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Purpose: To overcome the potential disadvantages of the use of foreign materials and autologous fat or collagen, we introduce here an autologous plasma gel for injection laryngoplasty. The purpose of this study was to present a new injection material, a plasma gel, and to discuss its clinical effectiveness., Materials and Methods: From 2 mL of blood, the platelet poor serum layer was collected and heated at 100°C for 12 min to form a plasma gel. The plasma gel was then injected into a targeted site; the safety and efficacy thereof were evaluated in 30 rats. We also conducted a phase I/II clinical study of plasma gel injection laryngoplasty in 11 unilateral vocal fold paralysis patients., Results: The plasma gel was semi-solid and an easily injectable material. Of note, plasma gel maintains the same consistency for up to 1 year in a sealed bottle. However, exposure to room air causes the plasma gel to disappear within 1 month. In our animal study, the autologous plasma gel remained in situ for 6 months in animals with minimal inflammation. Clinical study showed that vocal cord palsy was well compensated for with the plasma gel in all patients at two months after injection with no significant complications. Jitter, shimmer, maximum, maximum phonation time (MPT) and mean voice handicap index (VHI) also improved significantly after plasma gel injection. However, because the injected plasma gel was gradually absorbed, 6 patients needed another injection, while the gel remained in place in 2 patients., Conclusion: Injection laryngoplasty with autologous plasma gel may be a useful and safe treatment option for temporary vocal cord palsy.

The opioid epidemic continues to be a major public health issue that includes millions of people who inject drugs (PWID). PWID have increased incidence of serious infections, including HIV as well as metabolic and inflammatory sequelae. We sought to discern the extent of systemic alterations in humoral immunity associated with injection drug use, including alterations in the plasma proteome and its regulation of B cell responsiveness. Comprehensive plasma proteomics analysis of HIV negative/hepatitis C negative individuals with a history of recent injection heroin use was performed using mass spectrometry and ELISA. The effects of plasma from PWID and healthy controls on the in vitro proliferation and transcriptional profile of B cell responses to stimulation were determined by flow cytometry and RNA-Seq. The plasma proteome of PWID was distinct from healthy control individuals, with numerous immune-related analytes significantly altered in PWID, including complement (C3, C5, C9), immunoglobulin (IgD, IgM, kappa light chain), and other inflammatory mediators (CXCL4, LPS binding protein, C-reactive protein). The plasma of PWID suppressed the in vitro proliferation of B cells. Transcriptome analysis indicated that PWID plasma treatment increased B cell receptor and CD40 signaling and shifted B cell differentiation from plasma cell-like toward germinal center B cell-like transcriptional profiles. These results indicate that the systemic inflammatory milieu is substantially altered in PWID and may impact their B cell responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effects of fat-soluble vitamin injection on plasma and tissue vitamin status in nursery pigs. Methods A total of 16 pigs (initial body weight: 7.15±1.1 kg) were allotted to 2 treatments at d 7 post-weaning. Pigs were fed a corn-soybean meal-based basal diet with no supplemental vitamin A and i.m. injected with 300,000 IU of retinyl palmitate, 900 IU of d-α-tocopherol and 30,000 IU of vitamin D3 with control pigs having no vitamin injection. Blood (d 0, 3, 7, and 14 post-injection) and tissue samples (liver, brain, heart, lung, and muscle; d 7 and 14 post-injection) were collected from pigs. Retinyl palmitate, retinol, and α-tocopherol concentrations were analyzed in plasma and tissues, while plasma was assayed for 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-OHD3). Results Plasma retinol and 25-OHD3 concentrations increased by the vitamin injection from d 3 to 14 post-injection (p

The article presents the results of experimental studies of a glow discharge with a hollow cathode in helium and argon gases using an auxiliary discharge as an electron emitter. The authors proposed to make the electrode common for both discharges in the form of a cylindrical metal mesh. The advantage of this design is explained as follows. The connection between the discharges is carried out through holes in the grid with a geometric transparency of 0.2, which makes it possible not only to smoothly control the glow discharge current, but also to enhance the discharge current. Plasma is known to be one of the most efficient electron emitters; however, its use as a cathode in devices with a glow discharge at low gas pressures is complicated by the fact that a grid with small holes is required to separate the electron flow from the plasma, and it is impractical to use such a system in view of low mechanical strength of the grid Since the hollow cathode works effectively at low gas pressures, the release of an electron flux from the plasma of some auxiliary discharge is possible with much larger holes in the grid separating the plasma and the hollow cathode cavity. In this case, the grid can be made such that it can withstand sufficiently high thermal loads and can operate in typical discharge modes with a hollow cathode. The injection of electrons into the cathode cavity of the glow discharge changes the radial distribution of the glow intensity, the width of the cathode dark space, and other parameters of the plasma in the cathode cavity. The influence of electrons penetrating from the auxiliary discharge into the cathode cavity of the main discharge becomes significant when the current of these electrons is comparable to or exceeds the current of electrons leaving the grid cathode surface as a result of γ-processes. In parallel with the measurement of the optical and electrical characteristics of the hollow cathode glow discharge plasma, measurements of the electron concentration were carried out by the microwave sounding method. The entire current of the auxiliary discharge penetrates into the cavity of the main discharge; however, after acceleration in the cathode dark space, the electrons penetrating from the auxiliary discharge ionize gas atoms and noticeably increase the current of the main discharge. Additional ions formed due to the ionization of the gas by the injected electrons knock out new electrons from the cathode surface, which makes it possible to increase the discharge current.

This paper discusses the properties of electron beams formed in plasma wakefield accelerators through ionization injection. In particular, the potential for generating a beam composed of co-located multicolour beamlets is demonstrated in the case where the ionization is initiated by the evolving charge field of the drive beam itself. The physics of the processes of ionization and injection are explored through OSIRIS simulations. Experimental evidence showing similar features are presented from the data obtained in the E217 experiment at the FACET facility of the SLAC National Laboratory. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue 'Directions in particle beam-driven plasma wakefield acceleration'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of this study is to compare the outcomes of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections to surgical release and decortication for lateral elbow tendinosis within a similar patient population. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed on two groups of patients, receiving either PRP injections ( n = 28) or surgery ( n = 50). Patient demographics, clinical presentation, pain score, worker's compensation status, and previous steroid injections were recorded. Primary outcomes included pain and symptom improvement, range of motion, return to work, and postoperative complications. Results: Demographics, duration of symptoms, and exam findings were similar between the PRP and surgical patients. There was no significant difference in pain and symptom improvement. Pain improvement was reported in 89.3 % of PRP patients and 84 % of surgical patients, with a reported percent reduction in pain of 61.1 and 55 %, respectively. Symptoms other than pain improved in 85.7 and 88 % of the PRP and surgical patients, respectively. Tenderness to palpation at the lateral epicondyle (64.3 % PRP, 44 % surgical), pain with resisted wrist extension (35.7 % PRP, 30 % surgical), or residual symptoms other than pain (14.3 % PRP, 10 % surgical) were not significantly different between groups at last follow-up. Eighty-two percent of patients in both the PRP and surgical groups returned to work. No complications were reported. Mean follow-up was 315 vs. 352 days for the PRP and surgical groups, respectively. Conclusions: Similar outcomes in pain improvement and return to work may be achievable with either PRP injections or surgery in recalcitrant lateral elbow tendinosis. PRP injections may be a reasonable alternative for patients apprehensive to proceed with surgery or poor surgical candidates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]