PURPOSE: We examined the cost-effectiveness of dextranomer/hyaluronic acid copolymer injection in patients who would otherwise undergo ureteral reimplantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A model for managing vesicoureteral reflux has previously been created. We now update the model to compare the costs of treating vesicoureteral reflux using standard methods (ie ureteral reimplantation ...

OBJECTIVES: Expression of CD44 (a cell surface receptor for hyaluronic acid) and the distribution of hyaluronic acid were examined in the human vocal fold mucosa. METHODS: Light microscopic investigation was carried out on 10 normal larynges of newborn, infant, younger adult, and older adults with Alcian blue staining, a hyaluronidase ...

Hyaluronic acids (HAs) are the most versatile fillers on the market. Since their approval in Canada in 1998 and the United States in 2003, applications for facial contouring have been varied, with predictable and outstanding results. Numerous publications support their safety, durability, longevity, and application to reconstructive and cosmetic procedures ...

Clinical and experimental studies have demonstrated that restrictive adhesions and poor digital motion are common complications after extrasynovial tendon grafting in an intrasynovial environment. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that surface modification of an extrasynovial tendon with use of a carbodiimide-derivatized hyaluronic acid-gelatin polymer (cd-HA) ...

BACKGROUND: Pyrazinamide is a paradoxical frontline tuberculosis drug characterized by high sterilizing in vivo activity but poor in vitro activity. Pyrazinamide is thought to act by the entrapment of pyrazinoic acid in the bacterial cell, leading to acidification and membrane damage. Consequently, the effects of weak acids and molecules affecting ...

A novel sustained release formulation of erythropoietin (EPO) was developed using hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogels. For the preparation of HA hydrogels, adipic acid dihydrazide grafted HA (HA-ADH) was synthesized and analyzed with (1)H NMR. The degree of HA-ADH modification was about 69%. EPO was in situ encapsulated into HA-ADH hydrogels ...

PURPOSE: Levels of uronate, a basic component of urothelial glycosaminoglycans, are increased in urine specimens of patients with interstitial cystitis with severe symptoms. In this study we examined the urinary glycosaminoglycan profile and correlated the profile and urinary hyaluronic acid (a glycosaminoglycan) levels with symptom severity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Urine ...

An efficient method to synthesize hyaluronan oligosaccharide lipid conjugates is described. This strategy is based on the introduction of a double bond in the glucuronic acid of the hyaluronic acid (HA), by the biodegradation of HA with hyaluronate lyase, followed by the generation of a free aldehyde group at the ...

Nonsurgical procedures have become very popular for the rejuvenation of the aging face. Trends now are for less invasive procedures as well as for more preventative intervention to slow the damage from ultraviolet light and environmental factors, as well as from intrinsic aging. The goal of these procedures is to ...

We describe the development of an optical sensing system for the high-throughput screening (HTS) of a broad range of biological molecules, whole cells, organisms and pathogens, and illustrate the technology applications by a hyaluronidase enzyme activity assay as a specific example. At the core of the technology described in this ...

Facial aging results from reduced biosynthetic activity of dermal fibroblasts and decreased deposition of extracellular matrix components, such as hyaluronic acid, a glycosaminoglycan responsible for skin hydration and turgidity. Exogenous hyaluronic acid injections provide a safe though short-term solution for facial rejuvenation. Using a rabbit model, the authors investigated residence ...

The ability and mechanisms of stabilization of freeze-dried formulations of pancreatic kininogenase (PKase) by carbohydrates were evaluated. Activity and structure of PKase were examined after freeze-drying and rehydration in presence with or without a carbohydrate. Addition of trehalose, lactose, sucrose, hyaluronic acid (HA) or a combination of trehalose and HA ...

Soft tissue augmentation has become a cornerstone of facial rejuvenation. The bovine collagens were historically considered the "gold standard" as they had an extensive safety history and were effective. However, because of their brief duration and the approximate 1.0% to 3.0% incidence of hypersensitivity, alternatives were sought. A new class ...

Topical treatment with 3% diclofenac in 2.5% hyaluronic acid (Solaraze) has been extensively documented for the treatment of actinic keratoses (AK). Since sun protection is a vital part of AK management, two Phase IV studies were carried out to investigate the phototoxicity and photosensitisation potential of 3% diclofenac in 2.5% ...

In this study, osteoarthritic and periprosthetic synovial fluid samples were rheologically and biochemically compared to develop a hyaluronic acid (HA) supplemented bovine serum (BS) lubricant that mimicked the properties of human joint synovial fluid. The effect of this BS + HA lubricant (50 per cent bovine calf serum + 1.5 ...

BACKGROUND: Adhesion between the tendon and tendon sheath after flexor tendon graft inhibits restoration of excursion and strength of the grafted tendons, so post-operative finger function is occasionally unsatisfactory. Early setting rehabilitation is one important factor to prevent the adhesion, and another factor may be a lubricant. We considered the ...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The current concepts of sperm biochemical markers and the central role of the HspA2 chaperone protein, a measure of sperm cellular maturity and fertilizing potential, are reviewed. RECENT FINDINGS: Because HspA2 is a component of the synaptonemal complex, low HspA2 levels and increased frequency of chromosomal aneuploidies ...

