Synthetically tuneable biomimetic artificial photosynthetic reaction centres that closely resemble the natural system in purple bacteria.

Porphyrin-based photosynthetic reaction centre (PRC) mimics, and (M = Zn or 2H), designed to have a similar special-pair electron donor and similar charge-separation distances, redox processes and photochemical reaction rates to those in the natural PRC from purple bacteria, have been synthesised and extensive photochemical studies performed. Mechanisms of electron-transfer reactions are fully investigated using femtosecond and nanosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. In benzonitrile, all models show picosecond-timescale charge-separations and the final singlet charge-separations with the microsecond-timescale.

The effect of intraoperative fluoroscopy on the accuracy of femoral tunnel placement in single-bundle anatomic ACL reconstruction.

Purpose: The purpose of the current study was to investigate the potential effect of intraoperative fluoroscopy on the accuracy of femoral tunnel placement in anatomic ACL reconstruction, using an ideal anatomic point as reference and evaluating postoperative tunnel placement based on 3D CT.

Methods: An experienced ACL surgeon, using the anatomic approach for femoral tunnel placement, relying on intraarticular landmarks and remnants of the torn ACL-and novel to the fluoroscopic assist-was introduced to its use. A prospective series of patients was included where group 1 (without fluoroscopy) and group 2 (with fluoroscopy) both had postoperative CT scans so that femoral tunnel position could be evaluated and compared to an ideal tunnel centre based on anatomic studies by using the Bernard and Hertel grid.

Symptoms and function in patients with articular cartilage lesions in 1,000 knee arthroscopies.

Purpose: Focal chondral lesions of the knee are commonly occurring. A lot is known about their frequency, size and localisation in arthroscopic series, but less about the symptoms they elicit and little about how the arthroscopic findings and symptoms correlate. The purposes of the present study included to investigate the relationship between articular cartilage lesion factors and patient factors, and to compare the symptoms and function of cartilage lesion patients to those of patients with a deficient ACL.

The effect of feedback from post-operative 3D CT on placement of femoral tunnels in single-bundle anatomic ACL reconstruction.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of feedback from post-operative 3D CT in the learning process of placing the femoral graft tunnel anatomically using the anteromedial (AM)-portal technique in single-bundle anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.

Methods: An experienced knee surgeon converting from transtibial to AM-portal technique was offered post-operative feedback on tunnel placement. Three groups of patients were included: transtibial drilling, (AM1) anteromedial drilling without feedback and (AM2) anteromedial drilling with post-operative CT feedback.

Corneal endothelial cell changes associated with cataract surgery in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Purpose: To investigate the corneal endothelial cell density and morphology in patients with and without diabetes after phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation.

Methods: A clinical prospective study including 30 patients with type 2 diabetes and 30 control patients without diabetes scheduled to undergo cataract surgery. No difference in preoperative age was observed between the 2 groups (P = 0.

Intraoperative floppy iris syndrome (IFIS): a practical approach to medical and surgical considerations in cataract extractions.

Intraoperative floppy iris syndrome (IFIS) during cataract surgery is characterized by iris fluttering, iris prolapse towards the incisions, and a progressive pupillary constriction leading to high rates of complications. The syndrome has been reported following the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia with α-1(a) adrenergic receptor inhibitors, especially tamsulosin. The present paper describes the syndrome and discusses its pharmacological background.

Equal cartilage repair response between autologous chondrocytes in a collagen scaffold and minced cartilage under a collagen scaffold: an in vivo study in goats.

Cell-free methods for cartilage tissue repair have recently gained increased focus. One method to supply a chondrogenic cell source is to apply freshly harvested cartilage tissue to the defects area and to retain the tissue for cell outgrowth. The present study aims to investigate the cartilage repair response of autologous cartilage chips or chondrocytes in combination with a collagen membrane in a goat femoral condyle full thickness cartilage defect model.

Cartilage repair with chondrocytes in fibrin hydrogel and MPEG polylactide scaffold: an in vivo study in goats.

Polylactic acid polymers have been used extensively as biomaterials and have shown promising properties for cartilage tissue engineering. Numerous scaffold materials exist and the optimal scaffold needs to be identified. We have tried to assess the possibilities for cartilage repair by the use of two different scaffold techniques; autologous chondrocytes in a fibrin hydrogel and a novel MPEG-PLGA scaffold, where autologous chondrocytes are immobilized within the MPEG-PLGA scaffold by a fibrin hydrogel.

[Surgery on articular cartilage: from debridement to tissue engineering].

Articular cartilage is a complex tissue with a limited endogenous repair capacity. Surgical strategies to stimulate repair of damaged cartilage are presently evolving extensively. New techniques based on tissue-engineering principles with cultured cells and scaffolds are challenging established techniques based on generating a repair response from the bone marrow.

The influence of ultrasound on the mechanical properties of healing tendons in rabbits.

Background: Therapeutic ultrasound is commonly used for treatment of injuries to tendons, ligaments and joint capsules. Opinions still differ, however, as to the beneficial effects of ultrasound treatment of the above-mentioned conditions.

Methods: We studied the effect of various ultrasound intensities on the healing of tenotomized, sutured and immobilized Achilles tendons of adult rabbits.

Electrochemical properties of mixed self-assembled monolayers on gold electrodes containing mercaptooctylhydroquinone and alkylthiols.

Mixed self-assembled monolayers of 2-(mercaptooctyl)hydroquinone (QH2) and alkylthiols were formed on gold electrodes in EtOH and the redox process of the hydroquinone moiety of QH2 was characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV) in 0.1 M H(2)SO(4). The monolayers were formed at a series of QH2:alkylthiol ratios and the QH2:alkylthiol ratio in solution was compared to the electrochemical response from QH2 in the obtained monolayer.

An electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance study of the etching of gold surfaces in the presence of tetramethylthiourea.

The oxidation of tetramethylthiourea (TMTU) at gold electrodes in acetonitrile, leading to dissolution of the electrode, has been studied by electrochemical methods and by an electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM). TMTU in acetonitrile readily adsorbs at gold electrodes and an estimated coverage of 5.5 x 10(-10) mol cm(-2) (30 A2 per molecule) was measured electrochemically.

Outcome of clinical versus genetic family screening in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with focus on cardiac beta-myosin gene mutations.

Objective: Familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (FHC) is caused by mutations in genes encoding cardiac sarcomere proteins. Although available, genetic analyses are generally not used clinically. In the present study, we evaluated the outcome of clinical vs.

Attachment of alkyltrichlorosilanes to the terminal 3,5-dihydroxyphenyl moiety of a self-assembled thiol monolayer on gold.

The synthesis of 5-(6-mercaptohexyloxy)-1,3-dihydroxybenzene and the formation of a self-assembled monolayer on polycrystalline gold using this compound are described. Methyltrichlorosilane and (tridecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrooctyl)trichlorosilane were attached to the 3,5-dihydroxyphenyl terminus of the monolayer. The modified surfaces were studied by contact angle measurement, XPS, and cyclic voltammetry.

Combined intra-articular glucocorticoid, bupivacaine and morphine reduces pain and convalescence after diagnostic knee arthroscopy.

We studied the effect of intra-articullar saline vs. bupivacaine + morphine or bupivacaine morphine + methylprednisolone after diagnostic knee arthroscopy. In a double-blind randomized study, 60 patients undergoing diagnostic knee arthroscopy without a therapeutic procedure were allocated to groups receiving intra-articular saline, intra-articular bupivacaine 150 mg + morphine 4 mg or the same dose of bupivacaine + morphine + intra-articular methylprednisolone 40 mg at the end of arthroscopy during general anesthesia.

Intra-articular glucocorticoid, bupivacaine and morphine reduces pain, inflammatory response and convalescence after arthroscopic meniscectomy.

Convalescence after arthroscopic meniscectomy is dependent on pain and the inflammatory response. The aim of the study was therefore to investigate the effect of intra-articular bupivacaine + morphine + methylprednisolone versus bupivacaine + morphine or saline on postmeniscectomy pain, mobilisation and convalescence. In a double-blind randomized study 60 patients undergoing arthroscopic meniscectomy were allocated to intra-articular saline, intra-articular bupivacaine 150 mg + morphine 4 mg or the same dose of bupivacaine + morphine + intra-articular methylprednisolone 40 mg.