Demystifying Small Concha-type Microtia: Advancements in Classification and Surgical Approach.

The accurate identification of microtia type is foundational to preoperative planning and intraoperative strategies for auricular reconstruction using an autologous costal cartilage framework. Although the repair of lobule type microtia has similarities to that of small concha-type, the latter has specific nuances that must be considered to optimize functional and aesthetic outcomes. The article describes the senior author's advancements in repair of all microtia types: use of an "auricular rectangle" to determine ideal ear placement, W-flap manipulation for vestige transposition, and skin trimming.

Differential effect of zoledronic acid on human vascular smooth muscle cells.

Introduction: The activation of human vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation, adhesion and migration is essential for intimal hyperplasia formation. These experiments were designed to test whether zoledronic acid (ZA) would modulate indices of human smooth muscle cell activation, exert differential effects on proliferating versus quiescent cells, and determine whether these effects were dependent on GTPase binding proteins prenylation. ZA was chosen for testing in these experiments because it is clinically used in humans with cancer, and has been shown to modulate rat smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration.