Nevin Manimala

Cranio. 2022 Jul 11:1-9. doi: 10.1080/08869634.2022.2088575. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of splint therapy on masseter muscle and blood flow in patients with bruxism using ultrasonography (USG).

METHODS: Twenty female patients with bruxism receiving splint treatment were studied. Masseter thickness and elasticity were assessed using gray-scale USG and shear-wave elastography (kPa) at rest and maximum clenching. Blood flow parameters of external carotid artery (ECA), maxillary, facial, mental artery were examined using Doppler USG before and after splint application.

RESULTS: Thickness and elasticity of masseter muscle was statistically significantly decreased at rest after splint therapy (p < 0.05). Significant difference was determined only in some parameters of ECA and maxillary artery in Doppler USG before and after splint (p < 0.05); there was no difference for facial and mental artery (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Thickness and elasticity of masseter muscle were significantly decreased after splint therapy. USG can measure muscle activity and blood flow in bruxism patients.

PMID:35816105 | DOI:10.1080/08869634.2022.2088575

Faraday Discuss. 2022 Jul 11. doi: 10.1039/d2fd00068g. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

A combined experimental and theoretical study of quantum state-resolved rotational energy transfer kinetics of optically centrifuged CO molecules is presented. In the experiments, inverted rotational distributions of CO in rotational states up to J = 80 were prepared using two different optical centrifuge traps, one with the full spectral bandwidth of the optical centrifuge pulses, and one with reduced bandwidth. The relaxation kinetics of the high-J tail of the inverted distribution from each optical trap was determined based on high-resolution transient IR absorption measurements. In parallel studies, master equation simulations were performed using state-to-state rate constants for CO-CO collisions in states up to J = 90, based on data from double-resonance experiments for CO with J = 0-29 and a fit to a statistical power exponential gap model. The model is in qualitative agreement with the observed relaxation profiles, but the observed decay rate constants are smaller than the simulated values by as much as a factor of 10. The observed decay rate constants also have a stronger J-dependence than predicted by the model. The results are discussed in terms of angular momentum and energy conservation, and compared to the observed orientational anisotropy decay kinetics of optically centrifuged CO molecules. Models for rotational energy transfer could be improved by including angular momentum effects.

PMID:35816092 | DOI:10.1039/d2fd00068g

J Drugs Dermatol. 2022 Jul 1;21(7):713-716. doi: 10.36849/JDD.6967.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Although truncal acne is thought to have the same pathophysiology as facial acne, treatment response may differ based on body area involvement. Traditionally, prescribers have relied on oral therapies for the management of truncal acne, possibly because oral therapy has been considered more convenient than topical application of medication to the chest and back. A lotion formulation may be particularly well-suited for the treatment of truncal acne. Tazarotene lotion, 0.045% is FDA approved for treatment of acne vulgaris in individuals 9 years of age or older. This pilot study was designed to investigate the efficacy and safety of Arazlo lotion for the treatment of truncal acne.

STUDY FINDINGS: A total of 19 subjects ranging in age from 12 to 58 years completed the 12-week study. There were significant reductions in truncal IGA (the primary endpoint) at each of the study follow-up visits. At week 12, 89% of subjects were clear or almost clear, as assessed by truncal IGA score. There were statistically significant reductions in inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesion counts from baseline to week 12. Treatment with tazarotene lotion 0.045% was well-tolerated, with erythema, dryness, peeling, oiliness, pruritis, and burning generally rated as trace or mild. Most subjects (64% or more) rated the lotion as &ldquo;Good&rdquo; or &ldquo;Excellent&rdquo; in general and in comparison to their prior medications.

CONCLUSIONS: Tazarotene lotion, 0.045% is shown to be effective and well-tolerated for the management of truncal acne in this pilot study. Further studies with placebo control and larger populations are warranted. J Drugs Dermatol. 2022;21(7):713-716. doi:10.36849/JDD.6967.

PMID:35816073 | DOI:10.36849/JDD.6967

J Drugs Dermatol. 2022 Jul 1;21(7):783. doi: 10.36849/JDD.776.

ABSTRACT

The prevalence of female hair loss and hair thinning increases with advancing age and is most common among post-menopausal women. Recent statistics show that by age 60, an estimated 80% of women experience hair loss. A previous publication detailing the results of the 6-month randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase of this study demonstrated the ability of a nutraceutical supplement to significantly improve hair growth and shedding compared to placebo. Here, we present results from a subsequent 6-month, open-label extension phase assessing the continued safety and efficacy of this nutraceutical for promoting and improving hair growth and evaluate potential long-term benefits on quality of life and menopausal symptoms. After a total of 12 months with the active nutraceutical, subjects had progressive improvements in hair growth, quality, and shedding. Quality of life measures and menopausal symptoms also improved over the duration of the study. When transitioned to daily intake of the supplement, subjects previously treated with placebo achieved significant increases in all hair counts, a significant decrease in shedding, and significant improvement in blinded investigator global hair growth and quality assessments. The results of this long-term study demonstrate that continued use of a novel nutraceutical provides significant incremental improvement over the beneficial effects achieved during the initial 6-month randomized, placebo-controlled phase. Continued use may provide ongoing improvements in hair growth and exert a positive effect on secondary symptoms of menopause, and quality of life in perimenopausal, menopausal, and postmenopausal women with selfperceived thinning hair (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04048031). J Drugs Dermatol. 2022;21(7):776-783. doi:10.36849/JDD.6912.

