Portion Of Head Research Articles

Economic and Demographic Characteristics of Cerumen Extraction Claims to Medicare.

Cerumen extractions are performed in a large portion of otolaryngology and head and neck surgery practices. The burden on the health care system of cerumen extractions is unknown and demographics have not been characterized at a population level. To quantify the cost burden and health care burden of cerumen extraction among Medicare recipients in the United States. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted of all cerumen disimpactions documented in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Provider Utilization and Payment database from January 1 to December 31, 2012. Data analysis was conducted from August 4, 2014, to July 24, 2015. Cerumen disimpaction. Cerumen extractions were analyzed by state, medical or surgical specialty, reimbursement, and type of health care professional performing the extraction. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services reimbursed $46.8 million for 1.3 million cerumen disimpactions in 2012 (mean, $35.38 per procedure). The mean reimbursement rate per cerumen disimpaction varied by state from $25.41 in Puerto Rico to to $40.24 in New Jersey. The percentage of Medicare beneficiaries receiving cerumen extractions per state ranged from 0.55% in Puerto Rico to 4.92% in New Jersey. California had the overall highest total number of cerumen disimpactions (n = 132 823). The majority of cerumen extractions were performed by otolaryngology-head and neck practitioners (67.60%), although internal medicine (32.66%) and family practice (33.87%) had a higher amount of practitioners performing the procedure. The majority of cerumen extractions are performed by physicians (90.53%). Cerumen extraction is one of the most common procedures performed by otolaryngology health care professionals. Practice patterns and reimbursement rates vary greatly across the country.

The impact of taphonomic data on phylogenetic resolution: Helenodora inopinata (Carboniferous, Mazon Creek Lagerstätte) and the onychophoran stem lineage.

BackgroundThe origin of the body plan of modern velvet worms (Onychophora) lies in the extinct lobopodians of the Palaeozoic. Helenodora inopinata, from the Mazon Creek Lagerstätte of Illinois (Francis Creek Shale, Carbondale Formation, Middle Pennsylvanian), has been proposed as an intermediate between the “weird wonders” of the Cambrian seas and modern terrestrial predatory onychophorans. The type material of H. inopinata, however, leaves much of the crucial anatomy unknown.ResultsHere we present a redescription of this taxon based on more complete material, including new details of the head and posterior portion of the trunk, informed by the results of experimental decay of extant onychophorans. H. inopinata is indeed best resolved as a stem-onychophoran, but lacks several key features of modern velvet worms including, crucially, those that would suggest a terrestrial mode of life.ConclusionsThe presence of H. inopinata in the Carboniferous demonstrates the survival of a Cambrian marine morphotype, and a likely post-Carboniferous origin of crown-Onychophora. Our analysis also demonstrates that taphonomically informed tests of character interpretations have the potential to improve phylogenetic resolution.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12862-016-0582-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Three-Dimensional Computerized Tomography-Assisted Identification of Necrotic Volume, Distribution, Shape and Prognosis of Collapse in ONFH

