Minimally Invasive Skin Transcriptome Extraction Using a Dermal Biomarker Patch.

Introduction: Advances in the scientific understanding of the skin and characteristic genomic dermal signatures continue to develop rapidly. Nonetheless, skin diagnosis remains predicated on a subjective visual examination, frequently followed by biopsy and histology. These procedures often are not sufficiently sensitive, and in the case of many inflammatory diseases, biopsies are not justified, creating a situation where high-quality samples can be difficult to obtain.

Re-Assessing PK/PD Issues for Oral Protein and Peptide Delivery.

Due to a lack of safe and effective oral delivery strategies for most protein and peptide therapeutics, pharmaceutical drug developers have focused on parenteral routes to administer these agents. Recent advances in delivery technologies have now shown clinical validation for a few of these biopharmaceuticals following oral administration. While these initial opportunities have provided more than just a glimmer of hope within the industry, there are important aspects of oral biopharmaceutical delivery that do not completely align with pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters and pharmacodynamics (PD) outcomes that have been learned from parenteral administrations.

A Novel Fusion of IL-10 Engineered to Traffic across Intestinal Epithelium to Treat Colitis.

IL-10 is a potent anti-inflammatory cytokine capable of suppressing a number of proinflammatory signals associated with intestinal inflammatory diseases, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Clinical use of human IL-10 (hIL-10) has been limited by anemia and thrombocytopenia following systemic injection, side effects that might be eliminated by a gut-restricted distribution. We have identified a transcytosis pathway used by cholix, an exotoxin secreted by nonpandemic forms of the intestinal pathogen A nontoxic fragment of the first 386 aa of cholix was genetically fused to hIL-10 to produce recombinant AMT-101.

Architecture and design of a robotic mastication simulator for interactive load testing of dental implants and the mandible.

Statement Of Problem: Determination of interactive loading between a dental prosthesis and the host mandible is essential for implant prosthodontics and to preserve bone.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate a robotic mastication simulator to replicate the human mastication force cycle to record the required interactive loading using specifically designed force sensors.

Material And Methods: This robotic mastication simulator incorporated a Stewart parallel kinematic mechanism (PKM) controlled in the force-control loop.

Evaluating maternity care using national administrative health datasets: how are statistics affected by the quality of data on method of delivery?

Background: Information on maternity services is increasingly derived from national administrative health data. We evaluated how statistics on maternity care in England were affected by the completeness and consistency of data on "method of delivery" in a national dataset.

Methods: Singleton deliveries occurring between April 2009 and March 2010 in English NHS trusts were extracted from the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) database.

Influenza A H1N1 2009 (Swine Flu) and Pregnancy.

The Influenza A H1N1 pandemic (A H1N1) occurred between June 2009 and August 2010. Although the pandemic is now over, the virus has emerged as the predominant strain in the current seasonal influenza phase in the northern hemisphere. The A H1N1 influenza is a novel strain of the influenza A virus and is widely known as swine flu.

Risk of placenta previa in second birth after first birth cesarean section: a population-based study and meta-analysis.

Objective: To compare the risk of placenta previa at second birth among women who had a cesarean section (CS) at first birth with women who delivered vaginally.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study of 399,674 women who gave birth to a singleton first and second baby between April 2000 and February 2009 in England. Multiple logistic regression was used to adjust the estimates for maternal age, ethnicity, deprivation, placenta previa at first birth, inter-birth interval and pregnancy complications.

Maternal morbidity associated with placenta praevia among women who had elective caesarean section.

Objective: Estimates of the increased risk of maternal complications after caesarean section posed by placenta praevia differ between studies and may not reflect current practice. We assess the impact of placenta praevia on maternal complications after elective caesarean section (CS).

Study Design: We undertook a retrospective cohort study of women who had an elective CS for a singleton at term in the English National Health Service between 1 April 2000 and 28 February 2009 using routine data from the Hospital Episode Statistics database.

The timing of elective caesarean delivery between 2000 and 2009 in England.

Background: In 2004, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommended that an elective caesarean section for an uncomplicated pregnancy should not be carried out before 39 completed weeks due to increased risk of respiratory morbidity in newborns. We describe the trends and variation across 63 English NHS trusts in the timing of elective caesarean section (CS) for low-risk singleton deliveries.

Methods: We identified elective CS deliveries between 1st April 2000 and 28th February 2009 in English NHS trusts using the Hospital Episode Statistics.

Variation in rates of caesarean section among English NHS trusts after accounting for maternal and clinical risk: cross sectional study.

Objective: To determine whether the variation in unadjusted rates of caesarean section derived from routine data in NHS trusts in England can be explained by maternal characteristics and clinical risk factors.

Design: A cross sectional analysis using routinely collected hospital episode statistics was performed. A multiple logistic regression model was used to estimate the likelihood of women having a caesarean section given their maternal characteristics (age, ethnicity, parity, and socioeconomic deprivation) and clinical risk factors (previous caesarean section, breech presentation, and fetal distress).

