PURPOSE: Reconstruction of the cleft earlobe is challenging. Several procedures are available to reconstruct congenital earlobe deformities. However, for large defective type, surgical procedures and designs are complex and tend to leave a visible scar. We present a simple method of reconstruction for defective type congenital cleft earlobe using a one stage technique with infra-auricular transposition flap. This allows for easy and accurate size estimation and good aesthetic outcomes. METHODS: A 4-year-old male patient has congenital cleft earlobe and antihelical deformity. Otoplasty for antihelical deformity correction and one stage infra-auricular transposition flap for earlobe reconstruction were performed. The flap was designed from the inferoanterior margin of the earlobe. The size of the flap was determined based on the normal side, and the width and length of the flap was 1 cm and 3 cm in size, respectively. An incision was made at the midline of the defective lobule. Further, the elevated flap was inserted. The elevated flap and the incision margins of the lobule were sutured together. Then, the donor site was closed primarily. RESULTS: The volume and shape of the reconstructed earlobe were natural. There was no flap necrosis. The donor site had no morbidities and scar was not easily notable. CONCLUSION: Infra-auricular transposition flap can be designed easily and offer sufficient volume of earlobe. Furthermore, the scar is inconspicuous. In conclusion, infra-auricular transposition flap can be a good option for reconstructing a large defect type cleft earlobe.
Cicatrix ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Humans ; Male ; Necrosis ; Preschool Child ; Tissue Donors

BACKGROUND: Impaired verbal fluency in Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been well documented. Furthermore, crosssectional studies suggest that semantic fluency is disproportionately impaired relative to phonemic fluency in AD. The aim of this study was to determine the ability of fluency measures as follow-up screening tool for mild to moderate AD. METHODS: Participants were recruited from AD patients in mild to moderate stages. We annually evaluated semantic (animal, supermarket) and phonemic (giyeok, siot, ieung) fluency and tested other extensive neuropsychological measures for two years. RESULTS: A total of 33 AD patients were included at baseline and 1-year follow-up, who were aged 70.18+/-5.97 years at baseline. Eleven patients completed a 2-year follow-up. Phonemic fluency total score was not significantly changed during the study period. However, semantic fluency total score tended to decline annually, and significantly declined at 2-year follow-up compared to baseline. In addition, difference score (semantic fluency minus phonemic fluency) was significantly decreased at every follow-up compared to previous year. In Pearson correlation analyses between changes of verbal fluency and other neuropsychological measures, changes of semantic fluency appeared to be significantly correlated with neuropsychological measures much more than changes of phonemic fluency. CONCLUSIONS: Significant longitudinal declines in semantic fluency compared to phonemic fluency seem to be consistent with previous cross-sectional studies. These patterns of changes in verbal fluency were observed even at an interval of one year follow-up in our study. The verbal fluency might be useful follow-up screening test for mild to moderate AD in the memory clinic setting.
Aged ; Alzheimer Disease ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Longitudinal Studies ; Mass Screening ; Memory ; Semantics

PURPOSE: To implant tissue chips in New Zealand rabbits, and thus redurce the frequency with which scattered VX2 carcinoma nodules and early metastasis develop in these animals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: VX2-carcinoma tissue chips of two different sizes were implanted under ultrasonographic guidance. In each of 12 New Zealand rabbits (group 1), there 1-mm tissue chips were implanted in the liver using an 18-gauge needle, and in the same way, one 3-mm chip with an added gelfoam pellet was implanted in the proximal lumen of the liver of each of ten other New Zealand rabbits (group 2). Three weeks after implantation, the animals underwent dvalphase CT scanning and were sacrificed, and the Number and size of tumor nodules, and metastasis were evaluated either macro-or microscopically. RESULTS: In ten rabbits in group I, a total of 21 nodules (16 in the liver, 5 in the peritoneal wall) were observed, which in nine rabbits in group 2, a total of ten nodules-all in the liver-were present. CT scans depicted tumor nodules in 50% of group-I rabbits, and in 29% those in group 2. Mean tumor diameter was 12 +/-9 mm in group 1 and 6.4 +/-3 mm in group 2. Histologic examination indicated the presence of nodular VX2 carcinoma, with varying degrees of central necrosis, a feature more prominent in group 2. CONCLUSION: To provide a well-localized tumor nodule in rabbit liver, tissue chip implantation of VX2 carcinoma, especially with added gelfoam, is a good alternative to intraparenchymal injection of tumor suspension.
Animals ; Gelatin Sponge, Absorbable ; Liver* ; Necrosis ; Needles ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Rabbits ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

