Surgical treatment of acne scarring by using skin grating knife

Summary A method of dermaplaning for acne scarring using a skin graft knife is described. This surgical technique cannot be considered as a form of dermabrasion. Its advantages are reported.     

Combined mortality and morbidity of direct surgical treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm

Two hundred aneurysms of the abdominal aorta were treated surgically from 1980 to 1987 by the same surgeon. There were 187 men and 13 women whose mean age was 66.1 years. Nine patients were 80-years-old or more. Eighty-seven percent of patients had preoperative risk factors, 30% of which were coronary artery disease. The operative approach was through a transverse laparotomy in 188 patients compared to 11 midline incisions and one lumbotomy. An aortoaortic tube was inserted in 87 patients, a bifurcated prosthesis in 99, and a tube bypass in 14. Five patients (2.5%) died within the 30 day perioperative period. Death was due to colonic necrosis, right heart chamber thrombosis, renal failure after repeat operation for acute lower limb ischemia, and myocardial infarction associated with renal and respiratory failure. The morbidity rate was 15.7% (31 patients) and included seven neurologic accidents, four respiratory complications, five ischemic events of the lower limbs requiring reoperation and one amputation, four cardiac complications, two renal failures, one reversible colonic ischemia, one revision for incomplete hemostasis, one phlebitis, one sliding syndrome, and five minor infections or cutaneous complications. Mean duration of hospital stay was 10.9 days. These results confirm that direct operation on aortic aneurysms can be performed in patients from all age groups and even with associated diseases. A rapid, simple technique based on a transverse approach, minimal dissection and insertion of aortoaortic tubes, whenever feasible, appears to reduce combined mortality-morbidity.Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Societé de Chirurgie Vasculaire de Langue Française, May 20–21, 1988, La Grande Motte, France.     

Damage mechanics and load failure of fiber-reinforced composite fixed partial dentures

OBJECTIVES: Damage mechanics has been defined as the study of the initiation (initial failure) and accumulation of damage to and including rupture (final failure). This study was designed to evaluate the effect of increasing fiber-reinforced composite (FRC) substructure within a standardized fixed partial denture (FPD) model on the failure performance, in terms of damage mechanics. METHODS: The two FRC restorative systems, Targis/Vectris (TV) (Ivoclar Vivadent) and EverStick (ES) (Stick Tech with Gradia, GC Corp.), were used to restore the molar FPD model (1.5 mm axial and 2.0 mm occlusal reduction). Templates were used to standardize substructure designs with 0, 18, 43, and 66% cross-sectional FRC volume fraction (V(FRC)) of fiber substructure. Specimens (n = 5) were homogenized at 29 points and stored for 1 week at 37 degrees C in distilled water. Specimens were luted with calcium hydroxide, then statically loaded until failure. Initial failure (IF), final failure (FF) and the mode of failure were recorded. RESULTS: The lowest mean load to initial failure was 530 N (TV 18%) and the highest was 1208 N (ES 66%). Linear regression analysis calculated the Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) for the interactions between V(FRC) and IF (ES: r = 0.7879, TV: r = 0.6184), V(FRC) and FF (ES: r = 0.912, TV: r = 0.8152), and between IF and FF (ES: r = 0.892, TV: r = 0.7237). Unreinforced specimens universally fractured instantaneously. SIGNIFICANCE: The highest loads to initial and final failure were yielded by specimens with the highest cross-sectional V(FRC).     

Calcineurin Inhibitor Withdrawal from Sirolimus-Based Therapy in Kidney Transplantation: A Systematic Review of Randomized Trials

Calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) withdrawal has been used as a strategy to improve renal allograft function, however, it also carries risk of acute rejection. We conducted a systematic review of randomized trials that involved CNI withdrawal from a sirolimus-based immunosuppressive regimen. The search strategy yielded six trials (n = 1047 patients) reported in eight publications. CNI withdrawal from sirolimus-based therapy, was associated with an increased risk of acute rejection (risk difference, 6%; 95% CI 2-10%, p = 0.002) but a higher creatinine clearance (mean difference, 7.49 mL/min; 95% CI 5.08-9.89 mL/min, p < 0.00001) at 1 year compared to continued CNI and sirolimus therapy. Graft loss (relative risk, 0.87; 95% CI 0.46-1.64, p = 0.66) and death (relative risk, 0.88; CI 0.40-1.96, p = 0.76) were similar in both groups at 1 year. Hypertension was significantly reduced in the CNI withdrawal group (relative risk, 0.56; 95% CI 0.40-0.78, p = 0.0006). CNI withdrawal from sirolimus-based therapy is associated with an increased risk of acute rejection in the short term with a significant improvement in renal function and a reduction in hypertension. Longer follow-up is needed to determine if these changes will result in a significant improvement in patient and graft survival.     

