Minimally invasive technologies for treatment of HTS and keloids : fractional laser

Hypertrophic fractional laser and keloid scars present a spectrum of disorders that are difficult to treat. Multiple treatments have been tried, to ameliorate the clinical sequelae of scarring, such as erythema, pruritus, functional limitation, reduced range of movement, dyschromias, hyper and/or hypopigmentation. Early international clinical recommendations on scar management first recognized the importance of laser therapy in this armamentarium [1]. Within the years that followed, laser technology and the understanding of how it modulates the underlying processes that leads to hypertrophic and keloid scarring have experienced a quantum leap [2] and are still evolving. Lasers also present a considerable financial commitent, and it is possible, in the authors’ experience, that limited early results partially stemmed from limited availability of multiple lasers with consequent attempts to overstretch the indications for what was available. This chapter presents a state-of-the-art insight into the use of fractional laser for the management of this complex problem. In particular, we focus on the management of complex scars such as those occurring post-burn injury and split-thickness skin grafting.peer-reviewe

Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer affects a high percentage of young women worldwide. The incidence in developed countries is falling as a result of cervical cancer screening and immunization against human papillomavirus (HPV). Treatment of uterine cancer affects female fertility in various ways. In the counselling process for fertility preservation, obstetric complications, which include miscarriage and premature birth, as well as oncological safety must be considered. Mainly fertility-sparing surgical techniques such as cervical conisation or radical trachelectomy, and preservation of the ovaries are options in cancer stages up to FIGO IB1 and FIGO IIA1 < 2 cm without further risk factors. Fertility preservation methods in combination with surrogate pregnancy or uterus transplantation are experimental and controversial issues

Analysing the emotive effectiveness of rendering styles

Computer graphics images are characterised by both object information and emotive implications. To promote proper interpretation, it is important to convey incomplete or approximate object information in conceptual design, as well as emotive expressiveness, via the graphics interface. This paper presents a study of user perception and emotional responses to different rendering styles using Kansei Engineering. The investigation involved a sample comprising of 61 students and faculty, and 30 different rendering styles representing existing photorealistic (PR), non-photorealistic (NPR) and new vague rendering (VR) styles. The study has shown that VR styles are able to affect viewers of images in a different way than PR and NPR styles. That is, VR styles are most effective for conveying affective and functional content, PR styles for affective content, and NPR styles for affective, motivational and cognitive content

Chloroplast envelope membranes: a dynamic interface between plastids and the cytosol.

Chloroplasts are bounded by a pair of outer membranes, the envelope, that is the only permanent membrane structure of the different types of plastids. Chloroplasts have had a long and complex evolutionary past and integration of the envelope membranes in cellular functions is the result of this evolution. Plastid envelope membranes contain a wide diversity of lipids and terpenoid compounds serving numerous biochemical functions and the flexibility of their biosynthetic pathways allow plants to adapt to fluctuating environmental conditions (for instance phosphate deprivation). A large body of knowledge has been generated by proteomic studies targeted to envelope membranes, thus revealing an unexpected complexity of this membrane system. For instance, new transport systems for metabolites and ions have been identified in envelope membranes and new routes for the import of chloroplast-specific proteins have been identified. The picture emerging from our present understanding of plastid envelope membranes is that of a key player in plastid biogenesis and the co-ordinated gene expression of plastid-specific protein (owing to chlorophyll precursors), of a major hub for integration of metabolic and ionic networks in cell metabolism, of a flexible system that can divide, produce dynamic extensions and interact with other cell constituents. Envelope membranes are indeed one of the most complex and dynamic system within a plant cell. In this review, we present an overview of envelope constituents together with recent insights into the major functions fulfilled by envelope membranes and their dynamics within plant cells

Associação entre consumo de refrigerantes, sucos e leite, com o índice de massa corporal em escolares da rede pública de Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil Association between consumption of soft drinks, fruit juice, and milk and body mass index among public school students in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil

Avaliou-se a associação entre o consumo de refrigerantes, sucos e leite, com o índice de massa corporal (IMC) em 1.423 estudantes, entre 9 e 16 anos, de escolas públicas de Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. O consumo de bebidas foi avaliado por meio do recordatório alimentar de 24 horas e questionário de freqüência de consumo alimentar. Peso e estatura foram coletados para o cálculo do IMC. As análises de regressão linear foram estratificadas por sexo e ajustadas por atividade física, idade e efeito do conglomerado (classes). Verificou-se associação positiva entre freqüência de consumo de refrigerante e idade (p = 0,05) e negativa entre consumo de leite e idade (p = 0,004). Apenas para as meninas, o IMC associou-se positivamente com o consumo de sucos (&#946; = 0,02; p = 0,03). Para as outras bebidas não foram encontradas associações entre IMC e freqüência usual de consumo. O consumo de refrigerantes e sucos representou cerca de 20% do total de energia média consumida diariamente. Os resultados indicam que esforços para reduzir a ingestão de energia por meio de bebidas devem enfatizar também os sucos.<br>The association between consumption of soft drinks, fruit juice, and milk and body mass index (BMI) was evaluated in 1,423 students 9 to 16 years of age from public schools in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. Beverage intake was measured using 24-hour recall and a food frequency questionnaire. Weight and height were measured to calculate BMI. Regression analyses took into account the cluster (classes) effect. Analyses were stratified by gender and adjusted for physical activity and age. The results showed a positive association between soft drink intake and age (p = 0.05) and a negative association between milk and age (p = 0.004). For girls only, there was a significant association between frequent fruit juice intake and BMI (&#946; = 0.02; p = 0.03). For the other beverages, there were no significant associations between BMI and frequent consumption in either gender. Soft drinks and juices accounted for 20% of mean daily energy intake. The results showed that efforts to reduce energy intake from beverages should include consumption of fruit juice