Summary: Autologous fat grafting for blepharoplasty-induced lower eyelid retraction offers potential for a long-term solution while avoiding the morbidity associated with posterior lamellar spacer grafts. By combining traditional methods of lifting the retracted lower eyelid with autologous fat grafting, both functional and aesthetic concerns can be successfully addressed in these patients.<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div>Speech articulation requires precise control of and coordination between the effectors of the vocal tract (e.g., lips, tongue, soft palate, and larynx). However, it is unclear how the cortex represents movements of and contact between these effectors during speech, or how these cortical responses relate to inter-regional anatomical borders. Here, we used phase-encoded fMRI to map somatomotor representations of speech articulations. Phonetically trained participants produced speech phones, progressing from front (bilabial) to back (glottal) place of articulation. Maps of cortical myelin proxies (R<sub>1</sub>= 1/T<sub>1</sub>) further allowed us to situate functional maps with respect to anatomical borders of motor and somatosensory regions. Across participants, we found a consistent topological map of place of articulation, spanning the central sulcus and primary motor and somatosensory areas, that moved from lateral to inferior as place of articulation progressed from front to back. Phones produced at velar and glottal places of articulation activated the inferior aspect of the central sulcus, but with considerable across-subject variability. R<sub>1</sub> maps for a subset of participants revealed that articulator maps extended posteriorly into secondary somatosensory regions. These results show consistent topological organization of cortical representations of the vocal apparatus in the context of speech behavior.</span>
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<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div>The present experiment identified neural regions that represent a class of concepts that are independent of perceptual or sensory attributes. During functional magnetic resonance imaging scanning, participants viewed names of social groups (e.g. Atheists, Evangelicals, and Economists) and performed a one-back similarity judgment according to 1 of 2 dimensions of belief attributes: political orientation (Liberal to Conservative) or spiritualism (Spiritualist to Materialist). By generalizing across a wide variety of social groups that possess these beliefs, these attribute concepts did not coincide with any specific sensory quality, allowing us to target conceptual, rather than perceptual, representations. Multi-voxel pattern searchlight analysis was used to identify regions in which activation patterns distinguished the 2 ends of both dimensions: Conservative from Liberal social groups when participants focused on the political orientation dimension, and spiritual from Materialist groups when participants focused on the spiritualism dimension. A cluster in right precuneus exhibited such a pattern, indicating that it carries information about belief-attribute concepts and forms part of semantic memory—perhaps a component particularly concerned with psychological traits. This region did not overlap with the theory of mind network, which engaged nearby, but distinct, parts of precuneus. These findings have implications for the neural organization of conceptual knowledge, especially the understanding of social groups.</span>
http://ift.tt/2kDWhL8
Publication date: Available online 27 January 2017
Source:Practical Radiation Oncology
Author(s): Arpan V. Prabhu, Tudor Crihalmeanu, David R. Hansberry, Nitin Agarwal, Christine Glaser, David A. Clump, Dwight E. Heron, Sushil Beriwal
PurposeThe Google search engine is a common resource used by patients to access health-related patient education information. The American Medical Association and National Institutes of Health recommend that patient education resources be written between the third and seventh grade reading levels. We assessed the readability levels of online palliative care patient education resources using ten readability algorithms widely accepted in the medical literature.MethodsIn October 2016, ten terms pertaining to palliative care and oncology were individually searched for using the Google search engine, and the first ten articles written for the public for each term were downloaded for a total of 100 articles. The terms included: palliative care, hospice, advance directive, cancer pain management, treatment of metastatic disease, treatment of brain metastasis, treatment of bone metastasis, palliative radiation therapy, palliative chemotherapy, and end-of-life care. We determined the average reading level of the articles by readability scale and website domain.ResultsNine readability assessments with scores equivalent to academic grade level found that the 100 palliative care education articles were collectively written at a 12.1 reading level (SD 2.1; Range 7.6–17.3). Zero articles were written below a 7th grade level. Exactly 49 (49%) articles were written above a high school graduate reading level. The Flesch Reading Ease scale classified the articles as 'difficult' to read with a score of 45.6 out of 100. The articles were collected from 62 different website domains. Seven domains were accessed 3 or more times, of which www.mskcc.org had the highest average article reading level at a 14.5 grade level (SD 1.4; Range 13.4–16.1).ConclusionMost palliative care education articles readily available on Google are written above national health literacy recommendations. There is need for revision of these resources to allow patients and their families to derive the most benefit from these materials.
http://ift.tt/2kDs2jv
Publication date: 5 April 2017
Source:Materials & Design, Volume 119
Author(s): Mariglen Angjellari, Emanuela Tamburri, Luca Montaina, Marco Natali, Daniele Passeri, Marco Rossi, Maria Letizia Terranova
The use of dispersions of poly(vinyl alcohol) PVA and detonation nanodiamond (DND) as novel inks for 3D printing of variously shaped objects using a layer-by-layer additive manufacturing method is reported. In parallel with the nanocomposites preparation, we designed a 3D printing apparatus and settled protocols for the shaping of hybrid materials, choosing PVA-DND inks as a model system to test the performances of the 3D apparatus. Along with material design and preparation, we discuss the main factors influencing the quality of the final printed objects and enlighten the importance of the matching between the chemical/physical properties of the materials to be extruded and the characteristics of the 3D printer. The thermal and mechanical properties of the printed systems have been tested by Differential Scanning Calorimetry and Contact Resonance Atomic Force Microscopy. The analysis of the mechanical properties of the 3D printed objects evidenced, for 0.5%w/w, 1%w and 5%w DND-loaded nanocomposites, values of mean indentation modulus that are 22%, 44% and 200% higher, respectively, than that of the unloaded PVA. The results of the present research, indicate that an appropriate methodology is able to print PVA-DND nanocomposites in well-defined and shaped structures, suitable for a variety of possible applications.
