Extracorporeal shockwave therapy enhances peripheral nerve remyelination and gait function in a crush model.

Background: Conservative treatment, such as electrical stimulation and steroid injection, have been employed in an attempt to improve symptoms after peripheral nerve injury, without significant success. Although non-invasive and safe extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) can be a practical alternative, the therapeutic effects of ESWT on peripheral nerve remyelination has not been established.

Objectives: To investigate the effects of ESWT on peripheral nerve remyelination and gait function for 5 weeks in a sciatic nerve crush model.

TLR4-mediated autophagic impairment contributes to neuropathic pain in chronic constriction injury mice.

Neuropathic pain is a complex, chronic pain state characterized by hyperalgesia, allodynia, and spontaneous pain. Accumulating evidence has indicated that the microglial Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and autophagy are implicated in neurodegenerative diseases, but their relationship and role in neuropathic pain remain unclear. In this study, we examined TLR4 and its association with autophagic activity using a chronic constriction injury (CCI)-induced neuropathic pain model in wild-type (WT) and TLR4-knockout (KO) mice.

A New Method for Stabilizing the Columellar Strut Used in Rhinoplasty: The Trans-Septal Columellar Stabilizing Suture.

Purpose: Minimal deformity or instability after columellar strut graft (CSG) placement can be solved by placing a suture between the columella strut and the caudal septum, such as a medial crura anchor suture or a projection control suture. However, this is very tedious.

Materials And Methods: A trans-septal columellar stabilizing suture (TCSS) was developed for the management of final tip projection and location and increasing stability after CSG placement.

Peroneal Flap: Clinical Application and Cadaveric Study.

Background: The goal of this study was to investigate the anatomy of the peroneal artery and its perforators, and to report the clinical results of reconstruction with peroneal artery perforator flaps.

Methods: The authors dissected 4 cadaver legs and investigated the distribution, course, origin, number, type, and length of the perforators. Peroneal artery perforator flap surgery was performed on 29 patients.

Effect of Botulinum Toxin Type A on TGF-β/Smad Pathway Signaling: Implications for Silicone-Induced Capsule Formation.

Background: One of the most serious complications of breast surgery using implants is capsular contracture. Several preventive treatments have been introduced; however, the mechanism of capsule formation has not been resolved completely. The authors previously identified negative effects of botulinum toxin type A on capsule formation, expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, and differentiation of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts.