Effect on the tensile strength of human acellular dermis (Epiflex®) of in-vitro incubation simulating an open abdomen setting.

BACKGROUND: The use of human acellular dermis (hAD) to close open abdomen in the treatment process of severe peritonitis might be an alternative to standard care. This paper describes an investigation of the effects of fluids simulating an open abdomen environment on the biomechanical properties of Epiflex® a cell-free human dermis transplant. METHODS: hAD was incubated in Ringers solution, blood, urine, upper gastrointestinal (upper GI) secretion and a peritonitis-like bacterial solution in-vitro for 3 weeks. At day 0, 7, 14 and 21 breaking strength was measured, tensile strength was calculated and standard fluorescence microscopy was performed. RESULTS: hAD incubated in all five of the five fluids showed a decrease in mean breaking strength at day 21 when compared to day 0. However, upper GI secretion was the only incubation fluid that significantly reduced the mechanical strength of Epiflex after 21 days of incubation when compared to incubation in Ringer's solution. CONCLUSION: hAD may be a suitable material for closure of the open abdomen in the absence of upper GI leakage and pancreatic fistulae.

Synthesis, Structure, and Magnetic Properties of Low-Valent Triangulo Cobalt-Hydride Clusters [XCo(3)(&mgr;-CO)(3)(PMe(3))(6)].

Syntheses and properties of low-valent clusters [X{Co(&mgr;-CO)(PMe(3))(2)}(3)], X = none (1), H (2), and H(3) (3), are reported. All solids are isostructural as explicitly shown by single-crystal structure data. The molecular structures of C(21)H(54)Co(3)O(3)P(6) (1) and C(21)H(57)Co(3)O(3)P(6) (3) contain central Co(3) units which form perfect equilateral triangles with Co-Co distances of 2.4055(5) and 2.432(1) Å, respectively. Both compounds crystallize in trigonal space group R&thremacr;c, with Z = 6: 1, a = 10.678(1) Å, c = 52.298(11) Å; 3, a = 10.679(2) Å, c = 52.729(12) Å. Compounds 1 and 2 form a continuous range of solid solutions. Powder samples exhibit molecular paramagnetism of different extent: At 298 K the effective magnetic moments for 1-3 are &mgr;(eff)/&mgr;(B) = 1.9, 3.1, and 2.7, respectively. The magnetic behavior could be rationalized in terms of the Curie-Weiss law for a one electron system (1) and two electron system (2). The two electron approximation has been discussed as well for 3 above 6.2 K. A description of the scope of exchange coupling is presented for 1.

Dichlorodinickel(I) Complexes with µ2 -CO or µ2 -CS Bridges and Trimethylphosphane Ligands: Homologous Composition, but Different Frameworks.

High ligand mobility is shown by the coordinatively unsaturated nickel(I) compound 1 with a short Ni-Ni distance and an asymmetric CO bridge. The thio homologue 2 contains the novel (thiocarbonyl)trimethylphosphorane bridging ligand, which sits like a "stork's nest" on top of the roof-shaped dinuclear complex. In contrast to 1, complex 2 does not show fluctional behavior and can be methylated without decomposition. X=Cl, Me.