Pilomatricoma: A Case Report.

Pilomatricoma is one of the rare skin benign neoplasms arising from the matrix cells of hair follicles. We report the case of a 17-year-old female who had a swelling over the medial surface of the right ear lobule, which was determined to be an epidermal inclusion cyst by radiological and clinical examination. Over the period of eight days, it grew to 2 × 2 cm. A well-defined encapsulated lesion with thick cellular debris was found on an ultrasonography of the local region. Under local anesthesia, the patient had a cyst excision. Early detection by ultrasonography is beneficial in skin lesions to confirm if they are benign or malignant. Complete excision of the cyst is the treatment in order to limit the morbidity and lower the aggressive behavior. In this case, we came to a diagnosis after a histopathological examination, confirming it as a pilomatricoma. Due to its rarity, it is often misdiagnosed.

Case Report: Atypical visual presentation caused by a large convexity meningioma-a nerve stretching and stalk indentation effect.

Visual field defects are commonly present in patients with brain tumors, particularly due to direct compression on the optic apparatus. However, there are instances where brain tumors, despite not directly compressing the optic pathway, can still cause visual symptoms, albeit rarely reported but not uncommonly observed. These mechanisms are thought to be associated with increased intracranial pressure (IICP). We report a case of a 32-year-old man who presented with right blurred vision and was diagnosed with a right convexity meningioma. Upon reviewing his magnetic resonance images, we hypothesized that the indentation of the pituitary stalk on the optic chiasm and the stretching of the optic nerve, combined with a focal effect of IICP, could be responsible for his atypical visual field defect.

Thermodynamic and network characteristics of optimized lysine-modified kutki (Panicum sumatrense) millet starch hydrogels.

Three-dimensional polymeric network of hydrogels avoids its dissolution into the aqueous region. Hydrogels must have strong structural integrity to be used for drug/nutraceutical delivery. A three factor-three-level Box-Behnken design was used to understand the effects of starch concentration, NaCl, and pH on the textural and structural integrity of Lysine modified kutki millet starch hydrogels. Various kinetic models were fitted to the time-course measurement of shrinkage behavior of both conventionally (CDHG) and freeze-dried (FDHG) hydrogel. Increasing the swelling temperature (5-50 °C) showed values of higher molecular weight of polymer chains between neighboring crosslinks ( M c ) ¯ (g/mol) for FDHG (9539.59-56,769.72) than CDHG (1096.28-11,420.48). Similarly, mesh size (ξ) was more for FDHG (38.63-109.53 Ȧ) than CDHG (10.97-42.74 Ȧ). However, other network parameters such as polymer volume fraction ( ∅ p ) was lower for FDHG (0.229-0.146) than CDHG (0.3882-0.222). These values suggest low swelling power of CDHG compared to FDHG. Thermodynamically, FDHG took less energy to swell than CDHG. The study showed that FDHG has better properties than CDHG and could be employed in nutraceutical delivery. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-024-05953-x.

The SWELL1 Channel Promotes Ischemic Brain Damage by Mediating Neuronal Swelling and Glutamate Toxicity.

Cytotoxic neuronal swelling and glutamate excitotoxicity are two hallmarks of ischemic stroke. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are not well understood. Here, it is reported that SWELL1, the essential subunit of the volume-regulated anion channel (VRAC), plays a dual role in ischemic injury by promoting neuronal swelling and glutamate excitotoxicity. SWELL1 expression is upregulated in neurons and astrocytes after experimental stroke in mice. The neuronal SWELL1 channel is activated by intracellular hypertonicity, leading to Cl- influx-dependent cytotoxic neuronal swelling and subsequent cell death. Additionally, the SWELL1 channel in astrocytes mediates pathological glutamate release, indicated by increases in neuronal slow inward current frequency and tonic NMDAR current. Pharmacologically, targeting VRAC with a new inhibitor, an FDA-approved drug Dicumarol, attenuated cytotoxic neuronal swelling and cell death, reduced astrocytic glutamate release, and provided significant neuroprotection in mice when administered either before or after ischemia. Therefore, these findings uncover the pleiotropic effects of the SWELL1 channel in neurons and astrocytes in the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke and provide proof of concept for therapeutically targeting it in this disease.

