Accelerated Barrier Repair in Human Skin Explants Induced with a Plant-Derived PPAR-α Activating Complex via Cooperative Interactions.

Background: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) govern epidermal lipid synthesis and metabolism. In skin, PPAR activation has been shown to regulate genes responsible for permeability barrier homeostasis, epidermal differentiation, lipid biosynthesis, and inflammation.

Objective: Given the known dermatologic benefits of PPARs, we set out to discover a naturally derived, multi-molecule complex that would be superior to the more commonly formulated conjugated linoleic acids (CLAs).

Prospective comparison of the six-item carpal tunnel symptoms scale and portable nerve conduction testing in measuring the outcomes of treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome with steroid injection.

Background: We prospectively studied patients clinically diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and treated with the injection of corticosteroid into their carpal tunnel in order to compare changes in the six-item CTS symptoms scale and portable nerve conduction study (NCS) parameters as outcome tools. Our pilot study was the first to assess the utility of the six-item CTS symptom scale (CTS-6) with steroid injections as a patient-directed outcome measure for the treatment of CTS.

Methods: We enrolled patients who presented to our county hospital orthopedic surgery clinic from August 2012 through August 2013.

Deriving dopaminergic neurons for clinical use. A practical approach.

New small molecules that regulate the step-wise differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells into dopaminergic neurons have been identified. The steroid, guggulsterone, was found to be the most effective inducer of neural stem cells into dopaminergic neurons. These neurons are extensively characterized and shown to be functional.

Evaluation of high-strength orthopedic sutures: a head-to-head comparison.

The goal of this study was to determine whether a difference in cycles to failure or mode of failure would be observed among specimens of 3 high-strength suture materials, and whether different suture configurations would affect knot security. Ten representative specimens of Ethibond (Ethicon, Inc, Somerville, New Jersey), FiberWire (Arthrex, Inc, Naples, Florida), MaxBraid (Biomet, Inc, Warsaw, Indiana), and Orthocord (DePuy Orthopaedics, Warsaw, Indiana) were tied in 6 different knot configurations commonly used in orthopedic procedures. Each specimen was cyclically loaded between 9 and 180 N at a rate of 1 Hz until the specimen failed or reached a maximum of 3500 cycles.