Frontal sinus obliteration with beta-tricalcium phosphate putty: case series with long-term radiological follow up.

OBJECTIVES: Frontal sinus obliteration is often performed using fat, autologous bone or a range of synthetic materials. This paper reports the long-term clinical and radiological outcomes of frontal sinus obliteration using beta-tricalcium phosphate putty. METHODS: A retrospective audit was performed of patients who underwent frontal sinus obliteration with beta-tricalcium phosphate putty. Patient-, disease- and procedure-related data were collected. Pre- and post-operative computed tomography scans were reviewed to assess bone integration. RESULTS: Four patients underwent frontal sinus obliteration using beta-tricalcium phosphate putty for treatment of a cerebrospinal leak, mucocele and recalcitrant frontal sinusitis. All patients had disease resolution, with no intra- or post-operative complications reported in the 16.5-month follow up. Post-operative computed tomography scans confirmed native bone obliteration of the frontonasal ducts in all patients. CONCLUSION: Beta-tricalcium phosphate putty is a safe and effective option for bone obliteration of the frontal sinus in a range of pathologies, including cerebrospinal fluid leak.

Evaluation of quartz crystals in rat lungs by X-ray diffractometry.

The NIOSH (National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health)-recommended procedure of determining quartz through X-ray diffractometry was applied to rat lungs. Using a compressed air nebulizer inside a closed chamber, 150 male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to monodisperse particles of quartz for varying time intervals. The rats were subsequently sacrifice by cervical dislocation and their lungs were removed for ashing inside a muffle furnace at 600 degrees C for 4 hr. The ashed materials were then filtered onto silver membranes and scanned by an /-ray diffractometer. The results, expressed in MG SiO2 were compared to standard values derived from PVC filters. The values suggested that the NIOSH method could be used by biochemists to quantify minerals and crystalline structures in organic materials.

Carboxyhemoglobin levels between jogging and non-jogging smokers.

The hypothesis that regular jogging diminishes blood carboxyhemoglobin levels was tested, 63 smokers were chosen, when 30 of them regular joggers for 3 years and 33 of them sedentary non-joggers. Blood samples were taken and carbon monoxide levels measured by a gas chromatograph. Results showed that smoking joggers had significantly lower carbon monoxide levels than smoking non-joggers, with values of the former comparable to non-smokers.

Mutagenic activity of caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee.

Two types of coffee (caffeinated and decaffeinated) were tested for their mutagenicity using bacterial strains using TA98 and TA100 in Ames Salmonella/Microsome test. According to the Ames criteria, both were found to be mutagenic in the absence of S-9. The mutagens did not require liver enzymes to be activated.

Homogeneous enzyme immunoassay for cannabinoids in urine.

We describe a homogeneous enzyme immunoassay for measurement of cannabinoid metabolites, as well as delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (I) in urine. Malate dehydrogenase from pig heart mitochondria was labeled with a derivative of I. The compound used to calibrate the assay was the I metabolite, 11-nor-delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid (II). With 15 microgram of II per liter of urine as the cutoff concentration, the assay can detect 25 microgram of II per liter with greater than 95% confidence. A positive response was obtained for urine specimens assayed within 30 min after exposure to cannabinoids. However, the persistence of metabolites of I in urine indicates that assay of this fluid is useful as an indicator of cannabinoid use but not as an indicator of intoxication.