Tissue-Engineered Autologous Breast Regeneration with Brava®-Assisted Fat Grafting.

A technique of whole and partial breast reconstruction is described based on tissue-engineering principles. Brava-assisted external tissue expansion generates an in situ biological recipient scaffold that favors the survival of large volumes of autologous fat graft required for breast reconstruction. Also presented are the results of the authors' multicenter experience with this regenerative alternative in 488 patients over a 7-year period tracking surgical complications, patient satisfaction, efficacy, and costs.

Cleft palate.

Our understanding of cleft palates has come a long way over the last few decades. A better understanding of the long-term consequences of a cleft palate and its effect on speech development challenges surgeons to not only effectively repair the cleft, but to also restore function of the palate for adequate speech. Coordination with speech pathologists is integral for effective management of cleft palate patients, particularly as children begin to develop language.

A systematic review of patient-reported outcome measures after facial cosmetic surgery and/or nonsurgical facial rejuvenation.

Background: Patient satisfaction and improved quality of life are the predominant considerations determining success in cosmetic surgery. However, few studies have examined patients' perceptions of their appearance following cosmetic facial surgery and/or nonsurgical facial rejuvenation. This study identified patient-reported outcome measures developed and validated for use in patients undergoing surgical and/or nonsurgical cosmetic procedures.

DExD/H-box Prp5 protein is in the spliceosome during most of the splicing cycle.

The DExD/H-box Prp5 protein (Prp5p) is an essential, RNA-dependent ATPase required for pre-spliceosome formation during nuclear pre-mRNA splicing. In order to understand how this protein functions, we used in vitro, biochemical assays to examine its association with the spliceosome from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. GST-Prp5p in splicing assays pulls down radiolabeled pre-mRNA as well as splicing intermediates and lariat product, but reduced amounts of spliced mRNA.

Impact of secondary pulmonary hypertension on lung transplant outcome.

Introduction: Secondary pulmonary hypertension (SPH), defined as a mean pulmonary artery pressure (PAM) greater than 25 mm Hg, complicates end-stage lung diseases of varying etiology. Although previous studies have suggested that SPH does not adversely affect outcome, no study has assessed the impact of the degree of SPH.

Methods: A retrospective review of the lung transplant database was used to identify patients who underwent either single-lung (SLT) or bilateral lung transplantation (BLT) complicated by SPH.