An atlas of gene expression and gene co-regulation in the human retina.

The human retina is a specialized tissue involved in light stimulus transduction. Despite its unique biology, an accurate reference transcriptome is still missing. Here, we performed gene expression analysis (RNA-seq) of 50 retinal samples from non-visually impaired post-mortem donors.

Salvage for pectoralis major myocutaneous flap failure in head and neck reconstruction by microvascular flap.

The pectoralis major myocutaneous pedicled flap (PMMPF) - the "workhorse" for head and neck reconstruction - is associated with a high incidence of complications in certain cases. This study presents free tissue transfer as an alternative salvage technique after PMMPF failure in head and neck reconstruction. It includes seven consecutive patients who underwent free tissue salvage after PMMPF failure in head and neck reconstruction from January 2008 to September 2010 at Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Taiwan.

Free flap reconstruction in patients with advanced oral squamous cell carcinoma: analysis of patient survival and cancer recurrence.

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare the initial conditions and treatment outcomes of patients with advanced stage IV oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) treated with or without free flap reconstruction following ablative tumor resection.

Methods: Two hundred forty-two pathological stage IV OSCC patients (without distant metastasis) treated by tumor ablation with free flap reconstruction (Group 1; n = 93) or without free flap reconstruction (Group 2; n = 149 treated with split-thickness skin grafts, primary closure of defects, secondary granulation of defects, and local or regional flaps) were recruited. We compared patient survival and cancer recurrence rates between these two groups.

Medial epicanthoplasty based on anatomic variations.

The presence of epicanthal folds is a unique appearance in the eyelids of Asians. Various medial epicanthoplasty techniques have been discussed to achieve a better aesthetic result. Owing to the complexity of the surgery, a design based on anatomic variations of the epicanthal fold is imperative.

Ocular surface area changes after double eyelidplasty.

Introduction: Double eyelidplasty is one of the most common cosmetic surgeries in Asia. Subjective enlargement of the ocular surface area (OSA) after double eyelidplasty was appreciated by patients. Objective measurement of the OSA provides a more scientific result.

Free medial plantar artery perforator flaps for the resurfacing of thumb defects.

Background: Destruction of the thumb secondary to trauma presents a much more significant influence on daily living than do injuries to the other digits. Various surgical techniques contribute to repair distal defects of the fingers, especially thumb reconstruction.

Methods: Seven patients received free medial plantar artery perforator (MPAP) flaps to resurface the palmar defects of their thumbs.

Alternative reconstruction of donor defect of free radial forearm flap in head and neck cancer.

We report our method of restoration of the radial artery in the use of the anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap to overcome the important drawback of sacrificing the radial artery in cases of free radial forearm flap (FRFF), which is indicated for reconstruction of the tongue and other intraoral defects. There were 12 patients in our series, but only seven completed their postoperative evaluations. We harvested FRFF and ALT flaps simultaneously.

Free medial plantar artery perforator flap for finger pulp reconstruction: report of a series of 10 cases.

Purpose: Treatment of composite tissue loss in the finger pulp is often difficult. The purpose of this report is to present our experience on using medial plantar artery perforator flap for repair of finger pulp defects and to restore fingertip sensation after traumatic injury.

Patients And Methods: The free medial plantar artery perforator (MPAP) flaps were performed for digital pulp reconstruction in ten patients (eight fingertips and two thumbtips) between June, 2006 and December, 2007.

Free flap options for reconstruction of complicated scalp and calvarial defects: report of a series of cases and literature review.

Objective: The advent of free tissue transfer has offered several options that allow the restoration of both the structural and functional defects of the scalp and calvaria caused by malignant tumors or sequelae after trauma. This study aims to investigate the free flap options for complicated scalp and calvarial reconstructions.

Methods: There were 12 free tissue transfers used to reconstruct scalp and calvarial defects in this study, with nine acute or subacute wounds resulting from trauma or cranietomy, two congenital hydrocephalus post ventriculo-peritoneal shunting and one primary cancer.

A dynamic technique for the treatment of severe or recurrent blepharoptosis: frontalis-orbicularis oculi muscle flap shortening.

Background: Severe or recurrent blepharoptosis remains a great challenge to most plastic surgeons. A variety of techniques have been developed according to the function of the levator palpebrae superioris and frontalis muscles. In this study, the frontalis-orbicularis oculi (FOO) muscle flap is designed as an entity to treat severe or recurrent blepharoptosis with satisfactory results.

Downregulation of Janus kinase 3 expression by small interfering RNA in rat composite tissue allotransplantation.

RNA interference (RNAi) has recently emerged as an efficient method to silence gene expression in mammalian cells by transfection of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). The Janus kinase 3 (JAK3) is also pertinent to the development of a new immuno-suppressant. This study aimed to inhibit JAK3 expression using RNAi to determine allograft tolerance.

Contour refinements of free flaps for optimal outcome in oral reconstruction: combination of modified liposuction technique and w-plasty in one-stage procedure.

Background: Bulkiness and unsightly scarring are the major complaints after oral cancer reconstruction with free flap transfer. Some debulking procedures, such as blunt-tipped cannula liposuction or staged excision, can result in some improvement, but these methods do not provide a one-stage procedure for flap thinning and scar revision due to the concern of flap ischemic change. All suction lipectomy methods were applied on flap resurfacing cases; no through-and-through defect case was used.

A new trend for the treatment of blepharoptosis: frontalis-orbicularis oculi muscle flap shortening technique.

Operation techniques for blepharoptosis have been a great challenge for plastic surgeons. Complications and recurrence in conventional operations of eyelid ptosis cannot be neglected. The finding of the close linkage between the longitudinal-oriented frontalis muscle (FM) and the horizontal-orientated orbicularis oculi (OOM) muscle convinced us of the efficacy to develop the dynamic and powerful Frontalis-Orbicularis Oculi Muscle (FOOM) flap-shortening technique which corrects blepharoptosis with good biomechanics in place of the traditional frontalis muscle sling.

Forehead osteoma excision by endoscopic approach.

Six cases of frontal osteoma had been operated with assistance of endoscopic surgery. Patient age ranged from 34 to 59 years. The diameter of the masses varies from 8 to 14 mm.

Refinement of reverse digital arterial flap for finger defects: surgical technique.

We have designed a refinement of the reverse digital artery flap technique for soft-tissue defects on the dorsum of the fingers. In contrast with the traditional reverse digital artery flap it reduces the morbidity at the donor site and increases the ease and availability of resurfacing the defect. We suggest it is an alternative for the resurfacing of finger defects, especially over the dorsum.