Objective: We constructed 3D-model of ONFH in computer according to three-dimensional computerized tomography (3D-CT) data. We determined the location and volume of necrosis to investigate its clinical efficacy. Method: Totally 92 hips (59 cases) with ONFH (44 males, 15 females) were included, with mean age of 37.5 years (range from 26 to 58). Totally 20 cases (35 hips) were induced by corticosteroid (CTSs), 31 (49 hips) induced by alcohol, 4 (4 hips) induced by trauma and 4 (4 hips) idiopathic. All the hips were categorized into stage ARCO II. Finally diagnosed by MRI, all hips were scanned by CT to acquire data in DICOM format. The images were imported into software to extract 3D-shape of femoral heads, necrotic foci, their volumes and distribution in each quadrant. Deviation of volumes between digital image and biopsy specimen was analyzed by SAS9.1 package. Correlativity between collapse and volume of necrosis under specific pathogeneses was also analyzed. Among the cases necessitating total hip arthroplasty (THA) due to advancing to ARCO III, we randomly selected 8 of them to perform 3D-CT scanning thrice prior to surgical operation. Total femoral heads harvested were torn asunder. Cubic capacity of femoral heads and necrotic foci were hereby measured and compared with those acquired from digital models. Result: Through the digital model, necrotic foci were found mainly locating within the super lateral portion of femoral head, coinciding with those observed in biopsy specimen. Average volumetric ratio of digitally acquired necrosis focus/femoral head in 58 collapsed hips was 36.8%. The ratio of the 34 hips without collapse was 17.3%. In collapsed femoral heads, the distribution of necrosis focus was 23.4% in quadrant 1 (q1), 23.6% in q2, 12.1% in q3, 14.4% in q4, 9.0% in q5, 11.8% in q6, 1.6% in q7 and 3.9% in q8. In femoral heads without collapse, the distribution was 34.2% in q1, 29.6% in q2, 11.8% in q3, 11.3% in q4, 6.0% in q5, 6.0% in q6, 0.5% in q7 and 0.4% in q8. As for the average cubic capacities of femoral heads and necrotic foci, those acquired from the digital model and biopsy specimen had no significant difference in matched-pairs test (t = -1.49, P = 0.179 for femoral heads and t = -1.52, P = 0.172 for necrotic foci). There was significant difference (F = 2.720, P = 0.035 < 0.05) among volumetric ratios of necrotic focus/total femoral head under different pathogeneses, which were 33.55% in alcohol-induced cases, 26.74% in the CTSs-induced, 40.41% in the trauma-induced, and 18.39% in idiopathic cases. Shapes of necrotic foci could be subdivided into 5 types: vault, sublobe, dumbbell, ball and petal. The distribution of these 5 types of shape was different among necroses caused by CTSs, alcohol, trauma and idiopathic pathogeneses. The distribution in 58 collapsed femoral heads was also distinct from that in 34 femoral heads without collapse. Through multinomial logistic regression, we analyzed the correlativity among volumetric ratios of necrotic tissue, its distribution in q2(superioanteriomedial portion of femoral head) and collapse. The result showed statistical significance (P was respectively 0.0001 and 0.0005). Decision tree model showed that 94.6% (53/56) hips would progress into collapse if the volumetric ratio of necrotic tissue was over 23.48%. Otherwise, if distribution in q2 was over 45.13%, 83.3% (5/6) hips would progress into collapse. No collapse (0/30) would occur if the distribution of necrotic tissue in q2 was under 45.13%. Conclusion: Digital 3D-model reconstructed from CT scanning can precisely incarnate spatial orientation of necrotic foci in femoral head. Multinomial logistic regression and decision-making tree shows that volumetric ratio of necrotic tissues plays an important role in anticipating collapse of femoral head.

Superior Retinacular Artery Did Not Occlude in a Rat Model of the Non-Traumatic Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head

Non-traumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is believed to be avascular necrosis. Certainly, a disruption of a supplying artery induces necrosis in the supplying artery-dominant region. However, when an abnormality such as cell apoptosis, or another reason, is developed in the supplying artery-dominant region, it induces a disruption of the supplying artery. Therefore, to prove that ONFH is avascular necrosis, it is necessary to demonstrate the disruption of the supplying artery prior to histological osteonecrosis development. Here we investigate histologically, using a rat model, whether disruption of the supplying artery occurs before the initial development of ONFH following corticosteroid treatment. Rats were given imiquimod and methylprednisolone, and were sacrificed 1, 2, 3, 7 or 14 days after the last injection. At the sacrifice, the rat was perfused with 20 ml black Indian ink through the left ventricle. ONFH was observed in the Imiquimod + Methylprednisolone group at 7 and 14 days. The osteonecrotic area was not stained with perfused black Indian ink. However, the lateral portion of the femoral head near the superior retinacular artery was stained with the ink. In conclusion, the present study shows that the superior retinacular artery did not occlude before the initial development of ONFH histologically in rats.

Tunable Affinity and Molecular Architecture Lead to Diverse Self-Assembled Supramolecular Structures in Thin Films.

