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Allergy Nov 2022
Topics: Humans; Dermatitis, Atopic; Skin
PubMed: 35775320
DOI: 10.1111/all.15423 -
RSC Advances Aug 2018Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer and is globally rising. Historically, the diagnosis of skin cancers has depended on various conventional techniques which... (Review)
Review
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer and is globally rising. Historically, the diagnosis of skin cancers has depended on various conventional techniques which are of an invasive manner. A variety of commercial diagnostic tools and auxiliary techniques are available to detect skin cancer. This article explains in detail the principles and approaches involved for non-invasive skin cancer diagnostic methods such as photography, dermoscopy, sonography, confocal microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, terahertz spectroscopy, optical coherence tomography, the multispectral imaging technique, thermography, electrical bio-impedance, tape stripping and computer-aided analysis. The characteristics of an ideal screening test are outlined, and the authors pose several points for clinicians and scientists to consider in the evaluation of current and future studies of skin cancer detection and diagnosis. This comprehensive review critically analyses the literature associated with the field and summarises the recent updates along with their merits and demerits.
PubMed: 35542700
DOI: 10.1039/c8ra04164d -
Allergy Jan 2021Skin biopsies promote our understanding of atopic dermatitis/AD pathomechanisms in infants/toddlers with early-onset AD, but are not feasible in pediatric populations....
BACKGROUND
Skin biopsies promote our understanding of atopic dermatitis/AD pathomechanisms in infants/toddlers with early-onset AD, but are not feasible in pediatric populations. Tape strips are an emerging, minimally invasive alternative, but global transcriptomic profiling in early pediatric AD is lacking. We aimed to provide global lesional and nonlesional skin profiles of infants/toddlers with recent-onset, moderate-to-severe AD using tape strips.
METHODS
Sixteen tape strips were collected for RNA-seq profiling from 19 infants/toddlers (<5 years old; lesional and nonlesional) with early-onset moderate-to-severe AD (≤6 months) and 17 healthy controls.
RESULTS
We identified 1829 differentially expressed genes/DEGs in lesional AD and 662 DEGs in nonlesional AD, vs healthy skin (fold-change ≥2, FDR <0.05), with 100% sample recovery. Both lesional and nonlesional skin showed significant dysregulations of Th2 (CCL17 and IL4R) and Th22/Th17 (IL36G, CCL20, and S100As)-related genes, largely lacking significant Th1-skewing. Significant down-regulation of terminal differentiation (FLG and FLG2), lipid synthesis/metabolism (ELOVL3 and FA2H), and tight junction (CLDN8) genes were primarily seen in lesional AD. Significant negative correlations were identified between Th2 measures and epidermal barrier gene-subsets and individual genes (FLG with IL-4R and CCL17; r < -0.4, P < .05). Significant correlations were also identified between clinical measures (body surface area/BSA, pruritus ADQ, and transepidermal water loss/TEWL) with immune and barrier mRNAs in lesional and/or nonlesional AD (FLG/FLG2 with TEWL; r < -0.4, P < .05).
CONCLUSION
RNA-seq profiling using tape strips in early-onset pediatric AD captures immune and barrier alterations in both lesional and nonlesional skin. Tape strips provide insight into disease pathomechanisms and cutaneous disease activity.
Topics: Child; Child, Preschool; Dermatitis, Atopic; Eczema; Epidermis; Filaggrin Proteins; Gene Expression Profiling; Humans; Skin
PubMed: 32639640
DOI: 10.1111/all.14490 -
Heliyon Jun 2023Heat transfer in water with the help of solar energy is an effective way to harness renewable energy and reduce reliance on non-renewable sources of energy. The... (Review)
Review
Heat transfer in water with the help of solar energy is an effective way to harness renewable energy and reduce reliance on non-renewable sources of energy. The utilization of turbulent promoters is an efficient solution to ameliorate the performance of heat exchangers (HE). The current work summarizes the experimental and numerical behaviour of HE reported in the literature, including the thermal examinations of HT and fluid flow characteristics with various turbulent promoters and tube arrangements. This article reviews multiple studies in which different twisted tape (TT) geometry enhances the HT rate in various HE tubes. The current work also compares the thermal performance (η) of TT configurations in HE tubes using correlations developed by different investigators. Maximum heat transfer and minimum friction factor concerning fluid utilized in the system may also produce the optimal form for twisted tapes.
