The ideal intercostal space for internal mammary vessel exposure during total rib-sparing microvascular breast reconstruction: A critical evaluation.

Background: Total rib-preserving free flap breast reconstruction (RP-FFBR) using internal mammary vessel (IMV) recipients usually involves vessel exposure in the second or third intercostal spaces (ICS). Although the third one is more commonly used, no direct comparisons between the two have hitherto been performed.

Objectives: To compare the in-vivo topography and vascular anatomy of second and third ICSs in patients undergoing FFBR using the rib-preservation technique of IMV exposure.

Combination of acellular dermal matrix with a de-epithelialised dermal flap during skin-reducing mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction.

Introduction Patients with large ptotic breasts undergoing immediate implant-based reconstruction often require skin-reducing mastectomy to optimise the aesthetic outcome. However, healing complications, especially at the resulting inverted T-junction, leading to wound dehiscence, infection, skin necrosis, implant exposure and failed reconstruction have been widely reported. We present an innovative approach for immediate implant-based reconstruction combining porcine- or bovine-derived acellular dermal matrices with a de-epithelialised dermal sling to protect and support the implant, while improving clinical outcomes in this challenging group of patients.

Optimal requirements for high affinity and use-dependent block of skeletal muscle sodium channel by N-benzyl analogs of tocainide-like compounds.

Newly synthesized tocainide analogs were tested for their state-dependent affinity and use-dependent behavior on sodium currents (INa) of adult skeletal muscle fibers by means of the Vaseline-gap voltage clamp method. The drugs had the pharmacophore amino group constrained in position alpha [N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxamide (To5)] or beta [N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)pyrrolidine-3-carboxamide (To9)] in a proline-like cycle and/or linked to a lipophilic benzyl moiety as in N-benzyl-tocainide (Benzyl-Toc), 1-benzyl-To5 (Benzyl-To5), and 1-benzyl-To9 (Benzyl-To9). INa were elicited with pulses to -20 mV from different holding potentials (-140, -100, and -70 mV) and stimulation frequencies (2 and 10 Hz).

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background/aims: Substantial differences about the efficacy of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma are reported in literature. This probably depends on the fact that in each single study, different patient selection criteria, type of epidemiological approach, end points adopted and kind of technical approach were used. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of segmental transcatheter arterial chemoembolization in amelioring patient survival and to determine which patients might really benefit from this treatment.

Familial pseudohyperkalemia maps to the same locus as dehydrated hereditary stomatocytosis (hereditary xerocytosis).

Familial pseudohyperkalemia is a "leaky red blood cell" condition in which the cells show a temperature-dependent loss of potassium (K) from red blood cells when stored at room temperature, manifesting as apparent hyperkalemia. The red blood cells show a reduced lifespan in vivo but there is no frank hemolysis. Studies of cation content and transport show a marginal increase in permeability at 37 degrees C and a degree of cellular dehydration, qualitatively similar to the changes seen in dehydrated hereditary stomatocytosis (hereditary xerocytosis).

Permanent inhibition of viral replication induced by low dosage of human leukocyte interferon in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Fourteen out of 28 HBsAg/HBeAg-positive carriers with chronic persistent and active hepatitis were randomly assigned to human leukocyte interferon (a-IFN) treatment for three months. The remaining 14 patients served as controls. Each treated subject received a standard i.