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At least 523 records · Page 29Linked to original sources
PubMed2004

Assessment of cytochrome P450 1A in harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) using a minimally-invasive biopsy approach.

Biomarkers of organochlorine exposure, such as the induction of cytochrome P450 1A (CYP1A), can be used to assess the impact of environmental contaminants on the health of free-ranging marine mammal populations. The objective of the present study was to measure CYP1A in skin and liver biopsies obtained from live harbour seals (Phoca vitulina). Twelve harbour seal pups, aged three to five weeks, were captured from the Fraser River estuary, British Columbia, Canada, and temporarily held in captivity. Skin ( approximately 60 mg) and liver ( approximately 40 mg) biopsies, obtained while seals were under general anaesthesia, yielded sufficient tissue for the measurement of CYP1A by immunoblot analysis and ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase activity. A short-term exposure experiment, in which harbour seals (n=3) were treated orally with beta-naphthoflavone (BNF), resulted in increased hepatic and cutaneous CYP1A protein levels, consistent with observations in other mammals. This study is the first to measure CYP1A in skin and liver biopsies from live harbour seals and to report in vivo BNF-associated CYP1A induction in a marine mammal. The results demonstrate that microsamples collected using minimally-invasive techniques can provide toxicologically-relevant information form marine mammals.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Immediate dentin sealing improves bond strength of indirect restorations.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Delayed dentin sealing is traditionally performed with indirect restorations. With this technique, dentin is sealed after the provisional phase at the cementation appointment. It was demonstrated that this chronology does not provide optimal conditions for bonding procedures. Immediate dentin sealing (IDS) is a new approach in which dentin is sealed immediately following tooth preparation, before making the impression. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether there were differences in microtensile bond strength to human dentin using IDS technique compared to delayed dentin sealing (DDS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifteen freshly extracted human molars were obtained and divided into 3 groups of 5 teeth. A 3-step etch-and-rinse dentin bonding agent (DBA) (OptiBond FL) was used for all groups. The control (C) specimens were prepared using a direct immediate bonding technique. The DDS specimens were prepared using an indirect approach with DDS. Preparation of the IDS specimens also used an indirect approach with IDS immediately following preparation. All teeth were prepared for a nontrimming microtensile bond strength test. Specimens were stored in water for 24 hours. Eleven beams (0.9 x 0.9 x 11 mm) from each tooth were selected for testing. Bond strength data (MPa) were analyzed with a Kruskal-Wallis test, and post hoc comparison was done using the Mann-Whitney U test (alpha=.05). Specimens were also evaluated for mode of fracture using scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis. RESULTS: The mean microtensile bond strengths of C and IDS groups were not statistically different from one another at 55.06 and 58.25 MPa, respectively. The bond strength for DDS specimens, at 11.58 MPa, was statistically different (P=.0081) from the other 2 groups. Microscopic evaluation of failure modes indicated that most failures in the DDS group were interfacial, whereas failures in the C and IDS groups were both cohesive and interfacial. SEM analysis indicated that for C and IDS specimens, failure was mixed within the adhesive and cohesively failed dentin. For DDS specimens, failure was generally at the top of the hybrid layer in the adhesive. SEM analysis of intact slabs demonstrated a well-organized hybrid layer 3 to 5 microm thick for the C and IDS groups. For DDS specimens the hybrid layer presented a marked disruption with the overlying resin. CONCLUSIONS: When preparing teeth for indirect bonded restorations, IDS with a 3-step etch-and-rinse filled DBA, prior to impression making, results in improved microtensile bond strength compared to DDS. This technique also eliminates any concerns regarding the film thickness of the dentin sealant.

Dental Bonding↗
PubMed2005

Development and application of bioaccumulation models to assess persistent organic pollutant temporal trends in arctic ringed seal (Phoca hispida) populations.

