Divergence of species responses to climate change.

Climate change can have profound impacts on biodiversity and the sustainability of many ecosystems. Various studies have investigated the impacts of climate change, but large-scale, trait-specific impacts are less understood. We analyze abundance data over time for 86 tree species/groups across the eastern United States spanning the last three decades.

Risk Factors for Autoimmune Diseases Development After Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura.

Autoimmune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) can be associated with other autoimmune disorders, but their prevalence following autoimmune TTP remains unknown. To assess the prevalence of autoimmune disorders associated with TTP and to determine risk factors for and the time course of the development of an autoimmune disorder after a TTP episode, we performed a cross sectional study. Two-hundred sixty-one cases of autoimmune TTP were included in the French Reference Center registry between October, 2000 and May, 2009.

Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene as a microvascular graft: a study of four fibril lengths.

The utility for a prosthetic microvascular graft is well demonstrated, but previous studies have been inconclusive. Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (Gore-Tex) has been most widely tested as a prosthetic graft. Polytetrafluoroethylene is composed of transverse nodules connected by long fibrils.

Penile reconstruction with gracilis pedicle grafts.

Penile loss results from various external and self-inflicted catastrophic events. Many types of reconstructive efforts have been used successfully. Recently, bilateral pedicle grafts of the gracilis muscle have been successful and have provided serviceable results in our hands.

Total prosthetic replacement of the temporomandibular joint.

Twenty-seven patients have been operated on for total replacement of the temporomandibular joint because of ankylosis due to trauma, arthritis, neoplasm, infection, or pain. One prosthesis had to be taken out because of gross infection due to Staphylococcus albus, 2 more were removed for pain and dislocation of the prosthesis, and 1 was removed because of erosion through the skin. The remaining 23 had no complications.

Congenital arteriovenous malformation of the head and neck.

A discussion of congenital arteriovenous malformation of the head and neck based on five patients followed from three to twenty years is presented. Definition of the lesion and its progression as followed by angiography is described. The poor response to surgery is ascribed to the ischemic nature of the area of involvement.

Valvular obstruction of the nasal airway.

Valvular nasal obstruction may occur in the postoperative rhinoplasty patient. One may anticipate a dropping of the tip, from residual redundant or inelastic skin, in some older patients with long noses. Measures to correct (or avoid) this may be undertaken at the time of the primary rhinoplasty.