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Biomedical subjects

M A Miller

Publications and source records attributed to M A Miller.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Cost-effectiveness of incorporating inactivated poliovirus vaccine into the routine childhood immunization schedule.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the economic consequences of introducing inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) into the routine vaccination schedule in the United States to reduce vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis (VAPP). DESIGN: Cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness models were formulated to compare the current national 4-dose live attenuated oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) schedule with a 4-dose IPV schedule or a sequential schedule of 2 doses of IPV followed by 2 doses of OPV. Model assumptions were derived from the National Health Interview Survey (1994), current prices for OPV and IPV, a Delphi panel, compensatory awards by the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, and published and unpublished reports. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Annual societal incremental cost relative to the current schedule for the cost-benefit model; cost per VAPP case prevented for the cost-effectiveness model. RESULTS: Changing to an IPV-only or a sequential schedule would cost $28.1 million and $14.7 million, respectively. The costs per case of VAPP prevented were estimated as $3.0 million and $3.1 million for each option, respectively. Outcomes were most sensitive to the number of additional visits that may occur to avoid multiple injections. CONCLUSIONS: The introduction of IPV into the routine vaccination schedule would not be cost-beneficial at current vaccine prices and with the current compensation awards paid to VAPP cases. The analysis provides a range of costs that policymakers need to consider if they wish to prevent VAPP. Although these costs are higher than those of other public health prevention programs, they may be justified because VAPP continues to occur as a result of government-mandated vaccination policies in the absence of known wild poliovirus transmission in the United States.

Child↗
PubMed1996

Galanin gene expression declines with adulthood in the cholinergic fields of the horizontal diagonal band of male rats.

The neuropeptide galanin (GAL) influences learning and memory processes, perhaps by inhibiting cholinergic function. We recently reported that, in the rat, the nucleus of the horizontal limb of the diagonal band (HDB) exhibits the highest level of GAL mRNA coexpression by basal forebrain (BF) cholinergic neurons and, in the HDB, virtually all GAL mRNA-expressing neurons correspond to the cholinergic cell type. Since GAL gene expression is induced across puberty in many brain regions, we used in situ hybridization histochemistry and quantitative autoradiography to assess GAL gene expression across the rostro-caudal extent of the HDB in prepubertal and adult male rats and to determine whether GAL gene expression is also regulated during maturation in this BF region. Our results show that the number of GAL mRNA-expressing cells per section is significantly reduced in the HDB with adulthood. Post-hoc analysis indicated that these age-associated differences in the number of GAL mRNA-expressing cells per section could be ascribed to the rostral and central subregions of the HDB. Age-related differences in the labeling intensity of GAL mRNA-expressing neurons were also detected in the rostral and central subregions of the HDB. No age-associated differences in GAL gene expression were found in the caudal HDB subregion. These results suggest that: (1) in contrast to other brain regions, GAL gene expression in the cholinergic BF may be negatively regulated by factors concomitant with puberty; and (2) the inhibition of cholinergic function by cosecreted GAL may be enhanced prior to puberty within cholinergic neurons of the rostral and central aspects of the HDB.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1996

Homoprotocatechuate 2,3-dioxygenase from Brevibacterium fuscum. A dioxygenase with catalase activity.

