Silicon Sheet Research Articles

34583 A systematic review of the current treatment modalities for hypertrophic scars and keloids

Background: Hypertrophic scars and keloids result from abnormal healing following trauma or skin procedures. Abnormal scarring can cause aesthetic concerns and physical limitations. There are currently many approaches to minimize the appearance of these scars. The best strategy to treat abnormal scarring is unclear. We resolved to identify the most effective treatment among available, regularly used modalities Methods: A thorough systematic literature review was conducted on leading databases to identify adverse events and standardized mean reduction (SMR) of scars/keloids. Relevant studies included randomized control trials (RCTs) of 20+ patients published on the effectiveness of an accepted treatment for hypertrophic scars and keloids. Results: Of the included clinical trials, SMR was found to differ significantly between given treatments, with adverse events proving rare and dependent upon modality. Physical treatments, like silicone sheeting, (SMR 29.9% ([95% CI, 28.9-30.9%)) and topical treatments (SMR 34% ([95% CI 31.8-36.8%])) were found to be less effective than intralesional injection, which had a SMR of 64.1% ([95% CI 60.8-67.5%]). Within intralesional injection, a 9:1 dilution of combined 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) and triamcinolone was most effective. Finally, the response to laser treatment was found to be dependent upon a patient’s Fitzpatrick skin type (most effective for types I-III), with ablative and pulsed-dye lasers producing the most improvement for keloids and hypertrophic scars. Conclusions: Our findings suggest there are superior treatment modalities for patients seeking to reduce hypertrophic scars and keloids. Combination intralesional injections were the most efficacious. However, a multifaceted approach would likely yield the best results.

Study on Calculation Model of High Speed Machine Silicon Steel Sheet Electromagnetic Characteristics Considering Magnetic, Stress and Temperature Condition

High-speed motor has the characteristics of high frequency, high temperature, and more stress, resulting in the field distribution inside the motor being complicated. To better study the electromagnetic characteristics of silicon steel sheet for high-speed motor. In this article, a study on the calculation model of silicon sheet electromagnetic characteristics considers the effects of electromagnetic, stress, and temperature factors. The study is divided into two parts, one is to propose the calculation model of silicon steel sheet's permeability; the other is to improve the calculation model of silicon steel sheet's loss. Then, the magnetic field, stress field, and temperature field of a surface mount high speed permanent magnet motor (SMHSPMSM) are analyzed by finite element method (FEM), and the results under the consideration of magnetic, stress, and temperature factors are brought into the calculation model for calculation. Finally, the accuracy of the calculation model for electromagnetic characteristics of silicon steel sheet is verified by comparing the calculated results with the finite element results.

Fabrication of an Organofunctionalized Talc-like Magnesium Phyllosilicate for the Electrochemical Sensing of Lead Ions in Water Samples.

A talc-like magnesium phyllosilicate functionalized with amine groups (TalcNH2), useful as sensor material in voltammetry stripping analysis, was synthesized by a sol–gel-based processing method. The characterizations of the resulting synthetic organoclay by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction, N2 sorption isotherms (BET method), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), CHN elemental analysis and UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV–Vis-DRS) demonstrated the effectiveness of the process used for grafting of amine functionality in the interlamellar clay. The results indicate the presence of organic moieties covalently bonded to the inorganic lattice of talc-like magnesium phyllosilicate silicon sheet, with interlayer distances of 1568.4 pm. In an effort to use a talc-like material as an electrode material without the addition of a dispersing agent and/or molecular glue, the TalcNH2 material was successfully dispersed in distilled water in contrast to natural talc. Then, it was used to modify a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) by drop coating. The characterization of the resulting modified electrode by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) revealed its charge selectivity ability. In addition, EIS results showed low charge transfer resistance (0.32 Ω) during the electro-oxidation of [Fe(CN)6]3−. Kinetics studies were also performed by EIS, which revealed that the standard heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant was (0.019 ± 0.001) cm.s−1, indicating a fast direct electron transfer rate of [Fe(CN)6]3− to the electrode. Using anodic adsorptive stripping differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), fast and highly sensitive determination of Pb(II) ions was achieved. The peak current of Pb2+ ions on TalcNH2/GCE was about three-fold more important than that obtained on bare GCE. The calculated detection and quantification limits were respectively 7.45 × 10−8 M (S/N = 3) and 24.84 × 10−8 M (S/N 10), for the determination of Pb2+ under optimized conditions. The method was successfully used to tap water with satisfactory results. The results highlight the efficient chelation of Pb2+ ions by the grafted NH2 groups and the potential of talc-like amino-functionalized magnesium phyllosilicate for application in electrochemical sensors.

