(C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Novel urethane post-polymerization curable shape memory polymers (SMPs) have been synthesized and characterized. Several series of linear, olefinic urethane polymers were made from 2-butene-1,4-diol, other saturated diols, and various aliphatic diisocyanates. These thermoplastics were melt-processed into desired geometries and thermally crosslinked at 200 degrees C or radiation crosslinked at 50 kGy. The SMPs were characterized by solvent swelling and extraction, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), tensile testing, and qualitative shape recovery analysis. Swelling and

DMA results provided concrete evidence of chemical crosslinking, and further characterization revealed that Doramapimod nmr the urethanes had outstanding mechanical properties. Key properties include tailorable transitions between 25 and 80 degrees C, tailorable rubbery moduli between 0.2 and 4.2 MPa, recoverable strains

approaching 100%, failure strains of over 500% at T(g), and qualitative shape recovery times of less than 12 s at body temperature (37 degrees C). Because of its outstanding SIS3 TGF-beta/Smad inhibitor thermo-mechanical properties, one polyurethane was selected for implementation in the design of a complex medical device. We believe that these new post-polymerization crosslinkable urethane SMPs are an industrially relevant class of highly processable shape memory materials. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 121: 144-153, 2011″
“Objective. The objective

of this study was to investigate the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in saliva and its possible association with xerostomia and hyposalivation in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Study design. One hundred and thirty-six patients with confirmed diagnosis of chronic hepatitis C were prospectively analyzed before HCV treatment. The prevalence of xerostomia and hyposalivation was clinically evaluated. HCV RNA AZD1390 ic50 was investigated in saliva samples by qualitative PCR test. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to verify associations.

Results. Xerostomia was reported by 48 (35.3%) patients, whereas hyposalivation was observed in 26 (19.1%). HCV RNA was positive in the saliva of 53 (39.0%) patients. An association among HCV RNA-positive saliva with xerostomia or hyposalivation was not observed.

Conclusion. Our results demonstrate that the detection of HCV in saliva does not correlate with salivary flow or xerostomia in patients with chronic hepatitis C. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2010; 109: 851-856)”
“We have successfully prepared PVP/LiCoO2 nanofibers using an electrospinning route. These fibers were composed of very small crystalline grains uniformly linked with an average size. After annealing of the above precursor fibers at 700 degrees C for 12 h, LiCoO2 nanofibers with 95 nm in diameter were composed of crystalline nanoparticles were successfully obtained.

Method: All patients undergoing major lower limb amputation in England between April 2002 and March 2006 were identified from the Hospital Episodes Statistics (HES) data. Amputations related to trauma or malignancy were excluded.

The length of wait (LOW), from date of admission to date of major

amputation was calculated. A two-level regression model was used to investigate if LOW had a significant effect on recovery time and in-hospital mortality.

Results were adjusted for age, sex, Charlson score, Social Deprivation, mode of intervention (bypass/angioplasty/no intervention) and mode of admission (emergency/elective).

Results: 14 168 major amputations were identified. 12 884 (90.9%) had no intervention prior to amputation on that admission.

Length this website A-769662 molecular weight of Wait (LOW) significantly prolonged recovery in men (Exponential Estimate 1.01 1.01-1.02 p < 0.0001) and women (EE 1.02 1.01-1.02 p < 0.0001) and increased in-hospital mortality in men (OR 1.02 1.02-1.03 p < 0.0001). Risk of in-hospital death increased by 2% for each day waited.

Conclusion: Delays in decision making or in getting a patient into the operating theatre have a negative effect on patient outcome in terms of overall length of stay and mortality after major lower limb amputation. (C) 2012 European Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Objective:

To stimulate people to start researching how to take advantage of a pharmacy redesign opportunity before they are put in the situation of carrying out the redesign.

Setting: Medium-sized Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Lebanon, PA, from 2007 to 2009.

Practice description: The pharmacy service at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Lebanon,

PA, encompasses all aspects of inpatient, outpatient, clinical, and managerial services. Medications are provided to more than 40,000 outpatients each year, and inpatient services covered nearly 62,000 bed-days of care in fiscal year 2008. We maintain direct clinical pharmacy input on all medical care areas, as well as in behavioral health and primary care. Our site also employs three postgraduate year 1 and two postgraduate year 2 pharmacy residents each year.

