Comparison of the outcomes of anterolateral thigh flap and peroneal flap in total laryngectomy reconstruction.

Background: We usually use an ALT or peroneal flap in total laryngectomy reconstruction, depending on the surgeons' preference. No direct comparison of the outcomes of the ALT flap and peroneal flap exists.

Methods: From 2014 to 2022, we reviewed patients who had total laryngectomy and were reconstructed with an ALT flap and peroneal flap.

Comparison of fatal traumatic medico-legal cases with postmortem computed tomography and autopsy: A pilot study in Taiwan.

In order to determine the performance of postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) in identifying traumatic-relevant macroscopic findings in medico-legal cases, this retrospective observational pilot study involving nine trauma casualties who had received PMCT prior to autopsy. The comparison of these findings in six anatomical regions as dictated in Injury Severity Score (ISS) were performed. 104 traumatic-relevant findings were identified with achievement of 51% congruent findings.

Gait Improvement and Ulcer Prevention With Second-to-Great Toe Transposition at the Donor Site: A Case Report.

A young male patient, who sustained a severe burn injury 6 years ago, received amputation of left hand at the level of metacarpal shaft of the thumb and base of proximal phalanxes of the rest of the fingers. Staged operations, including combined second- and third-toe transfer from the right foot to middle and ring fingers of the left hand, and harvest of great toe from the left foot for reconstruction of left thumb, were successively executed. Unfortunately, callus and ulcer were found at the plantar area of first metatarsophalangeal joint of left donor foot in the following 2 years, which caused troublesome disturbance during ambulation.

Clinical Importance and Risk Factors for Postoperative Late-Onset Pneumonia After Major Oral Cancer Surgery With Microvascular Reconstruction.

Background: Pulmonary complications are common among patients who have undergone major oral cancer surgery with microvascular reconstruction. Current literatures focused on early-onset pneumonia in the postoperative acute stage. In contrast, we are aiming to identify the clinical importance and the risk factors associated with late-onset pneumonia in oral cancer patients after acute stage.

The safety and benefit of using oxidized regenerated cellulose to position free flap pedicle in head and neck reconstruction.

Background: Oxidized regenerated cellulose (ORC; Surgicel®; Ethicon, Neuchâtel, Switzerland) is an absorbable hemostatic agent used for hemostasis in operation, although some surgeons use it to position free flap pedicles. The increasing risk of vessel compromise is a huge concern. However, no scientific data to date demonstrate the safety and benefit of using ORC in microvascular surgery.

Association between blood pressure and postoperative hematomas in the patients undergoing head and neck cancer reconstruction.

Background: Postoperative hematoma is one of the most common complications of free flap reconstruction and compromises the perfusion of pedicles and perforators. Therefore, we reviewed our patients to analyze the associated risk factors.

Method: This study involved a retrospective chart review from 2014 to 2016.

Failure among Patients with Non-Tuberculous Mycobacterial Infections in Skin, Soft Tissue, and Musculoskeletal System in Southern Taiwan, 2012-2015.

The incidence of non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infections of the skin, soft tissue, and musculoskeletal system (SSTI) has increased over the past two decades, however, relatively few studies have documented the reasons for the reported increase. Specifically, no standardized treatment protocols have been adopted, therefore, clinical prognosis of the patients with NTM SSTI has thus far remained uncertain. In our study, we sought to identify risk factors for treatment failure in southern Taiwan.

Carrier Transport and Recombination Mechanism in Blue Phosphorescent Organic Light-Emitting Diode with Hosts Consisting of Cabazole- and Triazole-Moiety.

In this study, we demonstrated a blue phosphorescent organic light-emitting diode (BPOLED) based on a host with two carbazole and one trizole (2CbzTAZ) moiety, 9,9'-(2-(4,5-diphenyl-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)-1,3-phenylene)bis(9H-carbazole), that exhibits bipolar transport characteristics. Compared with the devices with a carbazole host (N,N'-dicarbazolyl-3,5-benzene, (mCP)), triazole host (3-(biphenyl-4-yl)-5-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-4-phenyl-4H-1,2,4-triazole, (TAZ)), or a physical mixture of mCP:TAZ, which exhibit hole, electron, and bipolar transport characteristics, respectively, the BPOLED with the bipolar 2CbzTAZ host exhibited the lowest driving voltage (6.55 V at 10 mA/cm), the highest efficiencies (maximum current efficiency of 52.

