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Cycloastragenol (CA) is a plant saponin that functions as a telomerase activator, and it has been made as an oral anti-aging supplement and use as active ingredient in topical cosmetic products. The anti-aging performance in cosmetic products have only been evaluated by description of skin appearance, while direct topical penetration of CA across the skin barrier still needs to be confirmed. The objective of this work was to design encapsulation vehicles to deliver CA across the skin barrier using commercially available ingredients through scalable processes, and to prove its topical penetration. Phospholipid vesicles including liposomes, ethosomes, and transethosomes were prepared using soy and sunflower phospholipids and different penetration enhancers, including ethanol and surfactants. The loading capacity of CA was analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography, and the topical penetration of CA was evaluated using Franz diffusion cells with pig skin. Transethosomes using Tween 80, Span 40, or dicetylphosphate as the penetration enhancer showed better CA delivery across the skin barrier than ethosomes or emulsifier α-gels. Results of this work provide evidence that CA encapsulated in phospholipid vesicles can be transported across the skin barrier. These encapsulation systems could be used for the design of CA-containing anti-aging cosmetic products.

Background There is increasing awareness of the potential hazards of surgical plumes. The plume associated with laser tattoo removal remains uncharacterized. Objective To determine the gaseous, particulate, and microbiological content of the laser tattoo removal plume. Materials and methods Air sampling was performed during laser tattoo removal from pig skin and from patients. Measurement of metals, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen sulfide (HS), and ultrafine particulates (UPs) as well as bacterial 16S ribosomal DNA sequencing were performed. Results Metals were identified in the plume from both pig and human skin. Volatile organic compounds were found at similar levels within and outside the treatment room. Several bacterial phyla were detected in the treatment room, but not outside. High levels of UPs were measured throughout the treatment room during tattoo removal from pig skin. Ultrafine particulates were detected at low levels in the room periphery during tattoo removal from human skin, but at higher levels in the immediate treatment zone. HS and CO were not detected. Conclusion Metals, VOCs, HS, and CO were found at levels below applicable occupational exposure limits. The presence of bacteria is of uncertain significance, but may be hazardous. High levels of UPs require further investigation.

This study aimed to enhance the quality of broiler breast meat by adding pig skin collagen to feed. A total of 50 Ross 308 broilers were classified according to the following feeding regime for two weeks: basal diet (NC), basal diet+0.1% fish collagen (PC), basal diet+0.1% pig skin collagen (T1), basal diet+0.5% pig skin collagen (T2), and basal diet+1.0% pig skin collagen (T3). The moisture content was the highest in the PC group, and the protein content was the lowest in the T1 group (p

BACKGROUND International guidelines recommend cricothyroidotomy as a life-saving procedure for 'cannot intubate, cannot ventilate' situations. Although commercially available sets facilitate surgical cricothyroidotomy, regular training seems to be the key to success. OBJECTIVES The goal was to investigate if trained anaesthetists are able to transfer their skill in one surgical cricothyroidotomy technique to another. The primary hypothesis postulated that trained anaesthetists could perform an emergency cricothyroidotomy equally fast and successfully with a pocketknife compared with a surgical cricothyroidotomy set. DESIGN Crossover noninferiority randomised controlled trial. SETTING After written informed consent and ethics committee approval, this single-centre study was performed at the University Hospital of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. PARTICIPANTS Altogether, 61 study participants already familiar with surgical cricothyroidotomy were included. INTERVENTION The use of a commercially available cricothyroidotomy set was compared with a short-bladed pocketknife and ballpoint pen barrel. A pig-larynx cadaver model including trachea, with pig skin overlaid, was used. Participants underwent additional training sessions in both procedures. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome was the time necessary to position the tracheal tube or pen barrel in the trachea. Other outcome parameters were success rate, tracheal and laryngeal injuries and preferred device. RESULTS Cricothyroidotomy with the pocketknife was performed significantly faster and equally successfully as compared with the cricothyroidotomy sets. Tracheal and laryngeal injuries were similar in both groups. Paratracheal or submucosal placement of the pen barrel occurred in 32%, compared with 29% for the tracheal tube. Sixty-six per cent of participants preferred the cricothyroidotomy set. CONCLUSION Regularly trained anaesthetists are able to accomplish cricothyroidotomy irrespective of the equipment used. A pocketknife with a ballpoint pen barrel was just as effective as a commercially available surgical set.

Since dermatologists routinely perform surgery in an outpatient setting, ensuring that dermatology trainees are provided with opportunities to develop sufficient proficiency in excisional surgery and suture technique is paramount. The objectives of this study are to assess trainee preference for silicone-based synthetic skin compared with porcine skin as a surgical training medium and to assess the ability of trainees to successfully demonstrate basic surgical skills using the simulated skin model. Participants were a convenience sample of dermatology residents from the greater Chicago area, who were asked to perform an elliptical excision and bilayered repair on a silicone-based synthetic skin model. Residents were then surveyed regarding their satisfaction with the model. Four blinded dermatologist raters evaluated digital photographs obtained during the performance of the procedures and graded the execution of each maneuver using a surgical task checklist. Nineteen residents were enrolled. Residents were more likely to prefer pig skin to simulated skin for overall use (p = 0.040) and tissue repair (p = 0.018), but the nominal preference for tissue handling was nonsignificant (p = 0.086). There was no significant difference between satisfaction with pig skin versus synthetic skin with regard to excision experience (p = 0.82). The majority of residents (10/19) performed all surgical checklist tasks correctly. Of those residents who did not perform all steps correctly, many had difficulty obtaining adequate dermal eversion and wound approximation. Synthetic skin may be conveniently and safely utilized for hands-on surgical practice. Further refinement may be necessary to make synthetic skin comparable in feel and use to animal skin.

Objective: To 1) characterize the decay curve of infective SARS-CoV-2 over time on the surface of cardboard packaging and plastic mailer packaging; 2) characterize the transferability over time of virus-inoculated cardboard packaging and plastic mailer packaging to skin. Methods: We inoculated samples of plastic and cardboard packaging with a titer of SARS-CoV-2 > 106 TCID50/ mL to evaluate the survivability and transferability to the skin (pig skin) over time. A cell culture-based infectivity assay (TCID50) was used to determine viral titers. Regression analysis was used to characterize decay curves. Results: The time that SARS-CoV-2 remained transferable to skin was reduced on both packaging substrates compared to the total time of survivability, though cardboard demonstrated a substantially larger reduction. Virus inoculated plastic substrates continued to transfer the virus to the skin after 7 hours of holding time and regression analysis predicts this transferability would remain detectable up to 9.5 hours of holding time. Inoculated cardboard substrates demonstrated detectable transfer at 15 minutes of holding time, but no viable virus could be detected on the skin after 30 minutes of holding time. Conclusions: The type of material used as a packaging substrate substantially modifies the potential for SARS-CoV-2 fomite transmission. The use of materials that limit fomite transmission from packaging should be considered among strategies to reduce the transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Future research should investigate the generalizability of these findings for other viral pathogens that potentially transmit via fomite.

The tissue reaction of pig skin to implantation of decellularized and recellularized dermal matrices on a formed wound defect was evaluated by histological methods on days 2, 5, 8, 16, and 20 after surgery. Differences in tissue response to different matrices were identified. In experimental wounds coated with decellularized dermal matrices, we observed the formation of a scar tissue, which required autodermoplasty on day 12 of the experiment. In wounds coated with recellularized dermal matrices, all layers of the skin completely recovered by day 20 after surgery with the formation of full dermal and epidermal layers. Our findings suggest that reparative morphological changes in the wound depend on the presence of fibroblasts in the implanted dermal matrix.

Although new therapeutic approaches for burn treatment have made progress, there is still need for efficient coverage of donor fields. Promising dressing for skin graft donor site should be biocompatible, attach easily to the wound bed, remain in place until donor site has renewed, and decrease morbidity at the site. Porcine skin may be applied as a dressing for severe burns. Therefore pig skin xenografts can be used also as donor field coverage. In the Burn Treatment Centre, we used gauze soaked in Vaseline to secure donor fields. The aim of the study was to check if transgenic porcine skin is better than standard in donor site coverage used in our center. We showed that dressing reduces pain experienced by patients. The dressing leads to a reduction of hospitalization time by an average of 8 days. The dressing is as safe as the gold standard. Securing the donor field reduces the risk of colonization of the wound in the second smear after application by 60%. The disadvantage of the dressing is the inability to absorb blood; the use of hemostatic ointments in combination with the skin of transgenic pigs should be considered in the future.

BACKGROUND Ultradeformable liposomes are promising carriers for cosmeceutical actives as they can be loaded with molecules of different polarities, and they present unique penetration properties. AIMS While those features have already been tested, we wanted to know whether their special penetration properties could be maintained after incorporation in diverse cosmetic vehicles, including commercial products already in the market. METHODS Ultradeformable liposomes loaded with a lipophilic and a hydrophilic fluorescent probe were prepared by lipid film resuspension, followed by extrusion and incorporation to different vehicles and commercial products. Penetration was determined in human and pig skin by incubation, with the Saarbrucken penetration model, followed by the recovery of the probes or by fluorescence microscopy. RESULTS The incorporation of ultradeformable liposomes to cosmetic vehicles did not alter their penetration in most of the cases for human skin explants. Pig skin penetration presented significant differences compared with human explants. CONCLUSIONS Ultradeformable liposomes could be useful as versatile cosmeceutical carriers in final product formulations.

Sharp force trauma is routinely encountered in forensic practice. Often the question is posed, how much pressure or energy would have been necessary to inflict a cut with a specific knife, in order to further characterize the perpetrator or determine his intent to cause harm. This paper investigates two knife blades and its individual pressures needed to cut through the epidermis and dermis. In order to examine the necessary force for cutting through the skin, we performed experiments on a piglet skin-on-gelatin phantom. Two similarly small knives-a paring knife with a serrated blade and a Swiss Army pocket knife with a smooth blade-were moved over the phantom surface using a mobile cutting apparatus with varying weight on the load arm with the knife. The depth of the cut was to be determined according to a scale from zero to three: grade 0 = no cut; grade 1 = cut into epidermis only; grade 2 = cut into dermis; grade 3 = complete transection of the entire skin. Each cut inflicted at a specific pressure force was assessed closely in order to ascertain depth, calculate the velocity, and ultimately determine the point at which a cut would inflict grade 3 damage. The smooth blade of a pocket knife needed at least 1900g pressure in order to slice through pig skin mounted on a thick gelatin block, whereas a serrated blade of a paring knife managed to cut into or through the dermis at a comparatively lower force of 700g. Our study shows that at the same cutting velocity, a significant difference in pressure is necessary to inflict the same degree of damage.

It is important to evaluate the penetration depth and speed of cosmetics into the skin for the cosmetic industry. However, the conventional method for measuring those parameters has some drawbacks. In this study, a terahertz time-of-flight method with Si-based emitter was applied for evaluation. The penetration of the liquid into a pig skin was measured as a travelling time of the THz pulses irradiating on a pigskin, where the glycerin concentration in the liquid was varied.

Purpose : To analyze the optical and heat blocking characteristics of NIR absorbing lenses. Methods : To analyze definition, image test charts were photographed with a camera and the images were analyzed by image quality analyzing software. Visual acuity were measured on 32 subjects. To analyze heat blocking characteristics, the pig skin and eyelid were irradiated by NIR and their temperatures were measured by a digital thermometer and a thermal imaging camera. The lens surface temperature was measured after irradiating NIR on the lens, and the heat damage on the lens was analyzed. The subjective satisfaction with definition, glare, heat sensitivity and light perception was evaluated in condition wearing NIR absorbing lenses and tinted lenses. Results : There was no significant difference in definition and visual acuity between NIR absorbing lenses and tinted lenses. The temperature changes of pig skin and human eyelids when wearing NIR absorbing lenses were lower than when wearing tinted lenses. The NIR absorbing lenses irradiated by NIR showed higher surface temperature and was damaged more quickly than the tinted lenses irradiated by NIR. In the survey, the subjective satisfaction of the sharpness (p=0.040) and glare (p=0.000) caused by the NIR absorbing lenses were both higher than that of the blue lens, but there were no significant differences between the gray, brown and green tinted lenses. The subjective satisfaction of the heat sensation (p=0.040) and light quantity (p=0.000) by NIR absorbing lenses were higher than that of the tinted lenses. Conclusion : The sharpness and visual acuity of the NIR absorbing lenses and the tinted lenses were not significantly different, and the NIR absorbing lenses showed better heat blocking effect than the tinted lenses. It is considered that this study suggested the fundamental data on the heat blocking effect of the NIR absorbing lenses.

The gelling and structural properties of microbial transglutaminase (MTGase) and pectin modified fish gelatin were compared to investigate their performances on altering fish gelatin properties. Our results showed that within a certain concentration, both MTGase and pectin had positive effects on the gelation point, melting point, gel strength, textural, and swelling properties of fish gelatin. Particularly, low pectin content (0.5%, w/v) could give fish gelatin gels the highest values of gel strength, melting temperature, and hardness. Meantime, flow behavior results showed that both MTGase and pectin could increase fish gelatin viscosity without changing its fluid characteristic, but the latter gave fish gelatin higher viscosity. Both MTGase and pectin could increase the lightness of fish gelatin gels but decreases its transparency. More importantly, fluorescence and UV absorbance spectra, particle size distribution, and confocal microscopy results indicated that MTGase and pectin could change the structure of fish gelatin with the formation of large aggregates. Compared with MTGae modified fish gelatin, pectin could endow fish gelatin had similar gel strength, thermal and textural properties to pig skin gelatin.