The self-assembly behavior of specifically designed giant surfactants is systematically studied in thin films using grazing incidence X-ray scattering and transmission electron microscopy, focusing on the effects of molecular nanoparticle (MNP) functionalities and molecular architectures on nanostructure formation. Two MNPs with different surface functionalities, i.e., hydrophilic carboxylic acid functionalized [60]fullerene (AC60) and omniphobic fluorinated polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (FPOSS), are utilized as the head portions of the giant surfactants. By covalently tethering these functional MNPs onto the end point or junction point of polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (PS-b-PEO) diblock copolymer, linear and star-like giant surfactants with different molecular architectures are constructed. With fixed length of the PEO block, changing the molecular weight of the PS block leads to the formation of various ordered phases and phase transitions. Due to the distinct affinity, the AC60-based and FPOSS-based giant surfactants form two- or three-component morphologies, respectively. A stretching parameter for the PS block is introduced to characterize the PS chain conformation in the different morphologies. The highly diverse self-assembled nanostructures with high etch resistance between components in small dimensions obtained from the giant surfactant thin films suggest that these macromolecules could provide a promising and robust platform for nanolithography applications.

The role of human papillomavirus in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: A case control study on a southern Chinese population.

HPV plays a role in the development of a portion of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), but only limited information on its role in southern Chinese population is available. A multicenter case-control study was conducted. HPV type, viral integration, E6/7 mRNA expression status, and TP53 mutation were determined. A total of 228 HNSCC were recruited including 137 (60.1%) oral SCC, 34 (14.9%) oropharyngeal SCC, 31 (13.6%) laryngeal SCC, 21 (9.2%) hypopharyngeal SCC, and 5 (2.2%) lip and paranasal sinus SCC. High-risk HPV infection was found in 7.5% (17/228) of HNSCC, but only a small proportion of samples had evidence of viral integration (5.3%, 12/228) or E6/7 mRNA expression (4.4%, 10/228). HPV infection with oncogenic phenotype (integration and E6/7 mRNA expression) was significantly more common in oropharyngeal SCC than controls (9/34, 26.5% vs. 0/42, 0.0%, P < 0.001). Smoking showed a significant association with HNSCC, oropharyngeal SCC, and laryngeal SCC. TP53 mutation was associated with HNSCC (P < 0.001). Older age, TP53 mutation, and HPV16 infection with oncogenic phenotypes were independently associated factors for HNSCC with odds ratios of 1.03 (1.02-1.05), 3.38 (1.71-6.66), and 9.19 (1.13-74.68), respectively. High-risk HPV infection of head and neck mucosa is not uncommon in the Hong Kong population. This study found that 26-30% of oropharyngeal carcinoma was associated with HPV infection, mostly HPV16, and that smoking which predisposes to TP53 mutations was another important risk factor.

Independent component analysis of cycle resolved combustion images from a spark ignition optical engine

This paper reports on the application of independent component analysis (ICA) to 2D cycle-resolved images of the luminous combustion, collected in a port fuel injection spark ignition optically accessible engine. The method of ICA is employed for the identification of the independent spatial components, which along with the corresponding time dependent coefficients, represent the spatiotemporal evolution of the luminous combustion during a single cycle and over a number of cycles. ICA is applied on the data preprocessed by proper orthogonal decomposition (POD). POD-filtered ICA permits to determine only few dominant and relatively easy interpretable independent components. Successively, and for comparison, ICA is applied to the non-truncated data. It is demonstrated that ICA applied to single cycle permits to extract independent structures, clearly separated in time. The time dependent coefficients correlate well with the integral flame luminosity, and characterize time evolution of the combustion pattern in the chamber. The analysis over several cycles shows that independent components carry information about the dominant morphology of the cyclic variations. The low correlation of the corresponding (in terms of time succession) components for successive cycles is in agreement with the high spatial variability of the combustion process in spark ignition engines, mainly due to the combustion of fuel pockets created in the combustion chamber by the injection process. A different approach is then proposed, enabling separation of sources corresponding to objects moving in the field of view. Each whole sequence of 2D images (video) is considered as a single observed mixture of independent signals. Both linear and nonlinear mixing models are considered, and artificial examples are used to illustrate features and limitations of linear ICA when applied to nonlinear mixing. The procedure is successfully applied to a video reporting the motion of a luminous flame over a portion of the cylinder head. ICA separates the moving source from the background, with a mechanism explained by a nonlinear mixing model.

