No abstract available
Πέμπτη 28 Ιουνίου 2018
Role of Fractionated Fat in Blending the Lid-Cheek Junction
Background: Fat grafting has been used extensively in plastic surgery in the past two decades. Here, the authors report the retrospective comparison of patients who underwent fractionated fat injection to blend the lid-cheek junction with those who had regular fat injection. Methods: After obtaining institutional review board approval, a retrospective review of patients who underwent lower blepharoplasty with fractionated fat injection for blending the lid-cheek junction from January of 2014 through October of 2015 was performed. The results were compared to those of lower blepharoplasty patients who did not have fractionated fat injected before January of 2014. Twelve prospectively selected patients underwent histopathologic and gene expression comparisons. Results: A comparison of complications between the two groups revealed no significant differences. Furthermore, there was no significant difference between the two groups for sequelae of fractionated fat injection and regular fat injection. The gene expression analysis of the fractionated and regular fat did not show any difference between undifferentiated and differentiated cells. In addition, Oil Red O staining of the fractionated and regular fat after differentiation showed that cells from both fat groups differentiated equally well. Conclusions: Fractionated fat injection appears to be a safe addition in blending the lid-cheek junction in the five-step lower blepharoplasty. There is no fat nodule formation with injection of fractionated fat injection compared with injection of regular fat performed superficially in the tear trough area. Contrary to what has previously been shown, the presence of viable cells in fractionated fat was noted. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, III.
IDEAL IMPLANT Structured Breast Implants: Core Study Results at 6 Years
Background: The structured breast implant uses different technology than saline or silicone gel implants, making it a third type of implant. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Health Canada granted approval in November of 2014. This implant is filled with saline but has an internal structure consisting of a series of nested shells that support the upper pole when upright and control fluid movement. It combines certain key features and benefits of saline and silicone gel implants. As with saline, the filler is only saline, which women like for peace of mind in case of rupture/deflation. As with silicone gel, it has a natural feel, but without the risk of silent rupture and U.S. Food and Drug Administration–recommended magnetic resonance imaging scans—women can simply look in the mirror and know their implants are intact. Methods: This U.S. trial enrolled 502 women: 399 primary augmentations and 103 replacements of existing augmentation implants. Investigators were 45 American Board of Plastic Surgery–certified plastic surgeons at 35 sites. Of the 502 women enrolled, 438 (87.3 percent) completed 6-year follow-up visits, a higher percentage than other Core breast implant trials. Results: At 6 years, patient satisfaction was 89.7 percent for primary and 91.6 percent for replacement augmentations; surgeon satisfaction was 92.6 percent for primary and 94.0 percent for replacement augmentation. Kaplan-Meier adverse event rates were as follows: Baker grade III and IV capsular contracture, 5.7 percent for primary and 11.5 percent for replacement augmentation; and rupture/deflation, 1.8 percent for primary and 4.7 percent for replacement augmentation. Conclusion: Six-year results from 438 women show that the structured breast implant has high patient and surgeon satisfaction, a low rate of capsular contracture, and a low rate of rupture/deflation. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, IV.Do Adolescents with Gynecomastia Require Routine Evaluation by Endocrinology?
Background: Primary evidence for the role of endocrinologic investigations in patients with adolescent gynecomastia is lacking in the current literature. The objective of this study was to assess the yield of endocrinologic investigations in the evaluation of adolescent gynecomastia to inform current practice for this common condition. Methods: A 26-year retrospective review was conducted. Data collection included patients with gynecomastia presenting to endocrinology at a quaternary children's hospital with a catchment area of 1 million. Clinical metrics, endocrinologic results, treatments, and costs were reviewed. Results: One hundred ninety-seven patients met inclusion criteria. Ninety-eight (50 percent) were overweight or obese and 29 (15 percent) had a positive family history. The median age at onset was 11.5 years; 25 cases (13 percent) were prepubertal. A total of 15 patients (7.6 percent) were diagnosed with secondary gynecomastia (10 related to exogenous substance use). Endocrine investigations were performed in 173 patients (87 percent), with positive findings in three cases (1.7 percent). One hundred one patients were observed, with a median age at resolution of 14.6 years; 86 patients underwent surgery at a median age of 16.5 years. The case-cost of endocrine evaluation was $389. Conclusions: Endocrinologic workup identified secondary gynecomastia in 7.6 percent of patients, of which only 1.7 percent were evident on blood work. This workup is associated with an avoidable case-cost burden to the health care system and largely unnecessary testing for the child. Because a majority of secondary gynecomastia cases (67 percent) were drug-induced, we do not suggest routine endocrinology workup, as it adds little value. The authors' data suggest that referral for surgery is warranted if gynecomastia persists beyond 16 years of age. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic, IV.Molecular Photoacoustic Contrast Agents (MPACs): Design Principles & Applications
Photochemistry and Photobiology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) as sentinels for the elucidation of Arctic environmental change processes: a comprehensive review combined with ArcRisk project results
Abstract
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) can be used as chemical sentinels for the assessment of anthropogenic influences on Arctic environmental change. We present an overview of studies on PCBs in the Arctic and combine these with the findings from ArcRisk—a major European Union-funded project aimed at examining the effects of climate change on the transport of contaminants to and their behaviour of in the Arctic—to provide a case study on the behaviour and impact of PCBs over time in the Arctic. PCBs in the Arctic have shown declining trends in the environment over the last few decades. Atmospheric long-range transport from secondary and primary sources is the major input of PCBs to the Arctic region. Modelling of the atmospheric PCB composition and behaviour showed some increases in environmental concentrations in a warmer Arctic, but the general decline in PCB levels is still the most prominent feature. 'Within-Arctic' processing of PCBs will be affected by climate change-related processes such as changing wet deposition. These in turn will influence biological exposure and uptake of PCBs. The pan-Arctic rivers draining large Arctic/sub-Arctic catchments provide a significant source of PCBs to the Arctic Ocean, although changes in hydrology/sediment transport combined with a changing marine environment remain areas of uncertainty with regard to PCB fate. Indirect effects of climate change on human exposure, such as a changing diet will influence and possibly reduce PCB exposure for indigenous peoples. Body burdens of PCBs have declined since the 1980s and are predicted to decline further.
