No abstract available.
Vascular System Injuries*

This article introduces a new method of thumb reconstruction with the use of an iliac bone graft and a free neurovascular wrap-around flap from the big toe, previously reported by Morrison et al. in 1980. Using this method it is possible to reconstruct a thumb similar to the missing part without total sacrifice of the toe. There is no mobile portion in the reconstructed thumb and motion is provided only by intact joint of traumatized thumb. In thumb reconstruction, it is possible to preserve the nail and its pulp, thus preventing swivelling of the nail and loss of pulp sensation as well as ensuring continued nail growth. This is achieved by free tissue transfer from the 1st web space of the foot, innervated by the deep peroneal nerve and supplied by the dorsalis pedis artery with relatively large diameter. Three cases of thumb reconstruction were performed with this method. Follow up was done for an average of 11.3 months; the rate of viability was 100% with excellent appearance; the 2-point discrimination averaged 8.3 mm.
Arteries ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Follow-Up Studies ; Foot ; Hallux ; Joints ; Methods ; Peroneal Nerve ; Sensation ; Thumb ; Toes ; Transplants

Degloving injuries of the fingers result in avulsion of skin and subcutaneous tissue from the underlying deep fascia, the arterial supply is embarrassed and necrosis may result. Theoretically primary microvascular replantation may be a complete solution, however, the prognosis in terms of both immediate and long term function following avulsed digits is poor. The ideal reconstruction aims at retension of mobility and restoration of a skin cover that is adherent, has a sensibility approaching the norm, and is free from pain. A method of finger reconstruction for an avulsion injury using a free neurovascular wrap-around flap from the big toe may be a choice of treatment for both esthetic and functional aspects.
Fascia ; Fingers ; Hallux ; Methods ; Necrosis ; Prognosis ; Replantation ; Skin ; Subcutaneous Tissue

No abstract available.
Olfactory Bulb* ; Signal Transduction*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Neurons* ; Neurotransmitter Agents* ; Rats*

From March 1983, 20 patients had undergone reconstruction of the upper limb with 22 vascularized composite tissue grafts. The microsurgical procedures had several advantages for reconstruction of injured upper limbs as follows: 1. Free tissue transfer was quite an important and attractive procedure for reconstruction of an injured limb, expecially an upper limb. 2. Free vascularized transfer of composite tissue with its overlying skin was a reliable technique to obtain full thickness soft tissue coverage of a severely injured upper limb when more conservative procedures, such as the use of skin graft or local muscle flaps, had failed or were not feasible. 3. A simple skin flap could be transfered to close an open wound of the limb, but a sensory flap or a special flap such as a nail-skin, tendon-skin or muscle-skin flap was a much better donor for reconstructing the function of the upper limb. 4. When appropriate, the wrap-around procedure was the method of choice for thumb reconstruction because the great toe was preserved. The procedure provided length, stability and adequate sensibility for a functional pinch and grasp. 5. The cosmetic effect of a second-toe transplant might be inferior to the wrap-around flap, but it had the great advantage of being able to provide mobile joints in the reconstructed thumb. As far as the donor foot was concerned, no patients had real trouble functional impairment.
Extremities ; Foot ; Hand Strength ; Humans ; Joints ; Methods ; Microsurgery ; Skin ; Thumb ; Tissue Donors ; Toes ; Transplants ; Upper Extremity ; Wounds and Injuries

