A Cost‐effective,Gelatin‐Based Phantom Model for Learning Ultrasound‐Guided Fine‐Needle Aspiration Procedures of the Head and Neck

The rise in popularity of ultrasound imaging has seen a corresponding increase in demand for effective training tools such as phantom models. They are especially useful for teaching and practice of invasive procedures, such as fine‐needle aspiration of lesions of the head and neck. We have created 2 gelatin models out of inexpensive, commonly available materials that can be used in sequence to learn head and neck fine‐needle aspiration. Fundamental skills can be learned first on the flat, rectangular model, whereas the second, cylindrical model more closely represents human anatomy and can be used to develop more advanced technique.     

Human Temporal Bone Removal: The Skull Base Block Method

Objectives To describe a technique for harvesting larger temporal bone specimens from human cadavers for the training of otolaryngology residents and fellows on the various approaches to the lateral and posterolateral skull base. Design Human cadaveric anatomical study. The calvarium was excised 6 cm above the superior aspect of the ear canal. The brain and cerebellum were carefully removed, and the cranial nerves were cut sharply. Two bony cuts were performed, one in the midsagittal plane and the other in the coronal plane at the level of the optic foramen. Setting Medical school anatomy laboratory. Participants Human cadavers. Main Outcome Measures Anatomical contents of specimens and technical effort required. Results Larger temporal bone specimens containing portions of the parietal, occipital, and sphenoidal bones were consistently obtained using this technique of two bone cuts. All specimens were inspected and contained pertinent surface and skull base landmarks. Conclusions The skull base block method allows for larger temporal bone specimens using a two bone cut technique that is efficient and reproducible. These specimens have the necessary anatomical bony landmarks for studying the complexity, utility, and limitations of lateral and posterolateral approaches to the skull base, important for the education of otolaryngology residents and fellows.     

Treatment responses in Asians and Caucasians with chronic hepatitis C infection

AIM：To conduct a multicentre retrospective review of virological response rates in Asians infected with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C（CHC） treated with combination interferon and ribavirin and then to compare their responses to that among Caucasians.
METHODS：Asian patients infected with genotype 1 CHC treated at 4 Australian centres between 2001 to 2005 were identified through hospital databases.Baseline demographic characteristics,biochemical,virological and histological data and details of treatment were collected.Sustained virological responses（SVR） in this cohort were then compared to that in Caucasian subjects,matched by genotype,age,gender and the stage of hepatic fibrosis.
RESULTS：A total of 108 Asians with genotype 1 CHC were identified.The end of treatment response（ETR） for the cohort was 79% while the SVR was 67%.Due to the relatively advanced age of the Asian cohort,only sixty-four subjects could be matched with Caucasians.The ETR among matched Asians and Caucasians was 81% and 56% respectively（P=0.003）,while the SVR rates were 73% and 36%（P 〈0.001） respectively.This difference remained significant after adjusting for other predictive variables.
CONCLUSION： Genotype 1 CHC in Asian subjects is associated with higher rates of virological response compared to that in Caucasians.