An ideal method for pressure sore reconstruction: a freestyle perforator-based flap.

Background: Pressure sore reconstruction is quite difficult for plastic surgeons because of long-term high recurrence rates. We designed a freestyle perforator-based flap for pressure sore reconstruction considering pressure sore recurrence and further reconstruction.

Methods: We used a handheld Doppler device to locate a perforator position just adjacent to the pressure ulcer.

Reconstruction of the hypopharynx with the anterolateral thigh flap: defect classification, method, tips, and outcomes.

Background: The authors retrospectively reviewed their experience over the past 5 years with reconstructions of hypopharyngeal defects using anterolateral thigh flaps. The purpose of the study was to present a modified classification of defects, the method and tips used, and outcomes and morbidities.

Methods: From 2002 to 2007, 55 anterolateral thigh flaps were harvested for reconstruction of hypopharyngeal defects after tumor ablation in 54 patients.

Maternal psychosocial factors around delivery, and the behavior of 2-year-old children.

Background: The objectives of the present study were to explore whether maternal psychosocial factors, mental health and work stress around delivery, are related to the behavior of 2-year-old children.

Methods: In a prospective cohort study design, pregnant women attending the National Taiwan University Hospital for delivery and post-partum care from April 2004 to January 2005 were recruited and their children were observed at 24 months. A total of 186 mother-term-born child dyads completed the measurement.

Electrically switchable liquid crystal Fresnel lens using UV-modified alignment film.

A simple method to make a switchable liquid crystal (LC) Fresnel lens with high diffraction efficiency and a low driving voltage was proposed based on the photo-induced surface modification of the vertical alignment layer. UV illumination alters the pretilt angle of alignment layers, a Fresnel zone-distribution hybrid alignment in the homeotropic LC cell can be straightforwardly achieved through UV exposure, yielding a concentric structure of the Fresnel phase LC lens. A remarkable diffraction efficiency of ~31.

High-performance DDFS design using the equi-section division method.

In this paper, an equi-section division method utilizing the symmetry property and amplitude approximation of a sinusoidal waveform to design a direct digital frequency synthesizer (DDFS) is proposed. The sinusoidal phase of a one-quarter period is divided into equi-sections. The error value between each line segment value and the sinusoidal amplitude value is stored in a read-only memory (ROM) to reconstruct the real sinusoidal waveform.

Noninvasive capnometry for end-tidal carbon dioxide monitoring via nasal cannula in nonintubated neonates.

Background: Arterial blood gas analysis is the gold standard for assessing the adequacy of ventilation. However, arterial blood sampling may be associated with serious complications in neonates. The aim of the study was to utilize the side-stream capnometry measurement of end-tidal carbon dioxide (PetCO₂) via nasal cannula circuits and to verify the reliability of PetCO₂ in reflecting the arterial blood carbon dioxide(PaCO₂) level in nonintubated neonates.

Far-infrared radiation promotes angiogenesis in human microvascular endothelial cells via extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation.

This study was designed to determine the in vitro angiogenic ability of far-infrared (FIR) radiation in the skin-derived cultured human microvascular endothelial cells and to elucidate the role of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in this process. The results revealed that FIR radiation from a WS(TM) TY301 FIR emitter activated p38 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), but not Akt or c-Jun N-terminal protein kinases (JNK), and significantly promoted angiogenesis by increasing tube formation in Matrigel and the migration of cells across an eight micron polyester filter. The addition of 50 μM PD98059, a MEK inhibitor, significantly inhibited the activation of ERK and the enhanced angiogenesis; in contrast, the inhibition of p38 phosphorylation did not inhibit the enhanced angiogenesis.

Preschool psychopathology reported by parents in 23 societies: testing the seven-syndrome model of the child behavior checklist for ages 1.5-5.

Objective: To test the fit of a seven-syndrome model to ratings of preschoolers' problems by parents in very diverse societies.

Method: Parents of 19,106 children 18 to 71 months of age from 23 societies in Asia, Australasia, Europe, the Middle East, and South America completed the Child Behavior Checklist for Ages 1.5-5 (CBCL/1.

