42 research outputs found
The use of chemical peelings in the treatment of different cutaneous hyperpigmentations
No full textBACKGROUND. Several chemical agents including hydroquinone, retinoic acid, and azelaic acid are currently used in the treatment of cutaneous hyperpigmentations. Recently chemical peelings with kojic acid, glycolic acid, and trichloroacetic acid, either alone or in combination, have been introduced for treatment of hyperpigmentations. OBJECTIVE. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of trichloroacetic acid as well as glycolic acid associated with kojic acid in the treatment of cutaneous hyperpigmentations. METHODS. Twenty patients with diffuse melasma were treated with a solution composed of 50% glycolic acid and 10% kojic acid whereas 20 patients with localized hyperpigmentations (lentigo) were treated with 15%-25% trichloroacetic acid. RESULTS. Complete regression of diffuse melasma was observed in 6 of 20 patients (30%), a partial regression in 12 of 20 patients (60%), and no regression in 2 of 20 patients (10%) treated with 50% glycolic acid and 10% kojic acid. Complete regression of localized hyperpigmentations was observed in 8 of 20 patients (40%), a partial regression in 10 of 20 patients (50%), and no regression in 2 of 20 patients (10%) treated with 15-25% trichloroacetic acid. CONCLUSIONS. Based on our findings, both peelings can be considered effective in the treatment of cutaneous hyperpigmentations
3D bioprinting as a tool for the early correction of leather defects in the tanning industry
No full text3D bioprinting not only has paved the way for advances in life sciences and healthcare but it is also emerging as a key driver behind an ongoing paradigm shift in the production process of various industrial domains, ranging from food to fashion. The potential of such technology is underexplored and this work assesses 3D bioprinting as a valuable approach for developing novel and more effective solutions for leather defect correction during the animal-leather tanning process, with the aim at increasing the outlet market for tanneries
Inter-hemispheric functional coupling of eyes-closed resting EEG rhythms in adolescents with Down syndrome
No full textWe tested the hypothesis that inter-hemispheric directional functional coupling of eyes-closed resting EEG rhythms is abnormal in adolescents with Down syndrome (DS)
Successful radiofrequency ablation determines atrio-ventricular remodelling and improves systo-diastolic function at tissue Doppler-imaging
No full textBackground: Clinical, echocardiographic results and determinants of atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence following AF ablation during mitral valve surgery (AFAMVS) were evaluated. Methods: Fifty-two patients undergoing radiofrequency AFAMVS between January 2003 and December 2005, underwent serial echocardiographies with tissue Doppler imaging to assess atrio-ventricular function. Recurrence of AF, hospital readmission, episodes of congestive heart failure (CHF) were recorded. Predictors for AF-recurrence were evaluated. Results: At a 29.5 +/- 8.6 months of follow-up (100% complete), 78.8% patients were in sinus rhythm (SR). Freedom from AF-recurrence was 64.6 +/- 0.76%, from hospital readmission 88.9 +/- 0.47%, from CHF 91.6 +/- 0.63%. SR-patients demonstrated better freedom from hospital readmission (97.4 vs 60.6%; p = 0.0003) and from CHF (100 vs 72.7%; p = 0.008) during follow-up. At follow-up SR-patients demonstrated left atrial (preoperative 5.8 +/- 0.8 cm vs follow-up 5.1 +/- 0.9; p = 0.013) and ventricular reverse remodelling (preoperative LVDd 5.7 +/- 1.1 cm vs follow-up 5.2 +/- 1.1; p = 0.048 - preoperative LVDs 4.0 +/- 1.4 vs follow-up 3.6 +/- 1.1; p = 0.036). E/A ratio was normal in 73.1% (92.7% of SR-patients). TDI at the level of the left lateral annulus showed an improved left ventricular systole (Sm), and diastole (Em, E/Em) of SR-patients, compared with AF-patients (Sm 9.40 +/- 1.74 vs 7.72 +/- 1.5, p = 0.0001; Em: 10.45 +/- 1.98 vs 7.68 +/- 0.72, p = 0.001; E/Em: 0.07 +/- 0.02 vs 0.10 +/- 0.04, p = 0.0001). Large preoperative atrial. diameter (OR = 5.81; p = 0.002), preoperative NYHA-IV (OR = 3.55; p = 0.001), high diuretics at discharge (OR = 1.27; p = 0.03), tricuspid insufficiency at follow-up (OR = 2.31; p = 0.02) were independent predictors of AF-recurrence. Conclusions: Radiofrequency AFAMVS achieves 78.8% of SR recovery. Maintenance of SR improves clinic, haemodynamic and echocardiographic endpoints. Pre- and postoperative cardiac failure is the main determinant of AF-recurrence. (c) 2007 European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved
Resting state eyes-closed cortical rhythms in patients with locked-in-syndrome: an EEG study
No full textLocked-in syndrome (LIS) is a state of complete paralysis, except for ocular movements, which results from ventral brainstem lesions. Patients typically are fully conscious. Here we tested the hypothesis that electroencephalographic (EEG) rhythms are abnormal in LIS patients, possibly due to an impaired neural synchronization between brainstem and cerebral cortex
FLUKA simulations and benchmark measurements of the YAP(Ce) scintillators installed on the VESUVIO spectrometer
No full textTrans-Reactivation: A New Epigenetic Phenomenon Underlying Transcriptional Reactivation of Silenced Genes.
No full textIn order to study the role played by cellular RNA pools produced by homologous genomic loci in defining the transcriptional state of a silenced gene, we tested the effect of non-functional alleles of the white gene in the presence of a functional copy of white, silenced by heterochromatin. We found that non-functional alleles of white, unable to produce a coding transcript, could reactivate in trans the expression of a wild type copy of the same gene silenced by heterochromatin. This new epigenetic phenomenon of transcriptional trans-reactivation is heritable, relies on the presence of homologous RNA's and is affected by mutations in genes involved in post-transcriptional gene silencing. Our data suggest a general new unexpected level of gene expression control mediated by homologous RNA molecules in the context of heterochromatic genes
Microcephaly-associated protein WDR62 shuttles from the Golgi apparatus to the spindle poles in human neural progenitors
No full textWDR62 is a spindle pole-associated scaffold protein with pleiotropic functions. Recessive mutations in WDR62 cause structural brain abnormalities and account for the second most common cause of autosomal recessive primary microcephaly (MCPH), indicating WDR62 as a critical hub for human brain development. Here, we investigated WDR62 function in corticogenesis through the analysis of a C-terminal truncating mutation (D955AfsX112). Using induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) obtained from a patient and his unaffected parent, as well as isogenic corrected lines, we generated 2D and 3D models of human neurodevelopment, including neuroepithelial stem cells, cerebro-cortical progenitors, terminally differentiated neurons, and cerebral organoids. We report that WDR62 localizes to the Golgi apparatus during interphase in cultured cells and human fetal brain tissue, and translocates to the mitotic spindle poles in a microtubule-dependent manner. Moreover, we demonstrate that WDR62 dysfunction impairs mitotic progression and results in alterations of the neurogenic trajectories of iPSC neuroderivatives. In summary, impairment of WDR62 localization and function results in severe neurodevelopmental abnormalities, thus delineating new mechanisms in the etiology of MCPH
Cortical sources of EEG rhythms are abnormal in down syndrome
No full textPrevious studies have been inconclusive whether dominant resting state alpha rhythms are greater or lower in amplitude in subjects with Down syndrome (DS) when compared to control subjects, ample resting alpha rhythms being considered as a reflection of good mechanisms of cortical neural synchronization. Here we tested the hypothesis that when the effects of head volume conduction are taken into account by the normalization of the cortical sources of resting alpha rhythms, these sources are lower in amplitude in DS subjects than in controls in line with typical findings in Alzheimer's disease patients
