Anisotropic elastic behavior of a hydrogel-coated electrospun polyurethane: Suitability for heart valve leaflets.

Although xenograft biomaterials have been used for decades in replacement heart valves, they continue to face multiple limitations, including limited durability, mineralization, and restricted design space due to their biological origins. These issues necessitate the need for novel replacement heart valve biomaterials that are durable, non-thrombogenic, and compatible with transcatheter aortic valve replacement devices. In this study, we explored the suitability of an electrospun poly(carbonate urethane) (ES-PCU) mesh coated with a poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogel as a synthetic biomaterial for replacement heart valve leaflets.

Note: Detector collimators for the nanoscale ordered materials diffractometer instrument at the Spallation Neutron Source.

Five neutron collimator designs were constructed and tested at the nanoscale ordered materials diffractometer (NOMAD) instrument. Collimators were made from High Density PolyEthylene (HDPE) or 5% borated HDPE. In all cases, collimators improved the signal to background ratio and reduced detection of secondary scattering.

The prevalence of latex allergy in patients with rhinitis.

Natural rubber latex hypersensitivity to the constituent proteins of natural rubber latex is now an international health problem. This study investigates the prevalence of latex allergy in patients presenting with rhinitis. Fifty-nine consecutive patients, who presented to a general Otolaryngology out-patient clinic with symptoms suggestive of rhinitis, completed a questionnaire and underwent skin prick testing.

Improving the endoscopic view of the hypopharynx with anterior neck traction during the trumpet manoeuvre.

The postcricoid subsite is difficult to visualize on flexible laryngopharyngoscopy. The view can be improved with either auto-insufflation manoeuvres or anterior neck skin traction. In this study, the view of the hypopharynx was graded whilst anterior neck skin traction was applied during the trumpet manoeuvre; the latter involves the patient blowing on his finger as if blowing up a balloon.