Effects of low-intensity laser therapy over mini-implants success rate in pigs

Lasers in Medical Science - The success rate of miniscrews when used as temporary orthodontic anchorage is relatively high, but some factors could affect its clinical success such as inflammation...     

Single cell transcriptional profiling reveals heterogeneity of human induced pluripotent stem cells

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) and human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are promising candidate cell sources for regenerative medicine. However, despite the common ability of hiPSCs and hESCs to differentiate into all 3 germ layers, their functional equivalence at the single cell level remains to be demonstrated. Moreover, single cell heterogeneity amongst stem cell populations may underlie important cell fate decisions. Here, we used single cell analysis to resolve the gene expression profiles of 362 hiPSCs and hESCs for an array of 42 genes that characterize the pluripotent and differentiated states. Comparison between single hESCs and single hiPSCs revealed markedly more heterogeneity in gene expression levels in the hiPSCs, suggesting that hiPSCs occupy an alternate, less stable pluripotent state. hiPSCs also displayed slower growth kinetics and impaired directed differentiation as compared with hESCs. Our results suggest that caution should be exercised before assuming that hiPSCs occupy a pluripotent state equivalent to that of hESCs, particularly when producing differentiated cells for regenerative medicine aims.     

Negative pressure wound therapy in the adjunctive management of necrotizing fascitis: examining clinical outcomes

Prompt diagnosis and treatment of necrotizing fascitis reduces the morbidity and mortality rates of this devastating disease. To examine the clinical outcomes of using negative pressure wound therapy in the adjunctive management of wounds secondary to necrotizing fascitis, a retrospective review of medical records was conducted. Participants included 11 consecutive patients (16 wounds) with a diagnosis of necrotizing fascitis admitted to a teaching hospital between 2000 and 2005 and treated on an inpatient basis with negative pressure wound therapy. The patients included seven men, four women (average age 54 years; range 18 to 82 years). Variables abstracted from the medical records and consultation notes included: demographic information, tissue and blood bacteriological data, wound history, wound healing outcomes, duration of negative pressure wound therapy, length of hospital stay, and mortality and morbidity information. Variables were entered into an electronic database and analyzed. Operative tissue biopsies were obtained and all participants received serial surgical debridements as well as infection, nutrition, and hemodynamic support. Negative pressure wound therapy was applied to the wound(s) at 125 mm Hg continuous negative pressure until reconstructive closure could be performed. Most wounds (10) were on lower extremities, seven patients presented with sepsis, and beta-hemolytic Streptococcus was identified in nine wounds. Mean number of negative pressure wound therapy treatment days was 25 (range: 7 to 74), mean length of stay was 67 days (range: 21 to 186). All wounds were successfully closed--73% received split-thickness skin grafts, 27% required flaps, 100% limb salvage was achieved, and all patients survived. No negative pressure wound therapy or dressing-associated complications were observed. Negative pressure wound therapy was found to be a viable adjunctive treatment in the management of wounds associated with necrotizing fascitis.     

Modelling human resources policies with Markov models: an illustration with the South African nursing labour market

This article proposes a modelling framework to simulate and assess the immediate and long-term effects of policy interventions to attract and retain nurses in rural areas. Specifically, we use a Markov model to model the dynamics of movements of health care workers in a professional labour market. A model is developed to simulate the movements of South African nurses between different segments of the labour market over time. The model builds upon a series of assumptions that are stated in details, and uses predictions generated by discrete choice experiments. The results demonstrate the ability of Markov models to model the effects of human resources policy interventions in the short and long run. They highlight the effects of time on the effectiveness of some potential policy interventions, whose immediate positive effects can be eroded as different adverse effects appear. Despite its complexity, this innovative method provides a transparent and useful tool to inform the design of policies to address rural staff shortages.     

Resistance to glomerulosclerosis in B6 mice disappears after menopause

The frequency of chronic renal failure increases with age, especially in women after menopause. Glomerulosclerosis is a common cause of chronic renal failure in aging. We reported that pre-menopausal female C57BL6 (B6) mice are resistant to glomerulosclerosis, irrespective of the type of injury. However, we now show that B6 mice develop progressive glomerulosclerosis after menopause. Glomerular lesions, first recognized in 18-month-old mice, consisted of hypertrophy, vascular pole sclerosis, and mesangial cell proliferation. Diffuse but moderate mesangial sclerosis and more marked hypertrophy were present at 22 months. At 28 to 30 months the glomerulosclerosis was diffuse and increased levels of type I and type IV collagen and transforming growth factor-beta 1 mRNA were present. Urine albumin excretion was significantly increased in 30-month-old mice. Mesangial cells isolated from 28-month-old mice retained their sclerotic phenotype in vitro. Comparison of the effects of uninephrectomy (Nx) in 20-month-old and 2.5-month-old mice revealed a 1.7-fold increase in urine albumin excretion, accelerated glomerulosclerosis, and renal function insufficiency in 20-month-old Nx mice, but not in 2.5-month-old Nx mice. Glycemic levels, glucose, insulin tolerance, and blood pressure were normal at all ages. Thus, B6 mice model the increased frequency of chronic renal failure in postmenopausal women and provide a model for studying the mechanism(s) of glomerulosclerosis in aging women.