The effect of triterpenes and flavonoids on the activity of several hyaluronic acid-splitting enzymes was investigated. Studies showed that the inhibitory effect of the triterpenes glycyrrhizin and glycyrrhetinic acid is dependent on the source of hyaluronate lyase. Hyaluronate lyase from Streptococcus agalactiae (Hyal B) and recombinant hyaluronate lyase from Streptococcus ...

Although hyaluronic acids are a relatively new treatment for facial lines and wrinkles, they have provided numerous advances in the area of cosmetic surgery. This article discusses the inherent properties of hyaluronic acid fillers that make them ideal for treatment of facial lines. It encompasses a review of the current ...

Analytical and computer simulation studies have shown that the acoustic impedance of the vocal tract as well as the viscoelastic properties of vocal fold tissues are critical for determining the dynamics and the energy transfer mechanism of vocal fold oscillation. In the present study, a linear, small-amplitude oscillation theory was ...

The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery recently reported that there were nearly 12 million cosmetic procedures (2.1 million surgical and 9.7 million nonsurgical) performed in the United States in 2004. Almost 900,000 of the nonsurgical procedures were soft-tissue augmentation procedures using hyaluronic acid fillers. Restylane (Medicis Aesthetics, Inc., Scottsdale, ...

The use of injectable bulking agents into the submucosal layer of the pediatric urinary tract continues to grow. Treatment strategies for vesicoureteral reflux and urinary incontinence have changed with the introduction of dextranomer/hyaluronic acid as a minimally invasive option. Socially and medically debilitating conditions requiring major surgical reconstruction and hospitalization ...

OBJECTIVES: This study examines the elastic fiber and hyaluronic acid (HA) content of the midmembranous vocal fold laminae propriae (LPs) of humans, dogs, pigs, and ferrets. METHODS: Lamina propria elastin was quantified by measuring the amino acid desmosine, and HA was measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay-based technique. Quantitative histology ...

The effects of hyaluronic acid, which comprises the cumulus intercellular matrix, on Ca(2+) influx, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, and cyclic AMP synthesis in canine sperm during capacitation was investigated. Ejaculated sperm were collected from 10 Beagle dogs and the sperm were incubated for 4 hr in Eagle's MEM containing 10 ...

There is little information about the inhibitory effects of hyaluronic acid with paclitaxel on tumor metastasis and ascites formation. The aim of present study is to determine whether the combined administration of hyaluronic acid (HA) with paclitaxel can produce additional or synergistic therapeutic effects in the control of Lewis lung ...

The relationships between structure, disintegration and antituberculotic in vitro activity were studied for over 200 derivatives of isonicotinic acid hydrazide (isoniazid, INH). Conclusive evidence reflects that many compounds do not withstand the in vitro conditions. A pH dependant partial hydrolysis to INH occurs in the case of hydrazones, in analogy ...

INTRODUCTION: Hyaluronic acid (hyaluronan) is a key component of the extracellular matrix and is known to be involved in several mechanisms of the wound healing process. It has been shown to improve and accelerate the healing process of chronic wounds. This open-label study investigated whether application of hyaluronic acid could ...

Mycobacterium genus includes over 100 species and subspecies; new species are discovered every year. Minimal standard criteria are represented by the resistance to acid-alcohol (e.g. in the Ziehl - Neelsen staining), the presence of some mycolic acids containing 60-90 carbon atoms that can be cleaved by pyrolysis in fatty acids ...

For people requiring large volumes to shape facial contours, add volume to a sunken midface, or correct asymmetry, the options today are limited. Fat injections for adding volume, solid implants for cheeks and chin enhancement, face lift and injectable permanent or semi-permanent products are some of the alternatives used. With ...

The diffusion of toxins from the site of a bite into the circulation is essential for successful envenomation. Degradation of hyaluronic acid in the extracellular matrix (ECM) by venom hyaluronidase is a key factor in this diffusion. Hyaluronidase not only increases the potency of other toxins but also damages the ...

Therapeutic lubricant injections of hyaluronic acid are a relatively recent treatment for osteoarthritis. Their efficacy, however, in vivo has been subject to much debate. Frictional properties of cartilage-cartilage contacts under both static and dynamic loading conditions have been investigated, using healthy cartilage and cartilage with a physically disrupted surface, with ...

Hyaluronic acid (hyaluronan, HA) has many medical applications as a biomaterial. To enhance its biostability, a novel hydrogel of cross-linked hyaluronic acid was prepared using a double cross-linking process, which involves building cross-linkages between hydroxyl group pairs and carboxyl group pairs. The present study explored a number of cross-linking processes ...

BACKGROUND: There is limited data on comparing stains in the detection of microsporidia in corneal biopsies. Hence we wanted to evaluate various stains for their ability to detect microsporidia in corneal tissue sections. METHODS: Four cases diagnosed with microsporidiosis on Hematoxylin and Eosin and Periodic Acid Schiff's stained sections of ...