PubMed: 37274726
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e16390 -
The American Journal of Sports Medicine Dec 2023Reconstruction using autograft remains the gold standard surgical treatment for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. However, up to 10% to 15% of patients will...
BACKGROUND
Reconstruction using autograft remains the gold standard surgical treatment for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. However, up to 10% to 15% of patients will suffer a graft failure in the future. Cadaveric studies have demonstrated that the addition of suture tape augmentation to ACL autograft constructs can increase graft strength and reduce elongation under cyclical loading.
PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS
This study aimed to investigate the clinical outcomes and rerupture rates after ACL reconstruction (ACLR) with suture tape augmentation. We hypothesized that augmentation with suture tape would lead to lower rerupture rates.
STUDY DESIGN
Case series; Level of evidence, 4.
METHODS
Patients undergoing primary ACLR using hamstring or patellar tendon autografts augmented with suture tape between 2015 and 2019 were recruited prospectively. Patients with multiligament injuries or a concomitant lateral extra-articular procedure were excluded. Patients were observed in person for 6 months, and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) were collected at 2 and 5 years postoperatively. All patients were contacted, and records were reviewed to determine the incidence of graft failure. PROMs collected were as follows: Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), Veterans RAND 12-Item Health Survey (VR-12), Tegner and Marx activity scores, and visual analog scale for pain (VAS).
RESULTS
A total of 97 patients, with a mean age of 34.7 (±13.4) years, were included (76% men; 52 hamstring and 45 patellar tendon grafts). The mean graft diameter was 8 (±1) mm. There was 1 rerupture (1.1%) out of the 90 patients who were contactable at a mean of 5 years postoperatively. Median KOOS scores at 2 years were as follows: Pain, 94; Symptoms, 86; Activities of Daily Living, 99; Sport and Recreation, 82; and Quality of Life, 81. The postoperative scores were significantly higher than the preoperative scores ( < .001). The VR-12 Physical score improved from 43 preoperatively to 55 at 2 years and remained at 56 at 5 years. The VAS pain, Tegner, and Marx scores were 0, 6, and 9, respectively, at 2 years postoperatively. There was no difference in PROMs between graft types.
CONCLUSION
This study demonstrates encouraging results of suture tape augmentation of autograft ACLR for both hamstring and patellar tendon grafts. The failure rate of 1.1% at a mean follow-up of 5 years is lower than published rates for reconstruction, and PROMs results are satisfactory. The technique is safe to use and may permit a return to the preinjury sporting level with a lower chance of reinjury.
Topics: Male; Humans; Adult; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Activities of Daily Living; Quality of Life; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; Sutures; Autografts; Pain; Hamstring Tendons
PubMed: 37975527
DOI: 10.1177/03635465231207623 -
Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine Mar 2022Despite the increasing prevalence of tape-type sutures, whether internal knotless anchors can consistently affix tape-type sutures has not been thoroughly investigated.
BACKGROUND
Despite the increasing prevalence of tape-type sutures, whether internal knotless anchors can consistently affix tape-type sutures has not been thoroughly investigated.
PURPOSE
To evaluate whether substituting tape-type sutures for conventional sutures influences the suture-holding strength of internal knotless anchors.
STUDY DESIGN
Controlled laboratory study. Level of evidence, 5.
