Evaluation of the effect of several moisturizing creams using the low frequency electrical susceptance approach.

Moisturizers are cosmetic compounds designed to increase the moisture content of the skin. There are many types of these products in the market making it difficult for consumers to select the most effective moisturizer according to their age and gender. Hence, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different moisturizers on skin hydration as well as to figure out any dependencies of the effects of these products on age or gender-related differences. We investigated the short-term moisturizing effects of five different skin moisturizers on 60 participants by using a low frequency electrical instrument. Skin surface susceptance was recorded and compared before and after the application of moisturizers. Statistically significant differences were observed in the moisturizing effect among different types of products. However, with respect to gender and age differences, there were insignificant differences in the effects of the moisturizers. Results of this study suggest that some types of moisturizers that exist in the markets are not as effective as required, which calls for a further evaluation of the moisturizers before entering markets and offering them for sale. In addition, findings suggest that gender or age differences are perhaps not important to consider in the application of moisturizers.

Pre-contrast T1 and cartilage thickness as confounding factors in dGEMRIC when evaluating human cartilage adaptation to physical activity.

BACKGROUND: The dGEMRIC (delayed Gadolinium-Enhanced MRI of Cartilage) technique has been used in numerous studies for quantitative in vivo evaluation of the relative glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content in cartilage. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of pre-contrast T1 and cartilage thickness when assessing knee joint cartilage quality with dGEMRIC. METHODS: Cartilage thickness and T1 relaxation time were measured in the central part of the femoral condyles before and two hours after intravenous Gd-DTPA2- administration in 17 healthy volunteers from a previous study divided into two groups: 9 sedentary volunteers and 8 exercising elite runners. Results were analyzed in superficial and a deep weight-bearing, as well as in non-weight-bearing regions of interest. RESULTS: In the medial compartment, the cartilage was thicker in the exercising group, in weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing segments. In most of the segments, the T1 pre-contrast value was longer in the exercising group compared to the sedentary group. Both groups had a longer pre-contrast T1 in the superficial cartilage than in the deep cartilage. In the superficial cartilage, the gadolinium concentration was independent of cartilage thickness. In contrast, there was a linear correlation between the gadolinium concentration and cartilage thickness in the deep cartilage region. CONCLUSION: Cartilage pre-contrast T1 and thickness are sources of error in dGEMRIC that should be considered when analysing bulk values. Our results indicate that differences in cartilage structure due to exercise and weight-bearing may be less pronounced than previously demonstrated.

In vivo transport of Gd-DTPA(2-) in human knee cartilage assessed by depth-wise dGEMRIC analysis.

PURPOSE: To investigate the transport of Gd-DTPA(2-) in different layers of femoral knee cartilage in vivo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: T(1) measurements (1.5 Tesla) were performed in femoral knee cartilage of 23 healthy volunteers. The weight-bearing central cartilage was analyzed before contrast and at eight time points after an intravenous injection of Gd-DTPA(2-) : 12-60 min (4 volunteers) and 1-4 h (19 volunteers). Three regions of interest were segmented manually: deep, middle, and superficial. RESULTS: Before contrast injection, a depth-wise variation of T(1) was observed with 50% higher values in the superficial region compared with the deep region. In the deep region, the uptake of Gd-DTPA(2-) was not detected until 36 min and the concentration increased until 240 min, whereas in the superficial region, the uptake was seen already at 12 min and the concentration decreased after 180 min (P < 0.01). There was a difference between medial and lateral compartment regarding bulk, but not superficial Gd-DTPA(2-) concentration. The bulk gadolinium concentration was negatively related to the cartilage thickness (r = -0.68; P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The depth-wise and thickness dependent variations in Gd-DTPA(2) transport influence the interpretation of bulk dGEMRIC analysis in vivo. In thick cartilage, incomplete penetration of Gd-DTPA(2) will yield a falsely too long T(1) .

ErbB expression, activation, and inhibition with lapatinib and tyrphostin (AG825) in human vestibular schwannomas.

