Spatially engineering tri-layer nanofiber dressings featuring asymmetric wettability for wound healing

Inspired by the skin structure,an asymmetric wettability tri-layer nanofiber membrane(TNM)consisting of hydrophilic inner layer loaded with lidocaine hydrochloride(LID),hydrophobic middle layer with ciprofloxacin(CIP)and hydrophobic outer layer has been created.The hydrophobic outer layer endows the TNM with waterproof function and anti-adhesion from contaminants.The hydrophobic middle layer with CIP preserves long-term inhibition of bacteria growth and the hydrophilic inner layer with LID possesses optimal waterabsorbing capacity and air permeability.The TNM dramatically elevates the water contact angles from 10°(inner layer)to 120(outer layer),indicating an asymmetric wettability,which could directionally transport wound exudate within the materials and meanwhile maintain a comfortable and moist environment to promote wound healing.Furthermore,the sequential release of LID and CIP could relieve pain rapidly and achieve antibacterial effect in the long run,respectively.In addition,the TNM shows superior biocompatibility towards L929 cells.The in vivo results show the TNM could prevent infection,accelerate epithelial regeneration and significantly accelerate wound healing.This study indicates the developed TNM with asymmetrical wettability and synergetic drug release shows great potential as a wound dressing in clinical application.

Improving pressure ulcer care in intensive care units:Evaluating the impact of bundled care and silver nanoparticle dressings

BACKGROUND Pressure ulcer(PU)are prevalent among critically ill trauma patients,posing substantial risks.Bundled care strategies and silver nanoparticle dressings offer potential solutions,yet their combined effectiveness and impact on patient satisfaction remain insufficiently investigated.AIM To assess the impact of bundled care along with silver nanoparticle dressing on PUs management and family satisfaction in critically ill trauma patients.METHODS A total of 98 critically ill trauma patients with PUs in intensive care unit(ICU)were included in this study.Patients were randomly assigned to either the control group(conventional care with silver nanoparticle dressing,n=49)or the intervention group(bundled care with silver nanoparticle dressing,n=49).The PU Scale for Healing(PUSH)tool was used to monitor changes in status of pressure injuries over time.Assessments were conducted at various time points:Baseline(day 0)and subsequent assessments on day 3,day 6,day 9,and day 12.Family satisfaction was assessed using the Family Satisfaction ICU 24 ques-tionnaire.RESULTS No significant differences in baseline characteristics were observed between the two groups.In the intervention group,there were significant reductions in total PUSH scores over the assessment period.Specifically,surface area,exudate,and tissue type parameters all showed significant improvements compared to the control group.Family satisfaction with care and decision-making was notably higher in the intervention group.Overall family satisfaction was significantly better in the intervention group.CONCLUSION Bundled care in combination with silver nanoparticle dressings effectively alleviated PUs and enhances family satisfaction in critically ill trauma patients.This approach holds promise for improving PUs management in the ICU,benefiting both patients and their families.

Influence of Microorganisms Effective against Basal Rot and on Agronomic Parameters of Onion [Allium cepa L. (Amaryllidaceae)]

Onions are a horticultural crop of great economic, dietary and medicinal importance, and are highly prized by the Ivorian population. However, production remains low, due to a number of constraints, including parasitic attacks. The most frequent is fusariosis caused by Fusarium sp., a pathogen that causes enormous damage to onion crops. Faced with these attacks, chemical control appears to be ineffective, with consequences for human health and the environment. This is why the search for effective alternative methods that respect the environment and human health is so necessary. It is in this context that this study was carried out, with the general aim of controlling fusarium wilt in onion crops, with a view to improving onion production in Ivory Coast through the use of effective microorganisms. The experimental set-up used for this purpose was a fisher block with complete randomization, comprising three replicates. A fungal spore concentration of 106 spore/mL of Fusarium sp., three doses (1%;2.5% and 5% v/v) of EM and one dose of a chemical fungicide (30 mL/16L) were tested on young onion plants. Each block consisted of nine sub-plots with nine treatments. Health parameters (incidence and severity) and agronomic parameters (growth and yield) were assessed. Microbiological analysis of the EM revealed the presence of nine morphotypes of Trichoderma sp., Aspergillus clavatus, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus sp., Penicillium sp., Rhizopus sp., lactic acid bacteria of the Bacillus family and the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Field experimentation showed that the 5% EM microbial solution reduced the incidence and severity of fusariosis compared with the chemical fungicide, and proved to be the best. This dose reduced yield losses by 7.14%, while improving onion growth and yield by over 5%. The results demonstrated the ability of the EM solution to effectively control the causal agent of basal rot in onion crops.

Comparative Analysis of Ki-67 Protein as a Proliferative Expression Index in Cutaneous Basal and Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Federal Medical Centre Umuahia, Nigeria

Background: Evaluating the tumor proliferative index helps predict clinical behavior and provides prognostic insights for cutaneous basal cell carcinoma (cBCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC). Objective: This study aimed to identify differences in the proliferative indices among variants of cBCC and cSCC diagnosed at a tertiary healthcare center. Method: Skin biopsies histologically diagnosed as cBCC and cSCC between 2012 and 2018 at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria, were analyzed. Archival formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue blocks were retrieved along with clinical data, and were prepared on charged microscope slides and the immunohistochemical staining was carried out. The primary antibody used in this study was clone BioCare CRM325C (RM) and adenotonsillar tissue blocks/slides served as positive controls. Ki-67 immunohistochemistry was performed on fresh 4µm sections of the tumor specimens. Results: The application of Ki-67 immunoperoxidase on both BCC and SCC cohort, yielded an intense observable brownish nuclear stain in areas of dense proliferating tumour cells on both cutaneous tumours. The average Ki-67 index for all cSCC cases was 24.7%, with a range of 2.3% - 80%, while the mean for cBCC was 15.8%, ranging from 1.2% - 45.6%. Variants with high proliferative indices were observed in 11.9% of cBCC cases and 29.1% of cSCC cases. Among the low proliferative index category, cSCC accounted for 5.4%, while cBCC represented 14.3%. For mild proliferative indices, cSCC cases made up 7.3% and cBCC, 11.9%. The majority of cases showed moderate proliferative indices, with 61.9% for cBCC and 58.2% for cSCC. Overall, there was a significant difference in proliferative indices between cSCC, cBCC, and their variants. Conclusion: The study found a significantly higher rate of cell proliferation, measured by Ki-67 immunostaining, in cSCC and its variants compared to cBCC. However, certain variants of cBCC also exhibited high Ki-67 expression, indicating they can be as aggressive as some cSCC variants.

Role of the globus pallidus in motor and non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease

The globus pallidus plays a pivotal role in the basal ganglia circuit. Parkinson's disease is characterized by degeneration of dopamine-producing cells in the substantia nigra, which leads to dopamine deficiency in the brain that subsequently manifests as various motor and non-motor symptoms. This review aims to summarize the involvement of the globus pallidus in both motor and non-motor manifestations of Parkinson's disease. The firing activities of parvalbumin neurons in the medial globus pallidus, including both the firing rate and pattern, exhibit strong correlations with the bradykinesia and rigidity associated with Parkinson's disease. Increased beta oscillations, which are highly correlated with bradykinesia and rigidity, are regulated by the lateral globus pallidus. Furthermore,bradykinesia and rigidity are strongly linked to the loss of dopaminergic projections within the cortical-basal ganglia-thalamocortical loop. Resting tremors are attributed to the transmission of pathological signals from the basal ganglia through the motor cortex to the cerebellum-ventral intermediate nucleus circuit. The cortico–striato–pallidal loop is responsible for mediating pallidi-associated sleep disorders. Medication and deep brain stimulation are the primary therapeutic strategies addressing the globus pallidus in Parkinson's disease. Medication is the primary treatment for motor symptoms in the early stages of Parkinson's disease, while deep brain stimulation has been clinically proven to be effective in alleviating symptoms in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease,particularly for the movement disorders caused by levodopa. Deep brain stimulation targeting the globus pallidus internus can improve motor function in patients with tremordominant and non-tremor-dominant Parkinson's disease, while deep brain stimulation targeting the globus pallidus externus can alter the temporal pattern of neural activity throughout the basal ganglia–thalamus network. Therefore, the composition of the globus pallidus neurons, the neurotransmitters that act on them, their electrical activity,and the neural circuits they form can guide the search for new multi-target drugs to treat Parkinson's disease in clinical practice. Examining the potential intra-nuclear and neural circuit mechanisms of deep brain stimulation associated with the globus pallidus can facilitate the management of both motor and non-motor symptoms while minimizing the side effects caused by deep brain stimulation.

