In vitro and in vivo degradation of non-woven materials made of poly(e-caprolactone) nanofibers prepared by electrospinning at different conditions

The aim of this study was to prepare non-woven materials from a biodegradable polymer, poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) by electrospinning. PCL was synthesized by ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone in bulk using stannous octoate as the catalyst under nitrogen atmosphere. PCL was then processed into non-woven matrices composed of nanofibers by electrospinning of the polymer from its solution using a high voltage power supply. The effects of PCL concentration, composition of the solvent (a mixture of chloroform and DMF with different DMF content), applied voltage and tip–collector distance on fiber diameter and morphology were investigated. The diameter of fibers increased with the increase in the polymer concentration and decrease in the DMF content significantly. Applied voltage and tip–collector distance were found critical to control 'bead' formation. Elongation-at-break, ultimate strength and Young's modulus were obtained from the mechanical tests, which were all increased by increasing fiber diameter. The fiber diameter significantly influenced both in vitro degradation (performed in Ringer solution) and in vivo biodegradation (conducted in rats) rates. In vivo degradation was found to be faster than in vitro. Electrospun membranes were more hydrophobic than PCL solvent-casted ones; therefore, their degradation was a much slower process

Differential expression patterns of metastasis suppressor proteins in basal cell carcinoma

Background: Basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) are common malignant skin tumors. Despite having a significant invasion capacity, they metastasize only rarely. Our aim in this study was to detect the expression patterns of the NM23-H1, NDRG1, E-cadherin, RHOGDI2, CD82/KAI1, MKK4, and AKAP12 metastasis suppressor proteins in BCCs. Methods: A total of 96 BCC and 10 normal skin samples were included for the immunohistochemical study. Eleven frozen BCC samples were also studied by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) to detect the gene expression profile. Results: NM23-H1 was strongly and diffusely expressed in all types of BCC. Significant cytoplasmic expression of NDRG1 and E-cadherin was also detected. However, AKAP12 and CD82/KAI1 expression was significantly decreased. The expressions of the other proteins were somewhere between the two extremes. Similarly, qRT-PCR analysis showed down-regulation of AKAP12 and up-regulation of NM23-H1 and NDRG1 in BCC. Morphologically aggressive BCCs showed significantly higher cytoplasmic NDRG1 expression scores and lower CD82/KAI1 scores than non-aggressive BCCs. Conclusion: The relatively preserved levels of NM23-H1, NDRG1, and E-cadherin proteins may have a positive effect on the non-metastasizing features of these tumors. © 2014 The International Society of Dermatology

Radiofrequency-induced thermotherapy of nasopharyngeal angiofibroma and immunohistochemical analysis of vessel proliferation: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Nasopharyngeal angiofibroma presents with symptoms of nasal obstruction and epistaxis. The treatment of choice is embolization followed by surgery.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 52-year-old man underwent surgery for nasopharyngeal angiofibroma after adjuvant radiofrequency-induced thermotherapy. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first case of angiofibroma with clinical follow-up after thermocoagulation therapy supported by quantitative, double immunohistochemistry. We found this case of angiofibroma to be of interest owing to the presentation of symptoms leading to biopsy, the pathohistological observations obtained with synchronous Ki67/cluster of differentiation 34 and Ki67/smooth muscle actin immunohistochemistry and high pericyte proliferation.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Coagulation of angiofibroma vessels followed by acquisition of a thick mantle of pericytes in a patient with a nasopharyngeal growth suggests that radiofrequency-induced thermotherapy could be a useful, palliative therapy for bleeding nasopharyngeal angiofibroma, supporting vessel maturation prior to surgical tumor removal.</p

Skewed X inactivation in an X linked nystagmus family resulted from a novel, p.R229G, missense mutation in the FRMD7 gene

Aims: This study aimed to identify the underlying genetic defect of a large Turkish X linked nystagmus (NYS) family. Methods: Both Xp11 and Xq26 loci were tested by linkage analysis. The 12 exons and intron-exon junctions of the FRMD7 gene were screened by direct sequencing. X chromosome inactivation analysis was performed by enzymatic predigestion of DNA with a methylation-sensitive enzyme, followed by PCR of the polymorphic CAG repeat of the androgen receptor gene. Results: The family contained 162 individuals, among whom 28 had NYS. Linkage analysis confirmed the Xq26 locus. A novel missense c.686C>G mutation, which causes the substitution of a conserved arginine at amino acid position 229 by glycine (p.R229G) in exon 8 of the FRMD7 gene, was observed. This change was not documented in 120 control individuals. The clinical findings in a female who was homozygous for the mutation were not different from those of affected heterozygous females. Skewed X inactivation was remarkable in the affected females of the family. Conclusions: A novel p.R229G mutation in the FRMD7 gene causes the NYS phenotype, and skewed X inactivation influences the manifestation of the disease in X linked NYS females

