Product replacement plays a critical role in many high-tech durable goods markets. Since these markets frequently undergo both rapid improvements in quality and falling prices, the consumer’s replacement decision is most often due to product obsolescence, as opposed to wear and tear. Despite its importance, this issue has received insufficient attention in the literature, especially from an emp...

medicina fluminensis 2015, Vol. 51, No. 1, p. 145-153 145 Abstract. Conservative therapy is the gold standard for treatment of painful extra-articular snapping abnormalities of the hip. If these treatments are not successful, surgical interventions may be necessary. Arthroscopic tenotomy, bursectomy or tract release may be indicated. In addition to open techniques, various arthroscopic techniqu...

BACKGROUND The exact anatomical cause of the tear trough remains undefined. This study was performed to identify the anatomical basis for the tear trough deformity. METHODS Forty-eight cadaveric hemifaces were dissected. With the skin over the midcheek intact, the tear trough area was approached through the preseptal space above and prezygomatic space below. The origins of the palpebral and o...

PURPOSE To determine whether intolerance to contact lens wear is attributable to clinical or protein characteristics of the tear film. METHODS Thirty-eight subjects participated; 20 were successful contact lens wearers and 18 had discontinued contact lens wear because of discomfort. Baseline tear film (no lens wear) was analyzed with a range of clinical measurements and protein analyses (lact...

PURPOSE ω-3 and ω-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids modulate inflammatory processes throughout the body through distinct classes of lipid mediators that possess both proinflammatory and proresolving properties. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to explore the relationship between lipid profiles in human tears and dry eye (DE) symptoms and signs. METHODS Forty-one patients with normal ...

Tear proteins are potential biomarkers, drug targets, and even biotherapeutics. As a biotherapeutic, a recombinant tear protein might physiologically rescue the ocular surface when a deficiency is detected. Such a strategy pays more attention to the natural prosecretory and protective properties of the tear film and seeks to alleviate symptoms by addressing cause, rather than the current pallia...

The evaluation of lateral knee pain in patients with a medial unicompartmental knee replacement (UKR) is complex. The native lateral compartment structures are prone to the same injuries as patients with normal knees. Historical reports of lateral meniscal injury post medial UKR have argued MRI evaluation is obsolete due to artefact caused by the prosthesis. We report a case of lateral meniscal...

Purpose Electrical neurostimulation enhances tear secretion, and can be applied to treatment of dry eye disease. Using a chronic implant, we evaluate the effects of stimulating the anterior ethmoid nerve on the aqueous, lipid, and protein content of secreted tears. Methods Neurostimulators were implanted beneath the nasal mucosa in 13 New Zealand white rabbits. Stimulations (2.3-2.8 mA pulses...

PURPOSE Allergic conjunctivitis (AC) has been reported to induce the instability of the tear film. The tear protein and the lipid layer play important roles in maintaining the tear film. The aim of this study was to quantify the alteration of the major tear protein components and a lipid related protein secretory type IIa phospholipase A2 (sPLA2-IIa) in tears of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis...