Glass-matrix biocomposites: synthesis and characterisation

CaO-SiO2 base glass-matrix/Ti particle biocomposite coatings on Ti6Al4V substrates have been prepared by means of Vacuum Plasma Spray. The base glass is considered bioactive, because, when soaked in a fluid that simulates the inorganic ion concentration of human plasma (SBF), it develops a bonelike apatite layer on its surface. The aim of this research activity was to toughen this brittle bioactive material and to broaden its biomedical applications. Pure titanium was chosen as toughening phase because of its well-known biocompatibility, and Ti6Al4V alloy as substrate because of both its biocompatibility and its mechanical reliability. At first the composites were prepared as bulk materials, by means of a simple sintering process. Then, by ball-milling the sintered composite, the as-obtained "composite powders" were sprayed by Vacuum Plasma Spray (VPS) on the substrate. By means of Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), the characteristic temperatures of the base glasses were determined. The thermal properties of mixtures of glass powders and different vol% Ti particles were studied by means of DTA, DSC, hot-stage microscopy, and dilatometry, with the aim of optimizing the sintering conditions. Both the bulk and the coated samples have been characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), compositional analysis (EDS), Vickers indentations, and leaching tests after soaking in a simulated body fluid (SBF)

Bioactive rather than total IGF-I is involved in acute responses to nutritional interventions in CAPD patients

Background. Inadequate food intake plays an important role in the development of malnutrition in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients.Aim of the study. The aim of the study was to investigate in CAPD patients whether circulating insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) bioactivity may offer a more sensitive index to acute nutritional interventions than total IGF-I.Methods. An open-label, randomized, crossover study of 2 days-with a 1-week interval-was performed in 12 CAPD patients in the fed state to compare a mixture of amino acids (Nutrineal 1.1%) plus glucose (AA plus G) (Physioneal 1.36% to 3.86%) dialysate versus G only as control dialysate. Fed-state conditions were created by identical liquid hourly meals. IGF-I bioactivity was measured by the kin