Treatment and prevention of spider veins

Spider veins are smaller and thinner than varicose veins and usually appear on the face or legs. They are generally painless and do not cause any health problems. However, some people may wish to treat them for cosmetic reasons. Learn more about the causes, treatment, and prevention of spider veins here.

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Biological effects of acid-eroded MTA Repair HP and ProRoot MTA on human periodontal ligament stem cells

Abstract

Objective

The aim of this study was to analyze the biological effects of MTA Repair HP and ProRoot MTA on human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs) after exposure to acidic and neutral environments.

Materials and methods

Discs of each material (n = 30) were exposed to phosphate buffered saline (pH = 7.4) or butyric acid (pH = 5.2) for 7 days, and biological testing was carried out in vitro on hPDLSCs. Cell viability and apoptosis assays were performed using eluates of each root-end filling material. To evaluate cell attachment to the different materials, hPDLSCs were directly seeded onto the material surfaces and analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. The chemical composition of the root-end filling materials was determined by energy-dispersive x-ray and eluates were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Statistical differences were assessed by ANOVA and Tukey test (p < 0.05).

Results

Under an acidic environment, both materials displayed similar ion release abilities, with the increased release of Si and Ca ions. Substantial changes in microstructure were observed for both materials after exposure to acidic pH. In addition, material exposure to an acidic environment showed a similar degree of cell adherence, and, surprisingly, MTA Repair HP exhibited higher cell viability rates at pH 5.2 than ProRoot MTA.

Conclusions

Exposure to an acidic environment promoted Si and Ca ion release from ProRoot MTA and MTA Repair HP. Moreover, we observed optimal biological properties of ProRoot MTA and MTA Repair HP in terms of cell viability, cell death, and cell attachment in both environments.

Clinical relevance

These results may suggest that MTA Repair HP and ProRoot exhibited optimal biological properties in terms of cell viability, cell death and cell attachment in acidic environment, being considered as materials for root-end filling and perforations.

http://bit.ly/2Rg8GRi

Limno-ecological assessment of Aras River surface waters in Turkey: application of diatom indices

Abstract

This study is the first attempt to evaluate the limno-ecological status of freshwater ecosystems in Aras River system (Turkey) using diatom metrics and multivariate analyses according to the European Union Water Framework Directive requirements. Samples were collected using the standard protocols from 17 sampling stations in August and October of 2014, and June of 2015. Deterioration of water quality in the Aras River catchment was remarked from the downstream of Karakoyunlu, Sarısu, and Bozkuş creeks, which showed higher values of trophic index Turkey (TIT), trophic index (TI), and eutrophication and/or pollution index-diatom (EPI-D). These sites were also characterized by pollution tolerant taxa e.g., Cocconeis placentula, Gomphonema parvulum, Navicula cryptocephala, Navicula trivialis, and Tryblionella angustata. Sites S14–S17 had high ecological status according to TIT, supported by the score of EPI-D which indicated a good ecological condition for S14. The occurrence of pollution-sensitive species (e.g., Hannaea arcus, Cymbella affinis, Didymosphenia geminata, Meridion circulare, and Encyonema silesiacum) and the low nutrients like total phosphorus, orthophosphate and nitrate, conductivity, and BOD₅ supported the high ecological status of S14–S17. The relationships between diatom assemblages and environmental variables were also illustrated by multivariate analyses. Spearman correlation analysis revealed that TIT had positive important correlations with total phosphorus (p < 0.01, r = 0.768). Trophic index and EPI-D had also significant correlations with environmental variables, but they had lower correlation coefficient than that of TIT. It seems that TIT could be a suitable diatom metric for assessing the ecological status of sampling stations in Aras River system and Mediterranean region. Our findings showed also that ecological statuses of surface waters should be evaluated due to the indices developed in their ecoregions.

http://bit.ly/2RfZ7lu

68 Ga-DOTANOC and 18 F-FDG PET/CT in metastatic medullary thyroid carcinoma: novel correlations with tumoral biomarkers

Abstract

Objective

Metastatic disease is common in medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) and it is usually detected by raising calcitonin and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels. Nuclear medicine imaging has an important role in lesion identification/characterisation. We aim to compare ⁶⁸Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT and ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT performance and to explore the correlations between tumoral markers and functional imaging.

Methods

This a retrospective cross-sectional study including 13 patients with MTC and high calcitonin/CEA levels that underwent both ⁶⁸Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT and ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT.

