Surgical and demographic predictors of free flap salvage after takeback: A systematic review.

Background: Microsurgical free tissue transfer (FTT) is a widely employed surgical modality utilized for reconstruction of a broad range of defects, including head and neck, extremity, and breast. Flap survival is reported to be 90%-95%. When FTT fails, salvage procedures aim at establishing reperfusion while limiting ischemia time-with salvage rates between 22% and 67%.

Effect of Nimodipine and Botulinum Toxin A on Peripheral Nerve Regeneration in Rats: A Pilot Study.

Background: Peripheral nerve damage is a frequent problem, with an estimated 2.8%-5.0% of trauma admissions involving peripheral nerve injury.

Brain Death Enhances Activation of the Innate Immune System and Leads to Reduced Renal Metabolic Gene Expression.

Background: Brain death (BD)-associated inflammation has been implicated in decreased kidney allograft function and survival, but the underlying mechanisms have not been well distinguished from the conditions of critical care itself. We have developed a clinically translatable model to separate and investigate strategies to improve donor management and critical care.

Methods: Brain-dead (n = 12) and sham (n = 5) rhesus macaques were maintained for 20 hours under intensive care unit-level conditions.

The impact of kidney donor profile index on delayed graft function and transplant outcomes: A single-center analysis.

Introduction: Renal transplant outcomes result from a combination of factors. Traditionally, donor factors were summarized by classifying kidneys as extended criteria or standard criteria. In 2014, the nomenclature changed to describe donor factors with the kidney donor profile index (KDPI).

Notch3 as a novel therapeutic target in metastatic medullary thyroid cancer.

Background: Medullary thyroid cancer portends poor survival once liver metastasis occurs. We hypothesize that Notch3 overexpression in medullary thyroid cancer liver metastasis will decrease proliferation and growth of the tumor.

Methods: TT cells were modified genetically to overexpress Notch3 in the presence of doxycycline, creating the TT-Notch3 cell line.

Guidelines for the management of a brain death donor in the rhesus macaque: A translational transplant model.

Introduction: The development of a translatable brain death animal model has significant potential to advance not only transplant research, but also the understanding of the pathophysiologic changes that occur in brain death and severe traumatic brain injury. The aim of this paper is to describe a rhesus macaque model of brain death designed to simulate the average time and medical management described in the human literature.

Methods: Following approval by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, a brain death model was developed.

The Epstein-Barr virus EBNA2 protein induces a subset of NOTCH target genes in thyroid cancer cell lines but fails to suppress proliferation.

Background: Epstein-Barr virus is associated with lymphoid and epithelial malignancies and has been reported to infect thyroid cells. The Epstein-Barr virus protein, EBNA2, regulates viral and cellular promoters by binding to RBP-jκ. Similarly, NOTCH1, a tumor suppressor protein in thyroid epithelial cells, competes with EBNA2 for binding to overlapping sites on RBP-jκ.

How Well Does Renal Transplantation Cure Hyperparathyroidism?

Background: Most patients with end-stage renal disease will develop hyperparathyroidism (HPT). Transplantation reportedly resolves HPT in most cases. Currently, guidelines recommend a watchful waiting approach to HPT for the first 12 months after the transplantation to allow maximal allograft function.