3 tesla MRI assisted detection of compression points in ulnar neuropathy at the elbow in correlation with intraoperative findings

Releasing the ulnar nerve from all entrapments is the primary objective of every surgical method in ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (UNE). The aim of this retrospective diagnostic study was to validate preoperative 3 Tesla MRI results by comparing the MRI findings with the intraoperative aspects during endoscopic-assisted or open surgery.

http://ift.tt/2FEtjm6

‘Investigation of the activation of temporalis and masseter muscles in voluntary and spontaneous smile production.’

Masticatory muscles or their nerve supply are options for facial reanimation surgery but their ability to create spontaneous smile has been questioned. This study assessed the percentage of healthy adults who activate temporalis and masseter during voluntary and spontaneous smile.

http://ift.tt/2F1Ygzy

Orthotopic transfer of vascularized groin lymph node flap in the treatment of breast cancer-related lymphedema: clinical results, lymphoscintigraphy findings and proposed mechanism

Vascularized lymph node transfer (VLNT) has become more popular in treating secondary lymphedema. However, the mechanism has not been clearly elucidated.The purpose of this study were (1) to evaluate the outcome of vascularized groin lymph node (VGLN) transfer using axilla as a recipient site in patients with breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) and (2) to provide radiological evidence of lymphangiogenesis in VLNT.

http://ift.tt/2FCzhnv

Outcome of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Cancers in Low-Resource Settings

Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) are amongst the most common cancers in certain parts of the world. Low-income and low middle- income countries make up 65% of newly diagnosed HNSCC cases annually and account for about 75% of HNSCC global mortality. These countries also suffer from a significant shortage of skilled labor, equipment, and health facilities. This article discusses the burden of HNSCCs in developing countries and the differences in outcomes compared with developed countries.

http://ift.tt/2COlAiw

Assessment and identification of nitrogen pollution sources in the Cheongmi River with intensive livestock farming areas, Korea

Abstract

This study aimed to develop methods for assessing and identifying nitrogen sources in the Cheongmi River, Korea, that has intensive livestock farming areas (ILFA) in its watershed. The assessment focused on the feasibility of the simultaneous use of stable isotopic compositions of ammonium (δ¹⁵N_NH4) and nitrate (δ¹⁵N_NO3) for identifying the main nitrogen pollution sources in the Cheongmi River watershed. Our results suggested that the organic nitrogen (Org-N) to total nitrogen (T-N) ratio could be used as an indicator for assessing the effect of livestock excreta on waterways in ILFA. We observed that the T-N concentration was much more strongly affected by livestock excreta than the T-P concentration in the mainstream of the Cheongmi River. The positive correlation was more significant between δ¹⁵N_NH4 and NH₄-N than that between δ¹⁵N_NO3 and NO₃-N for river water samples. Furthermore, the use of δ¹⁵N_NH4 was more effective than that of δ¹⁵N_NO3 in evaluating nitrogen variations between May and August in the Cheongmi River because the differences in δ¹⁵N_NH4 between May and August were more remarkable compared to those in δ¹⁵N_NO3. Finally, the simultaneous use of δ¹⁵N_NH4 and δ¹⁵N_NO3 showed that the dominant nitrogen source at sites M3, M4, M5, and M6, specifically in May, was livestock excreta in the Cheongmi River. The results of this study could be used for sustainable water quality management in the Cheongmi River watershed.

http://ift.tt/2t1wQsf

Synthetic design of growth factor sequestering extracellular matrix mimetic hydrogel for promoting in vivo bone formation

Publication date: April 2018
Source:Biomaterials, Volume 161
Author(s): Hong Ji Yan, Tommaso Casalini, Gry Hulsart-Billström, Shujiang Wang, Oommen P. Oommen, Matteo Salvalaglio, Sune Larsson, Jöns Hilborn, Oommen P. Varghese
Synthetic scaffolds that possess an intrinsic capability to protect and sequester sensitive growth factors is a primary requisite for developing successful tissue engineering strategies. Growth factors such as recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) is highly susceptible to premature degradation and to provide a meaningful clinical outcome require high doses that can cause serious side effects. We discovered a unique strategy to stabilize and sequester rhBMP-2 by enhancing its molecular interactions with hyaluronic acid (HA), an extracellular matrix (ECM) component. We found that by tuning the initial protonation state of carboxylic acid residues of HA in a covalently crosslinked hydrogel modulate BMP-2 release at physiological pH by minimizing the electrostatic repulsion and maximizing the Van der Waals interactions. At neutral pH, BMP-2 release is primarily governed by Fickian diffusion, whereas at acidic pH both diffusion and electrostatic interactions between HA and BMP-2 become important as confirmed by molecular dynamics simulations. Our results were also validated in an in vivo rat ectopic model with rhBMP-2 loaded hydrogels, which demonstrated superior bone formation with acidic hydrogel as compared to the neutral counterpart. We believe this study provides new insight on growth factor stabilization and highlights the therapeutic potential of engineered matrices for rhBMP-2 delivery and may help to curtail the adverse side effects associated with the high dose of the growth factor.



http://ift.tt/2BKCIJR

Blood brain barrier (BBB)-disruption in intracortical silicon microelectrode implants

Publication date: May 2018
Source:Biomaterials, Volume 164
Author(s): Cassie Bennett, Malaroviyam Samikkannu, Farrah Mohammed, W. Dalton Dietrich, Suhrud M. Rajguru, Abhishek Prasad
Chronically implanted microelectrodes in the neural tissue elicit inflammatory responses that are time varying and have been shown to depend on multiple factors. Among these factors, blood brain barrier (BBB)-disruption has been hypothesized as one of the dominant factors resulting in electrode failure. A series of events that includes BBB and cell-membrane disruption occurs during electrode implantation that triggers multiple biochemical cascades responsible for microglial and astroglial activation, hemorrhage, edema, and release of pro-inflammatory neurotoxic cytokines that causes neuronal degeneration and dysfunction. Typically, microwire arrays and silicon probes are inserted slowly into the neural tissue whereas the silicon Utah MEAs (UMEA) are inserted at a high speed using a pneumatic inserter. In this work, we report the sequelae of electrode-implant induced cortical injury at various acute time points in UMEAs implanted in the brain tissue by quantifying the expression profile for key genes mediating the inflammatory response and tight junction (TJ) and adherens junction (AJ) proteins that form the BBB and are critical to the functioning of the BBB. Our results indicated upregulation of most pro-inflammatory genes relative to naïve controls for all time points. Expression levels for the genes that form the TJ and AJ were downregulated suggestive of BBB-dysfunction. Moreover, there was no significant difference between stab and implant groups suggesting the effects of UMEA insertion-related trauma in the brain tissue. Our results provide an insight into the physiological events related to neuroinflammation and BBB-disruption occurring at acute time-points following insertion of UMEAs.



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