Treatment of Acne Scars with Liquid Silicone Injections: 30-Year Perspective

Background. This article addresses the use of liquid injectable silicone as both an immediate and long-lasting treatment for broad-based, depressed acne scars. The only filler substance that maintains precision and permanence in improving and/or correcting these types of acne scar defects is medical-grade liquid silicone.
Objective. We describe five patients with a history of acne scarring who showed improvements from injections of liquid silicone at the initial treatment session and lasting over a 10-, 15-, and 30-year follow-up period.
Methods. Monthly liquid silicone injections using a technique known as the microdroplet, multiple-injection approach.
Results. This article documents the safety, effectiveness, and precision of silicone in addition to highlighting the fact that its permanence is what distinguishes it from other filler materials.
Conclusion. As a precise and permanent filling substance used for soft tissue augmentation, liquid injectable silicone can improve and/or eliminate depressed, broad-based acne scars through a technique known as the microdroplet, multiple-injection approach.     

The relationship between the Stiles–Crawford effect of the first kind (SCE-I) and myopia

The Stiles-Crawford effect of the first kind (SCE-I) was measured on both emmetropic and myopic subjects at six different retinal locations. The results revealed a number of significant discrepancies in receptor alignment between the groups of different refractive errors. In myopic subjects, the receptors in the nasal retina (i.e. between the fovea and the optic nerve head) were found to be aligned nasally towards the optic nerve head, whereas the receptors in the temporal retina were aligned towards the centre of the exit pupil. In emmetropic subjects, the receptors across the retina were finely tuned towards the centre of the exit pupil. The magnitude of the receptor displacement in myopic subjects was found to be directly associated with the length of the eyeball.     

Characterization of the N-glycans of recombinant bee venom hyaluronidase (Api m 2) expressed in insect cells.

Honeybee venom hyaluronidase (Api m 2) is a major glycoprotein allergen. Previous studies have indicated that recombinant Api m 2 expressed in insect cells has enzyme activity and IgE binding comparable with that of native Api m 2. In contrast, Api m 2 expressed in Escherichia coli does not. In this study, we characterized the carbohydrate side chains of Api m 2 expressed in insect cells, and compared our data with the established carbohydrate structure of native Api m 2. We assessed both the monosaccharide and the oligosaccharide content of recombinant Api m 2 using fluorophore-assisted carbohydrate electrophoresis and HPLC. To identify the amino acid residues at which glycosylation occurs, we digested recombinant Api m 2 with endoproteinase Glu-C and identified the fragments that contained carbohydrate by specific staining. Recombinant Api m 2 expressed in insect cells contains N-acetylglucosamine, mannose, and fucose, as well as trace amounts of glucose and galactose, and the oligosaccharide analysis is consistent with heterogeneous oligosaccharide chains consisting of two to seven monosaccharides. No sialic acid or N-acetylgalactosamine were detected. These results are similar to published data for native Api m 2, although some monosaccharide components appear to be absent in the recombinant protein. Analysis of proteolytic digests indicates that of the four candidate N-glycosylation sites, carbohydrate chains are attached at asparagines 115 and 263. Recombinant Api m 2 expressed in insect cells has enzymic activity and IgE binding comparable with the native protein, and its carbohydrate composition is very similar.     

Techniques for high-resolution MR imaging of atherosclerotic plaque

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death in the United States. Investigation of atherosclerotic plaque morphology and composition is important because the findings may be useful in predicting prognosis or response to therapy. This study presents high-resolution magnetic resonance (MR) imaging techniques developed on a 1.5-T whole-body imager with a custom-built surface coil, for characterizing the composition and morphology of plaque removed at carotid endarterectomy. The initial comparison of MR imaging and histologic results showed good correlation. In conjunction with MR angiography, these techniques could be used in in vivo imaging to define the size, location, and contents of atherosclerotic plaque at the carotid bifurcation.     

Mother and father involvement in day care centers serving infants and young toddlers

This study compared the involvement of 28 mothers and their spouses in day care centers serving infants and toddlers. The sample consisted of parents who work at varying distances from the center. Parents were interviewed ten times each to determine the amount of time they spend in the center, frequency of communication with care providers, mid-day visits to the center, playing with the child, and holding the child in the center. Factor analysis reduced these variables to one parental involvement factor. Mothers were significantly more involved than fathers in the center, after statistically controlling for distance to the workplace and occupational status.