Publication date: 5 April 2017
Source:Materials & Design, Volume 119
Author(s): J. Li, B.B. Yang, Y.H. Lu, L. Xin, Z.H. Wang, T. Shoji
The fretting corrosion behaviors of Inconel 690 in cathodic condition (CC) and anodic condition (AC) in water environment were investigated. The results indicated that fretting wear behavior, wear mechanism and the microstructure evolution mechanisms in the subsurface strongly depended on polarization condition. There was a thin wear debris layer (WDL) and a thick tribologically transformed structure (TTS) without oxidation in CC; while a thick oxidized WDL and a thin complex TTS consisting of nanocrystalline Ni-rich and Cr-rich oxide zones was observed in AC. The micro-cracks formed at the interface of WDL/TTS in CC, while they formed at the interfaces of Ni-rich/Cr-rich oxide zones and TTS/GDL in AC.
Publication date: 5 April 2017
Source:Materials & Design, Volume 119
Author(s): P. Subalakshmi, M. Ganesan, A. Sivashanmugam
CuO micro balls and nano hexagons have been synthesized by time, cost effective rapid hydrothermal and precipitation methods respectively. Physical characterization is explained through various analytical techniques. Electrochemical performance of CuO as an active material for super capacitor application in 6M KOH solution is illustrated. CuO micro balls exhibit specific capacitance of about 470Fg−1 where as CuO nano hexagons exhibit only 103Fg−1 at current density of 0.5Ag−1. The superior electrochemical performance of CuO micro balls is attributed to 3D micro structure assembled from nano sheets eventually possess more active sites as evident from larger surface area observed in BET analysis. Further, co-existence of Cu2O phase enhances the electrochemical performance by reversible redox couple CuO/Cu2O and the entrapped hydroxyl group in micro balls increases the conductivity and accelerates the electrode kinetics in alkaline medium.
Publication date: 5 April 2017
Source:Materials & Design, Volume 119
Author(s): Xiao Du, Jun Wan, Jia Jia, Chao Pan, Xiaoyun Hu, Jun Fan, Enzhou Liu
Ag3PO4-Bi2MoO6 heterojunctions with visible-light photocatalytic activity were successfully fabricated via a deposition-precipitation method. The investigation shows that Ag3PO4-Bi2MoO6 composites exhibit enhanced visible light harvesting ability and better degradation efficiency for RhB compared with Bi2MoO6 and Ag3PO4 under visible light irradiation (λ>420nm). What's more, we found that the activity and the stability of Ag3PO4-Bi2MoO6 heterojunction could be further improved by adding of H2O2 in the RhB reaction solution. The enhanced photocatalytic performance and structure stability are primarily attributed to the efficient charge carrier separation of the heterojunction formed by Ag3PO4 and Bi2MoO6, and the electron capturing property of H2O2 on the surface of Ag3PO4-Bi2MoO6 composites, leading to a highly efficient removal of RhB using the Ag3PO4-Bi2MoO6-H2O2 system. In addition, the active species trapping experiments indicate that h+ and •O2– play important roles during the photocatalytic degradation process. This work suggests that the H2O2 assisted Ag3PO4-Bi2MoO6 heterojunction system could be a potential promising photocatalyst for environmental remediation.
Publication date: 5 April 2017
Source:Materials & Design, Volume 119
Author(s): S. Colonna, M.M. Bernal, G. Gavoci, J. Gomez, C. Novara, G. Saracco, A. Fina
Successful preparation of polymer nanocomposites, exploiting graphene-related materials, via melt mixing technology requires precise design, optimization and control of processing. In the present work, the effect of different processing parameters during the preparation of poly (butylene terephthalate) nanocomposites, through ring-opening polymerization of cyclic butylene terephthalate in presence of graphite nanoplatelets (GNP), was thoroughly addressed. Processing temperature (240°C or 260°C), extrusion time (5 or 10min) and shear rate (50 or 100rpm) were varied by means of a full factorial design of experiment approach, leading to the preparation of polybutylene terephthalate/GNP nanocomposite in 8 different processing conditions. Morphology and quality of GNP were investigated by means of electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, thermogravimetry and Raman spectroscopy. Molecular weight of the polymer matrix in nanocomposites and nanoflake dispersion were experimentally determined as a function of the different processing conditions. The effect of transformation parameters on electrical and thermal properties was studied by means of electrical and thermal conductivity measurement. Heat and charge transport performance evidenced a clear correlation with the dispersion and fragmentation of the GNP nanoflakes; in particular, gentle processing conditions (low shear rate, short mixing time) turned out to be the most favourable condition to obtain high conductivity values.