Individual- and population-based models were developed to simulate the bioaccumulation of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) over the lifetime of ringed seals (Phoca hispida) and account for the effects of age, growth, body condition and sex (including gestation, birth and lactation). Lactational transfer was described using a milk to blubber partition coefficient, which was shown to be a function of Kow (KMB=1/(1.676+1.293.10(-7).Kow) r2=0.60, n=32, p<0.001). Simulations showed that nursing mothers could transfer between 5% and 40% of their burden of low and high KMB contaminants, respectively, to their milk over 40 days of lactation. The models were calibrated using a POPs dataset for 50 seals (29 males, 21 females) from Arviat, Nunavut. They were initially calibrated for a group of eight highly recalcitrant PCB congeners (e.g. PCBs 153, 180) assuming a baseline elimination rate (ke) of about 0.03 year-1. For congeners more prone to biotransformation a satisfactory fit could only be reached by iteratively increasing ke to values ranging from 0.05 to 2.5 year-1 for PCBs 187 and 18, respectively; thus the models became a means for estimating ke. Estimated ke values were correlated with a calculated index of susceptibility to biotransformation (ke=0.0284/Rrelr2=0.98, n=20, p<0.001). This relationship was used to estimate ke values used in simulations to hind-cast temporal trends of SigmaPCB, SigmaDDT, SigmaCHL, alphaHCH, betaHCH in ringed seal populations and to predict potential future trends. Results of these simulations showed good agreement with measured concentrations in seals from two locations in the Canadian Arctic (Holman Island, NWT and Arctic Bay, Nunavut) collected between 1972 and 2001. The models show that the combined effects of rapid juvenile growth, a fast rate of population turnover and substantial capacity to eliminate many POPs result in fairly rapid responses to changes in contaminant loading, thus making ringed seals an effective choice for monitoring spatial and temporal trends of POPs in the Arctic marine ecosystem.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed2004

The transmission of phocine herpesvirus-1 in rehabilitating and free-ranging Pacific harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) in California.

Phocine herpesvirus-1 (PhHV-1) causes regular outbreaks of disease in neonatal harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) at rehabilitation centers in Europe and in the U.S. To investigate transmission of this virus samples were collected from harbor seal pups during exposure studies at a Californian rehabilitation center from 1999 to 2002 and from free-ranging harbor seals off central California during the same period. The exposure studies provided evidence that PhHV-1 can be transmitted horizontally between animals most likely through direct contact with oro-nasal secretions. However vertical transmission may also occur, as adult female harbor seals were found to be shedding the virus in vaginal and nasal secretions, and premature newborn pups had evidence of early infection. Results also indicated that PhHV-1 infections were common in both free-ranging (40%, 49/121) and rehabilitating (54%, 46/85) young harbor seals, during the spring and early summer. This timing, which correlated with pupping and weaning, suggested that the majority of animals were infected and infective with PhHV-1 between pupping and breeding.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1999

A novel vascular sealing device for closure of percutaneous arterial access sites.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of a novel vascular sealing device that incorporates a unique low-profile balloon-positioning catheter and a procoagulant delivered after diagnostic cardiac catheterization and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) procedures. Current management of the vascular access site after percutaneous interventions is associated with patient discomfort and complications. Based on previously reported successful results in canine models, we proceeded with this first human feasibility and safety study. Immediately after an invasive procedure, the sealing device was successfully deployed at the femoral arterial access site in 24 of 24 procedures (diagnostic 19, PTCA 5). All patients were followed up at 1 month with clinical assessment, ankle-brachial index measurement, and Doppler ultrasound. Successful hemostasis was achieved in all patients. The activated clotting time before sealing device deployment was 125.5 +/- 22.2 and 267.8 +/- 60.0 seconds for diagnostic and PTCA patients, respectively. The time to hemostasis was 2.5 +/- 0.9 minutes for diagnostic and 6.0 +/- 2.2 minutes for PTCA patients. No major complications were observed. Coagulation markers (fibrinogen, D-dimer, thrombin-antithrombin-3 complex, and prothrombin fragment 1 and 2) measured before and after sealing device deployment did not reveal excessive intravascular thrombin generation or other coagulopathy. This novel vascular sealing device successfully achieves safe and effective vascular access site hemostasis immediately after cardiac catheterization and PTCA. These promising first human results will need to be confirmed by a multicenter randomized trial.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

A new technological approach to nonanatomical pulmonary resection: saline enhanced thermal sealing.

