Optimization of Metal Injection Molding Processing Conditions for Reducing Black Lines and Meld Lines in Bone Plates.

The bone plates used in surgery to assist in fracture healing are often manufactured by metal injection molding (MIM) using a feedstock material consisting of metal powder and polymer binder. However, if the local powder concentration is too low or uneven, black lines may be formed, which impair the product appearance. Furthermore, if the melding temperature is too low, it can lead to meld lines and reduced mechanical properties.

Epileptic Patients with More Clinic Visits Are More Likely to Be Diagnosed with Dementia-A Population-Based Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objective: This retrospective cohort study assessed dementia risk in epilepsy patients associated with the compliance to epileptic treatment visits.

Methods: We used Taiwanese insurance claims data to establish an epilepsy cohort ( = 39,216) diagnosed in 2000-2015 and a matched control cohort without epilepsy ( = 156,864), evaluating the incident dementia by the end of 2016.

Results: The dementia incidence was 2.

Perioperative Stroke Following Implantation of Left Ventricular Assist Device: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objectives: Stroke is common following left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation, although comprehensive data on perioperative strokes in this uncommon population is lacking. The current study aim was to characterize the presentation, features, and outcomes of perioperative cerebrovascular ischemia post-LVAD implantation at the authors' institution.

Design: Single-center retrospective cohort.

Enhancing the porosity of biphasic calcium phosphate using polyethylene glycol as the porogen for bone regeneration applications.

Biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) has been used as a material to support bone grafting, repair, recovery, and regeneration over the past decades. However, the inherent weakness of BCP is its low porosity, which limits the infiltration, differentiation, and proliferation of bone cells. To address this issue, porous BCP was synthesized using polyethylene glycol (PEG) 1000 with weight ratio ranging from 20%-60% in BCP as the porogen through the powder-forming method.