Fused hip conversion to total hip arthroplasty with the direct anterior approach: surgical technique on a regular surgical table under fluoroscopic guidance.

PURPOSE: Conversion of a fused hip to a total hip arthroplasty (THA) is technically challenging due to the loss of anatomical references. Here, a reproducible technique using the direct anterior approach (DAA) with a regular surgical table under fluoroscopic guidance is described, which has several advantages over traditional such as lateral or posterior approaches. METHODS: There were reported 11 cases of ankylosis hip that were converted to THA using the same surgical technique protocol. Clinical and radiographic outcomes were recorded at 3.2 years of follow-up. A detailed preoperative evaluation was performed, including a pelvis radiological evaluation and magnetic resonance image (MRI) to assess the integrity of the periarticular soft tissue and flexor muscles. RESULTS: The DAA has considerable advantages, such as allowing more precise targeting during surgery, avoiding the risk of pseudoarthrosis due to the absence of a trochanteric osteotomy, preserving the abductors, and allowing an easier-to-use of intraoperative fluoroscopy due to the supine position. Besides, the use of a standard table reduces surgical time and allows assessment of limb length, hip stability, and impingement in all planes in an intraoperative dynamic range, which decreases postoperative complications. CONCLUSION: Conversion from hip fusion to THA is a rare and complex procedure. The use of DAA with a standard table and fluoroscopy helps to avoid high complications since it allows a dynamic intra-operative examination of the range of motion to rule out impingements, reduces the risk of dislocation, and allows leg lengthening verification.

Multifunctional hybrid nanogels for theranostic applications.

This paper reviews a wide set of theranostic applications based on the special properties associated with composite nanogels. The nanogels presented here are mostly hybridized with quantum dots, magnetic nanoparticles, and plasmonic metal noble nanoparticles. These inorganic components confer nanogels multifunctional properties that extend their applications from drug delivery systems to diagnosis and therapy. Nanogels can also be surface functionalized with specific ligands to achieve targeted therapy and reduce toxicity. This versatility makes hybrid nanogels very promising agents for imaging, diagnosis and treatment of cancer and other diseases.

Extended Realities for Sensorially Diverse Children.

-Learning space for children with different sensory needs, nowadays, can be interactive, multisensory experiences, designed collaboratively by (i) specialists in special-needs learning, (ii) Extended Realities (XR)-technologists and (iii) sensorial-diverse children, to provide the motivation, challenge and development of key skills. While traditional audio and visual sensors in XR is challenging for XR-applications to meet the needs of visually and hearing impaired sensorial-diverse children, our research goes a step ahead by integrating sensory technologies including haptic, tactile, kinaesthetic and olfactory feedback that was well received by the children. Our research also demonstrates the protocols for (i) development of a suite of XR-applications; (ii) methods for experiments and evaluation; and (iii) tangible improvements in XR learning experience. Our research considered and is in compliance with the ethical and social implications and has the necessary approval for accessibility, user safety, and privacy.

On the Durability of Icephobic Coatings: A Review.

Ice formation and accumulation on surfaces has a negative impact in many different sectors and can even represent a potential danger. In this review, the latest advances and trends in icephobic coatings focusing on the importance of their durability are discussed, in an attempt to pave the roadmap from the lab to engineering applications. An icephobic material is expected to lower the ice adhesion strength, delay freezing time or temperature, promote the bouncing of a supercooled drop at subzero temperatures and/or reduce the ice accretion rate. To better understand what is more important for specific icing conditions, the different types of ice that can be formed in nature are summarized. Similarly, the alternative methods to evaluate the durability are reviewed, as this is key to properly selecting the method and parameters to ensure the coating is durable enough for a given application. Finally, the different types of icephobic surfaces available to date are considered, highlighting the strategies to enhance their durability, as this is the factor limiting the commercial applicability of icephobic coatings.

LPS-stimulated microglial cells promote ganglion cell death in organotypic cultures of quail embryo retina.