No abstract available.
Animals ; Mice* ; Skin*

BACKGROUND: The Kirschner wire (K-wire) technique allows stable fixation of bone fragments without periosteal dissection, which often lead to bone segment scattering and loss. The authors used the K-wire fixation to simplify the treatment of laborious comminuted zygomatic bone fracture and report outcomes following the operation. METHODS: A single-institution retrospective review was performed for all patients with comminuted zygomatic bone fractures between January 2010 and December 2013. In each patient, the zygoma was reduced and fixed with K-wire, which was drilled from the cheek bone and into the contralateral nasal cavity. For severely displaced fractures, the zygomaticofrontal suture was first fixated with a microplate and the K-wire was used to increase the stability of fixation. Each wire was removed approximately 4 weeks after surgery. Surgical outcomes were evaluated for malar eminence, cheek symmetry, Kwire site scar, and complications (based on a 4-point scale from 0 to 3, where 0 point is 'poor' and 3 points is 'excellent'). RESULTS: The review identified 25 patients meeting inclusion criteria (21 men and 4 women). The mean age was 52 years (range, 15-73 years). The mean follow up duration was 6.2 months. The mean operation time was 21 minutes for K-wire alone (n=7) and 52 minutes for K-wire and plate fixation (n=18). Patients who had received K-wire only fixation had severe underlying diseases or accompanying injuries. The mean postoperative evaluation scores were 2.8 for malar contour and 2.7 for K-wire site scars. The mean patient satisfaction was 2.7. There was one case of inflammation due to the K-wire. CONCLUSION: The use of K-wire technique was associated with high patient satisfaction in our review. K-wire fixation technique is useful in patient who require reduction of zygomatic bone fractures in a short operating time.
Bone Wires ; Cheek ; Cicatrix ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fractures, Bone ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Male ; Nasal Cavity ; Patient Satisfaction ; Retrospective Studies ; Sutures ; Zygoma ; Zygomatic Fractures*

The use of human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells for cell transplantation therapy holds great promise for repairing spinal cord injury. Here we report the first clinical trial transplantation of human umbilical cord (hUCB)-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into the spinal cord of a dog suspected to have fibrocartilaginous embolic myelopathy (FCEM) and that experienced a loss of deep pain sensation. Locomotor functions improved following transplantation in a dog. Based on our findings, we suggest that transplantation of hUCB-derived MSCs will have beneficial therapeutic effects on FCEM patients lacking deep pain sensation.
Animals ; Cartilage Diseases/etiology/therapy/*veterinary ; *Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplantation/veterinary ; Dog Diseases/etiology/*therapy ; Dogs ; Embolism/etiology/therapy/*veterinary ; Female ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells/cytology/*metabolism ; Spinal Cord Diseases/etiology/therapy/*veterinary ; Treatment Outcome

BackgroundGlehnia littoralis has been used for traditional Asian medicine, which has diverse therapeutic activities. However, studies regarding neurogenic effects of G. littoralis have not yet been considered. Therefore, in this study, we examined effects of G. littoralis extract on cell proliferation, neuroblast differentiation, and the maturation of newborn neurons in the hippocampus of adult mice.

MethodsA total of 39 male ICR mice (12 weeks old) were randomly assigned to vehicle-treated and 100 and 200 mg/kg G. littoralis extract-treated groups (n = 13 in each group). Vehicle and G. littoralis extract were orally administrated for 28 days. To examine neurogenic effects of G. littoralis extract, we performed immunohistochemistry for 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU, an indicator for cell proliferation) and doublecortin (DCX, an immature neuronal marker) and double immunofluorescence staining for BrdU and neuronal nuclear antigen (NeuN, a mature neuronal marker). In addition, we examined expressional changes of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its major receptor tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB) using Western blotting analysis.

ResultsTreatment with 200 mg/kg, not 100 mg/kg, significantly increased number of BrdU-immunoreactive () and DCX cells (48.0 ± 3.1 and 72.0 ± 3.8 cells/section, respectively) in the subgranular zone (SGZ) of the dentate gyrus (DG) and BrdU/NeuN cells (17.0 ± 1.5 cells/section) in the granule cell layer as well as in the SGZ. In addition, protein levels of BDNF and TrkB (about 232% and 244% of the vehicle-treated group, respectively) were significantly increased in the DG of the mice treated with 200 mg/kg of G. littoralis extract.

ConclusionG. littoralis extract promots cell proliferation, neuroblast differentiation, and neuronal maturation in the hippocampal DG, and neurogenic effects might be closely related to increases of BDNF and TrkB proteins by G. littoralis extract treatment.

Animals ; Apiaceae ; chemistry ; Blotting, Western ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Dentate Gyrus ; cytology ; drug effects ; Hippocampus ; cytology ; drug effects ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Mice ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; metabolism ; Neurogenesis ; drug effects ; Neuropeptides ; metabolism ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Receptor, trkB ; metabolism