Intermediate Outcomes of Orbital Wall Reconstruction Using Different Alloplastic Materials: Which Is Ideal?

Despite the popularity and superiority of resorbable alloplastic materials in orbital fracture reconstruction, it is unclear whether the reconstructed wall is maintained after implant resorption. Unsintered hydroxyapatite/poly-L-lactide (u-HA/PLLA) is one such material, but it differs from conventional materials for the replacement of natural bones. This study investigated the intermediate-term safety and efficacy of u-HA/PLLA implants compared with those of implants made with other alloplastic materials. The authors retrospectively analyzed 240 eligible patients who underwent orbital fracture reconstruction with one alloplastic material between January of 2006 and October of 2018. Materials used for treatment were as follows: u-HA/PLLA sheet in 101 patients, u-HA/PLLA mesh in 38 patients, poly-L-lactic acid/poly-glycolic acid mesh in 47 patients, silicone sheet in 35 patients, and titanium mesh in 19 patients. Intermediate-term follow-up was performed for a median duration of 48.2 months. A chart review was performed. Postoperative complications and factors affecting them were studied. Reconstructed area deformities were assessed using computed tomography. Postoperative complications occurred significantly more frequently in patients reconstructed with the silicone sheet than in those reconstructed with the u-HA/PLLA sheet. Deformities were found for the silicone sheet (28.6 percent) and poly-L-lactic acid/poly-glycolic acid mesh (31.9 percent). These deformity rates were significantly higher than those for the u-HA/PLLA sheet. Compared with other alloplastic materials, u-HA/PLLA has low rates of postoperative complications and reconstructed area deformities. Because of its complete absorption, clinicians should consider using u-HA/PLLA as an alloplastic material for orbital wall reconstruction. Therapeutic, III.

Material priority engineered metal-polyphenol networks: mechanism and platform for multifunctionalities

Engineering the surface of materials with desired multifunctionalities is an effective way to fight against multiple adverse factors during tissue repair process. Recently, metal-polyphenol networks (MPNs) have gained increasing attention because of their rapid and simple deposition process onto various substrates (silicon, quartz, gold and polypropylene sheets, etc.). However, the coating mechanism has not been clarified, and multifunctionalized MPNs remain unexplored. Herein, the flavonoid polyphenol procyanidin (PC) was selected to form PC-MPN coatings with Fe3+, and the effects of different assembly parameters, including pH, molar ratio between PC and Fe3+, and material priority during coating formation, were thoroughly evaluated. We found that the material priority (addition sequence of PC and Fe3+) had a great influence on the thickness of the formed PC-MPNs. Various surface techniques (e.g., ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometry, quartz crystal microbalance, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy) were used to investigate the formation mechanism of PC-MPNs. Then PC-MPNs were further engineered with multifunctionalities (fastening cellular attachment in the early stage, promoting long-term cellular proliferation, antioxidation and antibacterial activity). We believe that these findings could further reveal the coating formation mechanism of MPNs and guide the future design of MPN coatings with multifunctionalities, thereby greatly broadening their application prospects, such as in sensors, environments, drug delivery, and tissue engineering.Graphical

A Dynamic Thermal-Mechanical Coupling Numerical Model to Solve the Deformation and Thermal Diffusion of Plates.

Elastic materials include metal plates, rubber, foam, airbags and so on, which have a good buffer effect, toughness and strong recovery ability. In this paper, the deformation and thermal diffusion of and 3D thin plates are studied. Two models are established for the deformation of 2D thin plates. The bending deformation equation of rectangular and circular plates is derived, and the semi-analytical solution of the deflection function is found through the Fourier series approximation in the polar coordinate. The consistencies of the numerical solution and the theoretical solution are verified by numerical method. Then, we find that the factors affecting the deformation are related to the Young’s modulus, load, plate length and deformation factor of the material. In a separate temperature physics field, we establish a heat conduction model of graphene film. Three numerical schemes of the transient heat conduction equation of FDM-FEM are given. In contrast, this paper uses the implicit Euler method to discrete the time term. Furthermore, we compared the difference between the adiabatic condition and the convection condition by the graphical method and the curve trend. The results show that the temperature near the adiabatic boundary is higher. Finally, we proposed a 3D dynamic thermal–mechanical coupling model (3D-DTMCM) that has been established. A laser heating monocrystalline silicon sheet with periodic motion formula is given. The temperature radiation of the laser heat source has Gaussian distribution characteristics. Our proposed model can dynamically determine Young’s modulus with a variable temperature. The numerical results show that the higher the temperature is, the higher the strain energy density of the plate is. In addition, the deformation amplitude of the plates in the coupling field is larger than that in the single mechanical field. Finally, we also discussed the stress field distribution of mixed cracks under high temperature and high load. Our research provides theoretical support for the deformation of different plates, and also reflects the value of the coupled model in practical applications.

Barcodes as Optical Marks for an Objective Assessment of Laparoscopic Skills in a Box Trainer.

Background/Need. The sensor-equipped box trainers can objectively evaluate psychomotor skills similar to virtual simulators. However, such box models are least of all involved in curricula in minimally invasive surgery, probably because of their complexity or high cost. This discrepancy prompted us to find a simple solution that provides an objective assessment of laparoscopic skills on any box trainer. Methodology and Device Description. We used QR code, Code 128, and Circular Code 128 as optical marks in tasks on box trainers. These were marks of errors and positive actions. Polyvinylchloride and a nontransparent silicone sheet served as materials for the tasks. All barcode images were printed with black ink on office paper. In addition, we have developed an app that allows dealing with selected types of barcodes. Preliminary results. We designed 6 tasks based on our approach. Every task provides a precision registration of time, errors, and correct actions, comparable with virtual simulators. However, only 4 tasks showed satisfactory results during face validity's obtaining. We found that primitive barcode scanning technology can provide an objective assessment of trainees on box trainers. The proposed approach is well suited for both commercial and custom box trainers. Current status. The research is currently underway to establish construct validity for the developed tasks. Besides, we intend to study features of other types of barcodes, such as Aztec Code, EAN-8, DataMatrix, and annular barcodes.

Occlusion and hydration of scars: moisturizers versus silicone gels

BackgroundThe mainstay of non-invasive scar management, consists of pressure therapy with customized pressure garments often combined with inlays, hydration by means of silicones and/or moisturizers as well as UV protection. It is generally accepted that scar dehydration resulting from impaired barrier function of the stratum corneum and expressed by raised trans epidermal water loss (TEWL) values, can lead to increased fibroblast activity and thereby hypertrophic scar formation. However, we have reached no consensus on exactly what optimal scar hydration is nor on barrier function repair: by means of silicone sheets, liquid silicone gels or moisturizers. Occlusive silicone sheets almost completely prevent TEWL and have been shown to be effective. Nevertheless, many important disadvantages due to excessive occlusion such as difficulties in applying the sheets exceeding 10–12 h, pruritus, irritation, and maceration of the skin are limiting factors for its use. To avoid these complications and to facilitate the application, liquid silicone gels were developed. Despite a reduced occlusion, various studies have shown that the effects are comparable to these of the silicone sheets. However, major limiting factors for general use are the long drying time, the shiny aspect after application, and the high cost especially when used for larger scars. Based on excellent clinical results after using three specific moisturizers for scar treatment in our patients, we wanted to investigate whether these moisturizers induce comparable occlusion and hydration compared to both each other and the widely recognized liquid silicone gels. We wanted to provide a more scientific basis for the kind of moisturizers that can be used as a full-fledged and cost-effective alternative to silicone gel. MethodsA total of 36 healthy volunteers participated in this study. Increased TEWL was created by inducing superficial abrasions by rigorous (20x) skin stripping with Corneofix® adhesive tape in squares of 4 cm². Three moisturizers and a fluid silicone gel were tested: DermaCress, Alhydran, Lipikar and BAP Scar Care silicone gel respectively. TEWL reducing capacities and both absolute (AAH) and cumulative (CAAH) absolute added hydration were assessed using a Tewameter® TM300 and a Corneometer® CM825 at different time points for up to 4 h after application. ResultsWe found an immediate TEWL increase in all the zones that underwent superficial abrasions by stripping. Controls remained stable over time, relative to the ambient condition. The mean percentage reduction (MPR) in TEWL kept increasing over time with Alhydran and DermaCress, reaching a maximum effect 4 h after application. Silicone gel reached maximal MPR almost immediately after application and only declined thereafter. The silicone gel never reached the minimal MPR of Alhydran or DermaCress. Hydration capacity assessed through CAAH as measured by the Corneometer was significantly less with silicone gel compared to the moisturizers. Compared to silicone gel Lipikar provided similar occlusion and the improvement in hydration was highly significant 4 h after application. ConclusionBased on the results of both our previous research and this study it is clearly demonstrated that the occlusive and hydrative effect of fluid silicone gel is inferior to the moisturizers used in our center. Lipikar hydrates well but is less suitable for scar treatment due to the lack of occlusion. A well-balanced occlusion and hydration, in this study only provided by Alhydran and DermaCress, suggests that moisturizers can be used as a scar hydration therapy that replaces silicone products, is more cost-effective and has a more patient-friendly application.