Myopericytoma of the Right Middle Finger: A Case Report of an Uncommon Perivascular Neoplasm.

This report describes the case of a 29-year-old male who presented with painless swelling on the volar aspect of his right middle finger. The initial clinical impression was consistent with an epidermal inclusion cyst. A plain radiograph of the lesion revealed a circumscribed superficial nodular soft tissue mass confined to the dermis of the affected finger. Following surgical excision and subsequent histopathologic examination, the lesion was ultimately identified as a myopericytoma (MPC). The occurrence of MPCs in the finger is uncommon; thus, a high level of suspicion is required to consider it as one of the differential diagnoses for painless nodules in this anatomical location. Surgery serves as the primary method for treatment, and histopathologic evaluation plays a crucial role in confirming the diagnosis and ruling out malignancy.

Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis with Bilateral Optic Disc Swelling and Bilateral Sixth Nerve Palsies in the Absence of Headache: A Case Report.

Introduction: We report a case of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) that presented with bilateral optic disc swelling and diplopia in the absence of headaches. Case Presentation: A 54-year-old woman with no relevant medical history presented with a 2-week history of diplopia and no loss of visual acuity in each eye. Eye movements revealed bilateral abduction deficits, and fundoscopic examination revealed bilateral optic disc swelling. Non-contrast computed tomography of the head showed no abnormalities. Magnetic resonance venography revealed the absence of flow in the superior sagittal and left transverse sinuses as a consequence of thrombosis. The patient was diagnosed with intracranial hypertension associated with abducens nerve palsies secondary to CVST and was initiated on anticoagulant therapy. CVST can lead to stroke even in younger individuals. Conclusion: CVST should be considered in differential diagnosis when bilateral papilledema and abducens nerve palsies are present, even in the absence of headache or other neurological findings.

Effect of Carbon on Void Nucleation in Iron.

The study reports the significance of carbon presence in affecting void nucleation in Fe. Without carbon, void nucleation rates decrease gradually at high temperatures but remain significantly high and almost saturated at low temperatures. With carbon present, even at 1 atomic parts per million, void nucleation rates show a low-temperature cutoff. With higher carbon levels, the nucleation temperature window becomes narrower, the maximum nucleation rate becomes lower, and the temperature of maximum void nucleation shifts to a higher temperature. Fundamentally, this is caused by the change in effective vacancy diffusivity due to the formation of carbon-vacancy complexes. The high sensitivity of void nucleation to carbon comes from the high sensitivity of void nucleation to the vacancy arrival rate in a void. The void nucleation is calculated by first obtaining the effective vacancy diffusivity considering the carbon effect, then calculating the defect concentration and defect flux change considering both carbon effects and pre-existing dislocations, and finally calculating the void nucleation rate based on the recently corrected homogeneous void nucleation theory. The study is important not only in the fundamental understanding of impurity effects in ion/neutron irradiation but also in alloy engineering for judiciously introducing impurities to increase swelling resistance, as well as in the development of simulation and modeling methodologies applicable to other metals.

Chronic Expanding Hematoma in the Upper Extremity: A Case Report on Diagnostic and Management Challenges.

