Study of the degradation of a new PLA braided biomaterial in buffer phosphate saline,basic and acid media,intended for the regeneration of tendons and ligaments

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of hydrolytic degradation on the properties of a PLA hollow braid designed as a new concept of biodegradable prosthesis for the regeneration of tendons and ligaments. The main function of the braided material is to bear mechanical loads while it is being replaced by the newly-generated tissue. The kinetics of braided material degradation is thus an important factor in determining the success of the product. In order to study this mechanism, PLA braid was subjected to a 12-month degradation process at 37 °C in PBS at pH 7.4 (to simulate the human physiological medium) and to accelerated degradation for one month in pH 12 and pH 3 solutions. Degradation of the braid subjected to hydrolysis was evaluated by weight loss, molecular weight distribution, mechanical properties, and calorimetric and morphologic analyses. The weight loss in a basic medium reached 21%, versus no significant change in the other media. Average molecular weight was reduced by approximately 50% in the three media, with loss of mechanical properties in all cases. The morphological changes were more evident in the PLA degraded in the basic medium. The crystallinity of the material increased at the first stages of degradation, regardless of the medium used.     

颜面赝复体粘接剂的红外光谱分析

传统的颜面赝复体粘接剂按其成分可分为聚丙烯酸酯类和有机硅类。以往对于颜面赝复体粘接剂性能的研究,多为粘接强度的测试,而有关这些粘接剂在粘接过程中的变化研究则较少见。文章测试了两种颜面赝复体粘接剂 (Epithane3及Secure2 Adhesive)在液态、半固态时的红外光谱。结果提示,Epithane3结固过程中有水分和残留氨的挥发,Secure2 Adhesive结固过程中表现为乙酸乙酯挥发。有机硅官能团是有机硅类和硅橡胶的粘接强度比聚丙烯酸酯类高的关键。两种粘接剂红外光谱主要吸收峰的峰位、峰形与结固前相同, 表明结固前后其主要化学成分和基本结构未发生变化。     

Qualitative and Quantitative Evaluation of Some Vocal Function Parameters Following Fitting of a Prosthesis

The insertion of a prosthesis and restoration with pectoralis major myocutaneous flaps for patients subjected to total pharyngolaryngectomy is a technique now universally accepted; however the literature on the subject is lacking. Our study considers 10 patients subjected to total pharyngolaryngecto-my and restoration with pectoralis major myocutaneous flaps who were fitted with vocal function prostheses and a control group of 50 subjects treated with a total laryngectomy without pectoralis major myocutaneous flaps and who were fitted with vocal function prostheses. Specific qualitative and quantitative parameters were compared. The quantitative measurement of the levels of voice intensity and the evaluation of the harmonics-to-noise ratio were not statistically significant (p > 0.05) between the two study groups at either high- or low-volume speech. On the contrary, statistically significant differences were found (p < 0.05) for the basic frequency of both the low and the high volume voice. For the qualitative analysis seven parameters were established for evaluation by trained and untrained listeners; on the basis of these parameters the control group had statistically better voices.     

Determination of ultra-trace amounts of prosthesis-related metals in whole blood using volumetric absorptive micro-sampling and tandem ICP – Mass spectrometry

This paper reports on an evaluation of the suitability of a novel sample collection approach, volumetric absorptive micro-sampling (VAMS), in the context of the determination of ultra-trace concentrations of prosthesis-related metals (Al, Ti, V, Co, Cr, Ni, Sr and Zr) in whole blood. In a first phase, a simple dilute-and-shoot approach (100-fold dilution) followed by tandem ICP – mass spectrometry (ICP-MS/MS) analysis was developed for the accurate and sensitive determination of the target elements. The ICP-MS/MS method relies on the use of mass shift reactions proceeding when pressurizing the collision/reaction cell (CRC) with CH₃F/He for dealing with spectral overlap. Limits of detection (LoDs) between 0.3 and 30 ng L⁻¹ were attained in a multi-element approach. The accuracy of the method was demonstrated via successful analysis of the reference materials Seronorm Whole Blood Levels 1 and 3, and real venous blood samples, spiked with the target elements at different concentration levels (5–50 μg L⁻¹). Although the implementation of VAMS devices introduced contamination problems for Al, Cr and Ni, VAMS followed by ICP-MS/MS analysis shows potential for future real-life routine applications when assessing levels of Ti, V, Co, Sr and/or Zr.