BACKGROUND: This is the first clinical report on the feasibility study of two new devices (monopolar Floating Ball and bipolar Sealing Forceps; TissueLink Medical Inc, Dover NH) that incorporated the novel technology of saline enhanced thermal sealing. METHODS: From December 2000 to December 2001, 25 patients (mean age, 54.8 years) with peripheral lung nodules planned for either diagnostic or therapeutic wedge resection were recruited for the study. When the nodule lay deep to a flat lung surface, video-assisted thoracic surgical resection using the modified Perelman technique with the Floating Ball (TissueLink Medical Inc) was preferred. In other patients, the Sealing Forceps (TissueLink Medical Inc) were used for video-assisted thoracic surgical wedge resection. RESULTS: There were no mortality or major intraoperative complications. The Floating Ball was used exclusively in 11 patients; the Sealing Forceps were used in 9 patients; and a combination of the two devices was used in 5 patients. The mean operation time was 70.3 minutes. Average chest drain duration was 3.9 days, and postoperative hospital stay was 5.2 days. There were 2 patients with persistent air leak more than 1 week, one who resolved spontaneously, and the other who required reoperation for control. One patient had pulmonary embolism after a technically uneventful procedure. There have been no late complications after an average follow-up of 10 months. CONCLUSIONS: The devices appear to be technically safe. The Floating Ball has definite advantages over the conventional diathermy and can be adapted to the Perelman procedure using the video-assisted thoracic surgical approach. The Sealing Forceps hold promise to reduce overall consumable costs compared with conventional staplers. These devices should complement the surgeon's existing armamentarium. Comparative studies with conventional instruments are warranted to further define the role of these new devices in thoracic operations.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Sealing effect of rapidly curable gelatin-poly (L-glutamic acid) hydrogel glue on lung air leak.

BACKGROUND: Air leak is a problem commonly occurring in lung and thoracic operations. In this study, a rapidly curable hydrogel glue was prepared as the seal for lung air leak. METHODS: Mixing an aqueous solution of gelatin and poly(L-glutamic acid) with a water-soluble carbodiimide produced a hydrogel. The sealing effect on the air leak wound of rat lung was compared with that of conventional fibrin glue. RESULTS: The gelatin-poly(L-glutamic acid) hydrogel glue was solidified as rapidly as the fibrin glue, and was significantly more effective in sealing the lung air leak than the fibrin glue. Approximately 80% of the lungs treated with the hydrogel glue exhibited no air leak at the lung pressure of 50 cm H2O. Urea addition could prevent spontaneous gelatination of the mixed solution at room temperature and did not affect the hydrogel sealing effect. The bonding strength of the hydrogel glue both with and without urea to the lung tissue was significantly higher than that of the fibrin glue. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that this strong lung adhesion of the gelatin-poly(L-glutamic acid) hydrogel glue resulted in its superior sealing effect.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Sealing ability of eight resin bonding systems in a Class II restoration after mechanical fatiguing.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate eight different adhesive systems to determine whether functional loading affects the marginal integrity of Class II restorations. METHODS: In 80 extracted upper human premolars, Class II cavities were prepared and restored with eight different commercially available adhesive resin restorative systems. The occlusal margins were located in enamel and the gingival margins in dentin. During immersion in a dye solution, half of the restored teeth were exposed to a load-cycling procedure, after which all the specimens were sectioned, and the extent of dye penetration was visually examined using a stereo microscope. The results were analyzed statistically using the Mann-Whitney U-test and Wilcoxons Rank test. RESULTS: Exposure of the restorations to load cycling significantly reduced the marginal integrity cervically. Perfect sealing was found practically at all occlusal margins. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found in the cervical sealing quality of the various adhesive systems. SIGNIFICANCE: The results of this study show that functional loading damages the cervical marginal seal of adhesive Class II restorations. For many adhesive systems, the setting shrinkage stress alone was not able to damage the marginal integrity cervically. Therefore, mechanical fatiguing distinguishes the sealing quality of adhesive systems in a more expressive way. There is a substantial difference in sealing quality between the various resin restorative systems tested.