Electrospun nanofibers as a wound dressing for treating diabetic foot ulcer

Diabetes is one of the most prevalent diseases in the world with high-mortality and complex complications including diabetic foot ulcer(DFU). It has been reported that the difficulties in repairing the wound related to DFU has much relationship with the wound infection,change of inflammatory responses, lack of extracellular matrix(ECM), and the failure of angiogenesis. Following the development of medical materials and pharmaceutical technology, nanofibers has been developed by electrospinning with huge porosity, excellent humidity absorption, a better oxygen exchange rate, and some antibacterial activities. That is to say, as a potential material, nanofibers must be a wonderful candidate for the DFU treatment with so many benefits. Careful selection of polymers from natural resource and synthetic resource can widen the nanofibrous application. Popular methods applied for the nanofibrous fabrication consist of uniaxial electrospinning and coaxial electrospinning. Furthermore, nanofibers loading chemical, biochemical active pharmaceutical ingredient(API)or even stem cells can be wonderful dosage forms for the treatment of DFU. This review summarizes the present techniques applied in the fabrication of nanofibrous dressing(ND)that utilizes a variety of materials and active agents to offer a better health care for the patients suffering from DFU.

Establishment of basal cell carcinoma animal model in Chinese tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri chinensis)

Basal cell carcinoma （BCC） is the most common skin cancer worldwide, with incidence rates continuing to increase. Ultraviolet radiation is the major environmental risk factor and dysregulation of the Hedgehog （Hh） signaling pathway has been identified in most BCCs. The treatment of locally advanced and metastatic BBCs is still a challenge and requires a better animal model than the widely used rodents for drug development and testing. Chinese tree shrews （Tupaia belangeri chinensis） are closely related to primates, bearing many physiological and biochemical advantages over rodents for characterizing human diseases. Here, we successfully established a Chinese tree shrew BCC model by infecting tail skins with lentiviral SmoA1, an active form of Smoothened （Smo） used to constitutively activate the Hh signaling pathway. The pathological characteristics were verified by immunohistochemical analysis. Interestingly, BCC progress was greatly enhanced by the combined usage of lenUviral SmoA1 and shRNA targeting Chinese tree shrew p53. This work provides a useful animal model for further BCC studies and future

Seasonal phenotypic flexibility in body mass,basal thermogenesis,and tissue oxidative capacity in the male Silky Starling(Sturnus sericeus)

Background: Acclimatization to winter conditions is an essential prerequisite for the survival of small birds in the northern temperate zone.Changes in photoperiod,ambient temperature and food availability trigger seasonal physiological and behavioral acclimatization in many passerines.Seasonal trends in metabolic parameters are well known in avian populations from temperate environments;however,the physiological and biochemical mechanisms underlying these trends are incompletely understood.In this study,we used an integrative approach to measure variation in the thermogenic properties of the male Silky Starling(Sturnus sericeus) at different levels or organization,from the whole organism to the biochemical.We measured body mass(Mb),basal metabolic rate(BMR),energy budget,the mass of selected internal organs,state 4 respiration and cytochrome c oxidase(COX) activity in the heart,liver and muscle.Methods: Oxygen consumption was measured using an open-circuit respirometry system.The energy intake of the birds were then determined using an oxygen bomb calorimeter.Mitochondrial state 4 respiration and COX activity in heart,liver and pectoral muscle were measured with a Clark electrode.Results: The results suggest that acclimatization to winter conditions caused significant change in each of the measured variables,specifically,increases in Mb,organ mass,BMR,energy intake and cellular enzyme activity.Furthermore,BMR was positively correlated with body mass,energy intake,the mass of selected internal organs,state 4 respiration in the heart,liver and muscle,and COX activity in the heart and muscle.Conclusions: These results suggest that the male Silky Starling's enhanced basal thermogenesis under winter conditions is achieved by making a suite of adjustments from the whole organism to the biochemical level,and provide further evidence to support the notion that small birds have high phenotypic plasticity with respect to seasonal changes.

