Synthesis of Cationic N-[3-(Dimethylamino)propyl]methacrylamide Brushes on Silicon Wafer via Surface-Initiated RAFT Polymerization

WOS: 000286403100012Surface-initiated reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (SI-RAFT) polymerization of N-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]methacrylamide (DMAPMA) on the silicon wafer was conducted in attempt to create controllable cationic polymer films. The RAFT agent-immobilized substrate was prepared by the silanization of hydroxyl groups on silicon wafer with 3-aminopropylthriethoxysilane (APTS) and by the amide reaction of amine groups of APTS with ester groups of 4-cyano-4-((thiobenzoyl) sulfanyl) pentanoic succinimide ester (CPSE); followed by the RAFT polymerization of DMAPMA using a "free" RAFT agent, that is, 4-cyanopentanoic acid dithiobenzoate (CPAD) and an initiator, that is, 4,4'-azobis-4-cyanopentanoic acid (CPA). The formation of homogeneous tethered poly(N-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]methacrylamide) [poly(DMAPMA)] brushes, whose thickness can be tuned by reaction time varying, is evidenced by using the combination of grazing angle attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and water contact-angle measurements. The calculation of grafting parameters from the number-average molecular weight, (M) over bar (n) (g/mol) and ellipsometric thickness, h (nm) values indicated the synthesis of densely grafted poly(DMAPMA) films and allowed us to predict a polymerization time for forming a "brush-like" conformation for the chains. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 49: 423-431, 2011Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK)Turkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [TBAG-107T790]This research is supported by the Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK), TBAG-107T790. The authors thank M. Sen of the University of Hacettepe for access to GPC measurements

Laparoscopic colon resection in patients with situs inversus totalis: Is it the same operation as in patients without situs inversus totalis?

Situs inversus totalis (SIT) is a rare condition. In this case, a patient who underwent laparoscopic anterior resection for repeated sigmoid colon diverticulitis with SIT was presented. Laparoscopy surgery in patients with this condition has some important technical differences than standard laparoscopic procedures. Therefore, it may be more appropriate to request surgical experience to perform safe laparoscopic surgery in patients with SIT

Axillary Artery Transection After Shoulder Dislocation

Axillary artery transection after shoulder dislocation without bone fracture is extremely rare. Early diagnosis, use of the occlusion balloon for proximal control of axillary artery bleeding, and surgical treatment are important to avoid morbidity and mortality. A 74-year old man presented with a complete transection of axillary artery associated with anterior dislocation of the shoulder without bone fracture. Left axillary artery transection was seen on angiography. An angioplasty balloon was used to prevent bleeding from the subclavian artery. The brachial plexus was compressed by a hematoma. Axillary artery repair was performed with an autologous reversed saphenous vein graft interposition. The patient had palpable distal pulses post-operatively. Motor function was significantly improved but still impaired in the postoperative period. Follow-up at 3 months showed good function of the left arm. Successful management of axillary artery injuries requires prompt diagnosis and surgical treatment. Neurologic injury may affect the functional outcome of the limb

Port catheter implantation under scopy in hybrid operation rooms

Background: This study aims to evaluate the results of port catheter implantation in hybrid operating rooms which have become widely used in cardiovascular surgery units in recent years, resulting new improvements

Mid-transverse Location in Primary Colon Tumor

BACKGROUND: The location of colonic tumors has been linked to different clinical and oncologic outcomes. Transverse colon cancers are generally included as right colon cancers. Furthermore, hepatic and splenic flexure tumors are usually included as components of the transverse colon

Biomechanical Evaluation of a Novel Apatite-Wollastonite Ceramic Cage Design for Lumbar Interbody Fusion: A Finite Element Model Study

Objectives. Cage design and material properties play a crucial role in the long-term results, since interbody fusions using intervertebral cages have become one of the basic procedures in spinal surgery. Our aim is to design a novel Apatite-Wollastonite interbody fusion cage and evaluate its biomechanical behavior in silico in a segmental spinal model. Materials and Methods. Mechanical properties for the Apatite-Wollastonite bioceramic cages were obtained by fitting finite element results to the experimental compression behavior of a cage prototype. The prototype was made from hydroxyapatite, pseudowollastonite, and frit by sintering. The elasticmodulus of thematerial was found to be 32 GPa. Three intact lumbar vertebral segments were modelled with the ANSYS 12.0.1 software and this model was modified to simulate a Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion. Four cage designs in different geometries were analyzed in silico under axial loading, flexion, extension, and lateral bending. Results. The K2 design had the best overall biomechanical performance for the loads considered. Maximumcage stress recorded was 36.7MPa in compression after a flexion load, which was within the biomechanical limits of the cage. Conclusion. Biomechanical analyses suggest that K2 bioceramic cage is an optimal design and reveals essential material properties for a stable interbody fusion

An analysis of orthopaedic theses in Turkey: Evidence levels and publication rates

Background: The aim of this study was to present characteristics and publication patterns of studies arise from orthopedic theses obtained from National Thesis Center; database in terms of publication years, study types, topics, level of evidence between 1974 and 2014. Methods: Firstly, National Thesis Center database was searched for orthopedics and Traumatology theses. The theses, which their summary or full text were available were included in the study. The topics, study types and quality of study designs were reviewed. Then theses were searched in the PubMed database. Journals of published theses were classified according to category, scope and impact factors of the year 2014. Results: 1508 theses were included into the study. Clinical studies comprised 71,7% of the theses, while 25,6% of the theses were non-clinical experimental and 2,7% of the theses were observational studies. Clinical studies were Level I in 8,6% (n = 93) and Level II in 5,8% of the theses (n = 63). A total of 224 theses (14,9%) were published in the journals indexed in PubMed database from 1974 to 2012. Fifty-two (23,2%) were published in SCI; 136 theses (60,7%) were published in SCI-E journals and 36 theses (16%) were published in other Journals indexed in PubMed. Conclusion: The quantity and quality of published theses need to be improved and effective measures should be taken to promote quality of theses. Theses from universities and Training hospitals which did not allow open access, and; incomplete records of the National Thesis Center database were major limitations of this study. Keywords: Orthopaedics, Publication patterns, Theses, Level of evidenc

In vitro micropropagation from immature embryos of the endemic and endangered Muscari muscarimi Medik.

An efficient in vitro bulblet production procedure from immature zygotic embryos of endemic and endangered Muscari muscarimi Medik. was described in the current study. Zygotic embryos were first isolated from immature seeds and cultured on different nutrient media compositions supplemented with various combinations of a-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), picloram, dicamba, 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), and thidiazuron (TDZ). The best bulblet regeneration (59 bulblets per explant) was achieved in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 4 mg/L BAP and 0.5 mg/L NAA after 1 year of culture initiation. Regenerated bulblets were then transferred into MS medium without plant growth regulators for rooting. Bulblets produced well-developed root systems and increased their size on this medium after 2 months. All rooted bulblets were successfully transplanted into a potting mixture and acclimatized to ambient conditions