Increasing Fatigue Endurance of Hydroxyapatite and Rutile Plasma Sprayed Biocomponents by Controlling Deposition In-Flight Properties.

Three sets of hydroxyapatite and rutile-TiO2 coatings were plasma sprayed onto metallic substrates. The spray parameters of the sets were modified so as to obtain different in-flight temperatures and velocities of the powder particles within the plasma jet (ranging from 1778 to 2385 K and 128 to 199 m s-1, respectively). Fatigue endurance of the coated specimens was then tested. The samples were subjected to a symmetric cyclical bend loading, and the crack propagation was monitored until it reached a predefined cross-section damage. The influence of the coating deposition was evaluated with respect to a noncoated reference set and the in-flight characteristics. Attributed to favorable residual stress development in the sprayed samples, it was found that the deposition of the coatings generally led to a prolongation of the fatigue lives. The highest lifetime increase (up to 46% as compared to the noncoated set) was recorded for the coatings deposited under high in-flight temperature and velocity. Importantly, this was achieved without significantly compromising the microstructure or phase composition of the deposited HA and TiO2 layers.

Radical surgery in a neonate with craniopharyngioma. report of a case.

Ultrasonography revealed a suprasellar tumor in a fetus at 28 weeks of gestation. The male newborn, delivered 10 weeks later, was operated at the age of 17 days, and a craniopharyngioma was completely removed. Intraoperatively, inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone occurred and was followed by diabetes insipidus causing imbalance of fluid and electrolytes. The tumor recurred and was totally removed 1 year later. Further development was uneventful and, at the age of 8 years, the boy is in generally good mental and physical condition except for a left-sided hemiparesis. In contrast to the poor outcome of neonatal craniopharyngioma reviewed in the literature, this case may encourage radical surgery even in the very young.

Infantile autism--fragile X: molecular findings support genetic heterogeneity.

Twenty-two members of 18 families with autism have been examined for the presence of mutations and abnormal methylation in the FMR-1 region at Xq27.3. All patients fulfilled diagnostic criteria of infantile autism. A characteristic pattern of insertion and methylation were detected after Southern blot analysis in 7 autistic individuals expressing the fragile site at Xq27.3. Normal DNA patterns were observed in 15 autistic boys cytogenetically negative for the fragile site. The results indicate a lack of involvement of the FMR-1 region in infantile autists negative for fragile X expression.

Destructive chronic borrelia meningoencephalitis in a child untreated for 15 years.

A case of borrelia spirochetosis with recurring episodes of progressively destructive chronic meningoencephalitis, untreated for 15 years, is presented. The patient, now 23 years old, represents an example of the natural course of the disease and may serve as a reminder of the diagnosis in retrospective cases as well as prospectively for acute and chronic states of serous meningitis/meningoencephalitis both in children and adults.

Congenital myotonic dystrophy. Incidence, clinical aspects and early prognosis.

Congenital myotonic dystrophy (CMD) is characterized by hypotonia, facies myopathica, feeding and respiratory problems, skeletal deformities and polyhydramniosis. It is an autosomal-dominant disorder transmitted via the mother. The diagnosis can as a role be confirmed by examining the mother, but can fail as she might be asymptomatic. During a nine year period, eight children were diagnosed as CMD which means an incidence of one case per approximately 3,500 live births. The diagnosis was confirmed in six of the mothers. The two floppy infants, where positive inheritance could not be proven, showed most of the signs and symptoms described in CMD. Four children died, two from respiratory insufficiency and two suddenly and unexpectedly. CMD may be one less common cause of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The four children who survived displayed delayed psychomotor development.

Dyskinetic cerebral palsy. I. Clinical categories, associated neurological abnormalities and incidences.

An unselected series of 116 dyskinetic cerebral palsy cases born 1959-70 was delineated and subgrouped according to neurological criteria into 35 hyperkinetic (30%) and 81 dystonic (70%) cases. Of the hyperkinetics, 80% had a mild motor disability, while 90% of the dystonics had moderate or severe disability. Subordinated spastic signs were found in 9% of the hyperkinetic and in 44% of the dystonic cases. IQ was greater than 90 in 69% of the hyperkinetics and 25% of the dystonics and less than 50 in 11% and 41%, respectively. Two or more additional neurological abnormalities (spasticity, mental retardation, epilepsy, anarthria, dysarthria, hearing deficit) were detected in 46% hyperkinetic and 81% dystonic cases. A heavy multihandicap complex was present predominantly in the dystonic subgroup. The 5-19 year mortality rate was 6% and was confined to the most severely handicapped dystonic cases. The twin rate was 5%. A total of 9% had birth weights less than or equal to 1500 g, and 31% had less than or equal to 2500 g. The weight- and age-specific incidences increased rapidly with decreasing birth weights and gestational ages. The crude incidence of hyperkinetic cerebral palsy was 0.07 and dystonic cerebral palsy 0.17 per thousand live births.