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In vivo animal models are currently the gold standard for testing the capacity of stem/progenitor cells, smart biomaterials and novel growth factors for successful tissue engineering. In vitro models ultimately fail to provide the appropriate physiologically relevant microenvironment and hence animal models are an essential pre-requisite in the translation of any new therapy to the clinic. The aim of this chapter is to consider the available animal models commonly in use for tissue engineering, with a particular focus upon bone and cartilage research. Factors driving the choice of a given animal model are reviewed, according to the requirements of experimental design, hypothesis and the specific parameters to be tested. A number of animal models, together with their respective advantages and limitations are described, ranging from relatively simple experimental designs such as the subcutaneous implant and muscle pouch models, through to the diffusion chamber model and chorioallantoic membrane assay, to the more complex in vivo bioreactors and (arguably the most clinically relevant) bone and cartilage defect models. The need to consider the ethical issues of using animal models and the principles of reduction, replacement and refinement are emphasised in selecting the final experimental model of choice.

Government regulation and registration of health practitioners aims to ensure a minimal level of education and training, appropriate standards of professional behaviour and effective and efficient complaint-handling mechanisms. Although medical practitioners, pharmacists, nurses and some other categories of health practitioners are registered by government, most have received little or no training in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Some doctors who practise “integrative medicine” are an exception. CAM practitioners such as naturopaths, herbalists and homeopaths have not yet achieved national registration, in part because of division in their ranks, but also because of their extremely varied training.

Unlike conventional medicines, the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration does not evaluate complementary medicines for efficacy. They do ensure that AUST L-labelled products contain “relatively safe” ingredients and are manufactured according to Good Manufacturing Practice. However, claims made for complementary medicines are often far in advance of the scientific evidence available, whereas information about possible adverse effects, including interaction with conventional medicines, is often lacking. A similar situation exists for diagnostic and therapeutic devices used by CAM practitioners. The majority are regarded as “low risk” by the regulator and are not assessed to see if they work. A complaint system exists, but it is underresourced, overloaded and lacks effective sanctions. As a consequence, numerous claims that have been proven to breach the Therapeutic Goods Advertising Code continue to be made about CAM medicines and devices. The government has acknowledged these problems and several working groups are currently discussing possible regulatory reform. Meanwhile, caveat emptor applies (let the buyer beware).

Currently more than half of all Australians use one or more complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) items year by year. At the same time, sales of CAM materials exceed the cost of conventional medicines. So well established is CAM culture, that it is time medical and surgical professionals took more notice of its extensive role in medical care. At this time there is strong interest in having all conventional medical activity evidence-based. Although CAM has been the subject of many randomised controlled trials, and some have been accepted into integrated practice, most lack the rigour in their development to render them acceptable in day-to-day practice. It is suggested that, in spite of these observations, the continued pressure arising from increasing usage of CAM therapies, together with patients' expectations, should be given greater consideration in integration with conventional medicine, while ensuring maintenance of standards. This will not be an easy task. As CAM usage may result in deleterious outcomes, it is imperative that its use is elicited when taking a patient's history. The consultation should be conducted in an atmosphere of mutual respect and understanding, to discourage the patient from withholding information. When possible, clinicians should be apprised of CAM agents that have adverse interactions with standard treatments and of CAM agents that may be dangerous. As CAM is now clearly established in the public domain, it would seem that appropriate steps should be taken to educate clinicians in CAM, by introducing changes to undergraduate curricula. Such a move may lead to better understanding at medical and community level.

Now growing at a rate of over 5% per annum, the $3 billion ‘alternative health therapies’ business is now positioned in the top ten growth industries in Australia. With poor regulation of both therapeutic goods and the unregistered therapists who promote them, cancer patients may well be putting their health at risk when they place their faith in many so-called ‘natural’ or ‘traditional’ treatments. With a focus on what complementary therapists refer to as ‘energy medicine’ and ‘nutritional medicine’, this chapter explores the risks and benefits of some of the more popular alternative health-care choices. While investigating their histories, it outlines what influences cancer patients to try these unproven therapies, and the conflict and contrast in information relating to the claims made for them and the conclusions of evidence-based research. Although there are a number of complementary therapies that are of benefit to some patients, both during and after their cancer treatments, ‘natural’ does not always equal ‘safe’, may be expensive and may even compromise their health. More patients now want a greater say in their choices of treatment, and selecting complementary therapies that may help is another of the many challenges faced in trying to make informed choices, as we navigate along our individual roads on our journeys to recovery.