During development microglia colonize the central nervous system (CNS) and play an important role in programmed cell death, not only because of their ability to remove dead cells by phagocytosis, but also because they can promote the death of neuronal and glial cells. To study this process, we used as experimental systems the developing in situ quail embryo retina and organotypic cultures of quail embryo retina explants (QEREs). In both systems, immature microglia show an upregulation of certain inflammatory markers, e.g., inducible NO synthase (iNOS), and nitric oxide (NO) under basal conditions, which can be further enhanced with LPS-treatment. Hence, we investigated in the present study the role of microglia in promoting ganglion cell death during retinal development in QEREs. Results showed that LPS-stimulation of microglia in QEREs increases (i) the percentage of retinal cells with externalized phosphatidylserine, (ii) the frequency of phagocytic contacts between microglial and caspase-3-positive ganglion cells, (iii) cell death in the ganglion cell layer, and (iv) microglial production of reactive oxygen/nitrogen species, such as NO. Furthermore, iNOS inhibition by L-NMMA decreases cell death of ganglion cells and increases the number of ganglion cells in LPS-treated QEREs. These data demonstrate that LPS-stimulated microglia induce ganglion cell death in cultured QEREs by a NO-dependent mechanism. The fact that phagocytic contacts between microglial and caspase-3-positive ganglion cells increase suggests that this cell death might be mediated by microglial engulfment, although a phagocytosis-independent mechanism cannot be excluded.

Structural properties of thermoresponsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-poly(ethyleneglycol) microgels.

We present investigations of the structural properties of thermoresponsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNiPAM) microgels dispersed in an aqueous solvent. In this particular work poly(ethyleneglycol) (PEG) units flanked with acrylate groups are employed as cross-linkers, providing an architecture designed to resist protein fouling. Dynamic light scattering (DLS), static light scattering (SLS), and small angle neutron scattering (SANS) are employed to study the microgels as a function of temperature over the range 10 °C ≤ T ≤ 40 °C. DLS and SLS measurements are simultaneously performed and, respectively, allow determination of the particle hydrodynamic radius, R(h), and radius of gyration, R(g), at each temperature. The thermal variation of these magnitudes reveals the microgel deswelling at the PNiPAM lower critical solution temperature (LCST). However, the hydrodynamic radius displays a second transition to larger radii at temperatures T ≤ 20 °C. This feature is atypical in standard PNiPAM microgels and suggests a structural reconfiguration within the polymer network at those temperatures. To better understand this behavior we perform neutron scattering measurements at different temperatures. In striking contrast to the scattering profile of soft sphere microgels, the SANS profiles for T ≤ LCST of our PNiPAM-PEG suspensions indicate that the particles exhibit structural properties characteristic of star polymer configurations. The star polymer radius of gyration and correlation length gradually decrease with increasing temperature despite maintenance of the star polymer configuration. At temperatures above the LCST, the scattered SANS intensity is typical of soft sphere systems.

Particles and nanovoids for plasmonics.

This article reviews and compares the optical properties of metallic nanoparticles and nanovoids, which have received great attention due to their ability to generate and control plasmon resonances. These systems are capable of concentrating and manipulating the fields at nanometer scale, being very attractive as building blocks for emerging applications. Metal particles and nanovoids present different plasmonics modes, strongly dependent on the size, shape and nature of the metal and dielectric. Specific geometrical features, as the presence of rims, make the nanovoids very promising structures to design exotic band spectra because of the coupling between different resonant modes.

Using Plasma Etching to Access the Polymer Density Distribution and Diffusivity of Gel Particles.

In this paper we examine the polymer density distribution of gel particles and its effect on solvent diffusivity through the polymer network. In order to access the inner particle regions, external polymer layers were removed by plasma etching, thus reducing them from the outside. Higher polymer densities after erosion showed internal heterogeneity, with the density increasing towards the center of the particles. An exponential decay polymer density model is proposed, and the spatial relaxation length measured. The diffusion of solvent through the particles, before and after the plasma oxidation, revealed a correlation between the diffusion coefficient and the internal density.

First exfoliated Ru-Ru-Au organometallic polymer with layered structure.