BACKGROUND: Pharmacologic agents targeted against the ErbB family, or the intracellular pathways that mediate their effects, could slow clinical progression of vestibular schwannoma (VS) in patients where other modalities carry a high risk-to-benefit ratio. OBJECTIVE: Determine the identity of the predominant ErbB dimer partners in VS tumors and assess the effects of targeted inhibition of the ErbB molecules on VS growth and proliferation, as well as apoptosis. SETTING: Academic tertiary referral center. METHODS: Coimmunoprecipitation and Western blotting of VS tissue, in vitro BrdU assays of proliferation in the presence of lapatinib and tyrphostin (AG825) using primary VS cultures, and annexin V cell death assays and cell cycle assays using propidium iodide staining were performed on HEI193 cell line derived from an neurofibromatosis type 2-associated VS. RESULTS: Activated ErbB family receptor heterodimers in VS contain predominantly epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and ErbB2. A robust, dose-dependent inhibition of VS growth and proliferation with the dual EGFR/ErbB2 inhibitor, lapatinib, was demonstrated. Lapatinib also inhibited EGF-induced VS proliferation. The selective ErbB2 inhibitor, AG825, inhibited growth to a lesser extent. HEI193 demonstrated apoptosis after lapatinib treatment. CONCLUSION: Dual EGFR and ErbB2 inhibition with lapatinib or combination therapy may provide therapeutic benefit in VS treatment, but further studies are necessary.

Estrogen receptor expression in sporadic vestibular schwannomas.

HYPOTHESIS: We hypothesize that vestibular schwannomas (VSs) exhibit up-regulation of estrogen receptor (ER) at the protein level compared with control great auricular nerve (GAN). BACKGROUND: It has been reported in the literature that VS occur more commonly in women and tend to be larger and more vascular in women, and growth rate can accelerate during pregnancy. The literature contains widely divergent results on ER expression in VS, however, varying from no detectable levels to detection of ER in all samples. METHODS: Sixteen sporadic VS specimens were immediately snap-frozen after microsurgical excision and analyzed for phosphorylated and total levels of ERα with Western blot analysis. ERα expression levels were normalized to actin; then, relative expression to GAN was determined. RESULTS: All VS specimens exhibited expression of both phosphorylated and total ERα. Total ERα expression in VS is equivalent to or slightly up-regulated compared with GAN. VS specimens exhibited more pronounced up-regulation of phosphorylated (i.e., activated) levels of ERα compared with GAN. CONCLUSION: We have demonstrated that ERα expression in VS is equivalent to GAN. The phosphorylated form of the receptor is up-regulated compared with GAN, however, indicating a higher level of ERα activation in sporadic VS compared with normal nerve. Further investigation into antiestrogen therapy for VS is warranted.

p73 expression and function in vestibular schwannoma.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the expression of the p53 family member p73 in vestibular schwannoma (VS) and to determine the potential role of this tumor suppressor in regulating the proliferation of HEI193, a human papillomavirus E6-E7 immortalized VS cell line. METHODS: Immunohistochemical staining was used to investigate the expression of p73 in 34 cases of archived VS tissue, while Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence were performed to demonstrate the expression and localization of p73 in HEI193. After transfection of a full-length p73 plasmid (TAp73alpha), flow cytometry analysis was performed to determine the effect of p73 expression on cell cycle distribution, while annexin V-FITC (fluorescein isothiocyanate) analysis and TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling) assay were used to measure apoptosis. The effect of p73 expression on ionizing radiation-induced cell death was also investigated with annexin V staining, TUNEL assay, and flow cytometry analysis. RESULTS: Of the 34 vestibular schwannoma tissues examined, p73 was expressed in 14 (41%) but was not expressed in HEI193. Transfection of p73 alone resulted in increased apoptosis and necrosis, and G(1) accumulation with concomitant induction of p21. The presence of p73 also significantly increased early apoptosis (P = .046), late apoptosis (P < .001), and necrosis (P = .009) on exposure of the HEI193 cells to ionizing radiation. CONCLUSION: Forced expression of p73, perhaps by gene therapy, to induce apoptosis directly or to sensitize VS tumors to ionizing radiation may have relevant therapeutic applications.

[Risk of embolism in diagnostic and therapeutic intravascular procedures--in vitro model]. / Embolia veszélye terápiás és diagnosztikus intravascularis beavatkozásoknál--in vitro modell.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the risk of distal embolisation in a silicon model during different endovascular diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Endovascular technics, such as guidewire and catheter advancement, metal stent placement, balloon angioplasty and thrombectomy device were compared. Clots were produced from human blood sample. The transparent silicon model was filled with saline, flow was generated by an hydraulic pump. Stenosis was created by mechanical compression. The size of the circulating particles were measured with a mesh of nylon filters. No loose particles were detected using guidewire, pigtail and straight catheters. Balloon inflation induced embolisation of particles ranging from 100 microns-12 mm in length. Deployment of self expandable metallic stents did not result in particle migration but secondary angioplasty inside the stent detached particles (ranging from 400 microns to 12 mm in length). Use of thrombectomy device resulted in significant particle migration (ranging from 400 microns to 1500 microns in length).

