Polysaccharides extracted from Ulva pertusa Kjellm (Chlorophyta) are a group of sulfated heteropolysaccharides, the ulvans. In this study, different molecular weight ulvans were prepared by H 2 O 2 degradation and their antioxidant activities investigated including superoxide and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, reducing power and metal chelating ability. The molecular weights of natural and degraded ulvans were 151.7, 64.5, 58.0, and 28.2 kDa, respectively, as determined by high performance gel permeation chromatography. Among the four samples, U 3 (the lowest molecular weight sample) showed significant inhibitory effects on superoxide and hydroxyl radicals with IC 50 values of 22.1 μg mL −1 and 2.8 mg mL −1 ; its reducing power and metal chelating ability were also the strongest among the four samples. All the other samples also demonstrated strong activity against superoxide radicals. The results indicated that molecular weight had a significant effect on the antioxidant activity of ulvan with low molecular weight ulvan having stronger antioxidant activity.Abbreviations: U, polysaccharide extracted from U. pertusa (ulvan, Mw, 151.7 kDa); U 1 , degraded ulvan of molecular weight 64.5 kDa; U 2 , degraded ulvan of molecular weight 58.0 kDa; U 3 , degraded ulvan of molecular weight 28.2 kDa; NBT, nitro blue tetrazolium; PMS, phenazine methosulfate; NADH, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotidereduced; EDTA, ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid; TCA, trichloroacetic acid; TBA, thiobarbituric acid; DR, deoxyribose; HPGPC, high performance gel permeation chromatography; GC, gas liquid chromatography.

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The aesthetic surgeon may occasionally be consulted by a patient who wishes to discuss what can be done for the scars of self-inflicted wounds on the forearms. These scars are popularly referred to as "hesitation marks" or "suicide gestures." Unlike patients suffering from factitial ulcers or Münchhausen syndrome, these patients will admit to the physician that the scars are the result of self-inflicted wounds. These scars often consist of multiple, parallel, white lines extending up and down the forearms (usually volar surface), with more on the nondominant side. Although the pattern of these scars is apparently what drives these patients to the aesthetic surgeon for relief (because even lay people identify these scars as self-inflicted suicide marks), the authors propose a new and deeper motivation for surgery. Recent experiences with three of these patients resulted in an epiphany that prompted this report. Once the symbolic meaning of these scars was broached, a torrent of thoughts and theories followed. This article will recount these three cases and present a central thesis for this type of self-inflicted injury. A proposal for the proper surgical treatment of this condition will be offered. Uniquely, two of the patients will relate their own stories and propose guidelines and warnings for the aesthetic surgeon.