Conclusion: Successful pharmacy renovation is predicated upon proactive Silmitasertib inhibitor and effective leadership that starts long before the project begins.”
“Objective: To compare differences in macrophage heterogeneity and morphological composition between atherosclerotic plaques obtained from recently symptomatic patients with carotid artery disease and femoral plaques from patients with severe limb ischemia.

Design: Experimental study.

Methods: Plaques were obtained from 32 patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy and 25 patients undergoing common femoral endarterectomy or lower limb bypass. Macrophages and T cell numbers were detected in plaque sections by immunohistochemistry and anti CD68 and CD3 antibodies.

Prophylactic surgery in high-risk individuals without neoplasia is not generally recommended. At the time of a colon primary, however, extended surgery learn more should be discussed in the light of a high rate of metachronous cancers. The worries of impairing functional results have now been evaluated in the light of quality of life in a large international cohort. Interestingly, extended (prophylactic) surgery does not lead to inferior quality of life with equal perioperative risks.

Therefore, taking the risk reduction into account, extended surgery at the time of the first colon primary should at least be discussed, if not recommended. Also, prophylactic hysterectomy and bilateral

oophorectomy at the time of a colorectal primary should be recommended if family planning has been completed.”
“The objectives of this medicolegal case report were the following: 1) present details of a chronic pain patient (CPP) on chronic opioid analgesic therapy (COAT), who diverted her opioids and was terminated from treatment, and subsequently committed suicide; 2) present both the plaintiff’s

and defendant’s (the COAT prescriber) expert witnesses’ opinions as to the allegation of medical abandonment of this patient and other allegations; and 3) see more based on these opinions, to develop some recommendations as to how pain physicians can minimize their medicolegal risk when termination of the physician-patient relationship is warranted.

This is a case report of a CPP treated by a pain physician Staurosporine nmr who demonstrated aberrant drug-related behaviors and required large doses of controlled-release oxycodone.

Differences between the plaintiff’s and defendant’s experts’ opinions are presented by utilizing the COAT literature. Options for avoiding allegations of abandonment are proposed.

To avoid and protect

themselves against potential abandonment allegations when termination of the physician-patient relationship is warranted, physicians are advised to consider following the outlined procedures.”
“Detection of new Multiple Sclerosis (MS) lesions on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is important as a marker of disease activity and as a potential surrogate for relapses. We propose an approach where sequential scans are jointly segmented, to provide a temporally consistent tissue segmentation while remaining sensitive to newly appearing lesions. The method uses a two-stage classification process: 1) a Bayesian classifier provides a probabilistic brain tissue classification at each voxel of reference and follow-up scans, and 2) a random-forest based lesion-level classification provides a final identification of new lesions. Generative models are learned based on 364 scans from 95 subjects from a multi-center clinical trial.

67 (BLS with feedback from the 6th minute).

Conclusion: ECR enables rapid, meaningful assessment of CPR and simplifies the comparability of studies as well as the individual performance of trainees. The structure of the software solution HKI-272 cell line allows it to be easily adapted to any manikin, CPR feedback devices and different resuscitation guidelines (e. g. ILCOR, ERC). (C) 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“An episiotomy is a surgical incision through the perineum made to provide sufficient area for the delivery of the infant. About 10 to 95% of women who deliver will have episiotomy depending

on which part of the world they are having delivery.

Too early episiotomy causes extensive bleeding and too late episiotomy causes the excessive stretching of a pelvic floor and lacerations could not be prevented.

According to widely accepted arguments, there are many benefits of

episiotomy for the neonate: prevention of injuries, shoulder dystocia and mental retardation of the infant. Benefits for the mother are: reduction of severe lacerations, prevention of sexual dysfunction, prevention of urinary and fecal incontinence. But those things could also be complications of episiotomy, if it is being used nonrestrictively. Some other complications are also extensive bleeding, hematoma or infection.