The influence of solid-liquid coefficient in the fate of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in aerobic wastewater treatment
Abstract
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are considered to be a source of environmental contamination by micropollutants, especially from pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PCPs). The pathway of those compounds during sewage treatment has been investigated, but data from real-scale WWTPs is still missing (for example, the values of the solid-liquid coefficient (Kd) during treatment). This paper uses the Kd values for some pharmaceuticals and PCPs (fenofibrate, gemfibrozil, propranolol, metoprolol, salicylic acid, acetylsalicylic acid, ibuprofen, diclofenac, naproxen, fenoprofen, caffeine, triclosan, methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, and benzylparaben) to describe the micropollutants' behavior in the treatment process. In order to attain this data, an aerobic wastewater treatment plant located in Brazil was studied. Six samplings were carried out and a mass balance was performed, associating the concentrations of the micropollutants in the liquid phase with the solid phase (sludge and suspended solids). Of all the compounds analyzed, caffeine was the most biodegradable pollutant, as almost 98% of its mass was biodegraded. In contrast, triclosan had the highest load in sludge (median of 163.0 mg day−1) and adsorbed in SS (median of 0.593 mg day−1) at the output. Summing up, each micropollutant had a specific way to be removed during wastewater treatment.
The effect of pre‐phototest sun exposure on minimal erythema dose (MED) and minimal melanogenic dose (MMD) among skin phototypes III, IV and V
Photodermatology, Photoimmunology &Photomedicine, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Influence of darkness on pigments of Tetraselmis indica (Chlorodendrophyceae, Chlorophyta)
Publication date: Available online 28 June 2018
Source:Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology
Author(s): Sangeeta Mahableshwar Naik, Arga Chandrashekar Anil
In the photic zone, phytoplankton experience diurnal variation in darkness. However, prolonged exposure to aphotic conditions influences their physiological state. Pigment composition is a useful biomarker to decipher cells physiological state and adaptive response to changing environmental conditions. Chlorophyll, a natural pigment is biosynthesised even in darkness and studies have shown such an ability is determined by the genetic characteristics of the organism. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of darkness on pigments and chlorophyll autofluorescence of Tetraselmis indica. Dark exposure (up to 6 months) had no significant impact on chlorophyll a and b concentration, whereas carotenoids were enhanced. Upon re-illumination pigments gradually recovered to pre-dark phase concentrations. These adaptive survival strategies by altering pigment concentration in response to prolonged darkness is interesting. The absence of loroxanthin and loroxanthin esters in T. indica is reported in a first Tetraselmis species so far. The evaluation of autofluorescence and cellular chlorophyll concentration pointed out that they are not interdependent in this species. Hence, careful consideration of these two factors is needed when either of them is used as a proxy for other. The results obtained encourage a thorough study of pigment analysis, especially when subjected to darkness, to elucidate potential role in the evolution, chemotaxonomy, and survivability of species.
Intraoperative Measurement of the Lateral Cartilage in the Asian Nose
This case series report describes use of lower lateral cartilage measurements in evaluating the nasal tip shape in Asian patients.
Perceived Facial Distortions in Selfies Are Explained by Viewing Habits
To the Editor In their recent article, Ward et al analyze the effect of camera distance on the relative sizes of facial dimensions in photographs. They argue that these dimensions are distorted in "selfies"—photographs that people take of themselves with a smartphone camera at arm's length. Given the increasing popularity of selfies, they express concern that such photographs affect decisions about cosmetic medical procedures. We agree with the authors' calculations of facial dimensions in photographs. We wish, however, to clarify the cause of perceived nasal widening in selfies. The perceived nasal widening is not, as the authors suggest, due to physical distortion in the photographs.
Perceived Facial Distortions in Selfies Are Explained by Viewing Habits—Reply
In Reply Drs Cooper and Banks raise an important, well-studied point: the human visual system can correctly convert from a 2-dimensional image (or a 2-dimensional projection on the retina) into 3 dimensions when the objects subtend the same angle and distance at initial capture and when subsequently viewed. In real life, this is almost instantaneous. The moment we see an individual in front of us, we perceive them and there is essentially no chance of there being a mismatch and the correct viewing angle/distance is a moot point. Interestingly, this phenomenon is mostly studied in controlled environments (eg, using a bite bar) and for specific tasks (eg, estimating angles between planes). As far as we know, it has never been studied for the specific task of evaluating the appearance of one's nose. As the authors of the Letter to the Editor have rightfully noted, if the viewing distance is too close then there is a mismatch between the "correct" and actual viewing distances. As our Discussion stated, "photographs taken at shorter distances will increase the perceived ratio of nasal breadth to bizygomatic breadth." The focus here is on this perceived distortion.
Detection of VBNC Vibrio cholerae by RT-Real Time PCR based on differential gene expression analysis
Abstract
The recognition of the viable but non-culturable (VBNC) state of pathogenic bacteria has brought with it many questions to answer related to the need to detect and quantify viable bacteria in the environment in an accurate way. To assess viability of Vibrio cholerae, we developed a RT-Real Time PCR technique based on differential expression analysis from mRNA deep sequencing data. We compared two induction conditions to achieve the VBNC state: a bacterial suspension induced by artificial seawater at 4 °C, and the addition of c-di-GMP. The evaluation of the up-regulated genes in the induced bacterial samples was compared with a fresh culture in the mid-exponential phase. The data analysis was performed with the NOISeq R-package and revealed 17 up-regulated genes for induction condition I and 22 up-regulated genes for induction condition II. Only one region was found to be up-regulated for both induction conditions. The VCA0656 gene related to the aminoimidazole riboside kinase protein was detected as the most up-regulated region and used as a genetic marker to precisely detect the VBNC state in combination with the RT-Real Time PCR technique. This approach describes a novel method to differentiate the VBNC state of V. cholerae in water samples.Gene circuit engineering to improve the performance of a whole-cell lead biosensor
Abstract
To improve the performance of a whole-cell biosensor for lead detection, we designed six gene circuits by re-configuring the regulatory elements and incorporating positive feedback loops to the circuits. The lead resistance operon pbr encodes six genes with pbrRT on one side of the promoter and pbrABCD on the other side. PbrR, the divergent promoter it regulates, and GFP were used to design the lead biosensors. One has pbrR and gfp on opposite sides of the promoter mimicking the native operon. We re-configured it by placing pbrR and gfp on the same side or under two separate promoters. The one with pbrR and gfp on the same side demonstrated lead sensitivity 10 times higher than the others. Positive feedback loop was introduced to these circuits. The strength of the output signal from the designs with positive feedback loop was 1.5–2 times stronger than those without positive feedback. This study demonstrates the importance of configuration and positive feedback as effective strategies to improve the performance of lead biosensors and they can be extended to the design of other whole-cell biosensors.Molecular Diversity of Fungal Inhibitor Cystine Knot Peptides Evolved by Domain Repeat and Fusion
Abstract
Peptides with an inhibitor cystine knot (ICK) motif are extensively present in animals and plants where they exert a diversity of biological functions. However, few studies have been undertaken on this class of peptides in fungi. In this work, we identify a total of 386 fungal ICK peptides and proteins containing this motif by computational data mining of fungal genome databases, which exhibit 14 different exon-intron structures. According to their domain architectures, these proteins are classified into three distinct structural types, including single domains, tandem repeat domains and fusion domains, in which six families belonging to single and tandem repeat domains show remarkable sequence similarity to those from animals and plants, suggesting their orthologous relationship. Extremely high molecular diversity in fungal ICKs might be attributable to different genetic mechanisms, such as gene/domain duplication and fusion. This work not only enlarges the number of ICK peptides in multicellular organisms, but also uncovers their complex evolutionary history in a specific lineage.Strange-but-true: a (quick) new argument for contextualism about ‘know’
Abstract
A powerful objection to subject-sensitive invariantism (SSI) concerns various 'strange-but-true' (or "embarrassing") conditionals. One popular response to this objection is to argue that strange-but-true conditionals pose a problem for non-sceptical epistemological theories in general. In the present paper, it is argued that strange-but-true conditionals are not a problem for contextualism about 'know'. This observation undercuts the proposed defence of SSI, and supplies a surprising new argument for contextualism.
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