Homoprotocatechuate 2,3-dioxygenase (2,3-HPCD) cleaves the aromatic ring of its substrate with insertion of both atoms of oxygen from O2 to form alpha-hydroxy- delta-carboxymethyl cis-muconic semialdehyde. The enzyme has been purified from the Gram-positive bacterium Brevibacterium fuscum and characterized. The enzyme appears to have a range of quaternary structures with predominant components of alpha4 and alpha6 (alpha subunit Mr = 42500 +/- 1500) and binds approximately 1 Fe(II)/subunit. Although the substrate Km values are similar to those of other Fe(II) ring cleaving dioxygenases, the turnover number is lower by 90-97%, and the enzyme exhibits much higher stability to metal chelators and H2O2. The stability to H2O2 is shown to derive from an endogenous catalase activity of 2,3-HPCD (stoichiometry: 2 H2O2 --> 2 H2O + O2) that is novel for dioxygenases. H2O2 is a mixed-type inhibitor of the dioxygenase activity, suggesting that dioxygenase and catalase activities are both catalyzed by the enzyme, but at distinguishable sites. In contrast, catecholic substrates, including homoprotocatechuate and p-nitrocatechol, are nonessential activators of the catalase activity. The plot of 1/vi of catalase activity versus 1/[H2O2] is parabolic in the absence of catecholic substrates and linear in their presence, indicating that these reactions proceed by different mechanisms. A mechanism for catalase activity is proposed in which 2 H2O2 molecules bind simultaneously to the iron to account for the observed parabolic kinetic plot. Electron transfer between the peroxides mediated by the iron would yield 2 H2O and O2. Catecholic substrates are proposed to modify this reaction by excluding one H2O2 from the Fe(II), thereby causing the kinetic plots to appear linear. Electron donation by the catecholic substrates would facilitate O O bond cleavage of H2O2, but outer sphere electron transfer from a second H2O2 in another step would be necessary to complete the reaction. p-Nitrocatechol is shown to bind differently to 2,3-HPCD than to other Fe(II) ring cleavage dioxygenases. Possible explanations for this observation are considered in the context of the proposed catalase and normal dioxygenase mechanisms which may also have bearing on the unique catalase activity and low dioxygenase turnover number of the enzyme.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1996

Regulation of murine macrophage IL-12 production. Activation of macrophages in vivo, restimulation in vitro, and modulation by other cytokines.

IL-12 is important in the host response to a variety of pathogens. It plays an adjuvant-like role in an initial immune response as well as a therapeutic role in established infections. Despite its well documented importance, comparatively little is known about the regulation of IL-12 production. In this study, we examined IL-12 production by cultured murine peritoneal macrophages from two perspectives: 1) macrophage activation in vivo, and 2) stimulation of IL-12 secretion in vitro. Macrophages were maximally activated within 48 h in vivo during infection with Listeria. Interestingly, although avirulent or heat-killed Listeria induced only minimal production of IL-12 by macrophages, the immunogenic combination of heat-killed bacteria and rIL-12 was highly stimulatory for IL-12 production. LPS and peritoneal inflammatory agents were also stimulatory, but latex beads were ineffective, indicating that microbial components were essential and phagocytosis alone was insufficient. Restimulation in vitro revealed similar patterns, in that infection and LPS were stimulatory but latex beads were not. A systematic survey of potential stimulatory agents showed that microbial heat shock proteins, crude bacterial extracts, bacterial superantigens, a yeast extract, and dsRNA induced IL-12 in vitro. Other cytokines also influenced IL-12 induction. IFN-gamma, which is up-regulated during infection, acted in synergy with other stimuli, suggesting an amplification loop for IL-12 production, whereas IL-4, IL-10, IL-13, and TGF-beta were inhibitory. The existence of a broad range of stimuli from a wide variety of pathogenic organisms underscores the fundamental importance of IL-12 in host defense.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Identifying the physiological electron transfer site of cytochrome c peroxidase by structure-based engineering.

A technique was developed to evaluate whether electron transfer (ET) complexes formed in solution by the cloned cytochrome c peroxidase [CcP(MI)] and cytochromes c from yeast (yCc) and horse (hCc) are structurally similar to those seen in the respective crystal structures. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to convert the sole Cys of the parent enzyme (Cys 128) to Ala, and a Cys residue was introduced at position 193 of CcP(MI), the point of closest contact between CcP(MI) and yCc in the crystal structure. Cys 193 was then modified with a bulky sulfhydryl reagent, 3-(N-maleimidylpropionyl)-biocytin (MPB), to prevent yCc from binding at the site seen in the crystal. The MPB modification has no effect on overall enzyme structure but causes 20-100-fold decreases in transient and steady-state ET reaction rates with yCc. The MPB modification causes only 2-3-fold decreases in ET reaction rates with hCc, however. This differential effect is predicted by modeling studies based on the crystal structures and indicates that solution phase ET complexes closely resemble the crystalline complexes. The low rate of catalysis of the MPB-enzyme was constant for yCc in buffers of 20-160 mM ionic strength. This indicates that the low affinity complex formed between CcP(MI) and yCc at low ionic strength is not reactive in ET.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Regulatory aspects of fumonisins with respect to animal feed. Animal derived residues in foods.