A new water soluble heterometallic polymeric complex [{(PTA)2CpRu-µ-CN-1κC:2κ2N-RuCp(PTA)2}-µ-{Au(CN)4}4]n·2H2O (1) is synthesized and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. This complex self-assembles forming 3D polymeric structures with large scale hexagonal conformation. They also organize as 3D stacks of polymer sandwiches that can be exfoliated providing mono heterometallic-3D layers, as shown by electron microscopy. Regarding the polymer dynamics, quasi-elastic neutron scattering shows a transition from vibrational Debye-Waller behaviour to a more dynamically active state as a result of the loss of structural water molecules.

Crystal structure of highly concentrated, ionic microgel suspensions studied by neutron scattering.

We present a neutron-scattering investigation of the crystal structure formed by pH -sensitive poly(2-vinylpyridine) microgel particles with 5 wt % of cross-linker. We focus on highly swollen particles and explore concentrations ranging from below close packing to well above close packing, where the particles are forced to shrink and/or interpenetrate. The crystal structure is found to be random hexagonal close packed, similar to the structure typically found in hard-sphere systems.

Novel Ruthenium-Silver PTA-Based Polymers and Their Behavior in Water.

New coordination polymers based on two metal-containing moieties Ru-Ag are synthesized: Na[RuCpX(PTA)-µ-(PTA)-1κP:2κ2N-AgX2]∞ (X = Cl (1), Br (2), I (3)). Characterization is performed by NMR, UV-visible and FT-IR spectroscopy, optical-electron microscopy, and elemental analyses (C, H, N, S). Light scattering is employed to characterize the colloidal particles growth by polymer self-assembling. These structures are stable over a broad range of pH and exhibit thermally-driven swelling, thus resembling a typical thermosensitive hydrogel.

Coupled deswelling of multiresponse microgels.

In this article, we study the response of a thermosensitive and ionic microgel to various external stimuli where coupling between different contributions to the total osmotic pressure is needed to describe the observations. We introduce a new Flory solvency parameter chi ( T, Q, n) with strong dependence on the network charge, Q, and salt concentration, n. The scaling exponent for the salt-induced deswelling of the microgel is the signature of the coupling between the mixing and ionic osmotic pressures.

Ion-specific and reversible wetting of imidazolium-based minigels.

Cross-linked imidazolium-based [poly(ViEtIm +Br -)] microparticles were synthesized, and their wetting properties were studied by optical microscopy, after addition of aqueous solutions of sodium halides. Particle wetting showed ion specificity due to counterion binding, described by Desnoyer's model. The interaction between anions and the microparticles allowed exchanging halogenides between them in a reversible way. A salt-independent characteristic wetting time was found as well as a decreasing power law with salt concentration, for the network diffusion coefficient. It modified the polymer network elasticity as ion concentration increased, making the network softer.

Self-Organization and Swelling of Ruthenium-Metal Coordination Polymers with PTA (Metal = Ag, Au, Co).

We present the internal structure and dynamics of novel coordination polymers based on two metal-containing moieties Ru-X (X: Ag, Au, Co), bridged through the phosphine PTA (3,5,7-triaza-phosphaadamantane). X-ray scattering gives the heterometallic polymer organization. Quasi-elastic neutron scattering measurements over a broad temperature range show a transition from vibrational Debye-Waller behavior to a more dynamically active state, but with rather localized motions, coinciding with the loss of structural water at around room temperature. Light scattering reveals that the polymers self-associate to form stable micro-particles in aqueous solution with a thermally driven volume transition. This is described by the Flory theory for polymers in solution, in which the polymer solvency is calculated as a function of the temperature. Polymer self-organization is further studied by small-angle neutron scattering and electron microscopy. A polymer parallel-plane model with gaps controlled by the environmental temperature is proposed.

La herencia de Prometeo. Las enfermedades ocupacionales en el Corpus Hippocraticum / Prometheus’ legacy occupational diseases in the Hippocratic Corpus

RESUMEN: el presente trabajo analiza las enfermedades ocupacionales en el Corpus Hippocraticum. Principalmente nos centraremos en Epidemias, que recoge numerosas historias clínicas, con el objetivo de analizar la asistencia sanitaria de los trabajadores en la médi-ca griega. Finalmente, abordamos el debate historiográfico en torno al acceso a la sanidad en el mundo antiguo

ABSTRACT: the aim of this paper is to analyze the occupational diseases through the Hippocratic Corpus. Mainly, the analysis will be focus on Epidemics, that collect many medical histories, in order to analyze the workers’ medical care in Greek Medicine. Finally, we address the historiographical debate around the general access to medical Care in the ancient world

Onset of microglial entry into developing quail retina coincides with increased expression of active caspase-3 and is mediated by extracellular ATP and UDP.

Microglial cell precursors located in the area of the base of the pecten and the optic nerve head (BP/ONH) start to enter the retina of quail embryos at the 7th day of incubation (E7), subsequently colonizing the entire retina by central-to-peripheral tangential migration, as previously shown by our group. The present study demonstrates a precise chronological coincidence of the onset of microglial cell entry into the retina with a striking increase in death of retinal cells, as revealed by their active caspase-3 expression and TUNEL staining, in regions dorsal to the BP/ONH area, suggesting that dying retinal cells would contribute to the microglial cell inflow into the retina. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in this inflow are currently unclear. Extracellular nucleotides, such as ATP and UDP, have previously been shown to favor migration of microglia towards brain injuries because they are released by apoptotic cells and stimulate both chemotaxis and chemokinesis in microglial cells via signaling through purinergic receptors. Hence, we tested here the hypothesis that ATP and UDP play a role in the entry and migration of microglial precursors into the developing retina. For this purpose, we used an experimental model system based on organotypic cultures of E6.5 quail embryo retina explants, which mimics the entry and migration of microglial precursors in the in situ developing retina. Inhibition of purinergic signaling by treating retina explants with either apyrase, a nucleotide-hydrolyzing enzyme, or suramin, a broad spectrum antagonist of purinergic receptors, significantly prevents the entry of microglial cells into the retina. In addition, treatment of retina explants with either exogenous ATP or UDP results in significantly increased numbers of microglial cells entering the retina. In light of these findings, we conclude that purinergic signaling by extracellular ATP and UDP is necessary for the entry and migration of microglial cells into the embryonic retina by inducing chemokinesis in these cells.

Evaluación de la reconstrucción del ligamento patelofemoral medial en esqueleto inmaduro. Estudio comparativo de dos técnicas / Medial patellofemoral reconstruction in skeletally immature. Comparative study of two techniques

Introducción: La luxación patelofemoral representa el 3% de las lesiones traumáticas de la rodilla. Dos tercios se producen en menores de veinte años. La recidiva luego del segundo episodio supera el 50%, lo que puede causar gran limitación funcional en pacientes jóvenes, disminuyendo su calidad de vida. El ligamento patelofemoral medial (LPFM) es el principal estabilizador medial de la rótula a 30° de flexión. En la actualidad su reconstrucción anatómica, preservando la fisis, parece ser la mejor opción en los pacientes con esqueleto inmaduro. Materiales y métodos: estudiamos el resultado funcional de dos grupos de pacientes tratados con dos técnicas diferentes de reconstrucción del LPFM, una anatómica con semitendinoso autólogo (ST) y otra no anatómica con hemitendón cuadricipital autólogo (QT). Ambos grupos fueron evaluados mediante el score de Kujala antes de la cirugía y durante el seguimiento. Las medias y los ítems del score se compararon utilizando la prueba de Wilcoxon.Resultados: veintidós rodillas fueron evaluadas, once en cada grupo. La edad de los pacientes varió entre ocho y quince años. La media de seguimiento fue de 19.4 meses. Los resultados muestran una mejora en la media del score de Kujala de 51 a 88 en el grupo QT, y de 52 a 97 en el grupo ST (ambos con valor-p = 0.003). No se encontró una diferencia significativa entre ambas técnicas. Solo se registró un caso de reluxación (grupo QT). Conclusiones: podemos afirmar que la reconstrucción del LPFM es una opción válida para la luxación patelofemoral, y las técnicas propuestas son confiables

