Predictive factors for treatment response in active thyroid eye disease.

Introduction/objective: Active moderate-to-severe thyroid eye disease (TED) is a major therapeutic challenge. Pulse therapy with intravenous glucocorticoids is the standard treatment, with variable response. Radioactive iodine therapy (RAI) was reported as a risk factor for onset or worsening of TED.

Ethanol Extraction of Polar Lipids from for Food, Feed, and Biotechnology Applications Evaluated Using Lipidomic Approaches.

can accumulate lipids and is a good source of polar lipids, which are emerging as new value-added compounds with high commercial value for the food, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical industries. Some applications may limit the extraction solvents, such as food applications that require safe food-grade solvents, such as ethanol. However, the effect of using ethanol as an extraction solvent on the quality of the extracted polar lipidome, compared to other more traditional methods, is not yet well established.

Rhinoplasty Complications and Reoperations: Systematic Review.

 This article is related to complications of rhinoplasty and its main causes of reoperations.  The objective of this study is to perform a systematic review of literature on complications in rhinoplasty.  The authors conducted a survey of articles related to key terms in the literature by using three important databases within 11 years, between January 2002 and January 2013.

Multilayered materials based on biopolymers as drug delivery systems.

The design of efficient therapeutic delivery devices has become a tremendously active area of research with a strong contribution from the layer-by-layer (LbL) technology. The application of this simple yet firmly established technique for the design of drug reservoirs originates a multitude of multilayered systems of tailored architecture and with a high level of control of drug administration. Areas covered: This review will focus on the most recent and original research on LbL assemblies based on biopolymers including polysaccharides, polypeptides and proteins, with potential use in drug delivery.

In situ synthesis of bacterial cellulose/polycaprolactone blends for hot pressing nanocomposite films production.

A series of bacterial cellulose (BC)/polycaprolactone (PCL) nanocomposite films were successfully prepared by supplementation of the BC culture medium with variable amounts of PCL powder followed by hot-pressing of the BC/PCL mixtures obtained after incubation. PCL powder was fully incorporated into the BC network during its production and did not change the BC network morphology. The obtained films showed a homogenous distribution of PCL throughout the BC network, as well as good thermal stability (up to 200 °C) and improved mechanical properties, when compared to pristine PCL.

Antimicrobial bacterial cellulose nanocomposites prepared by in situ polymerization of 2-aminoethyl methacrylate.

Antimicrobial bacterial cellulose/poly(2-aminoethyl methacrylate) (BC/PAEM) nanocomposites were prepared by in situ radical polymerization of 2-aminoethyl methacrylate, using variable amounts of N,N-methylenebis(acrylamide) (MBA) as cross-linker. The obtained nanocomposites were characterized in terms of their structure, morphology, thermal stability, mechanical properties and antibacterial activity. The ensuing composite membranes were significantly more transparent than those of pure BC and showed improved thermal and mechanical properties.

Biocompatible bacterial cellulose-poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) nanocomposite films.

A series of bacterial cellulose-poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) nanocomposite films was prepared by in situ radical polymerization of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), using variable amounts of poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) as cross-linker. Thin films were obtained, and their physical, chemical, thermal, and mechanical properties were evaluated. The films showed improved translucency compared to BC and enhanced thermal stability and mechanical performance when compared to poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA).

Blepharoptosis.

Blepharoptosis is the downward displacement of the upper eyelid secondary to structural abnormalities (muscle or aponeurosis) or neurologic problems. It is a frequent condition and its clinical picture varies from a cosmetic discomfort to severe visual dysfunction, depending on the pathogenesis and the degree of ptosis. The diagnosis of ptosis is complex and goes beyond simple clinical examination.

[Surgical treatment of acquired restrictive strabismus in infancy: case report].

The authors describe a severe and rare case of restrictive strabismus, acquired during the first semester of life, in a previously normal baby. They discuss the possibility of inflammatory or infectious disease as the primary cause. Surgical management was challenging, after three procedures and required the cooperation of strabismus and orbit specialists and also a wide incision for orbital surgery.

[Bioceramic and polymeric bioactive composite implants in orbit zygomatic complex reconstruction: a new prospect for biomaterials].

Purpose: To evaluate through clinical and tomographic parameters implant behavior in orbital zygomatic reconstruction in six patients.

Methods: The subjects for this preliminary study consisted of six anophthalmic socket patients (3 patients presented residual orbital zygomatic deformities after complex facial fractures and 3 patients presented orbital zygomatic retraction after enucleation and radiotherapy to treat retinoblastoma in infancy). These deformities were surgically corrected with this composite implant.

Ossifying fibroma: a rare cause of orbital inflammation.

Purpose: To describe the clinical and radiologic features of 4 cases of ossifying fibroma affecting the orbit and to review the literature on orbital involvement by the tumor.

Methods: Small case series.

Results: Four patients (3 children and 1 adult) with ossifying fibromas invading the orbit were examined.

[Mitomicyn C eye drops as alternative treatment for pyogenic granuloma in anophthalmic socket].

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of mitomycin C eye drops 0.02% concentration (0.02% MMC) in pyogenic granuloma in anophthalmic socket.

[Experimental comparative study of bioactive composite with polymeric matrix for applications to oculoplastic surgery for tissue replacement].

Purpose: To compare two new biomaterials: Composite 10% (Engineering School--Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais-UFMG-Brazil) and Composite 20% (Engineering School--Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais-UFMG-Brazil), with two similar materials as control: Medpor (Porex Surgical Inc.--USA) e Polipore (Homus Com. Ind.