Limonene inhibits virulence associated traits in Candida albicans: In-vitro and in-silico studies

Background: Multidrug resistance and undesirable side effects of currently available antifungal drugs, has made treatment of Candidiasis difficult in immunocompromised patients. Limonene, commonly found in citrus essential oils, has immense therapeutic potential. Purpose: Efficacy of this monoterpene was studied against virulence attributes of C. albicans. Methods: Percentage haemolysis, antifungal susceptibility, time kill studies, secretion of hydrolytic enzymes, morphological transition, adhesion and biofilm formation (XTT reduction assay, scanning electron microscopic and calcofluor white stained fluorescence imaging) were studied in the presence of limonene. Molecular docking by InstaDock software followed by MD simulation studies (AMBER software suite) assessed the limonene-protein interactions with five virulence associated antifungal targets (Als3, Bcr1, Plb1, Sap2 and Tec1). Results: With MIC and MFC values of 300 µg/mL and 400 µg/mL, respectively, it caused only 1% haemolysis (3 times less than fluconazole) and significantly reduced adhesion to buccal epithelial cells. An incubation of 9 h at 2MIC reduced growth by 100%. At MIC, secretion of proteinases and phospholipases was reduced by 73% and 53%, respectively. Adhesion and biofilm formation was reduced by 91% and 87%, respectively. Biofilm biomass formed on silicon sheets was inhibited by 69%. Limonene treatment disrupted biofilm structure and integrity. Filamentation, studied in four different hyphae inducing media, was significantly reduced. Although stable hydrophobic interactions were observed with all target proteins, limonene gave a good docking score with Plb1 (−6.0 kcal/mol) and Tec1 (−5.7 kcal/mol). Complexes formed with both these proteins showed stable RMSD profiles except with Bcr1. Conclusion: Limonene binds to proteins critical to Candida pathogenicity and inhibits adhesion, biofilm formation and morphological transition. It is nontoxic and has immense potential in the management of invasive candidiasis.

Evaluation of Postoperative Practices Regarding Packing of the External Auditory Canal.

Background : Packing of the external auditory canal after ear surgery is an established practice in most otologic centers. However, no guidelines exist concerning the management of this process. The aim of the study is to investigate otologists’ habits concerning packing of the external ear canal after otologic surgery. A second objective was to collect their opinion concerning the absence of packing.Methods: This study is a cross-sectional survey. We sent an online questionnaire to the 135 members of the French Otology and Neurotology Association (AFON). It was conducted between March 15, 2020, and May 15, 2020. It consisted of 11 demographic questions and 6 surgical management-related questions concerning 6 major otologic procedures.Results: Fifty-seven members answered the survey. The most frequent packing used was ear wick with silicon sheets (48.6%) among all surgical procedures. Among participants, 62% used the same packing material for all surgical procedures. Of the participants, 96% were reluctant not to pack the external ear canal after otologic surgery.Conclusion: This study shows a great variability concerning surgeons’ practices. A randomized controlled trial would be helpful to guide surgeons for ear packing after otologic surgery and assess the absence of packing.