The fumonisins are a recently discovered class of mycotoxins produced primarily by Fusarium (F.) moniliforme and F. proliferatum. Fumonisins present in mycotoxin-contaminated feed have been identified as the causative agent of equine leukoencephalomalacia and porcine pulmonary edema. To prevent these diseases, FDA has utilized informal guidance levels for fumonisins in feed and initiated a surveillance program for fumonisins in feed corn and corn by-products during FY 93 and 94. Natural contaminants present in animal feed can enter the human food supply as residues present in animal tissues and other animal derived products. Although fumonisin guidance levels were originally set based on animal safety, FDA also ensures the human food safety of animal products from animals fed mycotoxin-contaminated feed. Recent pharmacokinetic studies in food-producing animals as well as statutory requirements for regulating natural toxins will be discussed in light of FDA's human food safety mandate.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1996

The association between age of hospitalized patients and the delivery of advanced cardiac life support.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the extent of variability in the administration of advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) and to determine if age is associated with variability. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort. SETTING: Urban teaching hospital. PATIENTS: One hundred twenty-two adult inpatients without a "do-not resuscitate" order who suffered cardiopulmonary arrest during 1993. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Of the total, 35 (29%) survived the arrest and 87 (71%) died. Among the nonsurvivors, two patients received no ACLS and six were not intubated, despite the inclusion of intubation in all ACLS protocols. Of the 87 nonsurvivors, 31 had a single electrocardiographic rhythm during their arrest and should have had similar ACLS trials. However, the 9 nonsurvivors with ventricular fibrillation received a range of 0 to 17 interventions, the 11 with electromechanical dissociation received 1 to 22, and the 11 with asystole received 0 to 14. Based on a protocol-derived definition of a minimal trial of ACLS (a "short ACLS trial") for all 87 nonsurvivors, age greater than 75 was associated with receiving a short trial. Dependent functional status and being on a medical service were also associated with a short ACLS trial. In a logistic regression model including these variables as covariates, age remained significantly associated with a short ACLS trial; odds ratio, 9.71 (95% confidence interval 1.68, 56.1). CONCLUSIONS: Wide variability exists in the administration of ACLS at the studied site. The finding that some patients receive no ACLS suggests that physicians at this site may be making bedside determinations of the likelihood of its benefit based on individual patient characteristics. The association between older age and short ACLS trials among all nonsurvivors suggests that age is most important of these characteristics.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Effects of dihydrotestosterone alone and combined with estrogen on bone mineral density, bone growth, and formation rates in ovariectomized rats.

Androgens are associated with the greater skeletal mass and size in men compared with women and have been used as anabolic agents promoting skeletal growth and mineral accretion in both sexes, but specific effects on growth and bone formation in the female skeleton are not well understood. The effects of 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) alone, and in combination with 17 beta-estradiol on bone and bone growth were studied in female ovariectomized (OVX) rats with established osteopenia. Eight weeks after OVX, rats were given 0.1 mg 17 beta-estradiol and/or 2.5 mg or 10 mg DHT administered by controlled-release pellets for 2 months. Body weights decreased with estrogen treatment but increased with DHT. Bone mineral density increased with the highest dose of DHT relative to OVX controls and the estrogen treated group. Dry and ashed bone weights and ash/dry weight ratios increased in the estrogen and DHT treated animals compared to the baseline OVX controls. Total bone calcium was greater with DHT and estrogen combined with DHT. The percent of calcium in the ash increased in all DHT treated groups. When normalized to final body weight, the total femur calcium content was significantly increased in the estrogen and estrogen with DHT groups, but not in the DHT groups compared with the baseline OVX and OVX control groups. The periosteal bone formation rates were increased with the high dose DHT alone and combined with estrogen. OVX rats had increased endochondral bone elongation rates relative to controls but this was decreased with estrogen treatment. DHT combined with estrogen increased endochondral growth rates relative to the estrogen treated group. Trabecular bone volume was decreased in all OVX groups relative to the base line group, but there were no significant effects observed with any treatments. Cancellous bone formation rates were suppressed with estrogen treatment but were partially reversed when combined with DHT. DHT treatments also increased most cancellous bone formation indices over OVX controls. While estrogen is known to preserve skeletal mass by reducing bone turnover, DHT increased skeletal mass by promoting bone growth and formation with concomitant increases in total body mass. DHT had greater effects on cortical bone and partially mitigated the suppressive effects of estrogen on bone growth and formation in the female skeleton.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1996

Tuberculosis risk after exposure on airplanes.

