Establishment and characterization of a murine xenograft model of appendiceal mucinous adenocarcinoma

We describe the clinical, pathologic and molecular characteristics of a xenograft model of metastatic mucinous appendiceal adenocarcinoma. Tumours from patients with mucinous appendiceal neoplasms were implanted in nude mice and observed for evidence of intraperitoneal tumour growth. Morphologic and immunohistochemical features, temporal growth characteristics relative to controls, and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at multiple chromosomal alleles were assessed in a successfully engrafted tumour. Two of seventeen implanted tumours successfully engrafted and only one mucinous adenocarcinoma propagated throughout the course of the study. The successful xenograft is morphologically similar to the original tumour, produces abundant extracellular mucin and exhibits non‐invasive growth on peritoneal surfaces. The temporal growth characteristics of the xenograft tumour relative to controls reveal that tumour burden can be followed indirectly by measuring the weight or abdominal girth of engrafted animals. The cytokeratin, mucin core protein, CDX2, Ki‐67 and p53 expression patterns are identical in the xenograft and resected tumour and are consistent with the expected pattern of protein expression for mucinous adenocarcinoma of the appendix. LOH was found in 1 of 10 informative chromosomal loci (chromosome 10p23) in xenograft tumour cells. Although we were unable to engraft a low‐grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm, the engrafted adenocarcinoma will be useful for future evaluation of novel therapeutic strategies directed at mucinous appendiceal adenocarcinoma and evaluation of strategies for treating widespread, bulky, mucinous peritoneal surface neoplasms. Xenograft tumour enrichment can facilitate molecular studies of appendiceal epithelial neoplasia.     

Goldenhar Syndrome with Tessier’s 7 Cleft: Report of a Case

Goldenhar syndrome, a variant of hemifacial microsomia, is a well-known developmental anomaly of maxillofacial skeleton that is apparent at birth. The first and second branchial arch involvement during early embryonic development results in a wide spectrum of anomalies that may include macrostomia and lateral facial clefts. Though clefts of the orofacial region are among the most common congenital facial defects, the occurrence of lateral facial clefts (Tessier 7 cleft) in conditions such as the Goldenhar syndrome, is very rare (<5%). The lateral facial cleft, which results because of improper development of the perioral muscles of the face, gives an appearance of macrostomia giving rise to potential psychological, aesthetic and feeding problems. This clinical report describes the closure of a Tessier 7 cleft and the use of distraction osteogenesis to treat mandibular asymmetry in an 11-year-old female patient with Goldenhar’s syndrome.     

Cortical Tibial Bone Graft for Nasal Augmentation

Background

This study sought to determine the efficacy of cortical tibial bone graft for nasal augmentation. Nine cases of augmentation rhinoplasty with cortical tibial bone graft are presented.

Methods

This prospective study evaluated the postoperative results of nine patients who underwent augmentation rhinoplasty using cortical tibial bone graft. There were six males and three females aged between 21 and 36 years (mean age 29). All the nine cases were treated through closed rhinoplasty incisions.

Results

Nine patients were operated on and the average follow up was 18 months. The results were favorable. The aesthetic results were gratifying; with good nasal projection in every case without any significant postoperative effects or complications requiring surgery were noted during the follow up.

Conclusion

The findings of this study support the use of cortical tibial bone graft for nasal augmentation although further studies with more sample size are required.     

Dentures with phonetically contoured palate: a simple technique of adding customized rugae and palatal contours to the maxillary denture

Speech is essential to human activity, therefore phonetics must be considered with mechanics and esthetics as the cardinal factors contributing to the success of the dental prosthesis. The aim of this following procedure is to produce dentures that are mechanically functional, esthetically pleasing and permit normal speech.     

Laterally closed tunnel technique with and without adjunctive photobiomodulation therapy for the management of isolated gingival recession—a randomized controlled assessor-blinded clinical trial

Lasers in Medical Science - The objective of this prospective randomized controlled single-center clinical trial was to prove the efficacy of adjunctive photobiomodulation in improving selected...     

Mesoporous superacid catalysts for valorisation of refinery naphtha stream

In the current petroleum refining scenario, many refineries end up with surplus naphtha which is either absorbed into the gasoline pool or exported at unattractive prices. Therefore, several options for naphtha valorisation are currently being explored. The usage of Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) as a fuel in heating appliances, cooking equipment and automobiles is rapidly increasing. The high specific calorific value, high octane number, clean and efficient combustion of LPG distinguish it as an extremely promising fuel of the future. In the current work, tungstophosphoric acid (TPA) supported on four different mesoporous silica supports were investigated as mesoporous superacids for hydroconversion of refinery naphtha using n-heptane as a model feedstock. The varied levels of interactions of prepared mesoporous silica with tungstophosphoric acid catalysts were observed to have a prominent effect on the strength of the acid sites generated on silica surfaces and as a result affected heptane hydroconversion activity and selectivity of isomerized and cracked products. Interestingly, activity could be tuned towards selective cracking or isomerization-cracking by selection of a suitable topology of mesoporous silica. Hexagonal Mesoporous Silica (HMS) and plugged SBA-15 supported TPA catalysts demonstrated high n-heptane conversion activity and isomerization selectivity whereas KIT-6 and SBA-15 supported TPA catalysts demonstrated high cracking selectivity to LPG.

TPA silanol interactions in mesoporous TPA silica composites govern the strength of acid sites, activity and selectivity.