PRELIMINARY FINDINGS OF A POTENZIATED PIEZOSURGERGICAL DEVICE AT THE RABBIT SKULL

The number of available ultrasonic osteotomes has remarkably increased. In vitro and in vivo studies have revealed differences between conventional osteotomes, such as rotating or sawing devices, and ultrasound-supported osteotomes (Piezosurgery®) regarding the micromorphology and roughness values of osteotomized bone surfaces. Objective: the present study compares the micro-morphologies and roughness values of osteotomized bone surfaces after the application of rotating and sawing devices, Piezosurgery Medical® and Piezosurgery Medical New Generation Powerful Handpiece. Methods: Fresh, standard-sized bony samples were taken from a rabbit skull using the following osteotomes: rotating and sawing devices, Piezosurgery Medical® and a Piezosurgery Medical New Generation Powerful Handpiece. The required duration of time for each osteotomy was recorded. Micromorphologies and roughness values to characterize the bone surfaces following the different osteotomy methods were described. The prepared surfaces were examined via light microscopy, environmental surface electron microscopy (ESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and atomic force microscopy. The selective cutting of mineralized tissues while preserving adjacent soft tissue (dura mater and nervous tissue) was studied. Bone necrosis of the osteotomy sites and the vitality of the osteocytes near the sectional plane were investigated, as well as the proportion of apoptosis or cell degeneration. Results and Conclusions: The potential positive effects on bone healing and reossification associated with different devices were evaluated and the comparative analysis among the different devices used was performed, in order to determine the best osteotomes to be employed during cranio-facial surgery

Visualise: an exploration of an artist's approach to 3-D computer visualisation in clinical radiology

This doctoral thesis is a practice-led enquiry into the value of 3-D Computer Generated Imagery (CGI) in the visualisation and animation of clinical radiological scan data. The aim of this work is to develop an alternative pathway to visualising clinical data that augments and challenges the existing medical imaging aesthetic. It questions the integrity of the author?s arts-based interpretation of the radiological scan data and its relevance in the realworld context of enhancement of doctor-patient communication and interaction.The thesis starts by exploring current pathways for visualising the inner body, in particular biomedical animation, TV documentary, clinical 3-D visualisation and fine art practice inmedical imaging. This analysis is followed by an interrogation of the literature in the field of doctor-patient interaction, resulting in a small qualitative study with patients. This helps to define the opportunity for a new visualisation pathway that brings together the visual and narrative approaches of a 3-D computer animation aesthetic and the detail embedded inclinical radiological scan data.A multi-method approach is used to address the research questions. Informed by a collaborative two-year residency at Ninewells Hospital, NHS Tayside, Dundee, the author creates a series of 3-D CGI works that define this hybrid visualisation pathway. The resulting bandwidth of interpretative works is then investigated in a qualitative study involving semistructured interviews with professionals from the arts and clinical imaging. Overall, the study suggests that image integrity is tethered to context and purpose, contextualising the potential application of the author?s 3-D CGI works. The author concludes that his original contribution to knowledge is this alternative visualisation pathway, as developed through thebandwidth of interpretation. This is achieved through the exposition and use of the author?s tacit knowledge, and the collaborative approach. This provides a transferable model ofworking, for the future visualisation of medical scan data.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Psr1p interacts with SUN/sad1p and EB1/mal3p to establish the bipolar spindle

Regular Abstracts - Sunday Poster Presentations: no. 382During mitosis, interpolar microtubules from two spindle pole bodies (SPBs) interdigitate to create an antiparallel microtubule array for accommodating numerous regulatory proteins. Among these proteins, the kinesin-5 cut7p/Eg5 is the key player responsible for sliding apart antiparallel microtubules and thus helps in establishing the bipolar spindle. At the onset of mitosis, two SPBs are adjacent to one another with most microtubules running nearly parallel toward the nuclear envelope, creating an unfavorable microtubule configuration for the kinesin-5 kinesins. Therefore, how the cell organizes the antiparallel microtubule array in the first place at mitotic onset remains enigmatic. Here, we show that a novel protein psrp1p localizes to the SPB and plays a key role in organizing the antiparallel microtubule array. The absence of psr1+ leads to a transient monopolar spindle and massive chromosome loss. Further functional characterization demonstrates that psr1p is recruited to the SPB through interaction with the conserved SUN protein sad1p and that psr1p physically interacts with the conserved microtubule plus tip protein mal3p/EB1. These results suggest a model that psr1p serves as a linking protein between sad1p/SUN and mal3p/EB1 to allow microtubule plus ends to be coupled to the SPBs for organization of an antiparallel microtubule array. Thus, we conclude that psr1p is involved in organizing the antiparallel microtubule array in the first place at mitosis onset by interaction with SUN/sad1p and EB1/mal3p, thereby establishing the bipolar spindle.postprin