PMID:35816069 | DOI:10.36849/JDD.776

Transl Vis Sci Technol. 2022 Jul 8;11(7):6. doi: 10.1167/tvst.11.7.6.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the genetic and clinical characteristics of eyes shut homolog (EYS)-associated retinitis pigmentosa (RP).

METHODS: This was a retrospective cross-sectional observational study of 36 patients with EYS-associated autosomal recessive RP (arRP).

RESULTS: The gene sequencing results revealed that c.6416G>A (p.Cys2139Tyr) and c.7228+1G>A were the two most predominant variants in our cohort and that variants near the C-terminus, which contains alternating laminin and epidermal growth factor (EGF) domains, accounted for the majority of the allele counts (58 of a total of 72) and relative allele frequencies (81%). Over half of the patients presented with pericentral-type RP (n = 19, 60%), which frequently occurred in combination with macular lesions (n = 10, 52%). Patients having both variants within the alternating laminin and EGF domains near the C-terminus had a more severe disease progression (average 0.045 logMAR increase per year) than those having one variant in the N-terminus and the other in the C-terminus (average 0.001 logMAR increase per year).

CONCLUSIONS: Pericentral RP was the major phenotype in patients with EYS-associated arRP. There was also a statistically significant relationship between the location of the variants and the severity of the disease.

TRANSLATIONAL RELEVANCE: This study may aid patients with EYS-associated arRP to predict future vision acuity based on their genetic and clinical features.

PMID:35816039 | DOI:10.1167/tvst.11.7.6

NMR Biomed. 2022 Jul 11:e4800. doi: 10.1002/nbm.4800. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Quantitative MRI can detect the early biochemical changes in the cartilage; however, the conventional techniques only measure one parameter (e.g., T₁ , T₂ , and T_1ρ ) at a time while being comparatively slow.

PURPOSE: We implement a 3D-magnetic resonance fingerprinting (3D-MRF) technique for simultaneous, volumetric mapping of T₁ , T_2, and T_1ρ in the knee articular cartilage under 9 minutes.

STUDY TYPE: Prospective.

FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: 3D-MRF pulse sequence for 3T.

SUBJECTS AND PHANTOM: 11 healthy volunteers (mean age: 53 ± 9) and 5 mild knee OA patients (KL:2, mean age: 60 ± 4) and NIST/ISMRM system phantom ASSESSMENT: Proton density (PD) image, and T₁ , T_2, T_1ρ relaxation times, and B₁⁺ were estimated in NIST/ISMRM system phantom as well as the human knee medial (MFC) and lateral (LFC) femur, medial (MTC) and lateral (LTC) tibia, and patellar cartilages (PC).

STATISTICAL TESTS: The repeatability and reproducibility of the proposed technique were assessed in the phantom using the analysis of the Bland-Altman plots. The intra-subject repeatability was assessed with the coefficient of variation (CV), and the root mean square CV (rmsCV). Mann-Whitney U test was used to assess the difference between healthy subjects and mild knee OA patients.

RESULTS: The Bland-Altman plots in the NIST/ISMRM phantom demonstrated an average difference of 0.001 ± 015%, 1.2 ± 7.1%, and 0.47 ± 3% between two scans from the same 3T scanner (repeatability), and 0.002 ± 015%, 0.62 ± 10.5%, and 0.97 ± 14% between the scans acquired on two different 3T scanners (reproducibility) for T₁ , T₂ , and T_1ρ , respectively. The in-vivo knee study showed excellent repeatability with rmsCV less than 1%, 2%, and 1% for T₁ , T₂ , and T_1ρ , respectively. T_1ρ relaxation time in the mild knee OA patients was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than in healthy subjects.

DATA CONCLUSION: The proposed 3D-MRF sequence is fast, reproducible, robust to B₁⁺ inhomogeneity, and can simultaneously measure the T₁ , T₂ , T_1ρ , and B₁⁺ volumetric maps of the knee joint in a single scan within clinically feasible scan time.

PMID:35815660 | DOI:10.1002/nbm.4800

Minim Invasive Ther Allied Technol. 2022 Jul 10:1-8. doi: 10.1080/13645706.2022.2094710. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study is to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of published studies to evaluate the efficacy and safety of computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous biopsy for retroperitoneal lesions. PubMed and the Cochrane Library were searched for English-language articles published up to October 2021 and reporting findings about patients with retroperitoneal lesions who underwent CT-guided percutaneous biopsy. The outcome measures assessed in this systematic review and meta-analysis are accuracy, false negative rate, and rate of minor and major complications. Heterogeneity among studies was evaluated by testing Cochran’s Q and the inconsistency index statistics. Seven studies published from 1975 to 2021 were selected for the analysis of accuracy, false negative rates, and rate of major and minor complications. The pooled accuracy of CT-guided percutaneous biopsy for retroperitoneal lesions was 93.6% [95% confidence interval (CI), 88.1-96.6%], with high heterogeneity. The pooled false negative rate was 6.3% (95% CI, 3.3-11.7%) with high heterogeneity. Pooled rates of minor and major complications were 3.7% (95% CI, 1.6-8.6%) with moderate heterogeneity and 0.7% (95% CI, 0.4-1.1%) with low heterogeneity, respectively. CT-guided percutaneous biopsy for retroperitoneal lesions has been reported to have high accuracy with a limited rate of major complications.