There are many different opinions in literature about using episiotomy restrictively or routinely, so it is the right doubt arisen: is CB-839 chemical structure it inevitable or unnecessary?

There is a wide variation in episiotomy practice, and the decision of performing it or not depends VX-689 cost of actual clinical situation.

There is still a great need for continuous obstetrics education according to the evidence based guidelines for the patient’s safety.”
“Purpose: To examine the original flowability, compressibility and compactibility of Saraca indica bark powder and its tablet formulations.

Methods: Saraca indica bark powder was subjected to various quantitative tests including acid insoluble ash, total ash, foreign organic matter, alcohol soluble extractive and water soluble extractive. Its flowability and compressibility were determined using Kawakita, Heckel and Leuenberger

relationships. Tablets were prepared from the powder by direct compression and wet granulation techniques and characterized.

Results: Kawakita analysis revealed lower cohesiveness of granules (3.877 +/- 0.890) compared to the powder (6.176 +/- 1.030), and hence improved flowability. From Heckel analysis, the higher value of intercept (A) for granules (4.38 +/- 0.45) implies higher degree of fragmentation than direct compression DC formulation (2.90 +/- 0.33) and powders (2.44 +/- 0.12). The compression susceptibility parameter obtained from Leuenberger equation for compacts formed by wet granulation technique (0.183 +/- 0.045 1/kg/cm(2)) indicate that maximum crushing strength is reached faster at lower pressures of compression than for Saraca indica bark powder (0.073 +/- 0.

The costs included hospital expenses of payroll, employee benefits, professional fees and supplies. Results. From 1979-1982 to 2003-2006, the proportion of hospitalizations that were associated with hypertension (primary or secondary diagnosis) increased from 1.9% to 5.4%. Pinometostat in vivo Among all hypertension-associated hospitalizations, the proportion with a secondary diagnosis of hypertension increased from 81.8% to 95.1%. In 2008

dollars, annual costs for hypertension-related hospitalizations increased from US $40 billion (5.1% of total hospital costs) during 1979-1982 to US $113 billion (15.1% of total hospital costs) during 2003-2006. Conclusions. Both the proportions of hospitalizations that were associated with hypertension and

the adjusted annual costs of such hospitalizations nearly tripled over the past 28 years. The increases were in substantial measure due to the greatly increasing proportion of hospitalizations in which hypertension was listed as a secondary diagnosis. Interventions for the management of hypertension as a secondary diagnosis might be potentially cost-effective.”
“Aim: To examine the association between infant mortality, the day of birth Vorinostat and sociodemographic factors. Methods: This population-based retrospective study analyzed all singleton live births in the state of Missouri during the period 1989 to 1997. The main outcome of interest was infant survival after birth. Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between infant mortality and the day of birth were obtained through parametric time to event models. Results: The neonatal mortality rate was higher on weekends (3.25/1000) compared to weekdays (2.87/1000) (P = 0.042). Cesarean section delivery Duvelisib nmr increased the risk of neonatal death by a magnitude of 31.5 compared to vaginal births (HR = 31.47, 95% CI: 15.79, 62.74). Adolescent females (age <18)

were more likely to experience neonatal (HR = 2.20, 95% CI: 1.47, 3.31), post-neonatal (HR = 2.20, 95% CI: 1.47, 3.30) and infant mortality (HR = 4.06, CI: 2.02, 8.14). Conclusions: Cesarean section delivery heightens the risk of all infant death, including neonatal and post-neonatal death, regardless of the day of birth, underscoring the need for multi-tiered strategies to reduce the occurrence of medically unnecessary cesarean sections. Furthermore, the elevated risk of infant mortality among adolescent mothers highlights the importance of enhanced preconception care and age-appropriate pregnancy prevention interventions.”
“Background: The human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) have the ability to migrate into tumors and therefore have been considered as an alternative source of mesenchymal progenitors for the therapy of malignant diseases. The present study was aimed to investigate effect of hUCMSCs as vehicles for a constant source of transgenic interleukin-21 (IL-21) on ovarian cancer in vivo.

Little is known about the onset of the first symptoms or the clinical course of the disease. The present report contributes to the diagnosis of ATLD and its prognosis at onset.

