Assessment of Bonelike® graft with a resorbable matrix using an animal model

Synthetic bone grafts have been developed to provide an alternative to autografts and allografts. Bonelike® is a patented synthetic osteoconductive bone graft that mimics the mineral composition of natural bone. In the present preliminary animal studies a user-friendly version of synthetic bone graft Bonelike® have been developed by using a resorbable matrix, Floseal®, as a vehicle and raloxifene hydrochloride as a therapeutic molecule, that is known to decrease osteoclast activity and therefore enhanced bone formation. From histological and scanning electron microscopy evaluations, the use of Bonelike® associated with Floseal® and raloxifene hydrochloride showed that new bone was rapidly apposed on implanted granules and also that the presence of the matrix and therapeutic molecule does not alter the proven highly osteoconductivity properties of Bonelike®. Therefore, this association may be one step-forward for the clinical applications of Bonelike® scaffolds since it is much more easy-to-handle when compared to granular materials.     

Superconductivity in a new quaternary phase with HgSm0.5In0.5Pb2 composition

This work reports a systematic study on the structural and superconducting properties in the Hg-Sm-In-Pb system. It is investigated how In and Sm dopings influence the superconducting properties of the HgPb₂ phase which was recently reported. Results for the HgSm_1 − xPb₂ system show that Sm atoms substitute Hg vacancies in the tetragonal phase which do not affect the onset critical temperature of the HgPb₂ compound. Simultaneous Sm and In doping effects on the properties of the HgPb₂ phase are also studied. Experimental and simulations of X-ray powder diffractograms suggest that the HgSm_1 − xIn_xPb₂ system (0.2 ≤ x ≤ 0.7) has a pseudo-cubic structure with lattice parameters near 4.88 Å. Superconducting properties measurements show that this system has an optimum doping at x ∼ 0.5 with the onset critical temperature close to 6.9 K. This is the highest superconducting critical temperature for the AuCu prototype so far reported.     

Polyamide-6/vegetal fiber composite prepared by extrusion and injection molding

The interest for the use of vegetal fibers as polymers reinforcement has recently increased because of their unique environmental and technological advantages. This work evaluated the use of Curauá fibers in polyamide-6 composites aiming at glass fiber replacement. Fiber content of 20, 30 or 40 wt% and fiber lengths of 0.1 or 10 mm were studied. Fibers were treated with N₂ plasma or washed with NaOH solution, to improve their adhesion to PA-6. Samples with 20 wt% of short or long fibers, with or without pre-treatment, were compounded in two different co-rotating intermeshing twin-screw extruders. These samples were submitted to mechanical and thermal tests. In conclusion, non-dried raw materials improved fiber/matrix interfacial adhesion. Tensile and flexural properties of this composite are better than unfilled, but lower than glass fiber reinforced polyamide-6. However, its impact resistance and heat deflection temperature are similar to the glass fiber reinforced polyamide-6 and its lower density, enable it to replace this latter in specific non-critical applications.     

Genotoxic effect of Physalis angulata L. (Solanaceae) extract on human lymphocytes treated in vitro

Physalis angulata L (Solanaceae) is a medicinal plant from North of Brazil, whose different extracts and infusions are commonly used in the popular medicine for the treatment of malaria, asthma, hepatitis, dermatitis and rheumatism. However, the genotoxic effects of P. angulata on human cells is not well known. The main purpose of the present study was to evaluate the in vitro genotoxic effects of aqueous extract of P. angulata using the comet assay and the micronucleus assay in human lymphocytes provided from 6 healthy donors. Treatments with P. angulata extracts were performed in vitro in order to access the extent of DNA damage. The comet assay has shown that treatments with P. angulata at 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 and 6.0 microg/mL in culture medium were genotoxic. Lymphocytes treated with P. angulata at the concentrations of 3.0 and 6.0 microg/mL in culture medium showed a statistically significant increase in the frequency of micronucleus (p<0.05), however, the cytokinesis blocked proliferation index (CBPI) was not decreased after P. angulata treatment. In conclusion, the present work demonstrated the genotoxic effects of P. angulata extract on human lymphocytes in vitro.     

Performance effects of innovative IT applications over time

There is evidence to indicate that the effects of new product and service innovations change over time as a result of learning and competition. However, there have not been any studies of the effects of learning and competition on the impacts of innovative information technology (IT) applications. This paper presents the results of an extensive study of the effects of very early investments in automated teller machines (ATMs) by banks, on market share and overall bank performance. The study spans the period from 1971 to 1984 and includes 2534 banks from across the United States. The results indicate that the impacts of early ATM investments can best be described by exponential and logistic models, indicating that the benefits were very small at first, but increased rapidly after a few years. In addition, the benefits obtained by the earliest adopters were larger than those obtained by the banks that adopted later. These results have important implications for IT investment decisions. The results also suggest that cross-sectional studies, conducted soon after an application is installed, may fail to find benefits even if large benefits are obtained     

The minimum dosage of praziquantel in the treatment of Taenia saginata, 1986-1993

Patients who have a unicornuate uterus with a noncommunicating rudimentary horn that contains an endometrial cavity are at risk for endometriosis and obstetric complications. As in this case, resection of the rudimentary horn can be performed laparoscopically without increased risk to the patient and with some potential benefit.     

Blocage par injection de modes sous- harmoniques d’un oscillateur utilisant une ligne à retard à ondes de surface

A nonlinear regeneration pulsed oscillator driven by a monochromatic source has been built. Subharmonics of the resonance carrier/modulation are measured with an accuracy of 10^-10 thanks to the use of a double beats measurement set-up. The multiscale analysis of frequency readings reveals a rich fine structure which is in agreement with the nonlinear topological approach of synchronized states.     

Effect of vitamin A supplementation on diarrhoea and acute lower-respiratory-tract infections in young children in Brazil

A beneficial effect of periodic vitamin A supplementation on childhood mortality has been demonstrated, but the effect on morbidity is less clear. We investigated the effect of vitamin A supplementation on diarrhoea and acute lower-respiratory-tract infections (ALRI) in children from northeastern Brazil in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled community trial. 1240 children aged 6-48 months were assigned vitamin A or placebo every 4 months for 1 year. They were followed up at home three times a week, and data about the occurrence and severity of diarrhoea and ALRI were collected. Any child with cough and respiratory rate above 40 breaths per min was visited by a paediatrician. The overall incidence of diarrhoea episodes was significantly lower in the vitamin-A-supplemented group than in the placebo group (18.42 vs 19.58 x 10(-3) child-days; rate ratio 0.94 [95% Cl 0.90-0.98]). The benefit of supplementation was greater as regards severe episodes of diarrhoea; the incidence was 20% lower in the vitamin A group than in the placebo group (rate ratio 0.80 [0.65-0.98]). With the standard definition of diarrhoea (> or = 3 liquid or semi-liquid stools in 24 h) the effect of vitamin A on mean daily prevalence did not reach significance, but as the definition of diarrhoea was made more stringent (increasing number of stools per day), a significant benefit became apparent, reaching for diarrhoea with 6 or more liquid or semi-liquid stools in 24 h a 23% lower prevalence. We found no effect of vitamin A supplementation on the incidence of ALRI. The reduction in severity of diarrhoea may be the most important factor in the lowering of mortality by vitamin A supplementation.