Hypoparathyroidism: an update on new therapeutic approaches.

Background: Hypoparathyroidism is a rare endocrine disease characterized by insufficient parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion by the parathyroid glands, leading to hypocalcemia. In contrast to most hormone deficiencies for which hormone replacement is currently the mainstay of therapy, hypoparathyroidism has conventionally been treated with calcium supplements and active analogs of vitamin D. Although the advent of a replacement therapy with 1-34 and 1-84 PTH represented a major step in the therapeutic history of hypoparathyroidism, several new molecules and different management strategies have recently been developed.

Peer-to-Peer Support and Changes in Health and Well-being in Older Adults Over Time.

Importance: Literature on peer-to-peer (P2P) programs suggests they improve health and well-being of older adults. Analysis from a previous study showed P2P to be associated with higher rates of hospitalization and no significant differences in rates of emergency department or urgent care visits; however, it is not known whether measures of health and well-being varied by group over time.

Objective: To compare the association between receiving P2P support and secondary outcomes (ie, health status, quality of life, and depressive and anxiety symptoms) with receiving standard community services (SCS) over time.

Validity of the wall goniometer as a screening tool to detect postural abnormalities in Parkinson's disease.

Introduction: Software-based measurements of postural abnormalities in Parkinson's disease (PD) are the gold standard but may be time-consuming and not always feasible in clinical practice. Wall goniometer (WG) is an easier, quicker, and inexpensive instrument for screening patients with postural abnormalities, but no studies have investigated its validity so far. The aim of this study was to investigate the validity of the WG to measure postural abnormalities.

Unsteady computational fluid dynamics analysis of the hydrodynamic instabilities in a reversible Francis turbine used in a storage plant.

The hydraulic storage plants play a strategic role in the management of large electrical networks. Besides the widely known capability to store and provide great amount of energy, in a green and efficient way, these plants are of utmost importance to guarantee the perfect balance of the Italian electricity grid. For this reason the reversible turbomachineries, used in these plants, are subjected to a particularly intensive use which strongly affects their reliability.

The Rationale for Photobiomodulation Therapy of Vaginal Tissue for Treatment of Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause: An Analysis of Its Mechanism of Action, and Current Clinical Outcomes.

Light, particularly in the visible to far-infrared spectrum, has been applied to the female genital tract with lasers and other devices for nearly 50 years. These have included procedures on both normal and neoplastic tissues, management of condylomata, endometriosis, and menometrorrhagia, and, more recently, a number of fractional laser devices have been applied for the management of genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) and stress urinary incontinence (SUI), and to achieve so-called vaginal rejuvenation. Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) has been proposed as an alternative for use in managing GSM and SUI.

Fuels with low octane number: water injection as knock control method.

The present paper deals with the study of water effect on the combustion of fuels with low Octane Number in Internal Combustion Engines. In particular, this study was carried out using a variable volumetric compression ratio CFR fuel engine. ASTM Standards for Motor and Research methods were followed to determine fuels and fuel-water mixture Octane Number.

Flexible quantum dot light-emitting devices for targeted photomedical applications.

Quantum dot light-emitting devices (QLEDs), originally developed for displays, were recently demonstrated to be promising light sources for various photomedical applications, including photodynamic therapy cancer cell treatment and photobimodulation cell metabolism enhancement. With exceptional emission wavelength tunability and potential flexibility, QLEDs could enable wearable, targeted photomedicine with maximized absorption of different medical photosensitizers. In this paper, we report, for the first time, the in vitro study to demonstrate that QLEDs-based photodynamic therapy can effectively kill Methicillin-resistant , an antibiotic-resistant bacterium.

Optogenetic regulation of transcription.

Optogenetics has become widely recognized for its success in real-time control of brain neurons by utilizing non-mammalian photosensitive proteins to open or close membrane channels. Here we review a less well known type of optogenetic constructs that employs photosensitive proteins to transduce the signal to regulate gene transcription, and its possible use in medicine. One of the problems with existing gene therapies is that they could remain active indefinitely while not allowing regulated transgene production on demand.

Quantum dot light emitting devices for photomedical applications.

While OLEDs have struggled to find a niche lighting application that can fully take advantage of their unique form factors as thin, flexible, lightweight and uniformly large-area luminaire, photomedical researchers have been in search of low-cost, effective illumination devices with such form factors that could facilitate widespread clinical applications of photodynamic therapy (PDT) or photobiomodulation (PBM). Although existing OLEDs with either fluorescent or phosphorescent emitters cannot achieve the required high power density at the right wavelength windows for photomedicine, the recently developed ultrabright and efficient deep red quantum dot light emitting devices (QLEDs) can nicely fit into this niche. Here, we report for the first time the in-vitro study to demonstrate that this QLED-based photomedical approach could increase cell metabolism over control systems for PBM and kill cancerous cells efficiently for PDT.

Red Light Modulates Ultraviolet-Induced Gene Expression in the Epidermis of Hairless Mice.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether low-level light therapy (LLLT) was capable of modulating expression of ultraviolet (UV) light-responsive genes in vivo.

Materials And Methods: The effects of 670 nm light-emitting diode (LED) array irradiation were investigated in a hairless SHK-1 mouse epidermis model. Mice were given a single dose of UVA/UVB light, or three doses of red light (670 nm @ 8 mW/cm(2) x 312 sec, 2.

The growth of human scalp hair in females using visible red light laser and LED sources.

Background And Objectives: Low level laser (light) therapy (LLLT) has been demonstrated to promote hair growth in males. A double-blind randomized controlled trial was undertaken to define the safety and physiologic effects of LLLT on females with androgenic alopecia.

Methods: Forty-seven females (18-60 years old, Fitzpatrick I-IV, and Ludwig-Savin Baldness Scale I-2, I-3, I-4, II-1, II-2 baldness patterns) were recruited.

Preliminary assessment of photoactivated antimicrobial collagen on bioburden in a murine pressure ulcer model.

Objective And Background Data: Overcoming bacterial antibiotic resistance requires alternative strategies. The ability of photoactivated collagen-embedded flavins (PCF) to reduce bioburden in infected pressure ulcers was investigated.

Design And Methods: Two pressure ulcers were created on the dorsum of female BALB/C mice (n=40, 35 g) maintaining a 5 mm skin bridge between lesions.

The growth of human scalp hair mediated by visible red light laser and LED sources in males.

Background And Objectives: Low level laser therapy (LLLT) has been used to promote hair growth. A double-blind randomized controlled trial was undertaken to define the safety and physiologic effects of LLLT on males with androgenic alopecia.

Methods: Forty-four males (18-48 yo, Fitzpatrick I-IV, Hamilton-Norwood IIa-V) were recruited.

Trends in evolving technologies in the operating room of the future.

Technology has much to offer the surgical disciplines. However, teamwork, open communication, and a willingness to adapt and adopt new skills and processes are critical to achieving improved clinical outcomes.