Cranioplasty using the patient's autogenous bone preserved by freezing--an examination of post-operative infection rates

The current technique for cranioplasty using artificial bone requires further improvement with regard to infection, strength and comfort through good fitting. We have carried out cranioplasty using the patient's autogenous bone flap obtained during first surgery. It was immersed in 200 mg of Amikacin Sulphate, and frozen at -16 degrees C until its use in cranioplasty. From 1980 to 1998, cranioplasty has been carried out on 206 patients. They consisted of 118 males and 88 females, and their age ranged in our institute from 1 to 81; average age 51.1. Ruptured aneurysm (48%), head injury (14%), intracranial hemorrhage (23%) and cerebral infarction (12%) were the major causes requiring decompression surgery. We analyse the bone preservation period and the time between cranioplasty and the onset of infection. The infection rates per bone preservation periods, the causes of decompression and age groups are studied. Of the 208 case studies, infection necessitating bone removal or debridement was noted in 8 cases (3.88%). Average bone preservation period in the infected group was 31.1 days as compared with 54.9 days for the non-infected group (p < 0.05). Not patient age but the type of head injury is also a significant factor in post cranioplasty infection.     

The investigation of factors underlying deficits in self-awareness and self-regulation

Primary objective : To examine a theoretical model which suggests that a contribution of both psychological and neuropsychological factors underlie deficits in self-awareness and self-regulation.

Research design : Multivariate design including correlations and analysis of variance (ANOVA).

Methods : Sixty-one subjects with acquired brain injury (ABI) were administered standardized measures of self-awareness and self-regulation. Psychological factors included measures of coping-related denial, personality-related denial and personality change. Neuropsychological factors included an estimate of IQ and two measures of executive functioning that assess capacity for volition and purposive behaviour.

Main outcomes and results : The findings indicated that the relative contribution of neuropsychological factors to an outcome of deficits in self-awareness and self-regulation had a more direct effect than psychological factors. In general, measures of executive functioning had a direct relationship, while measures of coping-related and personality-related denial had an indirect relationship with measures of self-awareness and self-regulation.

Conclusion : The findings highlighted the importance of measuring both neuropsychological and psychological factors and demonstrated that the relative contribution of these variables varies according to different levels of self-awareness and self-regulation.     

Free radial forearm osteocutaneous perforator flap for reconstruction of total nasal defects

A case in which a radial forearm osteocutaneous perforator flap was successfully transferred for one-stage reconstruction of total nasal loss is described. This thin flap consists of vascularized radial bone, superficial adiposal tissue, and no deep fascia. It is nourished by a single perforator of the radial artery and a cutaneous vein. The advantages of this flap are minimal donor-site morbidity, easy reconstruction for preservation of the radial arterial system, and no need for longer dissection through the radial artery. The donor defect can be repaired with a flow-through flap, such as an anterolateral thigh flap or a latissimus dorsi perforator flap.     

High metabolic function of primary human and porcine hepatocytes in a polyurethane foam/spheroid culture system in plasma from patients with fulminant hepatic failure

It has been demonstrated that plasma from patients with fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) interferes extensively with cellular function. We placed primary human and primary porcine hepatocytes in a polyurethane foam (PUF)/spheroid culture system and compared the metabolic functions in the plasma of patients with FHF in a 24-h stationary culture to those in a monolayer culture. The PUF/spheroid culture system using primary human and primary porcine hepatocytes significantly decreased ammonia content during 28-day culture. Fisher's ratio significantly increased at culture days 3 and 7. Tauroursodeoxycholic acid significantly increased and glycochenodeoxycholic acid and taurochenodeoxycholic acid decreased in the FHF patients' plasma at culture day 3. During at least a 24-h culture in the FHF patients' plasma, metabolic functions of primary human and primary porcine hepatocytes were almost identical. The present results indicate that the PUF/spheroid culture system using primary human or primary porcine hepatocytes demonstrated more advantageous metabolic functions in the plasma from patients with FHF than the monolayer culture.     

Operational studies with Valent VectoLex WDG,Bacillus sphaericus,in three Florida Mosquito Control Districts

VectoLex WDG, Bacillus sphaericus (Valent BioSciences Corporation), was evaluated in 3 Florida Mosquito Control Districts under operational conditions. Application rates were 0.5 and 1.0 lb/acre and an untreated control in each district. Study sites included woodland ponds, residential areas such as catch basins, and commercial business retention ponds. Pretreatment and posttreatment assessments were made with a standard dipper at designated dipping stations. The most prevalent mosquitoes included Culex quinquefasciatus, Culex nigripalpus, Culex erraticus, Ochlerotatus infirmatus, Anopheles crucians, Anopheles quadrimaculatus, and Psorophora spp. VectoLex WDG was effective for 24-35 days posttreatment with one application.     

应用DiI染色晶体对人胚胎视神经发育过程的初步研究

目的：应用Dil(1,1′-dioctadecyl-3,3′,3′-tertamethylin-docarbocyanine perchlorate,一种羰花青染料)染色晶体研究人胚胎视网膜、外侧膝状体、上丘及视皮质间连接的形态学特征和动态发育过程。方法：对不同胎龄的7个胎儿眼球标本进行灌注固定后,分别于标本的视束、上丘臂和视皮质下板层植入Dil染色晶体,以标记来自视网膜和外侧膝状体的轴突。于室温下放置4-10周,等待Dil染色晶体扩散,再根据神经走向切片,通过激光共焦扫描显微镜观察并记录植入Dil染色晶体12-28周的结果。结果：植入Dil染色晶体12周时,胎儿标本的视网膜神经纤维投射已经到达外侧膝状体,但尚未出现分层现象;视网膜神经投射也已达到上丘,纤维位于上丘臂的背侧;视皮质下已出现板层结构。植入22周时视皮质下仍存在板层结构。结论：植入Dil染色晶体12周前,视网膜神经纤维投射已达到外侧膝状体和上丘,视皮质下的板层也已经形成,22周后消失。Dil染色技术能有效地用于研究胚胎期视神经的连续发育过程。