Trigeminal Neuralgia Type 1: Earlier Microvascular Decompression is Associated with Improved Outcome

Background: Medication therapy is commonly accepted as the initial treatment of trigeminal neuralgia (TN). Microvascular decompression (MVD) is the surgical treatment with the highest efficacy, but is considered as last tier therapy for patients with medication refractory pain or for those with unbearable side effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of symptom duration on outcome. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted from 2001 through 2012. Patients were categorized according to Burchiel’s “Classification scheme for facial pains commonly encountered in neurosurgical practice”. Demographical, disease and treatment data as well as surgical data including complications and outcome were recorded and analyzed. Results: In total, 65 patients were included. Distribution of diagnoses was as follows: TN type 1 (>50% episodic pain) n=54, TN type 2 (>50% constant pain) n=4, neuropathic TN n=1, symptomatic TN due to multiple sclerosis n=3, post herpetic n=2. Onset of disease to surgery was on average 7 years (<1-21 years). Shorter time from disease onset to surgery had a statistically significant association with a pain-free outcome in only TN type 1 patients (6 vs. 13 years, p=0.01). Overall success rate in TN1 was 88.9%. Overall mortality and morbidity rate were 3%. Overall complication rate was 13.5%. Conclusion: Earlier MVD was significantly associated with better outcome. Patients should be informed about the option of MVD at an early stage of disease

A high-strength polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel membrane crosslinked by sulfosuccinic acid for strontium removal via filtration

This study considered the removal of strontium (Sr2+) from contaminated water using a filtration membrane that exhibits good mechanical strength, high adsorption capacity, and the ability to be regenerated and reused. Polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel membranes were prepared by crosslinking with sulfosuccinic acid in different ratios (2.5, 5, 10 and 20 mol% relative to the PVA monomer), named as PSA2.5, PSA5, PSA10 and PSA20. All PSA membranes showed good Sr2+ adsorption over a wide pH range (pH 2–12), and maintained rapid removal kinetics (> 95% Sr2+ recovered from 5 ppm Sr2+ within 4 h). Furthermore, the Sr2+ adsorption capacities of PSA2.5, PSA5, PSA10 and PSA20 were 27.6, 45.8, 56.3, and 55.3 mg/g, respectively, based on the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. From the four PSA membranes, PSA5 was selected for further filtration studies due to its favorable mechanical and adsorption properties. When filtering 5 ppm Sr2+ and 250 ppm Ca2+, corresponding to the Ca2+ concentration in the wastewater at the Fukushima nuclear plant, 87% Sr2+ was removed using the PSA5 membrane following multiple cycles of regeneration and reuse. Moreover, the tensile strength of the PSA5 membrane remained high (> 100 MPa) following five consecutive uses

Spinal infections due to Eikenella corrodens: Case report and literature review

L’infection spinale à Eikenella corrodens est rare. Cet article rapporte un cas d’infection à E. corrodens survenu plus de deux ans après chirurgie cervicale. Par ailleurs, nous analysons les autres cas publiés d’infections spinales à E. corrodens. Les caractéristiques principales de ce germe sont décrites et, compte tenu des difficultés d’isolement de cette bactérie en culture standard, nous discutons les outils diagnostiques

Expression of Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 (BMP-2) in Bone Developement, physiological Bone Development and systemicaly applied Growth Hormone (GH) stimulated Bone Healing

GesamtdissertationWachstumshormon (Growth hormone, GH) und Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) sind potente osteoanabole Substanzen. Diese stimulieren die Regeneration von Knochengewebe und stehen daher im Mittelpunkt neuer Therapieansätze in der muskulosekeletalen Chirurgie. Ergebnisse aus in vitro Experimenten zeigten, dass eine Zufuhr von GH die Expression von BMP-2 quantitativ steigert. Ein Zusammenhang zwischen dem osteogenen Einfluss von GH und dem lokalen Morphogen BMP ist vorstellbar. GH würde somit seine Wirkung unter anderem durch die Aktivierung von BMPs entfalten. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde ein Osteotomiemodell an der Ratte eingeführt. Der in vivo Effekt einer GH-Zufuhr wurde in Bezug auf die BMP-2 Gen- und Proteinexpression mittels In Situ Hybridisierung und Immunhistochemie zu drei Zeitpunkten der Knochenheilung untersucht. Die Ergebnisse zeigten keine signifikante Erhöhung der BMP-2 Expression im Zusammenhang mit einer GH-Applikation. Dieses Resultat könnte durch den Einfluss eines Inhibitors wie zum Beispiel Noggin erklärt werden. Zukünftige Versuche sollten die Wechselwirkung zwischen stimulierenden und hemmenden Mechanismen der Knochenhomöostase innerhalb eines biologischen Systems berücksichtigen.Growth Hormone (GH) and Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) are both potent osteoanabolic inducers, stimulating the regeneration of bone tissue and wherefore spotlighted in the focus of new therapeutic approaches in musculosceletal surgery. Results of in vitro experiments indicated that the application of GH increases quantitative the expression of BMP-2 mRNA. An interrelation between osteogenic impact of GH and the local morphogene BMP is conceivable. GH is supposed to deploy its effect inter alia by activating BMPs. In the present study an osteotomy model in rats was introduced. The in vivo effect of GH application on BMP-2 gene and protein expression were analysed by In situ Hybridisation and Immunohistochemestry during three points of time in bone healing. Findings indicated no significant enhancement of BMP-2 due to GH application. This result could be explained by the influence of an inhibitor such as Noggin. Further experiments should take in consideration the interaction between enhancing and inhibitory mechanisms in bone homeostasis within a biological system

Abaca Fiber Reinforced Phosphogypsum Concrete Panels (modulus Of Rupture, Toughness, Splitting Tensile Strength)

In this experimental study the possibilities of utilization of phosphogypsum--industrial waste--in concrete, reinforced with abaca vegetable fibers, were investigated. Effects of varying the abaca fiber content and the phosphogypsum content on flexural, tensile and compressive strengths and ductility of concrete were examined. The flexural behavior of abaca fiber reinforced phosphogypsum concrete panels was studied extensively and compared with gypsum wall board, used commercially as an interior wall panel.Panels and cylinders were cast by using sixteen different concrete mixes which were prepared by changing the amount of four variables: fiber, phosphogypsum, water, and panel thickness. Specimens were tested in bending, tension, and compression. Fiber content ranged from 0.0 percent to 0.8 percent. Phosphogypsum content was varied from 0.0 percent to 75.0 percent. Water/(Cement + Phosphogypsum) ratio was varied from 0.46 to 0.60. Thickness of panels tested was 3/8 in., 1/2 in., and 5/8 in.Test results indicate that phosphogypsum can be used in concrete as a fine aggregate. High strength capacity can be obtained when phosphogypsum in a mix is less than 50 percent of the total solid weight. Phosphogypsum increases the water demand for a workable mix. It reduces the unit weight of concrete.It is concluded that the combination of two materials, phosphogypsum and abaca fibers, in the production of thin concrete wall panels, gives successful results. Phosphogypsum provides good finishing and strength and abaca fibers provide the necessary pseudo-ductility for wall panels. Test results also showed that the phosphogypsum concrete panels were much stronger than gypsum wall-board

Effects Of The First Reinforcement Depth On Different Types Of Geosynthetics

This study investigates the performance of the first reinforcement layer depth for sand subbase of a road or construction by plate load laboratory tests. Unreinforced and reinforced experiments on different reinforcement types were made by changing depth ratio of the first reinforcement layer. One type of geotextile and two different geogrid specimens were used in the research. `Load-settlement curves' and `Bearing Ratios' were studied by measuring the results of different settlement ratios. Finally, laboratory measurements of unreinforced and reinforced soils using geotextile reinforcement were compared with Finite-Element Model (FEM) analyses modeled in similar conditions. The results demonstrated the effects of different types of reinforcements for different first reinforcement layer locations. The number of reinforcement layers was another parameter that affected the bearing ratio along with the first reinforcement layer depths. It was also observed that the bearing ratio (BR) and load-settlement behavior changed significantly with the first reinforcement depth and settlements. Effects on failure modes for unreinforced and reinforced sand soils were compared for each test. (C) 2019 Sharif University of Technology. All rights reserved.WoSScopu