Publication date: 5 April 2017
Source:Materials & Design, Volume 119
Author(s): Guang Ren, Maurice N. Collins
In this paper, the effect Sb on the microstructure, thermal and mechanical properties of Sn-8Zn-3Bi alloys was studied. With addition of 0.5–1.5wt.% Sb, melting temperature and undercooling is slightly increased compared with Sn-8Zn-3Bi alloy, while the pasty range remains unchanged. It was found that the addition of Sb refined the microstructure, resulting in a smaller α-Zn phase, and enlarged the Sn-Zn eutectic area, without intermetallic compound (IMC) formation. Mechanical properties are significantly improved by micro-alloying and this is attributed to solid solution strengthening. With the addition of 1.5wt.% Sb, tensile strength, yield stress and Young's modulus was improved by 14.5%, 87% and 116.2% respectively, compared with the Sn-8Zn-3Bi solder alloy. Elongation was increased by 28%, due to a more ductile fracture mechanism. The relatively low melting temperature, superior mechanical properties, along with narrow pasty range and undercooling, makes Sn-8Zn-3Bi-xSb alloy system a potential low temperature lead-free alloy for temperature sensitive applications such as optoelectronics, crystal oscillators, MEMS devices, and internet-of-things (IoT) devices.
Publication date: 5 April 2017
Source:Materials & Design, Volume 119
Author(s): Igor Moravcik, Jan Cizek, Jozef Zapletal, Zuzana Kovacova, Jozef Vesely, Peter Minarik, Michael Kitzmantel, Erich Neubauer, Ivo Dlouhy
The present work is focused on synthesis and mechanical properties evaluation of non-equiatomic Ni1,5Co1,5CrFeTi0,5, ductile single phase high entropy alloy (HEA) with excellent mechanical properties (bend strength Rmb=2593MPa, tensile strength Rm=1384MPa, tensile elongation to fracture of 4.01%, and elastic modulus of 216GPa) surpassing those of traditional as-cast HEA. For the alloy production, a combination of mechanical alloying (MA) process in a planetary ball mill and spark plasma sintering (SPS) for powder densification was utilized. The tensile properties of a bulk material produced by a combination of MA+SPS are characterized for the first time. The feedstock powder and corresponding bulk material microstructure, elemental and phase composition, and mechanical properties were investigated by scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM) electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), X-ray diffraction (XRD), as well as impulse excitation of vibration, Vickers microhardness and tensile and bend strength tests, respectively. The structure of the samples consisted of single-phase FCC high entropy solid solution of extremely fine-twinned grains and oxide inclusions inherited from the original powder feedstock. Dimple-like morphology corresponding to ductile fracture mode has been observed on the fracture surfaces, with crack initiation sites on the inclusions phases.
Publication date: 5 April 2017
Source:Materials & Design, Volume 119
Author(s): M.A. Signore, A. Taurino, M. Catalano, M. Kim, Z. Che, F. Quaranta, P. Siciliano
In the present work, the sputtering deposition conditions allowing the achievement of (002)-oriented aluminum nitride (AlN) thin films on titanium (Ti) bottom electrode were assessed on both silicon and kapton substrates. The AlN grain orientation was enhanced by tuning the conditions used for the Ti deposition, particularly the radiofrequency (RF) power applied to Ti target and the total pressure in the deposition chamber. Sputtered species energy and their flux towards the substrate were identified as key parameters to interpret Ti structure and morphology on both substrates, and to understand how they drive the AlN crystallization process. The evolution of morphology and structure of single Ti films and of the AlN/Ti system was characterized by X-ray Diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscopy and Transmission Electron Microscopy. Highly oriented AlN films were obtained on both substrates when the underneath Ti layer was mainly (002)-oriented; the presence in the Ti films of grains with (100) orientation produced a degree of misorientation in the following AlN growth, also resulting in a significant change of the surface morphology, on both substrates. The successful deposition of AlN/Ti on kapton substrate represents a promising result for the integration of this material in flexible piezoelectric electronics.
Publication date: 5 April 2017
Source:Materials & Design, Volume 119
Author(s): K.M. Collins, M. Meng, H.R. Le, D. Greaves, N.W. Bellamy
A wide range of wave energy converter (WEC) designs exists, and the SeaWave WEC uses an unstable buckled spine mode of operation. The SeaWave consists of a hose and buckled spine-diaphragm, which pumps air along the device under wave action. A physical model and finite element analysis (FEA) is compared to a previous theoretical model in this paper. The FE model was developed in ABAQUS 6.14 using shell, solid and contact elements and the analysis was done with a quasi-static approach to reduce the computational costs. The physical model was a scale version of the novel arrangement of the spine and diaphragm made from steel, polycarbonate and latex rubber. Geometry of the deformed device was investigated results showed an increase in transverse and longitudinal curvature as the compression rate increased. The FEA tended to overestimate the bending stiffness of the model, and hence the transverse curvature, because certain behaviours of the physical model were not captured. The force required to switch from one buckled state to another was measured both in the physical and FEA models and the potential energy storage was estimated to be 0.5J/m of device at a compression rate of 0.1%.
