Dysphagia as a symptom of anterior cervical hyperostosis - case report

Degenerative lesions with hyperostosis on the anterior surface of cervical spine are common in clinical practice. In addition to pain being an effect of spinal dysfunction, they sometimes cause difficulties in swallowing or speaking as well as breathing disorders. A 52-year-old farmer with 4-year history of gradually intensifying dysphagia was admitted to hospital due to inability to intake a solid food, significant weight loss, and because of the appearance of a new symptom – dysphonia. Previous conservative treatment for swallow difficulties was ineffective. CT revealed a bone excrescence on the anterior surface of two cervical vertebrae which caused an oesophageal obstruction and compression of the vocal folds. Structural abnormalities of cervical spine should be considered in differential diagnosis of symptoms from the oesophagus and upper respiratory tract, especially when a first-line conservative treatment is not effective. In these cases, surgical removal of the osteophyte is an effective way of treatment

Kierunki rozwojowe kompozytów ciekłokrystalicznych typu PDLC

The main up-to-date problems regarding studies of polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) composites are presented. This regards main composite components and dopants, preparation methods and the composite morphology, optimization of known electro and thermooptical properties and looking for new effects and especially new applications. The paper presents a review of recent problems regarding PDLC composites. Results obtained by the authors are used as the illustration.Przedstawiono najważniejsze współczesne zagadnienia dotyczące badań ciekłych kryształów zawieszonych w polimerach (PDLC). Dotyczy to składników kompozytu, domieszek, metod otrzymywania oraz optymalizacji właściwości elektro-termooptycznych PDLC, zwłaszcza pod kątem nowych zastosowań. Artykuł zawiera przegląd najnowszych problemów dotyczących PDLC ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem wyników uzyskanych w WAT

Azopoliimidy – elementy strukturalne a efektywność fotoorientacji azochromoforów

This work is a summary of our previous investigations of polyimides containing derivatives of azobenzene or azopyridine. Here we discussed the relationship between the microstructure of azopolyimides and azochromophore photo-orientation efficiency determined in measurements of photoinduced birefringence as well as the relationship between the microstructure ofazopolyimides and their selected physical properties. The designed architecture of azopolymers allowed to trace the effect of such structural elements as the structure of the polymer main chain and chromophore, its content, location including the method of dye assembling with the polymer matrix on thermal, optical and photoinduced properties. We also discussed the possibility of the intermolecular hydrogen bonds formation in functionalized azopolyimides, which hinder isomerization of the azobenzene molecules results the photoinduced birefringence is not observed in the material. Additionally, the possibility of potential applications of azopolyimides as layers for the liquid crystal alignment was presented.Artykuł stanowi podsumowanie naszych badań dotyczących azopoliimidów zawierających pochodne azobenzenu lub azopirydyny. Przedstawiono zależność między budową azopolimerów a efektywnością fotoorientacji azochromoforów, określaną na podstawie mierzonej fotoindukowanej dwójłomności, z uwzględnieniem wpływu struktury na wybrane właściwości fizyczne. Przedmiotem rozważań były azopolimery o odpowiednio zaprojektowanej budowie chemicznej pozwalającej na określenie wpływu struktury łańcucha głównego polimeru, a także chromoforu, jego zawartości i sposobu przyłączenia oraz lokalizacji w merze polimeru na właściwości termiczne, optyczne i fotoindukowane światłem spolaryzowanym. Omówiono także możliwość tworzenia w polimerach funkcjonalizowanych międzycząsteczkowych wiązań wodorowych, które hamują izomeryzację grup azobenzenowych, w wyniku czego nie obserwuje się generowania fotoindukowanej dwójłomności w materiale. Przedstawiono ponadto badania aplikacyjne, które wykazały możliwość porządkowania mieszaniny ciekłokrystalicznej za pomocą warstw otrzymanych z wybranych azopoliimidów

Protein Determination with Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Recognition Combined with Birefringence Liquid Crystal Detection

Liquid crystal-based sensors offer the advantage of high sensitivity at a low cost. However, they often lack selectivity altogether or require costly and unstable biomaterials to impart this selectivity. To incur this selectivity, we herein integrated a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) film recognition unit with a liquid crystal (LC) in an optical cell transducer. We tested the resulting chemosensor for protein determination. We examined two different LCs, each with a different optical birefringence. That way, we revealed the influence of that parameter on the sensitivity of the (human serum albumin)-templated (MIP-HSA) LC chemosensor. The response of this chemosensor with the (MIP-HSA)-recognizing film was linear from 2.2 to 15.2 µM HSA, with a limit of detection of 2.2 µM. These values are sufficient to use the devised chemosensor for HSA determination in biological samples. Importantly, the imprinting factor (IF) of this chemosensor was appreciable, reaching IF = 3.7. This IF value indicated the predominant binding of the HSA through specific rather than nonspecific interactions with the MIP

Early results of one-stage knee extensor realignment and autologous osteochondral grafting

We treated 49 patients with recurrent patellar dislocations or persistent patellar subluxations. Chondral defects were graded according to the International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS). Thirty patients (group I) had chondral defects grade I or II, and 19 patients (group II) had chondral defects grade III or IV. All patients were treated with proximal and distal realignment of the knee extensor mechanism, but group II also had a simultaneous autologous osteochondral grafting of the chondral defect. Patients were followed for 2 years and clinically assessed using the Marshall score comparing the two groups. Apart from a slower recovery in group II, the clinical and functional results were almost the same at the final follow-up

Comparison of bioabsorbable interference screws and posts for distal fixation in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Comparison of the results of bioabsorbable interference screws and posts for hamstring graft distal fixation in ACL reconstructions are presented. The results of 20 patients with bioabsorbable screws were compared to 22 patients with posts. The assessement was based on Lysholm-Gillquist and Marshall scores and the KT-1000 device. In the study group the points gained were 38.9 in the Lysholm-Gillquist and 12.89 in the Marshall scale. The average KT-1000 difference was 2.46 mm. In the control group the points gained were 32.93 in the Lysholm-Gillquist and 11.47 in the Marshall scale. The average KT-1000 difference was 2.5 mm. There were 14 patients in the study group with interference screw problems; in 2 the implants were removed. (1) There are no differences in outcome using bioabsorbable interference screws and posts for distal fixation of hamstring ACL grafts. (2) The lack of bioabsorbtion with poly L-lactide interference screws is frequent and causes problems