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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Locking mechanism strength of absorbable ligating devices.

The locking mechanism strengths of the absorbable Absolok and Lactomer ligating clips and the absorbable Lactomer staple have been determined following implantation in an animal model. Three sizes of each type of clip and the single size of staple were enclosed in open mesh nylon pouches and implanted subcutaneously in rabbits for periods of 4, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days before tensile testing of the lock mechanisms. No change in the lock mechanism strength was detected for the Absolok clips before 21 days. The Lactomer clips and staples, however, showed significant decrease in lock mechanism strength within 7 days of implantation, this loss increasing with longer implantation times. A proportion of all the devices were found to have dissolved to an extent that precluded testing at 21 and 28 days. The findings indicate that the lock mechanisms of absorbable ligating clips differ significantly in their short-term (30 days) durability.

Animals↗

[Index of the diaphyseal cortex and mechanical strength of the femur in experimental studies].

The mechanical strength at bending was examined in 26 femoral bones prepared from human corpses. The obtained data was compared with the cortical index (CI). The study demonstrates high correlation between CI and mechanical strength of the corpus as well as the collum of the examined bone, which means that CI is a good criterion in assessing biological age of the bone. Our study confirms previously made observations that revealed a considerable usefulness of CI determined in X-rays, for the estimation of osteoporosis advancement in long bones and their mechanical strength.

Adult↗

Collagen deposition and mechanical strength of colon anastomoses and skin incisional wounds of rats.

The mechanical strength development of healing wounds depends on the formation of collagen fibrils bridging the wound cleft. A considerable deposition, degradation, and remodeling of these fibrils takes place influencing the mechanical strength of the healing wounds. A method for studies of wound collagen metabolism in vivo is delineated, enabling determination of collagen deposition per hour in rat colon anastomoses and skin incisional wounds. Labeled proline was incorporated into wound collagen with a flooding dose of unlabeled proline, reducing errors introduced by proline recycling and proline de novo synthesis. The mechanical strength was determined by a materials testing machine. In both colon anastomoses and skin wounds a substantial increase in collagen deposition was observed at Day 2, reached a maximum at Day 6, and was still relatively high at Day 12 during the remodeling of collagen fibers in the wound cleft. The collagen deposition in colon anastomoses at Day 6, however, was 10-fold higher compared with that of the skin incisional wounds. The time course of the collagen deposition was much alike in colon anastomoses and skin incisional wounds reaching a maximum at Day 6. The mechanical strength of these two rather different types of wounds was increased correspondingly and to the same level during the 1st week of healing. The measurements of collagen deposition, collagen content, and biomechanical strength indicated a substantial turnover of newly synthesized and deposited collagen during the early phases of wound healing. On the basis of this, it seems obvious that even small disturbances to the balance between collagen synthesis, deposition, collagen cross-linking, and collagen degradation/remodeling may result in defective wound healing.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗

Mechanical strength of microcapsules made of different wall materials.

The mechanical strength of microcapsules made of three different wall materials, including melamine-formaldehyde resin, urea-formaldehyde resin and gelatin-gum arabic coacervate, were measured by a micromanipulation technique. Single microcapsules were compressed to large deformations or rupture and the force being imposed on them were measured simultaneously. Melamine-formaldehyde and urea-formaldehyde microcapsules showed clear bursting under compression, and their bursting force, deformation at bursting and deformation at a pesudo yield point were determined. Gelatin microcapsules did not show clear bursting under compression, and their mechanical strength was characterized by the force required to cause their deformation to 50%. The mechanical strengths of these three types of microcapsules are compared in this paper.

Capsules↗

Change of bone mechanical strength in rats after spinal cord injury over a short term.

This study investigated the time-course of changes in bone mechanical strength in rats with spinal cord injury (SCI). Sixty-four male Wistar rats underwent spinal cord transection at the thoracic nerve. Control rats underwent a sham procedure (SHAM). Animals were sacrificed at day 1, 4, 7 and 14 after operation. The mechanical strength of the left femur and tibia was measured by the three-point bending strength test. The bones were dried, weighed and burned to ash. A specimen of right tibia was prepared and examined under a microscope. Bone mechanical strength, dry bone weight, and ash content of the femur and tibia in SCI rats were significantly lower than those in SHAM animals. Dry bone weight and ash content began to decrease from the 4th day after SCI and reached their lowest at day 7 after operation. Bone mechanical strength had reduced significantly by the 14th day. Gaps and spaces were observed in the trabecular area at the same time. After SCI, calcified cartilage decreased and the reduction of bone mass occurred rapidly. Moreover, a decline of bone mechanical strength is caused within 2 weeks. Thus, SCI led to the atrophy of bone and caused the reduction of mechanical strength at an early stage. It is thus necessary to prevent bone loss after SCI immediately.

