OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this study was to provide the guidelines with respect to the location of the facial vessels, observe the potential reversed flow of the facial artery, and reemphasize the value of color Doppler ultrasound studies in flap planning.

METHODSA study was carried out to investigate the location and dynamics of the facial artery and vein using color Doppler ultrasonography in 12 adults.

RESULTSThe facial artery and the vein were located together at the lower border of the mandible. Around the oral commissure and under the nasal ala, they run apart from each other at variable distances. The reverse flow was observed in the 12 patients after the blood flow of the facial artery was blocked by applying pressure manually at the lower border of the mandible.

CONCLUSIONSThe divergence of the facial vein from the artery is important information in planning of axial pattern flaps. Observation of the reversed flow confirms the possibility of safe elevation of a retrograde flow-arterialized flap based on the distal portion of the facial artery.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Arteries ; diagnostic imaging ; Face ; blood supply ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color ; methods ; Veins ; diagnostic imaging

OBJECTIVETo observe sperm motion parameters in pre-freeze and post-thaw semen samples using computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) system.

METHODSSemen analyses of 238 samples before freezing and after thawing were separately performed by Hamilton-Thorne Sperm Analyzer.

RESULTSSperm motility in post-thaw samples was significantly decreased. There was significant correlation and difference between pre-freeze and post-thaw samples in sperm motion parameters, including average path velocity (VAP), straight line velocity (VSL), curvilinear velocity (VCL), amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH), straightness (STR) and linearity (LIN), except heat cross frequency (BCF). The percentage of sperm movement velocity parameters (VAP, VSL and VCL) and moving pattern parameters (ALH) significantly decreased, while that of LIN and STR significantly increased in post-thaw samples.

CONCLUSIONCASA system is of clinically applied value and is a useful tool for evaluating sperm motion parameters in pre-freeze and post-thaw semen samples.

Cryopreservation ; Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted ; Freezing ; Humans ; Male ; Sperm Motility

Objective To study the correlation between the sonographic features of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) and high volume lymph node metastasis. Methods Medical records of 463 PTMC patients were reviewed. Cases of all patients are completed with lymph node metastasis identified by histopathology. Sonographic features such as lesion number, lesion size, echogenicity, calcification, envelope and vascularity of papillary microcarcinoma are recorded. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed to investigating relationship between sonographic features and high volume lymph node metastasis. Results Twenty four patients have high volume central lymph node metastasis (5.2%, 24/463), in univariate analysis,sex(11.2% in male vs 3.4% in female),age(8.3% in<45 years vs 2.4% in≥45 years),calcification(8.3% in micro vs 0.0% in coarse, 3.2% in mixed and 0.7% in non) , extracapsular invasion (9.3% with vs 3.2% without)and size(9.2% in ≥7 mm vs 2.5% in <7 mm)showed significant difference;multiple logistic regression analysis showed that male(OR=3.205,P=0.009),age<45 years(OR=2.923,P=0.031), microcalcification(OR=9.380,P=0.031)and tumor size≥7mm(OR=3.272,P=0.013)is independent risk factor for high volume lymph node metastasis in the central compartment of PTMC. 10 patients have high volume lateral lymph node metastasis(2.2%,10/463),in univariate analysis,age(4.1% in<45 years vs 0.4% in≥45 years),number of lesions(5.3% in multiple vs 0.9% in single)showed significant difference;multiple logistic regression analysis showed that age < 45 years (OR=11.939,P=0.024) and multiple lesion (OR=7.247, P=0.007) is independent risk factor for high volume lymph node metastasis in the lateral compartment of PTMC. Conclusion Sonographic features of primary papillary microcarcinoma of the thyroid has correlation with high volume lymph node metastasis.