Influence of Graphite Layer on Electronic Properties of MgO/6H-SiC(0001) Interface.

This paper concerns research on magnesium oxide layers in terms of their potential use as a gate material for SiC MOSFET structures. The two basic systems of MgO/SiC(0001) and MgO/graphite/SiC(0001) were deeply investigated in situ under ultrahigh vacuum (UHV). In both cases, the MgO layers were obtained by a reactive evaporation method.

Industrial tests of co-combustion of alternative fuel with hard coal in a stoker boiler.

This paper presents the results of industrial research on co-combustion of solid recovered fuel (SRF) with hard coal in a stoker boiler type WR-25. The share of SRF in the fuel mixture was 10%. During the co-combustion of SRF, no technological disturbances of the boiler were noted.

Displaced Meniscus Tear in the Acute Postoperative Period After Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Case Report.

Case: Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a commonly performed surgery with well-known complications. Unreported in the literature is a displaced meniscus tear in the acute postoperative period. We present the case of a displaced meniscus tear acutely after THA and discuss our management of this unique problem.

Radiographic and Clinical Outcomes Following Robotic-Assisted Lateral Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty.

Much advancement has been made in the treatment of knee arthritis. A special area of interest has been the treatment of medial unicompartmental disease. However, patients with isolated lateral compartment arthritis represent a significant subset of the population.

Liposomal Bupivacaine Versus Standard Periarticular Injection in Total Knee Arthroplasty With Regional Anesthesia: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Liposomal bupivacaine (Exparel) is a long-acting local anesthetic preparation with demonstrated efficacy over placebo in reducing postoperative pain and opioid requirement. Limited comparative efficacy and cost-effectiveness data exist for its use in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) when used in a multimodal, opioid-sparing analgesic and anesthetic approach. We hypothesized that liposomal bupivacaine offers no clinical advantage over our standard of care but carries significant economic impact.

Associations between preoperative physical therapy and post-acute care utilization patterns and cost in total joint replacement.

Background: Health-care costs following acute hospital care have been identified as a major contributor to regional variation in Medicare spending. This study investigated the associations of preoperative physical therapy and post-acute care resource use and its effect on the total cost of care during primary hip or knee arthroplasty.

Methods: Historical claims data were analyzed using the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Limited Data Set files for Diagnosis Related Group 470.

[Determination of tumor biological parameters in breast cancer: round robin testing for quality assurance].

Round robin testing for quality assurance in the determination of the breast cancer biomarkers estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and epithelial growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) have been carried out in Germany for 13 years. As the first quality assurance trial worldwide tissue microarrays with 20 different breast cancer specimens were used. As a further innovation the challenges were split into a test part representing routine cases and a training part enriched with difficult borderline cases in order to uncover latent weaknesses in the participating laboratories.

Use of bovine thrombin to reduce blood loss in primary total knee arthroplasty: a controlled randomized trial.

Reducing blood loss during primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) can improve outcomes by reducing transfusion requirements and wound complications. We examined the use of bovine thrombin to augment hemostasis during primary TKA. A double-blinded randomized trial was performed with 80 primary TKA patients.

Brachyury expression predicts poor prognosis at early stages of colorectal cancer.

Although survival rates of colon cancer patients diagnosed at an early stage (T1-2N0M0; Dukes A) vary considerably according to the studies cited, several studies indicate development of distant metastases already occurring in a considerable percentage of these patients leading to the death of the patients. This particular high risk group cannot be identified properly as no marker exists to identify these patients. As the Wnt/Win pathway plays a crucial role in metastasis formation in colorectal carcinoma, we analysed whether the transcription factor brachyury critically involved in this pathway may predict metastasis formation in these patients.

Nanotexturing of GaN light-emitting diode material through mask-less dry etching.

We describe a new technique for random surface texturing of a gallium nitride (GaN) light-emitting diode wafer through a mask-less dry etch process. This involves depositing a sub-monolayer film of silica nanospheres (typical diameter of 200 nm) and then subjecting the coated wafer to a dry etch process with enhanced physical bombardment. The silica spheres acting as nanotargets get sputtered and silica fragments are randomly deposited on the GaN epi-layer.

Gap balancing through small incisions: competing goals.

Significant controversy exists in the literature regarding the pitfalls and benefits of minimally invasive total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Regardless, most surgeons today use smaller exposures than in previous years. Although more difficult, rigid adherence to classical gap balancing techniques can allow a surgeon to achieve ideal ligament and flexion/extension gap balance in TKA through a minimally invasive approach.

Morphology and accommodative function of the vitreous zonule in human and monkey eyes.

Purpose: To explore the attachments of the posterior zonule and vitreous in relation to accommodation and presbyopia in monkeys and humans.

Methods: Novel scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) techniques were used to visualize the anterior, intermediate, and posterior vitreous zonule and their connections to the ciliary body, vitreous membrane, lens capsule, and ora serrata, and to characterize their age-related changes and correlate them with loss of accommodative forward movement of the ciliary body. alpha-Chymotrypsin was used focally to lyse the vitreous zonule and determine the effect on movement of the accommodative apparatus in monkeys.

Coralline hydroxyapatite in complex acetabular reconstruction.

This retrospective study examined whether a coralline hydroxyapatite bone graft substitute adequately repaired bone defects during complex acetabular reconstructions. Seventeen patients who underwent acetabular revision using Pro Osteon 500 were assessed to determine whether any cups required re-revision, whether bone had incorporated into the coralline hydroxyapatite grafts, and whether the coralline hydroxyapatite grafts resorbed with time. At latest follow-up, no cups required re-revision, but 1 had failed.

In vivo kinematic determination of total knee arthroplasty from squatting to standing.