Novel compound VB-037 inhibits Aβ aggregation and promotes neurite outgrowth through enhancement of HSP27 and reduction of P38 and JNK-mediated inflammation in cell models for Alzheimer's disease.

The pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is involved in the aggregation of misfolded amyloid β (Aβ), which upregulates the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), increases the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), enhances neuroinflammation, and eventually leads to neuronal death. Therefore, compounds targeting these mechanisms may be candidates for multitarget drugs in AD treatment. We found that two quinoline derivatives, VB-030 and VB-037, markedly reduced Aβ aggregation and ROS levels in the thioflavin T biochemical assay and Tet-On Aβ-green fluorescent protein (GFP) 293 AD cell model.

Formulated Chinese Medicine Shaoyao Gancao Tang Reduces Tau Aggregation and Exerts Neuroprotection through Anti-Oxidation and Anti-Inflammation.

Misfolded tau proteins induce accumulation of free radicals and promote neuroinflammation by activating microglia-releasing proinflammatory cytokines, leading to neuronal cell death. Traditional Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) have been widely used in clinical practice to treat neurodegenerative diseases associated with oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. This study examined the neuroprotection effects of formulated CHMs Bai-Shao (made of ), Gan-Cao (made of ), and Shaoyao Gancao Tang (SG-Tang, made of and at 1 : 1 ratio) in cell model of tauopathy.

A conserved Toll-like receptor-to-NF-κB signaling pathway in the endangered coral Orbicella faveolata.

Herein, we characterize the Toll-like receptor (TLR)-to-NF-κB innate immune pathway of Orbicella faveolata (Of), which is an ecologically important, disease-susceptible, reef-building coral. As compared to human TLRs, the intracellular TIR domain of Of-TLR is most similar to TLR4, and it can interact in vitro with the human TLR4 adapter MYD88. Treatment of O.

Contributing Factors for Complications and Outcomes in Patients With Snakebite: Experience in a Medical Center in Southern Taiwan.

Objectives: Snakebite usually results in various complications, such as significant soft tissue damage, infection, hematological, and neurological deficit. Surgical intervention, usually, is indicated in patients with tissue necrosis, infection, and compartment syndrome. To identify the contributing factors for complications and outcomes in different patients with snakebite so that outcomes can be evaluated and treatment of such patients can be initiated at the earliest.

A Novel Application of Double-Paddle Peroneal Chimeric Flap as External Sentinel Monitor in Hypopharyngeal Reconstruction.

Objectives: Monitoring the viability of buried free flaps in hypopharyngeal reconstruction is difficult. Various methods have been proposed to monitor these buried flaps, but limitations remain.

Method: We present a method of using double-paddle chimeric peroneal flaps that permanently externalizes a flap skin paddle as a monitoring paddle in hypopharyngeal reconstructions.

An atypical role for the myeloid receptor Mincle in central nervous system injury.

The C-type lectin Mincle is implicated in innate immune responses to sterile inflammation, but its contribution to associated pathologies is not well understood. Herein, we show that Mincle exacerbates neuronal loss following ischemic but not traumatic spinal cord injury. Loss of Mincle was beneficial in a model of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion but did not alter outcomes following heart or gut ischemia.

Quantitative Determination of Zygomaticomaxillary Complex Position Based on Computed Tomographic Imaging.

Background: The zygomaticomaxillary complex (ZMC) is frequently involved in craniofacial fractures. We propose an objective approach for defining the ZMC position on skeletal and soft tissue by using Amira to process 3-dimensional (3D) facial computed tomography (CT) images.

Aim And Objectives: In this study, we aim to propose 1 anthropometric system, facilitated based on CT images, which can be used in quantitative analysis of ZMC position and examine the symmetry of skeletal and soft tissue of the ZMC with high reliability and validity.

Quantity of lymph nodes correlates with improvement in lymphatic drainage in treatment of hind limb lymphedema with lymph node flap transfer in rats.

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the correlation between the number of vascularized lymph nodes (LN) transferred and resolution of hind limb lymphedema in a rat model.

Methods: Unilateral hind limb lymphedema was created in 18 male Sprague-Dawley rats following inguinal and popliteal LN resection and radiation. A para-aortic LN flap based on the celiac artery was subsequently transferred to the affected groin.

Novel ambipolar orthogonal donor-acceptor host for blue organic light emitting diodes.