Publication date: 5 April 2017
Source:Materials & Design, Volume 119
Author(s): Zhibin Han, Chunjie Wang, Liqun Shi
Controllable helium-containing TiH2 phase films were prepared on Si (100) substances by magnetron sputtering with hydrogen-helium-argon mixed gas, in order to investigate the helium behavior in titanium tritide. The TiHxHe films were characterized by ion beam analysis (IBA) in which elastic recoil detection (ERD) and Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) methods are included, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). It is found that with the increase in the relative hydrogen flow rate (QH: QAr) under the fixed helium flow and sputtering pressure, the hydrogen concentration in TiHxHe films increases at first, and then decreases. Though the hydrogen concentration in TiHxHe films can be greatly increased by increasing the total sputtering pressure, excessive sputtering pressure will deteriorate the crystallization quality. Although the helium concentration mainly relies on the relative helium flow rate of mixed gas during sputtering, the increase of the relative helium flow rate will reduce the concentration of hydrogen in films at fixed sputtering pressure dramatically. Fortunately, suitable relative hydrogen flow and sputtering pressure can maintain a high concentration of hydrogen in the films. Thus TiHxHe films with controllable hydrogen and helium content can be achieved.
Rejuvenation Research , Vol. 0, No. 0.
http://ift.tt/2jfCCRv
Objective
Both antitumor and antisecretory efficacies of dopamine agonists (DA) make them the first-line treatment of macroprolactinomas. However, there is no guideline for MRI follow-up once prolactin is controlled. The aim of our study was to determine whether a regular MRI follow-up was necessary in patients with long-term normal prolactin levels under DA.
Patients and methodsWe conducted a retrospective multicenter study (Marseille, Paris La Pitie Salpetriere and Nancy, France; Liege, Belgium) including patients with macroprolactinomas (largest diameter: >10 mm and baseline prolactin level: >100 ng/mL) treated by dopamine agonists, and regularly followed (pituitary MRI and prolactin levels) during at least 48 months once normal prolactin level was obtained.
ResultsIn total, 115 patients were included (63 men and 52 women; mean age at diagnosis: 36.3 years). Mean baseline prolactin level was 2224 ± 6839 ng/mL. No significant increase of tumor volume was observed during the follow-up. Of the 21 patients (18%) who presented asymptomatic hemorrhagic changes of the macroprolactinoma on MRI, 2 had a tumor increase (2 and 7 mm in the largest size). Both were treated by cabergoline (1 mg/week) with normal prolactin levels obtained for 6 and 24 months. For both patients, no further growth was observed on MRI during follow-up at the same dose of cabergoline.
ConclusionNo significant increase of tumor size was observed in our patients with controlled prolactin levels on DA. MRI follow-up thus appears unnecessary in patients with biologically controlled macroprolactinomas.
Objective
Acromegaly is a rare disease caused by excess growth hormone (GH) production by the pituitary adenoma. The skeletal complications of GH and IGF-1 excess include increased bone turnover, increased cortical bone mass and deteriorated microarchitecture of trabecular bone, associated with a high risk of vertebral fractures in the presence of relatively normal bone mineral density (BMD). We aimed to evaluate tissue-level properties of bone using impact microindentation (IMI) in well-controlled patients with acromegaly aged ≥18 years compared to 44 controls from the outpatient clinic of the Centre for Bone Quality.
Design and methodsIn this cross-sectional study, bone material strength index (BMSi) was measured in 48 acromegaly patients and 44 controls with impact microindentation using the osteoprobe.
ResultsMean age of acromegaly patients (54% male) was 60.2 years (range 37.9–76.5), and 60.5 years (range 39.8–78.6) in controls (50% male). Patients with acromegaly and control patients had comparable BMI (28.2 kg/m2 ± 4.7 vs 26.6 kg/m2 ± 4.3, P = 0.087) and comparable BMD at the lumbar spine (1.04 g/cm2 ± 0.21 vs 1.03 g/cm2 ± 0.13, P = 0.850) and at the femoral neck (0.84 g/cm2 ± 0.16 vs 0.80 g/cm2 ± 0.09, P = 0.246). BMSi was significantly lower in acromegaly patients than that in controls (79.4 ± 0.7 vs 83.2 ± 0.7; P < 0.001).
ConclusionOur data indicates that tissue-level properties of cortical bone are significantly altered in patients with controlled acromegaly after reversal of long-term exposure to pathologically high GH and IGF-1 levels. Our findings also suggest that methods other than DXA should be considered to evaluate bone fragility in patients with acromegaly.
Context
Adrenal crisis is an endocrine emergency that requires prompt diagnosis and treatment. However, the clinical features and practice patterns of treatment for adrenal crisis are not completely understood.
ObjectiveTo investigate patient characteristics, comorbidities and treatments of adrenal crisis.
MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study of patients who received intravenous glucocorticoids for adrenal crisis at admission from 1 July 2007 to 31 March 2014, using a national inpatient database in Japan.
