Repairing the Brain by SCF+G-CSF Treatment at 6 Months Postexperimental Stroke: Mechanistic Determination of the Causal Link Between Neurovascular Regeneration and Motor Functional Recovery.

Stroke, a leading cause of adult disability in the world, is a severe medical condition with limited treatment. Physical therapy, the only treatment available for stroke rehabilitation, appears to be effective within 6 months post-stroke. Here, we have mechanistically determined the efficacy of combined two hematopoietic growth factors, stem cell factor (SCF) and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF; SCF + G-CSF), in brain repair 6 months after cortical infarct induction in the transgenic mice carrying yellow fluorescent protein in Layer V pyramidal neurons (Thy1-YFP-H).

Fibrinogen Reduction and Motor Function Improvement by Hematopoietic Growth Factor Treatment in Chronic Stroke in Aged Mice: A Treatment Frequency Study.

Stroke is a serious medical condition that causes long-term neurological disability in mainly elderly adults worldwide. Lack of therapy to improve functional recovery in the chronic phase of stroke is a major challenge for stroke research. Combining two hematopoietic growth factors, stem cell factor (SCF) and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), our previous studies have demonstrated the neurovascular restorative efficacy of this treatment in the chronic phase of experimental stroke.

Bay846, a new irreversible small molecule inhibitor of EGFR and Her2, is highly effective against malignant brain tumor models.

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway is aberrantly activated in tumors and plays a key role in promoting tumor growth. Small molecule inhibitors which bind reversibly to EGFR have demonstrated limited clinical activity. Thus, there is a continued need to develop novel EGFR inhibitors with improved anti-tumor activity.

Topical treatment strategies for non-melanoma skin cancer and precursor lesions.

The ability to manage non-melanoma skin cancers and pre-malignant lesions with topical pharmacologic agents is highly compelling. This article examines currently available products and discusses their emerging roles and limitations. These include fluorouracil, diclofenac sodium, imiquimod, and photodynamic therapy.

Scar revision.

Scar improvement is an age old endeavor. Multiple modalities exist for improving a scar's appearance. This article will review scar types and offer a brief overview of nonsurgical and surgical options for scar revision.

The preoperative patient evaluation: preparing for surgery.

In the preoperative patient evaluation, no strict algorithm can be followed because of the diversity of patients and treatment options available. Cosmetic surgery, skin cancer treatment, and skin resurfacing procedures, for example, all differ in preoperative evaluations, patient expectations, and follow-up. Previously discussed guidelines, however, are basic to the preoperative patient evaluation, and are designed to eliminate risk.

A longitudinal study of somesthetic perceptual disorders in an individual with a unilateral thalamic lesion.

Several aspects of tactile, thermal and pain perception were evaluated in an individual (R.S.) with a hemorrhagic lesion centered in her left lateral thalamus.

Spatial summation of perceived pressure, sharpness and mechanically evoked cutaneous pain.

Psychophysically, spatial summation can be demonstrated as a decrease in threshold accompanying an increased field of stimulation. The present study examined to what extent different mechanically evoked percepts (pressure, sharpness, and pain) show spatial summation. Various probes were used to apply prescribed forces to the dorsal surface of the digits of 19 healthy subjects.

Mechanical response properties of nociceptors innervating feline hairy skin.

1. The responses of feline cutaneous nociceptors were examined in vivo by systematically manipulating the intensive and spatial dimensions of mechanical stimulation. A computer-controlled motor was used to apply prescribed forces (5-90 g) to a nociceptor's receptive field, with flat-tipped, cylindrical probes of various sizes (contact areas: 0.

Somatotopic localization of thermal stimuli: I. A comparison of within- versus across-dermatomal separation of innocuous thermal stimuli.

Fourteen healthy subjects (4 males, 10 females) were asked to localize a thermal stimulus applied to the left distal forearm. Two temperature-controlled probes (1,2-cm2 area each) were strapped to the forearm, separated by 8 cm. The probes were positioned in one of three ways: (1) longitudinally within the C6 dermatome, (2) longitudinally within the C8 dermatomes, and (3) transversely with one probe within the C6 and one probe within the C8 dermatome.

Thresholds for the perception of pressure, sharpness, and mechanically evoked cutaneous pain: effects of laterality and repeated testing.

Twenty-four healthy human subjects provided thresholds for their perception of pressure, sharpness, and pain. Mechanical forces were applied to the dorsal surface of the digits with flat-tipped probes of various sizes. Thresholds (expressed as force) increased with increasing probe size, as previously described.

Body site variation of cool perception thresholds, with observations on paradoxical heat.

Thresholds for the perception of coolness and heat pain were determined in sessions that randomly intermixed temperature increases and decreases. Four body sites were tested bilaterally: thenar eminence of the hand, plantar surface of the foot, dorsolateral forearm, and lateral calf. Coolness thresholds were lowest for the hand, intermediate for the forearm, and highest for the leg and foot.

Body site variation of heat pain sensitivity.

Thirty-two healthy human subjects provided thresholds for the perception of slight and moderate heat pain. Four body sites were tested bilaterally: thenar eminence of the hand, plantar surface of the foot, dorsolateral forearm, and lateral calf. Thresholds for the glabrous skin of the hand and foot were significantly greater than thresholds for the hairy skin of the arm and leg, the average difference being 1.

Unilateral erythromelanosis follicularis faciei et colli in a young girl.

Erythromelanosis follicularis faciei et colli is uncommon. Fewer than 20 cases have been reported. Except for one case in a woman and one case of unilateral distribution, all other reported cases have been bilateral in young male patients.

Current issues in the performance of Mohs micrographic surgery.

Recently, a survey was sent to all members of the American College of Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology concerning their performance of Mohs micrographic surgery. Responses to numerous questions regarding the daily practice of this technique revealed that many useful modifications have evolved over the years that serve to enhance the efficacy and the efficiency of the original Mohs surgical procedure. The results of this survey are presented and discussed.

Muir-Torre syndrome associated with alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency and cutaneous vasculitis. Report of a case with exacerbation of a cutaneous neoplasm during immunosuppressive therapy.

We describe a patient with both Muir-Torre syndrome and alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency. A keratoacanthoma developed after immunosuppressive therapy for necrotizing vasculitis. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of Muir-Torre syndrome associated with alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency.

Stimulus features relevant to the perception of sharpness and mechanically evoked cutaneous pain.

Mechanical probes of various sizes and shapes were used to determine thresholds for the perception of pressure, sharpness, and pain on the human finger. As force increased, perception changed from dull pressure to sharp pressure to sharp pain. With the smallest probe (0.