Preventing infective complications relating to induced abortion.

Infective complications following induced abortions are still a common cause of morbidity and mortality. This review focusses on defining the strategies to improve care of women seeking an induced abortion and to reduce infective complications. We have considered the evidence for screening and cost-effectiveness for antibiotic prophylaxis.

Modulation of chondrocyte phenotype for tissue engineering by designing the biologic-polymer carrier interface.

Therapeutic strategies based on cell and tissue engineering can be advanced by developing material substrates that effectively interrogate the biological compartment, with or without the complimentary local release of growth factors. Poly(ether ester) segmented copolymers were engineered as model material systems to elucidate the interfacial molecular events that govern the function of adhered cells. Surface chemistry was modulated by varying poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) length and mole fraction with poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT), leading to differential competitive protein adsorption of fibronectin and vitronectin from serum and consequently to different cell attachment modes.

Evaluation of chondrogenesis within PEGT: PBT scaffolds with high PEG content.

Porous poly(ethylene glycol) terephthalate:poly (butylene terephthalate) (PEGT:PBT) scaffolds with high PEG molecular weight (1000 g/mole) and PEGT content (60%) were fabricated using two different processes-paraffin templating and compression molding-for cartilage engineering applications. This polymer composition has previously been shown to enable chondrocyte adhesion and maintain differentiated phenotype in 2D monolayer culture. The influence of 3D polymer scaffold processing on the formation of cartilaginous tissue was studied by seeding primary immature bovine chondrocytes within cylindrical scaffolds in mixed flask reactors for 3 days, followed by cultivation in culture plates for a total of 10 or 24 days.

Tissue engineering of bovine articular cartilage within porous poly(ether ester) copolymer scaffolds with different structures.

The potential of porous poly(ether ester) scaffolds made from poly(ethylene glycol) terephthalate: poly(butylene terephthalate) (PEGT:PBT) block copolymers produced by various methods to enable cartilaginous tissue formation in vitro was studied. Scaffolds were fabricated by two different processes: paraffin templating (PT) and compression molding (CM). To determine whether PEGT:PBT scaffolds are able to support chondrogenesis, primary bovine chondrocytes were seeded within cylindrical scaffolds under dynamic seeding conditions.

Biomaterial microarrays: rapid, microscale screening of polymer-cell interaction.

The identification of biomaterials that induce optimal gene expression patterns and allow for appropriate levels of cellular attachment is of central importance in tissue engineering and cell therapy. Herein, we describe the creation of cell-compatible, biomaterial microarrays, that allow rapid, microscale testing of biomaterial interactions with cells. As proof of principle, we simultaneously characterized over 3456 human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC)-biomaterial composite interactions, and describe preliminary studies on the utility of these arrays with a neural stem cell line (NSC), and primary articular chondrocytes.

Adhesion-mediated signal transduction in human articular chondrocytes: the influence of biomaterial chemistry and tenascin-C.

Chondrocyte 'dedifferentiation' involves the switching of the cell phenotype to one that no longer secretes extracellular matrix found in normal cartilage and occurs frequently during chondrocyte expansion in culture. It is also characterized by the differential expression of receptors and intracellular proteins that are involved in signal transduction pathways, including those associated with cell shape and actin microfilament organization. The objective of this study was to examine the modulation of chondrocyte phenotype by cultivation on polymer substrates containing poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG).

Tension free vaginal tape: a procedure for all ages.

Objective: To assess the success and complications of the tension free vaginal tape (TVT) procedure in different age groups.

Patients And Methods: This prospective long-term study of 179 consecutive cases of urodynamically confirmed urinary incontinence that had had the TVT procedure was conducted from March 1999 to December 2002 at a District General Hospital. To assess whether outcome was influenced by the patient's age, the patients were divided into three age groups: group A (30-49 years old), group B (50-69 years old) and group C (70-90 years old).

Tissue engineering of fish skin: behavior of fish cells on poly(ethylene glycol terephthalate)/poly(butylene terephthalate) copolymers in relation to the composition of the polymer substrate as an initial step in constructing a robotic/living tissue hybrid.

This study presents the development of a biosynthetic fish skin to be used on aquatic robots that can emulate fish. Smoothness of the external surface is desired in improving high propulsive efficiency and maneuvering agility of autonomous underwater vehicles such as the RoboTuna (Triantafyllou, M., and Triantafyllou, G.

Current knowledge of risks and benefits of prophylactic oophorectomy at hysterectomy for benign disease in United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland.

Objective: To estimate current practice of prophylactic oophorectomy at hysterectomy for benign disease and also define the role of the variables considered prior to making the decision of prophylactic oophorectomy among consultant obstetricians and gynaecologists in UK and Republic of Ireland.

Design: A postal questionnaire was sent to all 1536 practising consultant gynaecologists in UK and Republic of Ireland. METHODS AND MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURED: Of the 809 replies received, 21% of the respondents routinely performed prophylactic oophorectomy.