Pretibial myxoedema: stimulation of mucopolysaccharide production of fibroblasts by serum.
We have shown that sera from normal individuals and from patients with pretibial myxoedema contain a factor which simulates mucopolysaccharide biosynthesis in normal human skin fibroblasts cultured in vitro. This factor was present in larger amounts in sera of patients with pretibial myxoedema. The role of growth stimulating factors in serum is reviewed and a hypothesis is put forward that the fibroblast stimulating factor is somatomedin and that its presence in increased amounts in thyroid disease may lead to pretibial myxoedema.
The moisture uptake of polymers and composites has increasing significance where these materials are specified for invasive, long-term medical applications. Here we analyze mass gain and the ensuing degradation mechanisms in phosphate glass fiber reinforced poly-ϵ-caprolactone laminates. Specimens were manufactured using in situ polymerization of ϵ-caprolactone around a bed of phosphate glass fibers. The latter were sized with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane to control the rate of modulus degradation. Fiber content was the main variable in the study, and it was found that the moisture diffusion coefficient increased significantly with increasing fiber volume fraction. Diffusion, plasticization, and leaching of constituents appear to be the dominant aspects of the process over these short-term tests. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2008