METHODS
A total of 3 internal knotless anchors were tested: a spiral core clamping anchor (Footprint Ultra PK), a winged clamping anchor (PopLok), and a spooling anchor (ReelX STT). Four constructs were compared for each type of anchor, with the anchor double or quadruple loaded with tape-type sutures or conventional sutures. The testing protocol comprised preloading suture tension to 10 N; cyclic loading, in which tension increased in increments of 10 N from 10 to 90 N; and a load-to-failure stage set at a speed of 0.5 mm/s. The clinical failure load (CFL) was defined as suture slippage of ≥3 mm. Also, 1-way analysis of variance and power analysis were used to compare the CFLs of the constructs.
RESULTS
For the quadruple-loaded spiral core clamping anchors, a significant reduction in CFLs was seen with conventional sutures over tape-type sutures (138.10 ± 4.73 vs 80.00 ± 12.25 N, respectively; < .001). This reduction was not observed under the double-loaded condition (conventional vs tape type: 76.00 ± 5.48 vs 80.00 ± 10.00 N, respectively). Substitution of the suture materials did not significantly reduce the CFLs for the winged clamping anchors (conventional vs tape type: 40.00 ± 10.00 vs 30.00 ± 7.07 N for double loaded, respectively, and 64.00 ± 13.41 vs 50.00 ± 10.00 N for quadruple loaded, respectively) or the spooling anchors (conventional vs tape type: 62.00 ± 19.23 vs 56.32 ± 20.20N for double loaded, respectively, and 72.00 ± 21.68 vs 84.00 ± 13.42 N for quadruple loaded, respectively).
CONCLUSION
Substituting tape-type sutures for conventional sutures increased the CFLs of some internal knotless anchors. With specific suture-anchor combinations, quadruple-loaded conventional suture anchors had CFLs higher than those of double-loaded conventional suture anchors.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE
When multiple tape-type sutures are used in conjunction with a clamping anchor, clinicians should note a possible reduction in CFLs and resultant early suture slippage.
PubMed: 35356310
DOI: 10.1177/23259671211072523 -
The Journal of Physiology Sep 1972
Topics: Action Potentials; Analog-Digital Conversion; Animals; Aorta; Blood Flow Velocity; Computers; Dogs; Electroencephalography; Neurons; Online Systems; Tape Recording; Ventricular Function
PubMed: 5074416
DOI: No ID Found -
Medicine and Science in Sports and... Dec 2014Taping techniques that aim to protect and reduce stress on an injured tissue during rehabilitation are common in sport. Called deloading tape, the mechanism of action is...
PURPOSE
Taping techniques that aim to protect and reduce stress on an injured tissue during rehabilitation are common in sport. Called deloading tape, the mechanism of action is hypothesized to involve effects ranging from direct mechanical deloading of the underlying soft tissues to psychological effects on confidence. There is no evidence that deloading tape has direct mechanical effects. This study used an elastographic technique (supersonic shear imaging) to test the hypothesis that deloading tape applied to the skin over the rectus femoris would reduce stress within the taped area of this muscle.
METHODS
Thirteen healthy volunteers participated in this experiment. Muscle shear elastic modulus was compared between three treatments (no tape, deloading tape, and sham tape) in four conditions: three conditions without muscle contraction at different rectus femoris muscle-tendon unit lengths (moderately stretched, highly stretched, and shortened) and during submaximal isometric leg extension.
RESULTS
Although there was no effect of treatment when the muscle was shortened (P = 0.99), the shear elastic modulus was significantly affected by treatment for the three other conditions (all P < 0.002). Muscle shear elastic modulus was significantly less during application of deloading tape than that during both the no tape and sham tape conditions (all P ≤ 0.001; e.g., vs no tape: moderately stretched, 8.4 ± 2.7 vs 6.7 ± 1.7 kPa; highly stretched, 25.2 ± 8.2 vs 14.4 ± 4.3 kPa; submaximal contraction, 21.3 ± 4.8 vs 14.2 ± 4.3 kPa).
CONCLUSIONS
Through the use of elastography, this is the first study to support the hypothesis that deloading tape reduces stress in the underlying muscle region, thereby providing a biomechanical explanation for the effect observed during rehabilitation in clinical practice (reduce pain, restore function, and aid recovery). Further investigations are necessary to confirm these results in injured tissues.