Introduction: Patellofemoral dislocation accounts for 3% of traumatic knee injuries, with two-thirds occurring in patients under twenty years of age. Recurrence after the second episode is greater than 50%, which can cause great functional limitation in young patients, reducing their quality of life. Medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) is the main medial stabilizer of the patella at 30° flexion, currently its anatomic reconstruction preserving the physis appears to be the best option in patients with immature skeleton. Materials and methods: functional results of two groups of patients treated by two different techniques of MPFL reconstruction were evaluated. One anatomic technique, with autologous Semitendinosus (ST) and the other non-anatomic, with autologous quadricipital hemi tendon (QT). Both groups were evaluated through the Kujala score before surgery and during follow-up. Means and score items were compared using Wilcoxon signed-rank test.Results: twenty-two knees were evaluated, eleven in each group. Patient's age ranged between eight and fifteen years old. The mean follow-up was 19.4 months. An improvement in the average Kujala scores for the ST group from 51 to 88 and in the QT group from 52 to 97 was shown. Kujala score was statistically significantly higher in the postoperative evaluation with both technics (p-value 0.003 for both groups), no differences were found between both technics. Only one case of patella redislocation was registered during the study period (QT group). Conclusions: we can affirm that MPFL reconstruction is a valid therapeutic option for patellofemoral dislocation and the proposed techniques are reliable choices

Inorganic/polymer hybrid nanoparticles for sensing applications.

This paper reviews a wide set of sensing applications based on the special properties associated with inorganic/polymer composite nanoparticles. We first describe optical sensing applications performed with hybrid nanoparticles and hybrid microgels with special emphasis on photoluminescence detection and imaging. Analyte detection with molecularly imprinted polymers and HPLC-based sensing using hybrid nanoparticles as stationary phase is also summarized. The final part is devoted to the study of ultra-sensitive molecule detection by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy using core-shell hybrid materials composed of noble metal nanoparticles and cross-linked polymers.

Permeability of Soft Particles at Electrical Fields.

The influence of the charge on the permeability of microgel particles is studied in the presence of electric fields. Electrophoresis experiments performed on pH-ionizable pNIPAM-AA microgels show that particles behave as permeable spheres when the network is ionized. However, they keep non-permeable in the absence of charge. The ionic nature of the network thus controls the permeability of the soft particles. A salt-dependent local viscosity explains these permeability changes. This is confirmed by NMR as alternative independent technique. Strongly hydrated counterions located around fixed charges on the network are considered responsible for the local viscosity variations.

Microglial Activation Promotes Cell Survival in Organotypic Cultures of Postnatal Mouse Retinal Explants.

The role of microglia during neurodegeneration remains controversial. We investigated whether microglial cells have a neurotoxic or neuroprotective function in the retina. Retinal explants from 10-day-old mice were treated in vitro with minocycline to inhibit microglial activation, with LPS to increase microglial activation, or with liposomes loaded with clodronate (Lip-Clo) to deplete microglial cells. Flow cytometry was used to assess the viability of retinal cells in the explants and the TUNEL method to show the distribution of dead cells. The immunophenotypic and morphological features of microglia and their distribution were analyzed with flow cytometry and immunocytochemistry. Treatment of retinal explants with minocycline reduced microglial activation and simultaneously significantly decreased cell viability and increased the presence of TUNEL-labeled cell profiles. This treatment also prevented the migration of microglial cells towards the outer nuclear layer, where cell death was most abundant. The LPS treatment increased microglial activation but had no effect on cell viability or microglial distribution. Finally, partial microglial removal with Lip-Clo diminished the cell viability in the retinal explants, showing a similar effect to that of minocycline. Hence, cell viability is diminished in retinal explants cultured in vitro when microglial cells are removed or their activation is inhibited, indicating a neurotrophic role for microglia in this system.