Serial measurements of serum alkaline phosphatase for early prediction of osteopaenia in preterm infants.

Aim: Osteopaenia commonly occurs in preterm infants; however, its diagnosis is often delayed when based on radiological findings. The aim of this study was to examine whether serial measurements of bone turnover markers are useful for early prediction of osteopaenia in preterm infants.

Methods: Premature infants of ≤ 34 weeks gestation were enrolled.

A reliable parameter for primary closure of the free anterolateral thigh flap donor site.

Background: Primary closure of the donor site after flap harvest is key to achieving a satisfactory result. The authors investigated the width of the harvested anterolateral thigh flap allowing primary closure of the donor site.

Methods: Sixty-five consecutive patients undergoing reconstructive procedures using anterolateral thigh flaps were divided into two groups: group A, primary closure of the donor site; and group B, donor site covered with split-thickness skin graft.

Maternal psychosocial factors around delivery on development of 2-year-old children: A prospective cohort study.

Aim: To explore whether maternal psychosocial factors around delivery are related to development of 2-year-old children.

Methods: Pregnant women going to the hospital for delivery were recruited, and their children were observed at 24 months. A total of 186 mother-child dyads completed the measurement.

Involvement of the p38 pathway in the differential induction of heme oxygenase-1 by statins in Neuro-2A cells exposed to lipopolysaccharide.

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression, in response to various stimuli, has been generally reported to protect against cellular stress. However, we previously demonstrated simvastatin-induced HO-1-exaggerated nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-κβ) activation and superoxide production on exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The addition of the iron chelator, desferrioxamine, to reduce the accumulation of ferric iron from heme by HO-1 resulted in a blockade of aggravated superoxide production.

Cholesteric liquid crystal devices with nanoparticle aggregation.

A broadband cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) device with a multi-domain structure is demonstrated by using an aggregation of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) nanoparticles in the CLC layer. The aggregation pattern of the self-assembled POSS nanoparticles depends on the concentration of POSS doped in the mixture of POSS/CLC and the cooling rate of the mixture from a temperature higher than the clear point. POSS-induced changes in the bulk and surface properties of the cholesteric cells, such as a promotion of homeotropic alignment, help to form a cholesteric structure with a broadband reflection of light; the latter can be used for improvement of bistable CLC devices.

Microsurgical replantation and salvage procedures in traumatic ear amputation.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to present our experience with patients who underwent traumatic ear amputation.

Methods: Between January 1988 and April 2002, 10 patients sustained ear amputations. Of these, six patients underwent microvascular replantation (arterial anastomosis only and arterial and venous anastomosis in three patients each), and replantation was attempted in one patient.

CYP1A1 modifies the effect of maternal exposure to environmental tobacco smoke on child behavior.

Introduction: Maternal environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) has been identified as a key risk factor for problem behavior in children, but the role of genetic susceptibility is not clear. The purpose of this study was to examine the metabolic genetic modification effect of exposure to ETS in nonsmoking mothers on child behavior at 2 years of age.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted among 191 mothers who gave births between 2004 and 2005 and their infants in Taiwan.

Antegrade anterolateral thigh perforator flap advancement for soft-tissue reconstruction of the knee: case report.

Reconstruction of soft-tissue defects of the knee has always been a challenging task to the plastic surgeon. In some cases, local or regional flaps are too small or have limited arc of rotation for adequate coverage. Free flaps can be technically demanding and time consuming.

Nanoparticle-doped polyimide for controlling the pretilt angle of liquid crystals devices.

The pretilt angles of liquid crystal molecules can be controlled by using conventional polyimide (PI) alignment material doped with different concentrations of Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsequioxanes (POSS) nanoparticles, which have been observed to spontaneously induce vertical alignment. The addition of POSS in the homogenous PI changes the surface energy of the alignment layer and generates a variable pretilt angle. Experimental results demonstrate that the pretilt angle thetap is a function of the POSS concentration, and can be tuned continuously over the range of 0 degrees View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Entrapment neuropathy results in different microRNA expression patterns from denervation injury in rats.

Background: To compare the microRNA (miRNA) expression profiles in neurons and innervated muscles after sciatic nerve entrapment using a non-constrictive silastic tube, subsequent surgical decompression, and denervation injury.

