On-line monitoring of the dynamics of trihalomethane concentrations in a warm public swimming pool using an unsupervised membrane inlet mass spectrometry system with off-site real-time surveillance.

To study the long-term dynamics of trihalomethanes (THMs) in a warm (31-33 degrees C) public swimming pool, we built a robust membrane inlet mass spectrometer that could perform unsupervised, on-site monitoring of the concentration of these compounds with off-site, real-time surveillance. The instrument was installed in a technical room below the pool and operated continuously for more than a year practically only interrupted for filament replacements every 6-8 weeks. One to two days after a filament replacement, the instrument stabilized and kept its calibration until shortly before the next filament burnout.

[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.