There is fat in this sclerosis: A case report of sclerotic lipoma and review of the literature

Sclerotic lipomas, a lipoma variant, are benign subcutaneous tumors, so-named because of their resemblance to sclerotic fibromas. Previous literature has suggested that these tumors may show a predilection for middle-aged adult males. We report an unusual case of a sclerotic lipoma diagnosed on the scalp of a 66-year-old female. The patient presented to the outpatient clinic with a 3- to 4-year history of an enlarging and irritated 2.6-cm nodule on the anterior crown of the scalp, clinically thought to be a pilar cyst. Histopathological examination from the excisional specimen revealed a well-circumscribed dermal to subcutaneous tumor with ample sclerotic collagen bundles, an increased number of CD34 positive spindled cells, and prominent S-100 positive mature adipocytes comprising greater than 50% of the tumor. We present this case given its atypical clinical and histopathological presentation, review the literature of sclerotic lipomas, and discuss the differential diagnosis to raise awareness of this rare entity.     

Improving the Acid and Base Resistance of Polyurethane Using Carbon Nanotubes

This paper demonstrates that carbon nanotubes (CNTs) can be used as an effective filler for inhibiting the hydrolysis of polyurethane (PU) under acidic and basic conditions. Although it has been reported that CNTs can quench the radicals on its surface, for the first time, it is confirmed that CNTs undergo reactions that have an inhibiting effect on ion‐mediated hydrolysis. Attenuated total reflectance–infrared spectroscopy measurements on PU and PU–CNT samples reveal that CNTs inhibit the hydrolysis of PU in both acid and alkaline environments. Via quantum chemical calculations, it is shown that CNTs can trap H⁺ ions and OH^? ions on their surface. It is also shown that CNTs can trap multiple ions, even though electrical repulsion is to be expected. The results reveal that CNTs can also function as a hydrolysis inhibitor in addition to their known functions as an antioxidant.     

Artificial oocyte activation with calcium ionophore for frozen sperm cycles

Fertilization problems are the major problems that may be faced in 30–55% of the patients during an intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycle. A successful oocyte activation depends on factors related to both sperm and oocyte, and one of the important factors that mediates the process is Ca²⁺ concentration within the oocyte. Artificial oocyte activation (AOA) is a method used for fertilization problems that commonly involve the usage of Ca²⁺ ionophores and is usually used in problems such as total fertilization failure (TFF) and globozoospermia. The aim of the present study was to investigate possible effects of AOA for different groups of patients with fertilization failure. Four groups of patients (previous TFF, low oocyte number, severe sperm quality, and frozen sperm (FS) group) that underwent ICSI with AOA were included in the study. All groups had similar control groups with same indications except TFF, where AOA was not performed. Fertilization rates were significantly higher in the TFF group than those observed in other AOA groups. Fertilization rates and quality of embryos observed in the remaining AOA groups were higher than those of the controls, which were statistically insignificant. Prgenancy rates were higher in all AOA groups compared to the controls, although the differences were significant in FS group only. Quality of embryos and pregnancy rates were lower in the TFF group compared to the remaining AOA groups indicating possible concomitant problems. Fertilization rates, quality of embryos and pregnancy rates seemed to be increased in all indication groups suggesting that not only TFF patients but also a wide variety of patients with different indications may benefit from AOA.

Abbreviations: ICSI: Intracytoplasmic sperm injection; ARTs: Assisted reproductive techniques; Ca: Calcium; AOA: Artificial oocyte activation; TFF: Total fertilization failures; OAT: Oligoasthenoteratozoospemia; IVF: In vitro fertilization; SOAT: Severe OAT; LON: Low ooctye number; FS: Frozen sperm; hCG: human chorionic gonadotrophin; PVP: polyvinylpyrrolidone; HSA: human serum albumin     

Endothelial cell adhesion molecules in human dental pulp: a comparative immunohistochemical study on chronic periodontitis

Migration of leukocytes to inflammation sites through vascular endothelium is controlled by the interactions of adhesion molecules expressed on both endothelial cells and leukocytes, most of which are already covered by cluster of differentiation (CD) codes. We examined the expression of a variety of endothelial cell adhesion molecules in human dental pulp vasculature to obtain further evidence on the tissue distribution and function of these molecules by using an indirect immunoperoxidase technique. We obtained the pulp tissue samples from teeth extracted due to orthodontic reasons as controls and compared with those extracted due to chronic periodontitis. In all samples, both CD31 and CD146 were expressed by arterial, venous, and capillary endothelia. There was no significant difference between the staining intensity of normal and inflamed pulp tissues. CD102 expression on the endothelium was significantly stronger in chronic periodontitis pulp samples. CD106, CD62-E, CD62-P, CD105, and CD54 were variably expressed in control and chronic periodontitis groups. Our results indicate that CD102 represents the major endothelial cell adhesion molecule probably involved in the inflammatory reactions in chronic periodontitis.     

Prosthetic Improvement of Pronounced Buccally Positioned Zygomatic Implants: A Clinical Report

This report presents a prosthetic technique for the improvement of surgically positioned, buccally placed zygomatic implants with the use of custom abutments for improved retention screw position and an esthetic implant reconstruction. The patient presented four zygomatic implants with pronounced buccal inclination. The anterior implants were inclined toward the location where the anterior artificial teeth should be placed during rehabilitation. As the manufacturer does not provide angulated abutments, we attempted the waxing and overcasting of a prosthetic abutment, repositioning the access holes of the prosthetic screws to a more palatal position. This clinical report demonstrates that abutment customization could be an interesting way to relocate the access holes of the prosthetic screws in cases of zygomatic implants with pronounced buccal inclination.     

Analgesic efficacy of laparoscopic-guided transverse abdominis plane block using liposomal bupivacaine in bariatric surgery

Background

Postoperative pain management is a major contributor to recovery and discharge in bariatric surgery. Local anesthetic agents are of particular interest: they're non-sedating and may reduce postoperative pain and hospital length of stay (LOS).

Management of knee rheumatoid arthritis and tibia nonunion with one-stage total knee arthroplasty and intramedullary nailing: A report of two cases

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a surgical procedure which is widely used in the treatment of gonarthrosis secondary to rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The incidence of stress fractures in tibia in the patients with RA is higher compared to normal patients. In this study, we report two cases of TKA and intramedullary nailing in RA patients with severe knee arthritis and tibial nonunion. Both patients had a satisfactory clinical outcome with radiological healing of the tibial fracture.