ResultsAmong approximately 34 million inpatients in the database, we identified 799 patients diagnosed with adrenal crisis and coexisting primary or secondary adrenal insufficiency at admission. The median (interquartile range) age was 58 (28–73) years, and the overall in-hospital mortality was 2.4% (19 of 799 patients). The most common comorbidity at admission was infections excluding pneumonia and gastroenteritis (15.0%). There were 68 (8.5%) patients with gastroenteritis, and no deaths occurred among these patients. The patients with secondary adrenal insufficiency showed significantly higher proportions of admission to ICU, extracellular fluid resuscitation, insulin therapy and catecholamine use than the patients with primary adrenal insufficiency. There were no significant between-group differences in mortality rate and variation in intravenous glucocorticoids (short-acting glucocorticoid, hydrocortisone; moderate-acting glucocorticoid, prednisolone or methylprednisolone; long-acting glucocorticoid, dexamethasone or betamethasone). Of the 19 dead patients, 15 were aged above 60 years, 12 had impaired consciousness at admission and 13 received insulin therapy.
ConclusionsClinicians should be aware that older patients with impaired consciousness and diabetes mellitus are at relatively high risk of death from adrenal crisis.
Bone regeneration is an important concern in periodontal treatment and implant dentistry. Different biomaterials and surgical techniques have been used for this purpose. The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite and human freeze-dried bone graft (FDBG) in regeneration of rabbit calvarium bony defects by histologic and histomorphometric evaluation.
In this experimental study, three similar defects, measuring 8 mm in diameter, were created in the calvaria of 16 white New Zealand rabbits. Two defects were filled with FDBG and nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite silica gel, while the other one remained unfilled to be considered as control. All the defects were covered with collagen membranes. During the healing period, two animals perished; so 14 rabbits were divided into two groups: half of them were euthanized after 6 weeks of healing and the other half after 12 weeks. The specimens were subjected to histologic and histomorphometric examinations for assessment of the following variables: percentage of bone formation and residual graft material, inflammation scores, patterns of bone formation and type of newly formed bone.
The percentages of new bone formation after 6 weeks were 14.22 ± 7.85, 21.57 ± 6.91, and 20.54 ± 10.07% in FDBG, NanoBone, and control defects. These values were 27.54 ± 20.19, 23.86 ± 6.27, and 26.48 ± 14.18% in 12-week specimens, respectively. No significant differences were found in the amount of bone formation between the groups. With regard to inflammation, the control and NanoBone groups showed significantly less inflammation compared to FDBG at the 6-week healing phase (P = 0.04); this difference was not significant in the 12-week specimens.
Based on the results of this experimental study, both NanoBone and FDBG exhibited a similar effect on bone formation.
The release of large amounts of toxic metals in the neighboring sites of abandoned mine areas represents an important environmental risk for the ecosystem, because it adversely affects soil, water, and plant growth. The aim of the present study was to investigate the metal(loid) (As, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) contents of native Mediterranean plants grown on the ex-mining area of Elba island (Italy), with the prospective of its recovery by further phytoremediation technology. Soil samples were collected and characterized for metal(loid) content in total and potentially available (EDTA-extractable) fractions. Arsenic was particularly high, being 338 and 2.1 mg kg−1 as total and available fractions, respectively. Predominant native species, namely Dittrichia viscosa L. Greuter, Cistus salviifolius L., Lavandula stoechas L., and Bituminaria bituminosa L., were analyzed for metal content in the different plant organs. D. viscosa exhibited the highest metal(loid) content in the leaves and the singular behavior of translocating arsenic to the leaves (transfer factor about 2.06 and mean bioconcentration factor about 12.48). To assess the healthy status of D. viscosa plants, the leaves were investigated further. The activities of the main antioxidant enzymes and the levels of secondary metabolites linked to oxidative stress in plants from the ex-mining area were not significantly different from those of control plants, except for a lower content of carotenoids, indicating that native plants were adapted to grow in these polluted soils. These results indicate that D. viscosa can be suitable for the revegetation of highly metal-contaminated areas.
An easily recoverable homemade TiO2 catalyst (GICA-1) has been evaluated during the overall photodegradation process, understood as photocatalytic efficiency and catalyst recovery step, in the solar light-assisted photodegradation of isoproturon and its reuse in two consecutive cycles. The global feasibility has been compared to the commercial TiO2 P25. The homemade GICA-1 catalyst presented better sedimentation efficiency than TiO2 P25 at all studied pHs, which could be explained by its higher average hydrodynamic particle size (3 μm) and other physicochemical surface properties. The evaluation of the overall process (isoproturon photo-oxidation + catalyst recovery) revealed GICA-1 homemade titania catalyst strengths: total removal of isoproturon in less than 60 min, easy recovery by sedimentation, and reusability in two consecutive cycles, without any loss of photocatalytic efficiency. Therefore, considering the whole photocatalytic cycle (good performance in photodegradation plus catalyst recovery step), the homemade GICA-1 photocatalyst resulted in more affordability than commercial TiO2 P25.
