An Investigator-Initiated Trial of a Polymeric Emulsion of Halobetasol Propionate and Tazarotene in the Treatment of Palmoplantar Psoriasis.

Copy: Palmoplantar psoriasis is a chronic, difficult-to-treat localized variant of psoriasis that affects the palms and soles, significantly affecting patient's quality of life. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the synergistic effect of a fixed-combination topical lotion composed of halobetasol propionate 0.01% and tazarotene 0.045% in the treatment of palmoplantar psoriasis. METHODS: This was an open-label investigator-initiated trial involving 21 patients with moderate-to-severe palmoplantar plaque-type psoriasis who underwent treatment with halobetasol propionate 0.01% and tazarotene 0.045%. Subjects were assessed for disease severity using the palmoplantar Physician Global Assessment and the mean difference over time was compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. RESULTS: 5 patients (24%) achieved a palmoplantar Physician Global Assessment of 0 or 1 after week 24 or last observation carried forward. The mean palmoplantar Physician Global Assessment significantly decreased from baseline (3.57) to week 24/last observation carried forward (2.38) (P<0.001). DISCUSSION: Halobetasol propionate 0.01% and tazarotene 0.045% lotion demonstrated efficacy in adult patients with moderate-to-severe palmoplantar plaque-type psoriasis through significant improvement in palmoplantar Physician Global Assessment. The complementary mechanisms of action of the corticosteroid and tazarotene may be of benefit compared to monotherapeutic agents. J Drugs Dermatol. 2023;22(2): 223-225. doi:10.36849/JDD.7067.

The Influence of the Normal Mammary Microenvironment on Breast Cancer Cells.

The tumor microenvironment is recognized as performing a critical role in tumor initiation, progression, and metastasis of many cancers, including breast cancer. The breast cancer microenvironment is a complex mixture of cells consisting of tumor cells, immune cells, fibroblasts, and vascular cells, as well as noncellular components, such as extracellular matrix and soluble products. The interactions between the tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment modulate tumor behavior and affect the responses of cancer patients to therapies. The interactions between tumor cells and the surrounding environment can include direct cell-to-cell contact or through intercellular signals over short and long distances. The intricate functions of the tumor microenvironment in breast cancer have led to increased research into the tumor microenvironment as a possible therapeutic target of breast cancer. Though expanded research has shown the clear importance of the tumor microenvironment, there is little focus on how normal mammary epithelial cells can affect breast cancer cells. Previous studies have shown the normal breast microenvironment can manipulate non-mammary stem cells and tumor-derived cancer stem cells to participate in normal mammary gland development. The tumorigenic cells lose their tumor-forming capacity and are "redirected" to divide into "normal", non-tumorigenic cells. This cellular behavior is "cancer cell redirection". This review will summarize the current literature on cancer cell redirection and the normal mammary microenvironment's influence on breast cancer cells.

Development of an Integrated Salt Cartridge-Reverse Electrodialysis (Red) Device to Increase Electrolyte Concentrations to Biomedical Devices.

Emerging technologies in nanotechnology and biomedical engineering have led to an increase in the use of implantable biomedical devices. These devices are currently battery powered which often means they must be surgically replaced during a patient's lifetime. Therefore, there is an important need for a power source that could provide continuous, stable power over a prolonged time. Reverse electrodialysis (RED) based biopower cells have been previously used to generate continuous power from physiologically relevant fluids; however, the low salinity gradient that exists within the body limited the performance of the biopower cell. In this study, a miniaturized RED biopower cell design coupled with a salt cartridge was evaluated for boosting the salt concentration gradient supplied to RED in situ. For the salt cartridge, polysulfone (PSf) hollow fibers were prepared in-house and saturated with NaCl solutions to deliver salt and thereby enhance the concentration gradient. The effect of operational parameters including solution flow rate and cartridge salt concentration on salt transport performance was evaluated. The results demonstrated that the use of the salt cartridge was able to increase the salt concentration of the RED inlet stream by 74% which in turn generated a 3-fold increase in the open circuit voltage (OCV) of the biopower cell. This innovative adaptation of the membrane-based approach into portable power generation could help open new pathways in various biomedical applications.

