An Overview of Three Promising Mechanical, Optical, and Biochemical Engineering Approaches to Improve Selective Photothermolysis of Refractory Port Wine Stains

During the last three decades, several laser systems, ancillary technologies, and treatment modalities have been developed for the treatment of port wine stains (PWSs). However, approximately half of the PWS patient population responds suboptimally to laser treatment. Consequently, novel treatment modalities and therapeutic techniques/strategies are required to improve PWS treatment efficacy. This overview therefore focuses on three distinct experimental approaches for the optimization of PWS laser treatment. The approaches are addressed from the perspective of mechanical engineering (the use of local hypobaric pressure to induce vasodilation in the laser-irradiated dermal microcirculation), optical engineering (laser-speckle imaging of post-treatment flow in laser-treated PWS skin), and biochemical engineering (light- and heat-activatable liposomal drug delivery systems to enhance the extent of post-irradiation vascular occlusion)

Experimental and theoretical morphologies of diuron, <i>N</i>'-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-<i>N</i>,<i>N</i>-dimethylurea

Crystals of diuron, N′-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-N,N-dimethylurea, C9H10Cl2N2O, were grown from ethanol at low supersaturation. The crystal faces were indexed using a two-circle optical goniometer and X-ray diffraction was used to orientate the crystal morphology with respect to the unit cell. The experimental morphologies were compared with the morphologies predicted by the BFDH (Bravais, Friedel, Donnay, Harker) and attachment energy (AE) methods and calculated from two crystal structures. Good agreement was obtained between experimental and theoretical habits, despite the fact that the crystals exhibit 27 faces belonging to 13 crystallographic forms.</jats:p

Multimodal Chiropractic Care of Pain and Disability for a Patient Diagnosed With Benign Joint Hypermobility Syndrome: A Case Report

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this case report is to describe multimodal chiropractic care of a female patient diagnosed with benign joint hypermobility syndrome (BJHS) and a history of chronic spine pain. CLINICAL FEATURES: A 23-year-old white female presented for chiropractic care with chronic low back pain, neck pain, and headaches. The patient was diagnosed with BJHS, including joint hypermobility of her thumbs, elbows, right knee, and lumbopelvic region. A 6-year history of low back pain and varicose veins in her posterior thighs and knees were additional significant diagnostic findings of BJHS. INTERVENTIONS AND OUTCOMES: The treatment consisted of spinal and extremity manipulation, Graston technique, and postisometric relaxation combined with sensory motor stimulation and scapular stabilization exercises. The patient was seen 15 times over an 18-week period. After 18 weeks of care, the Revised Oswestry Low Back Questionnaire and Headache Disability Index demonstrated clinically important improvements with her low back pain and headache; but little change was noted in her neck pain as measured by the Neck Disability Index. CONCLUSION: This patient with BJHS who had decreased disability and spine pain improved after a course of multimodal chiropractic care

Pulsed laser-induced thermal damage in whole blood.

An investigation of the effects of laser irradiation with a wavelength of 532 nm and pulse duration of 10 ms on whole blood was performed in vitro. Threshold radiant exposures for coagulation were quantified and transient radiometric temperatures were measured. The progression of effects with increasing radiant exposure--from evaporation to coagulation-induced light scattering to aggregated coagulum formation to ablation--is described. Results indicate that coagulation and ablation occur at temperatures significantly in excess of those assumed in previous theoretical studies. An Arrhenius rate process analysis based on hemoglobin data indicates good agreement with experimental results

Crystal structure of 3-(3-chloro-p-tolyl)-1,1-dimethylurea, C10H13CIN2O

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