Technique

A cryopreservation procedure using an aluminium cryo-plate was successfully developed using in vitro-grown Dalmatian chrysanthemum (Tanacetum cinerariifolium) shoot tips. Shoot cultures were cold-hardened at 5 degree C on MS medium containing 0.5 M sucrose over a period of 20 to 40 days. Shoot tips with basal plate (1.0-1.5 x 1.0 mm) were dissected from shoot cultures and precultured at 5 degree C for 2 days on MS medium containing 0.5 M sucrose. Precultured shoot tips were placed on aluminium cryo-plates (7 mm x 37 mm x 0.5 mm) with 10 wells (diameter 1.5 mm, depth 0.75 mm) and embedded in alginate gel. Osmoprotection was performed by immersing the cryo-plates for 30 or 60 min in 25 ml pipetting reservoirs filled with loading solution (2 M glycerol + 1.4 M sucrose). For dehydration, the loading solution was replaced with PVS 7M vitrification solution (30 percent glycerol, 19.5 percent ethylene glycol and 0.6 M sucrose in liquid MS basal medium), which was applied for 40 min. After ...

There is considerable argument concerning the number of sentinel node biopsy cases with axillary dissection that surgeons should perform before they are eligible on abandoning axillary dissection in negative sentinel node patients. Papers that (1) address directly or indirectly the subject of credentialing or of learning curve, (2) report on a surgeon's performance, (3) are reported as feasibility or learning curve studies, or both, (4) discuss the learning curve issue, and (5) express an expert's opinion on the learning curve. The number of procedures of the learning curve can not be fixed for all surgeons. Only surgeons in specialized breast cancer centers can succeed in meeting current recommendations with 20 to 30 cases. Surgeons from affiliated community hospitals will need more than 30 cases, whereas broad-based surgeons might need as many as 60 cases with their current caseload. Not all surgeons will be able to offer the procedure to their patients by the current reco...

This study reports on the evaluation of four meeting techniques for decision-making by small groups. Two face-to-face and two computer conferencing techniques were evaluated by small groups solving business cases. Particular groups varied widely in their satisfaction with different meeting techniques, but there was no significant difference in the quality of the group decisions.

In the Jebala region, NW of Morocco, the making of recipients of dung from cows or/and clay (tonna and tabtoba) was common in the past. These recipients were used for stocking cereals and their dry products, for feeding the livestock, or for transporting the céréals to the rotative mill. The élaboration of these objects, which dissapeared 20 or 30 years ago, represented a general technical knowledge which was carried out by all the women in the région, in order to satisfy their domestic needs.

Two still-life paintings were scientifically examined in order to gain insights about Dutch painter Jan van Huysum's (1682-1749) purportedly secretive paintings techniques, comparing the actual works to information obtained in the few available historical technical sources. Surface investigations included macroscopic and microscopic examination, infrared reflectography and x-radiography, while material characterization of the ground, organic and inorganic pigments and binding media was carried out with a range of non-destructive and destructive analytical techniques. The belief that the two works were an original pair of pendant paintings was disproved due to substantial technical differences in the wood support, ground layers and use of yellow pigment. It was also found that Van Huysum's use of newly developed pigments (Prussian blue, Naples yellow) had lead to changes in his painting technique, which no longer corresponded to those described in the period's manuals, an...

More successful methods of vasectomy reversal would benefit those undergoing this treatment and might also increase the popularity of vasectomy. We conducted a randomized, prospective clinical trial of vasectomy reversal methods, comparing a new absorbable stent with 2-layer reattachment.We studied 116 men seeking vasectomy reversal between November 1990 and March 1994. Data were analyzed primarily by intention to treat.Patients in the stent (64 cases) and no stent (52) randomized groups were similar in age distribution, age of spouses, years since vasectomy, proportion who had undergone prior vasectomy reversal and proportion who had previously achieved pregnancy. Operation time was more than 19 minutes shorter in the stent randomized group (p = 0.006). Fewer patients in the stent than the no stent group had patent vasovasostomies (81.0 versus 89.6%, respectively, p = 0.2) postoperatively. Fewer stent randomized patients had motile sperm (76.2 versus 81.3%, respectively, p = 0.5) and normal total motile sperm counts (49.2 versus 52.1%, respectively, p = 0.8) than did those without a stent. Conception occurred in 22 and 51% of all couples in the stent and no stent groups. The relative risk of conception among those in the stent group was 0.42 (95% confidence interval 0.24 to 0.71, p = 0.002). A Mantel-Cox log-rank test comparing pregnancies in each group according to the number of postoperative months revealed that the no stent group achieved more earlier pregnancies (p = 0.003).The 2-layer microscopic vasovasostomy results in greater pregnancy rates than vasovasostomy using the absorbable stent.