This study analyzes wireless transmission efficiency in magnetic resonance topology. In wireless power transmission systems, the overall efficiency is limited by the power consumption of coils. To improve the efficiency of wireless power transmission systems, this study proposes a suitable design for implantable devices by studying the shapes of coils, the distance between them, and the transmission media. Results show that efficiency declines as the distance between coils increases. Good efficiency is achieved under long-distance transmission when coils with large radii are used in transmitters. At short distances, small coils achieve better efficiency than large coils. The measurement results under an emulated human body experiment show that skin thickness is the key factor in transmission efficiency. The transmission efficiency under a pig skin thickness of 9 mm is 0.799% lower than that under the air medium.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the transdermal delivery of indomethacin in vitro and in vivo enhanced by iontophoresis and/or electroporation through several barriers. Excised Wistar rat skin, pig skin, human epidermal membrane and cellulose membrane were tested for the in vitro indomethacin permeation, whereas drug concentration of in the plasma was analyzed to monitor the percutaneous absorption in Wistar rat in vivo. Iontophoresis enhanced the in vitro transdermal delivery of indomethacin as compared to the passive diffusion. Pulsing of high voltages, as known as electroporation, followed by iontophoresis did result in a synergistic effect in contrast to iontophoresis or electroporation alone. The in vitro result indicated that higher drug permeation could be induced during and after the application of iontophoresis. In some case, the permeation could benefit from the electroporation in term of cumulative amount within 12 hr. Furthermore, the combination of electroporation and iontophoresis resulted in a higher permeation amount than iontophoresis or electroporation alone did. Both iontophoresis and the combination protocol could reduce interspecies difference in vitro. The in vivo results were similar to that of in vitro ones. Iontophoresis and electroporation/iontophoresis resulted in higher AUC (area under curve) of blood concentration profiles of indomethacin. In addition, the combination protocol significantly induced higher transepidermal water loss (TEWL). It is concluded that the in vivo permeation results did correspond to the enhancement efficiency of the in vitro experiments.

Las celdas de Franz son una de las herramientas para evaluar la permeación transepitelial de compuestos mediante la realización de ensayos in vitro, estos permiten inferir el comportamiento de seguridad de un compuesto en la piel. El objetivo de esta investigación fue determinar el comportamiento de permeación del ácido benzoico a partir de complejos con polielectrolitos () en comparación con el ácido benzoico sin complejar, para inferir su comportamiento de seguridad. En una primera fase, se establecieron las condiciones de almacenamiento de la piel comparando los parámetros de difusión (flujo y constante de permeación) y pérdida de agua transepitelial, empleando piel de orejas de cerdos recién sacrificados, almacenadas en NaCl 1M a -2°C por 3 días; se trabajó bajo condiciones de dosis infinitas. Posteriormente, se realizó el ensayo de permeación de dos complejos entre ácido benzoico y Eudragit E, en comparación con el ácido benzoico, bajo condiciones de dosis finitas. La cuantificación del ácido benzoico fue realizada con un método analítico validado por HPLC-DAD. Los resultados evidenciaron que las muestras biológicas pueden almacenarse durante 72 h en las condiciones descritas. El comportamiento de permeación del ácido benzoico complejado respecto al ácido benzoico libre demostró tener un mejor perfil de seguridad, puesto que hubo una menor permeación para el primer caso. Estos resultados demuestran que la complejación del ácido benzoico podría disminuir las reacciones de sensibilidad que normalmente este presenta, basándose en la disminución de su permeación.

Current commercially fielded approaches for detection of trace materials (explosives, narcotics, low volatility chemical warfare agents and other hazardous chemicals) on surfaces require physical collection and analysis of the trace material. Although these techniques are very sensitive, they require unseen particles to be collected from the surface of the substrate being screened and be transferred to the analysis system. This collection process requires human input (and close-proximity exposure to the screened article, which could pose a safety threat), introduces a fundamental limit on the screening speed, and limits the types of surfaces that can be successfully tested for trace materials to those with good “wipe-ability”. The Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA) SILMARILS program has demonstrated the capability to detect trace explosives at levels comparable with Explosive Trace Detection (ETD) systems, and narcotics at similar levels. This paper details the algorithms and sensor advances that have enabled these results. A number of relevant experimental test campaigns are discussed including: detection of target chemicals on harvested “real world” substrates such as wood, auto tires, smooth and rough metal, plastics, vinyl, leather, various fabrics, and pig skin (comparable to human skin with respect to fat, water, and hemoglobin content); detection of traces of explosives on portable electronic devices (including after cleaning with organic solvents); and field testing at the 2019 Indianapolis 500 race, where incoming spectator vehicles were screened for explosives simulants (with blind positive controls provided by test and evaluation team rental cars).

Background The presence of Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) DNA at non-ocular sites suggests that these sites may represent plausible routes of Ct transmission in trachoma. However, qPCR cannot discriminate between DNA from viable and non-viable bacteria. Here we use a propodium monoazide based viability PCR to investigate how long Ct remains viable at non-ocular sites under laboratory-controlled conditions. Methods Cultured Ct stocks (strain A2497) were diluted to final concentrations of 1000, 100, 10 and 1 omcB copies/μL and applied to plastic, woven mat, cotton cloth and pig skin. Swabs were then systemically collected from each surface and tested for the presence Ct DNA using qPCR. If Ct DNA was recovered, Ct viability was assessed over time by spiking multiple areas of the same surface type with the same final concentrations. Swabs were collected from each surface at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 24 hours after spiking. Viability PCR was used to determine Ct viability at each timepoint. Results We were able to detect Ct DNA on all surfaces except the woven mat. Total Ct DNA remained detectable and stable over 24 hours for all concentrations applied to plastic, pig skin and cotton cloth. The amount of viable Ct decreased over time. For plastic and skin surfaces, only those where concentrations of 100 or 1000 omcB copies/μL were applied still had viable loads detectable after 24 hours. Cotton cloth showed a more rapid decrease and only those where concentrations of 1000 omcB copies/μL were applied still had viable DNA detectable after 24 hours. Conclusion Plastic, cotton cloth and skin may contribute to transmission of the Ct strains that cause trachoma, by acting as sites where reservoirs of bacteria are deposited and later collected and transferred mechanically into previously uninfected eyes., Author summary Trachoma elimination efforts are hampered by limited understanding of Ct transmission routes. We have recently demonstrated the presence of Ct DNA at non-ocular sites in individuals living in households in Ethiopia where at least one resident had an ocular Ct infection detectable by quantitative PCR (qPCR). Ct DNA was most frequently detected on faces, hands and clothing, being found in such locations in 10–16% of samples tested. However, qPCR cannot discriminate between DNA from viable and non-viable organisms, and potentially misinform our understanding of Ct transmission routes. In this study, we used a propidium monoazide based viability PCR to investigate how long Ct remains viable on non-ocular sites by spiking different surfaces including pig skin, plastic and cotton cloth. These surfaces mimic non-ocular sites previously found to be positive for Ct DNA using standard qPCR. The results of our study show that viable Ct DNA could be recovered from plastic, cotton cloth and skin surfaces for up to 24 hours suggesting that these surfaces a role in ocular Ct transmission.

