Combined ALT, Estlander, and Upper Lip Flap for Defects Involving the Oral Commissure.

Lip defects (including the corners of the mouth) are a reconstructive challenge in terms of both aesthetic and functional outcomes. When oral cancer resection results in defects that extend beyond the corners of the mouth to the buccal mucosa and buccal skin, it is difficult to perform reconstructive surgery using only a local flap, and a free flap must be used in combination. In this report, we present a case of reconstructive surgery of the corners of the mouth, buccal mucosa, and buccal skin after tumor resection for buccal mucosal squamous cell carcinoma in a 70-year-old man. The patient presented with a change in an oral mucosal ulcer for a period of 1 year. After biopsy of the ulcerated area, he was pathologically diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma. After tumor resection, including the corners of the mouth, lips, and cheek skin, and neck dissection, the patient underwent reconstructive surgery using an extended upper lip flap combined with an Estlander flap and a free anterolateral thigh flap. Two months after surgery, the patient was able to consume regular food. At 24 months of follow-up, the patient was able to speak normally without any restrictive symptoms such as fluid leakage from the corner of the mouth. Lip sensation restoration was optimal. This method using the combination of an anterolateral thigh flap and extended Estlander flap is a markedly useful option for reconstructive surgery of defects around the corner of the mouth caused by wide excision of invasive cancer.

Trousseau syndrome in a patient with advanced oral squamous cell carcinoma: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Trousseau syndrome is known as a variant of cancer-associated thrombosis. Trousseau syndrome commonly occurs in patients with lung or prostate cancer. Hypercoagulability is thought to be initiated by mucins produced by the adenocarcinoma, which react with leukocyte and platelet selectins to form platelet-rich microthrombi. This is the first report of Trousseau syndrome in a patient with oral cancer. CASE PRESENTATION: Here, we describe the case of a 61-year-old Japanese man diagnosed as having advanced buccal carcinoma (T4bN2bM1; the right scapula, erector spinae muscles, and the right femur), who experienced aphasia and loss of consciousness. Although magnetic resonance imaging showed cerebral infarction, carotid invasion by the tumor and carotid sheath rupturing, cardiovascular problems, and bacterial infection were not present, which indicated Trousseau syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: Trousseau syndrome in oral cancer is rare, but we must always consider cancer-associated thrombosis in patients with advanced stages of cancer regardless of the primary site of the cancer and take steps to prevent it.

Thermal behavior and microstructures of cathodes for liquid electrolyte-based lithium batteries.

Lithium-ion batteries are widely used as a power source for portable equipment. However, the use of highly flammable organic solvents in the liquid electrolyte component in these batteries presents a serious safety concern. In this study, the thermal stability of battery cathodes comprising LiNi1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2 (NMC) and LiPF6-based electrolyte solutions have been investigated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) methods. Ex situ TEM measurements revealed that significant structural change occurred in the charged NMC composite after heating at a temperature above the exothermal peaks. It was found that LiF nanocrystallites precipitated in LiPF6 and that a number of nanoscale stacking faults developed in the [Formula: see text] layered structure of NMC. The results suggested that the decomposition reaction of LiPF6 and the structural change of NMC were directly associated with the exothermic reaction in the liquid electrolyte-based NMC electrode composite.

Longitudinal changes in the quality of life of oral cancer patients during the perioperative period.

BACKGROUND: There are few quality of life (QOL) studies that have focused on the experiences of oral cancer patients. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate how the QOL for patients with oral cancer changed perioperatively. METHODS: Eighty-three participants undergoing radical therapy completed assessments of QOL at pre-treatment, treatment completion, and 1-, 3-, and 6-months post-treatment. The Japanese version of the FACT-H&N, comprising the subscales of "physical well-being (PWB)," "social/family well-being (SWB)," "emotional well-being (EWB)," "functional well-being (FWB)," and "additional head- and neck-specific concerns(HN)" was used to assess QOL. There were two study groups: those who required reconstructive surgery (r+, 31 patients) and those who did not (r-, 52 patients). RESULTS: The FACT-H&N, PWB, FWB, and HN, were lowest at treatment completion due to declines; then, it showed significant improvement over time (p < 0.05). SWB was the highest at the completion of treatment, and thereafter decreased significantly until 3 months after treatment (p < 0.05). EWB was the lowest before treatment but improved over time (p < 0.01). HN was significantly lower at 6 months after treatment than before treatment (p < 0.05). The QOL of the r+ group was significantly lower than that of the r- group (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The treatment-associated declines in subscale area may be compensated for by gains in other subscale areas. Psychological support is better introduced prior to cancer treatment. As it is often difficult to recover from declines in HN functioning subscale, strategies that promote compensation in other areas must be explored. Clinicians should become thoroughly familiar with how patients' QOL changes over time and provide holistic treatments that honor patients' autonomy.

An anodic aromatic C,C cross-coupling reaction using parallel laminar flow mode in a flow microreactor.

