Simple Skin-Stretching Device in Assisted Tension-Free Wound Closure.

Background: Numerous conventional wound reconstruction methods, such as wound undermining with direct suture, skin graft, and flap surgery, can be used to treat large wounds. The adequate undermining of the skin flaps of a wound is a commonly used technique for achieving the closure of large tension wounds; however, the use of tension to approximate and suture the skin flaps can cause ischemic marginal necrosis. The purpose of this study is to use elastic rubber bands to relieve the tension of direct wound closure for simultaneously minimizing the risks of wound dehiscence and wound edge ischemia that lead to necrosis.

Increased risk of dementia in patients with mild traumatic brain injury: a nationwide cohort study.

Background: It is known that the risk of dementia in patients with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is higher. However, the relationship between mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and dementia has never been established.

Objectives: We investigated the incidences of dementia among patients with mTBI in Taiwan to evaluate if there is higher risk compared with general population.

High risk of 'failure' among emergency physicians compared with other specialists: a nationwide cohort study.

Background: The intensive physical and psychological stress of emergency medicine has evoked concerns about whether emergency physicians could work in the emergency department for their entire careers. Results of previous studies of the attrition rates of emergency physicians are conflicting, but the study samples and designs were limited.

Objective: To use National Health Insurance claims data to track the work status and work places of emergency physicians compared with other specialists.

Dyspnea caused by atlantoaxial subluxation in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis.

Atlantoaxial subluxation is a well-known but poorly recognized disease in rheumatoid patients. We report a patient with rheumatoid arthritis whose chief complaint was dyspnea on arrival to the emergency department (ED). After further investigation, spinal cord compression caused by atlantoaxial subluxation was diagnosed.

Cryopreserved chondrocytes in porous biomaterials with surface elastin and poly-L-lysine for cartilage regeneration.

The ability of cryopreserved chondrocytes to revitalize and propagate is a key biotechnology in cartilage regeneration. This study shows the formation of neocartilage from cryopreserved chondrocytes in scaffolds grafted with elastin and poly-L-lysine. Cryopreserved chondrocytes in elastin- and poly-L-lysine-grafted constructs were cultured in a dynamic bioreactor and assessed by biochemical assay and staining.

Propofol for sedation can shorten the duration of ED stay in joint reductions.

Background: For joint reductions, adequate sedation is often required. Propofol has increasingly been used for sedation in the emergency department (ED) in recent years. The benefits of propofol are the rapid onset of action and the short recovery time.

Application of albumin-grafted scaffolds to promote neocartilage formation.

This study investigates the capacity of albumin-grafted biomaterials as tissue engineering scaffolds to regenerate cartilaginous components. Porcine knee chondrocytes were seeded and cultivated in porous ternary matrix consisting of polyethylene oxide, chitin, and chitosan with surface albumin. The results revealed that the quantity of albumin did not affect the viability of porcine knee chondrocytes in the constructs.

Comparison of video laryngoscopes with direct laryngoscopy for tracheal intubation: a meta-analysis of randomised trials.

Background: Video laryngoscopes have been introduced in recent years as an alternative choice to facilitate tracheal intubation. We conducted a meta-analysis to assess their value when compared with direct laryngoscopy.

Methods: PubMed and EMBASE were searched up until 24 September 2010.

Influence of breast-feeding on weight loss, jaundice, and waste elimination in neonates.

Background: The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative began promoting exclusive breast-feeding in 2001 in Taiwan; however, few studies have investigated its impact. This study evaluated the influence of breast-feeding on Taiwanese neonates with regard to the frequency of jaundice, body weight loss (BWL), and elimination of both urine and stool.

Methods: The medical records of 313 healthy mother-neonate pairs admitted at our hospital were reviewed retrospectively and divided into three groups: exclusively breast-feeding (n=161), mixed (breast/formula) feeding (n=80), and exclusively formula feeding (n=72).

Validation of bidimensional measurement in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Background: Our previous study showed a close relationship between computed tomography (CT)-derived bidimensional measurement of primary tumor and retropharyngeal nodes (BDMprn) and gross tumor volume of primary tumor and retropharyngeal nodes (GTVprn) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and better prognosis for NPC patients with smaller BDMprn. In this study, we report the results on of a study to validate the use of BDM in a separate cohort of NPC patients.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 103 newly diagnosed NPC cases who were treated with radiotherapy/concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) or CCRT with adjuvant chemotherapy from 2002 to 2009.

Study of cryopreservation of articular chondrocytes using the Taguchi method.

This study evaluates the effect of control factors on cryopreservation of articular cartilage chondrocytes using the Taguchi method. Freeze-thaw experiments based on the L(8)(2(7)) two-level orthogonal array of the Taguchi method are conducted, and ANOVA (analysis of variables) is adopted to determine the statistically significant control factors that affect the viability of the cell. Results show that the type of cryoprotectant, freezing rate, thawing rate, and concentration of cryoprotectant (listed in the order of influence) are the statistically significant control factors that affect the post-thaw viability.

Penile metastasis secondary to nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma.

We report on a case of recurrent nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma in a patient who presented with a penile mass. No obvious other recurrent site except the penile lesion was noted. Metastatic penile lymphoma is extremely rare.

Prognostic influence of parapharyngeal extension in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Conclusions: Advanced parapharyngeal tumor involvement in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) had significant predictive value associated with poorer treatment outcome. Further subclassification of parapharyngeal invasion may be considered in the TNM staging system.

Objectives: We conducted a retrospective study to elucidate the effect of parapharyngeal extension on treatment outcomes in patients with NPC who were treated with radiotherapy or concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT).

Squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity in young patients: a matched-pair analysis.

There is an increased incidence of oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in young patients. However, the literature concerning prognosis for young patients with oral SCC is conflicting. The aim of this study was to compare the survival rates of patients under 45 years of age and diagnosed with SCC of the oral cavity with those of patients older than 45 years.

Primary tumor volume calculation as a predictive factor of prognosis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Conclusions: Primary tumor volume (PTV) has a close relationship with survival rates of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) who were treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) or radiotherapy. Besides the current AJCC staging system, measurement of PTV may be needed to predict prognosis of NPC and adjust treatment strategy.

Objectives: We conducted a retrospective study to elucidate the effect of PTV on treatment outcomes in patients with NPC who were treated with CCRT or radiotherapy.

Celecoxib increased expression of 14-3-3sigma and induced apoptosis of glioma cells.

Background: Celecoxib, a cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, has been found to inhibit the proliferation of several kinds of cancer cells; however, the effects of celecoxib on glioma cells are not clear.

Materials And Methods: A172 glioma cells were treated with various concentrations of celecoxib for 4, 24 or 48 h. Cytotoxic drug effects were studied by MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl]-2,5- diphenyltetrazolium bromide)-based colorimetric assay, and celecoxib-induced apoptosis of glioma cells was investigated by FACScan.

Diagnostic performance of a random versus lesion-directed biopsy of the prostate from transrectal ultrasound: results of a 5-year consecutive clinical study in 1 institution in South Taiwan.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare cancer detection rates of sonographically suspicious lesion-directed biopsies and random biopsies through transverse examination of prostate halves in 518 patients over 5 years.

Methods: From 1998 to 2002, 518 patients were referred for prostate biopsies because of either elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels or abnormal digital rectal examination findings. On the basis of transverse examination of prostate halves by transrectal ultrasound, we performed lesion-directed biopsy of 3 to 5 cores if morphologically suspicious lesions existed on sonography or random biopsy of 3 cores if no obvious suspicious lesions existed.

Resveratrol suppresses angiogenesis in gliomas: evaluation by color Doppler ultrasound.

Background: The effects of resveratrol (a natural polyphenol) on angiogenesis in rat gliomas were investigated by color Doppler ultrasound (CDUS). The correlation among the tumor growth rate, macroscopic angiogenesis measured by CDUS and microscopic angiogenesis was assessed by immunohistochemical staining.

Materials And Methods: Fischer rats were subcutaneously inoculated with rat RT-2 glioma cells and treated with resveratrol for 4 weeks.

Sylvian fissure dermoid cyst with intratumoral hemorrhage: case report.

It is rare for a dermoid cyst to develop intratumoral hemorrhage. A 61-year-old woman had a sudden-onset left hemiparesis and slow response to verbal requests for one week when unenhanced computed tomography scanning revealed a mixed iso- and hypo-dense heterogeneous lesion in the right fronto-temporal area. T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain showed a mixed hyper- and hypo-intense tumor in the right fronto-temporal area.

Cryopreservation and biophysical properties of articular cartilage chondrocytes.

In order to successfully cryopreserve articular cartilage chondrocytes, it is important to characterize their osmotic response during the cryopreservation process, as the ice forms and the solutes concentrate. In this study, experimental work was undertaken to determine the osmotic parameters of articular cartilage chondrocytes. The osmotically inactive volume of articular cartilage chondrocytes was determined to be 44% of the isotonic volume.

Effects of irradiated tumor vaccine and infusion of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and interleukin-12 on established gliomas in rats.

Purpose: We investigated granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin-12 (IL-12) infused into the injection site of irradiated tumor vaccine (TV) as therapy for gliomas.

Methods: Rats with subcutaneous RT-2 gliomas were treated with irradiated TV and/or subcutaneous infusion of GM-CSF and/or IL-12 via osmotic minipump 5 days after tumor-cell inoculation. Cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) and natural killer (NK) cell activity were analyzed to investigate immune responses.

Cervical dumbbell meningioma and thoracic dumbbell schwannoma in a patient with neurofibromatosis.

The occurrence of both dumbbell meningioma and dumbbell schwannoma in one patient has not been reported in the literature. We present a 16-year-old female patient, who had progressive bilateral hearing impairment for 5 years and a progressively enlarged, non-tender neck mass for 1.5 years.

Use of Wagner cementless self-locking stems for massive bone loss in hip arthroplasty.

Objective: To assess the use of Wagner cementless self-locking stems for massive bone loss in hip arthroplasty.

Methods: 22 patients with severe proximal femoral bone loss either due to prosthetic loosening or comminuted fracture were treated by Wagner cementless self-locking revision stems between November 1993 and June 1995.

Results: Radiographic evidence of early bony incorporation was found by 1 month in most cases.

Acromial hyperplasia, the sequel of deltoid contracture: A case report.

The major complications of deltoid contracture frequently encountered are abduction contracture, winging of the scapula, humeral head flattening and shoulder dislocation (Bhattacharyya 1966; Chatterjee and Gupta 1983). To our knowledge acromium hyperplasia has not been a reported complication of deltoid contracture in the English-language literature. We encountered a patient who had bilateral acromium hyperplasia that appeared to be secondary to deltoid muscle contracture due to large volumes of fluid injected intramuscularly as a child.