Experimental tissue molding for soft-tissue reconstruction: a preliminary report

Molding of pig omentum to create external structures, such as the ear or penis, was performed using silicone rubber molds. The omentum was mobilized on its gastroepiploic pedicle and brought out through a fascial defect. The molds containing the omentum were placed beneath the skin and panniculus carnosus for 4 weeks. Split-thickness skin grafts were placed on both surfaces of the mold, and a series of synthetic materials was placed within the omentum to provide structural support. When an appropriate amount of tissue had been placed within the device, omentum took on the contour of the mold. Excessive pressure associated with swelling resulted in necrosis, while an inadequate amount of tissue gave poor contour. Omentum molded without any support material rapidly lost its contour once removed from the mold. Omentum molded in combination with a synthetic material maintained its shape up to 1 month after mold removal in a limited number of animals. This model was designed to create structures with the fine detail of a prosthesis using autologous tissue. This "prosthesis" made from living tissue could then be transferred secondarily to its recipient area by microvascular technique.     

Subcutaneous mastectomy data: a preliminary report.

This is a preliminary report on data accumulated in the first 12 months by the Subcutaneous Mastectomy Data Evaluation Center at Saint Francis Memorial Hospital in San Francisco, California. We present some statistics on 419 subcutaneous mastectomies performed by 105 plastic surgeons.     

Energetics of a host-parasite system: A preliminary report

With little work done so far on host-parasite energetics, a study was made upon rats (albino, ASH/W strain) and their tapeworms, Hymenolepis diminuta.

Host: Rates of relevant physiological processes were found for both sexes, both uninfected and bearing various worm burdens. Body weight, change in weight during an experiment, and temperature, were the most closely linked variables to these rates. Logarithmic regression equations linking these variables were then used with calorific conversion factors to compile energy budgets. Approximating: of energy consumed, 20% was egested, 6% excreted, thus assimilation efficiency was 74%; of energy assimilated, 95% was respired and 5% passed into production.

Parasite: Growth and reproduction were studied in vivo, excretion and respiration in vitro. Approximating: of energy absorbed, 12% was excreted, 88% assimilated; of energy assimilated, 55% was respired and 45% invested in production.

The ecological efficiency of the system was about 0·8%.     

Child mortality differentials in Ghana: a preliminary report

The relationship is examined of child mortality in Ghana with six socioeconomic factors: mother's type of place of residence, education, occupation and work status, and current husband's education and occupation. Using data from the 1979-80 Ghana Fertility Survey, Trussell's marriage duration model was employed to estimate probabilities of dying at exact ages 2 and 5 in different population subgroups. The two education variables (mother's and husband's education) have the largest effect on child mortality, followed by husband's occupation and mother's occupation, in that order. In order to reduce child mortality to tolerable levels, expansion is urgently required of the medical and health services, balanced by an equal development of education, particularly of girls, help being given especially to the rural areas where the majority of the population live.     

Skeletal biology of the Taino: a preliminary report

Preliminary data on the skeletal biology of 78 Taino skeletons belonging to Juan Dolio, an archaeological site of the Maguana province, 80 Km. east of S. Domingo, are presented. The minimum number of individuals, sex, age, stature, and morphologic and morphometric characters were determined. Dental wear and pathology of cranial and post-cranial bones were also recorded.     

Intraperitoneal insemination in repeat-breeder cows: a preliminary report

Intraperitoneal insemination of 62 repeat-breeder dairy cows resulted in 9 pregnancies. The pregnancy rate was not different for intraperitoneal or uterine inseminations. In nonpregnant cows, reproductive variables such as the percentage of cows returning to estrus, the average interval from insemination to the next estrus, and the pregnancy rate following subsequent uterine insemination were not influenced by intraperitoneal insemination. Our results suggest that intraperitoneal insemination could be an alternative procedure to the usual deposition of semen into the uterus in repeat breeder cows.     

Selection and optimization procedure of synbiotic for cholesterol removal

A selection and optimization procedure for the synbiotic combination of probiotic and prebiotics was established to optimize its cholesterol removal in vitro. In light of fermentability, prebiotics utilization by probiotics was highly variable and interspecies differences existed. Based on the results of fermentability, L. plantarum LS12, Ls31, LP529 and L. ruminis La3 could be the better candidates for symbiotic research. The bile tolerance of all the tested strains could be improved by the strain-specific prebiotics comparing to the control carbon source (glucose). The strain LS12 was finally selected to form the symbiotic according to its better ability to ferment prebiotics and bile tolerance, while the five prebiotics (FOS, stachyose, GOS, IMO and mannitol) were selected to make their synbiotic combination because of their better enhancement of bile tolerance and growth support to LS12. The synbiotic combination for cholesterol removal was optimized by use of response surface methodology. The first-order model showed that the selected prebiotics mannitol and GOS were significant factors. Then through the second-order polynomial regression model, the optimum conditions of the two factors for cholesterol removal by the synbiotic were suggested.     

Extraperitoneal pneumography; a preliminary report

The presence of a gas in the retroperitoneal tissues makes possible a radiologic visualization of retroperitoneal organs and masses. Retropneumoperitoneum is accomplished by the injection of oxygen at low pressure into the tissues lying between the coccyx and the rectum. The technique of injection is simple and no complications have occurred with the first 30 cases. This method is particularly useful in outlining the kidneys and adrenal glands.     

Short synchronization system for estrus cycles in dairy heifers: a preliminary report

In previous studies we demonstrated that the administration of a luteolytic dose of cloprostenol to dairy cows in luteal phase, followed by hCG plus estradiol benzoate (EB) 12 h later, led to successful timed AI 48 h after the initiation of treatment. This article reports two consecutive studies. In Study 1 we determined the pregnancy rate of dairy heifers in luteal phase (established by palpation per rectum) treated with cloprostenol followed by 250 IU of hCG plus 1 mg of EB 12 h later, and inseminated 48 h after cloprostenol injection. Study 2 was designed to evaluate the efficiency this synchronization protocol, irrespective of the estrus stage of the animals. In Study 1, 1272 Friesian heifers aged 14 to 16 months with a palpable corpus luteum received 500 mcg cloprostenol. Heifers were then synchronized either according to the hCG plus EB protocol (hCG-EB, n=637), or by a second dose of cloprostenol 11 d later (PG, n=636). Animals in this last group served as controls and were inseminated 72 and 96 h after the second cloprostenol injection. The pregnancy rate was significantly higher (P<0.0001) in the hCG-EB group (59.5%, 379/637) than in PG (44.8%, 285/636). In Study 2, 135 contemporary heifers (with no corresponding information on estrus stage) were subjected to the same protocol as those in the hCG-EB group of Study 1. These animals were classified in retrospect according to estrus stage established by plasma progesterone concentration. Pregnancy rates were 66.7% (24/36), 51% (25/49) and 58% (29/50) for animals in the follicular, early/late luteal, and mid-luteal phase, respectively. The total pregnancy rate was 57.8% (78/135). These findings indicate an improved pregnancy rate for heifers subjected to single insemination after cloprostenol/hCG/EB synchronization, compared to double insemination after synchronization by 2 cloprostenol injections 11 d apart. The cloprostenol/hCG/EB protocol did result in acceptable pregnancy rates after timed AI of dairy heifers regardless of their estrus cycle phase.     

Predicting invasion in mammographically detected microcalcifcation: a preliminary report

Background  

With the increased use of mammography for breast cancer screening, the diagnosis of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) too has increased. This study was carried out to identify clinical and radiological factors that may predict the presence of invasive disease within mammographically detected microcalcifcation.