Animals↗

Addition of hand-blended generic tobramycin in bone cement: effect on mechanical strength.

This study compared the mechanical strength of commercially prepared antibiotic bone cement (Simplex With Tobramycin; Stryker, Mahwah, NJ), cement with generic tobramycin (Pharma-Tek, Huntington, NY) blended in by the orthopedic nursing staff, and standard nonantibiotic bone cement. The results showed an approximate 36% decrease in the strength of the cement with hand-mixed generic tobramycin, while the commercial antibiotic cement remained unchanged relative to the nonantibiotic control. These results indicate the mechanical properties of bone cement can be severely compromised by hand-mixing antibiotics into bone cement at the time of surgery.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Estimation of ideal mechanical strength and critical porosity of calcium phosphate cement.

The ideal mechanical strength and critical porosity of calcium phosphate cement (CPC) were estimated to help determine ways to improve its properties. CPC at various porosities was made by packing CPC paste, at various powder-to-liquid (P/L) ratios (2.0-6.0), into a mold under various pressures (0-173 MPa). The mechanical strength of CPC, in terms of diametral tensile strength (DTS), increased with decreases in porosity. Intercrystalline fracture was observed in specimens made without the application of pressure, while fracture within the crystals increased with the packing pressure. These observations support the application of the relationship between DTS and porosity in fractographic equations. The ideal wet DTS and critical porosity of CPC were estimated to be 102 MPa and 63%, respectively. The minimum porosity of the currently used CPC was approximately 26-28%, even when it was packed under 173 MPa, and the maximum DTS value was thus approximately 13-14 MPa. Because reducing the porosity of currently used CPC would be difficult, we conclude that in CPC-related research, we should focus on ways in which to accelerate bone-replacing behavior, in addition to improving the mechanical strength of CPC.

Bone Cements↗

Thromboelastograph assay for measuring the mechanical strength of fibrin sealant clots.

In order to provide sustained hemostasis or tissue sealing, fibrin sealants must generate adhesive clots with mechanical properties capable of resisting forces, such as shear, that might break or tear the clot. Commercial preparations of fibrin sealants should generate clots of adequate and consistent mechanical strength. The mechanical strength of fibrin sealants is often measured as bonding strength in in vivo or ex vivo animal wound models. These tests can be useful predictors of clinical efficacy. However, these, as well as many in vitro tensile strength tests for fibrin sealant, tend to be laboratory specific and require extensive reagent preparation time and analyst training. The thromboelastograph has historically been used to screen for plasma protein and platelet disorders that lead to defective clot formation. The authors have developed a simple in vitro test, using a standard thromboelastograph that can provide reliable, reproducible information on the rheology of clots generated by fibrin sealant preparations. Using this method, the shear strength of fibrin sealant clots was measured and shown to correlate with the fibrinogen, but not the thrombin, concentration in the sealant. Shear strength was also shown to correlate with the sealant concentration of the fibrin cross-linking proenzyme, factor XIII. Sealants containing lysine, which can act as an alternate substrate for factor XIII enzyme and prevent efficient fibrin chain cross-linking, were shown by this method to generate clots of substantially reduced shear strength. The method distinguished between thrombin-catalyzed clot formation and other fibrinogen clotting mechanisms as evidenced by the significantly lower shear strength associated with batroxobin-generated fibrin clots.

Batroxobin↗

Decrease in the mechanical strength of bones of rats administered cadmium.

The mechanical properties of the bones of young, adult and old rats administered various concentrations of cadmium were measured to prove the direct effect of cadmium on the bones of young rats. The young rats were divided into three subgroups, which were administered 0 (control), 5 and 10 ppm cadmium, respectively. The adult rats were subdivided into six groups, administered 0, 10, 20, 40, 80 and 160 ppm cadmium, respectively. The old rats were divided into three subgroups, which were administered 0, 80, and 160 ppm cadmium, respectively. The length of the administration was 4 weeks in every group. The decrease in the mechanical strengths of bones of young rats administered with cadmium was observed. On the other hand, no change in mechanical strength of bones was observed in the case of adult and old rats, administered up to 160 ppm cadmium. The correlation between the cadmium in bones and the decrease in the strength of the bone shows that cadmium directly affects the mechanical properties of bones of young rats.

Aging↗

Mechanical strength of sarcomere structures of skeletal myofibrils studied by submicromanipulation.