We report 30 years of clinical and ophthalmic observations and the results of quantitative magnetic resonance (MR), MR spectroscopy (proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging) and neuropsychological assessment in the first Italian siblings identified with ATLD. Although the disease had early onset and the clinical picture was initially severe, suggesting ataxia-telangiectasia, neurological impairment, ocular motor apraxia and neuropsychological tests showed very HSP990 molecular weight slow deterioration in adult age. The patients developed eye and head motor strategies to compensate ocular motor apraxia. MR measurements and MR spectroscopy disclosed widespread neuronal and axonal involvement. ATLD should be considered in patients with ocular apraxia and ataxia in infancy. The long follow-up provided insights into clinical outcome, with functional neuroimaging studies shedding light on the pathogenetic mechanisms of this rare disease.”
“OBJECTIVE: The use AZ 628 ic50 of stem

cells in cardiac regeneration is still limited due to low cellular integration and engraftment rates. Consequently, there has been a spurt in research on developing alternative regenerative therapies. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a major component of the extracellular matrix that is non-immunogenic, and has been PF-00299804 purchase implicated in various wound-healing functions such as angiogenesis and inflammation modulation,

making it an ideal candidate for regenerative biomaterials. In this study, we examine the potential of acellular hyaluronic acid-based hydrogel in improving cardiac function post-myocardial infarction in a rat model.

METHODS: Hyaluronic acid-based hydrogel was injected into the peri-infarct region post-myocardial infarction induction in Lewis rats. Cardiac function in control (n = 10) and gel-injected groups (n = 10) was evaluated up to 4 weeks post-myocardial infarction. Evaluation of cardiac function was conducted using transthoracic echocardiography. Histological analysis of scar area was evaluated via haematoxylin and eosin (H & E), and Sirius red staining. Neovascularization was detected using vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) staining.

RESULTS: Evaluation of cardiac function using transthoracic echocardiography revealed a 18.2% (P < 0.01) increase in ejection fraction in gel-injected groups when compared with the control group, almost returning the ejection fraction to baseline levels (preop). Histological analysis of scar area by haematoxylin and eosin (H&E), and Sirius red staining demonstrated decreased scarring, and a 22.6% (P < 0.01) decrease in collagen deposition in the gel-injected group compared with the control group.

Such highly nitrogen rich growth conditions lead to two-dimensional layer by layer growth and reduced oxygen incorporation. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3415527]“
“Aims: Chemoradiation

is the standard of care for GSK621 supplier the treatment of anal canal cancer, with surgery reserved for salvage. For tumours with uninvolved inguinal nodes, it is standard to irradiate the inguinal nodes prophylactically, resulting in large field sizes, which contribute to acute and late toxicity. The aim of this single-centre retrospective study was to determine if, in selected cases, prophylactic inguinal nodal irradiation could be avoided.

Materials and methods: Between August 1998 and August 2004, 30 patients with biopsy-proven squamous cell anal canal cancer were treated with chemoradiation using one phase of treatment throughout. A three-field beam arrangement was used without attempting to treat the draining inguinal lymph nodes prophylactically. The radiotherapy dose prescribed was 50 Gy in 25 daily fractions over 5 weeks. Concomitant chemotherapy was delivered with the radiation using mitomycin-C 7-12 mg/m(2) on day 1 and protracted venous infusional

5-fluorouracil 200 selleck mg/m(2)/day throughout radiotherapy.

Results: All patients had clinically and radiologically uninvolved inguinal and pelvic nodes and all had primary lesions that were T3 or less. The median age at diagnosis was 65 years (range 41-84). The median follow-up was 41 months (range 24-113). The mean posterior field size was 14 x 15 cm and the mean lateral field size was 12 x 15 cm. All patients achieved a complete response. Ninety-four per cent of patients (28/30) were alive and disease free. The two patients who died did so of unrelated causes Nocodazole and were disease free at death. Four patients relapsed and all were salvaged with surgery; two for local disease requiring abdominoperineal resection, one with an inguinal nodal relapse requiring inguinofemoral block dissection and one for metastatic disease to the liver who underwent liver resection.

