BACKGROUND Reactive oxygen species generated by ultraviolet light result in photocarcinogenic and photoaging changes in the skin. Antioxidants protect skin from these insults. OBJECTIVE This study defines formulation characteristics for delivering L-ascorbic acid into the skin to supplement the skin's natural antioxidant reservoir. METHODS L-ascorbic acid or its derivatives were applied to ...

BACKGROUND Treatment of chronic low back pain with or without lower extremity pain continues to be a challenge. Epidural steroids are commonly utilized in patients after the failure of conservative treatment. The results of epidural steroid injections have been variable based on the pathophysiology, the route of administration, injected drugs, and utilization of fluoroscopy. In patients resista...

The delivery oflaser energy to the coronary circulation by bare optical fibres may cause perforation of the vessel. Experimental studies have shown that this complication can be avoided if the optical fibre is fitted with a metal cap to prevent the potentially dangerous forward projection of the laser beam. This study was performed to assess the feasibility and short term effects of percutaneou...

BACKGROUND Advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease causes a significant reduction in functional capacity because of dyspnea and fatigue, partially related to hypoxemia and compromised oxygen delivery. Percutaneous creation of an arteriovenous shunt may increase oxygen delivery and, hence, improve patients' functional capacity. METHODS AND RESULTS This is a prospective, single-center, p...

The delivery of laser energy to the coronary circulation by bare optical fibres may cause perforation of the vessel. Experimental studies have shown that this complication can be avoided if the optical fibre is fitted with a metal cap to prevent the potentially dangerous forward projection of the laser beam. This study was performed to assess the feasibility and short term effects of percutaneo...

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) involving the anomalous coronary artery is challenging with respect to difficulty in achieving stable catheterization. Rotational atherectomy (RA) can facilitate severely calcified lesions to improve stent delivery and stent expansion; however, its utility in tortuous and angulated coronary arteries is limited with difficulty in delivery of the RA burr. ...

Direct intramyocardial injection may permit local delivery of protein and gene therapy agents for myocardial and coronary artery disease. Little is known about the immediate fate of materials administered via percutaneous endomyocardial catheters or via surgical epicardial injection. In this study, we use a novel method to evaluate the acute retention of agents injected directly into the myocar...

Background The local injection of novel cardioprotective study drugs prior to percutaneous coronary intervention could cause embolisation of thrombus, resulting in increased reperfusion injury and subsequent infarct size. The aim of this study was to assess the safety of the delivery of an intracoronary therapy delivered during primary percutaneous coronary intervention for acute myocardial inf...

AIMS To demonstrate the feasibility and safety of percutaneous delivery of the novel inflow cannula of the CircuLite® SYNERGY® pocket Micro-pump via transseptal access in the swine model. METHODS AND RESULTS After transseptal puncture, the inflow cannula system was advanced into the left atrium (LA) via the right external jugular vein and anchored onto the atrial septum under fluoroscopic and...

It has been recognized that the vehicle in which a permeant is applied to the skin has a distinctive effect on the dermal and transdermal delivery of active ingredients. The cutaneous and percutaneous absorptions can be enhanced, e.g. by an increase in thermodynamic activity, supersaturation and penetration modifiers. Furthermore, dermal and transdermal delivery can be influenced by the interac...