Compass cutter for periareolar incisions

WOS: 000253680200041PubMed: 18092187

Results of GM-CSF treatment in chemotherapeutic extravasation ulcers

WOS: 000282621800030PubMed: 20941836

Venous vascular malformations of the craniofacial region: pre-operative embolisation with direct percutaneous puncture and N-butyl cyanoacrylate

Peynircioglu, Bora/0000-0002-1457-4721WOS: 000261826100002PubMed: 18824500Craniofacial venous vascular malformations cause severe cosmetic problems and yet these lesions are not candidates for transcatheter embolisation owing to the lack of arterial feeders. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of pre-operative embolisation of these lesions with N-butyl 2-cyanoacrylate (NBCA) via direct puncture. Between September 2003 and April 2006, 13 patients (7 female; age range, 6-64 years; mean, 16.7 years) were embolised with direct puncture and injection of NBCA. All of the patients were referred from plastic surgery with an operational plan. Angiography performed in all patients showed no or little arterial staining. NBCA diluted with iodized oil at a ratio of 1:6 (18%) was injected via a percutaneously placed 21 gauge needle. Complete embolisation was achieved in 8 patients and partial embolisation in the remaining 5. A total of 18 sessions of embolisation were performed on 13 patients. Nine patients underwent only one embolisation session, three patients underwent two sessions and only one patient underwent three sessions. The mean volume of NBCA used per session was 5.8 ml, ranging from 1-12 ml. All patients underwent a successful surgical resection to improve cosmetic disfigurement within 1015 days after the embolisation procedure. Mean follow-up time was 22 months. One patient experienced skin necrosis on her nose after embolisation. No other complications related to the procedure were observed. In conclusion, pre-operative NBCA embolisation with direct puncture is a safe and easy procedure. It can increase the success of the surgical treatment of these lesions. (C) 2008 The British Institute of Radiolog

Synthesis, characterization and wound healing ability of PET based nanofiber dressing material coated with silk sericin capped-silver nanoparticles

In this study, silver nanoparticles coated with sericin (S-AgNPs) were adsorbed on poly (ethylene terephthalate)-g-poly(hydroxyethylmethacrylate) (PET-g-HEMA) nanofibers and the use of the obtained material as wound dressing was investigated. PET fibers were firstly grafted with HEMA for varying hydrophobic nature of PET. A wound dressing material was obtained from polymer solution of this copolymer with electrospinning under certain conditions. Then, negatively charged S-AgNPs were adsorbed on the surface of the nanofiber membranes. Scanning electron microscope (SEM), UV–Vis, X-ray fluorescence (XRF), thermal, mechanical, antibacterial and cytotoxicity analyzes of the modified membranes have been examined. It was found that the modified nanofibers with S-AgNPs had antimicrobial effects on gram positive and gram negative bacteria. The viability rates of the cells incubated with the modified material extract did not decrease below 70% after 1 and 3 days incubation in MTT test. In-vivo studies aimed at evaluating the performance of modified nanofiber surface were performed using Sprague-Dawley male rats. The healing process of deep burn wounds created in rats with different materials was monitored during the 21 days and it was found that the produced nanofibers was more effective in wound healing than the control group and had a healing rate close to a commercially used cover material. © 2020 Elsevier B.V.Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Araştirma Kurumu, TÜBITAK: 218S449The present work was financially promoted by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (Project Number: 218S449 )

The use of tissue expander in the management of staged proximal hypospadias repair: Report of case

Multiple failed hypospadias reconstructions may cause minimal residual skin, as a result of extensive scarring. However, extragenital full thickness skin grafts or mucosal grafts are often used for urethral substitutions; local tissue expansion can provide additional matched skin, which can be easily harvested and used for penile constructions. Though tissue expanders were used as the choice of treatment in children with multiple failed hypospadias repairs, the use of tissue expander in the management of staged proximal hypospadais repair has not been reported previously. A 3-year-old boy with proximal hypospadias is presented to discuss the use of tissue expansion in the management of staged proximal hypospadias repair. © 2010 Springer-Verlag