Thermal Effects in the Ablation of Bovine Cortical Bone with Pulsed Laser Sources.

Lasers have advantages as bone surgical tools over mechanical methods, but two goals should be achieved to assure its use: Similar ablation rates to those obtained with mechanical tools (1 mm/s at least) and to avoid thermal damage, a condition that can prevent proper bone healing. We present results of cow femoral bone with a 355 nm nanosecond (ns) and a 1064 nm picosecond (ps) pulsed laser sources that allow us to discuss the influence on the process of pulse duration and the selective ablation through high energy absorption (as bone highly absorbs 355 nm radiation). The treated samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Raman spectroscopy.

Daptomycin Proliposomes for Oral Delivery: Formulation, Characterization, and In Vivo Pharmacokinetics.

The aim of this study was to develop a proliposomal formulation of lipopeptide antibiotic drug daptomycin (DAP) for oral delivery. Thin film hydration was the selected method for preparation of proliposomes. Different phospholipids including soy-phosphatidylcholine (SPC), hydrogenated egg-phosphatidylcholine (HEPC), and distearoyl-phosphatidylcholine (DSPC) were evaluated in combination with cholesterol.

Dynamic rhinoplasty for the plunging nasal tip: functional unity of the inferior third of the nose.

To achieve permanent results for the correction of a drooping nasal tip, it is important to understand the mechanism responsible for the caudal rotation of the tip when a person speaks or smiles. This mechanism can be considered to depend on a "functional unity" formed by three components: (1) the cartilaginous framework (alar cartilages and accessories acting as a single structure); (2) muscular motors (m. levator labii superioris alaeque nasi and depressor septi nasi); and (3) gliding areas (apertura piriformis, the valvular mechanism between the upper lateral cartilages and alar cartilages, the lax tissue of the nasal dorsum, and the membranous septum).

New approach to the gummy smile.

The authors present a multidisciplinary approach to the gingival smile in which its three components are evaluated. These components are the dynamic component of the lip (repose versus smiling) and the two static elements of the gum and maxilla. Once an appropriate diagnosis has been made, the authors act on the gingiva for delayed passive eruption, on the maxilla for long face syndrome, and on the lip with lip-elongation techniques.