Poly(ester-ether)s: III. assessment of cell behaviour on nanofibrous scaffolds of PCL, PLLA and PDX blended with amorphous PMeDX.

The aim of this paper is to investigate the physico-chemical properties, degradation behaviour and cellular response of electrospun fibre-scaffolds of semi-crystalline PCL, PLLA and PDX blended with amorphous poly(methyl dioxanone) (PMeDX). Electrospun PCL/PMeDX and PLLA/PMeDX blend mats in varying weight ratios of the two components were fabricated and their overall performance was compared with similar composition PDX/PMeDX scaffolds. DSC analysis showed almost no change in crystallization temperature of PCL with increasing PMeDX content and TGA showed a different degradation profile as PMeDX content increased. The appearance of two crystallization peaks for PLLA/PMeDX blends suggested stereocomplex formation. As noted from AFM images, addition of PMeDX caused a change in the width of the lamellae from 14.8 ± 2.9 nm in 100/0 mat to 32.0 ± 11.5 nm in 85/15 mat. Moreover, PCL/PMeDX blend mats show a significant drop in Young's modulus for 93/7, 90/10 and 85/15 compositions compared to 100/0 and 98/2. On the other hand, no clear trend in mechanical properties was observed for espun PLLA/PMeDX mats with increasing PMeDX content. Based on these analyses, it was concluded that PCL and PMeDX were immiscible while miscible blends were obtained with PLLA and PMeDX. Initial degradation of electrospun mats over a period of 5 weeks appears to occur via a surface erosion mechanism. In vitro cell culture studies using HDFs showed that the scaffolds were bioactive and a greater density of viable cells was noted on electrospun PCL/PMeDX and PLLA/PMeDX scaffolds compared to PCL and PLLA mats respectively. HDFs infiltrated through the entire thickness of espun 85/15 PLLA/PMeDX scaffold due to a combination of factors including morphology, porosity, surface characteristics and mechanical properties.

[Primary diagnosis and follow-up in acute pulmonary embolism: comparison of digital subtraction angiography and spiral CT]. / Primärdiagnostik und Verlaufskontrolle der akuten Lungenembolie: Vergleich zwischen digitaler Subtraktionsangiographie und Spiral-CT.

The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate Spiral CT in the primary diagnosis of acute pulmonary emboli and for follow-up after thrombolytic treatment. Digital subtraction angiography of the lung was used as the reference method. 38 patients were subjected to both procedures. 79% of Spiral CT and 63% of DSA examinations were optimal. The two methods agreed in the diagnosis of thrombo-embolism in 30 patients and excluded it in eight patients. Spiral CT verified thrombi in a total of 213 cases; of these 23 were in a main pulmonary artery (11%), 88 in lobar arteries (41%), and 102 in segmental arteries (48%). DSA demonstrated 180 thrombi. 17% of the adherent and partially occlusive thrombi were not shown. 38 pulmonary infarcts were found in 18 patients. In 15 patients resolution of thrombi following thrombolytic treatment was shown by Spiral CT. Spiral CT is an excellent alternative to DSA and its use in the diagnosis of pulmonary emboli is entirely appropriate.

What is maternal-infant intervention? The role of infant psychotherapy.

Therapeutic prevention and intervention programs for infants, their families, and their communities are now quite numerous across the country (Tjossem 1978). These programs differ in respect to size, target populations, and integration of services, but they all have one underlying premise; if intervention can be carried out while the child is still very young, the probability is considerably increased that the child can reach his or her potential. What these programs have in common is a new and concentrated interest in the psychosocial development of the infant in a context of reciprocal behavior with the primary caretaker. There are, of course, many differences, according to the specialized interests of the starting teams, the populations to be served, the therapeutic services already available, and the level of funding; yet all are bound together by the assumptions of infant psychiatry. In this paper, a context for a discussion of parent-infant intervention will be established. We will first address the assumptions of infant psychiatry and then will review the technique of infant psychotherapy. This technique, which we described in a previous paper (Johnson, Dowling, and Wesner 1980), has been found to be extremely useful in helping mothers and infants to increase mutual adjustment. Finally we describe a community-oriented parent-infant intervention program which used this technique.