Advanced micro- & nanostructuring for enhanced biocompatibility of stainless steel by multi-beam and beamshaping technology.

Biocompatibility is one of the key issues for implants, especially in the case of stainless steel with medium to low biocompatibility, which may lead to a lack of osseointegration and consequently to implant failure or rejection. To precisely control preferential cell growth sites and, consequently, the biocompatibility of prosthetic devices, two types of surfaces were analyzed, containing periodic nanogrooves laser induced periodic surface structure (LIPSS) and square-shaped micropillars. For the fast and efficient production of these surfaces, the unique combination of high energy ultrashort pulsed laser system with multi-beam and beamshaping technology was applied, resulting in increased productivity by 526% for micropillars and 14 570% for LIPSS compared to single beam methods.In vitroanalysis revealed that micro and nanostructured surfaces provide a better environment for cell attachment and proliferation compared to untreated ones, showing an increase of up to 496% in the number of cells compared to the reference. Moreover, the combination of LIPSS and micropillars resulted in a precise cell orientation along the periodic microgroove pattern. The combination of these results demonstrates the possibility of mass production of functionalized implants with control over cell organization and growth. Thus, reducing the risk of implant failure due to low biocompatibility.

Terguride in parkinsonism. A multicenter trial.

Terguride is an ergoline derivative with mixed agonistic/antagonistic dopaminergic activity. This led to a paradoxical suggestion that it is effective in the treatment of both schizophrenia and parkinsonism. A total of 65 in- or outpatients with parkinsonism mostly of vascular or idiopathic etiology were included in a 4-week, open, multicenter trial. Terguride was administered under an increasing dose schedule which was leveled off according to the clinical response. Mostly because of nausea, vomiting, and lack of improvement 25% of inpatients and 61% of outpatients were removed from the study. The average daily dose at the end of the trial was 4.2 mg, ranging from 1.0 to 5.5 mg. The average Simpson and Angus scale total score and performance in the Spiral Drawing Task improved significantly during the trial by 20% and 38% respectively. The following adverse effects were noted most frequently throughout the study (including those who withdrew): constipation (occurred in 42% of all ratings performed during the trial) drowsiness and nausea (16% each). Adverse circulatory effects were negligible. Psychotic symptoms, including depression, confusion, hallucinations, and paranoid syndrome, each occurred in 1 patient, i.e., at a lower rate than with other dopaminergic drugs. Scotopic electroretinograms in a subsample of 7 patients showed a significant transitory decrease in the B-wave amplitude at the end of the 1st week and a subsequent return to pretreatment values.