In this study, the trypsin gene (bgtryp-1) from the German cockroach, Blattella germanica, was cloned via the immunoscreening of patients with allergies to cockroaches. Nucleotide sequence analysis predicted an 863 bp open reading frame which encodes for 257 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence exhibited 42-57% homology with the serine protease from dust mites, and consisted of a conserved catalytic domain (GDSGGPLV). bgtryp-1 was determined by both Northern and Southern analysis to be a 0.9 kb, single-copy gene. SDS-PAGE and Western blotting analyses of the recombinant protein (Bgtryp-1) over-expressed in Escherichia coli revealed that the molecular mass of the expressed protein was 35 kDa, and the expressed protein was capable of reacting with the sera of cockroach allergy patients. We also discussed the possibility that trypsin excreted by the digestive system of the German cockroach not only functions as an allergen, but also may perform a vital role in the activation of PAR-2.
Allergens/analysis/chemistry/*genetics ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Blattellidae/*genetics ; Blotting, Western ; Catalytic Domain/genetics ; DNA, Complementary/genetics ; Escherichia coli/metabolism ; Female ; *Genes, Insect ; Humans ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Molecular Weight ; Receptor, PAR-2/metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins/analysis/biosynthesis/chemistry ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; Trypsin/analysis/chemistry/*genetics

PURPOSE: We investigated the effects of transurethral needle ablation (TUNA) in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) using a pressure-flow study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 25 patients with symptomatic BPH, and an obstructive pattern on urodynamics, were treated with TUNA. We evaluated the patients before TUNA treatment using the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life scores (QOL), uroflowmetry, postvoid residual volume (PVR) and pressure-flow studies, for a mean of 6 months following treatment. RESULTS: At 6 months after TUNA, the IPSS decreased from a mean of 22.69 to 7.65 (p<0.01). The QOL scores improved from a mean of 4.65 to 2.13 (p<0.01). The peak flow rate and PVR improved from a mean of 8.13ml/sec to 13.79ml/sec and 98.52ml to 39.52ml (p<0.01), respectively. A reduction in the mean detrusor pressure at maximum flow rate (67.21cmH2O to 47.43cmH2O, p<0.01) and the Abrams-Griffiths number (51.39 to 20.65, p<0.01) indicated that TUNA can significantly lower bladder pressure. With the exception of one patient, no patient complained of any severe side effects. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with BPH, TUNA resulted significant clinical improvements, with no major complications, and slightly decreased the bladder outlet obstruction. We suggest that TUNA is a safe and effective method for treating bladder outlet obstructions due to BPH, especially, in patients at high risk of operative morbidity and mortality, and for aged patients afraid of sexual dysfunction and retrograde ejaculation.
Ejaculation ; Humans ; Male ; Mortality ; Needles ; Prostate ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Quality of Life ; Residual Volume ; Tuna* ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction ; Urodynamics

PURPOSE: We investigated the effects of transurethral needle ablation (TUNA) in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) using a pressure-flow study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 25 patients with symptomatic BPH, and an obstructive pattern on urodynamics, were treated with TUNA. We evaluated the patients before TUNA treatment using the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life scores (QOL), uroflowmetry, postvoid residual volume (PVR) and pressure-flow studies, for a mean of 6 months following treatment. RESULTS: At 6 months after TUNA, the IPSS decreased from a mean of 22.69 to 7.65 (p<0.01). The QOL scores improved from a mean of 4.65 to 2.13 (p<0.01). The peak flow rate and PVR improved from a mean of 8.13ml/sec to 13.79ml/sec and 98.52ml to 39.52ml (p<0.01), respectively. A reduction in the mean detrusor pressure at maximum flow rate (67.21cmH2O to 47.43cmH2O, p<0.01) and the Abrams-Griffiths number (51.39 to 20.65, p<0.01) indicated that TUNA can significantly lower bladder pressure. With the exception of one patient, no patient complained of any severe side effects. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with BPH, TUNA resulted significant clinical improvements, with no major complications, and slightly decreased the bladder outlet obstruction. We suggest that TUNA is a safe and effective method for treating bladder outlet obstructions due to BPH, especially, in patients at high risk of operative morbidity and mortality, and for aged patients afraid of sexual dysfunction and retrograde ejaculation.
Ejaculation ; Humans ; Male ; Mortality ; Needles ; Prostate ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Quality of Life ; Residual Volume ; Tuna* ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction ; Urodynamics

No abstract available.
Animals ; Mucous Membrane* ; Rats*