47 research outputs found
Factors affecting outcome after autologous chondrocyte implantation for the treatment of osteochondral defects of the knee
No full textSome studies on autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) have demonstrated little benefit over other techniques and few have demonstrated a lasting benefit. A number of factors can contribute to failure and a scientific approach to elucidate these variables has not been reported. This thesis reports on the use of a statistical approach - the Generalised Linear Model (GLM) to quantify the effect each factor has whilst considering the interplay of other variables. Data from a randomised controlled trial and several case-controlled studies will assess the efficacy of 2 different types of ACI, the influence of smoking, BMI, and physical activity. Non-modifiable risk factors that were assessed include the aetiology, site and size of the lesion, the duration of symptoms and number of previous operations prior to the index procedure and the presence of early osteoarthritis. Site had a significant effect on outcome but size did not. The GLM predicted a point increase in the Modified Cincinnati Score (MCS) before surgery (MCS 0) would lead to a further 0.5 point increase in MCS 2 years postoperatively (MCS 24) (p=0.001). Other significant non-modifiable risk factors include age and sex of the patient. When treating lesions in the patella, duration of symptoms was a significant factor, but age was not. The GLM predicted that smokers’ MCS 24 (the Modified Cincinnati Score 2 years after surgery) was likely to be 15 less than non-smokers (p=0.002). Patients playing no sports experienced an 11.4 point decrease. For each increase in BMI, the MCS 24 was 2.4 less (p=0.001). Factors that optimise outcome following surgery are; avoidance of numerous procedures prior to ACI and delay of more than one year before undergoing ACI. Current NICE guidelines prohibit the use of ACI as the first-line surgical procedure and prevent addressing the above 2 issues. Poorer results were observed in obese patients. Weight loss and active lifestyle are essential pre-operatively. Furthermore, we recommend that pre-operative counselling for smokers is essential and that all smokers be offered a cessation programme
Oxidative stress and antioxidative systems in tomato fruits during storage
No full textTomato varieties ARTH-3 (long shelf-life; 14-15 days) and Sel-7 (short shelf-life; 5-7 days), harvested at color turning stage, were stored in open trays at 10, 25 and 35C and sampled at two day intervals until complete deterioration. Variety ARTH-3 could be stored at all the temperatures for ten days, while Sel-7 could tolerate 35C only for four days. However, at 10 and 25C, it could be stored for six days. In both varieties, lipoxygenase (LOX) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) value and H2O2 content increased during storage. Increase in storage temperature further enhanced the activity of LOX, and also increased MDA value and H2O2 content. Sel-7 had higher values for these parameters than ARTH-3. Activities of enzymes responsible for scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) viz., superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase and catalase decreased continuously during storage. With increase in temperature, the activities of these enzymes further decreased significantly in both varieties. Sel-7 had significantly lower activities of ROS scavenging enzymes than ARTH-3 throughout the storage period. These results suggest that fruits stored at higher temperature are subjected to severe oxidative damage leading to extensive membrane damage and loss of tissue structure
Recommended from our members
DIGITAL MUSEUM TECHNOLOGY FOR WORCESTER’S INDUSTRIAL HISTORY
No full textWorking alongside the Worcester Historical Museum (WHM), our group collected historical and technological information to aid the reconstruction of the Fuller Industrial History Gallery. Experts, scholarly literature, and digital platforms were surveyed to ascertain modern digital methods of museum display. This report also presents potential new artifacts for the Gallery with information regarding the evolution of the wire and metal trades industries especially Morgan Construction in the early 20th century and Kinefac in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. This IQP provides recommendations on smart technologies and industrial artifacts for inclusion in the renovated Gallery. -
Antioxidant systems in ripening tomato fruits
No full textTwo cultivars of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), Selection-7 (shelf life 7-8 d) and ARTH-3 (shelf life 14-15 d) were analyzed for oxidative stress and the antioxidant enzyme system at different stages of fruit ripening. The results presented here suggest that during the early stages of fruit ripening, efficient antioxidant system protects the tomato fruits against the damaging effect of progressive oxidative stress. At later stages, however, oxidative damage occurs due to decreased activities of the ROS scavenging enzymes
Recommended from our members
Protein Releasing Microspheres for an In Vitro Intimal Hyperplasia Model
No full textIntimal hyperplasia (IH) is a prevalent disease characterized by lesion formation on blood vessels through cell growth at the site of an injury. A tissue engineered blood vessel model of IH could facilitate drug development. The team designed microspheres that can release growth factor to stimulate lesion formation by localized proliferation in a vessel model. Based on design objectives and constraints, the team tested and evaluated four microsphere materials for biocompatibility, size distribution, protein encapsulation, protein release, and retention of protein activity.\nAfter testing, it was determined that silk microspheres showed the greatest promise for use in the IH model and the team suggests assessing its functionality once incorporated into the vessel model
Development of surface replacement prostheses for the proximal interphalangeal and metacarpo phalangeal joints
No full textThere were two main aims of the project. A surface replacement prosthesis was previously designed at the University of Durham for the metacarpo-phalangeal joint (MCPJ). Tools were required to assess the joint prosthesis pre-operatively and postoperatively. The areas of assessment which the author was involved in were joint stiffness and a self-assessment questionnaire. The Durham arthrograph had previously been used for many clinical trials to assess joint stiffness objectively. However, the computer system was not portable. Hence a new computer system was developed, in Lab VIEW, for a lap-top computer. Ten normal individuals were assessed to validate the system. A questionnaire was also developed for patients to self-assess the performance of their joints. The questionnaire assessed parameters such as range of movement, hand strength, stiffness and pain on visual analogue scales. The difficulty in performing activities of daily living were assessed on simple descriptive scales. The second part of the project was to develop a surface replacement prosthesis for the proximal interphalangeal joint (PIPJ). Since there was inadequate information in the literature on the architecture of the PEPJ bearing surfaces and phalangeal bone shafts, a detailed study was performed on the bones from 83 PIPJs. Proximal and middle phalangeal bones were dissected, modelled in bone cement, sectioned and shadowgraphed. The shadowgraphs were measured and models of the proximal phalangeal heads were produced. These models were then used to design four PIPJ surface replacement prostheses over a range of sizes which covered 97.6% of the sample population of PIPJs. It was proposed that the MCPJ and PIPJ prostheses would be made entirely from cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE). Hence wear tests on pin-on-plate apparatuses were carried out to investigate the wear characteristics of XLPE-on-XLPE compared with other biomaterial combinations. The wear of XLPE-on-XLPE was comparable with UHMWPE-on-stainless steel. XLPE-on-stainless steel wore 10 times faster than XLPE-on-XLPE, and UHMWPE-on-UHMWPE wore 100 times faster than XLPE-on- XLPE. Hence it was concluded that all XLPE joint prostheses were feasible as far as the wear considerations were concerned
Automated detection of depression using wavelet scattering networks
No full textToday, depression is a common problem that affects many people all over the world. It can impact a person's mood and quality of life unless identified and treated immediately. Due to the hectic and stressful modern life seems to be, depression has become a leading cause of mental health illnesses. Signals from electroencephalograms (EEG) are frequently used to detect depression. It is difficult, time-consuming, and highly skilled to manually detect depression using EEG data analysis. Hence, in the proposed study, an automated depression detection system using EEG signals is proposed