Conclusions:

This single-centre retrospective study supports the treatment for selected cases of anal canal cancer with smaller than standard radiation fields, avoiding prophylactic inguinal nodal irradiation. Hopefully this will translate into reduced acute and late toxicity. In future studies we would suggest that consideration is given as to whether omission of prophylactic inguinal nodal irradiation for early stage tumours should be explored. Crowley, C. et at. (2009). Clinical Oncology 21, 376-379 (C) 2009 The Royal College of Radiologists. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“BackgroundAnxiety and depression (distress) over the first year following the initial adjuvant therapy for advanced breast cancer (ABC) remain poorly documented in non-Caucasian populations. This study describes trajectories of distress and their determinants in Chinese women with ABC.

The Treatment Cost Analysis Tool (TCAT) automatically provides feedback and generates summaries and charts using comparative data from a national sample of non-methadone outpatient providers. TCAT is being used by program staff to capture and allocate both economic and accounting costs, and outpatient service costs are reported for

a sample of 70 programs. Costs for an episode of treatment in regular, intensive, and mixed types of outpatient treatment were $882, $1310, and $1381 respectively (based on 20% trimmed means CCI-779 cell line and 2006 dollars). An hour of counseling cost $64 in regular, $85 intensive, and $86 mixed. Group counseling hourly costs per client were $8, $11, and $10 respectively for regular, intensive, and mixed. Future directions include use of a web-based interview version, much like some of the commercially available

tax preparation software tools; and extensions for use in other modalities of treatment. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“A buy GSK2879552 Kluyveromyces strain secreting a fungicidal proteinaceous toxin has been isolated. Its maximal activity is observed at pH 5.0 and an increased osmotic pressure. This agent has been identified as a mycocin; it is active towards species belonging to the genus Kluyveromyces and some representatives of taxonomically related taxa.”
“Bupropion is a promising candidate medication for methamphetamine use disorder. As such, we used a preclinical model of drug-taking to determine the effects of bupropion on the reinforcing effects of methamphetamine (0.025, 0.05 or 0.1 mg/kg/infusion). Specificity was determined

by investigating the effects of bupropion on responding maintained by sucrose. In the self-ad ministration study, rats were surgically prepared with indwelling jugular catheters and trained to self-administer methamphetamine under an FR5 schedule. A separate group of rats was trained to press a lever for sucrose. Once responding stabilized, rats were pretreated with bupropion (0, 10, 30 and 60 mg/kg IP) 5 min before chamber placement in a unique testing order. Following acute testing, rats were then repeatedly pretreated with 30 and 60 mg/kg bupropion. Acute treatments of bupropion dose dependently reduced drug intake for 0.025-0.1 mg/kg methamphetamine; sucrose deliveries were PF-6463922 only reduced with the high bupropion dose. Repeated exposure to 60 mg/kg bupropion before the session resulted in a consistent decrease in methamphetamine intake (0.05 and 0.1 mg/kg) and sucrose deliveries. Considered together, this pattern of findings demonstrates that bupropion decreases responding for methamphetamine, but the effects are only somewhat specific. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Water-soluble polysaccharides from seeds of true cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum White at Maton, family Zingiberaceae) have been studied.

Conclusions: This study revealed that increased L1 expression in glomeruli of crescentic GN and GSK2879552 purchase down-regulation of RT activity in L1 decreased crescent formation. Preferential expression of L1 retrotransposon appears to be related to cell proliferative signals. Finally, our findings provide new insights into the epigenetic factors responsible for crescent formation.”
“BACKGROUND: Mechanical circulatory support systems (MCSS) have been available in Canada

since 1986. Accepted indications include bridging to transplantation or recovery. The present study reviewed the results following MCSS implantation at the Montreal Heart Institute (Montreal, Quebec).

METHODS: From September 1987 to September 2006, 43 MCSS were implanted (32 Thoratec [Thoratec Corporation, USA], nine CirdioWest TAH [SynCardia Systems Inc, USA], two Novacor [WorldHeart Corporation, Canada]) in 43 patients (mean [+/- SD] age 44 +/- 13 years; range 19 to 64 years). Indications for implantation included cardiogenic shock due to ischemic (n=19), vital (n=10) or other types of cardiomyopathics (n=14).