A Case of an Oncocytoma Masquerading as a Periportal Lymph Node

Introduction: Oncocytoma are relatively rare epithelial tumors that may arise from any organ system. They are generally considered benign tumors with low potential for metastasis. These tumors typically arise from salivary glands, endocrine tissues, and the kidneys. Oncocytoma originating from outside of these anatomical structures are exceedingly rare. We present an unusual case of an incidental periportal mass that was found to be an isolated oncocytoma. Case Report: A 67-year-old female was referred to our clinic for evaluation of an enlarged periportal lymph node found on CT abdomen and pelvis ordered for hematuria and recurrent urinary tract infection. On review of the CT, the periportal lymph node measured 1.1cm by 3.3cm without evidence of other suspicious lymph nodes or intra-abdominal pathology. The patient subsequently underwent endoscopic ultrasound and fine needle aspiration of what appeared to be a well-circumscribed, 3 cm by 3.5 cm mass-like lesion in the periportal region adjacent to the pancreatic head and 2nd portion of the duodenum. The pathology revealed cells with positive staining for CK8/18 and Anti-mitochondrial antibody, and negative staining for CK7, consistent with an oncocytic lesion. Given the pathology result, an MRI of the abdomen and pelvis was obtained to look for a primary source of the oncocytoma; however, the initial CT as well as the MRI showed no evidence of renal masses or perinephric lesions. Based on the clinical findings, it was determined that this periportal mass represent an isolated oncocytoma. Given the low risk of metastasis and the benign nature of oncocytoma, the patient is currently being closely monitored in the clinic with serial imaging. Discussion: To our knowledge, this is the first documented case of an isolated oncocytoma of neither renal nor adrenal origin presenting as a periportal mass, and as such, management is undefined. Based on review of current literature, oncocytoma as established by immunohistochemical studies have little to no potential for metastasis. However, they do have the potential to grow larger, up to 14 cm in one case report, causing compression of neighboring structures. Therefore, it is reasonable to closely monitor oncocytoma with serial imaging to ensure stability, and to consider surgical resection in cases of rapid tumor growth. Our case highlights a rare diagnosis of a common finding; in evaluating patients with periportal lesions, oncocytoma should be included in the differential diagnosis.Figure 1Figure 2

Common site of subchondral insufficiency fractures of the femoral head based on three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging.

The objective of this study was to investigate the common sites of subchondral insufficiency fractures of the femoral head (SIF) based on three-dimensional (3-D) reconstruction of MR images. In 33 hips of 31 consecutive patients diagnosed with SIF, 3-D reconstruction of the bone, fracture, and acetabular edge was performed using MR images. These 3-D images were used to measure the fractured areas and clarify the positional relationship between the fracture and degree of acetabular coverage. The fractured area in the anterior portion was significantly larger than in the posterior area. In 11 cases, the fractures contacted the acetabular edge and were distributed on the lateral portion. The indices of acetabular coverage (center-edge angle and acetabular head index) in these cases were less than the normal range. In the remaining 22 cases, the fractures were apart from the acetabular edge and distributed on the mediolateral centerline of the femoral head. The majority of these cases had normal acetabular coverage. The common site of SIF is the anterior portion. In addition, two types of SIF are proposed: (1) Lateral type: the contact stress between the acetabular edge and lateral portion of the femoral head causes SIF based on the insufficient acetabular coverage, and (2) Central type: the contact stress between the acetabular surface and the mediolateral center of the femoral head causes SIF independent from the insufficiency of acetabular coverage. These findings may be useful for considering the treatment and prevention of SIF.

Design and fabrication of functionally graded in-situ aluminium composites for automotive pistons

Engineering components with location specific properties are being designed and fabricated successfully using functionally graded materials (FGM). The present investigation aims at design, fabrication and evaluation of functionally graded automotive piston using in-situ primary silicon reinforced A390 aluminium composite by centrifugal casting technique with a view of obtaining improved thermo mechanical properties at specific locations. The dies are designed and fabricated so as to obtain the primary silicon rich region towards the head portion of the piston. FGM pistons with A390 and A390-0.5%Mg are produced. They are characterised along the vertical cross section of the piston from piston head towards the skirt by microstructural, chemical, mechanical, thermal and tribological characterisations methods. The results are also compared with that of gravity cast piston. Microstructure and chemical composition analysis of FGM piston shows graded distribution of primary silicon from the head portion of the piston towards skirt and a eutectic composition in the skirt region. That yields an increase in hardness towards the head region. The wear testing revealed that the gradation also resulted in a remarkable enhancement of the wear properties of the piston head.

