ABSTRACT
Lip and oral cavity SCC account for 2nd highest incidence of cancers and 3rd most common cause of mortality from cancer in India. Reconstruction of defects of central arch invading cancers results in poor cosmetic and functional outcomes if free flaps are not used. 30 patients with Oral SCC in the age group 20-75 years requiring central arch segmental mandibulectomy were included. Reconstruction was done with pedicled bipaddled PMMC flap with 'AJ's orbicularis oris stitch' using Fiber wire. Patients were divided into 4 groups according to extent of lip and skin loss post excision of primary tumour. Patients were evaluated with subjective scores for drooling, oral competence and cosmesis. There were 4, 12, 9 and 5 patients in Group A, B, C and D respectively. Mean subjective scores using our technique for drooling, oral competence and cosmesis were 3.75/4,3.75/4 and 3.5/4 for group A, 3.45/4, 3.36/4 and 3.09/4 for group B, 2.8/4, 2.6/4 and 2.3/4 for group C defects and 2.5/4, 3/4 and 2.5/4 for group D defects respectively. Over all scores for all patients were 3.2/4, 3.14/4 and 2.84/4 for drooling, oral competence and cosmesis. This simple, quick and inexpensive technique of reconstruction of central mandibular arch defects can drastically improve cosmetic and functional outcomes in a resource restrained set up. However, long term results and comparison studies are required for standardisation of the technique.
ABSTRACT
Semen data comprising of 97,023 ejaculates of 197 bulls from 6 buffalo breeds were analyzed. The traits considered were as follows: ejaculate volume, sperm concentration, mass activity, initial and post-thaw motility, total sperm, and total motile sperm before and after thawing as well as a composite trait equal to the theoretical number of doses which can be produced from each given ejaculate. The objective was to measure the semen production potential of indigenous buffalo bulls and identify factors affecting these traits. A linear mixed model was used, including a random bull effect along with other fixed factors: the order of the ejaculate on a particular day, the interval between collections, the time of collection, the breed, the age at collection, the semen collector, and the year and month of collection. The study showed breed wise variation for all traits. The first ejaculate of a bull on a particular day was superior to the second for nearly all the traits. Longer collection intervals are better than shorter intervals for all the parameters, although short collection interval of 2 to 4 days produced higher yield in terms of total semen doses without hampering semen quality. The study also showed a slight decrease of semen quality with time of collection within a day. The Murrah breed showed comparatively consistent performance during their whole life compared with the other breeds. Repeatability estimates for semen traits were found to be low (0.09 for mass activity) to relatively large (> 0.4 for volume and concentration). A negative correlation was found between bull effects for semen volume and concentration while a high positive correlation was found between mass activity, initial motility, and post-thaw motility. Results of the study will help in suggesting suitable management and breeding plans for semen production traits.
