Physical and biological properties of a novel anti-adhesive punctate uneven gelatin film.

Since abdominal adhesion are quite problematic in abdominal and pelvic surgery, the conventional HA/CMC film are commonly used as an anti-adhesive material. However, such types are difficult to be rolled and delivered through the port of laparoscopic surgical devices due to adherence to the laparoscopic port or other parts of the films. To create an anti-adhesion film with more favorable handling properties and anti-adhesive effect, we developed a novel punctate uneven gelatin film (PU GF).

Newly Developed Polyglycolic Acid Reinforcement Unified with Sodium Alginate to Prevent Adhesion.

Polyglycolic acid (PGA) mesh fabric is widely used for reinforcing injured tissues during surgeries. However, PGA induces chronic inflammation and adhesion. The purpose of this study is to develop PGA reinforcement "without PGA-induced adhesion.

Prevention of Polyglycolic Acid-Induced Peritoneal Adhesions Using Alginate in a Rat Model.

Postoperative intra-abdominal or intrathoracic adhesions sometimes cause significant morbidity. We have designed three types of alginate-based treatments using strongly cross-linked (SL), weakly cross-linked (WL), and non-cross-linked (NL) alginate with calcium gluconate. In rat experiments, we compared the antiadhesive effects of the three types of alginate-based treatments, fibrin glue treatment (a standard treatment), and no treatment against adhesions caused by polyglycolic acid (PGA) mesh (PGA-induced adhesions).

Biological properties of a thermally crosslinked gelatin film as a novel anti-adhesive material: Relationship between the biological properties and the extent of thermal crosslinking.

In order to prevent postoperative adhesion and the related complications, a thermally crosslinked gelatin (TCG) film was developed and the basic biological properties were examined, paying special attention to the relationship between these properties and the extent of crosslinking of the film. The gelatin films crosslinked thermally for five different time periods (0, 1, 3, 8, and 14 hours) were developed and the following tests were performed. Regarding the material characterization of the films, the water content, the water solubility, and the enzymatic degradation for collagenase were found to be closely related to the duration of thermal crosslinking.

Development of gelatin flakes, a new type of anti-adhesive material: a preliminary study of in vivo rat adhesion models.

To overcome the problems associated with sheet- or film-type anti-adhesive materials, we developed a new type of anti-adhesive material, gelatin flakes. We made two types of gelatin flakes with or without thermal cross-linking, and preliminarily examined their basic properties and the anti-adhesive efficacy using a rodent adhesion model. Both types of the gelatin flakes rapidly turned into gel and tightly attached the injured surfaces, absorbing the moisture and blood, when applied onto the abraded sites of rats.

The anti-adhesive effect of thermally cross-linked gelatin film and its influence on the intestinal anastomosis in canine models.

To generate a more effective and safer anti-adhesive material, we have developed a new type of thermally cross-linked gelatin film. In this study, we preclinically examined the anti-adhesive efficacy of this film and evaluated the possibility applying the film safely onto fresh intestinal anastomoses, compared with hyaluronate and carboxymethyl-cellulose (HA/CMC) film. Using a canine adhesion model, the degree of adhesion for each film was evaluated by adhesion scoring systems and histological observation.

[Images of unemployed people: developing a scale to measure the stigma associated with the unemployed].

This study investigated the images that people have of the unemployed. In study 1, general images of the unemployed were ascertained through qualitative and quantitative research. Various images, both positive and negative, were found for the unemployed in general.

[Intention to serve the same company for long years and job satisfaction in Japanese workers].

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relation between intention to serve the same company for long years and job satisfaction in Japanese workers. Four hundred eighteen Japanese workers completed a questionnaire to assess intention to serve for long years and job satisfaction. Job satisfaction was measured by two scales.

Tissue engineering of an auricular cartilage model utilizing cultured chondrocyte-poly(L-lactide-epsilon-caprolactone) scaffolds.

To determine the potential development in vivo of tissue-engineered auricular cartilage, chondrocytes from articular cartilage of bovine forelimb joints were seeded on poly(L-lactic acid-epsilon-caprolactone) copolymer scaffolds molded into the shape of a human ear. Copolymer scaffolds alone in the same shape were studied for comparison. Chondrocyte-seeded copolymer constructs and scaffolds alone were each implanted in dorsal skin flaps of athymic mice for up to 40 weeks.