Hematomas are a common occurrence in clinical practice, often resulting from trauma or underlying bleeding disorders. They can manifest with various symptoms depending on their location and size. While hematomas are typically straightforward to diagnose and manage, specific presentations can pose diagnostic challenges. We present the case of a growing post-traumatic right upper extremity mass in a 67-year-old male on anticoagulant medication, Xarelto (rivaroxaban) 20mg, with no history of bleeding disorders. Differential diagnoses include a benign lipoma or possible soft-tissue malignancy. The mass was surgically excised and sent to pathology, which confirmed it was a hematoma and led to a diagnosis of a chronic expanding hematoma. Ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging are diagnostic modalities that can help distinguish different presentations. Despite the commonality of hematomas in clinical practice, atypical hematomas may also present unique challenges in diagnosis and management due to their varied clinical presentations and locations. This report underlines the importance of understanding hematomas' diverse etiologies, presentations, and imaging characteristics for appropriate treatment and diagnosis.

A Rare Case of Calcinosis Cutis Presenting to a Tertiary Care Hospital in Rural Maharashtra.

Calcinosis cutis is a common ailment of the skin, caused by the accumulation of calcium salts in the subcutaneous regions, though there are rare case reports from rural Maharashtra region. This condition is usually asymptomatic and might manifest as a single growth or several different-sized growths. Its clinical presentation is observed as nodules or plaques without causing injury to underlying tissues. The condition is reported to be a secondary presentation to trauma, malignancies, and connective tissue diseases and has multifactorial underlying etiologies. Recommendation for treatments including both medical and surgical procedures is contingent upon the manifestation and severity of the condition. The final decision can be based on the results obtained from diagnostic modalities like fine needle aspiration and radiological imaging. This is the case of a 35-year-old male with a swelling on his left foot for the past two years without any associated medical history. The patient was managed by surgical incision and had a good recovery.

Long-term 23-year Global Post-marketing Safety Surveillance Review of Delayed Complications with a Supportive Hyaluronic Acid Filler for Infraorbital Hollow Rejuvenation.

HARES is a supportive (high G') HA filler with a low degree of water affinity (gel swelling) and modification (<1% BDDE) that has a well-established safety and efficacy profile in the literature, especially for infraorbital hollow (IOH) rejuvenation. To further support the safety of this product, a long-term review of delayed-onset adverse events of interest (DAEIs) related to HARES was conducted using reports from a global post-marketing safety surveillance database over the past 23 years. This review demonstrated low reporting frequencies of delayed-onset nodules and inflammatory events, establishing a long-term safety profile for HARES that supports its continued use in clinical practice, especially for IOH rejuvenation.

Recovering high-quality glass fibers from end-of-life wind turbine blades through swelling-assisted low-temperature pyrolysis.

The recycling of end-of-life wind turbine blades has become a global environmental challenge driven by the rapid growth of wind power. Pyrolysis is a promising method for recovering glass fibers from these discarded blades, but traditional pyrolysis is often operated at high temperatures, which degrades the mechanical properties of recovered fibers. To address this issue, a swelling-assisted pyrolysis method was proposed to recover high-quality glass fibers from end-of-life wind turbine blades at low temperatures. The results confirmed that the decomposition of the resin matrix within the blade was significantly promoted at low temperatures in the swelling-assisted pyrolysis process, achieving a resin decomposition ratio of 76.8 % at 350 °C. This improvement was attributed to enhanced heat transfer and co-pyrolysis with acetic acid. Swelling could physically disrupt the cross-linked structure of the blade, creating a more porous and layered structure, thereby enhancing heat transfer during the pyrolysis process. Simultaneously, the co-pyrolysis with acetic acid could generate hydrogen radicals, which promoted the cracking of macromolecular oligomers into lighter products or gaseous alkanes. Consequently, the formation of pyrolysis char within the solid pyrolysis product was reduced, shortening the oxidation duration to 30 min. In comparison to traditional pyrolysis, the swelling-assisted pyrolysis process effectively suppressed the diffusion of surface defects over the recovered fibers, leading to promising improvements in their flexibility, elasticity, and mechanical properties, with tensile strength notably increased by 27.5 %. These findings provided valuable insights into recovering high-quality glass fibers from end-of-life wind turbine blades.

[Mechanism of Mailuo Shutong Pills on posterior limb muscle swelling caused by femoral fracture in rats based on network pharmacology and experimental verification].

