Controllable surface morphology and properties via mist polymerization on a plasma-treated polymethyl methacrylate surface.

Surface modification by grafting polymers on solid materials is an important strategy used to improve surface properties. This article reports that under appropriate conditions, very thin layers with desired morphologies may be constructed on a plasma-treated substrate by feeding a small quantity of a monomer with a mist stream carrying droplets produced from monomer solutions. We investigate the effects of process parameters that affect layer morphology, including exposure time to the mist stream, concentration of the monomer solution, and solvent selectivity. For a methyl methacrylate solution in ethanol, nanoparticles are uniformly grown with increasing monomer concentration or exposure time and finally form a porous layer at 3.65 mol L(-1) for 30 min. Decreasing solvent polarity not only affects surface morphology, but also increases hydrophobicity of the resulting surface. With 2,2,3,4,4,4-hexafluorobutyl methacrylate as the monomer, SEM and AFM micrographs indicated that mist polymerization results in numerous microspheres on the activated surface. These experimental results were interpreted by a mechanism in terms of an in situ polymerization accompanied by a phase transformation of the resulting polymer. Specifically, plasma treatment provides highly active cations and radicals to initiate very rapid polymerization, and the resulting polymers are consequently deposited from the liquid onto the surface under phase transition mechanisms.

[Experimental study on effect of xinkang oral liquid on coxsackie B3 viral myocarditis in mice].

OBJECTIVE: To study the therapeutic effect of Xinkang Oral Liquid (XKOL) in treating acute Coxsackie B3 viral myocarditis in mice. METHODS: Viral myocarditis model was established by intraperitoneal inoculation with Coxsackie B3 virus. Mice were randomly divided into 4 groups randomly, the model group, the positive control group (treated with Ribavilin), the XKOL group and the normal control group. Body weight of mice was weighed at the 5th, 10th and 20th day. Weight, macro- and histopathologic changes of heart were observed by microscope and measured by morphometric quantification, and the data were treated statistically. RESULTS: In the XKOL group, the body weight of mice increased, the degree of myocardial necrosis mild and small in size, which has been repaired more completely, the antiviral effect was found in XKOL group. CONCLUSION: XKOL has definite therapeutic effect on viral myocarditis, its effect is better than Ribavilin in protecting myocardium and anti-virus.

[Tc-99m cholescintigraphy in acute pancreatitis].

Tc-99m DISIDA cholescintigraphy is a highly sensitive and specific method of evaluating cystic duct obstruction in acute cholecystitis. It has also been argued that cholescintigraphy has high sensitivity in the differential diagnosis of gallstone pancreatitis due to cystic duct obstruction following gallstone migration. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical availability of cholescintigraphy in acute pancreatitis. Tc-99m DISIDA cholescintigraphy performed in 18 patients with documented acute pancreatitis, including 11 gallstone and 7 nonbiliary, were reviewed. Abnormal scans were obtained in 82% (9/11) of acute gallstone pancreatitis, while only 29% (2/7) of acute nonbiliary pancreatitis had abnormal scan. These results demonstrated a significant difference with Fisher's exact test (p < 0.05). An abnormal cholescintigraphy had a sensitivity of 82%, a specificity of 71% and an accuracy of 78% in detecting gallstone pancreatitis. Ten cases of acute gallstone pancreatitis coincided with cholecystitis (2 cases of acute and chronic, and 8 cases of chronic). Both cases of acute nonbiliary pancreatitis with abnormal scan had total parenteral nutrition over 5 days. In conclusion, abnormal cholescintigraphy in acute pancreatitis indicates gallstone origin and may coincide with cholecystitis; while, a normal cholescintigraphy largely excludes such diagnoses.

[Stress fracture of the ribs in amateur golfers diagnosed by Tc-99m MDP scintigraphy].

Golf has become a popular sport in Taiwan recently. Some amateur golfers suffer from back or chest pain, and a few of them have stress fractures of the ribs. Six amateur golfers suffering from back pain or chest pain, all male and right-handed players, aged from 28 to 39, were included in our study. The initial chest roentgenograms, including special views focusing on ribs, were all negative. Tc-99m MDP bone scan confirmed the diagnosis of stress fractures of the ribs. The intervals between playing golf and time of diagnosis were from 1 month to 5 months. In five cases, fracture sites in the left side were prominently located in the posterior aspect, a condition which may result from traction of the serratus anterior. Three cases with fracture sites in the right side had fractures prominently located in the lateral aspect, which may result from the repercussive force produced by the clubhead hitting the ground. Tc-99m MDP bone scan, with its high sensitivity, is useful in establishing the diagnosis of stress fracture.

[The application of Tc-99m thyroid scintigraphy in congenital hypothyroidism].

Technetium-99m pertechnetate thyroid scans were generally applied to patients with thyroid diseases including hypothyroidism. We reviewed the thyroid images of 126 neonates who were suspected to have congenital hypothyroidism by neonatal TSH screening and of 2 cases by clinical suspicion. Of these, 62 cases were of transient hyperthyrotropinemia or were normal. Twenty-nine cases were of ectopic thyroid (M:F = 9:20). Two cases were hemiagenesis, both were female. Eight cases were athyrosis (M:F = 4:4). Two cases were secondary hypothyroidism (M:F = 1:1). Twenty-five cases were eutopic hypothyroidism (M:F = 13:12). We considered that the Tc-99m thyroid scan is convenient and useful in the differential diagnosis of the etiology of congenital hypothyroidism.

[Globus hystericus--reports on 25 ENT cases and literature review].

From October 1987 to March 1988, 25 cases (15 males and 10 females) with the globus hystericus were evaluated at 804 Army General Hospital. All patients underwent complete physical examination, routine laboratory work-up, roentgenographic examination of paranasal sinuses, cervical region and chest, upper G-I series, fiberoptic endoscopy and esophagoscopy. 2.3% of the patients in this study had the globus hystericus, the male to female ratio was 1.5:1, the mean ages were 51 years, the average educational level was low, the endoscopic findings were vallecular cyst in 3 cases (12%), epiglottic cyst in 2 cases (8%), the roentgenographic findings were maxillary sinusitis in 3 cases (12%), cervical osteophytes in 9 cases (36%) gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer and diverticulum in 1 cases (4%) respectively. We analyzed the positive findings and reviewed the literature.