Efficacy of Early Application of 1540 nm Non-ablative Fractional Laser and Silicones to Improve Post-epicanthoplasty Scars.

The combination of epicanthoplasty and blepharoplasty is a popular choice in Asians to acquire a pair of charming big eyes. However, the obvious scarring in the medial canthal area may result in unsatisfactory aesthetic outcomes. Recently, various laser treatments have been used to deal with scars had achieved detectable improvement, but only a few studies investigating the efficacy of lasers used in post-epicanthoplasty scarring were developed. A total of 70 participants who underwent Z-epicanthoplasty were enrolled in this prospective clinical trial and were randomly assigned to the groups of 1540nm non-ablative fractional laser (NAFL) combined with silicones treatment and silicones alone treatment. The NAFL-exposure in the treated group was additionally applied to the medial canthal area on day 21 postoperatively, compared with the participants in the control group who had only been treated with the daily usage of silicone sheets for 12 hours and silicone gels twice for 5 months after scab had fallen from the skin. Scar evolution was performed by patient and observer scar assessment Scales (POSAS) and visual analogue scale (VAS) for 21 days, and 6 months postoperatively. 64 participants have completed the entire follow-up process. The scar recovery was statistically detected in treated group compared with the control group at 6-month postoperatively assessed by POSAS, especially in pliability of scars. Furthermore, the VAS evaluations showed superior satisfaction in treated group. The early treatment of NAFL combined with silicones has improved scar formation in medial canthal region after epicantholplasties efficiently.Level of Evidence IV This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Endoscopic Endonasal Repair of the Orbital Medial Wall Fracture Utilising Nasal Septal Cartilage as the Reconstructive Material.

To repair orbital medial wall fractures, otorhinolaryngologists often use the silicone sheet technique by inserting an inverted U-shaped silicone sheet into the middle meatus after the removal of fractured bones, and packing gauze inside the silicone sheet for several days to fix the shape of the medial wall. However, this method does not sufficiently reduce the orbital content. To describe the surgical procedure to repair medial wall fractures using nasal septal cartilage as the reconstructive material. First, endoscopic septoplasty is performed. Although the correction of the septal deviation is performed to secure the operative field, the nasal septal cartilage, except the L-strut is resected simultaneously. After septoplasty, the fractured bones of the lamina papyracea are removed from the herniated orbital contents, and then the orbital contents can be reduced without resistance by pushing laterally. Subsequently, the cartilage is inserted beneath the fracture edges of the orbital medial wall with great care to avoid entrapping the orbital soft tissue and extraocular muscles. The cartilage can be placed appropriately along the medial wall of the orbit. This technique enables to repair most cases of orbital medial wall fractures using the endoscopic endonasal approach alone without alloplastic implants.

Performance comparison of silicone and low-density polyethylene as passive samplers in a global monitoring network for aquatic organic contaminants

Contamination with hydrophobic organic compounds (HOCs) such as persistent organic pollutants negatively affects global water quality. Accurate and globally comparable monitoring data are required to understand better the HOCs distribution and environmental fate. We present the first results of a proof-of-concept global monitoring campaign, the Aquatic Global Passive Sampling initiative (AQUA-GAPS), performed between 2016 and 2020, for assessing trends of freely dissolved HOC concentrations in global surface waters. One of the pilot campaign aims was to compare performance characteristics of silicone (SSP) and low-density polyethylene (PE) sheets co-deployed in parallel under identical conditions, i.e. at the same site, using the same deployment design, and for an equal period. Individual exposures lasted between 36 and 400 days, and samples were collected from 22 freshwater and 40 marine locations. The sampler inter-comparability is based on a rationale of common underlying principles, i.e. HOC diffusion through a water boundary layer (WBL) and absorption by the polymer. In the integrative uptake phase, equal surface-specific uptake in both samplers was observed for HOCs with a molecular volume less than 300 Å3. For those HOCs, transport in the WBL controls the uptake as mass transfer in the polymer is over 20-times faster. In such a case, sampled HOC mass can be converted into aqueous concentrations using available models derived for WBL-controlled sampling using performance reference compounds. In contrast, for larger molecules, surface-specific uptake to PE was lower than to SSP. Diffusion in PE is slower than in SSP, and it is likely that for large molecules, diffusion in PE limits the transport from water to the sampler, complicating the interpretation. Although both samplers provided mostly well comparable results, we recommend, based on simpler practical handling, simpler data interpretation, and better availability of reliable polymer-water partition coefficients, silicone-based samplers for future operation in the worldwide monitoring programme.

