Poly-L-Lactic Acid for Gluteal Augmentation found to be Safe and Effective in Retrospective Clinical Review of 60 Patients.

BACKGROUND: Poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) is a well-established biostimulator that induces neocollagenesis, allowing for volume loss correction. Although PLLA is FDA approved to treat mid-to-lower facial wrinkling, it has grown increasingly popular as a nonsurgical, minimally invasive procedure for soft-tissue volume augmentation of other extremities. However, research detailing PLLA buttock injections is still lacking. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to determine the safety and efficacy of PLLA for buttock augmentation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A clinical retrospective review of 60 patients (ages 23-54 years) were followed for 2 years by 2 investigators. Patients underwent 1 to 3 treatments, spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart, and received 2 to 12 vials per session (based on the patient budget). Pretreatment and post-treatment photographs were assessed by the primary and secondary investigator in blinded and double-blinded surveys, respectively. The Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale was used to quantify improvements in volume, skin texture, and cellulite dimpling. RESULTS: Poly-L-lactic acid allows for visible volume amplification, improved skin texture, and softened cellulite dimpling in the buttocks when at least 20 vials are used. CONCLUSION: Poly-L-lactic acid is safe and effective for overall aesthetic enhancement of the buttocks if used in adequate quantity (minimum 20 vials) for all women, independent of age or the number of sessions.

Correlation between intraoperative proximal segment rotation and post-sagittal split ramus osteotomy relapse: a three-dimensional cone beam computed tomography study.

This study evaluated the effects of proximal segment rotation and the extent of mandibular setback on post-sagittal split ramus osteotomy (SSRO) relapse using three-dimensional (3D) analysis. Thirty-one patients diagnosed with a skeletal class III malocclusion who underwent SSRO alone were enrolled in this study. The movements of the mandibular condyles were assessed using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and a 3D imaging program at ≤1 month before the operation (T0), 1 week after the operation (T1), and 6 months (T2) and 1year (T3) postoperative. Yaw and roll were increased at T1 as compared to T0. However, the proximal segments reverted to their original positions between T2 and T3. There was a positive correlation between the extent of the posterior movement of the mandible and relapse at 6 months and 1year postoperative. Although the proximal bone segments showed displacement in three dimensions at T1, they reverted to their original positions over time. In addition, although there was a positive correlation between the extent of the posterior movement of the mandible and the occurrence of post-surgical relapse at 6 months and 1year post-surgery, the rotation of the proximal bone segment during surgery had no relationship with postoperative relapse.

Met degradation by SAIT301, a Met monoclonal antibody, reduces the invasion and migration of nasopharyngeal cancer cells via inhibition of EGR-1 expression.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a common malignant tumor with high invasive and metastatic potential. The hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)-Met signaling pathway has a critical role in mediating the invasive growth of many different types of cancer, including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. HGF also stimulates NPC cell growth and invasion in the cell line model. In this study, we determined the inhibitory effect of Met, using a Met-targeting monoclonal antibody (SAIT301), on the invasive and growth potential of NPC cell lines. Met inhibition by SAIT301 resulted in highly significant inhibition of cell migration and invasion in both the HONE1 and HNE1 cell lines. In addition, we also found that co-treatment of SAIT301 and HGF decreased the anchorage-independent growth induced by HGF in HNE1 cell lines. After SAIT301 treatment, Met, together with its downstream signaling proteins, showed downregulation of p-Met and p-ERK, but not p-AKT, in both HONE1 and HNE1 cell lines. Interestingly, we found that HGF treatment of NPC cell lines induced early growth response protein (EGR-1) expression, which is involved in cell migration and invasion. In addition, co-treatment with SAIT301 and HGF inhibited the HGF-induced expression of EGR-1. Next, knockdown of EGR-1 using small-interfering RNA inhibited HGF-induced cell invasion in NPC cell lines, suggesting that the expression level of EGR-1 is important in HGF-induced cell invasion of NPC cells. Therefore, the results support that SAIT301 inhibited Met activation as well as the downstream EGR-1 expression and could have therapeutic potential in NPC. Taken together, we suggest that Met is an anticancer therapeutic target for NPC that warrants further investigation and clinical trials and SAIT301 may be a promising tool for NPC therapy.

Dermatomyositis: Clinical Profile And Association with Malignancies in 43 Patients

Introduction: Dermatomyositis is a rare idiopathic inflammatory myopathy with distinctive cutaneous manifestations. This study aims to determine the demographic characteristics, clinical features and associated malignancies in patients with dermatomyositis. Materials & Methods: Dermatomyositis is a rare idiopathic inflammatory myopathy with distinctive cutaneous manifestations. This study aims to determine the demographic characteristics, clinical features and associated malignancies in patients with dermatomyositis. Results: Forty-three cases were identified, with female to male ratio of 1.26:1. Mean age of onset was 47.8 +18.0 years. Malay and Chinese patients made up the bulk of the patients, contributing 53.5% and 44.2% respectively. Photosensitive rash was the commonest clinical presentation, occurring in 55.8% of the patients, followed by Gottron’s papules (46.5%), heliotrope rash (44.2%), alopecia (23.3%) and calcinosis (9.3%). Median Creatinine Kinase level was 293IU/L (interquartile range 89-1166), Lactate Dehydrogenase 641IU/L (interquartile range 459-986) and Aspartate Transaminase 70.5IU/L (interquartile range 41.5-156.25). Concomitant malignancies occurred in 14 patients (32.5%), the commonest being nasopharyngeal carcinoma (6 patients), followed by gastrointestinal tumours (3 patients), breast cancer (2 patients) and lymphoproliferative disorders (2 patients) and lung cancer (1 patient). Of these 14 patients, malignancies were detected in 10 patients within the first year, and 2 patients within the second year after diagnosis of DM. Two patients had malignancies diagnosed within 6 months prior to the diagnosis of DM. Malignancy accounts for 64.7% of the 17 mortalities recorded. The proportion of Malay patients with paraneoplastic dermatomyositis with respect to the total number of Malay new clinic attendees over the past 13 years is 7 in 10,000 persons whereas in Chinese patients, the proportion is 15 in 10,000 persons. Conclusion: Malignancy is found in about a third of all patients, with Chinese predisposition seen. This could explain why nasopharyngeal carcinoma is most prevalent in our centre.

A novel mesoporous biomaterial for treating dentin hypersensitivity.

An ideal material has yet to be discovered that can completely treat dentin hypersensitivity; however, calcium phosphate precipitation has exhibited potential value for the treatment of dentin hypersensitivity by the occlusion of dentinal tubules. We hypothesized that a novel mesoporous silica biomaterial (nano CaO@mesoporous silica, NCMS) containing nano-sized calcium oxide particles mixed with 30% phosphoric acid can efficiently occlude dentinal tubules and significantly reduce dentin permeability, even with the presence of pulpal pressure. This highly supersaturated Ca(2+)-and HPO(4)(2-)ion-containing NCMS paste was brushed onto dentin surfaces, and the ions diffused deeply into the dentinal tubules and formed a CaHPO(4).2H(2)O precipitation with a depth of 100 microm. The results of the dentin permeability tests showed that the novel mesoporous material exhibited a significant reduction in dentin permeability (p < 0.05), even under simulated pulpal pressure, as compared with our previously developed material, DP-bioglass, and a commercial desensitizing material, Seal & Protect.

Pigeon allergens in indoor environments: a preliminary study.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have measured pigeon allergens in non pigeon coop environments. This study was conducted to determine approximate pigeon dropping allergen concentrations in indoor environments. METHODS: Polyclonal antibody serum was prepared by injecting a rabbit three times with crude wild pigeon dropping extract in 50 mM Tris buffer with Freund's adjuvant. One hundred and fifteen dust samples were collected in a pigeon-infested school, pigeon coops, homes and hospitals and analyzed by a direct competitive pigeon enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: The highest level of pigeon allergen inhibitory activity were recorded in four samples from pigeon coop bedding samples with a median activity of 11.2% relative to pigeon droppings. The second highest level of pigeon allergens was in a pigeon-infested high school with a median or 7.4% activity relative to pigeon droppings. At an entrance underneath pigeon roosts, one sample had a relative inhibitory activity of 62.3%. Pigeon allergen inhibitory levels were generally low in the home and hospital samples, but nevertheless 46 out of 89 of these samples were still above detection limit. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that large concentrations of pigeon allergens can be found in buildings without domestic pigeons such as the pigeon-infested high school.

Efficient approach to 4-oxo-2-alkenylphosphonates via regiospecific friedel-crafts acylation

Treatment of allylic and vinylic phosphonates with excess LiHMDS, followed by addition of chlorotrimethylsilane, afforded alpha- and gamma- silylated allylic phosphonate mixtures. Without separation, these mixtures underwent the Friedel-Crafts reaction and base-promoted isomerization to give 4-oxo-2-alkenylphosphonates, which can serve as building blocks for the construction of polyethylenic chains.