In this study, a Bi2Fe4O9 catalyst with nanoplate morphology was fabricated using a facile hydrothermal method. It was used as a catalyst to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for aqueous sulfamethoxazole (SMX) removal. A comprehensive performance evaluation of the Bi2Fe4O9/PMS system was conducted by investigating the effects of pH, PMS dosage, catalyst loading, SMX concentration, temperature, and halides (Cl− and Br−) on the degradation of SMX. The Bi2Fe4O9/PMS system demonstrated a remarkable catalytic activity with >95% SMX removal within 30 min (conditions: pH 3.8, [Bi2Fe4O9] = 0.1 g L−1, [SMX]:[PMS] mol ratio =1:20). It was found that both Cl− and Br− can lead to the formation of PMS–induced reactive halide species (i.e. HClO, HBrO, and Br2) which can also react with SMX forming halogenated SMX byproducts. Based on the detected degradation byproducts, the major SMX degradation pathway in the Bi2Fe4O9/PMS system is proposed. The SMX degradation by Bi2Fe4O9/PMS system in the wastewater secondary effluent (SE) was also investigated. The results showed that SMX degradation rate in the SE was relatively slower than in the deionized water due to (i) reactive radical scavenging by water matrix species found in SE (e.g.: dissolved organic matters (DOCs), etc.), and (ii) partial deactivation of the catalyst by DOCs. Nevertheless, the selectivity of the SO4•− towards SMX degradation was evidenced from the rapid SMX degradation despite the high background DOCs in the SE. At least four times the dosage of PMS is required for SMX degradation in the SE to achieve a similar SMX removal efficiency to that of the deionized water matrix.
Bone regeneration is an important concern in periodontal treatment and implant dentistry. Different biomaterials and surgical techniques have been used for this purpose. The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite and human freeze-dried bone graft (FDBG) in regeneration of rabbit calvarium bony defects by histologic and histomorphometric evaluation.
In this experimental study, three similar defects, measuring 8 mm in diameter, were created in the calvaria of 16 white New Zealand rabbits. Two defects were filled with FDBG and nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite silica gel, while the other one remained unfilled to be considered as control. All the defects were covered with collagen membranes. During the healing period, two animals perished; so 14 rabbits were divided into two groups: half of them were euthanized after 6 weeks of healing and the other half after 12 weeks. The specimens were subjected to histologic and histomorphometric examinations for assessment of the following variables: percentage of bone formation and residual graft material, inflammation scores, patterns of bone formation and type of newly formed bone.
The percentages of new bone formation after 6 weeks were 14.22 ± 7.85, 21.57 ± 6.91, and 20.54 ± 10.07% in FDBG, NanoBone, and control defects. These values were 27.54 ± 20.19, 23.86 ± 6.27, and 26.48 ± 14.18% in 12-week specimens, respectively. No significant differences were found in the amount of bone formation between the groups. With regard to inflammation, the control and NanoBone groups showed significantly less inflammation compared to FDBG at the 6-week healing phase (P = 0.04); this difference was not significant in the 12-week specimens.
Based on the results of this experimental study, both NanoBone and FDBG exhibited a similar effect on bone formation.
3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing , Vol. 0, No. 0.
http://ift.tt/2kDbsAo
The most appropriate surgical management of "follicular neoplasm/suspicious for follicular neoplasm" lesions (FN), considering their low definitive malignancy rate and the limited predictive power of preoperative clinic-diagnostic factors, is still controversial. On behalf of the Italian Association of Endocrine Surgery Units (U.E.C. CLUB), we collected and analyzed the experience of 26 endocrine centers by computerized questionnaire. 1379 patients, surgically treated after a FN diagnosis from January 2012 and December 2103, were evaluated. Histological features, surgical complications, and medium-term outcomes were reported. Total thyroidectomy (TT) was performed in 1055/1379 patients (76.5 %), while hemithyroidectomy (HT) was carried out in 324/1379 cases (23.5 %). Malignancy rate was higher in TT than in HT groups (36.4 vs. 26.2 %), whereas the rates of transient and definitive hypoparathyroidism following TT were higher than after HT. Consensual thyroiditis (16.8 vs. 9.9 %) and patient age (50.9 vs. 47.9 %) also differed between groups. A cytological FN diagnosis was associated to a not negligible malignancy rate (469/1379 patients; 34 %), that was higher in TT than in HT groups. However, a lower morbidity rate was observed in HT, which should be considered the standard of care in solitary lesions in absence of specific risk factors. Malignancy could not be preoperatively assessed and clinical decision-making is still controversial. Further efforts should be spent to more accurately preoperatively classify FN thyroid nodules.