Relationship between abnormal vagus nerve tension and basal ganglia cerebral infarction induced paroxysmal atrial fibrillation

Objective: To investigate the relationship between basal ganglia cerebral infarction and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation(PAF) caused by abnormal vagus nerve tension.Methods: A total of 1 483 cases of elder patients with cerebral infarction who received head CT or MRI examination during the period were enrolled, including 830 male and613 female, with the average age as 78 years. These cases were divided into basal infarction ganglia group(n = 1 045) and non-basal ganglia infarction group(n = 438)according to the anatomic site of cerebral infarction. The differences of the incidence of PAF, left atrial diameter and heart rate variability were compared between the two groups.Results: In basal ganglia infarction group, the incidence rate of PAF was significantly higher than that of non-basal ganglia infarction group(P < 0.05). The incidence trend of cerebral infarction in basal ganglia was age-related, in the >79 years basal ganglia cerebral infarction group, the incidence of PAF was significantly higher than that of nonbasal ganglia infarction group(P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the left atrial diameter between the basal ganglia infarction group and non-basal ganglia infarction group. Basal ganglia cerebral infarction patients with high PAF had higher heart rate variability than non-basal ganglia infarction group.Conclusion: Elderly patients with basal ganglia infarction have high incidence of PAF.Sympathetic nerve damage in cerebral basal ganglia, increased vagal tension and cardiac vagal tension are the direct causes of PAF. The results indicates that the increased central vagal nerve tension mediated PAF probably is an indication of supplying sympathetic neurotransmitter or cardiac vagal denervation treatment.

Beneficial effects of a novel shark-skin collagen dressing for the promotion of seawater immersion wound healing

Background: Wounded personnel who work at sea often encounter a plethora of difficulties. The most important of these difficulties is seawater immersion. Common medical dressings have little effect when the affected area is immersed in seawater, and only rarely dressings have been reported for the treatment of seawater-immersed wounds. The objective of this study is to develop a new dressing which should be suitable to prevent the wound from seawater immersion and to promote the wound healing.Methods: Shark skin collagen(SSC) was purified via ethanol de-sugaring and de-pigmentation and adjusted for p H. A shark skin collagen sponge(SSCS) was prepared by freeze-drying. SSCS was attached to an anti-seawater immersion polyurethane(PU) film(SSCS+PU) to compose a new dressing. The biochemical properties of SSC and physicochemical properties of SSCS were assessed by standard methods. The effects of SSCS and SSCS+PU on the healing of seawaterimmersed wounds were studied using a seawater immersion rat model. For the detection of SSCS effects on seawaterimmersed wounds, 12 SD rats, with four wounds created in each rat, were divided into four groups: the 3 rd day group, 5 th day group, 7 th day group and 12 th day group. In each group, six wounds were treated with SSCS, three wounds treated with chitosan served as the positive control, and three wounds treated with gauze served as the negative control. For the detection of the SSCS+PU effects on seawater-immersed wounds, 36 SD rats were divided into three groups: the gauze(GZ)+PU group, chitosan(CS)+PU group and SSCS+PU group, with 12 rats in each group, and two wounds in each rat. The wound sizes were measured to calculate the healing rate, and histomorphology and the immunohistochemistry of the CD31 and TGF-β expression levels in the wounded tissues were measured by standard methods.Results: The results of Ultraviolet-visible(UV-vis) spectrum, Fourier-transform infrared(FTIR) spectrum, circular dichroism(CD) spectra, sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis(SDS-PAGE), and amino acid composition analyses of SSC demonstrated that SSC is type I collagen. SSCS had a homogeneous porous structure of approximately 200μm, porosity rate of 83.57%±2.64%, water vapor transmission ratio(WVTR) of 4500 g/m2, tensile strength of 1.79±0.41 N/mm, and elongation at break of 4.52%±0.01%. SSCS had significant beneficial effects on seawater-immersed wound healing. On the 3 rd day, the healing rates in the GZ negative control, CS positive control and SSCS rats were 13.94%±5.50%, 29.40%±1.10% and 47.24%±8.40%, respectively. SSCS also enhanced TGF-in the initial stage of the healing period. The SSCS+PU dressing effectively protected woundsβ and CD31 expression from seawater immersion for at least 4 h, and accelerated re-epithelialization, vascularization and granulation formation of seawater-immersed wounds in the earlier stages of wound healing, and as well as significantly promoted wound healing. The SSCS+PU dressing also enhanced expression of TGF-n and gauze dressings.β and CD31. The effects of SSCS and SSCS+PU were superior to those of both the chitosaConclusion: SSCS has significant positive effects on the promotion of seawater-immersed wound healing, and a SSCS+PU dressing effectively prevents seawater immersion, and significantly promotes seawater-immersed wound healing.

Hepatitis B virus subgenotypes and basal core promoter mutations in Indonesia

AIM： To identify the distribution of hepatitis B virus （HBV） subgenotype and basal core promoter （BCP） mutations among patients with HBV-associated liver disease in Indonesia.METHODS： Patients with chronic hepatitis （CH, n =61）, liver cirrhosis （LC, n = 62）, and hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC, n = 48） were included in this study. HBV subgenotype was identified based on S or preS gene sequence, and mutations in the HBx gene including the overlapping BCP region were examined by direct sequencing.RESULTS： HBV genotype B （subgenotypes B2, B3, B4, 85 and B7） the major genotype in the samples, accounted for 75.4%, 71.0% and 75.0% of CH, LC and HCC patients, respectively, while the genotype C （subgenotypes C1, C2 and C3） was detected in 24.6%, 29.0%, and 25.0% of CH, LC, and HCC patients, respectively. Subgenotypes B3 （84.9%） and C1 （82.2%） were the main subgenotype in HBV genotype B and C, respectively. Serotype adw2 （84.9%） and adrq＋ （89.4%） were the most prevalent in HBV genotype B and C, respectively. Double mutation （A1762T/G1764A） in the BCP was significantly higher in LC （59.7%） and HCC （54.2%） than in CH （19.7%）, suggesting that this mutation was associated with severity of liver disease. The T1753V was also higher in LC （46.8%）, but lower in HCC （22.9%） and CH （18.0%）, suggesting that this mutation may be an indicator of cirrhosis.CONCLUSION： HBV genotype B/B3 and C/C1 are the major genotypes in Indonesia. Mutations in BCP, such as A1762T/G1764A and T1753V, might have an association with manifestations of liver disease.

Correlation and Expression of COX-2 and P53 Protein in Basal Cell Carcinoma of Eyelid

The correlation between the expression of COX-2 and p53 protein in basal cell carcinoma （BCC） of eyelid and apoptosis was investigated. Specimens of BCC were collected from 40 cases （aged 28-68 y） at the Department of Pathology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, and Department of Pathology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University during from 1999 to 2006. Five specimens of paracancerous tissues served as control group. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to detect the expression of COX-2 and p53 in the tissues. The average absorbance （A） and the average positive area rate of COX-2 and p53 protein were measured by image analysis. The positive area rate of COX-2 and p53 protein was analyzed by linear correlation analysis. It was found that COX-2 and p53 proteins were highly expressed in BCC of eyelid, and weakly expressed in paracancerous tissues. Image analysis revealed that the expression of COX-2 and p53 proteins in BCC of eyelid was sig- nificantly higher than that in paracancerous tissues （P〈0.01）. Spearman rank correlation analysis demonstrated a positive correlation between the expression of COX-2 and p53 （r=0.113, P=0.421）. It was concluded that COX-2 can increase the expression of p53 protein, therefore suppressing apoptosis.

