ABSTRACT
Due to high prevalence of head and neck burns and reports on the success of tissue expansion in reconstruction, this study was carried out to determine the effect of tissue extension on reconstructing head and neck scars, emphasizing on the right flap design. In a clinical trial, 51 patients [62 scars] underwent tissue expansion. All patients were examined preoperatively for their scar status and amount of intact tissue. Afterwards, the reconstructed area was examined 6 months post-surgery in respect to tissue similarity, pliability and skin color. This study was conducted on 51 patients [55% female and 45% male] ranging from 10 to 59 years. Tissue expansion was successful in 95.1% of the reconstructions, whereas tissue transmission and covering the defect was successful in 89%. Complications were only seen in 19.4%. In 4.8% of the cases no tissue extension occurred. Good blood perfusion was observed in 81% of the flaps. It seems that using tissue expansion is acceptable in reconstructing head and neck burn scars. We recommend its use with appropriate flap design
ABSTRACT
Although current treatment options for cervical cancer rely on platinum-based chemoradiotherapy, individualized approaches to therapy may improve response or reduce unnecessary toxicity. Over expression of Excision repair cross-complementing 1 [ERCC1] has been associated with Cisplatin resistance in some tumors. We hypothesized that ERCC1 over expression is related to treatment response. 32 patients with cervical cancer were enrolled. Malignant tissue was isolated from pretreatment biopsies, and quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assays were performed to determine ERCC1 expression. Patients were divided to ERCC1 positive and ERCC1 negative. Response to chemoradiotherapy was evaluated and compared among the two groups. The mean age of participants was 56.6 +/- 12 years. Objective response was obtained in 24 patients [75%]. ERCC1 was 2.8 times higher in patients who did not respond to treatment compared with the responders [OR: 2.8]. Assessment of ERCC1 expression in tumoral tissue is possible in the clinical setting and predicts response to chemoradiotherapy. Further studies are necessary for final judgment
ABSTRACT
Determination of certain biochemical parameters in hyperlipemic speciemens causes problems, which is due to interference of lipids. Lipid extraction using ultracentrifuge is expensive and is not always available. Another method of lipid extraction is by using ethylacetate; thus, we compared certain biochemical parameter values in lipemic specimens and in the same samples after lipid extraction with ethylacetate. In this experimental study, 45 normal serum samples were selected. To obtain lipemic specimens, lipid was added to these samples. Each serum sample was then divided into two aliquots; in one sample lipid was extracted using ethylacetate while in the other one ultracentrifugation was used. Later, 13 biochemical parameters were determined in these lipid free samples and their results were compared using paired samples t-Test. While the biochemical parameters of the samples were normal at the beginning, they were measured as abnormal after lipid addition. There were no significant difference between values obtained by ethylacetate extraction method and standard ultracentrifugation method [P<0.6]. Although urea value was lower and ALT was higher in ethylacetate extraction method, their values were closer to the original specimen compared to ultracentrifuge. It seems that extraction of lipids from lipemic speciemens using ethylacetate is a feasible method; however, further studies regarding this issue is recommended