PMID:35815633 | DOI:10.1080/13645706.2022.2094710

Anat Histol Embryol. 2022 Jul 11. doi: 10.1111/ahe.12835. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Cartilage differentiates in rat limb buds cultivated in a chemically defined protein-free medium in the same manner as in the richer serum-supplemented medium. We aimed to investigate the remaining differentiation potential of pre-cultivated limb buds by subsequent transplantation in vivo. Rat front (FLBs) and hind-limb buds (HLBs) were isolated from Fischer rat dams at the 14th gestation day (GD 14) and cultivated at the air-liquid interface in Eagle’s Minimum Essential Medium (MEM) alone; with 5 μM of 5-azacytidine (5azaC) or with rat serum (1:1). Overall growth was measured seven times during the culture by an ocular micrometre. After 14 days, explants were transplanted under the kidney capsule of adult males. Growth of limb buds was significantly lower in all limb buds cultivated in MEM than in those cultivated with serum. In MEM with 5azaC, growth of LBs was significantly lower only on day 3 of culture. Afterwards, it was higher throughout the culture period, although a statistically significant difference was assessed only for HLBs. In transplants, mixed structures developed with the differentiated transmembranous bone, cartilage with enchondral ossification, bone-marrow, sebaceous gland, and hair that have never been found in vitro. Nerves differentiated only in transplants precultivated in the serum-supplemented medium. We conclude that pre-cultivation of LBs in a chemically defined protein-free medium does not restrict osteogenesis and formation of epidermal appendages but is restrictive for neural tissue. These results are important for understanding limb development and regenerative medicine strategies.

PMID:35815632 | DOI:10.1111/ahe.12835

Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol. 2022 Jul 10. doi: 10.1055/s-0042-1750433. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of pedicle screw placement at the canine lumbosacral junction using a novel unilateral three-dimensional printed patient-specific guide (3D-PSG) versus a freehand drilling technique. Additionally, accuracy of screw placement between a novice and an experienced surgeon was determined.

STUDY DESIGN: Preoperative computed tomography images from 20 lumbosacral cadaveric specimens were used to design a novel unilateral 3D-PSG for the L7 and sacral vertebrae which was printed in acryl-nitrile butadiene styrene plastic. A novice and an expert surgeon each placed 3.5mm cortical screws in 10 cadavers; on the left using the unilateral 3D-PSG and by the freehand (anatomic landmark) technique on the right.

RESULTS: Sixty screws were placed using the unilateral 3D-PSG and 60 using the freehand technique. There was no statistical difference in accuracy for the comparison between methods performed by the expert (p = 0.679) and novice (p = 0.761) surgeon, nor between an expert and novice surgeon overall (p = 0.923). Unexpectedly, the use of a unilateral 3D-PSG increased variability for the expert surgeon in our study (p = 0.0314).

CONCLUSION: Using a novel unilateral 3D-PSG did not improve the accuracy of screw placement for lumbosacral stabilization by a novice surgeon compared with an expert surgeon in lumbar spine surgery. This may reflect a suboptimal PSG design.

PMID:35815627 | DOI:10.1055/s-0042-1750433

Hand (N Y). 2022 Jul 9:15589447221105540. doi: 10.1177/15589447221105540. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Many techniques are used for digital nerve repair, most commonly coaptation by sutures. Nerve repairs must be strong while offering an environment for nerve regeneration. Sutures can damage the nerve and thereby limit growth and regeneration. Sutures can rip and cause sudden catastrophic failure. Fibrin glue and conduit-wraps allow a good environment for growth, but neither provides much strength. A benefit to conduit repair would arise if the repair maintained integrity after the peak load so that the path for regrowth stayed in place. The goal for this study was to determine whether conduit with glue provides continued strength after a maximum load is reached.

METHODS: Digital cadaveric nerves were harvested and repaired with 2 epineurial sutures, conduit, and fibrin glue in all combinations. Tests to failure were performed, gap displacement between nerve ends recorded, and the postpeak load energy to dissociation of the nerve and conduit was calculated.

RESULTS: Conduit with glue and 2 sutures at the end had the greatest energy and displacement after the peak load but was not significantly different than conduit with glue and 1 suture. Conduit with glue alone obtained statistically the same displacement as conduit with glue and 2 sutures. Conduit, with or without glue, and 2 sutures was statistically the same as suture only repair for peak load.

CONCLUSION: Conduit/wrap maintains a load capacity and a path for nerve regeneration after the peak. Suture at the ends of conduit, not at the coaptation site, reduces damage at the point of injury.

PMID:35815624 | DOI:10.1177/15589447221105540