Results

⁶⁸Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT identified MTC metastases in 2twopatients that were ¹⁸F-FDG-negative (sensitivity of 69.2% vs. 53.9%, respectively). ⁶⁸Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT also detected a higher number of lesions than ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT in seven patients, with only one patient showing the opposite pattern. Both differences lacked statistical significance (p = 0.50 and p = 0.86, respectively) but ⁶⁸Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT better performance allowed changes in patients' management. ⁶⁸Ga-positive/¹⁸F-FDG-negative patients were the ones with the lowest calcitonin doubling time and presented a CEA doubling time >24 months, while the patient with more ¹⁸F-FDG-positive lesions was the one with the highest CEA/calcitonin ratio. The number of lesions found in ⁶⁸Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT were correlated with calcitonin levels (r = 0.73; p < 0.01) but not with CEA ones (r = 0.42; p = 0.15). The number of ¹⁸F-FDG hypermetabolic focus were correlated with CEA levels (r = 0.60; p < 0.05) but not with calcitonin (r = 0.48; p = 0.09).

Conclusions

This is the first study to describe a positive correlation between ⁶⁸Ga-positive lesions and calcitonin levels and between ¹⁸F-FDG-positivity and CEA levels. Tumoral markers pattern in metastatic MTC could help clinicians to decide which exam to perform first.

http://bit.ly/2sKzxeN

Benign osteoblastoma of the palate: a rare clinical presentation

Abstract

Osteoblastoma is a rare, benign type of osteoblastic tumor. It constitutes approximately 1% of all primary bone tumors. Osteoblastoma most commonly affects the long bones; it very rarely affects the jaw bones. Because of its clinical and histological similarity with other bony tumors, such as osteoid osteoma and fibro-osseous lesions, osteoblastoma is a diagnostic challenge. Very few cases of osteoblastoma involving the maxillofacial region have been reported to date. We herein describe a 15-year-old female patient with osteoblastoma that presented as a palatal swelling of 6 months' duration.

http://bit.ly/2UiXmpM

Remodelling the attentional system after left hemispheric stroke: effect of leftward prismatic adaptation

Publication date: Available online 24 January 2019

Source: Cortex

Author(s): Sonia Crottaz-Herbette, Isabel Tissieres, Eleonora Fornari, Pierre-André Rapin, Stephanie Clarke

Abstract

Left hemispheric stroke is known to be associated with right neglect and/or not lateralized attentional deficits. The former appears to respond favourably to leftward prismatic adaptation (L-PA), as reported in a case of a large left stroke. In normal subjects, brief exposure to L-PA was shown to enhance the representation of the right visual field within the right inferior parietal lobule, emphasizing thus right hemispheric dominance within the ventral attentional system. We have investigated whether L-PA does the same in left hemispheric stroke by comparing neural responses to left, central and right stimuli before and after a brief exposure to L-PA. Neural responses to visual stimuli were significantly modulated within a large part of the occipito-temporal cortex and in smaller clusters in the angular gyrus, the anterior temporal lobe and the insula, corresponding to decrease in activity. Within the occipito-temporal region the decrease concerned predominantly neural activity elicited by left stimuli, downregulating thus the representation of the contralateral visual field, which is characteristic of the higher-order visual areas in this region.

http://bit.ly/2sNS4qA

Prediabetes in children and adolescents in the United States: prevalence estimates and comorbidities – a population analysis

Journal Name: Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism
Issue: Ahead of print


http://bit.ly/2sMipW4

Challenging diagnosis of thyroid hormone resistance initially as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis

Journal Name: Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism
Issue: Ahead of print


http://bit.ly/2Myzv2q

The Impact of Testosterone on the Chests and Abdomens of Transgender Men

Publication date: Available online 24 January 2019

Source: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology

Author(s): Catherine C. Motosko, George A. Zakhem, Miriam Keltz Pomeranz, Rhonda Pomerantz, Pierre B. Saadeh, M David Gothard, Alexes Hazen

http://bit.ly/2HyRqr1

Impact of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act on Dermatologic Healthcare Utilization

Publication date: Available online 24 January 2019

Source: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology

Author(s): Raghav Tripathi, Konrad D. Knusel, Harib H. Ezaldein, Jeremy S. Bordeaux, Jeffrey F. Scott

http://bit.ly/2S5isKN

REPLY to MS#JAAD-D-19-00075

Publication date: Available online 24 January 2019

Source: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology

Author(s): L.C. Strowd

http://bit.ly/2HykmiV

Examining Cutaneous Disease Activity As An Outcome Measure For Clinical Trials In Dermatomyositis