Enhancement of Gingival Wound Healing by Local Application of Silver Nanoparticles Periodontal Dressing Following Surgery: A Histological Assessment in Animal Model

Background: The value of periodontal dressing and its effects on periodontal wound healing have been questioned. Besides, the early healing of the gingival and periodontal wounds in oral cavity should be emphasized to promote the treatment outcome. Several studies pointed out a potential positive effect of silver nanoparticles (NPs) on the healing process of skin wounds. The present work aimed to design silver NPs periodontal dressing and then, evaluated its effects on gingival wound healing following operation. Methods: Thirty healthy adolescent female rabbits were used in this study. They had intact teeth and the clinical and radiographic examination revealed no periodontal disease. Silver NPs were added to carbonate methyl cellulose as base with two different concentrations of 25% v/v (Group A) and 50% v/v (Group B). On the basis of simple randomized allocation, gingivectomy was performed at the buccal gingiva of the left and right mandibular incisors and subsequently, untreated wounds in the control area were covered with periodontal pack and periodontal dressings A and B were applied in the test regions. Histological changes were monitored in day 4 and 7 post operation to evaluate the inflammatory and repair stage of healing process. Results: We observed significant difference in the inflammatory and repair parameters of the healing process between surgical sites treated with this periodontal dressing and control group. Besides, wounds treated with silver NPs dressing in general terms had all the hallmarks of relatively complete healing one week post operatively. Conclusion: The results indicated positive potential therapeutic effects for this new formulation of periodontal dressing on acceleration of surgical wound healing that led to improvement of periodontal treatment consequences following operation.

Collagen/Chitosan Electrospun Nanofibrous Membrane for Wound Dressing

Collagen(Col)/chitosan(CS)nanofibrous membrane has great potential to be used as wound dressing.However,current Col/CS nanofibrous membrane produced from electrospinning can not offer sufficient mechanical strength for practical applications.Herein,a novel mixed solvent was used to prepare next-generation high-strength Col/CS nanofibrous membrane.Meanwhile,the optimal Col to CS weight ratio was investigated as well.The asproduced membrane was examined by scanning electron microscopy(SEM),attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(ATR-FTIR),differential scanning calorimetry(DSC),and XF-1A tester to study its morphological,chemical,thermal and mechanical properties.The preliminary results demonstrated that the mechanical properties of Col/CS nanofibrous membranes were enhanced substantially with the increase of CS weight ratios from 0 to 90%and the optimal Col to CS weight ratio was determined to be 1∶1.A promising way was presented to fabricate Col/CS electrospun nanofibrous membrane with sufficient mechanical strength for practical wound dressing applications.

THE EXPRESSION OF C－erbB－1 AND C－erbB－2ONCOGENES IN BASAL CELL CARCINOMA ANDSQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA OF SKIN

The expression of c-erbB-1 and c-erbB-2 oncogenes were investigated by immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibodies to c-erbB-2 and c-erbB-2 protein in 43 cases of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and 26 cases of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). We found that the expression of c-erbB-1 oncogene in all BCC increased by different degrees and the expression of c-erbB-2 oncogene in BCC was significantly reduced or lost when compared to that in normal epidermal cells. Furthermore, apparent negative and positive rela-tionships were observed respectively between the tumor differentiation and the expression of cerbB-1 and c-erbB-2 oncogenes in SCC. It is suggested that the abnormal expression of c-erbB-1 and c-erbB-2 oncogenes in BCC and SCC may play a role in the development of skin tumors. The pattern of the c-erbB-1 and c-erbB-2 oncogenes expression in SCC may assist in distinguishing the biological behavior and prognosis of SCC.