The mechanical strength of sarcomere structures of skeletal muscle was studied by rupturing single myofibrils of rabbit psoas muscle by submicromanipulation techniques. Microbeads coated with alpha-actinin were attached to the surface of myofibrils immobilized to coverslip. By use of either optical tweezers or atomic force microscope, the attached beads were captured and detached from the myofibrils. During the detachment of the beads, the actin filaments bound specifically to the beads were peeled off from the bulk structures of myofibrils, thus rupturing the peripheral components of the myofibrils bound to the actin filaments. By analyzing the ruptures thus produced in various myofibril preparations, it was found that the sarcomere structure of myofibrils is maintained by numerous molecular components having the mechanical strength sufficient to sustain the contractile force produced by the actomyosin system. The present techniques could be applied to study the mechanical strength of cellular organelles containing actin filaments as their component.

Actin Cytoskeleton↗

Effects of added sodium alginate on mechanical strength of apatite cement.

Effects of added sodium alginate on the mechanical strength of Biopex, one type of apatite cement, were investigated since sodium alginate addition is very effective for Biopex to acquire anti-washout property. Addition of sodium alginate into the liquid phase of Biopex resulted in a slower transformation to apatitic monolith. As a result, mechanical strength of set Biopex in terms of diametral tensile strength (DTS) decreased when it was hardened in an incubator kept at 37 degrees C and 100% relative humidity for 7 days. However, DTS value increased with increase in the amount of added sodium alginate when the Biopex paste was immersed in 0.9% saline at 37 degrees C for 7 days. Set Biopex with less sodium alginate also showed larger porosity. Based on these findings, we concluded that added sodium alginate was effective in increasing the mechanical strength of Biopex by inhibiting liquid penetration into its paste when it is exposed to body fluids.

Alginates↗

Mechanical strength repercussions of various fixative storage methods on bone.

This study compensates for the lack of literature on the actual effects that various fixative storage methods have on the mechanical strength characteristics of bone and attempts to identify the ideal fixative method for preservation of all tissues while maintaining in vivo bone strength. Researchers currently use a wide variety of storage methods that lessen the mechanical strength to varying degrees. Differences could introduce error into a great number of bone fracture studies if an inexact discrepancy in the mechanical properties of fixed bone does actually exist. Furthermore, such disparities could go on to pose clinical risks for patients. This study focuses on the mechanical strength testing of four different groups of rat femora that were retrieved at various times and subjected to differing storage procedures. The first, Group N, were fresh, new femora retrieved just days before testing. The second, Group F, were femora that have been fixed in a 10% formalin bath for just over a year prior to testing. The third, Group W, are femora that have also been fixed in 10% formalin for just over a year but were washed out just prior to testing. The fourth, Group P, were femora that were retrieved from rats that were perfused with formalin immediately following euthanasia. Mechanical strength tests on the four groups revealed that fixing bone in a 10% formalin bath significantly reduces the mechanical fracture strength properties of the bone regardless of whether the formalin is washed out prior to testing. Testing also revealed that bone from perfused animals behaves more similarly to fresh bones from non-perfused animals suggesting that the formalin did not entirely infiltrate the bone and permanently fix the material. These results could have profound implications on how studies equate the behavior of in vitro bone to in vivo bone which could manifest as clinical complications for patients.

Animals↗

New tubular bioabsorbable knitted airway stent: biocompatibility and mechanical strength.

OBJECTIVE: This study examines the biocompatibility and suitability of a new tubular bioabsorbable knitted stent made of poly-L -lactic acid in normal rabbit airways and examines the mechanical strength of this stent in vitro. METHODS: A tubular knitted airway stent (group B, n = 15) made of poly-L -lactic acid wire was implanted operatively in New Zealand White rabbits intratracheally; silicone stents served as controls (group A, n = 8). The cervical trachea was exposed, and the stent was implanted. Up to 40 weeks after stent implantation, the rabbits were killed, at which time bronchoscopy, histologic examination, and scanning electron microscopic study was done. We tested poly-L -lactic acid stents and silicone stents for their mechanical strength in vitro. We subjected stents to area loads and measured their mechanical strengths. RESULTS: In group A, which received silicone stents, 3 (37.5%) rabbits died within 4 weeks of stent implantation as a result of airway obstruction by secretions inside the stent lumen. In group B, poly-L -lactic acid stents, 1 (6.7%) rabbit died 3 weeks after implantation because of weakness caused by anorexia. In the remaining animals, except for 1 animal with stent trouble, the bronchial lumen was fully open until the 40th week after implantation. After 40 weeks of follow-up, the stents disappeared, except for nonabsorbable suture in the bronchial wall. None of the animals in group B died of airway complication. Histologic examination and scanning electron microscopic examination of the group A silicone stents showed marked regression of ciliated cells under the stent. In group B the ciliated epithelium was preserved, and there were numerous capillary blood vessels in the submucosa. In scanning electron microscopy of the group B poly-L -lactic acid stents, the ciliated cells were preserved between the mesh holes of the stent. For diameters between 4 and 6 mm, the mechanical strength of silicone stents was greater than that of poly-L -lactic acid stents. However, the mechanical strength of poly-L -lactic acid stents increased as a function of their diameter. CONCLUSION: A new tubular bioabsorbable stent made of poly-L -lactic acid is biocompatible in normal rabbit airways, indicating that poly-L -lactic acid is a promising material for airway stents for clinical use.

