Stable or seral? Fire-driven alternative states in aspen forests of western North America.

As important centres for biological diversity, aspen forests are essential to the function and aesthetics of montane ecosystems in western North America. Aspen stands are maintained by a nuanced relationship with wildfire, although in recent decades aspen mortality has increased. The need to understand the baseline environmental conditions that favour aspen is clear; however, long-term fire history reconstructions are rare due to the scarcity of natural archives in dry montane settings.

Limber Pine (Pinus flexilis James), a Flexible Generalist of Forest Communities in the Intermountain West.

As forest communities continue to experience interactions between climate change and shifting disturbance regimes, there is an increased need to link ecological understanding to applied management. Limber pine (Pinus flexilis James.), an understudied species of western North America, has been documented to dominate harsh environments and thought to be competitively excluded from mesic environments.

Safety of antiadhesion barriers in hand surgery.

Introduction: Adhesions are a major cause of complications and need for repeat surgery in the hand and wrist. They are indication for tenolysis and cause prolonged need for therapy and inability to regain full hand motion. Minimizing adhesions in the hand and wrist would greatly improve surgery, by decreasing cost as well as improved outcome and postoperative function.

Surgical outcomes of gigantomastia breast reduction superomedial pedicle technique: a 12-year retrospective study.

Introduction: Reduction mammoplasty in patients with gigantomastia can prove a challenge for the plastic surgeon. Although several techniques have been described to reduce these very large breasts, they can often result in compromise of the nipple-areola complex (NAC), including necrosis, decreased sensation, and inability to breastfeed. The superomedial pedicle (SMP) reduction mammoplasty technique has been demonstrated as a safe and effective method of reduction in cases of mild to moderate hypertrophy.

Mastectomy with breast reconstruction in previously augmented patients: indications for implant removal.

Surgeons performing breast reconstruction in previously augmented patients can either leave the preexisting implant in place and incorporate the implant into the reconstruction, or remove the implant, usually performing an implant exchange. The focus of this study is to identify indications for implant removal in previously augmented patients undergoing mastectomy with breast reconstruction. We performed a retrospective chart review of patients who underwent breast reconstruction from 1997-2007 at University of Alabama, Birmingham Medical Center.

Use of radial artery perforator flap from burn-injured tissues.

The hands and forearms are frequent sites of burn injury, and due to the high concentration of superficial tendons, bones, and joints, flaps are frequently needed to cover defects in these areas. We present a patient who suffered remote electrical injury to the right forearm which later developed into an open wound with exposed tendon. Successful coverage of this defect was accomplished with an islanded fasciocutaneous flap based on perforating arterial branches of the radial artery, which was harvested from an area of burn injury.

Free flap failure secondary to dual thrombophilia.

Much has been learned over the past several decades regarding thrombophilic conditions. Thrombotic complications, such as deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolus, myocardial infarction, and stroke, are sometimes attributed to a diagnosable thrombophilia. Less has been written with regard to their effect on reconstructive outcomes.

Radiation injury and the hand surgeon.

The human hand has been affected by ionizing radiation accidents than any other organ. Hand surgeons should understand the pathophysiology and appropriate management of various types of radiation injury. This article outlines the history and epidemiology of ionizing radiation injury to the hand, basic aspects of radiobiology, and principles of management for injury resulting from fluoroscopy, nuclear accidents or weapons, and other sources.

Athletic pubalgia: definition and surgical treatment.

Introduction: Athletic pubalgia, or "sports hernia," affects people actively engaged in sports. Previously described in high-performance athletes, it can occur in recreational athletes. It presents with inguinal pain exacerbated with physical activity.

Comorbidity trends in patients requiring sternectomy and reconstruction.

Introduction: The predisposing risk factors for sternal wound infection have been well delineated. However, the indications and comorbidity of patients who require cardiac surgery via the median sternotomy approach have changed over time and subsequently have changed the patient population presenting with sternal wound complications. These trends in cardiac surgery may require an adjustment of the plastic surgical approach and methods to optimize outcomes in the patient population.

Diversity, complexity and interactions: an overview of Rocky Mountain forest ecosystems.

This overview of Rocky Mountain forest ecosystems characterizes some of the major types, processes and management issues in the region. There are large ranges in edaphic conditions and striking environmental gradients, all interacting to influence the distribution of species, the nature of communities and disturbance regimes. The discussion focuses on the central role of disturbance and how understanding disturbance regimes influences the search for effective approaches to stewardship.

Sapwood area ofPinus contorta stands as a function of mean size and density.

An indirect test of the relationship between leaf area and the combination of mean size and density is made in stands of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl.). Total sapwood cross-sectional area of these stands is a function of the product of density and mean diameter raised to an exponent of about 1.