Columellar lengthening using the interdigitation of triangular flaps

The most common and striking feature of the bilateral cleft lip nose deformities is a short columella. This problem can be resolved by lengthening the columella. In this article the authors lengthen the columella using the interdigitation of triangular flaps in the upper lip tissue. The columellar elongation is made by an advancement of nostril tissue and an interdigitation of the triangular flaps. Our method shows good aesthetic results. The triangular flaps that are intersected without excision make the columellar base pyramidal and medially directs the alar bases, narrowing the width of the nostril sills. Though the optimal columellar lengthening procedure can vary according to the deformed anatomy of the nose and lip, this method deserves to be considered especially in patients who have sufficient tissue in their nostril sills.     

多发脑转移瘤VMAT计划中MLC插指功能剂量学研究

目的 通过比较有无MLC插指功能的VMAT计划剂量学差异,探究MLC插指在多发脑转移瘤VMAT计划中的优势。方法 回顾本院 15例多发脑转移瘤患者数据。首先在定位CT图像上设计有MLC插指功能权限的双弧VMAT计划(VMAT-1)。随后不改变计划参数,摒弃插指功能权限,重新优化计算得到无MLC插指功能的VMAT-2计划。比较两种计划在靶区CI和HI、OAR受量、机器跳数、控制点数、计划执行时间和计划耗时方面差异。采用Wilcoxon符号秩和检验。结果 VMAT-1的均匀性优于VMAT-2(P=0.04),两种计划的适形度基本相当(P=0.33)。VMAT-1计划中PTV的 D_98%高于VMAT-2(P=0.04)。VMAT-1中的脑干 D_mean比VMAT-2降低了4%(P=0.04),其他OAR参数基本相当。部分病例显示VMAT-1计划有着相邻横断面的肿瘤交界处正常组织受量更少的特点。VMAT-1计划机器跳数比VMAT-2增加了4%(P=0.01)。两种计划的控制点数和预估执行时间相近(P=0.81、0.73)。VMAT-1的计划制作耗时较VMAT-2减少了26%(P=0.00)。结论 在多发脑转移瘤VMAT计划中,MLC插指功能可缩短VMAT优化时间,提高优化效率。     

Synergistic absorption enhancement of salmon calcitonin and reversible mucosal injury by applying a mucolytic agent and a non-ionic surfactant

Using high sensitivity differential scanning calorimetry (HSDSC), the phase transitions of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) liposomal bilayers and their interaction with the model steroid beclometasone dipropionate (BDP) were found to be dependent on the method of liposome manufacture. Ethanol-based proliposomes produced liposomes having no phospholipid pretransition, a main transition of high enthalpy and a low onset temperature, and a very low incorporation of the steroid (maximum 1 mol%). This was attributed to an alcohol-induced interdigitation of the bilayers, which was not apparently reversed by flushing the liposome dispersion with nitrogen in an attempt to remove ethanol. For liposomes manufactured by thin film or particulate-based proliposome methods, 1–2.5 mol% steroid was optimal for incorporation within bilayers, although the nature of the steroid interaction with the bilayers differed between the two methods. For liposomes manufactured by the thin film method, a higher steroid concentration resulted in a broadened main transition and a reduced melting cooperativity. This suggests that BDP formed separate domains within the bilayers which caused non-ideal mixing and phase separation at 5 mol% steroid. This observation was absent for liposomes generated from particulate-based proliposomes, indicating separate steroid domains were not formed and subsequent non-ideal mixing and phase separation did not occur. In addition, liposomes generated from particulate-based proliposomes showed reduced pretransition and main transition enthalpies. These differences were attributed to the employment of sucrose to manufacture the particulate-based proliposomes. This study has shown that the thermal behaviour of liposomes and their interaction with beclometasone dipropionate were dependent on the method of liposome manufacture. Moreover, particulate-based proliposomes may provide a reasonable alternative to the conventional thin film method in producing liposomes incorporating this steroid.     

Cholesterol oxidation reduces Ca + Mg-ATPase activity, interdigitation, and increases fluidity of brain synaptic plasma membranes

These experiments examined effects of cholesterol oxidation on Ca²⁺+Mg²⁺-ATPase activity, Na⁺+K⁺-ATPase activity, and membrane structure of brain synaptic plasma membranes (SPM). Cholesterol oxidase [E.C.1.1.3.6 fromBrevibacterium sp.] was used to oxidize cholesterol. Two cholesterol pools were identified in synaptosomal membranes based on their accessibility to cholesterol oxidase. A rapidly oxidized cholesterol pool was observed with a¹t₁₂ of 1.19±0.09 min and a second pool with a²t₁₂ of 38.30±4.16 min. Activity of Ca²⁺+Mg²⁺-ATPase was inhibited by low levels of cholesterol oxidation. Ten percent cholesterol oxidation, for example, resulted in approximately 35% percent inhibition of Ca²⁺+Mg²⁺-ATPase activity. After 13% cholesterol oxidation, further inhibition of Ca²⁺+Mg²⁺-ATPase activity was not observed. Activity of Na⁺+K⁺-ATPase was not affected by different levels of cholesterol oxidation (5%–40%). SPM interdigitation was significantly reduced and fluidity was significantly increased by cholesterol oxidation. The relatiobship observed between SPM interdigitation and Ca²⁺+Mg²⁺-ATPase activity was consistent with studies using model membranes [7]. Brain SPM function and structure were altered by relatively low levels of cholesterol oxidation and is a new approach to understanding cholesterol dynamics and neuronal function. The sensitivity of brain SPM to cholesterol oxidation may be important with respect to the proposed association between oxygen free radicals and certain neurodegenerative diseases.