The effect of electron dose on positive polymethyl methacrylate resist for nanolithography of gold bowtie nanoantennas.

Plasmonic structures, such as bowtie nanoantennas, may be used in Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS). Nanoantennas can be employed to amplify the biomolecular and chemical reactions, which is useful for biomedical applications. The electric field created by nanoantennas are optimized when the resonant wavelength of the probed laser light closely matches the resonant wavelength of the plasmonic structure. In this work, we fabricated several bowtie nanoantennas with varying geometric spacing for use with a 532 nm wavelength laser line in Raman Spectroscopy. The fabrication utilized nanolithography by electron beam lithography on a Raith Voyager, development, deposition, and metal lift-off. This study explored a specific bowtie nanoantenna geometry of 270 nm equilateral sides triangle pairs with 3 varying gap sizes, 50 nm, 20 nm, and 10 nm, and the effect of varying electron beam doses on the final structure of the nanoantenna. The results presented here, will show that the working dose factor range is 6.5-10.3 (650-10,300 µC/cm2) for 120 nm thick polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), and with a 44.78% increase in dose, the footprint area increases between 5.9% and 10.7%.

Effect of Osteopathic Cranial Manipulative Medicine on an Aged Rat Model of Alzheimer Disease.

CONTEXT: In the aging brain, reduction in the pulsation of cerebral vasculature and fluid circulation causes impairment in the fluid exchange between different compartments and lays a foundation for the neuroinflammation that results in Alzheimer disease (AD). The knowledge that lymphatic vessels in the central nervous system play a role in the clearance of brain-derived metabolic waste products opens an unprecedented capability to increase the clearance of macromolecules such as amyloid ß proteins. However, currently there is no pharmacologic mechanism available to increase fluid circulation in the aging brain. OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the influence of an osteopathic cranial manipulative medicine (OCMM) technique, specifically, compression of the fourth ventricle, on spatial memory and changes in substrates associated with mechanisms of metabolic waste clearance in the central nervous system using the naturally aged rat model of AD. RESULTS: Significant improvement was found in spatial memory in 6 rats after 7 days of OCMM sessions. Live animal positron emission tomographic imaging and immunoassays revealed that OCMM reduced amyloid ß levels, activated astrocytes, and improved neurotransmission in the aged rat brains. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate the molecular mechanism of OCMM in aged rats. This study and further investigations will help physicians promote OCMM as an evidence-based adjunctive treatment for patients with AD.

A comparison of the lubrication behavior of whey protein model foods using tribology in linear and elliptical movement.

Lubrication is an important factor in the sensory evaluation of food products. Tribology provides a theoretical framework and instrumental methods for evaluating frictional properties between two moving surfaces and the lubrication behavior of products between these surfaces. Relating frictional measurements to sensory properties detected during oral processing requires careful and pertinent choices in surface materials and testing conditions. The aims of this study were to investigate: (a) differences in lubrication behavior of a range of food textures and (b) the differences between linear and elliptical movement and added saliva to understand the contribution of food structure to friction. Six whey protein model food samples, ranging in texture from fluid to semisolid to soft solid, were analyzed using a pin on disk tribometer to determine the coefficient of friction (COF) across a range of sliding speeds. The samples were analyzed in their initial form and post-oral processing (n = 4) in both linear and elliptical movements. Elliptical movement slightly decreased coefficients of friction and extended the shape of the friction curve. Increases in test food viscosity decreased the COF but differences in viscosity were not apparent when test foods were mixed with saliva. Data correction for viscosity shifted the friction curves horizontally, indicating that lubrication had a greater impact upon friction than viscosity. This study provides initial insights for further comparison of linear and elliptical movement with a variety of sample compositions. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Sensory perception of smoothness and creaminess are often major contributors to overall hedonic food liking and are a major reason why products high in fat and sugar are more highly preferred over other foods. These parameters are influenced by friction and lubrication between the tongue, palate, teeth, food products, and saliva during oral processing. Tribology provides an instrumental method to evaluate friction between moving surfaces that mimic oral surfaces and the lubrication behavior of foods. Trends in frictional measurements can be correlated with sensory ratings of the same foods to better understand why preferences exist for certain foods or food compositions and how to effectively improve the acceptability and enjoyment of healthier foods.

