Open rhinoplasty for treatment of nasal tip haemangioma

Haemangiomas are the most common tumours of infancy. They typically proliferate then involute with considerable variation as regards to their rates of proliferation and involution. Haemangioma of the nasal tip is a lesion of special characteristics. During proliferation, it expands, contracts and deviates the nasal cartilages. Particularly, it regresses slowly and frequently involutes incompletely. That is why excision of the lesion is frequently suggested. The present study was conducted to evaluate open rhinoplasty after initial non-excision treatment modalities namely, intra-lesional corticosteroid injections and laser treatment, as a protocol of treatment for nasal tip haemangiomas. Twelve patients with nasal tip haemangiomas were included in the present study. Patients of both sexes, of different ages, with deep and mixed haemangiomas were studied. Disfigurement was the constant presenting symptom. Initial non-excision treatment reported different responses as denoted by the regression of the lesions’ size. Haemangiomas constantly extended between the medial crura of the alar cartilages as noted by the constant widening of the columella pre-operatively and the obvious separation of the nasal cartilages intra-operatively. This separation was constantly found to require approximation by sutures. The results of the present study concluded that whenever an early presentation with nasal tip haemangioma could be established, initial non-excision treatment followed by open rhinoplasty could be a useful protocol of treatment. Within the limitations of the present study, this protocol could achieve an early, safe and effective treatment for nasal tip haemangiomas with provisionally acceptable cosmetic outcomes so far.     

The spring-back phenomenon: does the final position of the nipple areola complex correspond to the pre-operative markings in reduction mammoplasty?

This study investigates whether tissue recoil or patient intrinsic factors influence the final position of the nipple areola complex (NAC) after reduction mammoplasty. The age, pre-operative ptosis, BMI and weight of the tissue resected were recorded as patient intrinsic factors in 37 patients undergoing reduction mammoplasty. The “spring-back” value was defined as the distance from the sternal notch to a nipple landmark on the breast meridian with the patient sitting up, minus the same measurement repeated with the patient recumbent to eliminate the pull of gravity on the breast. Spring back was measured pre-operatively for the nipple and nipple mark then post-operative for the nipple. The difference in centimeters between the final post-operative distance from the sternal notch to the nipple and the level intended by the pre-operative nipple mark was termed the “judgment error.” The final position of the post-operative nipple and the judgment error was compared to the spring-back values and patient intrinsic factors. Pre-operative ptosis was statistically related to increasing patient BMI and mass of tissue resected per breast. Pre-operative spring-back values for the nipple increased with increasing ptosis, BMI and decreasing age. Spring-back values were greater in the lower pole of the breast than in the upper pole. The final position of the nipple was higher than the pre-operative mark in 65% of cases, lower in 8% and as marked in 27% of cases. The post-operative NAC was, on average, 0.6 cm higher than planned pre-operatively. The post-operative distance from the sternal notch to the nipple increased with increasing pre-operative ptosis, mass of breast tissue resected per breast and all three spring-back values. The difference between the level of the pre-operative mark and the final nipple position showed a weak correlation with post-operative spring-back values. The parameters of ptosis, BMI, weight of tissue resected per breast and pre-operative nipple spring back reflect body habitus and breast size. Spring-back values vary between the upper and lower pole of the breast. The final NAC position was higher than that intended at pre-operative marking in the majority of cases. The surgeon instinctively marks the nipple lower in patients with greater pre-operative ptosis and in whom a larger resection is anticipated. Judgment error did not relate to intrinsic factors nor to pre-operative spring-back values; hence, these parameters cannot be applied as predictive tools for more accurate pre-operative marking of the nipple position. This study suggests that the pre-operative nipple mark should be placed, with the patient sitting up, at least 23 cm from the sternal notch and 0.6 cm lower than the final position estimated using the inframammary crease as a landmark. An invited commentary on this paper is available at .     

Early imaging in heart failure: Exploring novel molecular targets

Conclusions  Noninvasive imaging of neurohumoral upregulation in remodeled myocardium suggests that an imaging strategy can be developed for predicting the rate of remodeling and likelihood of HF development. This should allow a more judicious use of neurohumoral antagonists especially in subjects who do not have manifest HF.⁷⁴ In others specific targeted imaging may allow timely selection of individualized treatment strategies and ensure optimization of therapeutic intervention. Similar to ACE and AII receptors, multiple other targets in the hormonal cascades can identify the likelihood of adverse and favorable remodeling.⁷⁴     

Observations on pathological and histochemical changes in piglet livers infected with Taenia saginata asiatica

To study the pathological and histochemical characteristics of lesions in piglet livers infected with Taenia saginata asiatica (T. saginata asiatica) throughout the different stages, piglets were fed with eggs of T. saginata asiatica and raised in isolation in an animal center to establish the T. saginata asiatica infection model with normal piglets as control. The pathological changes in the piglet livers were observed after the infection using liver sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Histochemical methods were used to check the changes in lipid, glycogen and protein content in the liver. The data collected by image analysis were analyzed statistically with Statistical Package for the Social Science. The results show that T. saginata asiatica-exposed piglets were indeed infected. Inflammatory reactions began on the fourth day and progressed rapidly. Kupffer cell hyperplasia, hepatic hydropic degeneration and ballooning degeneration were found in the 10th–20th days after infection. Hepatic central veins and hepatic sinusoids were dilated and congested. Spotty necrosis occurred in some local liver tissues. In the 40th–60th days, granulomatous reactions and mild hepatocirrhosis were the main lesions. In the 70th–80th days, hepatocirrhosis and bile duct proliferation were observed in the liver. In the different stages, lipid drops were increased while glycogen and protein levels were decreased to some degree. There was a significant difference in metabolism between the infected group and the control group (P < 0.01). It is concluded that pigs are the favorable intermediate host of T. saginata asiatica and its infection can result in serious pathological and histochemical lesions in host organs. Translated from Journal of Guiyang Medical College, 2006, 31(4): 296–300 [译自: 贵阳医学院学报]     

胸部类癌

本文报道了３１例胸部类癌，其中胸腺类癌１４例，支气管类癌１７例，伴有异位ＡＣＴＨ综合征者１７例。１２例患者发生转移（３９％），２４例行原发肿瘤全部或部分切除，术后放疗或化疗或两者均有者１７例，４例仅行探查并取活检，２８例经手术及病理证实。     

斑点—酶联免疫吸附试验检测卡氏肺孢子虫

应用完整的卡氏肺孢子虫包囊作抗原，以４×１０＾７／ｍｌ包裹点样，作斑点－酶联免疫吸附试验检测肺印片卡氏肺孢子虫包囊阳性的ＢＡＬＢ／ｃ小鼠血清２０份，同时检测包囊阴性的小鼠血清２０份，结果除一份小鼠血清ＩｇＧ阴性反应外，均为阳性反应，阳性率为９５％；而正常对照血清全为阴性反应。另外，检测了３份纤支镜刷检物中包囊阳性的病人血清，均为阳性反应；５０例健康孕妇血清的检查，抗体阳性率为１２％。