Several studies explored the association between vitamin D status and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease with contradictory results. We aimed to investigate the association between vitamin D status, inflammatory cytokines and liver fibrosis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease patients. Two hundred nineteen nonalcoholic fatty liver disease patients and 166 age- and gender- matched healthy controls were recruited for this study. Serum 25(OH)D was measured by radioimmunoassay. Serum interleukin-8 and transforming growth factor-β1 were measured using ELISA. Serum 25(OH)D was only marginally decreased in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease patients. Interestingly, serum 25(OH)D was markedly reduced in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease patients with advanced liver fibrosis compared to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease patients with indeterminate liver fibrosis and no advanced fibrosis. Logistic regression analysis showed that there was an inverse association between serum 25(OH)D and severity of liver fibrosis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease patients. Further analysis showed that serum interleukin-8 was elevated in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease patients, the highest interleukin-8 in patients with advanced fibrosis. An inverse correlation between serum 25(OH)D and interleukin-8 was observed in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease patients with and without liver fibrosis. Although serum transforming growth factor-β1 was slightly elevated in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease patients, serum transforming growth factor-β1 was reduced in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease patients with advanced fibrosis. Unexpectedly, a positive correlation between serum 25(OH)D and transforming growth factor-β1 was observed in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease patients with advanced fibrosis. In conclusion, low vitamin D status is associated with advanced liver fibrosis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease patients. Interleukin-8 may be an important mediator for hepatic fibrosis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease patients with low vitamin D status.
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) are gaining in importance, but objective data are mostly missing. However, in previous trials, methods such as acupuncture showed significant advantages compared to standard therapies. Thus, the aim was to evaluate most frequently used methods, their significance and the general acceptance amongst cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy (RT).
A questionnaire of 18 questions based on the categorical classification released by the National Centre for Complementary and Integrative Health was developed. From April to September 2015, all patients undergoing RT at the Department of Radiation Oncology, Technical University of Munich, completed the survey. Changes in attitude towards CAM were evaluated using the questionnaire after RT during the first follow-up visit (n = 31).
Of 634 patients, 333 answered the questionnaire (52.5%). Of all participants, 26.4% used CAM parallel to RT. Before RT, a total of 39.3% had already used complementary medicine. The most frequently applied methods during therapy were vitamins/minerals, food supplements, physiotherapy/manual medicine, and homeopathy. The majority (71.5%) did not use any complementary treatment, mostly stating that CAM was not offered to them (73.5%). The most common reasons for use were to improve the immune system (48%), to reduce side effects (43.8%), and to not miss an opportunity (37.8%). Treatment integrated into the individual therapy concept, e.g. regular acupuncture, would be used by 63.7% of RT patients.
In comparison to other studies, usage of CAM parallel to RT in our department is considered to be low. Acceptance amongst patients is present, as treatment integrated into the individual oncology therapy would be used by about two-third of patients.
OBJECTIVE: Thyroid disorders, especially Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT), are observed significantly more often in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) than in the general population – approximately 27% and 8%, respectively. This is extremely important in young women, because both disorders are connected with fertility problems. As HT and PCOS occur together, fertility problems may become a serious clinical issue in these patients.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic literature review in PubMed of PCOS- and HT-related articles in English, published until December 2015 was conducted.
RESULTS: The reasons for joint prevalence still remain unclear. Genetic and autoimmune backgrounds are recognized to be possible common etiological factors. Three genetic polymorphisms have been described to play a role in PCOS as well as in HT. They are polymorphism of the gene for fibrillin 3 (FBN3) regulating the activity of transforming growth factor-b (TGF-b) and regulatory T cell levels, gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor (GnRHR) polymorphism and CYP1B1 polymorphism standing for estradiol hydroxylation. High estrogen-to-progesterone ratios owing to anovulatory cycles, as well as high estrogen levels during prenatal life, disrupt development of the thymus and its function in maintaining immune tolerance, and are suspected to enhance autoimmune response in PCOS. Vitamin D deficiency could be also involved in the pathogenesis of HT and PCOS.
CONCLUSIONS: The above-mentioned common etiological factors associated with fertility problems in HT and PCOS require further research.
L'articolo Thyroid disorders in polycystic ovary syndrome sembra essere il primo su European Review.
The etiology of PHACE (Posterior fossa anomalies, Hemangioma, Arterial anomalies, Coarctation of the aorta, and Eye anomalies) is unknown. A genetic etiology has been proposed but there are no published reports of heritability in families of children with PHACE. PHACE has a female predominance although preliminary X-inactivation studies have not demonstrated significant skewing in affected female patients or their mothers.1 Copy number variation studies have yet to identify a common pathogenic variant.
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A randomised controlled pilot study was performed to compare the clinical effectiveness of cyclosporine and methotrexate, using a new objective severity assessment method, which we then compared with the Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) for usefulness and reliability.
Psoriatic patients with psoriatic lesions over 5% of body surface area were enrolled and underwent 16 weeks of treatment with either cyclosporine or methotrexate. In the cyclosporine group, the initial dose was 150 mg/day for females and 200 mg/day for males.
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Non-lymphoid organs, are not merely the sites for effector T-cell-function.Ectopic accumulations of lymphoid cells arise in non-lymphoid organs under long-lived self-perpetuating chronic inflammation.1 These accumulations are called tertiary lymphoid organs (TLOs), and they function as antigen-presenting sites.1 TLOs are characterized by their cellular, organizational, chemokine, and vascular similarity to lymph nodes (LNs).1
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Chronic urticaria (CU) and atopic disorders such as atopic dermatitis (AD), allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (AR), and asthma are related to aberrant immune function. The relationship between atopic disorders and CU is controversial, mostly since epidemiological data are lacking.