Ambipolar triplet hosts comprising 1,2,4-triazole and carbazole in ortho-positions have been developed. The blue PHOLED has a high current efficiency of 47.1 cd A(-1), power efficiency of 41.

Functional role of soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products in stroke.

Objective: Little is known about the involvement of the soluble form of receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE) in acute ischemic stroke (IS). Here, we aim to identify the role of plasma sRAGE and high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) in imaging-confirmed IS patients, as well as mice subjected to focal ischemic stroke.

Methods And Results: IS patients were recruited and plasma samples were collected for the measurement of sRAGE and HMGB1 after stroke.

Vascularized bone marrow allotransplantation and low-dose cyclosporine prolong the survival of adipose tissue allografts.

Background: Composite tissue allotransplantation holds promise in reconstructive surgery, but its application is limited by the need for long-term immunosuppression. The objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of low-dose cyclosporine and vascularized bone allotransplantation in prolonging the survival of vascularized adipose tissue allograft.

Methods: In the adipose tissue allograft model, adipose tissue allografts based on superficial epigastric vessels from Lewis-Brown-Norway rats were allotransplanted into Lewis rats.

C5a receptor (CD88) inhibition improves hypothermia-induced neuroprotection in an in vitro ischemic model.

The concept of 'salvageble penumbra' has prompted both scientists and physicians to explore various neuroprotective approaches that could be beneficial during stroke therapy. Unfortunately, most of them have proved ineffective in targeting multiple cellular death cascades incited within the ischemic penumbra. Hypothermia has been shown to be capable of addressing this problem to some extent.

Intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury leads to inflammatory changes in the brain.

Intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is a well-established animal model of systemic inflammation and can lead to multiple organ failure as well as severe and lasting morbidity and even death. It can occur in humans as a result of vascular surgery or as secondary sequelae to many common conditions including low blood pressure, myocardial infarction, and necrotizing enterocolitis. Systemic inflammation induced through kidney I/R injury has been shown previously to lead to encephalopathic adverse effects, and it was theorized that intestinal injury would also cause secondary central nervous system effects.

Involvement of YC-1 in extracellular signal-regulated kinase action in rat cremasteric muscle.

Objectives: The nitric oxide (NO)-soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) signalling pathway is attributed to the prevention of ischaemia-reperfusion (I/R)-induced leucocyte-endothelium adhesive interactions. YC-1 (3-(5'-hydroxymethyl-2'-furyl)-1-benzylindazole), a NO-independent sGC activator, has been shown to exert cardiovascular benefits, but its action on leucocyte-endothelium interactions remains unknown. In this study, the direct effect and the underlying mechanism of the anti-adhesive action of YC-1 have been examined in cremasteric microcirculation.

Angiopoietin-like protein 1 decreases blood brain barrier damage and edema following focal cerebral ischemia in mice.

Angiopoietin-like protein (Angptl) 1, a member of the angiopoietin-related protein family, modulates angiogenesis but little else is known of its physiological role. We found that angptl1 was upregulated at the 7th day after focal cerebral ischemia in normal mice. In order to understand the role of angptl1 in cerebral infarction, we induced focal cerebral ischemia in normal and glial fibrillary acidic protein promoter-angptl1 transgenic mice.

Angiopoietin-like protein 1 expression is related to intermuscular connective tissue and cartilage development.

Angptl1, a member of the angiopoietin-related protein family, is known to regulate angiogenesis, but little is known of its potential role in other processes. To identify the expression pattern and possible role of angptl1 during embryogenesis, we used gene targeting to generate angptl1-deficient, nLacZ knockin mice. Staining for beta-galactosidase from embryonic day 9.

Resveratrol attenuates ischemia - reperfusion-induced leukocyte - endothelial cell adhesive interactions and prolongs allograft survival across the MHC barrier.

Background: Ischemic - reperfusion (IR) injury is a multifactorial process that leads to tissue damage and rejection in composite tissue allotransplantation (CTA). Antioxidant or free radical scavenger may reduce IR injury, so the effects of resveratrol, a natural antioxidant, on amelioration of leukocyte - endothelial cell adhesive interaction and prevention of transplant rejection in CTA were investigated.

Methods And Results: In a microcirculatory study, resveratrol significantly reduced the number of IR-induced leukocytes rolling, adhering, and transmigrating in the postcapillary venules of the cremaster muscle.