互吻合成单层密集网。肺泡铸型为大小不等、不规则的多面体,表面可见肺泡Ⅱ型细胞核之压迹。两肺泡之间可见呈桥式连接的肺泡孔,亦可见部分呈三通管样相连。