Carlos Gabriel Arias

https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cnso_alumni/1158/thumbnail.jp

Technology Transfer: From the Research Bench to Commercialization

Summary: Progress in medicine hinges on the successful translation of basic science discoveries into new medical devices, diagnostics, and therapeutics. âTechnology transferâ is the process by which new innovations flow from the basic research bench to commercial entities and then to public use. In academic institutions, intellectual property rights do not usually fall automatically to the individual inventor per se, but most often are the property of the institution. Technology transfer offices are tasked with seeing to it that such intellectual property rights are properly managed and commercialized. This 2-part series explores the technology transfer process from invention to commercialization. Part 1 reviews basic aspects of intellectual property rights, primarily patents and copyrights. Part 2 will discuss the ways in which inventions become commercialized through startup companies and licensing arrangements with industry players. Key Words: copyright, intellectual property, patent, technology transfe

Total Hip Arthroplasty, via Direct Anterior Approach, With Contralateral Proximal Femur Amputation

Lower limb amputation has been well characterized in the literature to cause resultant osteoarthritis in the hip of the contralateral limb. This further amplifies the already significant physical disability and morbidity that come with lower limb amputation. The use of total hip arthroplasty (THA) in patients with lower limb amputations is rare, with available literature subsequently also limited. In this case report, we describe a 52-year-old female with a right proximal femur (subtrochanteric) amputation who underwent left THA due to osteoarthritis. To our knowledge, this is the first published report describing THA, via direct anterior approach, in a patient with contralateral proximal femur (subtrochanteric) amputation. We discuss the complex surgical considerations for this patient population, selection of approach, prosthesis, and postoperative outcomes

A Novel Technique of Total Scrotal Resurfacing with NovoSorb Biodegradable Temporizing Matrix for Testicular Preservation

Summary:. The reconstruction choice of scrotal defects after Fournier gangrene has been routinely based on the reconstructive ladder. Defects are usually managed with either skin-grafting or regional flaps to achieve testicular coverage. However, skin grafting done directly to testes may lead to chronic pain issues, and skin flaps can potentially be too thick to achieve good temperature control for spermatogenesis. We present the first reported case of total scrotal resurfacing after Fournier gangrene in a 48-year-old patient with NovoSorb Biodegradable Temporizing Matrix. The patient showed a good cosmetic outcome with no residual pain issues. Further research is recommended to further investigate the long-term effects of scrotal reconstruction with Biodegradable Temporizing Matrix

Revisiting Triple Antibiotic Irrigation of Breast Implant Pockets: A Placebo-controlled Single Practice Cohort Study

Background: Capsular contracture is the most common complication following primary augmentation mammoplasty. It remains poorly understood but is attributed to subclinical infection, immunologic response to breast implants, and chronic inflammatory changes caused by the presence of the implants. The infectious theory of contracture has lead to the practice of irrigating implant pockets with a triple antibiotic solution. The purpose of this study was to determine if antibiotic irrigation reduced the incidence and severity of capsular contracture compared with saline irrigation. Methods: A cohort study enrolling all patients having undergone primary augmentation mammoplasty performed by surgeon A and surgeon B between 2011 and 2012 for all women satisfying inclusion and exclusion criteria was conducted. The only difference in surgical technique was the use of antibiotic irrigation by surgeon B. A chi-square test and analysis of variance with predetermined 95% confidence intervals were performed. Results: Fifty-five patients were operated on. Twenty-eight of surgeon A’s patients were included, ranging in age from 22 to 50 with a mean follow-up time of 1.8 years. Twenty-seven of surgeon B’s patients were included, ranging in age from 22 to 56 with a mean follow-up time of 1.6 years. Rate of capsular contracture was 3.6% (surgeon A) and 3.7% (surgeon B). Chi-square statistic was found to be 0.0014 (P = 0.97) and analysis of variance F value was 1 (P = 0.39). Conclusions: Triple antibiotic breast irrigation is not associated with a significant reduction in the incidence or severity of capsular contracture compared with sterile saline when high-quality surgical technique is used

The Interplay Between Metabolites and MicroRNAs in Aqueous Humor to Coordinate Corneal Endothelium Integrity

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to clarify the interplay between metabolites and microRNAs (miRs) in the aqueous humor (AqH) of bullous keratopathy (BK) patients to retain human corneal endothelium (HCE) integrity. Design: Prospective, comparative, observational study. Participants: A total of 55 patients with BK and 31 patients with cataract (Cat) as control. Methods: A biostatic analysis of miRs and metabolites in the AqH, hierarchical clustering, and a least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso) analysis were employed. The miR levels in AqH of BK (n = 18) and Cat (n = 8) patients were determined using 3D-Gene human miR chips. Hierarchical clusters of metabolites detected by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry or gas chromatography–mass spectrometry in AqH specimens from 2 disease groups, BK (total n = 55) and Cat (total n = 31), were analyzed twice to confirm the reproducibility. The analytical procedure applied for investigating the association between metabolites and miRs in AqH was the exploratory data analysis of biostatistics to avoid any kind of prejudice. This research procedure includes a heat-map, cluster analysis, feature extraction techniques by principal component analysis, and a regression analysis method by Lasso. The cellular and released miR levels were validated using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and mitochondria membrane potential was assessed to determine the functional features of the released miRs. Main Outcome Measures: Identification of interacting metabolites and miRs in AqH attenuating HCE degeneration. Results: The metabolites that decreased in the AqH of BK patients revealed that 3-hydroxyisobutyric acid (HIB), 2-aminobutyric acid (AB) and branched-chain amino acids, and serine were categorized into the same cluster by hierarchical clustering of metabolites. The positive association of HIB with miR-34a-5p was confirmed (P = 0.018), and the Lasso analysis identified the interplay between miR-34a-5p and HIB, between miR-24-3p and AB, and between miR-34c-5p and serine (P = 0.041, 0.027, and 0.009, respectively). 3-hydroxyisobutyric acid upregulated the cellular miR-34a expression, mitochondrial membrane potential, and release of miR-184 in dedifferentiated cultured HCE cells. Conclusions: Metabolites and miRs in AqH may synchronize in ensuring the integrity of the HCE to maintain efficient dehydration from the stroma. Financial Disclosure(s): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references