The aim of our study was to investigate the association between CU and asthma, AD, and AR using a database of Clalit Health Services (CHS) - the largest healthcare provider organization in Israel.
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Mutations in the BRAF proto-oncogene occur in the majority of cutaneous melanomas. The commonly detected valine (V) to glutamate (E) mutation (V600E) is known to drive melanomagenesis and has thus been the target of two highly selective chemotherapeutic agents: vemurafenib and dabrafenib. While BRAF inhibitor therapy has revolutionized the treatment of metastatic melanoma, unanticipated cutaneous toxicities including the development of cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (cSCCs) are frequently reported and hinder therapeutic durability. However, the mechanisms by which BRAF inhibitors induce cutaneous neoplasms are poorly understood, thus posing a challenge for specific therapies. In this review, we summarize the clinical and molecular profile of BRAF inhibitor-associated cSCCs, with a focus on factors that may contribute to disease pathogenesis. In particular, we discuss the emerging evidence pointing toward viral involvement in BRAF inhibitor-induced cutaneous neoplasms and offer new perspectives on future therapeutic interventions. Continued clinical and mechanistic studies along this line will not only allow for better understanding of the pathogenic progression of BRAF inhibitor-induced cSCCs, but also lead to development of new therapeutic and preventative options for patients receiving targeted cancer therapy.
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BRAF inhibitors (BRAFi) improve progression-free survival and overall survival in patients with advanced melanoma (1,2), with 3 to 6% of patients experiencing complete remission (CR)(1,3). Nevertheless, this efficacy comes at a cost with 90% of patients experiencing at least one adverse event and 45% grade 3 or 4 adverse events (4).
Management of long-term responders is not yet well delineated: safety argues for treatment continuation, because evolution after discontinuation is unknown.
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Protein expression is disturbed in psoriatic stratum corneum. Non-invasive methods for the description of pathophysiological changes and drug profiling in psoriasis are desirable.
Undertake large scale non-invasive protein expression studies in psoriatic stratum corneum to identify biomarkers of pathophysiological processes and use them for drug profiling.
Psoriatic stratum corneum was harvested through repetitive tape-stripping. Non-lesional and lesional stratum corneum, as well as vehicle- and drug-treated lesional stratum corneum samples were collected. Protein extracts from non-lesional and lesional skin biopsies were used for comparison. Calcipotriol-Betamethasone (CB) was used as a reference medication. Proteins extracted from pooled tape strips were quantified using mass spectrometry (MS), western blotting, ELISA and Luminex technologies.
MS-based methods identified 140 proteins differentially expressed in psoriatic stratum corneum. Epidermis development, glycolysis, regulation of apoptosis, cytoskeleton organization and peptide cross-linking were modulated, all reflecting perturbed epidermal differentiation.
Using antibody-based techniques, increased levels of sICAM1, of CXCL1 and CXCL8 attracting neutrophils, of CXCL10 and CCL4 attracting Th1 cells, and of CCL2 and CCL4 attracting monocytes and dendritic cells were observed. Quantification of the Th1 and Th17 markers TNF, IL12B, IL17A and IL17F in lesional stratum corneum was successful, while the Th2 cytokines IL4, IL5 and IL13, not involved in the disease process, were not detected. The pruritic cytokine IL31 was detected in lesional stratum corneum.
CXCL1, CXCL8, CXCL10 and sICAM, were used to investigate disease remission, ranking three topical treatments according to their known clinical efficacy.
Protein biomarker quantification in psoriatic stratum corneum detects key pathophysiological mechanisms and enables non-invasive drug profiling in translational medicine settings.
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Hexamidine (HEX) has been used as a preservative in topical preparations since the 1950s. A number of studies also indicate that the molecule plays a beneficial role in skin homeostasis. In this review we describe the physicochemical properties of hexamidine diisethionate (HEX D) and the corresponding hydrochloride salt (HEX H). The biocidal and protease inhibition properties of HEX are outlined as well as the effects of HEX on lipid processing enzymes, corneocyte maturity, stratum corneum thickness and Trans epidermal water loss (TEWL). Skin permeation properties of HEX D and HEX H are summarised and formulation approaches for effective dermal targeting of HEX are discussed.
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To assess the predictive utility, reliability, and ease of use of the total Glasgow Coma Scale (tGCS) versus the motor component of the Glasgow Coma Scale (mGCS) for field triage of trauma, and effects on clinical decisionmaking and clinical outcomes.
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This volume evaluates the carcinogenic risks to humans posed by exposure to crystalline and amorphous silica, some silicates (palygorskite, sepiolite, wollastonite, and zeolites other than erionite), coal dust, and para-aramid fibrils. The volume opens with a discussion of the many complexities involved in assessing the cancer risks associated with occupational exposure to inhaled mineral dusts, and the special toxicological considerations required when evaluating the results of experimental studies. Against this background, the first and most extensive monograph evaluates human and animal carcinogenicity data on silica, concentrating on evidence of an increased risk for lung cancer. On the basis of this evaluation, crystalline silica inhaled in the form of quartz or cristobalite from occupational sources was classified as carcinogenic to humans. For amorphous silica, evidence from both epidemiological and experimental studies was judged inadequate, and amorphous silica could not be classified.
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