The needle biopsy technique described by Bergström is the most commonly used technique to obtain samples to assess muscle metabolism. Sampling of muscle, particularly the vastus lateralis, has become an essential tool in biomedical and clinical research. Optimal sample size is critical for availability of tissue for processing. To evaluate the effectiveness of a novel technique to obtain adequate sample size using wall suction applied to needle muscle biopsy, we collected samples from subjects in on-going clinical studies for gene expression.Muscle biopsy samples of the vastus lateralis using 6 mm Bergström needles under local anesthesia were obtained from 55 subjects who had volunteered to participate in this research project. The vastus lateralis was biopsied according to the methods described by Bergström with a 6 mm biopsy needle. Wall suction was applied to the inner bore of the biopsy needle after the needle was inserted into the muscle.The mean sample of biopsy taken using the 6 mm was 233 mg (n = 55). The wall suction (200 mm Hg) applied to the needle pulled the surrounding tissue into the central bore of the needle. The quality of the samples was adequate for all biochemical assays. The biopsy technique did not result in any complications due to infection or bleeding.Using a novel technique of connecting a 6 mm Bergström biopsy needle to wall suction, we have obtained 200 to 300 mg muscle biopsy specimens uniformly, with ease, and minimal discomfort. An increase in sample size allows for a wider variety of biochemical and histopathological analysis.

The aim of this study was to review the long-term experience with colectomy and the ileoanal pouch procedure (IAPP) in children from one hospital. Between 1977 and 2001, 168 children under 18 years of age underwent colectomy and IAPP. One hundred thirty-one had ulcerative colitis (UC). Twenty-six had familial colonic polyposis (FP), 9 had Hirschsprung's disease (HD), and 2 had colonic inertia. Ninety-seven had a J-pouch, 62 had a lateral pouch, and 9 had a straight pull-through (SP). The mean age was 13.9 years. Complications within 2 years included pouchitis (16%), ileoanal strictures (14%), and adhesions (7%). There were no deaths. Fifty-six patients (33%) required reoperation, including 20 revisions of large pouches and 8 conversions of SP to pouches because of stool frequency. Six children (3.6%) had later pouch removal (3 had Crohn's disease). Stool frequency at 6 months was 3.8 (mean). At 6 months 5% had occasional soiling. Eighty-four percent can delay defecation over 1(1/2) hours; 82% can urinate without a bowel movement. With a mean follow-up of 11.2 years, 94.6% are functioning well. Colectomy with IAPP is the preferred operation for children with UC, FP, and selected HD. The J-pouch is the preferred technique because of simplicity of construction and sparsity of complications.

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a rare but well-documented complication of chronic osteomyelitis. Between February 1991 and March 1999, 13 cases (12 men and one woman) of SCC arising in chronic osteomyelitis were diagnosed and treated in our clinic. Mean age was 56.5 (38–70) years. Twelve patients underwent amputation and one underwent limb salvage. Average follow-up was 56 (24–121) months. Among the 13 patients two died of the disease. Treatment of choice for these tumours has been amputation. Carcinome cellulaire squameux est une complication d'ostéomyélite, peu fréquente, mais bien connue. Entre le février 91–mars 99, dans notre clinique, nous ont constate 13 malades (12 hommes et 1 femme) a qui nous ont vu la maladie développe a la base d'ostéomyélite chronique. L'age moyen était 56.5. (38–70) 12 malades ont subi une amputation et dans l'autre l'extrémité a été gardée. La surveillance a duré à peu près 56 (24–121) mois. Parmi ces 13 malades seulement deux sont morts. Pour ces tumeurs on peut dire que l'amputation est la méthode la plus efficace.