This study aims to investigate the mechanism of Mailuo Shutong Pills(MLST) on posterior limb muscle swelling caused by femoral fracture(SCFF) through network pharmacology and animal experiments. The plasma components of MLST were analyzed by LC-MS, and the target and signal pathway of SCFF were predicted by network pharmacology and verified by molecular docking. SCFF model rats were established through animal experiments, and different doses of MLST were administered to detect the degree of limb swelling. Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining was used to observe pathological changes in muscle tissue, and interleukin-6(IL-6), interleukin-1ß(interleukin-1ß), and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) in peripheral blood were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). The expression of relevant signaling pathways was measured by Western blot. Network pharmacological results showed that MLST and SCFF had a total of 153 disease targets, and the key targets were IL-6, TNF, etc., involving mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK) signaling pathway, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(AKT) signaling pathway, etc. The binding energies of the main components and key targets were lower than-7.0 kcal·mol~(-1), indicating that the network analysis results were reliable. The results of animal experiments showed that MLST could reduce the swelling degree and pathological damage of the posterior limb muscles of SCFF rats compared with the model group. ELISA results showed that MLST could reduce the levels of IL-6, IL-1ß, and TNF-α in the serum of SCFF rats. Western blot results showed that MLST can reduce the expression of p-AKT, p-PI3K, p-NF-κB, p-p38 MAPK, and p-ERK in SCFF rats. MLST may reduce the content of inflammatory factors in serum by regulating the expression of PI3K/AKT and MAPK-related signaling pathway protein and improving posterior limb muscle SCFF in rats.

A scoping review on intraoperative and postoperative surgical castration complications in domesticated equids.

BACKGROUND: Castration is the most common surgical procedure in domesticated equids; surgical techniques used and perioperative management vary considerably. OBJECTIVES: To identify and chart the current evidence on perioperative complications associated with different methods of surgical castration in domesticated equids. STUDY DESIGN: Joanna Briggs Institute systematic scoping review. METHOD: CAB Abstracts, Medline and Embase databases were searched using terms related to equine castration complications. Two authors independently and blindly screened publications against eligibility criteria. Data on study methods, perioperative management, surgical techniques, and perioperative complications were extracted. Surgical techniques were grouped into categories depending on technique; open, closed or half-closed, and whether the parietal tunic was open or closed at the end of surgery. RESULTS: The search identified 1871 publications; 71 studies met the final inclusion criteria. The data reported 76 734 castrations, most of which were open or closed, with the vaginal tunic remaining open at the end of surgery. Twenty-five studies reported information regarding surgical techniques and perioperative management, allowing detailed charting and comparisons, of which analgesia and antimicrobial usage varied notably. Eighteen different complications were reported, with swelling or oedema being the most common. Evisceration was most commonly reported in draught breeds and Standardbreds, and the risk appeared low if the parietal tunic was closed at the end of surgery. MAIN LIMITATIONS: Grey literature and studies not available in English were not included. Existing studies varied greatly in perioperative management, surgical techniques and reporting of outcomes, making evidence consolidation problematic. CONCLUSION: A lack of consensus regarding complication definitions creates uncertainty and discrepancies between complication rates associated with different surgical techniques and perioperative management. The implementation of standardised systems for describing surgical techniques and complications is recommended for future studies. A number of studies did not follow current recommendations for perioperative analgesia and use of antimicrobials.

A case report of genital Crohn's disease with a brief review of Indian cases reported.

Crohn's disease (CD) is a type of inflammatory bowel disease, which presents with extraintestinal manifestations in some cases, skin being one of the organs involved. Vulvar and perianal involvement leads to significant morbidity and has an adverse effect on the quality of life. We report a case of genital CD affecting the vulva, perianal region, and oral cavity, due to its rarity and diagnostic difficulty.