This study analyzed three dimensional (3D) in vivo kinematic data from the squatting to standing position for 18 Japanese subjects (18 knees) implanted with either Legacy((R)) Posterior Stabilized (LPS) Flex Fixed Bearing TKA or LPS Flex Mobile Bearing TKA. Under weight-bearing conditions, for all patients, the average roll-forward motions for the medial and lateral condyles were 4.0+/-3.

One surgeon's experience with the 2-incision technique for total hip arthroplasty.

This study's purpose was to analyze the complications that occurred during and after one surgeon's first 200 two-incision total hip arthroplasties. Complications included 4 intraoperative femur fractures, 4 postoperative femur fractures, 2 nondisplaced greater trochanter fractures greater than 2 cm, 14 asymptomatic greater trochanter fractures 2 cm or less, 1 malpositioned cup requiring revision, 1 loose stem, 7 cases of heterotopic ossification of grade 2 or higher, 4 dislocations, 1 superficial infection, 80 lateral femoral cutaneous nerve neuropraxias (78 resolved within 6 weeks), and 4 femoral nerve neuropraxias (3 resolved within 12 weeks). This study shows that the 2-incision technique can be performed with a low risk of major complications, and patients can expect reduced tissue trauma and faster rehabilitation.

Proficiency testing of immunohistochemical biomarker assays in breast cancer.

Steroid hormone receptor expression and HER2 status have become an integral part of histopathologic characterization of breast cancer and corresponding biomarker assays have gained important prognostic and predictive impact. Because testing inaccuracy could provide a major hazard to modern breast cancer therapy, a laboratory proficiency testing program has been implemented in Germany using tissue microarrays (TMAs). In four consecutive annual trials with 142 laboratories participating on average per trial, estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (Her2) were determined immunohistochemically by participating laboratories followed by central review of all immunostains.

Lack of axial rotation in mobile-bearing knee designs.

It has often been assumed rotational kinematics are improved with mobile-bearing TKA designs as the terms mobile-bearing and rotating platform imply. We tested this assumption by assessing the in vivo axial rotation magnitudes and patterns of 527 knees implanted with 12 different mobile-bearing TKA designs. Implants were grouped and compared by type--posterior stabilized (PS), posterior cruciate retaining (PCR), and posterior cruciate sacrificing (PCS)--and by specific design.

Adsorption and electron-induced polymerization of methyl methacrylate on Ru(1010).

The adsorption and electron irradiation of methyl methacrylate (MMA) on a Ru(1010) surface have been studied using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), temperature programmed desorption (TPD), and low energy ion scattering. TPD analysis indicates that a monolayer of MMA chemisorbs and dissociates on the Ru(1010) surface. The reaction products observed upon heating include H(2), CO, CO(2), and a small amount of MMA.

Postoperative high-dose steroids do not improve mid-term survival with native liver in biliary atresia.

Objective: Postoperative adjuvant steroid treatment is reported to improve jaundice-free survival in biliary atresia (BA) patients and to reduce the need for early liver transplantation. However, evidence of all retrospective studies is very limited, although high-dose corticosteroids were favored. The aim of this dosage finding study was to test the most promising corticosteroid protocol in a smaller but representative series, in order to optimize the settings of upcoming prospective and long-term multicenter studies.

The effect of varus and valgus deformity on results of cementless mobile bearing TKA.

We aimed to determine whether preoperative angular deformity affects survivorship or postoperative alignment after cementless mobile bearing total knee arthroplasty. Nine hundred seventeen knees were grouped according to preoperative mechanical alignment: normal, 0-5 degrees ; abnormal, 6-10 degrees ; severely abnormal, >10 degrees. Ten-year survival estimates were 89.

The acetabular insert-metal backing interface: an additional source of polyethylene wear debris.

In cementless acetabular arthroplasty, the interface between the metal backing and the ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene acetabular insert surface is a potential source of polyethylene debris. This study of 55 early-generation acetabular inserts found that severe wear of the convex insert surface correlates with osteolysis. Wear of the concave insert surface did not correlate strongly with osteolysis probably owing to prevalent micromotion and wear at the convex surface interface.

Acetabular anatomy and transacetabular screw fixation at the high hip center.

A quadrant system that defines the safe acetabular locations for screw placement exists for the anatomic hip center. We wanted to develop a similar system for the high hip center. The purposes of our study were to identify the anatomic structures at risk during placement of transacetabular screws in the high hip center, to identify maximum bone depth for screw purchase, and to determine if a high hip center quadrant system could be validated to guide placement of screws during acetabular arthroplasty.

Osteosclerosis in advanced chronic idiopathic myelofibrosis is associated with endothelial overexpression of osteoprotegerin.

Advanced chronic idiopathic myelofibrosis (IMF) with osteosclerosis and increase and thickening of bone trabeculae is typically contrasted by the absence or sparse presence of osteoclasts. Because osteoclast formation can be inhibited by osteoprotegerin (OPG) we investigated OPG expression in IMF with severe fibrosis and osteosclerosis, which expressed significantly higher (up to 71-fold) OPG mRNA levels when compared with prefibrotic cellular IMF and control cases. The receptor activator of nuclear factor kappaB ligand (RANKL), a positive regulator of osteoclast differentiation and putative antagonist of OPG was overexpressed by up to 34-fold exclusively in advanced IMF.

Correlation of compartment pressure data from an intraoperative sensing device with postoperative fluoroscopic kinematic results in TKA patients.

Fluoroscopy has recently been used to analyze postoperative kinematics in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). These analyses have reported varying results even in patients with similar implant design. In addition, patterns of wear in retrieved tibial polyethylene inserts of similar design have been found to vary substantially.