[Sonoanatomy survey of the distance between the suface of the skin and sixth cervical transverse process]

One of interventional procedure in pain specialty is Stellate Ganglion Block. In this study we tried to show more on the sonoanatomy of the area, including the diameter of longus coli muscle and the distance between sixth cervical transverse process and the surface of skin. Obviously, understanding different anatomical locations can help to more successful block and avoid possible complications. This descriptive study was performed on 145 patients who were candidated for elective orthopedic surgery. After patients consented, neck sonography was performed. Demographic data were recorded. Neck circumference, diameter of longus coli muscle and the distance between sixth cervical transverse process and the surface of skin were measured. The average distance from the skin to the transverse process was 2.84 cm and a maximum of 3.7 cm was recorded. Anteroposterior diameter of Longus coli muscle was 0.76 cm, on average. The distance from skin to the transverse process was significantly correlated with body mass index and neck circumference in both sexes. Since the average distance from the skin to the transverse process was 2.84 cm therefore, without any pressure on the skin, inserting the needle more than 2.84 cm has to be with coution, and when it is inserted more than 3.7 cm, it is possibly going off the main path

Keloid Scarring: Understanding the Genetic Basis, Advances, and Prospects

Keloid disease is a fibroproliferative dermal tumor with an unknown etiology that occurs after a skin injury in genetically susceptible individuals. Increased familial aggregation, a higher prevalence in certain races, parallelism in identical twins, and alteration in gene expression all favor a remarkable genetic contribution to keloid pathology. It seems that the environment triggers the disease in genetically susceptible individuals. Several genes have been implicated in the etiology of keloid disease, but no single gene mutation has thus far been found to be responsible. Therefore, a combination of methods such as association, gene-gene interaction, epigenetics, linkage, gene expression, and protein analysis should be applied to determine keloid etiology.