A vibrational spectroscopy study on anserine and its aqueous solutions.

In this study based on vibrational spectroscopic measurements and Density Functional Theory (DFT), we aimed for a reliable interpretation of the IR and Raman spectra recorded for anserine in the solid phase and water (H2O) and heavy water (D2O) solutions. Initial DFT calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) searched possible conformers of the anserine zwitterion using a systematic conformational search. The corresponding equilibrium geometrical parameters and vibrational spectral data were determined for each of the stable conformers (in water) by the geometry optimization and hessian calculations performed at the same level of theory using the polarized continuum model (PCM). The same calculations were repeated to determine the most energetically preferred dimer structure for the molecule and the associated geometry, force field and vibrational spectral data. The harmonic force constants obtained from these calculations were scaled by the Scaled Quantum Mechanical Force Field (SQM) method and then used in the calculation of the refined wavenumbers, potential energy distributions, IR and Raman intensities. These refined theoretical data, which confirm the zwitterion structure for anserine in the solid phase or aqueous solvents, revealed the remarkable effects of intermolecular hydrogen bonding on the structural properties and observed IR and Raman spectra of this molecule.

Dietary patterns derived from principal component- and k-means cluster analysis: long-term association with coronary heart disease and stroke.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Studies comparing dietary patterns derived from different a posteriori methods in view of predicting disease risk are scarce. We aimed to explore differences between dietary patterns derived from principal component- (PCA) and k-means cluster analysis (KCA) in relation to their food group composition and ability to predict CHD and stroke risk. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study was conducted in the EPIC-NL cohort that consists of 40,011 men and women. Baseline dietary intake was measured using a validated food-frequency questionnaire. Food items were consolidated into 31 food groups. Occurrence of CHD and stroke was assessed through linkage with registries. After 13 years of follow-up, 1,843 CHD and 588 stroke cases were documented. Both PCA and KCA extracted a prudent pattern (high intakes of fish, high-fiber products, raw vegetables, wine) and a western pattern (high consumption of French fries, fast food, low-fiber products, other alcoholic drinks, soft drinks with sugar) with small variation between components and clusters. The prudent component was associated with a reduced risk of CHD (HR for extreme quartiles: 0.87; 95%-CI: 0.75-1.00) and stroke (0.68; 0.53-0.88). The western component was not related to any outcome. The prudent cluster was related with a lower risk of CHD (0.91; 0.82-1.00) and stroke (0.79; 0.67-0.94) compared to the western cluster. CONCLUSION: PCA and KCA found similar underlying patterns with comparable associations with CHD and stroke risk. A prudent pattern reduced the risk of CHD and stroke.

Facial transplantation: avatars.

Avatar carries a pejorative connotation often related to an unfortunate hazard. In face transplants, incarnations were numerous. The analysis of their evolution through time and increasing sophistication of procedures turn out to be informative regarding the wide disrepairs in the craniofacial area. The authors report the principal constraints of face transplant and the evolution in minds to deal with it.

[Advances in facial transplantation]. / Les avatars de la transplantation à la face.

"Avatar" carries a pejorative connotation often related to an unfortunate hazard. In face transplants, incarnations were numerous. The analysis of their evolution through time and increasing sophistication of procedures turns out to be informative regarding the wide disrepairs in the craniofacial area. The authors report the principal constraints of face transplant and the evolution in minds to deal with it.

[Orbital reconstruction in children]. / La reconstruction orbitaire chez l'enfant.

The orbital cavity, covering the globe and basement of the lids, is partially or totally impaired by tumors arising from inside or outside. In childhood, the reduction of contents jeopardizes the size of the orbit. Reconstruction is always difficult, particularly after exenteration, and a well-made prosthesis is much better than a poor reconstruction.

[Controversies regarding the orbital septum]. / Controverses sur le septum orbitaire.

The orbital septum, a well-known structure since a long time ago, is a controversy object anyway. Its physiological, anatomical and pathological importance is undeniable. However, it will be difficult not to consider it as a part of the whole structure which organizes the general system of the soft tissues of the face, in which the orbital frame is one of the pivots.

[Avatars in face transplants]. / Les avatars de la transplantation à la face.

Avatar carries a pejorative connotation often related to an unfortunate hazard. In face transplants, incarnations were numerous. The analysis of their evolution through time and increasing sophistication of procedures turn out to be informative regarding the wide disrepairs in the craniofacial area. The authors report the principal constraints of face transplant and the evolution in minds to deal with it.

[Uni-axial tissular extension for covering skin defects of the limbs. A 31 cases review]. / Extension tissulaire uni-axiale dans la couverture des pertes de substance des membres. A propos de 31 cas.

INTRODUCTION: The skin property to adapt to external constraints is widely used in plastic surgery. Tissue expansion is the most known and codified application. Tissue extension appears to be an attractive alternative. The authors propose the usage of a simplified procedure to deal with skin loss in the superior or inferior members. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Thirty-one patients underwent uni-axial traction between February 2000 and October 2003. RESULTS: Closure of skin loss on the upper member has been obtained in 6 days and in 8 days on the inferior member. DISCUSSION: Efficiency, reliability and no subsequent aftermaths are strong arguments in favor of the development of a simplified extension procedure. CONCLUSION: The tissue extension procedure, although scarcely used is an attractive procedure for the coverage of skin losses.

