Argon- and nitrogen-plasma pulses decrease facial sebum excretion in oily human skin by regulating lipogenesis and proliferation in human sebocytes

Although several energy devices targeting sebaceous glands have been developed, an effective and safe therapeutic tool for hyperseborrhea is needed. Non-thermal atmospheric-pressure plasma (NTAPP) induces microscopic tissue reactions in sebaceous glands of rat skin in vivo. Fifteen healthy volunteers with oily facial skin underwent three sessions of argon- and nitrogen-NTAPP treatment. The casual sebum level, sebum excretion rate, porphyrin index, and histological analysis were evaluated. Argon- and nitrogen-NTAPP pulses were applied to testosterone and linoleic acid (T/LA)-treated human SZ95 sebocytes. Lipids were assessed using BODIPY and quantitative Nile red staining. Proliferation and differentiation markers were assessed. Argon- and nitrogen-NTAPP pulses suppressed casual sebum levels and sebum excretion rates in the skin, at week 4. The porphyrin index revealed a 38% reduction at week 2. Skin biopsy samples showed no obvious thermal coagulation, but the number of Ki67+ cells in the sebaceous glands decreased at week 2. Argon- and nitrogen-NTAPP inhibited T/LA-induced increases in lipid synthesis, Ki67+ cells, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-ɣ transcription in human sebocytes without apoptosis. Argon- and nitrogen-NTAPP therapy is a safe and effective method for reducing sebum excretion in oily human skin and inhibits lipogenesis and cell proliferation in human sebocytes.

Photoacoustic Detection of Protein Coagulation in Albumen-based Phantoms

Photoacoustic tomography provides good optical contrast with high spatial resolution making it an attractive tool for noninvasive imaging. While the mechanical parameters of tissue affect the photoacoustic signal, the differences in optical absorption mainly determines the contrast between different media. In this work we investigate how the variation in optical and mechanical properties during laser-induced coagulation can be detected by changes in the amplitude and temporal characteristics of photoacoustic signals. Photoacoustic pressure profiles are investigated for tissue equivalent albumen phantoms exposed to varying thermal doses, simulating thermal coagulation. Illumination is performed using an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) fed by a Q-switched Nd:YAG pulsed laser to illuminate at multiple wavelengths. The results of the study demonstrate that photoacoustic signals are sensitive to changes in delivered thermal dose and, hence, photoacoustic imaging has potential as a non-invasive monitoring tool for thermal therapy.

Internal and External Radiofrequency Assisted Lipo-Coagulation (RFAL) in the Control of Soft Tissue Contraction during Liposuction: Part 1 “Inside Out” Thermal Tissue Tightening

Radiofrequency Assisted Lipo-coagulation (RFAL) BodyTite is a contact, impedance, internal and external thermal regulation controlled, internal, minimally invasive, non-excisional procedure providing soft tissue lipo-coagulation and contraction that has been used for over 10 years to optimize skin and soft tissue contraction during liposuction procedures. The device deploys a bipolar applicator inserted into the liposuction zone. The internal, coated, electrode is positively charged and emits a coagulative, ablative injury that results in adipose liquification and Fibroseptal Network (FSN) contraction. The RF flows from the internal electrode after ablation and coagulation up to the external negatively charged return electrode moving on the skin, which heats and tightens the papillary dermis non-ablatively. The body areas that most benefit from this BodyTite technology and procedure include those areas most in need of non-excision contraction include the abdomen, upper arms, inner thighs, bra-line, neck and jaw line. Studies, show, that the combination of BodyTite internal thermal coagulation and external Morpheus8 (see Part 2) at the time of liposuction can result in 40–70% area skin contraction, greatly improving the soft tissue contours and Body shaping outcomes following lipo-contouring procedures.

Internal and External Radiofrequency Assisted Lipo-Coagulation (RFAL) in the Control of Soft Tissue Contraction during Liposuction: Part 2 “Outside In” RFAL Thermal Tissue Tightening

The new Morpheus8 is a novel external RFAL device that uses the proven soft tissue contraction of BodyTite in an external, non-invasive procedure. This external RF applicator, which is also powered by BodyTite, inserts up to 40 positively charged, coated electrodes 8 mm into the subcutaneous, soft tissue envelope. A monopolar ablative lesion is generated from the tip of the electrode, stimulating contraction of the FSN and adipose coagulation. The RF then flows up to the distant negative, return electrodes on the surface of the skin, providing a non-ablative thermal stimulation to the papillary dermis. The “burst” feature of the Morpheus8, delivers simultaneous multiple levels of internal coagulation in a single one second pulse, amplifying the adipose ablation and contraction effect. Studies, show, that the combination of BodyTite internal thermal coagulation and external Morpheus8 at the time of liposuction can result in 60–70% area skin contraction, greatly improving the soft tissue contours and Body shaping outcomes following lipo-contouring procedures.

Morphological features of the simulated gunshot wounds of rabbits’ soft tissues at different temperatures of injuring object

The article presents the results of experimental modeling of super­ficial fragment gunshot wounds of soft tissues, obtained in low-energy gunshot wounds. The pathomorphosis of gunshot wounds was studied, and the features and timing of their healing were compared depending on the temperature of the damaging fragments. The aim of the work was to study the effect of the temperature of the injuring shrapnel on the healing processes of the soft tissues of experimental animals with superficial low-energy fragment gunshot wounds. Using the random number method, laboratory animals (rabbits) were divided into 3 experimental groups (15 animals each). In each group, wounding was with fragments with different temperatures − 18°С, 50°С and 100°С. The control group consisted of 10 intact animals. On day 14th, 30th and 60th, 5 animals from each group were withdrawn from the experiment. Microscopic examination of soft tissues was performed using a PRIMO STAR light microscope (Carl Zeiss, Germany) at magnification by 56 and 400 times. When assessing the state of tissues in the area of wound damage, it was established that as the temperature of the injuring fragment increases, a slower filling of the defect formed by the necrotic detritus in the process of utilization of necrotic detritus is observed. The high temperature of the injuring fragment along with the mechanical rupture of tissues causes thermal coagulation necrosis. Dense coagulated necrotic masses covering the wound canal from the inside, not only increase the volume of necrotic masses, but also complicate the process of wound healing. At a temperature of wounding fragments 100°C, the formation of a necrotic crust on the surface of the wound occurred on average 3±1.2 days later than at temperatures of 18°C and 50°C, the least pronounced healing took place at the bottom of the wound and in the muscle tissue. Microscopically necrotic, not dystrophic changes were observed in myocytes. Thus, a comparative analysis of the pathomorphosis of soft tissues in a wound when injured from an air rifle MP-532 with different temperature of the fragments showed differences from both the alteration of the tissues and the regenerative potential.

Devising techniques for reinforcing glued sausage casings by using different physical methods

This paper has substantiated the development and rationalization of techniques to manufacture sausage casings from natural raw materials with predefined functional and technological properties. It is noted that the issue related to the rational utilization of intestinal raw materials and the improvement of the production economic profitability could be resolved by implementing effective technologies of glued intestinal sausage casings. The strength has been investigated of the reinforcing seam between the layers of intestinal membranes obtained by such techniques as the local tanning, local thermal coagulation resulting from passing an electric current through wet raw materials, local thermal coagulation due to the arc discharge through dried raw materials. The rational concentration of tannin in tanning solution has been determined, at which it is recommended to make a reinforcing seam on glued intestinal casings by means of local tanning. A value of the breaking load for the reinforcing seam made by using local electric currents has been derived, which is 14 N/m. A 4.7-time increase in the breaking load has been established to occur, compared to the control sample. A value of the breaking load for the reinforcing seam obtained by applying an arc discharge has been found, which is 18 N/m. It was noted that the breaking load had increased compared to the control sample. Working bodies for an installation were designed aimed at reinforcing glued sausage casings by such techniques as local tanning; local thermal coagulation resulting from passing an electric current through wet raw materials; local thermal coagulation as a result of arc discharge through dried raw materials. It is noted that the advantages of techniques for the reinforcement of glued sausage casings are the high breaking load and the effective utilization of raw materials

