The objectives of this study were to determine the efficacy of self-healing a highly filled composite and to investigate the physical properties of a model dental compound formulated to autonomically heal cracks. A visible light cured model resin consisting of TEGMA : UDMA : BisGMA (1 : 1 : 1) at 45% w/w with silane 0.7 l glass was formulated with a self-healing system consisting of encapsulated dicyclopentadiene and Grubbs' catalyst. The base resin was also formulated and characterized with the microcapsules alone, Grubbs' catalyst alone, and no healing additives. Fracture toughness (K Ic ) was assessed using single edge notch specimens in three-point bend (n ¼ 12). Data was analyzed with ANOVA/Tukey's at p 0.05. DMA was performed from À140 to 250 C at 2 /min and 1 Hz. Storage and loss modulus, T g and tan d, was recorded for each material. The self-healing material was loaded to failure, was left to sit for 7 days and then loaded a second time to failure to determine healing in the material. These specimens had a K Ic ¼ 0.69 6 0.072 for a 57% average recovery rate of the original fracture toughness. The fracture toughness of the self-healing material was statistically similar to the control. The modulus decreased in the composites with encapsulated dicyclopentadiene.

Background Single institution studies demonstrate a correlation between preoperative pelvic radiation and poor long-term pouch function after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis. The rarity of the radiated pelvis prior to these procedures limits the ability to draw conclusions on the effects of preoperative radiation on short-term outcomes, which may contribute to long-term pouch dysfunction. Objective To better understand the impact of pelvic radiation on short-term outcomes in ileal pouch-anal anastomosis patients. Design A retrospective review of the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database (2005 though 2011). Patients The cohort was composed of patients undergoing non-emergent ileal pouch-anal anastomosis procedures. Main Outcome Measures Proportions of patients experiencing postoperative complications within 30 days were compared by Fisher Exact and Wilcoxon Rank-Sum tests based on whether they received preoperative radiation. Multivariate logistic regression models controlled for the effects of multiple risk factors. Results Included were 3172 patients receiving ileal pouch-anal anastomosis; 162 received pelvic radiation. The post-operative complication rate was not significantly different in patients receiving pelvic radiation versus not receiving pelvic radiation (p=0.06). In a subset of patients with cancer diagnoses (n=598), 157 received pelvic radiation; complication rates were not significantly different (p=0.16). Patients receiving pelvic radiation had significantly lower rates of sepsis in both the overall and cancer-diagnosis groups (p=0.005 and p=0.047), a finding which persisted after controlling for the effects of multiple risk factors (multivariate p values = 0.03 and 0.047). Limitations Retrospective database design with short-term follow up. Conclusions Patients who received radiation prior to ileal pouch-anal anastomosis had no difference in overall 30-day complication rates but had significantly lower rates of sepsis when compared to patients not receiving pelvic radiation. The perceived inferior long-term pouch function in patients undergoing preoperative pelvic radiation does not appear to be attributable to increases in 30-day complications.