Methods: The experimental L4-L6 spinal segments, dorsal root ganglia (DRGs), and soleus muscles from each experimental group (sham control, denervation, entrapment, and decompression) were analyzed using an Agilent rat miRNA array to detect dysregulated miRNAs. In addition, muscle-specific miRNAs (miR-1, -133a, and -206) and selectively upregulated miRNAs were subsequently quantified using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (real-time RT-PCR).

Altered expression of the microRNAS and their potential target genes in the soleus muscle after peripheral denervation and reinnervation in rats.

Background: To profile the expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) and their potential target genes in the soleus muscles after denervation and reinnervation of the sciatic nerve in rats.

Materials And Methods: The 4 months denervated and reinnervated soleus muscles were analyzed with Agilent Rat miRNA array to detect the expressed miRNAs against those from the sham control. These differentially expressed miRNAs were applied for hierarchical cluster analysis using average linkage and Pearson correlation as a measure of similarity.

Management of congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation and bronchopulmonary sequestration in newborns.

Background: Congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation (CCAM) and bronchopulmonary sequestration (BPS) are major embryonic pulmonary developmental anomalies. Early surgical excision is becoming an increasingly common option. We investigated the clinical features and management of patients with CCAM and BPS at the National Taiwan University Hospital.

Functional outcomes of patients with advanced pyriform sinus cancer treated with extended near-total laryngopharyngectomy and free fasciocutaneous flap reconstruction.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the functional results in patients with advanced pyriform sinus cancer treated with extended near-total laryngopharyngectomy (ENTLP) and free fasciocutaneous flap reconstruction. We reviewed the medical records of patients with pyriform sinus cancer who were treated at Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, a tertiary medical center in Taiwan, between June 1998 and December 2008. This retrospective study enrolled the patients who had a stage III or IV pyriform sinus cancer and was surgically treated with ENTLP and free fasciocutaneous flap reconstruction.

MicroRNA profiling in ischemic injury of the gracilis muscle in rats.

Background: To profile the expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) and their potential target genes in the gracilis muscles following ischemic injury in rats by monitoring miRNA and mRNA expression on a genome-wide basis.

Methods: Following 4 h of ischemia and subsequent reperfusion for 4 h of the gracilis muscles, the specimens were analyzed with an Agilent rat miRNA array to detect the expressed miRNAs in the experimental muscles compared to those from the sham-operated controls. Their expressions were subsequently quantified by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (real-time RT-PCR) to determine their expression pattern after different durations of ischemia and reperfusion.

EEG-based emotion recognition in music listening.

Ongoing brain activity can be recorded as electroencephalograph (EEG) to discover the links between emotional states and brain activity. This study applied machine-learning algorithms to categorize EEG dynamics according to subject self-reported emotional states during music listening. A framework was proposed to optimize EEG-based emotion recognition by systematically 1) seeking emotion-specific EEG features and 2) exploring the efficacy of the classifiers.

Free fibula osteocutaneous flap with soleus muscle as a chimeric flap for reconstructing mandibular segmental defect after oral cancer ablation.

In some cases, the fibula osteocutaneous flap may not provide sufficient soft tissue for obliterating dead space after tumor ablation. This report describes a modified fibula osteocutaneous flap using a portion of soleus muscle to reduce postoperative complications. This study analyzed 20 patients who underwent ablative oral cancer surgery with mandibular segmental defect between September 2005 and June 2007.

Evaluation of the ankle function following reconstruction of the donor defect with a split fibular bone after a vascularized fibular flap transfer.

Introduction: To validate the hypothesis that the reconstruction of the missing segment of the fibula using a redundant split fibular graft after a vascularized fibular flap transfer may have a better effect on ankle function.

Materials And Methods: Of the 24 head and neck cancer patients who received a free fibula flap for mandible reconstruction, 14 patients underwent the conventional method of donor site closure, in which the redundant fibular bone was discarded (Group I). Ten patients underwent longitudinal osteotomy of the redundant non-vascularized fibular portion to bridge the donor site defect (Group II).