Topics: Adult; Athletic Tape; Biomechanical Phenomena; Elasticity Imaging Techniques; Female; Humans; Male; Muscle Contraction; Quadriceps Muscle; Rest; Stress, Physiological
PubMed: 24781888
DOI: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000000363 -
Allergy Jun 2024Tape-strips, a minimally invasive method validated for the evaluation of several skin diseases, may help identify asthma-specific biomarkers in the skin of children with...
INTRODUCTION
Tape-strips, a minimally invasive method validated for the evaluation of several skin diseases, may help identify asthma-specific biomarkers in the skin of children with allergic asthma.
METHODS
Skin tape-strips were obtained and analyzed with RNA-Seq from children with moderate allergic asthma (MAA) (n = 11, mean age 7.00; SD = 1.67), severe allergic asthma (SAA) (n = 9, mean age 9.11; SD = 2.37), and healthy controls (HCs) (n = 12, mean age 7.36; SD = 2.03). Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by fold change ≥2 with a false discovery rate <0.05. Transcriptomic biomarkers were analyzed for their accuracy in distinguishing asthma from HCs, their relationships with asthma-related outcomes (exacerbation rate, lung function-FEV1, IOS-R5-20, and lung inflammation-FeNO), and their links to skin (barrier and immune response) and lung (remodeling, metabolism, aging) pathogenetic pathways.
RESULTS
RNA-Seq captured 1113 in MAA and 2117 DEGs in SAA. Epidermal transcriptomic biomarkers for terminal differentiation (FLG/filaggrin), cell adhesion (CDH19, JAM2), lipid biosynthesis/metabolism (ACOT2, LOXL2) were significantly downregulated. Gene set variation analysis revealed enrichment of Th1/IFNγ pathways (p < .01). MAA and SAA shared downregulation of G-protein-coupled receptor (OR4A16, TAS1R3), upregulation of TGF-β/ErbB signaling-related (ACVR1B, EGFR, ID1/2), and upregulation of mitochondrial-related (HIGD2A, VDAC3, NDUFB9) genes. Skin transcriptomic biomarkers correlated with the annualized exacerbation rate and with lung function parameters. A two-gene classifier (TSSC4-FAM212B) was able to differentiate asthma from HCs with 100% accuracy.
CONCLUSION
Tape-strips detected epithelial barrier and asthma-associated signatures in normal-appearing skin from children with allergic asthma and may serve as an alternative to invasive approaches for evaluating asthma endotypes.
Topics: Humans; Asthma; Child; Biomarkers; Male; Female; Transcriptome; Gene Expression Profiling; Filaggrin Proteins; Epidermis; Child, Preschool; Skin
PubMed: 38375886
DOI: 10.1111/all.16060 -
Biomaterials Science Dec 2021We describe the synthesis of poly(glycidyl acetate--glycidyl butyrate carbonate)s the terpolymerization of glycidyl acetate (GA), glycidyl butyrate (GB), and CO by a...
We describe the synthesis of poly(glycidyl acetate--glycidyl butyrate carbonate)s the terpolymerization of glycidyl acetate (GA), glycidyl butyrate (GB), and CO by a cobalt salen complex in high atom economy. These new non-cytotoxic polycarbonates are pressure-sensitive adhesives, and peel testing shows the adhesive strength ranges from Scotch-Tape® to hot-melt glues based on glycidyl butyrate content. The tunable adherence, benign degradation products, and facile application and removal suggest their utility as temporary adhesives, such as those used in biomedical applications or medical devices. One polymer, (GA--GB)-87, exhibits the proper adhesive strength to sufficiently adhere a collagen buttress to the jaws of a steel surgical stapler and easily release the buttress after firing to successfully cut, close, and implant the buttress into lung tissue in an sheep model.
Topics: Adhesives; Animals; Cobalt; Glycerol; Materials Testing; Polymers; Sheep; Tissue Adhesives
PubMed: 34787119
DOI: 10.1039/d1bm00995h