Mechanical Characterization, Water Absorption, and Thickness Swelling of Lightweight Pineapple Leaf/Ramie Fabric-Reinforced Polypropylene Hybrid Composites.

Fiber-reinforced composites are among the recognized competing materials in various engineering applications. Ramie and pineapple leaf fibers are fascinating natural fibers due to their remarkable material properties. This research study aims to unveil the viability of hybridizing two kinds of lignocellulosic plant fiber fabrics in polymer composites. In this work, the hybrid composites were prepared with the aid of the hot compression technique. The mechanical, water-absorbing, and thickness swelling properties of ramie and pineapple leaf fiber fabric-reinforced polypropylene hybrid composites were identified. A comparison was made between non-hybrid and hybrid composites to demonstrate the hybridization effect. According to the findings, hybrid composites, particularly those containing ramie fiber as a skin layer, showed a prominent increase in mechanical strength. In comparison with non-hybrid pineapple leaf fabric-reinforced composites, the tensile, flexural, and Charpy impact strengths were enhanced by 52.10%, 18.78%, and 166.60%, respectively, when the outermost pineapple leaf fiber layers were superseded with ramie fabric. However, increasing the pineapple leaf fiber content reduced the water absorption and thickness swelling of the hybrid composites. Undeniably, these findings highlight the potential of hybrid composites to reach a balance in mechanical properties and water absorption while possessing eco-friendly characteristics.

Compressive elasticity of epoxy functionalized Chitosan-based semi-IPN cryobeads of N-alkyl methacrylate esters: Validity of the Hertzian model with experiments.

In situ forming poly(dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate-co-glycidylmethacrylate)/Chitosan, P(DMAEMA-co-GMA)/Chitosan, (PDG/CS) cryobeads based on "dropwise freezing into cryogenic liquid method" combined with "blending with polymer method" are promising for applications due to their pH-responsiveness and stability under physiological conditions. Based on classical contact mechanics, Hertzian elasticity of semi-interpenetrated network (semi-IPN) cryobeads was analyzed to examine whether there is a direct correlation between elastic properties of single particle and its macroscopic behavior. A one-step procedure has been proposed to design chitosan-interpenetrated cryobeads with a cationic nature via combination of structural properties as well as functionality of chitosan containing primary and secondary hydroxyl and amino groups. The study is focused on characterization of network formation kinetics in different shapes and how different production variables affect the elasticity/swelling performance of cross-linked system. The elastic properties of semi-IPN cryobeads were improved by both adding chitosan to copolymer PDG structure and lowering the gelation temperature to cryogelation conditions. The results obtained highlighted the importance of composition to modulate elasticity, the influence of preparation temperature and shape of cryobeads on their elasticity. Findings regarding the topography-dependent local elastic properties of chitosan-incorporated semi-IPN gels offer possibilities for modulating the behavior of chitosan-based soft materials.

A Case of Painless Elderly-Onset Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has multiple manifestations. Patients present with a variety of symptoms and varying levels of severity. Elderly-onset rheumatoid arthritis (EORA) is described as RA with onset after 60 years of age. EORA can present with different clinical and laboratory findings compared to RA in a younger patient, making awareness of the condition important. Diagnosing inflammatory arthritis can be especially challenging in an elderly population where symptoms are poorly reported and communication is often difficult. We report the case of an elderly patient whose presentation with persistent tachycardia and raised inflammatory markers led to a diagnosis of EORA. This case details an atypical presentation of EORA with convincing diagnostic features for the disease without any joint symptoms reported. Clinicians should be aware of the differences in the typical presentation of EORA versus RA, the challenges of diagnosing inflammatory arthritis in elderly, isolated patients, and the importance of early diagnosis.

Prevent lumping during hot-water rehydration of lotus rhizome powder by restricted swelling treatment.