Bite Force↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Femoral haemostasis after transcatheter therapeutic intervention: a prospective randomised study of the angio-seal device vs. the femostop device.

BACKGROUND: A number of haemostatic devices are available to facilitate early haemostasis following transfemoral interventional procedures. METHODS AND RESULTS: We have prospectively compared 150 patients (age: 57+/-12 years, mean+/-S.D.) who were randomly assigned to either external compression using the FemoStop device or direct closure of the arterial puncture using the Angio-Seal device. The Angio-Seal was deployed in the catheter laboratory after the conclusion of the procedure. Patients, randomised to FemoStop, had their sheath removed when the activated clotting time (ACT) was less than 100 s before applying the device. The primary endpoint was the composite of bleeding, haematoma formation, bruise, requirement for blood transfusion, clinical indication for ultrasound examination at 2 h and 24 h following the procedure and crossover to either method at 2 and 24 h after the device deployment. The 95% of the Angio-Seal and 96% of FemoStop patients were discharged on the day following the procedure. An increased number of patients in the Angio-Seal group reached a clinical end-point within the first 2 h (45% vs. 3%, P<0.0001). This difference became insignificant at 24 h (25% vs. 30%, P=0.6). CONCLUSION: Although less comfortable, the overall efficacy of the FemoStop appeared to be higher than that of the Angio-Seal device.

Catheterization, Peripheral↗
PubMed2000

Effects of extracellular Ca2+ on membrane and seal resistance in patch-clamped rat thalamic and sensory ganglion neurons.

We studied the effects of [Ca2+]ext changes on seal resistance in patch-clamp experiments. Recordings were made on rat peripheral and thalamic neurons. Increasing [Ca2+]ext from 0.5 to 4.5 mM, reduced the ionic currents evoked at potentials from -100 to +50 mV, in cell-attached recordings, in all the neurons tested. The effect was greater at negative potentials. The change in seal conductance (deltaG) decreased with higher resistance seals and became very low over 1 Gohm (<0.5 nS). However, the ratio deltaG/G(0.5 Ca2+) rose from close to 0 up to 0.6, indicating that Ca2+ has a stronger effect when the microelectrode and the membrane are sealed more tightly. These findings suggest that changes in seal resistance may be misleading in experiments in which extracellular Ca2+ changes are used.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Treatment of vascular graft infection by in situ replacement with a rifampin-bonded gelatin-sealed Dacron graft.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to treat an established prosthetic vascular graft infection by in situ replacement with a rifampin-bonded gelatin-sealed Dacron graft in an animal model. METHODS: The infrarenal aorta of 18 dogs was replaced with a gelatin-sealed graft contaminated in vitro by soaking it in a solution with Staphylococcus epidermidis. One week later, animals were randomized into three groups. In group I (control, (n = 6), the dogs did not undergo repeat operations. The dogs in groups II and III underwent repeat operation. In these animals the infected grafts were removed for bacteriologic analysis and replaced in situ with one of two types of grafts: group II (n = 6) received an untreated, gelatin-sealed graft; group III (n = 6) received a rifampin-bonded, gelatin-sealed graft. Antibiotic bonding was obtained by soaking grafts for 15 minutes in a 60 mg/ml saline solution of rifampin at 37 degrees C. All 18 dogs received no systemic adjunct antibiotic therapy. Control grafts and replacement grafts were removed 4 weeks after the initial implantation for bacteriologic analysis. When harvested, all the grafts were cut into two fragments, and quantitative bacterial cultures were obtained from all the fragments. Results were expressed as colony-forming units (CFU)/cm2 of graft material. RESULTS: All 18 initially implanted grafts and all the untreated replacement grafts were grossly infected at the time of removal, whereas all the rifampin-bonded replacement grafts had normal incorporation. None of the rifampin-bonded grafts grew bacteria, whereas all the initially implanted and all the untreated replacement grafts were infected (p < 0.01). Bacterial counts from the infected fragments were similar in control grafts (2.6 +/- 1.9 x 10(6) CFU/cm2), in initially implanted grafts of groups II (9 +/- 1.1 x 10(5) CFU/cm2) and III (1.3 +/- 1.5 x 10(6) CFU/cm2), and in untreated replacement grafts of group II (1.7 +/- 2.5 x 10(6) CFU/cm2). Blood culture results and culture results of liver, spleen, kidney, and lung specimens at the time of sacrifice were negative. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that rifampin-bonded gelatin-sealed Dacron grafts are resistant to infection when used for in situ replacement of an infected graft in the dog.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Comparison of cuff-pressure changes in LMA-Classic and the new Soft Seal laryngeal masks during nitrous oxide anaesthesia in spontaneous breathing patients.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: There are concerns over the intra-cuff pressure of the laryngeal mask and laryngopharyngeal morbidity. In a randomized study, the authors compared cuff-pressure changes in the LMA-Classic and the new disposable Soft Seal laryngeal mask during nitrous oxide anaesthesia. METHODS: Two-hundred adult patients were randomly assigned to a size 4 laryngeal mask in two equal-sized groups for airway management: (a) the re-usable LMA-Classic, or (b) the new disposable Soft Seal laryngeal mask. Anaesthesia was administered with fentanyl, propofol, nitrous oxide, O2 and sevoflurane. The cuff pressures, adjusted to 45 mmHg at insertion, were monitored continuously until the end of the operation without any further attempt to reduce cuff pressure. On removal of the laryngeal mask, any blood at all was considered positive. Patients were requested to report any sore throat at 2 and 24 h postoperatively. RESULTS: During nitrous oxide anaesthesia, cuff pressures increased in the LMA-Classic group from 45 to 100.3 mmHg and from 45 to 46.8 mmHg in the Soft Seal laryngeal mask group (P < 0.001). The incidence of sore throat was significantly higher at 2 h postoperatively when using the LMA-Classic, although there was no difference at 24 h following the operation. Macroscopic blood was only seen on four occasions in the LMA-Classic group (not significant). CONCLUSIONS: During nitrous oxide anaesthesia, cuff pressure increases in the LMA-Classic mask were significantly higher than those of the Soft Seal laryngeal mask. Trauma to patients, as assessed by the incidence of sore throat in the early postoperative period was significantly higher in the LMA-Classic group. Cuff pressures should be monitored during nitrous oxide anaesthesia when LMA-Classic is used but to do so is of less importance when using the disposable Soft Seal laryngeal mask.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Comparison of LMA Unique, Ambu laryngeal mask and Soft Seal laryngeal mask during routine surgical procedures.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to compare three disposable airway devices, the LMA Unique (LMA-U), the Ambu laryngeal mask (Ambu LM) and the Soft Seal laryngeal mask (Soft Seal LM) for elective general anaesthesia during controlled ventilation in non-paralysed patients. METHODS: One hundred and twenty ASA I-III patients scheduled for routine minor obstetric surgery were randomly allocated to the LMA-U (n = 40), Ambu LM (n = 40) or Soft Seal LM (n = 40) groups, respectively. Patients were comparable with respect to weight and airway characteristics. A size 4 LMA was used in all patients and inserted by a single experienced anaesthesiologist. Oxygenation, overall success rate, insertion time, cuff pressure and resulting airway leak pressure were determined as well as a subjective assessment of handling and the incidence of sore throat, dysphagia and hoarseness. RESULTS: Time of insertion was shortest with the Ambu LM, while failure rates were comparable with the LMA-U, the Ambu LM and the Soft Seal LM (median 19 s; range 8-57 s; success rate 100% vs. 14; 8-35; 97% vs. 20; 12-46; 95%). Insertion was judged 'excellent' in 75% of patients in the LMA-U group, in 70% of patients in Ambu LM group and in 65% of patients in the Soft Seal LM group. There was no difference between devices with respect to postoperative airway morbidity at 6 h or 24 h following surgery. CONCLUSIONS: All three disposable devices were clinically suitable with respect to insertion times, success rates, oxygenation, airway and leak pressures, as well as to subjective handling and postoperative airway morbidity.

