Structural determination of an exocellular mannan from Rhodotorula mucilaginosa YR-2 using ab initio assignment of proton and carbon NMR spectra.

The structure of the title mannan was determined exclusively by NMR. Because of the short relaxation time of the native mannan (100 kDa), a partially hydrolyzed mannan (10 kDa) was used for proton assignments by COSY, to correlate proton and carbon signals by HMQC, and to determine linkage positions between residues by HMBC. A further hydrolyzed mannan (oligomers of approximately 1.5 kDa) was used to determine the anomeric configuration, using Wilker's quasi-3D method [Wilker, W.; Leibfritz, D. Magn. Reson. Chem. 1995, 33, 632-638]. The procedure presented here can be used to determine the structure of any polysaccharide.

Cryptotia: our classification and treatment.

Our classification of cryptotia is based on recognition that the deformity is the result of an anomaly of the intrinsic transverse and oblique auricular muscles. Our treatment, in the first instance, is a non-surgical correction. This should be started early, if possible in the first 6 months of the baby's life. Even in the case of older children, success can sometimes be achieved and a non-surgical correction should be considered first. If non-surgical management fails the deformity can be corrected surgically by dividing the muscle fibres that produce the anomaly of the external ear through a small incision. Our new surgical approach involves moving the available skin in the region of the inferior cephalo-auricular sulcus to the superior part where skin is needed by a rotation flap. This operation has several advantages.

Nonsurgical correction of congenital auricular deformities in the early neonate: a preliminary report.

We conclude that auricular deformities of the early neonate are corrigible by nonsurgical correction. Ideally, the correction should be started immediately after birth (realistically, at latest by the third day after birth) in order to obtain satisfactory and irreversible results.