Germinomas of the basal ganglia and thalamus: Four case reports

BACKGROUND The early diagnosis of basal ganglia and thalamus germinomas is often difficult due to the absence of elevated tumor markers,and atypical clinical symptoms and neuroimaging features.CASE SUMMARY Four male children aged 8 to 15 years were diagnosed with germinomas in the basal ganglia and thalamus by stereotactic biopsy from 2017 to 2019.All patients developed hemiplegia except patient 4 who also had cognitive decline,speech disturbance,nocturnal enuresis,polydipsia,polyuria,precocious puberty and abnormalities of thermoregulation.All four cases were alpha-fetoprotein and beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin(p-HCG)negative except patient 3 who had slightly elevated p-HCG in cerebrospinal fluid(CSF).No malignant cells were detected in the patients'CSF.Brain magnetic resonance imaging findings were diverse in these patients with the exception of the unique and common characteristics of ipsilateral hemisphere atrophy,especially in the cerebral peduncle.All patients were diagnosed with germinomas of the basal ganglia and thalamus by stereotactic brain biopsy.CONCLUSION Stereotactic brain biopsy is necessary to confirm the diagnosis of ectopic germinomas.Serial neuroimaging studies can not only differentiate disease but also determine the biopsy site.

Preliminary Clinical Study Using a Novel Wound Dressing Composed of Hyaluronic Acid and Collagen Containing EGF

This clinical trial aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a novel wound dressing composed of hyaluronic acid (HA) and collagen (Col) containing epidermal growth factor (EGF), referred to as EGF-wound dressing. EGF-wound dressing was prepared by freeze-drying a mixed aqueous solution of high-molecular-weight HA, low-molecular-weight HA and heat-denatured Col containing EGF. EGF-wound dressing was applied to skin defects, such as intractable skin ulcers, burn ulcers, traumatic skin defects and skin donor-site wounds. The dressing was changed twice a week for a period of 6 weeks or longer, if necessary. The primary endpoints were size of wound area, formation of granulation tissue, extent of epithelialization, infection control and macroscopic appearance. Effectiveness, safety and overall clinical evaluation were scored by plastic surgeons, as authorized by the Japanese Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. This study was registered with the University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN0000005264). Healthy granulation tissue and rapid epithelialization were observed for a given period after application of EGF-wound dressing onto the wounds. Most cases were assessed as having achieved good or excellent results. This clinical study demonstrated that EGF-wound dressing was beneficial in the treatment of various skin defects.

Precore/basal core promoter mutants and hepatitis B viral DNA levels as predictors for liver deaths and hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM： To conduct a retrospective study in 400 chronic hepatitis B patients in order to identify hepatitis B viral factors associated with complications of liver disease or development of hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODS： The mean follow-up time was 83.6 ± 39.6 mo. Alpha-fetoprotein test and abdominal ultrasound were used for cancer surveillance. Hepatitis B basal core promoter mutants, precore mutants, genotypes, hepatitis B viral DNA （HBV DNA） level and hepatitis B e antigen （HBeAg） were measured. Univariate analysis and logistic regression were used to assess odds ratios for viral factors related to liver deaths and hepatocellular carcinoma development. RESULTS： During follow-up, 38 patients had liver deaths not related to hepatocellular carcinoma. On multivariate analysis, older age [odds ratio： 95.74 （12.13-891.31）, P 〈 0.0001], male sex [odds ratio： 7.61 （2.20-47.95）; P = 0.006], and higher Iogzo HBV DNA [odds ratio： 4.69 （1.16-20.43）; P 〈 0.0001] were independently predictive for these liver related deaths. Also, 31 patients developed hepatocellular carcinoma. Multivariate analysis showed that older age [odds ratio： 26.51 （2.36-381.47）; P = 0.007], presence of precore mutants [odds ratio： 4.23 （1.53-19.58）, P = 0.02] and presence of basal core promoter mutants [odds ratio： 2.93 （1.24-7.57）; P = 0.02] were independent predictors for progression to hepatocellular carcinoma. CONCLUSION： Our results show that high levels of baseline serum HBV DNA are associated with non- hepatocellular carcinoma-related deaths of liver failure, while genetic mutations in the basal core promoter and precore regions are predictive for development of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Curaderm, the Long-Awaited Breakthrough for Basal Cell Carcinoma

