It has been proven that polyolefins specially low density polyethylene (LDPE), are resistant against degradation and microorganism attacks; Thus, one of the most important properties of industrial plastics, is their environmental biodegradability. Since plastics are being widely used in agriculture, horticulture and packaging, meeting this requirement becomes increasingly dificult (speciall...

A 74-year-old man underwent total knee arthroplasty in 1996 and subsequent revision total knee arthroplasty for aseptic loosening in 2005. During revision, an all-polyethylene, 7-mm, second-generation, highly cross-linked ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene patellar component (Durasul; Zimmer, Warsaw, Indiana) was used. The patient recovered well, but he presented with severe acute pain af...

Cooking food in polyethylene bags has of late substituted banana leaves in Uganda. However, such a practice is risky as chemical contaminants may migrate from polyethylene bags into food during cooking causing health complications. Therefore, this study was done to identify and quantify the levels of chemical contaminants (heavy metals) in black and green polyethylene bags. Polyethylene bags we...

The demand for new, thermally conducting light weight and anti-corrosive materials is tried by incorporating Copper Oxide (CuO) nano powder in polyethylene matrix material. A laboratory level electro deposition technique is adopted here to prepare Copper Oxide (CuO) nano particles. Their phase composition is confirmed with X-Ray diffraction peaks and verified with standard JCPDS file for Copper...

We analysed revised Mathys isoelastic polyacetal femoral stems with stainless-steel heads and polyethylene acetabular cups from eight patients in order to differentiate various types of particle of wear debris. Loosening of isoelastic femoral stems is associated with the formation of polyacetal wear particles as well as those of polyethylene and metal. All three types of particle were isolated ...

Cross-linked polyethylenes are being marketed by orthopaedic manufacturers to address the problem of osteolysis caused by polyethylene particulate wear debris. Wear testing of these cross-linked polyethylenes in hip simulators has shown dramatic reduction in wear rate compared with standard ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene, either gamma irradiated in air or nitrogen - or ethylene oxide-s...

We examined radiographic polyethylene wear in 233 cemented total hip arthroplasties (201 patients) with either a metal-backed or a non-metal-backed acetabular cup. All patients had identical cemented one-piece titanium femoral stems with a femoral head diameter of 28 mm. The mean linear wear rate was 0.11 mm/yr in metal-backed sockets and 0.08 mm/yr in non-metal-backed sockets (p = 0.0002). The...

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials comparing cross-linked with conventional polyethylene liners for total hip replacement in order to determine whether these liners reduce rates of wear, radiological evidence of osteolysis and the need for revision. The MEDLINE, EMBASE and COCHRANE databases were searched from their inception to May 2010 for all t...

conclusions there was no significant lower recurrence rate of constipation with peg and lactulose combination therapy over peg alone. therefore, changing treatment from lactulose plus peg to peg alone would result in better compliance of patients for long-term therapy and would be cost effective. results the response rate to treatment was 70% in group i and 87% in group ii (p value 0.003). recu...