ABSTRACT
We describe our method for reconstructing microtic auricles using a porous polyethylene framework in two stages. The first stage of the procedure involves rotating a superficial temporoparietal fascial (TPF) flap over the framework. The inferior two-thirds of this framework is next inset into a local temporal skin pocket, while the superior one-third is covered with a full thickness skin graft from the contralateral postauricular sulcus. Lobular transposition is commenced in a second stage procedure at the three-month postoperative period. Hearing restoration surgery is encouraged at a later date in selected patients with unilateral microtia. Use of the porous polyethylene framework permits a more expedient, less invasive, and more reliable method for auricular reconstruction than does the traditional method that employs costal cartilage.
Subject(s)
Ear, External/surgery , Plastic Surgery Procedures/instrumentation , Polyethylene , Prostheses and Implants , Child , Fascia/transplantation , Hearing Disorders/surgery , Humans , Patient Care Planning , Porosity , Postoperative Complications , Prosthesis Design , Plastic Surgery Procedures/adverse effects , Reproducibility of Results , Skin Transplantation/methods , Surgical Flaps , Temporal Muscle/transplantation , Tissue Engineering/trends , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
The aged population is at risk for impaired speech communication due to the increased likelihood of deterioration of central nervous system (CNS) processes that underlie cognition, language, and/or speech motor control. Vocal reaction time (RT) may provide a means of quantifying the efficiency of CNS processes that underlie speech production. The present study used a simple RT paradigm to investigate effects of the complexity of the required task on vocal RT in normal young and aged speakers. Task complexity was represented by two levels: a single word and a short sentence. Only the aged subjects showed a significant task complexity effect on vocal RT. Furthermore, the between-group RT difference increased as a function of task complexity. Specific causes for the increase in vocal RT for the aged subjects are presently unknown, but likely reside in altered respiratory biomechanics and reduced efficiency of CNS motor processing.
Subject(s)
Aging/physiology , Speech/physiology , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Humans , Male , Reaction TimeABSTRACT
The goals of this study were to examine the cardiovascular and metabolic responses to a dihalogenated methane and to compare them to inhaled CO. One group of male Sprague-Dawley rats received an i.p. injection of either 3 or 6 mmol kg-1 dibromomethane (DBM) diluted 1:3 with sesame oil. Measurements of carboxyhemoglobin (COHb), rectal body temperature (BT), heart rate, systolic blood pressure (BP) and blood glucose and lactate concentrations were made at times 0, 30, 60, 120, 240, 360, 480, 600, 720, 840, 1020, 1440 and 1680 min. A second group of rats received only sesame oil and was tested in the same manner. A third group of rats breathed 225 ppm CO for 120 min before being tested. Peak COHb levels were 16% 8 h after 3 mmol kg-1 DBM, 18% 12 h after 6 mmol kg-1 DBM and 17% in the CO-exposed group. The sesame oil controls exhibited no elevation in COHb. The BT dropped by ca. 1 degree C in both the DBM- and CO-exposed rats, while there was no BT change in the sesame oil controls. The BT dropped by 1.0 degree C and 1.2 degree C after 6 h in the 3 and 6 mmol kg-1 DBM groups, respectively, and by 0.9 degree C after 120 min in the CO-exposed group. The CO-exposed rats displayed a 12 mmHg decrease in systolic BP, while both doses of DBM failed to produce any significant BP change. The BP in the sesame oil controls remained constant.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
