Analysis of the transfer of circulating microRNA between cells mediated by gap junction.

A significant breakthrough in the field of research was the identification of microRNAs (miRNAs), which are small molecule, single-stranded nucleic acids. MiRNAs have diverse roles in cellular biology with the ability for translation in different areas of medicine. The size of miRNAs provides them for passage through gap junction.

Ossified ligamentum flavum causing spinal cord compression in a patient with acromegaly.

Acromegaly is a relatively rare neuroendocrine disorder associated with diffuse hypertrophy of bony and soft tissues due to growth hormone hypersecretion from a pituitary adenoma. Acromegaly can also cause numerous pathological changes in the spine, including degenerative osteoarticular disease, axial arthropathy, spinal stenosis, vertebral fracture and diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (Forestier's disease). Ossified ligamentum flavum (OLF) is a rare disorder that often presents as thoracic spinal stenosis, but to our knowledge has never been described in patients with acromegaly.

Geographic differences in academic promotion practices, fellowship training, and scholarly impact.

Purpose: Previous literature described how clinical fellowship training impacts scholarly production among academic otolaryngologists, finding that fellowship-trained practitioners had higher research productivity than their non-fellowship-trained peers, and head and neck (H&N) surgeons and otologists had the highest scholarly impact. In this analysis we investigate whether geographic differences in academic promotion and scholarly impact exist, and whether such differences are associated with emphasis on regional fellowship training patterns.

Methods: The Scopus database was used to determine scholarly impact (as measured by the h-index) of 1109 academic otolaryngologists from 97 departments.

Vitamin D biology revealed through the study of knockout and transgenic mouse models.

Early studies identifying vitamin D as an antirachitic factor led to studies in vitamin D-deficient models that resulted in a basic understanding of the mechanism of action of vitamin D. Recent studies using genetically modified mice have provided important new insight into the physiological role of vitamin D at target tissues and the functional significance of vitamin D target proteins, as well as the functional significance of proteins involved in the transport and metabolism of vitamin D. Studies using these mice have played an increasingly important role in elucidating the mechanisms involved in the control of calcium homeostasis and have provided evidence for a role of vitamin D in extraskeletal health.

Safety of cranial fixation in endoscopic brow lifts.

Introduction: The endoscopic brow lift technique relies on brow mobilization and often soft fixation to the underlying calvarium. While the endoscopic brow lift has been used safely, there are anecdotal reports of cerebrospinal fluid leak. We sought to measure calvarial thickness to improve the safety of cranial fixation.

Stimulation of A2B adenosine receptors protects against trauma-hemorrhagic shock-induced lung injury.

Inflammation is responsible for secondary organ failure after trauma and hemorrhagic shock (T/HS). Adenosine, acting through four G protein-coupled cell surface receptors, A1, A2A, A2B, and A3, exerts a number of tissue protective and anti-inflammatory effects. The goal of the present study was to test the effect of A2B adenosine receptor stimulation on T/HS-induced organ injury and inflammation in rats.

Excessive fructose intake causes 1,25-(OH)(2)D(3)-dependent inhibition of intestinal and renal calcium transport in growing rats.

We recently discovered that chronic high fructose intake by lactating rats prevented adaptive increases in rates of active intestinal Ca(2+) transport and in levels of 1,25-(OH)2D3, the active form of vitamin D. Since sufficient Ca(2+) absorption is essential for skeletal growth, our discovery may explain findings that excessive consumption of sweeteners compromises bone integrity in children. We tested the hypothesis that 1,25-(OH)2D3 mediates the inhibitory effect of excessive fructose intake on active Ca(2+) transport.

Molecular oncogenesis of craniopharyngioma: current and future strategies for the development of targeted therapies.

Craniopharyngiomas are benign intracranial tumors that arise in the suprasellar and intrasellar region in children and adults. They are associated with calcification on neuroimaging, endocrinopathies, vision problems, and recurrence following subtotal resection. Molecular studies into their genetic basis have been limited, and therefore targeted medical therapies for this tumor have eluded physicians.

Use of AlloDerm in primary reconstruction after resection of squamous cell carcinoma of the lip and oral commissure.

AlloDerm (LifeCell Corporation, Branchburg NJ) is an acellular dermal homograft processed from human cadaveric skin. AlloDerm has been used successfully for soft tissue reconstruction due to its lack of immunogenicity and minimal absorption. In the lip, it has been utilized for aesthetic lip augmentation and as an injectable filler.

Development of a guided bone regeneration device using salicylic acid-poly(anhydride-ester) polymers and osteoconductive scaffolds.

Successful repair of craniofacial and periodontal tissue defects ideally involves a combined therapy that includes inflammation modulation, control of soft tissue infiltration, and bone regeneration. In this study, an anti-inflammatory polymer, salicylic acid-based poly(anhydride-ester) (SAPAE) and a three-dimensional osteoconductive ceramic scaffold were evaluated as a combined guided bone regeneration (GBR) system for concurrent control of inflammation, soft tissue ingrowth, and bone repair in a rabbit cranial defect model. At time periods of 1, 3, and 8 weeks, five groups were compared: (1) scaffolds with a solid ceramic cap (as a GBR structure); (2) scaffolds with no cap; (3) scaffolds with a poly(lactide-glycolide) cap; (4) scaffolds with a slow release SAPAE polymer cap; and (5) scaffolds with a fast release SAPAE polymer cap.

Sinonasal adenoid cystic carcinoma: comprehensive analysis of incidence and survival from 1973 to 2009.

Objectives/hypothesis: Sinonasal adenoid cystic carcinoma (SNACC) is a rare malignancy that most commonly arises in the maxillary sinus. Characteristics of SNACC are slow growth, perineural invasion, and long clinical course. Because it is a rare tumor, population-based studies are limited.

Effect of greater palatine canal injection on estimated blood loss during endoscopic sinus surgery.

Purpose: We compare estimated blood loss (EBL) during endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) between patients receiving transoral greater palatine canal (GPC) and transnasal infiltration (combined group) to patients receiving only transnasal infiltration (control group). CT stage, endoscopic stage, revision surgery, presence of polyps, degree of resident involvement, and operative time (OT) are also evaluated.

Methods: Injection with 1% lidocaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine was performed through the GPC and transnasally in the "combined" study group (20 patients) and only transnasally in the control group (22 patients).

Management of sinonasal chondrosarcoma: a systematic review of 161 patients.

Background: This study reviews the published literature related to management of sinonasal chondrosarcoma. Clinical presentation, demographics, radiographic diagnosis, treatment, and management outcomes of this uncommon disease are reported.

Methods: A systematic review of studies for sinonasal chondrosarcoma from 1950 to 2012 was conducted.

Increasing educational indebtedness influences medical students to pursue specialization: a military recruitment potential?

Background: Cost of medical education and student indebtedness has increased dramatically. This study surveyed medical students on educational debt, educational costs, and whether indebtedness influenced career choice. Responses should impact (1) Department of Defense (DoD) recruitment of physicians and (2) future of primary care.

Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma: a systematic review and comparison of endoscopic, endoscopic-assisted, and open resection in 1047 cases.

Objectives/hypothesis: This study is a review of the treatment outcomes of juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (JNA) specifically comparing endoscopic, endoscopic-assisted, and open surgical approaches.

Study Design: Systematic review of studies using the MEDLINE database.

Methods: A systematic review of studies on JNA from 1990 to 2012 was conducted.

Challenges and surgical nuances in reconstruction of large planum sphenoidale tuberculum sellae defects after endoscopic endonasal resection of parasellar skull base tumors.

Objectives/hypothesis: Endoscopic endonasal transplanum transtuberculum (EETT) resection of parasellar skull base (SB) tumors often results in large SB defects with intraoperative high-flow cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks. Reconstruction of these defects can be challenging because of the large defects size, communication with the suprasellar cistern, and close proximity to the optic nerves and chiasm. Recent studies have postulated that transplanum defects may be associated with increased postoperative CSF leakage.

Is there a relationship between National Institutes of Health funding and research impact on academic urology?

Purpose: Scholarly productivity in the form of research contributions is important for appointment and promotion in academic urology. Some believe that this production may require significant funding. We evaluated the relationship between National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding, academic rank and research productivity, as measured by the h-index, an objective indicator of research impact on a field.

Cellular basis of burn-induced cardiac dysfunction and prevention by mesenteric lymph duct ligation.

Background: Myocardial contractile depression develops 4 to 24 h after major burn injury. We have reported previously that in a rat burn injury model (≈40% of total body surface area burn), mesenteric lymph duct ligation (LDL) prior to burn prevented myocardial dysfunction. However, the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms are not well understood.

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors of the trigeminal nerve: a systematic review of 36 cases.

Object: Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) are a rare form of malignancy arising from the Schwann cells of peripheral nerves. MPNSTs of the trigeminal nerve are exceptionally rare, with only a handful of reports in the literature. These tumors are typically very aggressive, resulting in significant patient morbidity and a generally grim prognosis.

Placenta Accreta and Percreta.

The incidence of abnormally adherent placenta (accreta/percreta) has increased 10-fold in the past 50 years, predominantly due to the increased use of cesarean section delivery. The causes, clinical correlates, and pathology of these conditions are discussed in this article.

Comparison of scholarly impact among surgical specialties: an examination of 2429 academic surgeons.

Objectives/hypothesis: The h-index, a bibliometric indicator that objectively characterizes the impact of an author's scholarship, is an effective tool that may be considered by academic departments for decisions related to hiring and faculty advancement. Our objective was to characterize the scholarly productivity of academic surgeons from different specialties relative to otolaryngologists.

Study Design: Analysis of a bibliometric database.

Management of sinonasal hemangiopericytomas: a systematic review.

Background: Hemangiopericytomas are typically found in soft-tissue, but only rarely found in the sinonasal tract. Sinonasal hemangiopericytomas have been reported mostly through case studies, and optimal treatment is considered surgical excision. Classically, open surgical methods of tumor extirpation have been considered standard of care.

Measuring and assessing preventive medicine services in a student-run free clinic.

We conducted a chart review of 119 patients between June 2008 and June 2009, in order to determine the rates of seven preventive medicine services in our student-run free clinic. We compared our results with national goals as well as with the national adherence rates and the adherence rates of other community clinics. We found that our clinic met or exceeded the standard set by these clinics with respect to smoking cessation, alcohol abuse screening, and mammography; however, it did not meet this standard with respect to colonoscopy, Pap smear, influenza vaccination, or pneumococcal vaccination.

Complication of a columellar strut in an edentulous patient.

The cartilaginous columellar strut is a well established, commonly used graft in rhinoplasty which provides support and stability to the nasal base. The risk of such a graft is related to grafts designs, whereby the posterior aspect can cause clicking with movement across the anterior nasal spine. We present an additional unusual complication of ill-fitting maxillary dentures in an edentulous patient, previously not reported in the literature.