A Novel Nanocomposite Material for Optically Stimulated Luminescence Dosimetry.

Radiotherapy is a well-established and important treatment for cancer tumors, and advanced technologies can deliver doses in complex three-dimensional geometries tailored to each patient's specific anatomy. A 3D dosimeter, based on optically stimulated luminescence (OSL), could provide a high accuracy and reusable tool for verifying such dose delivery. Nanoparticles of an OSL material embedded in a transparent matrix have previously been proposed as an inexpensive dosimeter, which can be read out using laser-based methods. Here, we show that Cu-doped LiF nanocubes (nano-LiF:Cu) are excellent candidates for 3D OSL dosimetry owing to their high sensitivity, dose linearity, and stability at ambient conditions. We demonstrate a scalable synthesis technique producing a material with the attractive properties of a single dosimetric trap and a single near-ultraviolet emission line well separated from visible-light stimulation sources. The observed transparency and light yield of silicone sheets with embedded nanocubes hold promise for future 3D OSL-based dosimetry.

Comparison of the effect of silicone gel sheets by thickness on excisional scars in pediatric and adolescent patients

Background Selecting effective products among the various types of silicone gel sheets can be challenging for surgeons. Therefore, we assessed the effect of silicone gel sheet thickness on surgical scars in pediatric and adolescent patients.Methods From December 2017 to May 2018, we identified patients aged 1–19 years who underwent excision. Among these patients, those who were prescribed 0.3-mm or 1.0-mm-thick silicone sheets were selected. Scars were subjectively evaluated using a questionnaire consisting of seven items. Objective evaluation was performed by two plastic surgeons using the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS).Results The mean age of the 49 selected patients was 9.78 years. The patients were divided into two groups according to the thickness of the silicone gel sheet used (0.3 mm vs. 1.0 mm). Objective evaluation of the patients’ scars revealed more favorable results in the 0.3 mm group than in the 1.0 mm group (P=0.010). Multivariate analysis of VSS scores indicated that the resulting scars in cases involving the trunk were of poorer quality than those involving facial areas (P=0.015). Additionally, favorable (i.e., below-average) VSS scores were significantly less likely in patients with longer scars (odds ratio, 0.896; 95% confidence interval, 0.834–0.963; P=0.003) or thicker silicone sheets (odds ratio, 0.085; 95% confidence interval, 0.011–0.699; P=0.019).Conclusions The use of thinner silicone gel sheets in children and adolescents resulted in better scars according to subjective evaluations, underscoring the importance of compliance in pediatric patients. The type of operation and surgical lesion should also be considered when planning the management of surgical scars.

Management of hypertrophic scars in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Hypertrophic scars (HTS) are elevated scars which occur due to abnormalities in wound healing after injury and may be associated with pain, pruritus and functional impairment. Despite multiple available treatment options, there is no universal approach to treating HTS. We searched the Web of Science (Core Collection), MEDLINE and EMBASE databases. Title, abstract and full-text screening, along with data extraction, were performed in duplicate. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. The Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) scores and mean differences were used for meta-analysis. We screened 3800 abstracts and included 34 randomised controlled trials evaluating treatments for HTS in adults. Silicone and laser modalities improved VSS scores by 5.06 (95% CI: 6.78, 3.34) and 3.56 (95% CI: 5.58, 1.54), respectively. Intralesional triamcinolone combined with silicone or 5-fluorouracil was superior to intralesional triamcinolone monotherapy. Limitations of this study include exclusion of studies which did not utilise VSS, and pooling of studies based on common modalities. Further studies are needed to examine the efficacy of existing and emerging treatment modalities for HTS. Our study supports the treatment of HTS in adults with silicone gel or sheets, injected triamcinolone (preferably combined with 5-fluorouracil or silicone products), pulsed dye laser and fractionated CO2 laser.