Background: Basal cells form a continuous cell layer at the bottom of the epidermis, which is the outermost layer of the skin. Basal cell carcinoma occurs when a mutation occurs in the DNA of a basal cell. The mutation inhibits apoptosis—the programmed cell death mechanism. The cell continues to multiply but does not die, resulting in a change in the skin, such as a growth or sore that will not heal. Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer and the most frequently occurring form of all cancers. Key words searched for the database of this communication were: Curaderm, BEC 5, cancer, skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma, nonmelanoma skin cancer, solamargine, solasonine and solasodine glycosides. Treatments: Several types of treatments are available to remove or destroy basal cell carcinoma. All currently used treatments are indiscriminate and also remove or destroy normal skin cells resulting in compromised cosmetic outcomes. Development of Curaderm Pharmacotherapy: Curaderm pharmacotherapy discriminates and specifically activates apoptosis at the molecular level in cancer cells but not in normal cells. Accordingly, Curaderm pharmacotherapy for basal cell carcinoma effectively and safely treats virtually all types, sizes and lesion locations. This review describes studies from the inception of Curaderm pharmacotherapy and covers the discovery of the anti-cancer effects, mode of action, preclinical, clinical and field applications with emphasis on efficacy, safety, compliance, tolerance, cost effectiveness and especially cosmetic outcome. In 2018 Curaderm was approved by the European Health Authorities as a Medical Device Class 1 for the indication “Topical Treatment with Keratolytic Action, and Antineoplastic Activity in the Treatment and Healing of Localized Basal Cell Carcinoma of the Skin”.

Determination of basal ileal endogenous losses and standardized ileal digestibility of amino acids in barley fed to growing pigs

Background： Basal ileal endogenous amino acid（AA） losses（IAAend） and standardized ileal digestibility（SID） values of cereal grains, such as barley, are apparently underestimated when determined according to the nitrogen（N）-free method. Regression analysis between the dietary apparent ileal digestible content（c AID） and total crude protein（CP） and AA can be considered as alternative approach to obtain more accurate values for IAAendand SID of AA in cereal grains.Methods： Eight hulled barley genotypes were used, with barley being the only source of CP and AA in the assay diets. The diets contained 95 % as-fed of these eight barley genotypes each, ranging in CP content between 109.1 and 123.8 g/kg dry matter（DM）. Nine ileally T-cannulated barrows, average body weight（BW） 30 ± 2 kg, were allotted to a row-column design comprising eight periods with 6 d each and nine pigs. On d 5 and the night of d 6 of every period, ileal digesta were collected for a total of 12 h. The IAAend and the SID were determined by linear regression analysis between c AID and total dietary CP and AA.Results： There exist linear relationships between cA ID and total CP and AA（P 〈 0.001）. The IAAend of CP, Lys, Met, Thr and Trp amounted to 35.34, 1.08, 0.25, 1.02 and 0.38 g/kg DM intake（DMI）, respectively, which are greater compared to average IAAend determined previously under N-free feeding conditions. The SID of CP, Lys, Met, Thr and Trp was 90,79, 85, 79 and 86 %, respectively, and was greater when compared to tabulated values. Moreover, these SID values were greater than those reported in literature, based on correction of apparent ileal digestibility（AID） of CP and AA for their IAAendvalues. Summarized, the results of the present regression analysis indicate greater IAAendin barley-based diets compared to those obtained by N-free feeding.Conclusions： For low-protein feed ingredients like barley the regression method may be preferred over correction of AID values for their IAAenddetermined under N-free feeding conditions, as intercepts and slopes of the linear regression equations between cA ID and total dietary CP and AA provide direct estimates of IAAendand SID of CP and AA in the presence of the assay feed ingredient.