Air Pressure↗
PubMed2002

Local vascular complications after use of the hemostatic puncture closure device Angio-Seal.

BACKGROUND: As an alternative to manual pressure techniques new systems for achieving arterial hemostasis after cardiac catheterization were developed. Here we report about the diagnosis and therapy of femoral artery complications after use of the closure device Angio-Seal, consisting of an intraarterial anchor and extravascular collagen plug. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Angio-Seal was deployed in 350 patients undergoing cardiac catheterization. Vascular investigations after device application consisted of ankle/brachial-pressure-index measurement, duplex sonography, and angiography. RESULTS: Vascular complications occurred in 10 of 350 patients. In two patients complete occlusions of the superficial femoral artery required immediate vascular surgery. Stenoses of the superficial (five patients) and the common (three patients) femoral arteries were diagnosed in 8 cases. Of these 10 patients eight were obese, in 2 cases there was a further catheterization with Angio-Seal device application via the same femoral approach. Until now six patients underwent successful surgery: in 4 cases the whole Angio-Seal device was located intraarterially, there was 1 case of intima-dissection, and 1 case remained unclear due to a diagnostic delay of 7 months. In three patients with stenoses of the common femoral arteries without hemodynamic relevance no therapy was required. CONCLUSIONS: Occlusions or stenoses of femoral arteries after use of Angio-Seal can be diagnosed easily by duplex sonography. All hemodynamic relevant complications (n = 7 of 350 [2%]) concerned a puncture of superficial femoral arteries. In these patients vascular surgery seems to be an adequate therapy.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Persistent organic pollutants in Alaskan ringed seal (Phoca hispida) and walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) blubber.

Since 1987, the Alaska Marine Mammal Tissue Archival Project (AMMTAP) has collected tissues from 18 marine mammal species. Specimens are archived in the National Institute of Standards and Technology's National Biomonitoring Specimen Bank (NIST-NBSB). AMMTAP has collected blubber, liver and/or kidney specimens from a number of ringed seals (Phoca hispida) from the areas near Nome and Barrow, Alaska and walruses (Odobenus rosmarus) from several locations in the Bering Sea. Thirty-three ringed seal and 15 walrus blubber samples from the NIST-NBSB were analyzed for persistent organic pollutants (POPs). The compounds determined included PCBs (28 congeners or congener groups), DDT and related compounds, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), hexachlorocyclohexane isomers (HCHs), chlordanes, dieldrin, and mirex. POP concentrations in ringed seal blubber were significantly higher in Barrow than in Nome when statistically accounting for the interaction of age and gender; HCB, however, was not statistically different between the two locations. Unlike males, POP concentrations and age were not significantly correlated in females probably as a result of lactational loss. POP concentrations in walrus blubber were lower than in ringed seal blubber for SigmaPCBs, chlordanes, and HCHs, but higher for dieldrin and mirex. POP concentrations in ringed seals and walrus from Alaska provide further evidence that the western Arctic tends to have lower or similar POP concentrations compared to the eastern Canadian Arctic.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1990

Microbial challenge of a blood cell separator outside-seal bowl system.

