Publications by authors named "Renee Helmers"

Background: Late side effects of radiotherapy in patients with head and neck cancer (HNCPs) result in decreased tissue vascularity, a compromised healing capacity and spontaneous breakdown of tissue. The aim of this study was to examine the in vivo effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) on the microcirculation in irradiated oral tissue.

Methods: Using a handheld microscope, the effect of HBOT on oral mucosal microcirculation parameters was measured in 34 previously irradiated HNCPs prior to HBOT and at 4 weeks and 6 months posttreatment.

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Isolated fractures of the anterior wall of the frontal sinus are most often treated through a coronal approach. Although the coronal approach is a relatively easy procedure, the size of the incision is causing more problems related to patient morbidity and recovery time than smaller approaches. A novel, minimal invasive procedure for reconstruction of the anterior wall fracture of the frontal sinus is presented in this article.

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Purpose: To determine the clinical feasibility of examining and measuring late irradiation changes in the oral microcirculation of head and neck (HN) cancer patients using the novel CytoCam video microscope system.

Methods And Materials: In 30 HN cancer patients and 30 age-matched controls, bilateral video images were recorded noninvasively of the oral microcirculation of the buccal mucosa and mandibular gingiva. Tissue perfusion parameters, such as functional capillary density (FCD), buccal blood vessel diameter, and microcirculatory flow index, were analyzed.

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Hyperoxia and hyperbaric oxygen therapy can restore oxygen tensions in tissues distressed by ischemic injury and poor vascularization and is believed to also yield angiogenesis and regulate tissue perfusion. The aim of this study was to develop a model in which hyperoxia-driven microvascular changes could be quantified and to test the hypothesis that microcirculatory responses to both normobaric (NB) and hyperbaric (HB) hyperoxic maneuvers are reversible. Sublingual mucosa microcirculation vessel density, proportion of perfused vessels, vessel diameters, microvascular flow index, macrohemodynamic, and blood gas parameters were examined in male rabbits breathing sequential O2/air mixtures of 21%, 55%, 100%, and return to 21% during NB (1.

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Background: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is thought to promote vascular regeneration in wounds. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of HBOT in advancing vascular regeneration in healing oral mucosal surgical flaps.

Methods: A palatine partial-thickness mucosal flap was raised in 10 male-specific pathogen-free New Zealand White rabbits.

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