Recovery of normal esophageal function in a kitten with diffuse megaesophagus and an occult lower esophageal stricture.

An 8-week-old male domestic shorthair was presented to the Internal Medicine Service at North Carolina State University for regurgitation. Radiographic diagnosis of generalized esophageal dilation and failure of esophageal peristalsis were compatible with diagnosis of congenital megaesophagus. Endoscopic examination of the esophagus revealed a fibrous stricture just orad to the lower esophageal sphincter.

Optimization of a novel headspace-solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatographic method by means of a Doehlert uniform shell design for the analysis of trace level ethylene oxide residuals in sterilized medical devices.

Medical devices sterilized by ethylene oxide (EtO) retain trace quantities of EtO residuals, which may irritate patients' tissue. Reliably quantifying trace level EtO residuals in small medical devices requires an extremely sensitive analytical method. In this research, a Doehlert uniform shell design was utilized in obtaining a response surface to optimize a novel headspace-solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatographic (HS-SPME-GC) method developed for analyzing trace levels of EtO residuals in sterilized medical devices, by evaluating sterilized, polymer-coated, drug-eluting cardiovascular stents.

Round-robin evaluation of a solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatographic method for reliable determination of trace level ethylene oxide in sterilized medical devices.

Medical devices that are sterilized with ethylene oxide (EtO) retain small quantities of EtO residuals, which may cause negative systemic and local irritating effects, and must be accurately quantified to ensure non-toxicity. The goal of this round-robin study is to investigate the capability of a novel solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatographic (SPME-GC) method for trace-level EtO residuals analysis: three independent laboratories conducted a guided experiment using this SPME-GC method, in assessing method performance, ruggedness and the feasibility of SPME fibers. These were satisfactory across the independent laboratories, at the 0.

Electron paramagnetic resonance analyses of surface radical chemistries of gamma-sterilized orthopedic materials: implications pointing to cytotoxicity via wear debris-induced inflammation.

In this research, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spin-trapping was utilized to determine if surface radical chemistries occur for gamma (gamma)-sterilized orthopedic materials-ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and the novel, hybrid, diurethane dimethacrylate (DUDMA)-based RHAKOSS. The materials' ability to competitively chelate catalytic ferrous ions (Fe(2+)) or readily reduce ferric ions (Fe(3+)), and hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) directly, in facilitating the Fenton reaction (FR), is indicative of cytotoxicity. Validations with a radical scavenger aids to confirm a radical mechanism.

In vitro evaluation of orthopedic composite cytotoxicity: assessing the potential for postsurgical production of hydroxyl radicals.

Hydroxyl radical (*OH)-induced inflammation is a primary mode for in vivo cytotoxicity. A legitimate concern is whether particulate wear debris from orthopedic composites can stimulate inflammation via ferrous ion (Fe2+)-mediated production of *OH. The purpose of this research was to utilize electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spin trapping in investigating and comparing the potential for postsurgical cytotoxicity induced specifically by *OH in the presence of two composites: Simplex P and the novel, hybrid, CORTOSS.

In vitro tobramycin elution analysis from a novel beta-tricalcium phosphate-silicate-xerogel biodegradable drug-delivery system.

This in vitro research analyzed local tobramycin elution characteristics from a novel, biodegradable drug delivery system, consisting of a beta-TCP bone substitute, VITOSS trade mark, encapsulated with silicate xerogel prepared by the sol-gel process. Tobramycin elution from silicate-xerogel-encapsulated VITOSS was compared directly with non-silicate-xerogel-encapsulated VITOSS to assess whether xerogels are effective in delivering greater tobramycin quantities in a controllable, sustained manner crucial for microbial inhibition. Tobramycin elution characteristics indicate an initial release maximum during the first 24 h that diminishes gradually several days after impregnation.