With the prevalence of an aging American population on the rise, osteoporotic vertebral fractures are becoming a common occurrence, resulting in an increase in vertebral augmentation procedures and associated complications such as cement leakage, vertebral compressions, and pulmonary embolism. We describe a patient who presented with respiratory distress three years following kyphoplasty of the...

This work describes a simple and inexpensive approach for controlling the pneumatic valves that were invented in Quake's group to miniaturize the whole system for portable and disposable microfluidic devices. The valves are assembled from two parts. One is the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) channels formed by multilayer soft lithography. The other is a polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) frame with mach...

The UV polymerization process dictates the materials that can be employed in the sheath-flow device downstream from the hydrodynamic focusing grooves. The primary requirement for UV polymerization is an integrated window through which the shaped core can be polymerized using a UV source. Possible options include the use of all PDMS parts, top and bottom, or a combination of PDMS and silicon/gla...

The mechanical, electrical, and glass transition behaviors (Tg) of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)–metal systems have been studied. Considering both the particle size metal filler concentration, electrical conductivity showed a clear dependence on sample thickness to reach percolation. An increase up 400% strain-to-failure for 2% v/v nanometric composites in mechanical test was observed. Tg analy...

We study the evolution of longitudinal release wave that is generated by induced tensile fracture as it propagates through solid rectangular polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) bars different constant cross-section. High-speed multi-point photoelasticity used to register strain at three distances from site in each experiment. In all cases, oscillations develop bottom exhibit qualitative features an u...

Abstract With the aging of population, risk osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCF) caused by osteoporosis increases rapidly. Surgeons often fill bone defect with injectable polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) cement through vertebroplasty. However, compared cancellous bone, higher mechanical properties PMMA can easily lead to fracture adjacent cone. Besides, wound infection surgery is al...

PURPOSE Pedicle screw fixation of osteoporotic bone in the elderly is a challenge. Various augmentation methods have been studied by many authors. Although polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) augmentation is believed to be a standard method, its usage is fraught with complications. Butyl-2-cyanoacrylate is an alternative to PMMA as it is bioresorbable, biocompatible, inexpensive, and noninfective. Th...

Interleukin-12 (IL-12) is a cytokine produced by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) that causes interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production and enhancement of cell-mediated cytotoxicity. To clarify the role of hemodialysis biocompatibility on IL-12 production and uremic immunodeficiency, we have studied the IL-12 and IFN-gamma release by PBMC harvested from 12 patients dialyzed with cupropha...

The use of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) cement to reinforce fragile or broken vertebral bodies (vertebroplasty) leads to extensive bone stiffening. This might be one reason for fractures at the adjacent vertebrae following this procedure. PMMA with a reduced Young's modulus may be more suitable. The goal of this study was to produce and characterize PMMA bone cements with a reduced Young's mod...

INTRODUCTION Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) cement is useful for spinal reconstruction, but can cause complications including new vertebral fractures, neurological disorders and pulmonary embolism. We report a case in PMMA cement used for spinal reconstruction after tumor curettage dislodged and penetrated the gastrointestinal tract. DIAGNOSES The patient was diagnosed with a retroperitoneal e...