RESULTS: The mean ejection fraction before implantation was 17.6 +/- 6.59% (range 10% to 45%). Before MCSS implantation, most patients showed

signs of end-organ failure, including mechanical ventilation (77%), central venous pressure higher than 16 mmHg (44%), oliguria (35%) and hepatic dysfunction (19%). The mean duration of MCSS Prexasertib support was 22.8 +/- 32.8 days (range one to 158 days). Survival to transplantation or recovery was 74%. Only one Tariquidar patient was successfully bridged to recovery. Complications were common during MC Support. They included re-exploration for bleeding (47%), respiratory failure (44%) renal failure requiring temporary dialysis (40%), infection (33%) and neurological events (16%). Only one patient had device failure. In patients successfully

bridged to transplantation, early actuarial survival (one month) following transplantation averaged 71 +/- 890 and was 57 +/- 9% at one year.

CONCLUSION: MCSS support with a left ventricular assist device or a total artificial heart provides an effective means of bridging terminally ill patients to transplantation or recovery. Early survival after transplantation shows satisfactory results. However, these results come at the expense of frequent device-related complications, and device failure remains a constant threat.”
“In this study, we investigated the immunosuppressive effects of water-soluble barley beta-glucan (BP) in mouse immune cells. The BP was prepared from barley (Hordeum vulgare), and it suppressed the proliferation of splenocytes stimulated with concanavalin A (Con A), interleukin-2 (IL-2), and alloantigenic splenocytes in a dose-dependent manner (0.25, 0.5, and 1mg/mL).

feasibility of each approach.

Study Design and Setting: Studies describing

methods to measure comorbidity in epidemiological studies related to cancer were identified. Data relating to content, face, and criterion validity, reliability, and feasibility were collected.

Results: Two thousand nine hundred seventy-five abstracts were reviewed and 21 separate approaches identified. Content and face validity varied but tended to be higher for measures developed for cancer populations. Some evidence supporting criterion validity GSK690693 of all approaches was found. Where reported, reliability tended to be moderate to high. Some approaches tended to score well on all aspects but were resource intensive in terms of data collection. Eight indices scored at least moderately well on all criteria, three of which demonstrated usefulness in relation to non-site specific cancer (Charlson Comorbidity Index, Elixhauser approach, and National Cancer Institute [Combined] Index).

Conclusions: No gold standard approach to measuring comorbidity in the context of cancer exists. Approaches vary in their strengths and weaknesses, with the choice of measure depending on the study question, population studied, and data available.

(c) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.”
“The hypoglossal nerve appears typically between the internal carotid artery and internal jugular vein and down in the lateral groove between these 2 anatomical structures on to the right common carotid artery bifurcation. In this case report, we presented a patient that was operated on for laryngeal carcinoma, and abnormal navigation of hypoglossal selleck compound nerve was observed during the neck dissection.”
“Auron-Misheil-Therapy (AMT) is currently under development as an anticancer treatment. The aim of the present study was the identification of possible effects and properties of AMT with regard to human skin. The study consisted of three experimental phases. Phase 1 assessed the effects of

AMT on the viability of 2-D evaluated and accredited cell cultures of three cell types of human skin, namely: keratinocytes, melanocytes and fibroblasts. Three separate assays were used in this phase. Phase 2 was designed to clarify the effects of AMT on cell viability to investigate the mode of action of AMT. Two possible modes of action were investigated: proliferation inhibition and apoptosis. There was one assay to assess proliferation, and two Selonsertib mw independent assays to assess apoptosis. The third phase assessed the effects of AMT on two different types of 3-D skin models, an ex vivo model and a de novo reconstituted model. In the phase 1 tests, reduction of cell viability by AMT was demonstrated in all three cell types. In phase 2, the cell proliferation assay showed decreased proliferation rates in the presence of AMT in three out of four cell populations. In phase 3, histochemical investigations with 3-D models indicated that AMT induces desquamation, most likely as the result of apoptosis of epidermal cells.