SETTING: Domestic and international air-flights. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the risk of tuberculosis (TB) transmission aboard aircraft. DESIGN: A contact investigation of passengers and crew from two flights was conducted following identification of a fellow passenger with pulmonary TB. Immediate post-exposure and follow-up tuberculin skin tests (TSTs) were obtained. RESULTS: Of 120 contacts, 86 (72%) had a negative TST (< 5 mm); 29 (24%) a positive TST (> or = 5 mm), and 5 (4%) a TST conversion. Of the 29 persons with a positive TST, 27 had other identified risk factors for TB. Risk factors for positive TST included non-US birth (Relative Risk (RR) 9.7 P < 0.01) or history of Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination (RR undefined; P < 0.01). Risk was not associated with specific aircraft or seat relative to the index case for US-born contacts. All five TST converters were born in countries where BCG vaccine is routinely given. CONCLUSION: The positive TST reactions and conversions suggest boosting from BCG vaccination or prior exposure in TB-endemic countries. Since two positive contacts had no other identified risk factor, TB transmission on board the aircraft could not be excluded. Contact investigation of exposed aircraft passengers should be considered on a case-by-case basis, with consideration of the infectiousness of the ill passenger and the flight circumstances.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Idiopathic anaphylaxis: a series of 335 cases.

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic anaphylaxis is anaphylaxis with no definable etiology and no trigger by exogenous allergens. Initially described in 1978, idiopathic anaphylaxis has been subsequently characterized and treatment protocols have been established. OBJECTIVE: The demographics and course of 335 patients (225 previously reported) treated with prednisone, hydroxyzine, and albuterol are now reported. RESULTS: Ages ranged from 5 to 83 years. There were nine new pediatric patients in this series totaling 14 (4.2%). Atopy was common (48%) with 34 new patients with asthma. The duration of symptoms prior to presentation ranged from three days to 27 years. One hundred thirty-two patients with idiopathic anaphylaxis were available for follow-up. Twenty of these are currently receiving prednisone for control of idiopathic anaphylaxis, seven of them as part of their initial therapy, and ten for control of recurrence of symptoms. Three patients required continuous alternate day prednisone for control of symptoms (corticosteroid-dependent idiopathic anaphylaxis). Of the 335 patients, there were no longer any patients with the diagnosis of malignant idiopathic anaphylaxis defined as requiring prednisone, 20 mg daily, or 60 mg every other day, for control of idiopathic anaphylaxis. Of the six patients previously diagnosed with malignant idiopathic anaphylaxis, five no longer required prednisone and one has a decreased prednisone requirement of 20 mg on alternate days. Hospital visits were significantly reduced by the management regimens. There were no fatalities from idiopathic anaphylaxis in this series. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of idiopathic anaphylaxis is increasing in our practice with more patients being evaluated each year. During 1104 patient years of observation (the longest period of single patient observation being 24 years), no inciting agent has been found responsible for the anaphylactic symptoms. Prognosis continues to remain good with the majority of patients achieving remission with pharmacotherapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Hydrolysis of cyclic guanosine monophosphate and cyclic adenosine monophosphate by the penis and aorta of the diabetic rat.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the hydrolysis of adenosine 3'5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) and guanosine 3'5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) by specific phosphodies-terases (PDEs) in the penis and aorta of diabetic rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Non-ketonuric diabetes mellitus was induced in 10 Sprague-Dawley rats with streptozotocin. After 2 months, the rats were killed and their penises and aortae excised. The tissues were incubated with [3H]-cAMP and [3H]-cGMP and the degree of hydrolysis was assessed by separating [3H]-cAMP and [3H]-cGMP from [3H]-AMP and [3H]-GMP, respectively, in the incubation supernatants using thin layer chromatography (polyethyleneimine cellulose developed in 50 mmol/L KCl). RESULTS: The hydrolysis of cAMP and cGMP was significantly reduced in penile and aortic tissue from diabetic rats compared to that of seven age-matched controls. CONCLUSIONS: Such a reduction of PDE activity would result in increased intracellular cyclic nucleotide levels (and thus corporeal smooth muscle relaxation and erection). Consequently, the altered activity of PDE enzyme systems is not related aetiologically to the pathogenesis of diabetic erectile dysfunction. Furthermore, these data consolidate the concept that enhanced cyclic nucleotide synthesis and decreased degradation constitute an adaptive response to counteract the deleterious effects of diabetes mellitus on erectogenic mechanisms. The pathophysiology and therapeutic implications of these findings warrant further investigation.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Ontogenesis of IGF regulation of longitudinal bone growth in rat metatarsal rudiments cultured in serum-free medium.

