Differential Stripping: Determination of the Amount of Topically Applied Substances Penetrated into the Hair Follicles

The determination of penetration pathways of topically applied substances into the skin is the subject of several investigations. Recently, follicular penetration has become a major focus of interest. To date, a direct, non-invasive quantification of the amount of topically applied substance penetrated into the follicles had not been possible. The development of such a method was the aim of this study. Therefore, the advantages of both stripping techniques, tape stripping and cyanoacrylate skin surface biopsy, were combined and evaluated. Tape stripping was used to remove the part of the stratum corneum that contained the topically applied dye. Subsequently, the follicular contents were ripped off by cyanoacrylate skin surface biopsy. The combined method termed "differential stripping" was evaluated in vitro and in vivo , and the amount of topically applied fluorescent dye penetrated into the hair follicles was quantified after different penetration times. After 30 min, 5% of the recovered concentration of sodium fluorescein was found in the follicular infundibula, where it was still detectable after 48 h. Altogether, the results of this investigation revealed that differential stripping is a new method that can be used to study the penetration of topically applied substances into the follicular infundibula non-invasively and selectively.     

无张力阴道吊带术治疗女性压力性尿失禁(附20例报告)

目的 评价无张力阴道吊带术(tension-free vaginal tape，TVT)治疗女性压力性尿失禁的疗效。方法 总结采用TVT术治疗女性压力性尿失禁20例的临床资料。结果 平均手术时间26.5min。拔除尿管后，19例病人控尿满意，1例仍有轻微尿失禁。术后平均随访12(3-24)个月，20例病人均无尿失禁。合并症有1例膀胱穿孔，1例术后轻度排尿不畅，2例尿频尿急。结论 TVT术操作简便快捷，创伤小，合并症少，术后康复快，是一种治疗女性压力性尿失禁的理想方法。     

A short-term follow-up comparison of two trans-obturator tape procedures

The objective of the study was to compare the clinical outcomes at the short-term follow-ups of two novel transobturator mid-urethral sling procedures – the transobturator tape (TOT) procedure and the tension-free vaginal tape (TVT)-obturator procedure. The study cohort consisted two groups of 40 women with urodynamically proven stress urinary incontinence (SUI). The patients in one group underwent the TOT procedure, performed according to Delorme (Prog Urol 11:1306–1313, 2001); those in the second group underwent the TVT-obturator operation, performed according to de Leval (Eur Urol 44:724–730, 2003). Intra-operative diagnostic cystoscopy was not performed with either the TVT-obturator or the TOT procedures. The average follow-up was 12 months. The two patient groups were similar in terms of demographic and therapeutic criteria, except for patient age, which was significantly younger in the TVT-obturator group. Previously reported TVT-related operative complications, such as bladder penetration, intra-operative bleeding, field infection and post-operative pelvic floor relaxation, were not observed in patients of either group. Bowel and urethral injuries were also not recorded. The therapeutic failure rates were 10% for the TOT procedure and 5% for the TVT-obturator procedure. Urinary frequency and urgency post-operatively were reported in 25% of the TOT patients and 19% of the TVT-obturator patients, pelvic or vaginal pain affected 10% of the TOT and 5% of the TVT-obturator patients, while post-operative voiding difficulty was experienced by 12.5% of the TOT and 7.5% of the TVT-obturator patients. None of the above-mentioned differences between the two patient groups were of statistical significance. The TVT-obturator and TOT procedures, both minimally invasive, novel, mid-urethral sling procedures, seem to be safe, easy-to-perform and effective in treating female SUI. The patients of both study groups suffered less intra- and post-operative surgical complications than previously been reported in connection with the TVT operation. The TVT-obturator patients had fewer therapeutic failures, less post-operative urinary frequency and urgency, less pelvic pain and less voiding difficulty. All of these findings, however, had no statistical significance; consequently, long-term comparative data collection will be required before solid conclusions can be drawn on the superiority of either of these two operative techniques.     

