In vivo assessment of the osteointegrative potential of phosphatidylserine-based coatings.

The successful implantation of titanium-based implants for orthopaedic and dental applications is often hindered because of their mobility, which arises because of a lack of direct binding of the metal surface to the mineral phase of the surrounding bone. Ceramic coatings, although ensuring the integration of the implant within the tissue, are unstable and carry risks of delamination and of failure. Recently, a novel biomimetic approach has been developed where porous titanium implants are coated with calcium-binding phospholipids able to catalyse the nucleation of discrete apatite crystals after only 30 min incubation in simulated body fluids.

Energy dispersive analysis (EDX) of a degradable bioactive-glass coating on Ti6Al4V in-vivo.

The bioactive-glass coating of metallic substrates provides a gradually degrading interface which can be used to favor the bony integration of the implant by the physiologic processes of bone turn-over and remodeling. Twelve New Zealand White rabbits, about 2700 g of weight, were operated by the sagittal insertion of a bioactive-glass coated plate of Ti6Al4V. Retrievals were performed at 4, 8 and 12 weeks.

Bone response to polymers based on poly-lactic acid and having different degradation times.

Authors studied two degradable and resorbable polymers derived from lactic acid: poly-L-Lactic acid (PLLA), with a relatively long time of degradation (longer than 6 months, PL10 Purac NL); poly-DL-Lactic acid (PDLLA), with a relatively short time of degradation (shorter than 6 months, PDL Purac NL). The animal species was the young adult New Zealand White rabbit. The in-vivo study was performed by implantation of small cylinders of 10 x 3 mm in size (length x diameter) in the distal metaepiphysis of the femur; 34 cylinders have been implanted.

The effectiveness of the circular external fixator in the treatment of post-traumatic of the tibia nonunion.

Authors report the results they obtained when the Ilizarov circular external fixator was used for the treatment of post-traumatic nonunion of the tibia. A total of 20 patients were treated. Of these 12 had been submitted to treatment elsewhere and using other methods; 9 presented with septic nonunion; 10 revealed radiographic findings of atrophic nonunion, and 10 were hypertrophic.

Environmental factors predicting nephritis in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objectives: To evaluate social class, ethnic origin, and various endocrine variables as potential risk factors in the development of nephritis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out of all outpatients with SLE attending the lupus Clinic of St Thomas's Hospital from March to October 1992 using retrospective survival data. The main outcome measure was the duration of SLE before the onset of nephritis.