ABSTRACT
The efficacy of the carbon dioxide laser used at high power levels for tissue destruction is well established. This laser at lower power levels has been used to incise and anastomose blood vessels, tendons, nerves, dura, bowel, fallopian tube, vasa deferentia, ureters and skin. Laser welding is faster, reduces surgical manipulation and introduces less foreign material into the wound than conventional suturing techniques. We tested the feasibility of laser welding of pedicled flap skin tubes to determine if there is a potential application in reconstruction, particularly for hypospadias repair.
Subject(s)
Light Coagulation , Surgical Flaps , Animals , Hypospadias/surgery , Rabbits , Suture Techniques , Tensile Strength , Wound HealingABSTRACT
Four patients with psoriasis complicating human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection showed marked improvement in their psoriasis after being treated with oral zidovudine. The antipsoriatic effect persisted in two patients in spite of worsening helper T cell depletion. The antipsoriatic effect appeared to be dose-dependent and was associated with the development of erythrocyte macrocytosis, a known side effect of zidovudine. Zidovudine is useful for the therapy of HIV-associated psoriasis and should be tested for efficacy in non-HIV-associated psoriasis.