无张力性吊带术治疗女性压力性尿失禁

目的探讨无张力阴道吊带术(tension-free vaginal tape，TVT)治疗女性压力性尿失禁的疗效。方法13例经尿动力学检查证实为压力性尿失禁在连续硬膜外麻醉下经阴道前壁行无张力阴道吊带术，低平截石位，经阴道前壁向上穿刺尿道两侧间隙，从耻骨上腹壁引出TVT吊带，调整张力，关闭切口。结果手术时间15～45min，平均35min。13例随访6～24个月，平均13个月，12例治愈，1例改善，无尿失禁复发或排尿困难。结论TVT操作简单，创伤小，手术时间短，术后恢复快，治疗压力性尿失禁疗效好。     

经闭孔无张力尿道中段悬吊术治疗女性压力性尿失禁

目的探讨经闭孔无张力尿道中段悬吊术(trans-obturator tension free vaginal tape,TVT-O)治疗女性压力性尿失禁(stress urinary incontinence,SUI)的临床疗效。方法2006年1月~2007年9月,对15例SUI行TVT-O,取阴道前壁纵行切口1cm,组织剪分离尿道旁阴道黏膜下间隙至闭孔膜,放入蝶形导引杆,将螺旋形穿刺针沿导引杆紧贴耻骨下支穿过闭孔膜,从大腿根部皮肤穿出,将吊带无张力放置于尿道中段下方。结果手术时间15~40min,平均30min。术中出血量10~40ml,平均20ml。术中无并发症。1例术后尿潴留,留置尿管5d后缓解。10例术后大腿根部疼痛,术后3~10d消失。15例随访2~19个月,平均8个月,均治愈,无复发。结论TVT-O操作简单、安全有效。     

Tape-stripping method in man: comparison of evaporimetric methods

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: If the occlusion time of a closed chamber evaporimeter on the skin is too long, saturation might occur. We previously compared an open chamber and a closed chamber device on healthy volunteers. Comparable data on stripped skin with higher evaporation rates are not available. This study compares the sensitivity and correlation of open and closed chamber devices in a tape-stripping human model. The amount of tape removed SC was also quantified with a protein assay method. METHODS: Ten healthy volunteers (six male and four female; seven Caucasians and three Asian; mean age 38+/-16) were enrolled. In a randomized manner, one forearm was measured by an open chamber device and the opposite by a closed chamber device. After recording baseline measurements, 20 strippings were taken on each test site with tape disks. Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) was measured at the end of 10 and 20 tape strippings at each test site. Stratum corneum (SC) aggregates in the strips was assayed. RESULTS: The mean values obtained from two devices were similar after 10 trips and 20 strips. There was no statistically significant difference. The closed chamber device showed a slightly higher (but not significant) inter-individual coefficient of variation. SC aggregates in the strips were similar and without a statistically significant difference. CONCLUSION: The study suggests that both devices might yield similar TEWL values on stripped human skin in vivo.     

Reporting and grading of complications after mid-urethral sling surgeries: Could the “Clavien-Dindo Classification” be adopted?

Background:To construct a modified model for reporting and grading of postoperative complications after the mid-urethral sling (MUS) procedure based on the Clavien-Dindo classification. In addition, complications of three different types of MUS were compared.Materials and methods:A PubMed search for postoperative complication after MUS was carried out for the period between January 1990 and July 2018. Reported complications were stratified in a plate form designed in accordance with grades of the Clavien-Dindo classification. Then, the proposed model was applied on reported complications in 160 females who underwent three different procedures of MUS (transvaginal tape [TVT], transobturator tape [TOT], and autologous fascial sling) with a minimum follow-up of 24 months.Results:The mean ± SD age at time of surgery was 46 ± 7 years. TVT was carried out in 75 (47%) patients, TOT in 40 (25%), and fascial sling in 45 (28%). The total number of complications was 62 in 43 (26.8%) patients. The vast majority of complications were Grade I and Grade II 19 (12%) and 21 (13%) out of 160 patients, respectively. Transient postoperative voiding difficulty (Grade II) and de novo urgency (Grade II) were the most prevalent complications in the fascial sling method (15.4% for each), whereas transient thigh pain (Grade II) was the most frequently reported complication after TOT (10%). Life-threatening vascular injury (Grade IV-a) was a serious complication in TVT cases.Conclusions:Postoperative complications of the MUS could be graded according to Clavien''s classification. The vast majority of complications were Graded I or II. TVT can cause serious life-threatening complications.     