Influence of yeast strains on the physicochemical characteristics, methanol and acetaldehyde profiles and volatile compounds for Korean rice distilled spirit

The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of yeast strains on the physicochemical characteristics, methanol and acetaldehyde profiles, and volatile compounds of Korean rice distilled spirits. Ten yeast strains were employed for the brewing of distilled spirits and the resulting products were filtered and distilled twice. The amounts of methanol and acetaldehyde for the ten yeasts showed different profiles. Higher amounts of methanol were detected for strains CL, CY, DV, BD, ED and LP, while EC, D2, D4 and RH had <2 mg L−1 methanol content. Strains D2, BD and ED produced the lowest amounts of acetaldehyde. The head portions of the spirits, which started in the fraction that contained <5 mg L−1 of acetaldehyde, were between 7.7% (BD) and 18.2% (LP) of the total fractions. Strains D2, CL and CY produced more alcohol in the body fraction than the other yeasts. The major volatile compounds were esters in the form of fatty acid ethyl esters, such as ethyl palmitate, ethyl myristate and ethyl oleate. Isoamyl alcohol, which is an important volatile compound for rice wine, occupied 0.91–2.24% of the relative peak areas. Strain D2, of the strains tested, appeared to be the most appropriate yeast for Korean distilled spirit based on alcohol production and the high relative peak area of volatile compounds, except for ethanol. Strains CL and CY could also be considered for producing high-quality Korean rice distilled spirits with efficiency and flavour. Copyright © 2015 The Institute of Brewing & Distilling

Processing and Characterization of Functionally Graded &lt;i&gt;In Situ&lt;/i&gt; Aluminum Composite

A390 functionally graded material (FGM) pistons were fabricated by centrifugal casting, where the silicon particles were segregated in the head portion of the pistons by appropriate design and their density differences. Centrifugal casting offers casting of cylindrical structures with gradation in its properties. In centrifugally cast A390, a suitable die design can lead to the formation of hard primary Si particles gradually distributed towards the head region producing a particle rich zone, transition zone and matrix rich zone. Microstructure and chemical composition analysis confirms the composition gradation. Hardness and wear test results revealed that the gradation positively helps to improve the desired properties with the presence of in-situ primary silicon reinforcements.

Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy and Factor V Leiden

Non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) is an ischemic condition which affects the prelaminar portion of the optic nerve head. That is supplied by the ciliary arteries, and central retinal artery [1]. Yet, meaningful progress toward understanding the pathogenesis of this entity has been limited [2]. Thrombophilic disorders are proposed in the pathogenesis of NAION, such as resistance to activated protein C (APC resistance), protein C or S deficiency, factor V Leiden (FVL) and hyperfibrinogenemia. However, when the name of an entity itself may be a misnomer, it can be especially difficult to escape erroneous interpretations of pathophysiology. Indeed, the mechanism of this disease needs to be reanalyzed in a completely different direction. We present a case of NAION associated with FVL that we attended in our hospital and we review the literature of these two entities [2]. Non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) is an entity that is caused by circulatory insufficiency which affects the proximal portion of the optic nerve. NAION is characterized by the following triad: abrupt and painless loss of vision, optic disc smelling and nerve fiber bundle defects in the visual field of the affected eye. Cardiovascular risk factors and hrombophilic disorders have been proposed in the pathogenesis of NAION, such as Factor V Leiden thrombophilia (FVL). Factor V Leiden is a inherited disorder of blood clotting that predisposes to venous thrombotic events. Here, we report the case of 44-year-old female patient with NAION and activated protein C resistente (or FVL) who visited our hospital, and the diagnosis is discussed. We also review the literature of these two conditions. We suggest that physicians consider prothrombotic disorders when evaluating patients with AION, especially in atypical cases or cases occurring in young patients without classic factors of cardiovascular risk. Citation: Lorca-Barchin J, Medrano-Martinez V, Frances-Pont I, Fernandez-Izquierdo S, Mallada-Frechin J, et al. (2015) Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy and Factor V Leiden. J Neurol Neurol Disord 2(3): 303.