Extremely High Association Between Appearance of HLA Antibodies and Failure of Kidney Grafts in a Five-Year Longitudinal Study

Longitudinal studies were conducted over a five-year period for HLA antibodies on 493 sera tested from 54 kidney transplant patients. HLA single antigen beads were employed to establish donor specificity of the antibodies. Only 3 of 22 patients without antibodies rejected a graft in contrast to 17 out of 32 patients with posttransplant antibodies (p = 0.003). Using a serum creatinine value of 4.0 mg/dL as the cut-off for a failed graft, 4 of 22 patients without antibodies failed compared to 21 of 32 with antibodies (p = 0.0006). Among patients with donor-specific antibodies (DSA) 13 of 15 failed (p = 0.000004). Even among patients with non-donor specific antibodies (NDSA), 8 of 17 failed (p = 0.05). Among patients who could be identified as making de novo antibodies (since they developed antibodies while not having antibodies for more than six months after transplantation), 6 of 11 failed (p = 0.03). Sequential testing for HLA antibodies shows that antibodies appear prior to a rise in serum creatinine and subsequent graft failure. The very strong association between the production of HLA antibodies after transplantation and graft failure indicates the importance of monitoring for posttransplant HLA antibodies.     

医用硫酸钙在家兔腰椎融合模型中的成骨能力

[目的]通过与自体髂骨进行比较,评价医用硫酸钙单独应用的成骨能力,并探讨其可能的成骨机理。[方法]建立家兔腰椎后外侧融合模型,以自身作为对照,双侧横突间植骨,左侧植入硫酸钙颗粒,右侧植入自体髂骨。于术后3、6、12周行X线、CT及组织学检查。[结果]术后3周,硫酸钙尚可见残留颗粒,自体骨完全降解;植骨区域内均可见到大量的破骨细胞,并有血管纤维组织长入。术后6周,硫酸钙完全降解,影像学检查两者之间没有明显的差异,表现为局部骨密度增高,新骨成形;组织学检查两侧植骨区内均为大量的透明软骨形成,自体髂骨植骨区内可见散在的骨小梁结构。术后12周,组织学及影像学上二者没有任何的差别,两侧形成的骨组织与家兔的椎体骨组织结构相同。[结论]医用硫酸钙作为骨移植替代材料,除了具有良好的骨传导性外,硫酸钙可能还具有骨诱导性,其成骨能力与自体髂骨相当,医用硫酸钙单独应用可以取得良好的融合效果。     

Estenia瓷树脂复合体制作冠桥的强度测试

目的:探讨Estenia瓷树脂复合体的强度,并与其他几种树脂材料进行比较,为临床选择冠桥树脂材料提供参考。方法:采用Estenia瓷树脂复合体体外模拟下颌第一磨牙单冠和第一磨牙缺失3个单位固定桥的形态,测试单冠的抗压强度和固定桥的抗弯强度,并与Artglass、Solidex、Targis3种树脂材料在相同实验方法下测试得到的结果作比较。结果:Estenia瓷树脂单冠的折裂最大载荷均值为600.20N,Estenia瓷树脂桥的折裂最大载荷均值为302.53N。结论:Estenia瓷树脂复合体的强度高于Artglass﹑Solidex和Targis树脂复合体。     

带臀中肌蒂骨移植加内固定治疗股骨颈骨折

应用带臀中肌蒂骨移植加加压螺纹钉内固定治疗不稳定型股骨颈骨折.通过对31例5年以上的随访,骨折愈合率达96.8%,优良率达92.9%.切除该肌骨瓣不影响臀中肌功能,骨块用七号丝线固定.对采用Watson—Jones氏切口行切开整复的不稳定型股骨颈骨折,本法可首选.     

Secondary reconstruction of the short philtrum in the bilateral cleft deformity

Summary This technique for reconstruction of the short philtrum requires an understanding of the viscoelastic properties of the skin and how to use these to increase skin dimensions. This is combined with contouring and splinting with a subcutaneous cartilage graft. Three representative cases are presented to illustrate the method to achieve an aesthetically acceptable lip and its long-term follow-up. No complications have been encountered using this over a 15-year period. The technique can be combined with other secondary reconstructive procedures on the lip and palate. Work completed at: Providence Hospital, 16001 West Nine Mile Road, P.O. Box 2043, Southfield, Michigan 48037, USA