The role of STIR MRI sequence in the evaluation of the breast following conservative surgery and radiotherapy.

The purpose of the study was to define the value of fat suppressed STIR sequence in the MRI of the conserved breast. To our knowledge, this study is the first clinical evaluation of STIR sequence in post-therapy conditions. Forty patients with early (T1-2, N0-1) invasive breast cancer underwent conservative surgery and postoperative radiotherapy. Routine follow-up examinations, including physical examination and mammography were supplemented with breast MRI in all cases 6-166 months (mean 27.6) after initial treatments. Three patients had bilateral cancer. Including follow-up (9 patients) MRI examinations, altogether 53 MRIs were available for analysis. An 0.5 T MRI (Elscint, Haifa, Israel) was used with double breast coil. Axial T1 and T2 weighted spin echo, STIR and 3D gradient echo dynamic sequences were performed. Pre- and postcontrast slices underwent serial subtraction. Twenty-eight circumscribed lesions were identified. All were well visualised on STIR sequence, regardless of histologic nature of lesions. One low grade DCIS was not detected by any sequence. Differential diagnosis between benign and malignant lesions was not possible by STIR sequence alone. STIR sequence was found to be more sensitive in the detection of treatment related breast edema and fluid collection, than T2 SE (spin-echo) sequence. Even the patients who were not good candidates for subtracted contrast enhanced dynamic studies - because of motion artefacts - could have been examined with satisfactory results. STIR is a very sensitive sequence for depicting circumscribed lesions and post-therapy complications, but not suitable for differentiation. It is a useful tool in the follow-up of patients with conserved breast subjected to radiotherapy.

In vitro evaluation of the embolic risk of diagnostic and therapeutic intravascular procedures.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the risk of distal embolisation in a silicon model during different endovascular diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Endovascular technics, such as guidewire and catheter advancement, metal stent placement and balloon angioplasty were compared. Clots were produced from human blood sample. The transparent silicon model was filled with saline, flow was generated by an hydraulic pump. Stenosis was created by mechanical compression. The size of the circulating particles were measured with a mesh of nylon filters. RESULTS: No loose particles were detected using guidewire, pigtail and straight catheters. Balloon inflation induced embolisation of particles ranging from 100 microns to 10 mm in length. Deployment of self expandable metallic stents did not result in particle migration but secondary angioplasty inside the stent detached particles (ranging from 400 microns to 12 mm in length). Deployment of balloon expandable stent yielded in the stretching of the clot, which became sometimes longer than the stent, resulting in the detachment of the non covered portion. CONCLUSION: The risk of distal embolisation during guide-wires and catheters manipulation is not significant. Balloon catheters and secondary angioplasty after deployment of self-expanding stents caused large particles detachment.

In vitro evaluation of a new rotational thrombectomy device: the Straub Rotarex catheter.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of a new rotational thrombectomy device, and the procedure-related risk of particle embolization. METHODS: The experiments were performed in transparent silicone tubes. The conditions of flow were as close as possible to physiological parameters. Distal embolization was detected by a mesh of nylon filters. RESULTS: The Straub Rotarex catheter was able to remove all clots. The mean number of migrating particles larger than 1000 microm was 0.17 (+/- 0.38), the mean number of 400-1000 microm migrating particles was 1.08 (+/- 1.04). The mean intervention time was 67 (+/- 37) sec. The mean volume of collected liquid was 96.6 (+/- 24.7) ml. CONCLUSION: The in vitro results suggest that the Straub Rotarex catheter is able to remove large volumes of thrombus with a limited risk of embolization. The main limitation of our model is the absence of adhesion of the clot to the tube.

[A new, more invasive approach in the radiation diagnosis of breast cancer]. / A korai emlörák legújabb szemléletü, fokozottan invazív radiológiai diagnosztikája.

The authors discuss the state-of-the-art techniques and the increasingly invasive approach to the diagnosis of breast diseases and also summarise their own experiences. Special attention is called to the nonpalpable, preclinical stage of breast cancers. The newest techniques like MR-mammography, stereo-taxic and ultrasound directed cytology and core biopsy are demonstrated, as well as the present place of traditional breast imaging methods: mammography and diagnostic ultrasound. The preoperative localisation of nonpalpable cancers improves the safety of surgical procedures. The authors emphasize the importance of the detection of early breast cancer, for the sake of a more favourable prognosis compared to that of the palpable, advanced cases. The results of mass screening is detailed, based on statistical data.