Publication date: Available online 24 January 2019

Source: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology

Author(s): R.G. Gaffney, M. Tarazi, R. Feng, D. Pearson, V.P. Werth

http://bit.ly/2S5PBpC

Comments on: Abnormal erythrocyte morphology in drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms

Publication date: Available online 24 January 2019

Source: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology

Author(s): Yung-Tsu Cho, Chia-Yu Chu

http://bit.ly/2HxdVMW

Inpatient consultative dermatology: Where are we now? Assessing the value and evolution of this sub-specialty over the past decade

Publication date: Available online 24 January 2019

Source: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology

Author(s): Lauren M. Madigan, Lindy P. Fox

Abstract

The importance of inpatient consultative dermatology is often under recognized and undervalued. A significant need exists as the burden of skin disease in the hospital is great and expertise regarding the recognition and management of uncommon and severe skin disorders is limited outside of the field. In response to this need the concept of a "dermatology hospitalist" was defined and the Society for Dermatology Hospitalists was created in 2009. Over the past decade, the sub-specialty has developed and fostered both research and education. Data now exist demonstrating the value of inpatient dermatology services not only to patients, but also to payors and health care systems. Future needs include strategies to improve access to expertise and additional efforts to establish our field as an indispensable and enduring component of hospital-based care.

http://bit.ly/2S5UfDX

Dermoscopic features of nonpigmented eccrine poroma

http://bit.ly/2HsZVUB

Localisation of treatment‐resistant areas in patients on biologics

Summary

Background

Traditionally, psoriasis in certain body sites such as the scalp, nails, palms, soles, and the intertriginous areas has been acknowledged as difficult‐to‐treat.

Objective

To investigate the body location of treatment‐resistant psoriasis in patients treated with biologic agents in real‐world clinical practice, and to study the association between localisation and the quality of life.

Methods

In this observational study we investigated the skin and/or nail location of treatment‐resistant psoriasis in patients with moderate‐to‐severe psoriasis treated for > 6 months with biologic agents with a partial or good response to treatment defined as having a PASI ≥ 1 and ≤ 5. Experienced PASI assessors used a uniform data collection form in which the body area was divided into 26 regions and 20 nails.

Results

We included 146 patients with chronic plaque‐type psoriasis (74·7% men, mean [SD] age 49·8 [13·7] years, with a median PASI score of 2·4 (IQR 1·2‐3·2). The median PASI reduction from treatment initiation was 86·1% (IQR 78·1‐91·3).

The most common site of recalcitrant psoriasis was the anterior lower leg (49·3%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 41·2–57·4). Further common sites of recalcitrant psoriasis were the posterior lower leg (24·7%; 95% CI: 17·7‐31·6), the elbow (35·6%; 95% CI: 27·8‐43·4), and the scalp (19·2%; 95% CI: 12·8‐25·6%). No association between DLQI and specific areas of recalcitrant psoriasis were observed.

Conclusion

In real‐world clinical practice, the most common sites of recalcitrant psoriasis in patients treated with biologic agents are the anterior lower leg, the posterior lower leg, and the elbows. Recalcitrant psoriasis in no specific area caused a greater impact on quality of life than any other area.

This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

http://bit.ly/2RZvQQH

A complete assessment on the impact of in-cylinder and external blending of eucalyptus oil on engine’s behavior of a biofuel-based dual fuel engine

Abstract

This work aims at combusting a high viscous high cetane biofuel completely and efficiently under dual combustion mode using another low viscous low cetane biofuel. Maduca longifolia oil (MO) was selected as the base fuel. Combustion was achieved by using EFI (electronic fuel injection) and carburetion of eucalyptus oil at the intake manifold. Eucalyptus oil was also blended externally with MO at different mass ratios and tested. A comparison of engine results was made at 100% and 40% loads (power outputs) for all the attempts. Test results indicated significant improvement in BTE (brake thermal efficiency) with all modes with moderate energy shares of eucalyptus oil. The BTE increased from 25.2% with neat MO operation to a maximum of 29%, 32.3%, and 33.4% respectively with eucalyptus oil addition, carburetion, and EFI modes whereas it was observed as 30.8% with ND (neat diesel). Smoke was reduced with eucalyptus oil addition, carburetion, and EFI at the maximum efficiency points at 100% load. Peak pressure and energy-release rate indicated as superior to neat MO at all modes mainly at 100% load. Thirty percent, 40.2%, and 30.4% respectively with eucalyptus oil addition, carburetion, and EFI were recommended to be the optimal mass shares for 100% load. EFI of eucalyptus oil could be preferred for the highest BTE, lowest smoke, and NO emissions and maximum replacement of MO for the optimal operation of the engine among the methods tested.

http://bit.ly/2RaktRb

Next-generation sequencing identifies novel mitochondrial variants in pituitary adenomas

Abstract

Purpose

Disrupted mitochondrial functions and genetic variants of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) have been observed in different human neoplasms. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) can be used to detect even low heteroplasmy-level mtDNA variants. We aimed to investigate the mitochondrial genome in pituitary adenomas by NGS.