INVESTIGATION OF HYGROSCOPIC PROPERTIES AND POROSITY OF GLUED REINFORCED SAUSAGE CASINGS

There is substantiated the topicality of studying hygroscopic properties and porosity of glued reinforced sausage casings of intestinal raw materials. The work aim is to establish storage conditions of glued reinforced sausage casings of intestinal raw materials and their porosity determination. Studies of hygroscopic properties of glued reinforced sausage casings of intestinal raw materials have established a possibility of their long-term storage in a polymer package at a relative humidity no more 60…70 %. It has been established, that at a relative humidity more 70 %, storage is possible only in a steam-tight package. It has been noted, that a storage temperature at that must be selected in the diapason from 0 °С to 25 °С. It has been established, that the sorption isotherm for a model of a reinforcing seam material, obtained from glued intestinal casings using thermal coagulation, is lower than the one of the glued casing of intestinal raw materials relative to the axis of moisture content. The research result is explained by different porosity of samples. Differential functions of pores distribution by radiuses for studied samples have been obtained, and most probable and average radiuses for them have been calculated. The obtained distribution functions have a similar character and close maximum positions relative to the axis that the size-free pore radius is put on. They differ by lines width, testifying to the fact that samples differ by relative number of pores of different radiuses. It has been established, that most probable radiuses of pores for the studied samples differ within error, and average radiuses differ more than twice. It has been noted, that just more developed porous structure is a cause of the fact that the sorption isotherm of glued casings is higher relative to the one of a reinforcing seam material model. It has been noted, that at reinforcing protein molecules of the initial raw material change their structure because of thermal coagulation in such a way that the porous composition of the obtained raw material becomes closer to the monodispersed one

Valorization of second cheese whey through cultivation of extremophile microalga Galdieria sulphuraria

<abstract> <p>Second cheese whey (SCW) or "<italic>scotta</italic>" in Italian, is a side-stream from the manufacturing of "<italic>Ricotta</italic>" cheese, obtained after thermal coagulation of whey proteins residue in the cheese whey. <italic>Galdieria sulphuraria</italic> is a thermophilic red algae well known for its metabolic capabilities to grow on wastewater and other saline effluents. In this work, the valorisation of SCW as nutrient source for the growth of <italic>G. sulphuraria</italic> has been investigated using different concentrations of SCW. The biochemical and fatty acids composition of the biomass obtained has been evaluated too. Small differences have been observed in terms of biomass obtained after 12 days of cultivation between the SCW media and the relative control with the same amount of reducing sugars. The fatty acids composition of <italic>G. sulphuraria</italic> grown in SCW showed a higher content of polyunsaturated fatty acids compared to the control. The biomass productivity using SCW media has also been optimized through response surface methodologies with supplementation of nitrogen source obtaining a biomass dry weight higher than 10 g L^-1.</p> </abstract>

Prevalence of High-risk Human Papillomavirus Infection Among Prisoners in the Nsawam Medium Security Prison, Ghana

Background: The Ghana Prisons Service has a Health Directorate that ensures delivery of healthcare to people in their custody under the Ghana Association of Quasi Health Institution (GAQHI) which is one of the agencies under the Ministry of Health. Across Ghana, females comprise 1.2% of the entire prison population (n=15,463). Cervical cancer screening services are however nonexistent and the prevalence of cervical precancer is undocumented. Our aim was to determine the prevalence of high-risk HPV infection and associated cervical abnormalities during a cervical cancer screening outreach. Methods: After informed consent and counselling, women underwent a structured questionnaire-based interview. Responses were recorded directly into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. Inmates were co-tested for cervical pre-cancer by two trained nurses using dry brush cervical samples for 15 high risk HPV types using the AmpFire HPV test after which mobile colposcopy with the EVA system was performed. EVA images were reviewed by a gynecologist. Frequencies and percentages were used to describe categorical data while means and standard deviations or medians and interquartile ranges were used to describe continuous data. Results: The majority (75%) of the inmates were convicts with a median sentence of 5 years. Their mean age was 41.1 years (range, 19–97). Out of the 14% that had ever been screened for cervical cancer, 75% had only been screened once. The self-reported prevalence rate of HIV among the inmates was 13.1%, all of who were receiving treatment. The high-risk HPV prevalence rate was 47.6% in the general population of inmates and 63.6% among HIV positive inmates. Using the EVA system, 5(6%) had lesions on the cervix of which 3(3.6%) were treated with thermal coagulation and 2(2.4%) were treated with LEEP. The average age of high-risk HPV positive inmates was 37.8 years. These inmates were also more likely to have been in prison for a shorter duration. Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of high-risk HPV infection among women in custody. These women will benefit from structured cervical cancer prevention services, including treatment for abnormalities that are picked up during such screening.