Anti-inflammatory activity of hamamelis distillate applied topically to the skin

Summary The anti-inflammatory activity of hamamelis distillate has been evaluated with respect to drug concentration (0.64 mg/2.56 mg hamamelis ketone/100 g) and the effect of the vehicle (O/W emulsion with/without phosphatidylcholine (PC) in an experimental study. The effects were compared with those of chamomile cream, hydrocortisone 1% cream and 4 base preparations. Erythema was induced by UV irradiation and cellophane tape stripping of the horny layer in 24 healthy subjects per test. Skin blanching was quantified by visual scoring and chromametry. Drug effects were compared with one another and with an untreated control area, as well as with any action due to the vehicle.UV-induced erythema at 24 h was suppressed by low dose hamamelis PC-cream and hydrocortisone cream. Hydrocortisone appeared superior to both hamamelis vehicles, hamamelis cream (without PC) and chamomile cream. The latter preparation was also less potent than hamamelis PC-cream. Erythema 4 to 8 h after the stripping of the horny layer was suppressed by hydrocortisone (P0.05). Inflammation was also less pronounced following low dose hamamelis PC-cream and chamomile cream. Hamamelis PC-cream, however, appeared less potent than hydrocortisone. In general, visual scoring was more discriminatory than chromametry.The results have demonstrated an anti-inflammatory activity of hamamelis distillate in a PC-containing vehicle. A fourfold increase of drug concentration, however, did not produce an increase in activity.     

医学影像存储与传输系统存储模式的探讨

目的 探讨医学影像存储与传输系统中的存储介质、结构，提高图像存储容量及调用速度。方法PACS采用三级（在线、近线、离线）存储结构；利用硬盘、多服务器磁盘阵列、磁带库等作为存储介质，支持影像数据的短期存储管理和长期存储管理；采用冗余存储技术和镜像存储方式；提供定时自动备份和数字迁移功能。结果成功地实现了医学图像在网络中的存储、备份及调用。结论PACS中的三级存储模式大大提高了图像的存储容量及调用速度，提高了工作效率。     

Tensile Behaviour of Double- and Triple-Adhesive Single Lap Joints Made with Spot Epoxy and Double-Sided Adhesive Tape

Dual adhesives are mainly used to increase the strength of single lap joints (SLJs) by reducing the stress concentration at its ends. However, they can also be used to design the characteristics of the joint so that its operation and failure occur in several stages. This paper presents the results of uniaxial tensile tests for dual-adhesive and triple-adhesive SLJs. The adherends were made of aluminum and glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) composite. For dual-adhesive SLJs, 10 epoxies and 1.6 mm thick double-sided adhesive tape were used. The stiffest (Epidian 53 (100 g) + “PAC” hardener (80 g)) and most elastic (Scotch-Weld 2216 B/A Translucent) joints were determined, which were then used in a triple-adhesive joint with the same double-sided adhesive tape. Circular holes of different diameters from 8 mm to 20 mm were made in the double-sided adhesive tape, which were filled with liquid epoxy adhesive by injection after the adherends were joined. By using the double-sided adhesive tape, the geometry of the epoxy joints was perfect, free of spews, and had a constant thickness. The effect of the spot epoxy joint diameters and the arrangement of stiff and elastic joints in the SLJs were analyzed using digital image correlation (DIC).