The aim of this study was to compare the effect of two cytokines, IGF-I and IGF-II on skeletal development in the rat. The three medial metatarsal rudiments were dissected out from fetuses at days 19, 20 or 21 of gestation and from newborns at days 1, 3, 6 and 9 after birth, then grown in serum-free MEM medium at 37 degrees C and 5% CO2 in air. From day 19 of gestation to the end of experiment, longitudinal bone growth (mm) was significantly increased by IGF-I (2.975 +/- 0.050) and IGF-II (2.530 +/- 0.062), compared to controls (2.188 +/- 0.060). In the same way, the width (mm) at the last experimental day was 0.360 +/- 0.010 in IGF-I- and 0.327 +/- 0.008 in IGF-II-treated bones, respectively (vs 0.313 +/- 0.012 in controls). Mineralization was also stimulated under both growth factors (length of the calcified diaphysis (mm): 0.691 +/- 0.019 in IGF-I- and 0.446 +/- 0.017 in IGF-II-treated bones; vs 0.383 +/- 0.024 in controls). IGF-I and IGF-II (but to a lesser extent) stimulation was due to an increased DNA synthesis (3H-thymidine uptake) as well as protein anabolism (incorporated proline). In addition, cartilage activity (35S captation) and mineralization (45Ca fixed) were involved in the action of these cytokines. An age dependency of bone response to IGFs was pointed out, the effect being higher during the fetal period than after birth. In conclusion, our results raise the possibility that IGF-II, as well as IGF-I, is involved in the control of osteogenesis.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Development of mupirocin resistance among methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus after widespread use of nasal mupirocin ointment.

All methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains isolated from colonized or infected patients in a 625-bed public teaching hospital during an epidemic, and for 3 years thereafter, underwent susceptibility testing to mupirocin. Mupirocin resistance among MRSA increased markedly over this period (1990, 2.7%; 1991, 8.0%; 1992, 61.5%; 1993, 65%) in association with increased use of mupirocin ointment as an adjunct to infection control measures.

Administration, Intranasal↗
PubMed1996

Monoclonal antibody to thyroid transcription factor-1: production, characterization, and usefulness in tumor diagnosis.

Thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1), a member of the NKx2 family of homeodomain transcription factors, is expressed in epithelial cells of the thyroid gland and the lung. To produce monoclonal antibodies specific for TTF-1, the polypeptide was expressed in E. coli and purified utilizing affinity chromatography of a polyhistidine-tagged TTF-1 fusion protein. Splenocytes from BALB/c mice immunized with recombinant TTF-1 were fused with P3x/63Ag8.653 myeloma cells to produce hybridomas. Tissue culture supernatant was screened for anti TTF-1 activity by ELISA employing recombinant TTF-1 as antigen. Hybridomas producing high-affinity antibodies were subcloned by limiting dilution. Antibodies from tissue culture fluid from an IgG1 clone (8G7G3/1) that stained the nuclei of paraffin-embedded human thyroid tissues were precipitation-purified and further characterized. The antibody stained a single 40-kDa polypeptide in immunoblots of nuclear extracts or lysates of cell lines known to express TTF-1 mRNA. MAb 8G7G3/1 also stained nuclei of tissue in a highly specific manner consistent with the pattern of expression obtained with an established polyclonal TTF-1 antibody and by in situ hybridization. MAb 8G7G3/1 was used for TTF-1 immunohistochemistry of human adenocarcinomas of the lung, colon, and breast as well as small cell carcinomas of the lung. TTF-1 was detected in primary lung adenocarcinomas and small cell carcinomas and was absent in colon and breast carcinomas. These findings demonstrate that anti-TTF-1 MAb 8G7G3/1 specifically binds TTF-1 in cell extracts and tissues and can be used to distinguish between lung and nonlung origin of a tumor.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1996

cDNA cloning and chromosome mapping of the human Fe65 gene: interaction of the conserved cytoplasmic domains of the human beta-amyloid precursor protein and its homologues with the mouse Fe65 protein.

Using the yeast two hybrid system, a mouse embryo cDNA library was screened for proteins that interact with the C-terminus of the human beta-amyloid precursor protein (beta PP). A fusion protein was identified that interacts specifically with the cytoplasmic domain of beta PP and does not interact with the beta-amyloid region. The protein encoded by this partial mouse cDNA is identical to the C-terminus of the rat Fe65 protein. This mouse protein also interacts with the homologous C-terminal domains of the mouse amyloid precursor-like proteins, APLP1 and APLP2. These conserved cytoplasmic regions contain a common amino acid motif, Asn-Pro-Thr-Tyr, which has previously been shown to influence both the secretion and internalization of beta PP. Fe65 has been implicated in regulatory and cell signaling mechanisms because it contains two different motifs involved in protein binding, a WW domain (a variant of Src homology 3 domains) and a phosphotyrosine interaction domain (PID). Interestingly, the PID domain binds to the same motif present in the conserved cytoplasmic domains of the beta PP and beta PP-like proteins. RNA analyses reveal that Fe65 is predominantly expressed in brain and in the regions most affected by Alzheimer's disease (AD)-associated neuropathology. The human Fe65 mRNA was cloned from a fetal brain cDNA library. The message encodes a protein of 735 amino acids that is 95% identical to the rat Fe65 protein. The human Fe65 gene was mapped on human metaphase chromosomes to band 11p15 using fluorescence in situ hybridization.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Plasma membrane phosphotyrosine, Her2-NEU, and epidermal growth factor receptor in human breast cancer. A comparative study.

Experimental therapeutic regimens for breast cancer include strategies to block the activity of specific oncogenes. Because oncogenesis is a multistep process, specific oncogenes may drive tumor production at one stage yet not function in another. Since the effectiveness of therapy targeted against oncogenes depends on their function in the tumor, correlation of oncogene function to specific stages of tumor development has therapeutic implications. Among the oncogenes known to be important in breast cancer production are two cell surface growth factor receptors, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and Her2-NEU (NEU). These proteins are receptor tyrosine kinases that autophosphorylate specific tyrosine residues on activation. The oncogenic potential of these receptors depends on this autophosphorylation. We examined 86 primary formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded breast tumors for overexpression of EGFR and NEU and correlated our findings with the presence of cell surface phosphotyrosine as an indicator of tyrosine kinase activity at the plasma membrane. Our data indicate that only 34% of tumors that overexpress EGFR or NEU show plasma membrane phosphotyrosine, indicating that in the majority of these tumors, the overexpressed oncogene may not be active at this stage.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1996

The treatment of the splitting nail with phenol alcohol partial nail matricectomy.

BACKGROUND: Split nails are a common problem originating in focal thinning of the nail matrix. OBJECTIVE: To determine if cosmetically acceptable results could be achieved utilizing phenol alcohol partial nail matricectomy in patients with split nails. METHODS: After proper anesthesia, the nail lateral to the split is avulsed followed by destruction of the corresponding portion of the nail matrix to prevent the avulsed nail from regrowing. RESULTS: Phenol alcohol partial nail matricectomy has proven to be a simple, effective, reproducible treatment with excellent cosmetic results for laterally located split nails. CONCLUSION: A simple nail procedure, widely used for ingrown nails, can be easily adapted for the definitive treatment of split nails.

Alcohols↗