The Mathematical Analysis of the Aesthetically Pleasing Eyelid.

PURPOSE: To analyze and quantify the characteristics and parameters of the eyelid and adnexa of males and females and correlate these findings to an aesthetically pleasing score. METHODS: This is an Institutional Review Board approved study involving healthy male and female volunteers. The margin-to-reflex distance, palpebral fissure, inferior scleral show, tarsal platform show, and brow fat span were measured using Image J digital photographic analysis and the images were scored by 110 non-ophthalmologists. The eyelid parameters were compared between the groups with Student t tests and the total aesthetic score was correlated to the measured parameters with Pearson's correlation coefficients (r). This study was HIPAA-compliant with protection of individually identifiable information. RESULTS: Twenty male and 22 female participants were included and divided into 2 groups based on the aesthetic score. The average aesthetic score was 3.06 for males and 3.36 for females. None of the eyelid parameters were found to be significantly significant between the 2 male groups. In females, both inferior scleral show and tarsal platform show were significantly lower in the more aesthetic group. A greater margin-to-reflex distance correlated with increased aesthetic appeal. The ratio of brow fat span/tarsal platform show was not significantly different between the 2 female groups. CONCLUSIONS: Quantifying goals are important for the surgical and nonsurgical management of the eyelid and periorbita. Beauty is considered to be subjective and is comprised of various criteria. However, this study reveals that the female sex may have certain quantifiable goals for eyelid parameters that are considered more aesthetically pleasing.

Foreign-Body Granulomata Caused by Injected Permanent Filler Masquerading as Cutaneous Sarcoidosis.

Foreign-body granuloma formation following filler injections is most commonly seen with permanent fillers; these reactions can occur years following the injections and often require either an intralesional steroid injection or surgical excision. The authors present a case of a 75-year-old woman with a history of systemic sarcoidosis previously treated with numerous immunosuppressive medications who was examined for bilateral infraorbital nodules and swelling that were unresponsive to treatment. She underwent a bilateral anterior orbitotomy through a transconjunctival approach with mass excision. The histologic analysis was consistent with foreign-body granulomata juxtaposed to implantable material, specifically ArteFill, which was injected many years prior. There were no separate noncaseating granulomas to suggest sarcoidosis as the underlying etiology. It is important to consider prior filler injections in patients with sarcoidosis who present with subcutaneous nodules as this changes management and may prevent the need for more aggressive immunosuppressive treatment.

Orbital Floor and Rim Reconstruction With a Titanium Orbital Implant and Acellular Dermis.

Reconstruction of the orbital rim and floor following tumor excision is traditionally performed with bone grafts, vascularized grafts, or free flaps. The authors describe a case of an osteosarcoma of the maxillary sinus and a second case of an ossifying fibroma of the orbital floor, both of which required reconstruction of the orbital floor and rim. In both of these cases, reconstruction of the orbital floor and rim was performed with a titanium implant whose anterior portion was bent inferiorly to recreate the orbital rim. Acellular dermis was sutured over the anterior portion of the orbital implant to act as a barrier between the implant and the overlying eyelid tissues.

Two-stage rapid exenteration reconstruction to allow early radiation therapy for an aggressive orbital cancer.

PURPOSE: Describe a novel two-stage orbital exenteration technique using an INTEGRA dermal regeneration matrix. METHODS: A 63-year-old Hispanic male presented with multiple invasive right eyelid masses that incisional biopsy revealed was infiltrative basal cell carcinoma. The patient underwent a right orbital exenteration without lid sparing. An INTEGRA graft was sutured in place to cover the defect at the time of surgery and allowed to vascularize for 3 weeks. During this time, frozen section of tumor margins previously read as negative were found to have invasive basal cell carcinoma on permanent section re-evaluation. Three weeks after the initial exenteration, the patient returned to the operating room and the dermal matrix of the INTEGRA graft was found to be well integrated and vascularized. Further resection was performed in the areas which were found to have residual cancer on permanent section evaluation. After preliminary frozen section pathology demonstrated clear margins, full-thickness skin grafts harvested from the right and left supraclavicular regions were thinned, draped, and fixated over the INTEGRA matrix. RESULTS: The patient recovered well and experienced no immediate postoperative complications. Adjuvant radiotherapy began 5 weeks after initial exenteration with a fully epithelized exenterated socket. At postoperative week 16, our patient remained with full epithelization after completing radiation. As of postoperative week 47, our patient has had no complications. CONCLUSION: The use of INTEGRA with full-thickness skin grafting for orbital exenteration reconstruction presents several advantages over traditional reconstruction approaches including: quicker recovery, tumor surveillance by re-examining edges of the resection after INTEGRA dermal placement, easier postoperative care, and earlier initiation of radiation therapy.

Plasma kallistatin is associated with adiposity and cardiometabolic risk in apparently healthy African American adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: It is generally recognized that obesity and cardiometabolic risk are more prevalent in African Americans. Kallistatin, a novel tissue kallikrein inhibitor, has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. Thus, the goal of this study was to examine the relationships among plasma kallistatin levels, adiposity and cardiometabolic risk factors in African American adolescents. MATERIALS/METHODS: Plasma kallistatin levels were determined in 318 apparently healthy African American adolescents (aged 14-19 years, 48.1% females) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Plasma kallistatin levels did not differ between males (27.9±11.2 µg/mL) and females (26.8±11.0 µg/mL) (p=0.47). Plasma kallistatin levels were inversely correlated with percent body fat (% BF, r=-0.13, p=0.04), total cholesterol (r=-0.28, p<0.01), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL, r=-0.30, p<0.01) and interleukin-6 (r=-0.14, p=0.05), but positively correlated with adiponectin (r=0.16, p=0.03) and high density lipoprotein (HDL, r=0.17, p=0.02). These correlations remained significant after adjustment for age, sex and body mass index percentiles. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis showed that LDL cholesterol alone explained 14.2% of the variance in kallistatin, while % BF and adiponectin explained an additional 3.6% and 2.8% of the variance, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrates that plasma kallistatin levels are inversely associated with adiposity, adverse lipid profiles and inflammation in apparently healthy African American adolescents. As a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammation agent, kallistatin may also hold therapeutic promise in cardiometabolic disorders.

Pulmonary and cardiac function in advanced fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva.

Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva is a rare genetic disease characterized by heterotopic ossification in soft tissues. Severe disability results from progressive immobilization of the limbs, jaw, and chest wall. To determine whether cardiac function is altered in this disease, 25 patients ranging in age from 5 to 55 years (disease duration 1-51 years) were studied. History, physical examination, pulmonary functions, electrocardiography, and echocardiography were performed on each patient. Physical examination of the lungs and heart was unrevealing; no right sided ventricular gallops were heard, and no patient was found to have neck vein distention or peripheral edema. The patients had extremely limited chest expansion (1.9 +/- 0.8 inches), suggesting dependence on diaphragmatic breathing. Lung volumes were severely reduced (mean forced vital capacity 44% +/- 14% of predicted), but flow rates were relatively normal. All patients had normal capillary oxygen saturation. Echocardiography was technically difficult, but no abnormalities of left or right ventricular function were seen. Ten (40%) patients had electrocardiographic evidence of right ventricular dysfunction. Compared with patients without such evidence, these patients were older, had significantly longer disease duration, higher hemoglobin, and more impaired pulmonary function. The results of this study suggest that the presence of severely restrictive chest wall disease is associated with a high incidence of right ventricular abnormalities on electrocardiogram. Whether cor pulmonale will eventually occur remains to be determined.