We have successfully demonstrated an efficient anodic aromatic C,C cross-coupling reaction using parallel laminar flow mode in a two-inlet flow microreactor. The model reaction proceeded effectively even in single flow-through operations and the desired cross-coupling product was obtained in much higher current yields compared to the reaction in a conventional batch type cell.

Ninety-day inhalation toxicity study with a vapor grown carbon nanofiber in rats.

A subchronic inhalation toxicity study of inhaled vapor grown carbon nanofibers (CNF) (VGCF-H) was conducted in male and female Sprague Dawley rats. The CNF test sample was composed of > 99.5% carbon with virtually no catalyst metals; Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller (BET) surface area measurements of 13.8 m2/g; and mean lengths and diameters of 5.8 µm and 158 nm, respectively.Four groups of rats per sex were exposed nose-only, 6 h/day, for 5 days/week to target concentrations of 0, 0.50, 2.5, or 25 mg/m3 VGCF-H over a 90-day period and evaluated 1 day later. Assessments included conventional clinical and histopathological methods, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) analysis, and cell proliferation (CP) studies of the terminal bronchiole (TB), alveolar duct (AD), and subpleural regions of the respiratory tract. In addition, groups of 0 and 25 mg/m3 exposed rats were evaluated at 3 months postexposure (PE). Aerosol exposures of rats to 0.54 (4.9 f/cc), 2.5 (56 f/cc), and 25 (252 f/cc) mg/m(3) of VGCF-H CNFs produced concentration-related small, detectable accumulation of extrapulmonary fibers with no adverse tissue effects. At the two highest concentrations, inflammation of the TB and AD regions of the respiratory tract was noted wherein fiber-laden alveolar macrophages had accumulated. This finding was characterized by minimal infiltrates of inflammatory cells in rats exposed to 2.5mg/m(3) CNF, inflammation along with some thickening of interstitial walls, and hypertrophy/hyperplasia of type II epithelial cells, graded as slight for the 25mg/m(3) concentration. At 3 months PE, the inflammation in the high dose was reduced. No adverse effects were observed at 0.54mg/m(3). BALF and CP endpoint increases versus controls were noted at 25mg/m(3) VGCF-H but not different from control values at 0.54 or 2.5mg/m(3). After 90 days PE, BALF biomarkers were still increased at 25mg/m(3), indicating that the inflammatory response was not fully resolved. Greater than 90% of CNF-exposed, BALF-recovered alveolar macrophages from the 25 and 2.5mg/m(3) exposure groups contained nanofibers (> 60% for 0.5mg/m(3)). A nonspecific inflammatory response was also noted in the nasal passages. The no-observed-adverse-effect level for VGCF-H nanofibers was considered to be 0.54mg/m(3) (4.9 fibers/cc) for male and female rats, based on the minimal inflammation in the terminal bronchiole and alveolar duct areas of the lungs at 2.5mg/m(3) exposures. It is noteworthy that the histopathology observations at the 2.5mg/m(3) exposure level did not correlate with the CP or BALF data at that exposure concentration. In addition, the results with CNF are compared with published findings of 90-day inhalation studies in rats with carbon nanotubes, and hypotheses are presented for potency differences based on CNT physicochemical characteristics. Finally, the (lack of) relevance of CNF for the high aspect ratio nanomaterials/fiber paradigm is discussed.

A phlebolith in the anterior portion of the masseter muscle.

The differential diagnosis of a buccal soft tissue mass containing calcified bodies includes a phlebolith associated with a vascular lesion, such as a hemangioma with a calcified intravascular thrombus, and diseases such as sialolithiasis, traumatic myositis ossificans, calcified acne lesion, neoplasm, and calcified lymph nodes, including tuberculosis. The appearance of the calcified bodies on plain radiographs may help to differentiate these entities. Computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and ultrasonography are also useful for differentiating the soft tissue lesions. We report a 17-year-old girl with a small mass containing a calcified body in the anterior portion of the masseter muscle. The mass was resected surgically and evaluated histologically, confirming the diagnosis of phlebolith. We also discuss the differential diagnosis of a buccal soft tissue mass containing calcifications and suggest that the immunolocalization of CD31 at capillaries in the mass may help to diagnose as a phlebolith.

Licorice flavonoid oil reduces total body fat and visceral fat in overweight subjects: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate effects of licorice flavonoid oil (LFO) on total body fat and visceral fat together with body weight, body mass index (BMI) and safety parameters in overweight subjects. METHODS: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, moderately overweight participants (56 males, 28 females, BMI 24-30 kg/m(2)) were assigned to four groups receiving a daily dose of either 0 (placebo), 300, 600, or 900 mg of LFO. Total body fat mass was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and visceral fat area by abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan at baseline and after 8 weeks of LFO ingestion. Body weight, BMI, and blood samples were examined at baseline and after 4 and 8 weeks of LFO ingestion. RESULTS: Although caloric intake was similar in all four groups, total body fat mass decreased significantly in the three LFO groups after 8 weeks of ingestion. LFO (900 mg/day) resulted in significant decreases from baseline levels in visceral fat area, body weight, BMI, and LDL-cholesterol. No significant adverse effects were observed.