A biodegradable AZ91 magnesium alloy coated with a thin nanostructured hydroxyapatite for improving the corrosion resistance.

The main aim of this study was to investigate the properties of an AZ91 alloy coated with nanostructured hydroxyapatite (HA) prepared by radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering. The bioactivity and biomineralization of the AZ91 magnesium alloy coated with HA were investigated in simulated body fluid (SBF) via an in vitro test. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses were performed. The samples were immersed in SBF to study the ability of the surface to promote the formation of an apatite layer as well as corrosion resistance and mass change of the HA-coated AZ91 alloy. Electrochemical tests were performed to estimate the corrosion behaviour of HA-coated and uncoated samples. The results revealed the capability of the HA coating to significantly improve the corrosion resistance of the uncoated AZ91 alloy.

Evaluation of Ag containing hydroxyapatite coatings to the Candida albicans infection.

In this research work, the synthesis of Ag doped hydroxyapatite coatings for dental or orthopedic implants was performed. The main goal was to determine the influence of Ag content on the roughness and antimicrobial performance of the prepared thin films. The films were deposited on Ti6Al4V alloy by means of RF magnetron sputtering. Those coatings were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and 3D surface profilometry. The antifungal activity after 1 and 7days of culture was evaluated in the presence of Candida albicans (ATCC - 10231). The increase of Ag content increased roughness and reduced the antifungal activity. The results showed that the Ag doped hydroxyapatite coatings can be a potential solution for the improvement of the antifungal activities of Ti based alloy.

The influence of pulsed high peak power electromagnetic energy (Diapulse) treatment on posttraumatic algoneurodystrophies.

Forty-five patients with post-traumatic algoneurodystrophies were treated with Diapulse therapy (high peak power electromagnetic energy). This therapy accelerates the healing of the disease inducing a recovery of the damaged bone structure.

[The diagnosis, evolution and treatment of cavum conchae neoplasms based on cases from the Coltea Radiology and ENT Clinics]. / Consideratii privind diagnosticul, evolutia si tratamentul neoplasmului de cavum pe cazuistica clinicilor de radiologie si O.R.L. "Coltea".

The authors report on the result of a study carried out on a group of 73 patients with neoplasm of the cavum, admitted and followed up in the "Coltea" clinics of radiology and O.R.L. for 5 years (1984-1988). The paper shows the incidence on groups of age and sex, the risk factors, the time elapsed between the onset and the first examination, till the diagnosis is established, the elements of positive diagnosis and also the onset characteristics. The histologic types of the cavum neoplasm followed, the therapeutic measures, and the results obtained are presented, with emphasis on the factors able to improve them.

The value of computed tomography in the diagnosis of the prehepatic portal hypertension.

The dynamic computed tomography (CT) is used by the authors in a complex system of investigations. It is preceded by a diagnosis stage which determines the "normal" character of the liver and it is followed by the angiographic exploration for the cases with surgical indication. 36 patients with CT diagnosis of prehepatic portal hypertension were studied; from these patients, 24 had an angiographic confirmation and 16 of them were operated. The most valuable CT signs which have been found by the authors were: the study of the portal vein at the hilum level and in the distal parapancreatic region, the hypoplasia of the left hepatic lobe and the absence of the ascites. The other signs were considered less important, only the localization of the porto-systemic shunts being to a certain degree important for surgery. It is underlined the early age of the patients (69% are under 30 years old). The diagnosis concordance was in the studied group 100% for the positive diagnosis of the syndrome, but only 79% for the localization of the obstruction. CT is the most innocuous diagnostic procedure which obtains a maximum of data on the portal system morphology.

A case of long arm deletion of the X-chromosome in a patient with Turner syndrome.

The work presents the clinical and cytogenetic findings in a 16 year-old female-patient with Turnerian phenotype and 46 XX, del(X)(q 13 leads to q ter) caryotype. The authors discuss the difficulties of correlating the caryotype to the phenotype in X chromosome structural aberation cases.

Turner's syndrome with sympathoblastoma.

A case of Turner's syndrome clinically and cytogenetically diagnosed in a 15-year old girl is reported. At age 4 the girl was hospitalized for renal malformations (doubling of the urethra and its ectopic opening). Laparatomy revealed a small tumoral formation which was removed. The diagnosis established anatomo-histologically was of sympathoblastoma. Since the tumor is genetically conditioned by an autosomal mutation, association of the gonosomial anomaly and sympathoblastoma is supposed to be fortuitious though it is not improbable that the tumor be the result of an embryonar disorder favourized by the chromosomal anomaly.

A previously unreported, dominantly inherited syndrome of shortness of stature, ear malformations, and hip dislocation: the coxoauricular syndrome--autosomal or X-linked male-lethal.

We reported an apparently previously undescribed syndrome, designated the coxoauricular syndrome, in a mother and her 3 daughters, all of whom shared in variable manner shortness of stature, minor vertebral and pelvic changes, dislocated hip(s), and microtia with corresponding hearing loss. The oldest daughter had coincidental Ullrich-Turner syndrome with 46, Xdel(X)(q 13) chromosome constitution. Inheritance of the trait in this family is dominant, either autosomal or X-linked, with hemizygote lethality.