The ability to store platelets beyond 24 hours requires a functionally closed system. This study tested the ability of a cell separator bowl seal system to resist penetration of microbial contamination under normal running conditions and under extreme environmental stress. Three test organisms, Micrococcus luteus, Serratia marcescens, and Staphylococcus epidermidis, were applied directly to the bowl at the edge of the seal or aerosolized and passed through the centrifuge chamber while the cell separator was run through a simulated platelet collection. A sterile, bacteriologic nutrient medium was perfused through the tubing set, thus simulating the flow of blood fractions. Following the procedure, the medium was examined for microbial growth. The concentration of aerosolized bacteria ranged from 5.2 x 10(1) to 3.9 x 10(3) colony-forming units (CFU) per mL, and the concentration of bacteria applied to the edge of the seal ranged from 1.9 x 10(5) to 2.8 x 10(9) CFU per mL. The positive control, direct inoculation of S. marcescens into the circulating medium (50 CFU/500 mL), resulted in recovery of the identical organism after 24 hours' incubation. No contamination of the system was detected in 40 experiments with aerosolized bacteria or in 32 experiments in which bacteria were applied directly to the seal. This study demonstrates that this sealed-bowl system resists microbial contamination.

Aerosols↗
PubMed1982

Evaluation of fibrin seal in animal experiments.

This paper presents experimental investigations to evaluate fibrin seal for bleeding control under systemic heparinization as well as some of the benefits and limits of fibrin-presealing vascular prostheses. Local hemostasis using fibrin seal plus collagen fleece was achieved in 3 standardized sources of bleeding produced in mongrel dogs under full heparinization. Water porosity was measured in 3 standard prosthetic materials of different porosity. It could be shown that all graft types investigated were sufficiently sealed up to a pressure of 600 mmHg. The influence of fibrinolysis on the stability of the fibrin network in vascular grafts was tested by in vitro experiments using urokinase incubation. While water permeability increased in fibrin-sealed fabric without aprotinin added, no fibrinolysis-induced leakage was observed in those exposed to aprotinin. Surface thrombogenicity of the fibrin-sealed grafts was higher than in blood-preclotted prostheses, if not rinsed with isotonic saline. After rinsing, thrombogenicity decreased below values obtained in grafts preclotted conventionally. Survival studies in animals show no difference between blood-preclotted and fibrin-presealed prostheses both 3 and 7 days after implantation.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

A comparison of the reliability of two techniques of left double-lumen tube bronchial cuff inflation in producing water-tight seal of the left mainstem bronchus.

UNLABELLED: A double-lumen endobronchial tube (DLT) bronchial cuff inflation technique that reliably ensures effective water-tight isolation of the two lungs has not been determined. In this study, 20 patients undergoing thoracic surgery requiring a left DLT had the bronchial cuff of the DLT inflated by one of two techniques. In Group 1, the cuff was inflated to produce an air-tight seal of the left bronchus using the underwater seal technique. In Group 2, the cuff was inflated to a pressure of 25 cm H2O. After bronchial cuff inflation in both groups, water-tight bronchial seal was tested by instilling 2 mL of 0.01% methylene blue (MB) above the bronchial cuff of the DLT. Fifteen minutes later, fiberoptic bronchoscopy was performed via the bronchial lumen of the DLT to determine whether MB had seeped past the bronchial cuff. Cuff volume was 0.75+/-0.64 and 0.76+/-0.46 mL, cuff pressure was 30.1+/-27.0 and 25.0+/-0.0 cm H2O (mean+/-SD), and MB was positively identified in two and five patients in Groups 1 and 2, respectively. The difference in cuff volume and pressure and the higher MB seepage in Group 2 compared with Group 1 was not statistically significant. In both groups, MB seepage occurred only when the bronchial cuff volume was <1 mL and when the patients were positioned in the left lateral decubitus position. These findings suggest that the risk of aspiration is greatest when the DLT is positioned in the dependent lung and when the bronchial cuff volume is <1 mL. IMPLICATIONS: Water-tight sealing of the left bronchus by DLT bronchial cuff was tested after cuff inflation using two different techniques. Neither air-tight bronchial seal nor cuff pressure of 25 cm H2O guaranteed protection against aspiration. The risk of aspiration was greatest when the DLT was positioned in the dependent lung and when the bronchial cuff volume was < 1 mL.

Aged↗