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Biodegradable biliary stents are promising treatments for biliary benign stenoses. One of the materials considered for their production is polydioxanone (PPDX), which could exhibit a suitable degradation time for use in biodegradable stents. Proper material degradation characteristics, such as sufficient stiffness and disintegration resistance maintained for a clinically relevant period, are necessary to ensure stent safety and efficacy. The hydrolytic degradation of commercially available polydioxanone biliary stents (ELLA-CS, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic) in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) was studied. During 9 weeks of degradation, structural, physical, and surface changes were monitored using Raman spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, and tensile and torsion tests. It was found that the changes in mechanical properties are related to the increase in the ratio of amorphous to crystalline phase, the so-called amorphicity. Monitoring the amorphicity using Raman spectroscopy has proven to be an appropriate method to assess polydioxanone biliary stent degradation. At the 1732 cm−1 Raman peak, the normalized shoulder area is less than 9 cm−1 which indicates stent disintegration. The stent disintegration started after 9 weeks of degradation in PBS, which agrees with previous in vitro studies on polydioxanone materials as well as with in vivo studies on polydioxanone biliary stents.

Background For patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a special intraocular lens implantation partially compensates for the loss in the central part of the visual field. For six months, we evaluated changes in neurophysiological parameters in patients implanted with a “Scharioth macula lens” (SML; a center near high add + 10 D and peripheral plano carrier bifocal lens designed to be located between the iris and an artificial lens). Methods Fourteen patients (5 M, 9 F, 63–87 years) with dry AMD were examined prior to and at 3 days after, as well as 1, 2, and 6 months after, implantation using pattern-reversal, motion-onset, and cognitive evoked potentials, psychophysical tests evaluating distant and near visual acuity, and contrast sensitivity. Results Near visual acuity without an external aid was significantly better six months after implantation than before implantation (Jaeger table median (lower; upper quartile): 4 (1; 6) vs. 15 (13; 17)). Distant visual acuity was significantly altered between the pre- (0.7 (0.5; 0.8) logMAR) and last postimplantation visits (0.8 (0.7; 0.8) logMAR), which matched prolongation of the P100 peak time (147 (135; 151) ms vs. 161 (141; 166) ms) of 15 arc min pattern-reversal VEPs and N2 peak time (191.5 (186.5; 214.5) ms vs. 205 (187; 218) ms) of peripheral motion-onset VEPs. Conclusion SML implantation significantly improved near vision. We also observed a slight but significant decrease in distant and peripheral vision. The most efficient electrophysiological approach to test patients with SML was the peripheral motion-onset stimulation, which evoked repeatable and readable VEPs.

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Abstrakt: Pohřební oděv českého krále Rudolfa I. (IV.) Habsburského ( † 1307) byl vyjmut z tumby v královské kryptě v katedrále sv. Víta na Pražském hradě v roce 1991. Poté byl restaurován v Abegg-Stiftung v Riggisbergu. Roucho bylo ušito ze dvou podobných lampasů středoasijské provenience z přelomu 13. a 14. století, vzor byl vytkán útky z proužků živočišného podkladu (kůže) z vnější strany pozlacených a z vnitřní postříbřených. První látka je vzorována motivem ptáků držících v zobáku větévku nebo rybu, druhá pak čínskými draky a obláčky. Z těchto látek bylo v roce 1995 rekonstruováno kompletní mužské odění -plášť s vlečkou, surcot bez rukávů a krátký vypasovaný kabátec. Surcot a kabátec měly podšívky. Problémem je, že tato rekonstrukce neodpovídá módě, která se na začátku 14. století v Evropě nosila, nástup takového odění se datuje až do 30. let 14. století. Též střih surcotu je netypický. Proto se autoři tohoto článku pokusili o novou rekonstrukci střihu, přičemž pracovali s dokumentací pořízenou při restaurování v Abegg-Stiftung v Riggisbergu. Podle nových závěrů byl Rudolf I. do rakve oděn do pláště z látky s draky a obláčky, do vypodšívkovaného oděvu s rukávy z tkaniny s ptáky a do dlouhých nohavic z látky s draky a obláčky. Pro ověření nové teorie byla ušita napodobenina oděvu. Klíčová slova: Pražský hrad -Rudolf I. (IV.) Habsburský -plášť -surcot -cotte -nohavice -archeologický textil. New reconstruction of the funeral attire of Rudolf I (IV) of Habsburg, called KašeAbstract: The funeral garments of Czech King Rudolf I (IV) of Habsburg ( † 1307) were removed from his tomb in the royal crypt in St. Vitus' Cathedral at Prague Castle in 1991. They were then restored by the Abegg-Stiftung company in Riggisberg. The attire consisted of two similar lampas fabrics of central-Asian provenance from the 13th/14th century. The patterns were woven by wefts made up of strips of animal origin (leather) gilded on the outside and silver-plated on the inside. The first fabric has a pattern with the motif of birds holding a twig or fish in their beaks, the other features Chinese dragons and clouds. Complete male attire was reconstructed from these fabrics in 1995: a cloak with a trail, a sleeveless surcoat and a short tight jacket. The surcoat and the jacket had a lining. However, this reconstruction does not correspond to fashion in Europe in the early 14th century as this kind of clothing is only reported from the 1330s onwards. The cut of the surcoat is not typical, either, which is why the authors carried out a new reconstruction, working with the documentation made during the restoration in the Abegg-Stiftung workshop in Riggisberg. New conclusions show that Rudolf I was dressed in a cloak made of the fabric with dragons and clouds, a garment with sleeves and a lining made of the fabric with birds, and in hose of the fabric with dragons and clouds. A replica of the clothing was made to test this new theory.