Precision Diagnosis Of Melanoma And Other Skin Lesions From Digital Images.

Melanoma will affect an estimated 73,000 new cases this year and result in 9,000 deaths, yet precise diagnosis remains a serious problem. Without early detection and preventative care, melanoma can quickly spread to become fatal (Stage IV 5-year survival rate is 20-10%) from a once localized skin lesion (Stage IA 5- year survival rate is 97%). There is no biomarker for melanoma in clinical use, and the current diagnostic criteria for skin lesions remains subjective and imprecise.

Injectable redox-polymerized methylcellulose hydrogels as potential soft tissue filler materials.

There is a significant clinical need for long-lasting, injectable materials for soft tissue reconstruction. Methylcellulose (MC) is an FDA-approved polysaccharide derivative of cellulose that is inexpensive, renewable, and biocompatible, and may serve as an alternative to existing synthetic and natural fillers. In this study, MC was modified with functional methacrylate groups and polymerized using a redox-initiation system to produce hydrogels with tunable properties.

Development of photocrosslinked methylcellulose hydrogels for soft tissue reconstruction.

A variety of materials have been used as fillers for soft tissue augmentation. In this study, methylcellulose (MC), a water-soluble derivative of the polysaccharide cellulose, was modified with functional methacrylate groups and photocrosslinked to produce hydrogels for potential application in plastic and reconstructive surgery. Purified macromer (5% theoretical modification, 2.

Fetal ACL fibroblasts exhibit enhanced cellular properties compared with adults.

Fetal tendons and skin heal regeneratively without scar formation. Cells isolated from these fetal tissues exhibit enhanced cellular migration and collagen production in comparison to cells from adult tissue. We determined whether fetal and adult fibroblasts isolated from the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), a tissue that does not heal regeneratively, exhibit differences in cell migration rates and collagen elaboration.

Influence of serum on adult and fetal dermal fibroblast migration, adhesion, and collagen expression.

The wound healing response to injury can be affected by many factors such as cell migration and extracellular matrix elaboration. The objective of this study was to examine the serum- and age-dependent effects on cell migration, adhesion, and collagen expression by skin fibroblasts. Dermal fibroblasts were isolated and plated with and without serum for up to 7 d.