Niobium pentoxide and hydroxyapatite particle loaded electrospun polycaprolactone/gelatin membranes for bone tissue engineering.

Effective methods of accelerating the bone regeneration healing process are in demand for a number of bone-related diseases and trauma. This work developed scaffolds with improved properties for bone tissue engineering by electrospinning composite polycaprolactone-gelatin-hydroxyapatite-niobium pentoxide (PGHANb) membranes. Composite membranes, with average fiber diameters ranging from 123 to 156 nm, were produced by adding hydroxyapatite (HA) and varying concentrations of niobium pentoxide (NbO) particles (0, 3, 7, and 10 wt%) to a polycaprolactone (PCL) and gelatin (GL) matrix prior to electrospinning.

Pili canaliculi as manifestation of giant axonal neuropathy.

Giant axonal neuropathy is a rare autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disease. The condition is characterized by neurons with abnormally large axons due to intracellular filament accumulation. The swollen axons affect both the peripheral and central nervous system.

Pitted keratolysis.

Pitted keratolysis is a skin disorder that affects the stratum corneum of the plantar surface and is caused by Gram-positive bacteria. A 30-year-old male presented with small punched-out lesions on the plantar surface. A superficial shaving was carried out for scanning electron microscopy.

Scanning electron microscopy of superficial white onychomycosis.

Superficial white onychomycosis is characterized by opaque, friable, whitish superficial spots on the nail plate. We examined an affected halux nail of a 20-year-old male patient with scanning electron microscopy. The mycological examination isolated Trichophyton mentagrophytes.

Scanning electron microscopy of the collodion membrane from a self-healing collodion baby.

Self-healing collodion baby is a well-established subtype of this condition. We examined a male newborn, who was covered by a collodion membrane. The shed membrane was examined with scanning electron microscopy.

Comparing different methods to fix and to dehydrate cells on alginate hydrogel scaffolds using scanning electron microscopy.

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is commonly used in the analysis of scaffolds morphology, as well as cell attachment, morphology and spreading on to the scaffolds. However, so far a specific methodology to prepare the alginate hydrogel (AH) scaffolds for SEM analysis has not been evaluated. This study compared different methods to fix/dehydrate cells in AH scaffolds for SEM analysis.

Three-dimensional aspects of superficial disseminated porokeratosis with scanning electron microscopy.

The three-dimensional findings of the surface and from a cross section from a case of disseminated superficial porokeratois using scanning electron microscopy are reported. On the surface of the skin, irregular keratin with a serpiginous distribution was seen. A gross aspect of keratin in the hyperkeratotic wall was also observed and compared to the normal area, in which the release of corneocytes seemed normal.

Comparative scanning electron microscopy of bullous diseases.

The purpose of this study is to compare scanning electron microscopy findings of the blister roof in three distinct bullous diseases: one intraepidermal acantholytic (pemphigus foliaceus); one due to hemidesmosomal dysfunction (bullous pemphigoid); and one secondary to anchoring fibril dysfunction - type VII collagen (dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa). In pemphigus foliaceus, acantholytic phenomena were readily demonstrated. In bullous pemphigoid, the epidermis had a solid aspect.

Scanning electron microscopy of tinea nigra.

Tinea nigra is a rare superficial mycosis caused by Hortaea werneckii. This infection presents as asymptomatic brown to black maculae mostly in palmo-plantar regions. We performed scanning electron microscopy of a superficial shaving of a tinea nigra lesion.

Structural, morphological, and physicochemical properties of acetylated high-, medium-, and low-amylose rice starches.

The high-, medium-, and low-amylose rice starches were isolated by the alkaline method and acetylated by using acetic anhydride for 10, 30, and 90 min of reaction. The degree of substitution (DS), the Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), the X-ray diffractograms, the thermal, morphological, and pasting properties, and the swelling power and solubility of native and acetylated starches were evaluated. The DS of the low-amylose rice starch was higher than the DS of the medium- and the high-amylose rice starches.

Characteristics of starch isolated from maize as a function of grain storage temperature.

Considering the importance of maize starch and the lack of knowledge about the effects of storage temperature on the isolated starch properties; maize grains were stored during 12 months at different temperatures (5, 15, 25 and 35 °C). The extraction yield and the physicochemical, thermal, pasting, crystallinity and morphological properties of starches were determined. The starch isolated from grains stored at 35 °C was yellowish and showed a 22.

Scanning electron microscopy of a blister roof in dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa.

In dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa the genetic defect of anchoring fibrils leads to cleavage beneath the basement membrane, with its consequent loss. We performed scanning electron microscopy of an inverted blister roof of a case of dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, confirmed by immunomapping and gene sequencing. With a magnification of 2000 times a net attached to the blister roof could be easily identified.

Scanning electron microscopy of acantholysis in pemphigus foliaceus.

We performed scanning electron microscopy of an inverted blister roof in a case of pemphigus foliaceus. The loss of intercellular adherence could be easily seen with low magnification. The acantholytic keratinocytes displayed an irregular and sometimes polygonal contour.

Scanning electron microscopy of lichen sclerosus.

Lichen sclerosus is an acquired inflammatory condition characterized by whitish fibrotic plaques, with a predilection for the genital skin. We performed scanning electron microscopy of the dermis from a lesion of lichen sclerosus. Normal collagen fibers could be easily found in deeper layers of the specimen, as well as the transition to pathologic area, which seems homogenized.

Effect of alkali and oxidative treatments on the physicochemical, pasting, thermal and morphological properties of corn starch.

Background: Few studies on starch modifications using different chemical agents are available in the literature, and no reports were found on the combined effect of oxidation and alkaline treatment of corn starch. Thus this work evaluated the physicochemical, pasting, morphological, cystallinity and thermal properties of chemically modified corn starch, after either the isolated or combined action of alkaline (sodium hydroxide) and oxidative (sodium hypochlorite) treatments.

Results: The highest values for the sum of carbonyl and carboxyl and enzymatic hydrolysis occurred in starches submitted to oxidative treatment at high active chlorine concentrations.

Clinical variability in dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa and findings with scanning electron microscopy.

In dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, the genetic defect of anchoring fibrils leads to cleavage beneath the basement membrane and its consequent loss. A 46 year-old female patient presented blisters with a pretibial distribution associated with nail dystrophy. Her two children had hyponychia and anonychia, which affected all toe nails and the thumb, forefinger and middle finger.