A new method for the dressing of free skin grafts

Using adhesive drapes and a disposable suction drain, a new method for the dressing of free skin grafts has been devised. The graft is compressed by pressure that is equivalent to the negative pressure of the suction drain. This method can apply uniform and constant pressure on the graft. Moreover, the graft can be observed through a transparent drape so that the existence of hematomas can be detected easily.     

Prolonged life and improved quality for stored skin grafts

This study is presented as both a follow-up and an extension of previous work on storage techniques for the preservation of skin by refrigeration. Rabbit skin grafts were used to compare the merits of various storage media. One of the media, McCoy's 5A plus serum, gave improved skin graft take and storage half-life. The ability to improve skin graft storage techniques is most beneficial to all aspects of plastic and reconstructive surgery where skin grafting is required. Prolonged graft viability and improved graft quality are of major clinical importance.     

The rigid transparent dome protector: a new dressing for free-tissue transfers and skin grafts

We have presented a transparent, inexpensive, rigid dome that allows a window to the wound, humidity chamber effect to continuously observe difficult skin-grafted wounds or free-tissue transfers allowing constant monitoring by visualization. The dome is inexpensive because it is simply a discarded breast implant package.     

An improved technique for hyaluronan histochemistry using microwave irradiation

Summary A hyaluronan binding protein (HABP), extracted from cartilage, was biotin-labelled and used for histochemical localization of hyaluronan (HA) in tissue sections. Various tissues were fixed for a mixture of formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde during microwave irradiation. The microwave oven when set at 700 W and 45°C yielded an intense and specific staining of HA. Under these conditions the relative proportion of the two aldehydes did not influence the staining intensity. Aldehyde fixation during microwave irradiation for HA histochemistry, (1) saves time, (2) eliminates the use of cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), and (3) improves the reproducibility.     

An improved technique for experimental infections with skin penetrating nematode larvae (Necator americanus)

An improved technique for experimental infections with skin penetrating nematode larvae (Necator americanus). International Journal for Parasitology16: 461–464. Conventional techniques for infecting experimental animals with skin penetrating nematode larvae create inconsistencies and variation in parasite establishment. A method is described which has been used to improve considerably the degree of uniformity of infection of laboratory rodents with the larvae of N. americanus. Infective larvae were placed onto the gauze of a surgical plaster and attached to the shaved backs of adult hamsters and mice. These were secured with a further layer of tape encircling the animal and removed 24 h later.     

An improved negative staining technique using a thin quartz membrane as sample support

A negative staining technique is presented based on the use of 40-60 nm quartz membrane supported by a silicon grid. The quartz membrane is fabricated by thermal growth of silicon dioxide on a silicon substrate followed by an anisotropic silicon etching step giving rectangular holes in the silicon substrate. The hydrophilic membrane is shown to be ideally suited for negative staining due to its spreading characteristics, homogeneity, heat resistance and mechanical stability. Micrographs of phage lambda are presented showing the detailed structure of the tail. A simple method of calculating the number of adsorbed particles based on diffusion limited association is also presented.     

An improved technique for sampling lotic invertebrates

The electrophoretic characterization of an Artemia population from a saline lake of the Chilean Andes with unusual ecological features (Salar de Atacama, 23° 30′ S; 68° 10′ W) was carried out with the aim of comparing its genetic variation with, and genetic similarity to, representative populations of A. persimilis (Buenos Aires, Argentina) and A. franciscana (San Francisco Bay, USA). Based on the analysis of 22 loci it is concluded that the Chilean population and that from San Francisco are conspecific (D = 0.144), while the Chilean strain and A. persimilis are congeneric species (D = 1.171), differing in more than 40% of the loci. Parameters measuring genetic variation (e.g., percentage of loci polymorphic, mean number of alleles per locus, mean heterozygosity per locus) demonstrate that values for the Chilean Artemia (50.0, 1.68, 0.126, respectively) are within the range for bisexual Artemia in general and A. franciscana in particular.     

棉铃虫室内饲养技术的改进

在传统人工饲料饲养技术的基础上 ,对棉铃虫的卵、幼虫、蛹和成虫的饲养器材和操作方法进行了简化和改进。将产于纱布上的卵经消毒晾干后 ,直接放于塑料保鲜袋中孵化。初孵幼虫用毛笔移入特制的带盖 1 0孔饲养盒 ,每孔 1头 ,孔径和高度为 2 5cm× 1 8cm ,接虫前每孔加人工饲料 4～ 5g ,接虫后加盖 ,直至化蛹。幼虫化蛹后用培养皿收集 ,直接放于成虫饲养笼中 ,任其羽化、交配和产卵。采用这一改进饲养技术 ,幼虫存活率、化蛹率、羽化率等均有显著提高 ,棉铃虫的病害明显减少 ,同时节约饲养成本约 5 0 %。     

Method for preparing meshed skin grafts without using skin-graft meshers

We have described a method of preparing meshed skin grafts without resorting to use of a skin mesher. The method is applicable when a mesher is not available during an operation.