Machining complex freeform surfaces more efficient and more flexible has been a challenging task. The equivalent normal curvature milling model is a new milling method proposed in this paper based on 5-axis CNC bed-type horizontal milling machine. At the same time, a specialized whirlwind milling tool is also introduced. The tool path planning of this new milling method emphasizes the alignment of milling tool orientation so as to approach to the surface being machined in the form of equivalent normal curvature envelopment. So this new method will minimize the difference of normal principal curvatures between the surface being machined and the symmetric rotational surface of the milling tool and improve the metal removal rate (MMR). The new whirlwind-milling tool with circular standard-sized cutters is easy to enhance the cutting finish and productivity. The cutter path description and machine-tool coordinate transformation are analyzed, and some examples about this new equivalent normal curvature milling method are discussed.

Manufacturing systems have become more and more sophisticated due to global competition. Hence, manufacturers have to satisfy conflicting demands for more product diversification, better product quality, improved productivity, and decreased cost. This trend in manufacturing systems and global competition have forced companies to adopt new sophisticated technologies by incorporating computer-based systems into their manufacturing systems. Evidence of this trend can be seen from the extent to which Computer-Aided Design (CAD), Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM), Computer-Integrated Manufacturing (CIM), Material Requirement Planning (MRP), Numerically Controlled (NC) Machines, Group Technology (GT), and Computer-Aided Process Planning (CAPP) are being used in industry. These computer techniques represent some of the developed systems that are used in today's world-class manufacturing systems. Therefore, the computer has been recognized by manufacturing firms as an important competitive weapon and a mean of survival. Current interest in manufacturing systems focuses heavily on integrating isolated computer-based systems into a unified system that handles and transforms information among these systems to facilitate a smooth production environment. A recent trend in integrating manufacturing system into a unified system is Computer-Aided Process Planning (CAPP). CAPP system bridges the gap between CAD system and CAM system. Therefore, CAPP system is a critical element in total system integration of automated design and manufacturing environment. This paper provides an overview of CAPP system and its approaches. Also, it presents the techniques that are used to integrate CAPP systems with other computer-based systems. Finally, some of the well-known CAPP systems will be discussed.

The critical exponents of the bond percolation model are calculated in the D(= 2,3,…)-dimensional simple cubic lattice on the basis of Suzuki's coherent anomaly method (CAM) by making use of a series of the pair, the square-cactus and the square approximations of the cluster variation method (CVM) in the s-state Potts model. These simple approximations give reasonable values of critical exponents α, β, γ and ν in comparison with ones estimated by other methods. It is also shown that the results of the pair and the square-cactus approximations can be derived as exact results of the bond percolation model on the Bethe and the square-cactus lattice, respectively, in the presence of ghost field without recourse to the s→1 limit of the s-state Potts model.

Angiogenesis is a natural process of new vessel formation from existing ones. The formation of blood vessels in tumors is an interactive process between tumor, endothelial and stromal cells in order to create a network for oxygen and nutrients supply. The chicken embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model is widely used as an in vivo model to study the vascular effects of angiogenesis modulating agents. The aim of this paper, is to break the blood vessel for quantification.

About 5000 years, the major traditional medicines were created: Chinese medicine, Ayurveda and Unani, in China, India and the Arab region, respectively.

In order to realize the medical dreams of personalized and preventive medicine, and also to solve problems such as economical and social educational matters, modern Western medicine is integrated with traditional medicine (TM) and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) — collectively termed as integrative medicine. In this chapter, the key elements such as TM, CAM and their models and problems will be discussed.