A hyaluronic acid (HA)-producing strain, Streptococcus zooepidemicus NJUST01, can grow in a serum-free agar medium, with starch as exclusive carbon source, but not glucose, sucrose, dextrine, xylose, or lactose. In this starch medium, the strain NJUST01 reproduced successively at 37 degrees C for 60 generations, with no obvious variation on ...

Observation of acid fast C. cavetanensis oocysts were proved in a sputum sample of a 45 years-old male HIV negative patient who was admitted to Chest Hospital due to loss of weight, cough with expectoration of purulent sputum and dyspnea. The radiological picture suggested active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). Sputum samples ...

BACKGROUND: Cross-linked hyaluronic acid gels may offer longer-lasting cosmetic correction and a lower risk of immunogenicity than other soft tissue augmentation agents. OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of a non-animal-stabilized hyaluronic acid gel (Restylane Perlane, Q-Med, Uppsala, Sweden) with that of a hylan B gel (Hylaform, Genzyme Corp., ...

BACKGROUND: Hyaluronic acid-derived injectible fillers are ideal to reduce the appearance of nasolabial folding because their effect is relatively long-lasting, the material is malleable and easy to use, and there is a very low incidence of allergic reaction. OBJECTIVE: To compare the tolerability and efficacy of two commercially available hyaluronic ...

BACKGROUND: The size and configuration of the peroneal tubercle has been implicated in the pathogenesis of peroneal tendon tears and tenosynovitis. The purpose of this study was to determine the size and prevalence of the peroneal tubercle and devise a classification scheme according to the structure of the tubercle. METHODS: ...

Rhodococcus equi is one of the most important causes of pneumonia in foals and has emerged as a significant opportunistic pathogen of immunosuppressed hosts such as human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients. Virulent R. equi harbouring an 85 kb plasmid, but not the avirulent form lacking the plasmid, has the ability to ...

Hyaluronic acid (HA), is a polyanionic polysaccharide that consists of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and beta-glucoronic acid. It is most frequently referred to as hyaluronan because it exists in vivo as a polyanion and not in the protonated acid form. HA is distributed widely in vertebrates and presents as a component of the ...

BACKGROUND: A hyaluronic acid-based nasal pack has been shown previously to have a beneficial effect on mucosal healing in a healthy sheep model. However, endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) usually is performed in the presence of infection and inflammation. The aim of this study was to examine the efficacy of hyaluronic ...

Hyaluronidase (HAase), a class of enzymes which degrade hyaluronic acid (HA), are involved in the spread of infections/toxins, ovum fertilization, and cancer progression. Thus, HAase inhibitors may have use in disease treatments. We evaluated 21 HAase inhibitors against HYAL-1, testicular, honeybee, and Streptomyces HAases. Among these inhibitors, polymers of poly ...

In the present study, we investigated glial cell organization in the olfactory system of adult and tadpole Xenopus laevis using glial fibrillary acidic protein and vimentin antibodies. Our results showed for the first time that glial fibrillary acidic protein was strongly expressed at the level of the olfactory nerve from ...

This report describes an outbreak of avian mycobacteriosis in a flock of 100 two-yr-old pigeons. Over a 6-mo period, the sick pigeons showed cachexia followed by death. In Columbiformes classic tubercles rarely develop, but in these affected pigeons granulomatous nodular lesions of various sizes, containing numerous acid-fast bacilli, were found ...

A 45-year-old man received an injection of Restylane (cross-linked hyaluronic acid) to a mid-forehead furrow line in an attempt to reduce its prominence. The injection was uncomplicated and successful in reducing the line. Five months after the injection, he returned with an inflammatory reaction in the area of injection that ...

An improved microscopic slide preparation for staining of tissue-isolated and in vitro amyloid fibrils is described in detail. Specimens were prepared by slow drying of an amyloid fibril suspension on aminoalkyl-silanised glass slides underneath a coverglass. The purpose of this method is to obtain microscopically visible fibers. Polarization microscopy was ...

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of hyaluronic acid supplementation on chondrocyte metabolism in vitro. The clinical benefits of intra-articular hyaluronic acid injections are thought to occur through improved joint lubrication. Recent findings have shown that exogenous hyaluronic acid is incorporated into articular cartilage where it ...

BACKGROUND: In the past, reactions or misplacement of soft tissue fillers has been fraught with anxiety because time has been the main thrust for improvement in spite of ancillary treatments. Hyaluronidase is an enzyme that dissolves hyaluronic acid in the skin and also assists in the management of granulomatous foreign-body ...

AIM: To determine whether serum hyaluronic acid reliably predicts the severity of hepatic fibrosis in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). METHODS: We studied 79 patients with histologically confirmed NAFLD. Hyaluronic acid was measured in serum obtained at the time of liver biopsy. Severity of fibrosis was staged based ...

Tubercle bacilli may survive in unstained heat-fixed sputum smears and may be an infection risk to laboratory staff. We compared the effectiveness of 1% and 5% sodium hypochlorite, 5% phenol, 2% glutaraldehyde, and 3.7% formalin in killing Mycobacterium tuberculosis present in smears prepared from 51 sputum samples. The smears were ...