The emerging fungal pathogen Candida auris causes invasive infections and is spreading in hospitals worldwide. Why this species exhibits the capacity to transfer efficiently among patients is unknown. Our findings reveal that C. auris forms high-burden biofilms in conditions mimicking sweat on the skin surface. These adherent biofilm communities persist in environmental conditions expected in the hospital setting. Using a pig skin model, we show that C. auris also forms high-burden biofilm structures on the skin surface. Identification of this mode of growth sheds light on how this recently described pathogen persists in hospital settings and spreads among patients., Emerging pathogen Candida auris causes nosocomial outbreaks of life-threatening invasive candidiasis. It is unclear how this species colonizes skin and spreads in health care facilities. Here, we analyzed C. auris growth in synthetic sweat medium designed to mimic axillary skin conditions. We show that C. auris demonstrates a high capacity for biofilm formation in this milieu, well beyond that observed for the most commonly isolated Candida sp., Candida albicans. The C. auris biofilms persist in environmental conditions expected in the hospital setting. To model C. auris skin colonization, we designed an ex vivo porcine skin model. We show that C. auris proliferates on porcine skin in multilayer biofilms. This capacity to thrive in skin niche conditions helps explain the propensity of C. auris to colonize skin, persist on medical devices, and rapidly spread in hospitals. These studies provide clinically relevant tools to further characterize this important growth modality. IMPORTANCE The emerging fungal pathogen Candida auris causes invasive infections and is spreading in hospitals worldwide. Why this species exhibits the capacity to transfer efficiently among patients is unknown. Our findings reveal that C. auris forms high-burden biofilms in conditions mimicking sweat on the skin surface. These adherent biofilm communities persist in environmental conditions expected in the hospital setting. Using a pig skin model, we show that C. auris also forms high-burden biofilm structures on the skin surface. Identification of this mode of growth sheds light on how this recently described pathogen persists in hospital settings and spreads among patients.

We present a study into bacteriostatic effects achieved by re­pasteurization at a temperature of 85–90 °C for 20 minutes in the presence of an oxygen absorber. The applied treatment method makes it possible, on day 94 of storage, to obtain the level of contamination of microorganisms, comparable to the background microbiological contamination of sausages, for the sausages produced without pasteurization.The study confirmed the effectiveness of protective barrier properties of multilayer polymeric materials manufactured by LLC Sirius Extruzhen (Ukraine) for the storage of boiled sausages for up to 26 days. We established the possibility of storing sausages for 35 days based on the obtained data on the stability of microbiological indicators and compliance with the requirements to organoleptic indicators.The study presented ways to achieve the shelf life of cooked sausages twice longer than the typical, recommended for sausages with re­pasteurization. We obtained the results for sausages exposed to re­pasteurization at a temperature of 85–90 °C for 15–20 minutes. We packaged the examined samples at the thermoforming lines “Multivac” (Germany) and “Webomatic” (Germany). We performed the pasteurization of products at the “Fessman” (Germany) universal heat chamber.We confirmed the possibility of combination of protein stabilizers and animal proteins based on pig skin, dairy products, and spices in the formulations of samples of pasteurized sausages made from beef, pork, poultry meat, in particular, poultry meat of mechanical boning. In the study, we established that the grade of boiled sausages does not produce a significant effect on the shelf life of sausages when applying re­pasteurization together with an oxygen absorber

Half a million patients in the USA alone require treatment for burns annually. Following an extensive burn, it may not be possible to provide sufficient autografts in a single setting. Pig skin xenografts may provide temporary coverage. However, preformed xenoreactive antibodies in the human recipient activate complement, and thus result in rapid rejection of the graft. Because burn patients usually have some degree of immune dysfunction and are therefore at increased risk of infection, immunosuppressive therapy is undesirable. Genetic engineering of the pig has increased the survival of pig heart, kidney, islet, and corneal grafts in immunosuppressed non-human primates from minutes to months or occasionally years. We summarize the current status of research into skin xenotransplantation for burns, with special emphasis on developments in genetic engineering of pigs to protect the graft from immunological injury. A genetically-engineered pig skin graft now survives as long as an allograft and, importantly, rejection of a skin xenograft is not detrimental to a subsequent allograft. Nevertheless, currently, systemic immunosuppressive therapy would still be required to inhibit a cellular response, and so we discuss what further genetic manipulations could be carried out to inhibit the cellular response.

Collagen is a major component of white connective tissue (white connective tissue) that covers nearly 30% of total protein in vertebrate organs and invertebrates. Collagen is a large molecular protein, a major component of the skin. More than 71% of skin protein is collagen. One source of collagen that can be used and not yet utilized is the shells of shells and shells of clam green. The use of collagen derived from animals that live in the air can be a promising alternative, given the usual commercial collagen of cowhide, pig skin, or chicken skin.The population in this study is the shell of blood clams (Anadaragranosa) and the shells of clam green (Mytilusvaridis) taken from the fish auction site in Bandengan, Kendal. Samples will be treated differently to the concentration of acetic acid dancer fluid and the extraction time which will affect the yield of collagen produced.The research design used was pre experiment. Only one case design/case study is treated/ intervened. The study was analyzed comparatively ie the effectiveness of acetic acid and the immersion time in yield of collagen yield from the shells and shells of clam greens. Data is processed and analyzed using spss with t-test.There is no difference in average levels of collagen shells of clams of blood and shells of green shells. The acetic acid treatment of 0,75 M resulted in the highest yield of 2,03% for the shells of clams and 1,96% for the shells of green shells. Treatment of 2 days extraction time yields the highest yield of 1,74% for the shells of clam and 1,85% for the shells of green shells.

Gelatin is a type of protein that is extracted from collagen of skin, bone, or ligament (animal connective tissue) tissue. Cow bone, cowhide and pig skin are the materials commonly used to obtain gelatin. The purpose of this research was to determine the difference of NaOH concentration as soaking agent on gelatin making from skin of chicken leg (Gallus gallus domesticus) for 72 hours of soaking. Fresh skin of chicken leg weighing 250 g were immersed in NaOH solution with concentrations of 1%, 1.5%, and 3% for 72 hours, then extracted using n-hexane solution: alcohols in a ratio of 1: 3 and dried to obtain gelatin. The resulting gelatin is then analyzed for physicochemical characteristics such as sensory, yield, pH test, and water content test. The results of this study, mentioned that the concentration of 1% NaOH solution produces gelatin under average of yield of 6 g, neutral pH and water content of 11%. The concentration of 1.5% NaOH solution produces gelatin under average of yield 8 g, pH 7 and water content of 13%. The concentration of 3%NaOH solution produces gelatin under average of yield 4.144 g, pH 7 and water content of 7.11%. Based on the result, it can be concluded that a good solution of NaOH to get high yield under a concentration of 1.5% solution. The gelatin obtained under 1.5% solution in accordance with the standard gelatin. The characteristics of standard gelatin are colorless to yellow, odorless, tasteless, pH 7 (neutral), and moisture content below 16%.

Hypertrophic scarring is a major postoperative complication which leads to severe disfigurement and dysfunction in patients and usually requires multiple surgical revisions due to its high recurrence rates. Excessive‐mechanical‐loading across wounds is an important initiator of hypertrophic scarring formation. In this study, we demonstrate that intradermal administration of a single extracellular matrix (ECM) molecule—fibromodulin (FMOD) protein—can significantly reduce scar size, increase tensile strength, and improve dermal collagen architecture organization in the normal and even excessive‐mechanical‐loading red Duroc pig wound models. Since pig skin is recognized by the Food and Drug Administration as the closest animal equivalent to human skin, and because red Duroc pigs show scarring that closely resembles human proliferative scarring and hypertrophic scarring, FMOD‐based technologies hold high translational potential and applicability to human patients suffering from scarring—especially hypertrophic scarring.

Purpose The purpose of these experiments was to compare 2 commercially available skin protectants with different chemical compositions. Design Two materially different skin protectants were applied to ex vivo pig skin, subjected to stresses, and the resulting skin was observed and analyzed. Methods Using ex vivo pig skin, we sought to better understand the physical differences between a cyanoacrylate-based and a mixed cyanoacrylate/acrylic polymer-based skin protectant. A combination of imaging techniques and microscopic analyses was used to observe and quantify differences in layer thickness and the degree of steadfastness of the layers to liquid stresses. Results The experiments revealed that the solely cyanoacrylate-based protectant created a layer that was, on average, 5.1 times thicker than the mixed polymer product (p= 1.8 × 10). Observation via electron microscopy also revealed that the extent of coverage varied between the 2 products. In a final experiment, we observed that the mixed polymer product maintained a high degree of adhesiveness, which led to the removal of sheets of epithelium upon gentle blotting. Conclusions The experiments revealed that while the 2 skin protectants share a common ingredient, both the quantity of that ingredient and the inclusion of other materials in one of them lead to substantially different properties when tested in the research setting.

Handling of pigs under hot weather conditions face a critical challenge in meeting thermal comfort and animal welfare standards. Moreover, climate variation affects production and pre-slaughter logistics. This study assesses the thermal comfort of pigs during pre-slaughter procedures under different weather conditions. The case study was conducted at two commercial pig farms in Southeastern Brazil. The bioclimatic index more accurately indicated the pigs' thermal comfort than the temperature-humidity index. The length of the transportation journey critically affected the pigs' thermal comfort, as shown by the rise in pigs' skin temperature (1.56 °C and 1.64 °C on pigs from Farm 2 and Farm 1, respectively). The pigs reached the critical upper limit of the thermoneutral zone under hot weather conditions. Adequate microclimate control during the pre-slaughter management procedures might improve pig welfare. To increase the animals' thermal comfort, both farms should reschedule their transportation to a cooler time of the day. Both farms should also improve their pre-slaughter management processes by training workers to comply with animal welfare requirements and reduce loss. El manejo de los cerdos en condiciones de clima cálido enfrenta el desafío crítico de cumplir con los estándares del confort térmico y bienestar animal. También considerando los efectos de la variación climática en la producción y la logística pre-sacrificio. Este estudio evalúa el confort térmico de los cerdos durante el procedimiento pre-sacrificio en diferentes condiciones climáticas. El análisis de caso se llevó a cabo en dos granjas de cerdos comerciales ubicadas en la Región Sudeste de Brasil. Los resultados del confort térmico de los cerdos fueron más precisos con el uso del índice bioclimático que con el índice temperatura-humedad. La duración del viaje de transporte afectó críticamente el confort térmico de los cerdos, como lo demuestra el aumento de la temperatura de la piel de los cerdos (1,56 °C y 1,64 °C de los cerdos de Granja 2 y Granja 1, respectivamente). Los cerdos han alcanzado el límite superior de la zona de temperatura en condiciones de clima cálido. De esta forma, un control microclimático adecuado durante la gestión de los procedimientos pre-sacrificio puede mejorar el bienestar de los cerdos. Para mejorar el confort térmico de los animales, ambas granjas deben reprogramar las operaciones de transporte para las horas más frescas del día. Las granjas también deben mejorar los procesos de gestión pre-sacrificio a través de la capacitación de los empleados para cumplir con los requisitos de bienestar animal y reducir las pérdidas. O manejo de suínos sob condições de clima quente enfrenta o crítico desafio de atender o conforto térmico e os padrões de bem-estar animal. Considerando ainda, os efeitos da variação climática na produção e na logística pré-abate. Este estudo avalia o conforto térmico dos suínos durante os procedimento pré-abate sob as diferentes condições climáticas. O estudo de caso foi conduzido em duas fazendas comerciais de suínos localizadas na região Sudeste do Brasil. Os resultados do conforto térmico dos suínos foram mais precisos com a utilização do índice bioclimático do que com o índice de temperatura-umidade. A duração da viagem de transporte afetou criticamente o conforto térmico dos suínos, conforme demostrado pelo aumento da temperatura da pele dos suínos (1,56 °C e 1,64 °C dos suínos da Fazenda 2 e Fazenda 1, respectivamente). Os suínos alcançaram o limite superior da zona de temperatura em condições de clima quente. Dessa forma, o controle adequado do microclima durante o gerenciamento dos procedimentos pré-abate pode melhorar o bem-estar dos suínos. Para melhorar o conforto térmicos dos animais, ambas as fazendas devem reprogramar as operações de transporte para horários mais frescos do dia. Ambas as fazendas devem também melhorar os processos de gestão pré-abate por meio de treinamentos dos funcionários para cumprir os requisitos de bem-estar animal e reduzir as perdas.

Nicotine is widely used in pharmaceutical industries, especially for smoking cessation in the form of transdermal patches. Nicotine gel in the patches has limitations from nicotine instability and high volatility. Thus, a nicotine preservation technique is needed. In this study, a nicotine encapsulation process using methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MβCD) is investigated and compared with β-cyclodextrin (βCD) to evaluate the preservation and skin permeation of nicotine. The M06-2X/6-31G(d,p) density functional theory calculations indicate a 1:1 host–guest molar ratio for the inclusion complex of nicotine with βCD and MβCD, which have been validated by experimental studies. The encapsulation efficiencies of βCD and MβCD to encapsulate nicotine are 59.96% and 63.76%, respectively. The preservation study of the inclusion complexes compared to pure nicotine shows a stability improvement of nicotine after being encapsulated. After 21 days, the percentages of the nicotine/βCD and nicotine/MβCD inclusion complexes that remain are 89.32% and 76.22%, while only 65.56% of pure nicotine remains. Besides the one-hour skin permeation tests, the amounts of nicotine permeated through pig skin from the nicotine/βCD and nicotine/MβCD inclusion complex gels are 14 and 10 times as much as the pure nicotine gel, respectively. Therefore, the encapsulation of nicotine with βCD and MβCD can be used to enhance the stability and skin permeation application of nicotine-containing products.

(1) Background: Skin is a difficult barrier to overcome, especially for molecules with masses greater than 500 Da. It has been suggested that albumin may contribute to more effective penetration of many therapeutic substances. In this study, an attempt was made to use albumin in semi-solid formulations to increase the skin penetration of another peptide—corticotropin (ACTH). (2) Methods: Hydrogels were prepared at two concentrations: 15 mg/g and 20 mg/g corticotropin, then albumin was added to them in different stoichiometric ratios. The degree of ACTH release from hydrogels, both with and without albumin addition, was investigated. For selected hydrogels the process of corticotropin permeation through a model membrane, i.e., pig skin, was examined. (3) Results: The study of corticotropin release showed that the addition of albumin, depending on its amount, may delay or increase the release process. Similarly, a study of ACTH permeation through porcine skin showed that albumin can delay or increase and accelerate ACTH permeation. (4) Conclusions: Hydrogel, applicated on the skin surface, may prove to be a beneficial and convenient solution for patients. It is an innovative way of application ACTH that bypasses the gastrointestinal tract and may result in increased availability of the peptide and its efficacy.

The aim of this study was to determine optimal conditions for in vitro skin decontamination using water and detergents as decontamination agents and to test the cleansing efficiency of selected detergents. Experiments were performed using a peristaltic pump for showering of pig skin in modified static diffusion cells. Several conditions were tested including different flow rates (from 5 to 33 ml s−1), quantity of rinsing fluid (from 40 to 400 ml) and concentration of detergents (2; 5; 10%). Further, several types of detergents/commercial decontamination agents were evaluated under the selected conditions to find the most effective means of decontamination. The amount of paraoxon removed from the skin surface following wet-type decontamination was detected in the rinsing fluid spectrophotometrically after hydrolysis of paraoxon – a model contaminant. The efficacy of rinsing by water/Spolapon AES 253 increased with flow rate up to 25 ml s−1 and a rinsing volume of 200 ml. Lutensol AT 25 achieved max...

The functionality and structural properties of pig skin hydrolysates with different degrees of hydrolysis (DH, 10% and 20%) and microfluidisation (120MPa), prepared by pepsin and Alcalase® have been investigated in this study. Extensive hydrolysis can significantly improve the absolute value of the zeta potential and surface hydrophobicity. The particle distribution of hydrolysates decreased with increasing DH. The numbers of free sulfhydryl (SH) and disulfide bonds (SS) were significantly increased with increasing DH (p

Facial mask is a kind of skin care cosmetics, in which fluorescent whitening agents(FWAs) were added to make face skin look whiter and brighter. In this work, pig skin was used instead of human skin to test the methods. Three methods, including pig skin migration fluorescent spectrophotometry(FS), fiber paper migration FS, and fiber paper migration visual colourimetry(VC), were developed for determining the migration amount of FWAs from facial mask to pig skin. In the methods, a self-assembly light source and fluorescence collecting unit was used. The unit can be easily moved and the measurement was very convenient. Some experimental conditions were optimized. The fiber paper migration VC can give semi-quantitative results and was the simplest one in the three methods because collection, separation and detection of the fluorescence were not needed. Both the pig skin migration FS and fiber paper migration FS can give quantitative results and compared with fiber paper migration FS, the pig skin migration FS could give more practical results by simulating the real way of using facial mask. The limits of detection for disodium 4,4′-bis[(4-anilino-6-hydroxyethylamion-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)amion]stilbene-2,2′-disulphonate(VBL) obtained by pig skin migration FS and fiber paper migration FS were 0.03 and 0.05 mg/m2, respectively. 96 kinds of samples were analyzed and the migration amounts of FWAs in 21 kinds of samples were detectable. Correlations between migration amounts obtained by the three methods were very good. Experimental results indicate that the present methods can be applied to the determination of migration amount of FWAs in facial masks.

Vesicular phospholipid gels (VPGs) are depot formulations for the sustained release of drugs which are characterized by a high amount of phospholipids in the formulation. They consist of physiological excipients only and therefore display high biocompatibility. Their manufacture is simple, cheap, solvent free, and ideal for the processing of proteins and peptides because of the low stress on the molecule, for example, by elevated temperatures. One major hurdle of VPGs is their high viscosity which makes them hard to almost impossible to inject with conventional, thin needles used for subcutaneous administration. However, so far no data are published to overcome this administration challenge. In the present study, needle-free injection was investigated and successfully applied as a technology for the easy and elegant administration of VPGs. VPGs with different phospholipid content were injected with a Biojector 2000 into gelatin blocks and full thickness pig skin postmortem as in vitro models and the injection depth was determined after injection. The release behavior was tested after shearing the VPG with the device to evaluate the effect of shearing on the drug release from the formulation. No differences were observed when compared to an ejection with needle and syringe.

Ablative fractional laser (AFXL) is an emerging method that enhances topical drug delivery. Penetrating the skin in microscopic, vertical channels, termed microscopic treatment zones (MTZs), the fractional technique circumvents the skin barrier and allows increased uptake of topically applied drugs. This study aims to elucidate the impact of vehicle type on the filling of MTZs from application of liquid, gel, and cream vehicles. Ex vivo pig skin was exposed to 10,600 nm fractional CO2 laser at 5% density, 120 μm beam diameter, and fluences of 40 and 80 mJ/microbeam (mJ/mb). Six repetitions were performed for each of six interventions (2 fluences and 3 vehicle types, n = 36). MTZ dimensions and filling by vehicle type were evaluated by optical coherence tomography, using blue tissue dye as a contrast-enhancing agent. Outcome measure was degree of MTZ filling assessed as percentages of empty, partially filled, and completely filled MTZs (108–127 MTZs/intervention analyzed) and evaluated statistically using Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn’s tests. MTZs reached mid-dermal levels of 225 μm (40 mJ/mb) and 375 μm (80 mJ/mb) penetration depths (p 0.05) of MTZs completely versus 55% for cream formulation. Thus, filling was overall greater for more superficial MTZs. In conclusion, vehicle type affects filling of MTZs, which may be of importance for AFXL-assisted drug delivery.