Magnetic resonance imaging and short-term clinical results of severe frozen shoulder treated with manipulation under ultrasound-guided cervical nerve root block

We evaluated the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings and short-term clinical outcomes of severe idiopathic frozen shoulder treated with manipulation under ultrasound-guided cervical nerve root block (MUC). The subjects were 30 patients (average age, 55.2 years; 12 men, 18 women) with severe frozen shoulder. Severe idiopathic frozen shoulder was defined as follows: a range of motion (ROM) of ≤ 100° in forward flexion, ≤ 10° in external rotation, and at or below the fifth lumbar vertebral level in internal rotation. Before the manipulation, all patients had continued global ROM loss for at least 6 months. Before and after manipulation, they underwent MR imaging. MR images and clinical results were evaluated 1 month after the procedure. In terms of the capsule tear pattern, MR imaging showed 14 midsubstance tears and 15 humeral avulsions of glenohumeral ligament-like lesions. An anterior labrum tear occurred in 4 shoulders, whereas 15 shoulders showed a bone bruise in the posterosuperior and anteromedial portions of the humeral head despite no humeral shaft fracture. There were significant improvements in the ROM, Constant-Murley score, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, and Numeric Rating Scale score from before treatment to 1 month after the procedure. MR imaging of patients with severe frozen shoulder after MUC showed 29 capsule tears, 4 labrum tears, and 15 bone bruises of the humeral head. Approximately 50% of patients are likely to experience bone bruising after MUC. Long-term follow-up of these patients should be performed carefully.

Monte Carlo and experimental internal radionuclide dosimetry in RANDO head phantom.

Monte Carlo techniques are widely employed in internal dosimetry to obtain better estimates of absorbed dose distributions from irradiation sources in medicine. Accurate 3D absorbed dosimetry would be useful for risk assessment of inducing deterministic and stochastic biological effects for both therapeutic and diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals in nuclear medicine. The goal of this study was to experimentally evaluate the use of Geant4 application for tomographic emission (GATE) Monte Carlo package for 3D internal dosimetry using the head portion of the RANDO phantom. GATE package (version 6.1) was used to create a voxel model of a human head phantom from computed tomography (CT) images. Matrix dimensions consisted of 319 × 216 × 30 voxels (0.7871 × 0.7871 × 5 mm(3)). Measurements were made using thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLD-100). One rod-shaped source with 94 MBq activity of (99m)Tc was positioned in the brain tissue of the posterior part of the human head phantom in slice number 2. The results of the simulation were compared with measured mean absorbed dose per cumulative activity (S value). Absorbed dose was also calculated for each slice of the digital model of the head phantom and dose volume histograms (DVHs) were computed to analyze the absolute and relative doses in each slice from the simulation data. The S-values calculated by GATE and TLD methods showed a significant correlation (correlation coefficient, r(2) ≥ 0.99, p < 0.05) with each other. The maximum relative percentage differences were ≤14% for most cases. DVHs demonstrated dose decrease along the direction of movement toward the lower slices of the head phantom. Based on the results obtained from GATE Monte Carlopackage it can be deduced that a complete dosimetry simulation study, from imaging to absorbed dose map calculation, is possible to execute in a single framework.

Genetic variation in the coagulation factor V gene and risk of femoral head osteonecrosis.

Osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is characterized by the death of the cellular portion of the femoral head due a reduction or disruption in the blood supply. Certain studies have implicated coagulation disorders, including thrombophilia and hypofibrinolysis, in the pathogenesis of ONFH. The factor V (F5) Leiden mutation has been suggested to be a genetic risk factor for venous thromboembolism and osteonecrosis in Caucasian individuals, however, this association remains controversial in other populations. The present study aimed to identify polymorphisms of the F5 gene and performed a case‑control study in a Korean population. The F5 gene was sequenced in 24 unrelated Korean individuals, and 16 polymorphisms were detected. A total of six polymorphisms were genotyped in 423 patients with ONFH and 348 control individuals. Analysis of the association between genotyped single nucleotide polymorphisms and haplotypes and with ONFH was performed. Comparison of the ONFH samples and the control individuals using logistic regression models revealed no statistically significant difference in the frequencies of the F5 polymorphisms and haplotypes. These findings suggested that F5 polymorphisms were not significant in the susceptibility to ONFH in the Korean population.

Treatment of osteonecrosis of the femoral head with vascularized bone grafting.

Osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is a challenging diagnosis for the patient and treating surgeon. Though its cause is poorly understood, several methods of surgical treatment exist and are performed with variable success. Vascularized bone grafting is one such treatment that attempts to restore viable bone, structural support, and blood supply to the avascular portion of the femoral head. This review summarizes the various approaches to this technique that have been proposed and put into practice. The cost effectiveness of these procedures, both in time and resources, has been evaluated and found to be favorable. The use of revascularization procedures, along with the introduction of other potentiating factors, may signal an exciting future for this debilitating disease process.

Analysis of Ulcer Recurrences After Metatarsal Head Resection in Patients Who Underwent Surgery to Treat Diabetic Foot Osteomyelitis.

Metatarsal head resection is a common and standardized treatment used as part of the surgical routine for metatarsal head osteomyelitis. The aim of this study was to define the influence of the amount of the metatarsal resection on the development of reulceration or ulcer recurrence in patients who suffered from plantar foot ulcer and underwent metatarsal surgery. We conducted a prospective study in 35 patients who underwent metatarsal head resection surgery to treat diabetic foot osteomyelitis with no prior history of foot surgeries, and these patients were included in a prospective follow-up over the course of at least 6 months in order to record reulceration or ulcer recurrences. Anteroposterior plain X-rays were taken before and after surgery. We also measured the portion of the metatarsal head that was removed and classified the patients according the resection rate of metatarsal (RRM) in first and second quartiles. We found statistical differences between the median RRM in patients who had an ulcer recurrence and patients without recurrences (21.48 ± 3.10% vs 28.12 ± 10.8%; P = .016). Seventeen (56.7%) patients were classified in the first quartile of RRM, which had an association with ulcer recurrence (P = .032; odds ratio = 1.41; 95% confidence interval = 1.04-1.92). RRM of less than 25% is associated with the development of a recurrence after surgery in the midterm follow-up, and therefore, planning before surgery is undertaken should be considered to avoid postsurgical complications.

Ocular Blood Flow Response to Applied Force: In Vivo Tests Toward Noninvasive Intracranial Pressure Monitoring1

Ocular Blood Flow Response to Applied Force: In Vivo Tests Toward Noninvasive Intracranial Pressure Monitoring1

생체 모방형의 아쿠아리움 관상어 로봇 개발

ABSTRACT In this paper, the designed fish robots DOMI ver1.0 is researched and development for aquarium underwater robot. The presented fish robot consists of the head, 1’st stage body, 2nd stage body and tail, which is connected two point driving joints. The model of the robot fish is analysis to maximize the momentum of the robot fish and the body of the robot is designed through the analysis of the biological fish swimming. Also, Lighthill was applied to the kinematics analysis of robot fish swimming algorithms, we are applied to the approximate method of the streamer model that utilizes techniques mimic the biological fish. The swimming robot has two operating mode such as manual and autonomous operation modes. In manual mode the fish robot is operated to using the RF transceiver, and in autonomous mode the robot is controlled by microprocessor board that is consist PSD sensor for the object recognition and avoidance. In order to the submerged and emerged, the robot has the bladder device in a head portion. The robot gravity center weight is transferred to a one-axis sliding and it is possible to the submerged and emerged of DOMI robot by the breath unit. It was verified by the performance test of this design robot DOMI ver1.0. It was confirmed that excellent performance, such as driving force, durability and water resistance through the underwater field test.Keywords:Fish Robot, Autonomous Bio-Mimetic Ornamental, Aquarium Fish Robotic, Under Water Robot, Lighthill Dynamics Analysis