Decorin content and near infrared spectroscopy analysis of dried collagenous biomaterial samples.

The efficient removal of proteoglycans, such as decorin, from the hide when processing it to leather by traditional means is generally acceptable and beneficial for leather quality, especially for softness and flexibility. A patented waterless or acetone dehydration method that can generate a product similar to leather called Dried Collagenous Biomaterial (known as BCD) was developed but has no effect on decorin removal efficiency. The Alcian Blue colorimetric technique was used to assay the sulfated glycosaminoglycan (sGAG) portion of decorin.

Real-time elastography of hepatic thermal lesions in vitro: histopathological correlation.

Purpose: To evaluate the reliability of elastography, a new ultrasonographic method, for delineating thermal lesion boundaries in porcine liver tissue by comparing lesion dimensions determined by real-time elastography with the findings at gross pathology.

Materials And Methods: A total of 15 thermal lesions with diameters ranging from 17 to 60 mm were created using radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Color-coded elastography was performed by one experienced examiner, using a 6 - 15 MHz high frequency linear transducer (LOGIQ E9, GE).

[Plain abdominal radiograph - is there any additional clinical value based on the supine projection?].

Background: To assess the diagnostic value of an additionally acquired plain abdominal radiograph in supine position.

Materials And Methods: Two experienced radiologists evaluated retrospectively 2148 consecutive patients having plain abdominal radiographs acquired in a tertiary care center. There were 1385 patients having an erect view and 763 patients with a left lateral decubitus view.

Radiological imaging of the small bowel.

Recently introduced endoscopy-based imaging methods such as double-balloon endoscopy or wireless capsule endoscopy can visualize the complete small bowel. These approaches are quite invasive diagnostic methods. Therefore, radiological small bowel imaging is also still considered as the primary imaging approach to diagnose pathological changes of the small bowel.

X-ray grating interferometer for materials-science imaging at a low-coherent wiggler source.

X-ray phase-contrast radiography and tomography enable to increase contrast for weakly absorbing materials. Recently, x-ray grating interferometers were developed that extend the possibility of phase-contrast imaging from highly brilliant radiation sources like third-generation synchrotron sources to non-coherent conventional x-ray tube sources. Here, we present the first installation of a three grating x-ray interferometer at a low-coherence wiggler source at the beamline W2 (HARWI II) operated by the Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht at the second-generation synchrotron storage ring DORIS (DESY, Hamburg, Germany).

Cosmetic surgery in inpatients with eating disorders: attitudes and experience.

Body image disturbance is frequent among individuals undergoing cosmetic surgery and core to the pathology of eating disorders (ED); however, there is little research examining cosmetic surgery in ED. This study examined body image related measures, ED behaviors, and depression as predictors of attitudes toward cosmetic surgery in 129 women with ED. Patients who had undergone surgery (n=16, 12%) were compared to those who had not.

Incidence of maxillary sinusitis and oro-antral fistulae in bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw.

Objective: Bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) is a serious side-effect of bisphosphonate therapy. In the majority of cases BRONJ occurs in the mandible. As a consequence a detailed investigation of BRONJ of the maxilla and in particular of involvement of the maxillary sinus has largely so far been neglected.

Hierarchical flexural strength of enamel: transition from brittle to damage-tolerant behaviour.

Hard, biological materials are generally hierarchically structured from the nano- to the macro-scale in a somewhat self-similar manner consisting of mineral units surrounded by a soft protein shell. Considerable efforts are underway to mimic such materials because of their structurally optimized mechanical functionality of being hard and stiff as well as damage-tolerant. However, it is unclear how different hierarchical levels interact to achieve this performance.

X-ray diffraction enhanced imaging as a novel method to visualize low-density scaffolds in soft tissue engineering.

Scaffold visualization is challenging yet essential to the success of various tissue engineering applications. The aim of this study was to explore the potential of X-ray diffraction enhanced imaging (DEI) as a novel method for the visualization of low density engineered scaffolds in soft tissue. Imaging of the scaffolds made from poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) and chitosan was conducted using synchrotron radiation-based radiography, in-line phase-contrast imaging (in-line PCI), and DEI techniques as well as laboratory-based radiography.

Five-dimensional incommensurate structure of the melilite electrolyte [CaNd]2[Ga]2[Ga2O7]2.

Melilite-type gallium oxides are potential intermediate temperature electrolytes for solid oxide fuel cells. Single crystals of [CaNd](2)[Ga](2)[Ga(2)O(7)](2) grown using an optical floating zone furnace have been investigated using transmission electron microscopy and powder and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The anion array topologically conforms to a [(3.

Improving the precision of QT measurements.

Background: Accurate and precise QT interval measurement is very important for both regulatory and drug developmental decision making. These measurements are often made using a manual or semi-automated technique, and the associated variability necessitates sample sizes of around 50 to 70 subjects in thorough QT/QTc studies. The purpose of this study was to compare the reproducibility and precision of a semi-automated (SA) method and a high-precision (HPQT) technique for ECG extraction and QT interval measurement on two thorough QT/QTc (TQT) studies conducted in compliance with ICH E14.

Anisotropic interface magnetoresistance in Pt/Co/Pt sandwiches.

We report on an effect of reduced dimensionality on the magnetotransport in cobalt layers sandwiched by platinum. In a current in-plane geometry it is found that the resistivity depends on the magnetization orientation within the plane perpendicular to the current direction. The resistivity shows a symmetry adapted cos(2) dependence on the angle to the surface normal, with the maximum along the surface normal.

Bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaws - characteristics, risk factors, clinical features, localization and impact on oncological treatment.

Introduction: Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) is a serious side-effect of intravenous nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate therapy frequently used in the treatment of malignant diseases. Despite numerous case series published so far studies with detailed investigations into risk factors, the precise localization of ONJ and impact of ONJ on the oncological treatment remain sparse.

Patients And Methods: This single-centre study collated medical records (2003-2009) of all patients that suffered from ONJ within the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Germany.

Middle ear of human and pig: a comparison of structures and mechanics.

Introduction: Animal studies are an essential method to evaluate implants for the middle ear prior to clinical studies. New Zealand rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas are, among other small mammals, well established animal models, but their auditory system is significantly smaller compared to human. Hence, the suitability of the domestic pig (sus scrofa domesticus) as a new animal model for research on the middle ear (ME), that would match the human in size, was investigated.

Metabolic engineering of Escherichia coli for direct production of 1,4-butanediol.

1,4-Butanediol (BDO) is an important commodity chemical used to manufacture over 2.5 million tons annually of valuable polymers, and it is currently produced exclusively through feedstocks derived from oil and natural gas. Herein we report what are to our knowledge the first direct biocatalytic routes to BDO from renewable carbohydrate feedstocks, leading to a strain of Escherichia coli capable of producing 18 g l(-1) of this highly reduced, non-natural chemical.

[Prevention of small bowel fistulas during open abdominal treatment: lessons learned].

Background: Abdominal vacuum therapy has simplified the treatment of a laparostoma. But is that all that it can achieve? The role of abdominal vacuum therapy concerning the development of small bowel fistulas is still under discussion. Treatment of the bowel surface seems to be crucial for the prevention of fistulas.

How reliable are CT scans for the evaluation of calcaneal fractures?

Introduction: CT scans are deemed to be the gold standard for the evaluation of calcaneal fractures. However, the reliability of the interpretation has not been studied systematically.

Patients And Methods: In a prospective multicenter study, the CT data set of five different fractures was presented to 57 evaluators.

MR-arterioportography: a new technical approach for detection of liver lesions.

Aim: To evaluate the benefit and effectiveness of MR-arterioportography (MR-AP) to achieve the highest sensitivity for detection and evaluation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: Twenty liver cirrhosis patients with suspected HCC were included before transarterial chemoembolization. In all patients double-enhanced Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed.

Presence of harmless small supernumerary marker chromosomes hampers molecular genetic diagnosis: a case report.

Mental retardation is correlated in approximately 0.4% of cases with the presence of a small supernumerary marker chromosome (sSMC). However, here we report a case of a carrier of a heterochromatic harmless sSMC with fragile X syndrome (Fra X).

Comparison of high-resolution ultrasound and MR-enterography in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Aim: To compare the results of high-resolution ultrasound (HR-US) and magnetic resonance enterography (MRE) examinations in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Methods: The reports of 250 consecutive cases with known IBD, who had an MRE and HR-US examination, were retrospectively analyzed. Using a patient-based approach we evaluated morphological disease features such as affected bowel wall, stenosis, abscess and fistula.

[Detection of intraorbital foreign material using MDCT].

Aim: To judge the possibilities of detection of orbital foreign bodies in multidetector CT (MDCT) with a focus on glass slivers.

Materials And Methods: Experimental systematic measuring of Hounsfield Units (HU) of 20 different materials, containing 16 different types of glass with 4 different types of ophthalmic lenses among them. The measurements were performed using a standardized protocol with an orbita phantom being scanned with 16-slice MDCT.

Comparison between a clinical activity index (Harvey-Bradshaw-Index), laboratory inflammation markers and quantitative assessment of bowel wall vascularization by contrast-enhanced ultrasound in Crohn's disease.

Purpose: Due to its character as a remitting inflammatory disease, patients suffering from Crohn's disease (CD) often undergo several imaging studies subjecting the mostly young patients to ionizing. Contrast enhanced ultrasound for capillary microvascular assessment might be a new diagnostic tool for identifying the activity of inflammation by ultrasound techniques.

Materials And Methods: We prospectively evaluated 45 patients with proven Crohn's disease performing contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and laboratory assessment including C-reactive protein (CRP), leucocytes and hematocrit as well as calculating the Harvey-Bradshaw Index (HBI).

Endovascular treatment of acute arterial hemorrhage in trauma patients using ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (Onyx).

Purpose: This study was designed to determine the feasibility and efficacy of endovascular embolization with liquid embolic agent ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (Onyx) in patients with acute traumatic arterial bleeding.

Methods: This is a retrospective review of 13 patients (9 men and 4 women; mean age 45 years) with severe trauma who underwent embolotherapy using Onyx from November 2003 to February 2009. Bleeding was located in the pelvis (5 patients), kidney (3 patients), mesenteric region (2 patients), retroperitoneal space (2 patients), neck (1 patient), and thigh (1 patient).

Investigating the effect of moisture protection on solid-state stability and dissolution of fenofibrate and ketoconazole solid dispersions using PXRD, HSDSC and Raman microscopy.

Enhanced dissolution of poorly soluble active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in amorphous solid dispersions often diminishes during storage due to moisture-induced re-crystallization. This study aims to investigate the influence of moisture protection on solid-state stability and dissolution profiles of melt-extruded fenofibrate (FF) and ketoconazole (KC) solid dispersions. Samples were kept in open, closed and Activ-vials(®) to control the moisture uptake under accelerated conditions.