Dispersions in transcutol/isopropyl myristate make C60 fullerene molecules suitable for transdermal delivery. We found that C60 can successfully permeate the skin using pig skin in Franz diffusion cells. Molecular dynamics simulations and transmission electron microscopy confirmed these observations. Basic cosmetic formulations with transcutol/ isopropyl myristate without harsh organic solvents show a high potential for delivery of C60 for biopharmaceutical and cosmetics applications., This study was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UID/BIO/04469/2013 unit and COMPETE 2020 (POCI01-0145-FEDER-006684).). Artur Ribeiro thanks FCT for the SFRH\BPD\98388\2013 grant., info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

An important property of sunscreens is their water resistance after the application on human skin. In this work, the hypothesis that UV absorber molecules which are able to form liposomes, so-called liposomogenic UV absorbers, show better water resistance on a pig skin model than UV-absorbing molecules lacking this ability was tested. The assumption behind is that molecules which can form liposomes are able to integrate into the stratum corneum lipids of the skin. Three different liposomogenic UV absorbers were synthesized and their behavior investigated, leading to the confirmation of the hypothesis. With one of the liposomogenic UV absorbers, it was possible to show the integration of the UV absorber molecules into the bilayers of another liposome consisting of phosphatidylcholine, supporting the assumption that liposomogenic UV absorbers exhibit improved water resistance because they integrate into the skin lipids.

Partition (K) and diffusion (D) coefficients are important to measure for the modelling of skin penetration of chemicals through the stratum corneum (SC). We compared the feasibility of three protocols for the testing of 50 chemicals in our main studies, using three cosmetics-relevant model chemicals with a wide range of logP values. Protocol 1: SC concentration-depth profile using tape-stripping (measures KSC/v and DSC/HSC2, where HSC is the SC thickness); Protocol 2A: incubation of isolated SC with chemical (direct measurement of KSC/v only) and Protocol 2B: diffusion through isolated SC mounted on a Franz cell (measures KSC/v and DSC/HSC2, and is based on Fick's laws). KSC/v values for caffeine and resorcinol using Protocol 1 and 2B were within 30% of each other, values using Protocol 2A were ~two-fold higher, and all values were within 10-fold of each other. Only indirect determination of KSC/v by Protocol 2B was different from the direct measurement of KSC/v by Protocol 2A and Protocol 1 for 7-EC. The variability of KSC/v for all three chemicals using Protocol 2B was higher compared to Protocol 1 and 2A. DSC/HSC2 values for the three chemicals were of the same order of magnitude using all three protocols. Additionally, using Protocol 1, there was very little difference between parameters measured in pig and human SC. In conclusion, KSC/v, and DSC values were comparable using different methods. Pig skin might be a good surrogate for human skin for the three chemicals tested. Copyright © 2017 The Authors Journal of Applied Toxicology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Minimally invasive delivery of peptide and protein molecules represents a significant opportunity for product differentiation and value creation versus standard injectable routes of administration. One such technology utilizes microneedle (MN) patches and it has made considerable clinical advances in systemic delivery of potent macromolecules and vaccines. A sub-class of this technology has focused on preparation of solid dense MN arrays followed by precision formulation coating on the tips of the MN. The objective of this study was to develop a drug product using the MN technology that has similar bioperformance when compared to subcutaneous route of delivery and can provide improved stability under storage. Therapeutic peptide (Peptide A, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA) is being developed as a subcutaneous injection for chronic dosing with a submilligram estimated therapeutic dose. Peptide A has chemical and physical stability challenges in solution and this led to exploration of a viable drug product which could provide therapeutic dosages while overcoming the stability issues seen with the compound. This work focused on developing a coated solid microstructure transdermal system (sMTS) for Peptide A followed by detailed in vitro and preclinical evaluation for two different coating formulations. Based on initial assessment, ~250 μg of Peptide A could be coated with precision on a 1.27cm2 patch which contained 316 MN’s. The delivery from these systems was achieved with absolute bioavailability being similar to the subcutaneous delivery (88% and 74% for coated sMTS 1 & 2 and 75% for subcutaneous delivery). Stability of Peptide A was also found to be significantly improved when coated on the sMTS system with minimal degradation recorded at room temperature storage as compared to the subcutaneous liquid formulation. Additionally, skin irritation (on pig skin) was also measured in this study and it was found to be minimal and self-resolving. This evaluation provided a viable option for developing a drug product with improved stability and successful delivery of the investigated molecule.

Many skin diseases are defined by the presence of neutrophils, which are among the first cells to respond to infection and inflammation. Currently, neutrophil identification in the skin is costly and slow. The objectives of the present work are to investigate the feasibility of detecting the presence of neutrophils in live skin microsamples using chemiluminescence and develop a device and procedures that will enable preclinical and clinical investigations. Our approach consists of collecting skin microsamples and exposing them to reagents that activate neutrophils and amplify the light emission produced by chemiluminescence. Experiments using live pig skin with and without inflammation show that it is feasible to detect the presence of neutrophils in the skin. The proposed method is minimally invasive, simple, fast, and does not require user specialization. The developed system is compact in size with a small footprint, which makes it portable and suitable for point-of-care diagnostics.

Introduction Allogeneic and xenogeneic skin are recognized as the best coverings for skin burn wounds, but currently face a supply shortage. To solve this problem, our research group developed a standardized manufactured hydrogel dressing based on a new type of highly bioactive recombinant human collagen. Study design Prospective self-controlled trial. Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of recombinant human collagen hydrogel in the treatment of partial burn wounds to the skin compared to those of xenogeneic skin. Methods This study included twenty-one patients admitted to Shanghai Changhai Hospital within 48 h after receiving partial-thickness skin burns. The wounds were symmetrically separated along the axis and treated with recombinant human collagen hydrogel (RHCH) or a human-CTLA4-Ig gene-transferred pig skin xenotransplant. The condition of the wound surfaces was recorded on days 0 (of enrollment), 5, 10, 15, and 20, and bacterial drug sensitivity testing, hematuria examination, and electrocardiographic tests were conducted on days 0, 10, 20, or on the day of wound healing. Results There were no statistically significant differences in wound healing time between the two groups. The median number of days to healing was 11.00 ± 0.56 for xenogeneic skin vs. 11.00 ± 1.72 for RHCH. Conclusion During the observation period, the therapeutic effect of the RHCH developed by our group on partial-thickness burn wounds was not significantly different from that of gene-transferred xenogeneic skin. Thus, our designed RHCH shows potential for clinical use to treat burn wounds on the skin.

