Tissue reactions to epoxy-crosslinked porcine heart valves post-treated with detergents or a dicarboxylic acid.

Calcification limits the long-term durability of xenograft glutaraldehyde (GA)-crosslinked heart valves. Previously, a study in rats showed that epoxy-crosslinked heart valves reduced lymphocyte reactions to the same extent as the GA-crosslinked control and induced a similar foreign-body response and calcification reaction. The present study was aimed at reducing the occurrence of calcification of epoxy-crosslinked tissue.

The kinetics of 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether crosslinking of dermal sheep collagen.

Dermal sheep collagen was crosslinked with 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether (BDDGE) or modified with glycidyl isopropyl ether (PGE). The reduction in amine groups as a function of time was followed to study the overall reaction kinetics of collagen with either BDDGE or PGE. Linearization of the experimental data resulted in a reaction order of 2 with respect to the amine groups in the PGE masking reaction, whereas a reaction order of 2.

In vivo behavior of epoxy-crosslinked porcine heart valve cusps and walls.

Calcification limits the long-term durability of xenograft glutaraldehyde-crosslinked heart valves. In this study, epoxy-crosslinked porcine aortic valve tissue was evaluated after subcutaneous implantation in weanling rats. Non-crosslinked valves and valves crosslinked with glutaraldehyde or carbodiimide functioned as control.

Characterization and biocompatibility of epoxy-crosslinked dermal sheep collagens.

Dermal sheep collagen (DSC), which was crosslinked with 1, 4-butanediol diglycidyl ether (BD) by using four different conditions, was characterized and its biocompatibility was evaluated after subcutaneous implantation in rats. Crosslinking at pH 9.0 (BD90) or with successive epoxy and carbodiimide steps (BD45EN) resulted in a large increase in the shrinkage temperature (T(s)) in combination with a clear reduction in amines.

Crosslinking and modification of dermal sheep collagen using 1, 4-butanediol diglycidyl ether.

Crosslinking of dermal sheep collagen (DSC) was accomplished using 1, 4-butanediol diglycidyl ether (BDDGE). At pH values > 8.0, epoxide groups of BDDGE will react with amine groups of collagen.

Successive epoxy and carbodiimide cross-linking of dermal sheep collagen.

Cross-linking of dermal sheep collagen (N-DSC, T(S) = 46 degrees C, number of amine groups = 31 (n/1000)) with 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether (BDDGE) at pH 9.0 resulted in a material (BD90) with a high T(S)(69 degrees C), a decreased number of amine groups of 15 (n/1000) and a high resistance towards collagenase and pronase degradation. Reaction of DSC with BDDGE at pH 4.

Tenosynovitis due to Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare: case report and a review of the literature.

A 57-year-old female patient presented with a tenosynovitis due to Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare (MAI). A relapse occurred following surgical treatment, after which she was successfully treated with ansamycin and ethambutol. Previously reported cases of tenosynovitis due to MAI are reviewed and the treatment modalities are discussed.

A flexor tendon rupture in the palm of the hand.

Traumatic, subcutaneous ruptures of flexor tendons in the hand are infrequent findings in clinical practice. They usually occur at the bony insertion or at the musculotendinous junction. Intratendinous ruptures are reported almost only in association with underlying pathologic conditions.

[The treatment of chronic skin ulcers with cryo-preserved cultured allogeneic epidermis transplants].

In 18 patients with 25 chronic stasis ulcers and in 15 patients with 22 chronic leg ulcers of different aetiology, and in 7 patients with a variety of skin defects the effect of cryopreserved cultured allografts (CPA) on wound healing was investigated. The ulcers were grafted weekly or every other week on an outpatient basis until healing occurred. In 78% of the patients with stasis ulcers (84% of the ulcers) there was complete healing with a mean healing time of 31 days and a mean healing rate of 4.

The development of the fasciocutaneous flap and its clinical applications.

Twenty-seven consecutive fasciocutaneous flaps comprising skin, fat, and deep fascia have been successfully used to close a variety of defects on the lower leg and trunk. The advantages of these flaps are enumerated, and the blood supply of the deep fascia and its relationship to the tissues deep and superficial to it are described.