This policy addresses the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to monitor the integrity of silicone-gel-filled breast implants (hereafter referred to as silicone implants). MRI to monitor for the rupture of silicone implants may be performed without contrast and is more sensitive and specific when a dedicated breast coil is used. Silicone-specific sequences are sometimes used. This policy do...

Very few cases of successful surgical treatment for renal failure due to gluteal silicone injections have been reported in the literature. The silicone toxicity and subsequent renal failure seem to follow repetitive silicone injections and silicone injections in large quantities. This is a case of a 31-year-old woman who developed renal failure after 6 years of gluteal silicone injections who u...

Titanium is a successful biomaterial that possesses good biocompatibility. It is covered by a surface layer of titanium dioxide, and this oxide may play a critical role in inhibiting reactive oxygen species, such as peroxynitrite, produced during the inflammatory response. In the present study, titanium dioxide was coated onto silicone substrates by radio-frequency sputtering. Silicone coating ...

BACKGROUND Revision of gastric bariatric operations is sometimes technically difficult and may fail to achieve prolonged weight reduction. The use of the adjustable silicone gastric banding (ASGB) offers a new approach for these revisions. METHODS ASGB was performed as a revisional procedure on 37 patients whose initial bariatric operations were as follows: silastic ring vertical gastroplasty...

AIMS To design, construct and validate a pharmacokinetics simulator that offers students hands-on opportunities to participate in the design, administration and analysis of oral and intravenous dosing regimens. METHODS The Alberta Drug Administration Modeller (ADAM) is a mechanical patient in which peristaltic circulation of water through a network of silicone tubing and glass bottles creates...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE In-bore middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) enables investigators to acquire preischemic MRI data and to image ischemic changes immediately after occlusion. We have developed a highly successful in-bore MCAO method. This study describes the methods and pertinent techniques. METHODS Sixty-seven Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to temporary (n=36) or permanent (n=31...

A new MIMS-derived technique, headspace membrane introduction mass spectrometry (HS-MIMS), is described for direct trace level analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in soil and other dry or wet solid matrixes. A silicone membrane interface is placed about 15 cm from the ion source, and a closed airspace (headspace) is created by connecting a toggle valve to the 1/4 in. tubing that conne...

A major effort has been invested in making bioreactors more efficient. The goal has been achieved in several steps. Firstly, a replacement of the traditional rotation movement by an oscillating up and down movement of stirring discs driven by an electromagnet yields several important advantages. A soft, whole volume movement of the medium results in optimal gas distribution throughout the mediu...

BACKGROUND The outcome of the off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is highly dependent on surgical techniques. To overcome problems of intraoperative hemodynamic instability and avoid potential injury to coronary artery arising from occlusive technique, the authors have modified the strategy of performing distal anastomosis by using the authors' homemade intracoronary artery shunt. ...