Background Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a promising imaging modality for skin cancer diagnosis. However, this capability has been hindered by the low contrast between normal and neoplastic tissue. To overcome this limitation, gold nanoparticles have been used to enhance the contrast in OCT images and are topically administered to reduce the risk of systematic side effects associated with intravenous injection. To ensure efficient penetration and distribution of the nanoparticles, an enhanced delivery strategy is required. In this porcine study, we assessed two delivery methods: (a) using dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and (b) via sonophoresis. Materials and methods The gold nanoparticles were topically applied on pig skin before evaluating DMSO and sonophoresis as penetration enhancers in topical administration. The OCT images were taken from the same locations to monitor signal change. Conclusion The combination of DMSO and sonophoresis is an effective method to enhance the penetration and diffusion rate of nanoparticles during topical administration. Significance Topical administration of nanoparticles is advantageous in dermatological applications. Nevertheless, efficient topical delivery remains a challenge. DMSO and sonophoresis can be used as two effective approaches to enhance topical delivery of nanoparticles.

Two versions of an electrically powered device (Rotorinser) to sample carcasses or other surfaces in situ for microbiological analysis and several different sampling protocols were evaluated against excision plus stomaching for ability to remove bacteria from pig skin and beef carcass tissue. Both devices sampled circular areas of approximately 14 cm 2 . Ten tissue samples were used for each set of conditions. Rotorinser bacterial removal efficiency was calculated as R/(R + S), where R is the Rotorinser count (CFU cm -2 ) and S is the count on stomached, excised tissue after rotorinsing. Stomacher efficiencies were calculated as S1/(S1 + S2), where Sl is the first stomacher count of excised tissue and S2 is the count from a second stomaching. Both Rotorinsers were much better than traditional swabs. Rotorinser I gave removal efficiencies of 0.79 to 0.88 for beef, and 0.79 to 0.95 for pork. Prewetting surfaces for 5 min improved removal, but mixtures of enzymes did not. Rotorinser 2 applied with NaCI or NaCI-Tween 80 diluent for either 30 or 60 s was significantly better (0.93 and 0.98) than the stomacher (0.86) at removing aerobic mesophilic bacteria from pork skin. The Rotorinser causes negligible tissue damage and can be used on surfaces at any angle.

Crossbows are ancient distance weapons, which in modern times have been largely replaced by guns. Nowadays, they are used for target shooting and in some countries also for hunting. Bolts/arrows fired from a crossbow have a rather low initial velocity but a high penetration capacity comparable to bullets shot from firearms. A considerable number of homicidal, suicidal, and accidental crossbow injuries have been reported up to the present day both under clinical and medicolegal aspects. A recent suicide case gave rise to a systematic study of entrance wounds from field-tipped arrows with shafts made of carbon. Composite models (ballistic gelatin covered with pig skin) served as targets. As found in the suicide case presented, the roundish entrance wounds were characterized by a slit-like severance of the skin surrounded by a pronounced blackish ring resembling the bullet wipe in gunshots. The material deposited circularly on the margins was subjected to the sodium rhodizonate test, SEM/EDX analysis, histological examination, and Raman spectroscopy. As expected, the elements typical of gunshot residues could not be detected. The element pattern of the black deposits was consistent with that of the arrows' tips and carbon shafts. Histological examination revealed that the carbonaceous material was deposited on the abraded wound margins suggesting a mechanism of friction causing the transfer of material. In conclusion, the presence of a black-margined roundish skin wound does not necessarily mean a bullet wipe. The casuistic part of the paper deals with a suicidal shot to the chest in a 48-year-old man, inflicted with a field-tipped carbon arrow which perforated both the heart and the thoracic aorta. In addition, a review of the literature on fatal crossbow injuries is presented.

The purpose of this work has been to determine differences in biomechanical properties of porcine skin from organic and non-organic farming as porcine skin is widely used as a model for human skin. A test apparatus was used, using gravity to stretch and finally tear a dumbbell-shaped specimen of prepared abdominal skin with a testing surface area of 25 × 4 mm. A total of 32 specimens were taken from seven individual pigs, three from organic and four from non-organic farming, in different orientations with respect to the Langer’s lines. The tests were performed at a dynamic speed of around 1.66 m/s (corresponding to a nominal strain rate of 67 s−1). Engineering strain at rupture was higher in pig skin from non-organic farming with values up to 321% as opposed to 90% in organic pig skin. The maximum tensile stress found in non-organic pig skin was lower than in pig skin from organic farming with maximum values of 34 MPa as opposed to 58 MPa. The reason for the difference in biomechanical properties is unclear; the effect of sunlight is discussed as well as other factors like age and exercise. It seems that the biomechanical properties of porcine skin from organic farming are more similar to those of human skin.

Electroencephalogram (EEG) systems commonly used in laboratory environments are rapidly moving towards real-world applications. In this paradigm shift, new methods for recording and classifying EEG signals are necessary. However, it is challenging to validate the efficacy of new electrodes or other data acquisition components when the target signal cannot be controlled. Here, we propose and validate a method for using an attenuated tACS unit to generate a ground-truth signal in conjunction with porcine skin to determine electrode effectiveness. We highlight the utility of this approach by objectively comparing the signal quality of a chirp signal though porcine skin as measured by four different EEG electrodes, three "dry" and a standard hydrogel. We believe a similar approach could be used with transdermal signals on live humans to observe effects of motion, electrode type, or environment on EEG in order to improve design for use in noisy, non-laboratory settings.

Gelatin is one of the most widely used food ingredients. Its applications in food industries are very broad including enhancing the elasticity, consistency and stability of food products. Gelatin is also used as a stabilizer, particularly in dairy products and as a fat substitute that can be used to reduce the energy content of food without negative effects on the taste. Besides the food industry, gelatin is also useful in medicine, pharmaceutical and photographic industries. Gelatin is a valuable protein derived from animal byproducts obtained through partial hydrolysis of collagen originated from cartilages, bones, tendons and skins of animals. It is a translucent brittle solid substance, colourless or slightly yellow, nearly tasteless and odourless. Most commercial gelatin is currently sourced from beef bone, hide, pigskin and, more recently, pig bone. It was reported that 41% of the gelatin produced in the world is sourced from pig skin, 28.5% from bovine hides and 29.5% from bovine bones. This paper reviews the potential of plant-based products as halal substitutes for gelatin.

Liquid nanovehicles are gaining interest in drug delivery because of the high solubilization capacity of bioactives at their interface and enhanced permeation of compounds across physiological membranes. However, the dermal application of liquid nanovehicles is still limited. The goal of this research is to develop a dermal delivery system based on embedding of liquid nanovehicles into polymeric films, which will allow controlled release of the nanodroplets with the solubilized drug. In this study, we describe the incorporation of empty and curcumin-loaded nanodomains into polymeric film. The novel technology results in formation of homogeneous, transparent and elastic films with high (up to 85 wt%) loading capacity of nanodomains. The fundamental structural characterizations show that nanodomain structures embedded in the dry film are spontaneously reformed during the dermal application with similar droplets size of 10 nm. Ex-vivo release studies were performed on Franz diffusion cells and demonstrated a significant permeation of curcumin through the pig skin. This novel film technology can serve as a "solid platform reservoir" for liquid nanovehicles which enables controlled release of nanodroplets with solubilized bioactive.