Methods

We analysed 11 growth hormone producing and 33 non-functioning [22 gonadotroph and 11 hormone immunonegative] pituitary adenomas using VariantPro™ Mitochondrion Panel on Illumina MiSeq instrument. Revised Cambridge Reference Sequence (rCRS) of the mtDNA was used as reference. Heteroplasmy was determined using a 3% cutoff.

Results

496 variants were identified in pituitary adenomas with overall low level of heteroplasmy (7.22%). On average, 35 variants were detected per sample. Samples harbouring the highest number of variants had the highest Ki-67 indices independently of histological subtypes. We identified eight variants (A11251G, T4216C, T16126C, C15452A, T14798C, A188G, G185A, and T16093C) with different prevalences among different histological groups. T16189C was found in 40% of non-recurrent adenomas, while it was not present in the recurrent ones. T14798C and T4216C were confirmed by Sanger sequencing in all 44 samples. 100% concordance was found between NGS and Sanger method.

Conclusions

NGS is a reliable method for investigating mitochondrial genome and heteroplasmy in pituitary adenomas. Out of the 496 detected variants, 414 have not been previously reported in pituitary adenoma. The high number of mtDNA variants may contribute to adenoma genesis, and some variants (i.e., T16189C) might associate with benign behaviour.

http://bit.ly/2DxQNdb

Recovery and utilization of collagen protein powder extracted from chromium leather scrap waste

Abstract

In this work, we investigate collagen protein powder (CPP) extracted from chromium leather scrap waste (CLSW). The composition and molecular weight distribution of CPP were determined by elemental analysis and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), respectively. The microstructure and size distribution of CPP were then characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and nanometer analyzer instrument. Finally, CPP was treated with corn starch (CS), and the swelling behavior of the resulting CPP-CS blend was investigated in order to determine its range of applications. The experimental data showed that CPP contains 13 different amino-acids. CPP also displayed low mineral salt levels and a nitrogen content of 43.84%, indicating its potential use as an organic fertilizer. The molecular weight range of CPP is 6.5 to ~ 26.6 kDa. After the obtained CPP was blended with CS, the CPP-CS blend is endowed with optimal swelling properties and is able to overcome the solubility drawbacks of CPP alone. In addition, when the CPP was used as a natural fertilizer, the germination rate and height of kidney beans obviously increased.

http://bit.ly/2Tc4hAT

Arsenic, selenium, and metals in a commercial and vulnerable fish from southwestern Atlantic estuaries: distribution in water and tissues and public health risk assessment

Abstract

The anadromous catfish Genidens barbus is a vulnerable and economically important species from the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean. Concentrations of As, Co, Fe, Se, and Zn were determined in water and muscle, gill, and liver of catfish from two southwestern Atlantic estuaries (Brazil and Argentina) and health risk via fish consumption was evaluated. High spatial variability was observed in the metals, As, and Se distribution for both estuaries. Considering all tissues, element concentrations (mg/kg, wet weight) were As = 0.41–23.50, Co = 0.01–2.9, Fe = 2.08–773, Se = 0.15–10.7, and Zn = 3.97–2808). Most of the trace elements tended to be higher in Brazil than in Argentina, except for Co, Fe, Se, and Zn in liver and Fe and Co in muscle and gill, respectively. Arsenic accumulation order was muscle > liver ≥ gill. Only As (muscle) was above the maximum recommended by international guidelines at both estuaries. The target hazard quotient ranged from 0.10 to 1.58, suggesting that people may experience significant health risks through catfish consumption. Supposing that the inorganic/toxic As ranged between 1 and 20% of the total, the recommended maximum intakes per capita bases were 6.1–95 and 8.4–138 kg/year (wet weight) for Brazil and Argentina, respectively. Carcinogenic risk for As intake was within the acceptable range but close to the recommended limit (> 10⁻⁴). These results highlights the importance of quantifying the As species in catfish muscle in order to generate more reliable risk estimates.

http://bit.ly/2AX54P5