Minimally invasive diagnosis of vulvar disease using punch biopsy

We describe the development of a sub-millimetre skin punch biopsy device for painless and suture-free skin sampling for molecular diagnosis and research. Conventional skin punch biopsies range from 2-4 mm in diameter. Local anaesthesia is required and sutures are usually used to close the wound. Our microbiopsy is 0.50 mm wide and 0.20 mm thick. The microbiopsy device is fabricated from three stacked medical grade stainless steel plates tapered to a point and contains a chamber within the centre plate to collect the skin sample. We observed that the application of this device resulted in a 0.21 ± 0.04 mm wide puncture site in volunteer skin using reflectance confocal microscopy. Histological sections from microbiopsied skin revealed 0.22 ± 0.12 mm wide and 0.26 ± 0.09 mm deep puncture sites. Longitudinal observation in microbiopsied volunteers showed that the wound closed within 1 day and was not visible after 7 days. Reflectance confocal microscope images from these same sites showed the formation of a tiny crust that resolved by 3 weeks and was completely undetectable by the naked eye. The design parameters of the device were optimised for molecular analysis using sampled DNA mass as the primary end point in volunteer studies. Finally, total RNA was characterized. The optimised device extracted 5.9 ± 3.4 ng DNA and 9.0 ± 10.1 ng RNA. We foresee that minimally invasive molecular sampling will play an increasingly significant role in diagnostic dermatology and skin research.

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Microbiopsy engineered for minimally invasive and suture-free sub-millimetre skin sampling

F1000Research ◽

10.12688/f1000research.2-120.v2 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2 ◽

pp. 120 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Lynlee L Lin ◽

Tarl W Prow ◽

Anthony P Raphael ◽

Robert L Harrold III ◽

Clare A Primiero ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Minimally Invasive ◽

Punch Biopsy ◽

Steel Plates ◽

Design Parameters ◽

Puncture Site ◽

Skin Sample ◽

Naked Eye ◽

Skin Punch Biopsy ◽

Microscope Images ◽

Biopsy Device

We describe the development of a sub-millimetre skin punch biopsy device for minimally invasive and suture-free skin sampling for molecular diagnosis and research. Conventional skin punch biopsies range from 2-4 mm in diameter. Local anaesthesia is required and sutures are usually used to close the wound. Our microbiopsy is 0.50 mm wide and 0.20 mm thick. The microbiopsy device is fabricated from three stacked medical grade stainless steel plates tapered to a point and contains a chamber within the centre plate to collect the skin sample. We observed that the application of this device resulted in a 0.21 ± 0.04 mm wide puncture site in volunteer skin using reflectance confocal microscopy. Histological sections from microbiopsied skin revealed 0.22 ± 0.12 mm wide and 0.26 ± 0.09 mm deep puncture sites. Longitudinal observation in microbiopsied volunteers showed that the wound closed within 1 day and was not visible after 7 days. Reflectance confocal microscope images from these same sites showed the formation of a tiny crust that resolved by 3 weeks and was completely undetectable by the naked eye. The design parameters of the device were optimised for molecular analysis using sampled DNA mass as the primary end point in volunteer studies. Finally, total RNA was characterized. The optimised device extracted 5.9 ± 3.4 ng DNA and 9.0 ± 10.1 ng RNA. We foresee that minimally invasive molecular sampling will play an increasingly significant role in diagnostic dermatology and skin research.

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Considerations in Dysphagia Management Following Esophagectomy

Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups ◽

10.1044/persp1.sig13.169 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 1 (13) ◽

pp. 169-176

Author(s):

Lisa M. Evangelista ◽

James L. Coyle

Keyword(s):

Esophageal Cancer ◽

Minimally Invasive ◽

Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ◽

Esophageal Resection ◽

Minimally Invasive Surgical ◽

Operative Complications ◽

Swallowing Difficulties ◽

Epidemiological Impact ◽

Invasive Techniques ◽

Management Of Dysphagia

Esophageal cancer is the sixth leading cause of death from cancer worldwide. Esophageal resection is the mainstay treatment for cancers of the esophagus. While curative, surgical resection may result in swallowing difficulties that require intervention from speech-language pathologists (SLPs). Minimally invasive surgical procedures for esophageal resection have aimed to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with more invasive techniques. Both intra-operative and post-operative complications, regardless of the surgical approach, can result in dysphagia. This article will review the epidemiological impact of esophageal cancers, operative complications resulting in dysphagia, and clinical assessment and management of dysphagia pertinent to esophageal resection.

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