Absorbable Implants↗

A screening technique to study the mechanical strength of gelatin formulations.

A semiquantitative method for measuring the mechanical strength of gelatin ribbons was demonstrated using a universal tensile testing machine (Instron, model 1122). Molten gelatin formulations comprised of acid-bone gelatin, limed-hide gelatin, or their combinations were made, pored as gelatin films, and aged at 50% relative humidity (RH). Viscoelastic properties (mechanical strength) of five gelatin formulations were evaluated by determining elastic modulus, tensile strength, and ratio of tensile strength to elastic modulus of gelatin ribbons. This study demonstrated that a 3:1 ratio of acid-bone to limed-hide gelatin combination showed better viscoelastic properties than the other formulations studied.

Chemistry, Pharmaceutical↗

Effects of lathyrogens on the mechanical strength of the periodontal ligament in the rat mandibular first molar.

Effects of lathyrogens such as aminoacetonitrile (AAN), beta-aminopropionitrile (BAPN) and cysteamine--known inhibitors of cross-linking of collagen--on the mechanical strength of the periodontal ligament of the rat mandibular first molar were examined by measuring the ultimate load required to extract the tooth from its socket in the dissected jaw. Single injections of AAN (40 approximately 100 mg/100 g body weight) or of BAPN (100 mg/100 g body weight) caused significant decreases of the mechanical strength 24 h after administration of the drugs but that of cysteamine (30 mg/100 g body weight) did not. Significant correlations between the dose of AAN or of BAPN and the mechanical strength were found following daily administrations of the drugs for 5 days. The relative potency of AAN to BAPN was estimated to be 4.5 by a slope ratio assay. The rapid appearance and disappearance of the effect of lathyrogens on the mechanical strength of the periodontal ligament of the rat mandibular first molar provide further evidence that the turnover of the collagen in the tissue is fast. The half-time of collagen synthesis was estimated to be approximately 3 d.

Acetonitriles↗

Esophageal collagen content and mechanical strength after endoscopic sclerotherapy of esophageal varices. An experimental study in rabbits.

Twenty-five rabbits with esophageal varices were randomized to no treatment (n = 10) or endoscopic paravenous sclerotherapy of the varices (n = 15). Five other rabbits served as sham-operated controls. When they were killed, the mechanical strength and collagen content of the esophagus were determined at proximal, middle, and distal levels. The esophagus was examined histologically at proximal and distal levels. Animals treated by sclerotherapy showed histologic edema and inflammation of the esophageal wall after 2 days. This was not accompanied by any decrease in collagen content or mechanical strength. Ten days after sclerotherapy a slight but non-significant increase in collagen content and mechanical strength at middle and distal levels was observed. After 30 days the increase in collagen content at middle and distal levels was significant, and the mechanical strength was significantly increased at the middle level.

Animals↗

Brittle stalk 2 encodes a putative glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored protein that affects mechanical strength of maize tissues by altering the composition and structure of secondary cell walls.

A spontaneous maize mutant, brittle stalk-2 (bk2-ref), exhibits dramatically reduced tissue mechanical strength. Reduction in mechanical strength in the stalk tissue was highly correlated with a reduction in the amount of cellulose and an uneven deposition of secondary cell wall material in the subepidermal and perivascular sclerenchyma fibers. Cell wall accounted for two-thirds of the observed reduction in dry matter content per unit length of the mutant stalk in comparison to the wildtype stalk. Although the cell wall composition was significantly altered in the mutant in comparison to the wildtype stalks, no compensation by lignin and cell wall matrix for reduced cellulose amount was observed. We demonstrate that Bk2 encodes a Cobra-like protein that is homologous to the rice Bc1 protein. In the bk2-ref gene, a 1 kb transposon-like element is inserted in the beginning of the second exon, disrupting the open reading frame. The Bk2 gene was expressed in the stalk, husk, root, and leaf tissues, but not in the embryo, endosperm, pollen, silk, or other tissues with comparatively few or no secondary cell wall containing cells. The highest expression was in the isolated vascular bundles. In agreement with its role in secondary wall formation, the expression pattern of the Bk2 gene was very similar to that of the ZmCesA10, ZmCesA11, and ZmCesA12 genes, which are known to be involved in secondary wall formation. We have isolated an independent Mutator-tagged allele of bk2, referred to as bk2-Mu7, the phenotype of which is similar to that of the spontaneous mutant. Our results demonstrate that mutations in the Bk2 gene affect stalk strength in maize by interfering with the deposition of cellulose in the secondary cell wall in fiber cells.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