Potential of the Thoracoepigastric Vein as a Drainage Vein in Breast Reconstruction With a Free Flap: An Anatomical Study Using Computed Tomography.

Background: The recipient vessel choice is very important when performing free-flap breast reconstructions. Usually, the concomitant vein of the recipient artery is anastomosed, and mismatches in the diameter are occasionally observed. We consider the thoracoepigastric vein (TEV) as a potential useful recipient vein.

Long-term results of nail correction with double wires for pincer nail deformity: A retrospective cohort study.

There is no consensus on the best treatment for pincer nail deformity. We developed a novel procedure that uses double wires to treat pincer nail deformity on the great toe. This study aimed to describe this technique for pincer nail deformity treatment and present the long-term findings/observations.

Treatment of Ecchymosis with a Pulsed Dye Laser.

Ecchymosis is a common side effect after injury and surgery. A pulsed dye laser (PDL) is the gold standard for vascular lesions and can minimize ecchymosis. Heating induces hemoglobin modification due to oxidative and heat reactions with the formation of bilirubin and methemoglobin, resulting in color changes to brown-yellow.

Aberrant Water Structure Dynamics in B16 Melanoma-Bearing Mice by Time Domain Refractometry Analysis.

Living bodies comprise approximately 55-75% water to maintain homeostasis. However, little is known about the comprehensive differences in in vivo water molecule dynamics (water structure dynamics; WSD) between physiological and pathophysiological statuses. Here, we examined the WSD of ex vivo tumor tissues and organs from tumor-bearing mice with engrafted mouse malignant melanoma cells (B16-F10) in the right flanks to compare with those in healthy mice, using time domain reflectometry of dielectric spectroscopy at days 9, 11, and 14 after engrafting.

Prospective comparison study of a 550 picosecond 755 nm laser vs a 50 ns 755 nm laser in the treatment of nevus of Ota.

Since the introduction of selective photothermolysis, Q-switched nanosecond lasers have been used for the treatment of dermal pigmented lesions. Over the past several years, picosecond lasers have been introduced to the cosmetic community. We recently performed a study comparing a 550 picosecond 755 nm laser versus a 50 ns 755 nm laser, with the purpose of evaluating the clinical efficacy and complications of each laser when treating nevus of Ota.

Mechanism of crescent-shaped and ring-shaped epidermal damage from laser hair removal with cryogen spray cooling.

The safety and efficacy of laser hair removal have been well established through many clinical studies and through clinical use over the past 25 years. A laser hair removal device that protects the epidermis by utilizing cryogen spray cooling (CSC) is widely used internationally. In darker skin types, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) can occur after laser hair removal.

Accelerated human epidermal turnover driven by increased hyaluronan production.

Background: Hyaluronan (HA) is an essential component of extracellular matrix in the skin, but its functions in the epidermis remain elusive.

Objective: We examined the interaction of increased HA production mediated by 1-ethyl-β-N-acetylglucosaminide (β-NAG2), a newly developed highly selective inducer of HA production which is intracellularly converted to UDP-N-acetylglucosamine, a substrate of HA, with epidermal proliferation and differentiation.

Methods: The amount, molecular size and epidermal tissue distribution of HA and expression of CD44, a cell surface receptor for HA, were analyzed in β-NAG2-treated organ cultured human skin, reconstructed human skin equivalents or cultured human skin keratinocytes.

Prospective Comparison Study of 532/1064 nm Picosecond Laser vs 532/1064 nm Nanosecond Laser in the Treatment of Professional Tattoos in Asians.

Background And Aims: Although, the pulse width should be shorter than the thermal relaxation time of the target, nanosecond laser pulses are not short enough for tattoo removal. Complications are common, such as hyper or hypopigmentation, textural changes, and scarring. Moreover, patients with darker skin types are at a higher risk of complications from tattoo removal using these lasers.

Myxofibrosarcoma that Developed Rapidly in the Breast of an Elderly Man and Recurred Early after Surgery: A Case Report.

Background: Myxofibrosarcoma is a rare disease occurring subcutaneously in the limbs. We report a case of a rapidly growing myxofibrosarcoma in the breast of an elderly man that recurred early after surgery.

Case Presentation: A 73-year-old man presented with a breast mass.

Pyoderma Gangrenosum after Breast Mastectomy and Primary Rectus Abdominis Flap Reconstruction.

