ABSTRACT
Background: In patients with microtia, auricular reconstruction is ideally performed promptly to prevent impaired socialization during formative childhood years. The earliest viable age for reconstruction is widely accepted from 7-10 years of age, as full auricular size is achieved around age 8, with some variability dependent on sex. This retrospective study aims to provide an auricular growth curve that accounts for age and sex, enhancing the individualized approach to ear reconstruction. Methods: A total of 319 images of unaffected patients who underwent computed tomography angiography of the head and neck were reviewed, with bilateral cartilage height and width measured according to a consensus-standardized image measurement protocol. Means and SDs of cartilage height and width were calculated for both sexes, and analysis of ear growth was performed through plotting the mean cartilage height, width, and width:height ratio over time. Results: Cartilage height and width differed significantly between male and female groups. Maximum cartilage height was reached at age 11 for female and at age 12 for male patients, whereas maximum cartilage width was reached at ages 10 and 8, respectively. On average, the width:height ratio for female group was 0.58. For male group, the average width:height ratio was 0.59. Conclusions: An auricular growth map was designed using computed tomography measurements demonstrating maximum auricular size at age 11 and 12 respectively for female and male patients, with both sexes having a width:height ratio maintained at approximately 0.6 throughout growth.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Exercise increases quality of life and lowers all-cause mortality, likely by preventing cardiovascular disease. Although the beneficial effects of exercise are linked with reductions in chronic inflammation, individual responses vary and factors that contribute to the anti-inflammatory effects of cardiovascular fitness remain largely undefined. We sought to investigate the role of fatty acids in the inverse relationship between inflammation and cardiovascular fitness. APPROACH AND RESULTS: In this cross-sectional study using data from 435 participants in NHANES and linear regression models with CRP as the outcome, we observed significant negative interactions between VO2max and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) but not saturated, monounsaturated, or omega-6 PUFAs. When stratified by omega-3 PUFA tertiles, participants in the medium tertile, but not low tertile, show an enhanced negative association between VO2max and CRP, with a -32.0% difference (95% CI: -44.95, -15.9%) per 10 mL/kg/min of VO2max. Exploratory factor analysis identified five unique dietary fatty acid (FA) profiles. The FA profile consisting predominantly of omega-3 PUFA had the strongest negative association for VO2max and CRP, with a -28.2% difference in CRP (95% CI: -43.4, -8.9) per 10 mL/kg/min of VO2max. We also found that alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) enhanced the negative association between VO2max and CRP, suggesting that the anti-inflammatory response to VO2max capacity is associated with ALA and DHA levels. Males, Whites, and individuals with lower BMI were more sensitive to the effects of omega-3 PUFAs, while having high SFA levels attenuated the benefit. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that omega-3 PUFAs are effect modifiers for VO2max and CRP and that the anti-inflammatory benefits of increasing cardiovascular fitness are associated with omega-3 PUFAs.