Beneficial effects of transdermal administration of tamoxifen on capsular contracture after breast implantation in murine models.

Capsular contracture is the most common complication with smooth-type silicone implants. We investigated the preventive effect of an active metabolite of tamoxifen, 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4-OH TAM), on capsular contracture. A silicone sheet was implanted into the back of 28 female ICR mice. Mixtures of gel with 0.2% 4-OH TAM and 0.1% 4-OH TAM were administered transdermally once a day for 4weeks. Saline was administered to the control. After killing the mice, capsular thickness was measured in H&E-stained specimens. Estrogen receptor (ER), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) expressions were immunohistochemically investigated in the capsules. The capsule was thinner in the 0.2% 4-OH TAM gel group than in the control group (control, 0.1% 4-OH TAM gel, 0.2% 4-OH TAM gel: 52.8 ± 3.4µm, 54.2 ± 6.8µm, 46.4 ± 3.3µm, respectively). ER was found in most fibroblasts of all samples. α-SMA expression in the capsule was significantly lower in the 4-OH TAM gel groups than in the control group (control = 70.0 ± 3.4%, 0.1% 4-OH TAM = 57.0 ± 3.4%, 0.2% 4-OH TAM = 49.4 ± 4.9%). TGF-β expression was significantly reduced by the 4-OH TAM gel injections dose-dependently (control = 67.3 ± 2.2%, 0.1% 4-OH TAM = 52.4 ± 3.1%, 0.2% 4-OH TAM = 45.1 ± 2.4%). The transdermal administration of 0.1% and 0.2% 4-OH TAM gels inhibited capsule development. The inhibition of TGF-β expression is a mechanism by which 4-OH TAM suppresses fibroblast growth, preventing capsular formation.

Enhancement of Gripping Ability for Soft and Slippery Objects by Using Double-Scale Protrusions

Enhancement of surface friction is an important problem for many machine parts and instruments designed to grip or convey soft bodies and sheets. This paper presents an approach to increase gripping ability for soft and slippery objects by using double-scale protrusions: One is millimeter-sized protrusions on a SUS420J2 stainless steel produced by electrical discharge machining and another is micrometer-sized fine protrusions formed by sputter etching. The friction tests of a soft silicone sheet proved that the double-scale protrusions have higher gripping ability than single-scale protrusions in an oil environment.

Comparative evaluation of the efficacy of two medical grade adhesives for the retention of extraoral maxillofacial prosthesis

Introduction: The retention of an extraoral maxillofacial prosthesis poses a big challenge to the prosthodontist due to the complex and varied nature of facial defects. Several methods are available to enhance the retention of this prosthesis. This study was conducted to compare the efficacy of polysiloxane adhesives and n-butyl cyanoacrylate adhesives in providing retention for an extra-oral maxillofacial prosthesis. Materials and Methods: The samples were prepared by bonding silicone sheets with pigskin. These samples to be studied were divided into two groups of 20 samples each depending on the adhesive used for bonding the silicone sheets to the pigskin. Ten samples from each group were subjected to 180° and T-peel tests, respectively. Results: The results showed that the mean peel strength (PS) in the T peel test was higher for polysiloxane adhesive as compared to n-butyl cyanoacrylate adhesive, but the difference was not statistically significant. Whereas the mean PS in the 180° peel test was higher for n-butyl cyanoacrylate adhesive as compared to polysiloxane adhesive and the difference was statistically significant. Conclusion: The cyanoacrylate adhesives proved to be better in terms of PS.

Leukocyte- and Platelet-Rich Fibrin: A New Method for Scalp Defect Reconstruction.

Leukocyte- and Platelet-Rich Fibrin: A New Method for Scalp Defect Reconstruction.