Effect of GnRHa on plasma levels of Fsh and Lh in the female greater amberjack Seriola dumerili

The effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) on plasma levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (Fsh) and luteinising hormone (Lh) are reported for female greater amberjack Seriola dumerili with post-vitellogenic ovarian oocytes. Five females were implanted with pellets containing GnRHa (600 μg kg⁻¹ body weight), while five other females were injected with saline. All females implanted with GnRHa-containing pellets ovulated 36–42 h post-implantation. The GnRHa implants elevated Lh, but not Fsh plasma levels within 42 h of GnRHa administration.     

Evaluation of marking European silver eels with visible implant elastomer tags and alcian blue

After 183 days, the retention of the visible implant elastomer marks implanted on the belly and along the basis of the ventral fin margin of the European silver eel Anguilla anguilla was 100%. The retention of the alcian blue spots on the belly was 84% after 1 day, but decreased to 68% by the end of the experiment (after 183 days). Marking-induced mortality was 0% for both marking types over the complete trial period.     

Evaluation of visible implant elastomer for individual marking of small perch and common bully

Visible implant elastomer (VIE) was evaluated as a method for individual marking of small perch Perca fluviatilis and common bully Gobiomorphus cotidianus to use in capture–recapture studies. Growth, survival and mark retention was measured in 25 VIE marked and 15 unmarked fish of each species during a 125 day laboratory experiment. Marking had no effect on growth or survival of either species and mark retention in perch was 100%. Common bully mark retention was high for the initial 30 days but decreased to 72% by the end of the experiment. VIE marking provided an excellent method for individual identification of small perch over periods of at least 125 days, but improvements to common bully mark retention are necessary if VIE is to be used in capture–recapture studies >30 days.     

A repeated sampling bone chamber methodology for the evaluation of tissue differentiation and bone adaptation around titanium implants under controlled mechanical conditions

A repeated sampling bone chamber methodology was developed for the study of the influence of the mechanical environment on skeletal tissue differentiation and bone adaptation around titanium implants. Via perforations, bone grows into the implanted outer bone chamber, containing an inner bone chamber with a central test implant. An actuator—easily mounted on the outer bone chamber—allows a controlled mechanical stimulation of the test implant. After each experiment, the inner bone chamber—with its content—can be harvested and analysed. A new inner bone chamber with a central implant can be inserted consecutively in the outer bone chamber and a new experiment can start. Pilot studies led to a reliable surgical protocol and showed the applicability of the methodology, offering the possibility to study skeletal tissue differentiation and adaptation around implants under well-controlled mechanical conditions, and this protected from external loading. Repeated sampling of the bone chamber allows conducting several experiments within the same animal at the same site, thereby excluding subject- and site-dependent variability and reducing the amount of experimental animals.     

种植牙技术对老年牙列游离端缺失修复的疗效分析

目的:了解种植牙技术在老年人牙列游离端缺失修复中的应用价值。方法:对我院2012年3月至2014年3月收治的牙列游离端缺失修复患者进行抽样,选取76例患者随机分成两组,对照组予以义齿修复,实验组应用种植牙技术进行修复,对比两组患者咀嚼率、稳固率、成功率及满意度。结果:实验组咀嚼率、成功率、稳固率(91.18%、94.74%、92.11%)明显优于对照组(71.05%、84.21%、73.68%),且主诉美观效果、固位功能、舒适性(84.21%、94.74%、92.11%)明显优于对照组(63.16%、65.78%、71.05%),组间比较差异具有显著统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:在老年人牙列游离端缺失修复中,种植牙技术具有重要的应用价值,疗效确切,修复成功率高,值得临床大力推广与使用。     

Review: the potential impact of surface crystalline states of titanium for biomedical applications

In many biomedical applications, titanium forms an interface with tissues, which is crucial to ensure its long-term stability and safety. In order to exert control over this process, titanium implants have been treated with various methods that induce physicochemical changes at nano and microscales. In the past 20?years, most of the studies have been conducted to see the effect of topographical and physicochemical changes of titanium surface after surface treatments on cells behavior and bacteria adhesion. In this review, we will first briefly present some of these surface treatments either chemical or physical and we explain the biological responses to titanium with a specific focus on adverse immune reactions. More recently, a new trend has emerged in titanium surface science with a focus on the crystalline phase of titanium dioxide and the associated biological responses. In these recent studies, rutile and anatase are the major two polymorphs used for biomedical applications. In the second part of this review, we consider this emerging topic of the control of the crystalline phase of titanium and discuss its potential biological impacts. More in-depth analysis of treatment-related surface crystalline changes can significantly improve the control over titanium/host tissue interface and can result in considerable decreases in implant-related complications, which is currently a big burden on the healthcare system.     

ONTOLOGY OR PHENOMENOLOGY? HOW THE LVAD CHALLENGES THE EUTHANASIA DEBATE

This article deals with the euthanasia debate in light of new life‐sustaining technologies such as the left ventricular assist device (LVAD). The question arises: does the switching off of a LVAD by a doctor upon the request of a patient amount to active or passive euthanasia, i.e. to ‘killing’ or to ‘letting die’? The answer hinges on whether the device is to be regarded as a proper part of the patient's body or as something external. We usually regard the switching off of an internal device as killing, whereas the deactivation of an external device is seen as ‘letting die’. The case is notoriously difficult to decide for hybrid devices such as LVADs, which are partly inside and partly outside the patient's body. Additionally, on a methodological level, I will argue that the ‘ontological’ arguments from analogy given for both sides are problematic. Given the impasse facing the ontological arguments, complementary phenomenological arguments deserve closer inspection. In particular, we should consider whether phenomenologically the LVAD is perceived as a body part or as an external device. I will support the thesis that the deactivation of a LVAD is to be regarded as passive euthanasia if the device is not perceived by the patient as a part of the body proper.