Lotus rhizome powder (LRP) tends to lump during hot-water rehydration, adversely affecting its edible quality. By utilizing a restricted swelling treatment (ST), where LRP was swollen at a temperature slightly below its onset gelatinization temperature (To), the lumping rate could be substantially reduced from 30.95% to 6.39%. This treatment induced an ordered-disordered structural transition of LRP without compromising its granule morphology and water dispersibility. This transition led to significant increases in thermal transition temperatures and a notable delay in peak pasting time by 86.6 s. These changes effectively delayed the formation of a gelatinous skin surrounding the dry granules, allowing them sufficient time to absorb water and paste completely, thereby preventing lumping. The prevention of lumping was beneficial for obtaining desired viscoelasticity of LRP paste. Conversely, ST treatments conducted at temperatures markedly deviating from To resulted in significantly higher lumping rates, underscoring the importance of carefully controlling the ST temperature.

Enhancing Carbon Nanotube Yarns via Infiltration Filling with Polyacrylonitrile in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide.

Carbon nanotube (CNT) fibers are renowned for their exceptional axial tensile strength and modulus. However, in yarn form, they frequently encounter transverse loading in practical applications, which exposes their suboptimal mechanical attributes rooted in inadequate inter-tube interactions and yarn surface defects. Efforts to mitigate micro-slippage among CNTs have encompassed gap-filling methodologies with varied materials, yet the outcomes have fallen short of expectations. This work aimed to enhance the mechanical properties of CNT yarns via infiltration with polyacrylonitrile (PAN) under supercritical carbon dioxide (sc-CO2) conditions. PAN was strategically chosen for its capability to undergo pre-oxidation and subsequent carbonization, leading to robust graphitic reinforcement. Leveraging sc-CO2's swelling and high permeability properties, the infiltration process effectively plugged interstitial spaces, elevating the yarn's tensile strength to 277.50 MPa and Young's modulus to 5094.05 MPa. Additional enhancements were realized after pre-oxidation, conferring a dense, reinforced shell structure that augmented tensile strength by 96.93% and Young's modulus by 298.80%. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses revealed a homogeneous PAN distribution within the yarn matrix, corroborated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) evidence of C-N bonding, indicative of a successfully interlaced network. Consequently, this investigation introduces a novel strategy to tackle micro-slippage in CNT yarns, thereby achieving substantial improvements in their mechanical resilience.

Effect of Complex Well Conditions on the Swelling and Tribological Properties of High-Acrylonitrile Stator Rubber in Screw Pumps.

The effects of complex well conditions in shale oil wells on the swelling and tribological properties of high-acrylonitrile stator rubber used in screw pumps were investigated in this study. Tests were conducted considering the combined effects of immersion medium, temperature, and duration. The key parameters measured included mass change rate, volume change rate, hardness, elongation at break, tensile strength, surface micro-morphology of the rubber after thermal expansion and swelling, friction coefficient, and wear quantity. The results indicated that in the actual well fluids, the mass change rate of high-acrylonitrile rubber ranged from -1.08% to 1.29%, with a maximum volume change rate of 2.78%. In diesel oil, the greatest mass change rate of the rubber was 4.68%, and the volume change rate did not exceed ±1%, indicating superior swelling resistance. In both actual well fluids and diesel oil, the maximum decreases in hardness were 8.7% and 9.5%, respectively. Tensile strength and elongation at break decreased with increasing immersion temperature, with elongation at break in 80 °C diesel oil decreasing by over 50%, indicating a significant decline in the tensile properties of the rubber. The average friction coefficient of rubber specimens immersed in actual well fluids at three temperatures, as well as in diesel oil at 25 and 50 °C, decreased compared with the high-acrylonitrile rubber without thermal expansion and swelling. However, the average friction coefficient of rubber specimens immersed in diesel oil at 80 °C increased. The wear quantity of the rubber increased following immersion in both media. Additionally, the friction coefficient and wear quantity of the rubber increased with increasing immersion temperatures. The results of the study can offer valuable insights into assessing the durability of properties in high-acrylonitrile stator rubber under complex well conditions.