Pyoderma gangrenosum is an intractable disease of unknown cause involving recurrent ulcerative lesions on the skin, and may accompany ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, leukemia, systemic lupus erythematosus, and other conditions. Here, we report a rare case of pyoderma gangrenosum in the thoracic abdomen following post-mastectomy reconstructive surgery. A 39-year-old presented at the hospital with a complaint of left papilla erosion.

Theoretical review of the treatment of pigmented lesions in Asian skin.

Asian skin has a higher epidermal melanin content, making it more likely to develop adverse pigmentary reactions following laser surgery. The nanosecond lasers are the gold standard for the treatment of pigmented lesions, but the risk of complications, such as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, is increased in dark-skinned patients. Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) or long-pulsed lasers are available for treating superficial pigmented lesions, and fewer complications are seen when using these devices compared to the nanosecond lasers.

A blinking periorbital prosthesis using surface electromyographic signals of the orbicularis oculi muscle.

Background: Recent advances in human-machine interface technology have enabled the development of multifunctional, primarily orthopedic myoelectric prostheses. We developed a noninvasive blinking periorbital prosthesis that can synchronize with blinking of the intact eyelid by using surface electromyographic signals of the orbicularis oculi muscle.

Methods: Myoelectric potentials of the orbicularis oculi muscle while blinking were measured with surface electrodes on the eyelid in four healthy adults.

MRI analysis of chronological changes in free-flap volume in head and neck reconstruction by volumetry.

Objective: To evaluate changes in flap volumes for head and neck cancer patients by MRI.

Methods: MRI examinations of a total of 21 head and neck cancer patients (13 males and 8 females; average age, 67 years) were performed after surgery to monitor changes in flap volumes, including muscle and fat content, using volumetric analysis of T2-weighted images at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery.

Results: Fat-to-muscle ratios of all flaps at 1 month varied (muscle/fat ratio, 0.

Autologous G-CSF-mobilized peripheral blood CD34+ cell therapy for diabetic patients with chronic nonhealing ulcer.

Recently, animal studies have demonstrated the efficacy of endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) therapy for diabetic wound healing. Based on these preclinical studies, we performed a prospective clinical trial phase I/IIa study of autologous G-CSF-mobilized peripheral blood (PB) CD34(+) cell transplantation for nonhealing diabetic foot patients. Diabetic patients with nonhealing foot ulcers were treated with 2 × 10(7) cells of G-CSF-mobilized PB CD34(+) cells as EPC-enriched population.

A case of fat injection for treating subcutaneous atrophy caused by local administration of corticosteroid.

A 42 year old female received intramuscular injection of 40 mg triamcinolone acetonide on the right upper arm for the treatment of pollen allergy at another clinic. Subcutaneous atrophy appeared at the injection site a few days after. Since there were no signs of improvement, the patient visited our clinic for further examination.

Reconstruction of wide cleft lip scar by Abbe flap and advancement flap from lateral upper lip.

Primary surgery of cleft lip and palate has dramatically improved with technical and material advances. Some adults who previously underwent surgery still have upper lip deformities or extensive scar, and they are occasionally seen for secondary treatment. We reported a case of unilateral cleft lip patient who had extensive scar involving the central 1/4 of the upper lip, with gross lip and nasal deformity.

Salvage operations of free tissue transfer following internal jugular venous thrombosis: a review of 4 cases.

The internal jugular vein (IJV) is used as the optimal recipient for free-tissue transfer in reconstruction following modified radical neck dissection. Some reports documented rare cases of flap compromise following IJV thrombosis, but large sample studies are few. We present cases of emergent exploration and an analysis of factors to improve salvage rates of compromise due to IJV thrombosis.

CdZnTe detector in mammographic x-ray spectroscopy.

A CdZnTe (CZT) detector was utilized in mammographic x-ray spectroscopy under clinical conditions. First, the detector response was investigated using y-rays from 241Am. The escape of secondary (Compton scattered and K fluorescent) x-rays and tailing due to carrier trapping were minor in the mammographic energy range.

CdZnTe detector in diagnostic x-ray spectroscopy.

A method to utilize CdZnTe (CZT) detectors in diagnostic x-ray spectroscopy is described in this article. Spectral distortion due to transmission of primary x rays, the escape of cadmium- and tellurium-K fluorescent x rays, and tailing was severe in measured x-ray spectra. Therefore, correction for the distortion was performed with the stripping method using response functions.