Caspase-11 Modulates Inflammation and Attenuates Toxoplasma gondii Pathogenesis.

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that is the etiologic agent responsible for toxoplasmosis. Infection with T. gondii results in activation of nucleotide binding domain and leucine rich repeat containing receptors (NLRs). NLR activation leads to inflammasome formation, the activation of caspase-1, and the subsequent cleavage of IL-1ß and IL-18. Recently, a noncanonical inflammasome has been characterized which functions through caspase-11 and appears to augment many biological functions previously considered to be dependent upon the canonical inflammasome. To better elucidate the function of this noncanonical inflammasome in toxoplasmosis, we utilized Asc (-/-) and Casp11 (-/-) mice and infected these animals with T. gondii. Our data indicates that caspase-11 modulates the innate immune response to T. gondii through a mechanism which is distinct from that currently described for the canonical inflammasome. Asc (-/-) mice demonstrated increased disease pathogenesis during the acute phase of T. gondii infection, whereas Casp11 (-/-) mice demonstrated significantly attenuated disease pathogenesis and reduced inflammation. This attenuated host response was associated with reduced local and systemic cytokine production, including diminished IL-1ß. During the chronic phase of infection, caspase-11 deficiency resulted in increased neuroinflammation and tissue cyst burden in the brain. Together, our data suggest that caspase-11 functions to protect the host by enhancing inflammation during the early phase of infection in an effort to minimize disease pathogenesis during later stages of toxoplasmosis.

Cocoa and Whey Protein Differentially Affect Markers of Lipid and Glucose Metabolism and Satiety.

Food formulation with bioactive ingredients is a potential strategy to promote satiety and weight management. Whey proteins are high in leucine and are shown to decrease hunger ratings and increase satiety hormone levels; cocoa polyphenolics moderate glucose levels and slow digestion. This study examined the effects of cocoa and whey proteins on lipid and glucose metabolism and satiety in vitro and in a clinical trial. In vitro, 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were treated with 0.5-100 µg/mL cocoa polyphenolic extract (CPE) and/or 1-15 mM leucine (Leu) and assayed for lipid accumulation and leptin production. In vivo, a 6-week clinical trial consisted of nine panelists (age: 22.6 ± 1.7; BMI: 22.3 ± 2.1) consuming chocolate-protein beverages once per week, including placebo, whey protein isolate (WPI), low polyphenolic cocoa (LP), high polyphenolic cocoa (HP), LP-WPI, and HP-WPI. Measurements included blood glucose and adiponectin levels, and hunger ratings at baseline and 0.5-4.0 h following beverage consumption. At levels of 50 and 100 µg/mL, CPE significantly inhibited preadipocyte lipid accumulation by 35% and 50%, respectively, and by 22% and 36% when combined with 15 mM Leu. Leu treatment increased adipocyte leptin production by 26-37%. In the clinical trial, all beverages significantly moderated blood glucose levels 30 min postconsumption. WPI beverages elicited lowest peak glucose levels and HP levels were significantly lower than LP. The WPI and HP beverage treatments significantly increased adiponectin levels, but elicited no significant changes in hunger ratings. These trends suggest that combinations of WPI and cocoa polyphenols may improve markers of metabolic syndrome and satiety.

A clinical guide to needle desensitization for the paediatric patient.

Needle phobia is a common problem encountered by dental practitioners and it can pose a challenge, especially in the paediatric patient. Needle desensitization can be used for patients who have needle fear or phobia and help them overcome this by repeated, non-threatening and controlled contacts. This paper will describe an accepted technique of needle desensitization and work through the steps required to achieve a successful outcome of local anaesthesia being delivered in a calm, safe and controlled manner. Clinical Relevance: Needle desensitization is an effective technique which can be used to enable a needle phobic patient to receive a dental injection.

Scalable holey graphene synthesis and dense electrode fabrication toward high-performance ultracapacitors.

Graphene has attracted a lot of attention for ultracapacitor electrodes because of its high electrical conductivity, high surface area, and superb chemical stability. However, poor volumetric capacitive performance of typical graphene-based electrodes has hindered their practical applications because of the extremely low density. Herein we report a scalable synthesis method of holey graphene (h-Graphene) in a single step without using any catalysts or special chemicals. The film made of the as-synthesized h-Graphene exhibited relatively strong mechanical strength, 2D hole morphology, high density, and facile processability. This scalable one-step synthesis method for h-Graphene is time-efficient, cost-efficient, environmentally friendly, and generally applicable to other two-dimensional materials. The ultracapacitor electrodes based on the h-Graphene show a remarkably improved volumetric capacitance with about 700% increase compared to that of regular graphene electrodes. Modeling on individual h-Graphene was carried out to understand the excellent processability and improved ultracapacitor performance.

Intimate partner violence among pregnant and parenting Latina adolescents.

The purpose of this study was to examine the nature and extent of mutual violence among a sample of pregnant and parenting Latina adolescent females and their partners. The sample consisted of 73 Latina adolescent females between the ages of 14 and 20 who were referred to a community-based organization for case management, education, and psychosocial support for pregnant and parenting adolescents. They completed the Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS-2) as part of a pretest to evaluate this intervention program. A small number (12 out of 73; 16%) reported no use of aggressive conflict tactics. Eighty-four percent (61 out of 73) of the study respondents reported using at least one form of minor psychological aggression and 62% (45 out of 73) reported using at least one form of minor physical assault over the past 6 months. Mutuality of conflict was high, especially in cases of minor assault by partner. There was no difference in severity or chronicity of conflict between those who were pregnant and those who were not. Female respondents reported that they and their partners engaged in comparable levels of sexual coercion. Discussion of the context of psychological, physical, and sexual aggression in adolescent relationships suggests alternative approaches to prevention of intimate partner violence among adolescents.

Hypodontia in a patient with actinic prurigo: a case report.

Actinic prurigo is a rare form of light sensitivity not previously described with hypodontia in the dental literature. The purpose of this report was to describe both the medical and dental management of a 12-year-old boy presenting with actinic prurigo, hypodontia, crowding, caries, and tooth tissue loss. The phases of dental treatment and the multidisciplinary treatment of hypodontia are discussed.

Facilitating coping behavior in children prior to dental general anesthesia: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to establish the efficacy of two different preparation packages, a paper-based cartoon and an interactive computer, at facilitating coping behavior in children undergoing dental general anesthetic (DGA) tooth extraction. METHOD: A total of 198 children were allocated randomly to computer, cartoon or control groups. A Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Modified Child Dental Anxiety Scale (MCDAS) were used to compare preoperative anxiety levels between the three study groups. Blinded observers then scored behavior at both anesthesia induction and upon recovery using a VAS for each (0 = coped/no distress and 10 = no coping/high distress). RESULTS: The children's median age was 5 (range 3-10) years, 57% were boys, a median of seven teeth were extracted (range 1-20). Preoperative anxiety was similar for all preparation groups; with 24% of all children categorized 'phobic' using MCDAS. The median induction (coping) VAS level for both the computer and the cartoon groups was '1' (range 0-10), compared with the control group level of '3' (range 0-10). The median recovery (coping) VAS levels were: computer group: 0 (range 0-10), cartoon group: 4 (range 0-10) and control group: 2.5 (range 0-10). The Mann-Whitney U-test showed that the computer group coped significantly better than the control group at induction (P = 0.014) and significantly better than the cartoon group upon recovery (P = 0.016). The statistical power for detecting differences between groups (computer/cartoon versus control) was calculated to be 90%, based on pilot study data. CONCLUSIONS: The computer preparation package facilitated coping behavior in children undergoing DGA induction.