[Tissue engineering of heart valves]

With the introduction of heart valve prostheses cardiac valvular disease has become much more accessible to therapeutic options. However, currently available prostheses display significant limitations, such as limited long-term durability (biological prostheses) and a long-term necessity for anticoagulation therapy. Hence, alternative prosthesis types have been extensively explored in recent years particularly aiming at the development of vital and regenerative prostheses by means of tissue engineering. In the scientific field, different competing concepts have been introduced, including biological or synthetic scaffolds which can be further enhanced by cellular or extracellular components to promote further in vivo development of the prosthesis after implantation. Nowadays, decellularized donor heart valves are among the most advanced prosthesis types experiencing growing clinical attention and widespread use.

Direct Observation of Microstructure Change During Densification of Silicon Nitride Ceramics with A Novel Characterization Method

A novel characterization method is applied to study the evolution of microstructures during densification of silicon nitride ceramics. This characterization method involves an immersion liquid for making green and sintered bodies transparent, and a subsequent direct optical microscopic examination. Granules were prepared with the spray drying processand formed into green bodies by CIP. After sintering at various temperatures, the specimens were examined for microstructural evolution. Large pores were located at the center and boundary regions of granules left in the green bodies; they were not removed by densification and resulted in large pores in the sintered body, possibly forming fracture origin in ceramics.

Clinical features of cases of influenza A (H1N1)v in Osaka prefecture, Japan, May 2009

This report describes the clinical characteristics of influenza A(H1N1)v virus infection in Osaka. By the end of May, 171 cases had been reported in Osaka. Most patients were from one school. No patient had a serious underlying medical condition.Clinical symptoms were mild and resembled those of seasonal influenza. The sensitivity of the rapid antigen test was 77%. Antivirals were given to the majority of the cases. Early antiviral treatment may have shortened the duration of fever.

Epidemiology of influenza A(H1N1)v virus infection in Japan, May - June 2009

Between 9 May and 4 June 2009, a total of 401 laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza A(H1N1)v virus were reported in Japan, from 16 of the 47 Japanese prefectures. The two areas most affected were Osaka prefecture and Kobe city where outbreaks in high schools occurred leading to school closures. To date all cases have had symptoms consistent with seasonal influenza and no severe or fatal cases have been reported.