[Analysis of the implications of the adipose tissue in facial morphology, from a review of the literature and dissections of 10 half-faces]. / Analyse des implications du tissu graisseux dans la morphologie faciale, à partir d'une revue de la littérature et de dissections de dix hémifaces.

The morphological implications of the fatty tissue of the face are unequal. We study these with a review of the literature and an anatomical study with dissections of 10 half-faces. The sub-cutaneous fat, over the superficialis fascia, have got the most important implications on the morphology. These depend of the localisations on the face and the age and the weight of each subject. We can observe modifications of the positions of this fatty layer on old subjects, but also a diminution of its volume. The sub-fascial fatty tissue, above the SMAS is represented by few fat pads and seems ,to bee less concerned by modifications of its volumes.

[Facial fat: descriptive and functional anatomy, from a review of literature and dissections of 10 split-faces]. / La graisse de la face : anatomie descriptive et fonctionnelle à partir d'une revue de la littérature et de dissections de dix hémifaces.

The aim of this study is to describe the anatomy of the fat in the face, based on a review of the literature and dissections of 10 half-faces. The facial fat can be divided in two layers. The first-one is superficial, between the skin and the superficialis fascia. Its function is essentially protective and its morphological implications are major, especially according to the facial aging. The other layer is deep, under the superficialis fascia. Its principal function is mechanical and its morphological implications are less important. This layer is made of several fat pads in continuity, excepted the buccal fat pad which is separated from the others by its own capsula. The other fat pads are the intra orbialis fat pad, the sub orbicularis oculi fat pad (SOOF), the retro orbicularis oculi fat pad (ROOF), the galeal fat pad and the temporal fat pad.

[Hypertrophic diseases of facial fatty tissue]. / Pathologies hypertrophiques des tissus graisseux de la face.

Based on our own experience and a review of the literature, we des-cribe hypertrophic diseases concerning the fatty tissue of the face. Pathological patterns are numerous and polymporphous. Fatty localizations involving the face may be associated or not with specific histological presentation.

[Contribution of the pathology examination in the operating theatre in patients with skin cancer: retrospective analysis of 388 patients]. / Intérêt de l'examen histologique extemporané dans les carcinomes cutanés: étude rétrospective de 388 patients.

INTRODUCTION: Pathological examination in the operating theatre in patients undergoing resection of a skin cancer is one of the most adapted therapeutic approaches. We present our experience with 388 patients, comparing the rate of recurrence with or without operating-theatre pathological examination. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The study population included 388 patients, mean age 69.5 years (28-98 years) who underwent resection of 544 skin tumors (520 primary and 36 recurrent), 76.6% unique tumors. The pathological examination of the surgical specimen was performed immediately after removal. This method was systematic procedure for spinocellular carcinomas, was not performed for basocellular carcinomas measuring less than 1 cm when well circumscribed and not peri-orifice, and when reconstruction was not planned. RESULTS: The pathological examination was not performed in the operative theatre for 76 tumors; for 470 examinations performed in the operative theatre, at least one surgical margin was positive in 93 (19.8%). Anatomic regions concerned most were the tip of the nose and the eyelids. Recurrent tumors (5.0% of resections) accounted for 27% of the positive pathological results. Thirty-one patients had to have revision surgery, four after a false negative on the pathological examination performed in the operative theatre, four patients for a healing problem and 23 because of tumor recurrence (4%). DISCUSSION: Pathological examination in the operative theatre can help decrease the rate of recurrence in comparison with classical surgery using empiric margins. This method is reliable if performed by an experienced pathologist so that reconstruction can be undertaken before the definitive pathological results are obtained, improving patient comfort. These therapeutic options have a cost however in terms of equipment and personnel. Indications should be well chosen and balanced against the advantages of a two-phase classical procedure.

[Goal cell carcinoma: really a low malignancy tumor?]. / Les carcinomes cutanés basocellulaires méritent-ils leur réputation de tumeurs à faible malignité?

Although basal cell carcinoma often presents as a fairly "benign" lesion early in its course, it remains the most frequent malignancy worldwide. Prevention, while possible, is not always optimal. We show that advanced basal cell carcinoma can be mutilating or even life threatening depending on location, type of lesion, or pre-existing co-morbidity. The consequences of this disease can be lessened if initial treatment does not underestimate its potential severity.

[Coverage an irradiated wound of the lower lumbar area with a latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous free flap by lengthening the vascular pedicle with interpositional vein grafts]. / Couverture d'une radionécrose lombaire par lambeau libre musculocutané de grand dorsal avec allongement pédiculaire par greffons veineux.

Reconstruction of radionecrosis of the lower lumbar area is a challenging problem because of the difficulty of mobilization of the irradiated local tissues, absence of a reliable locoregional procedures and prolongation of the receiving vessels of the free flaps. The ideal treatment is a wide excision of the irradiated tissues and an immediate reconstruction in one step, which is better to be done by using a musculocutaneous flap. The latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap is ideal for this indication. The authors prefer to do the revascularization of the latissimus dorsi flap by its'thoracodorsal pedicle because of the possibility to have a high pressure blood flow which allow to use long venous bypass, the exposure of the recipient vessels at the same time of dissecting the flap and to have the anastamosis site away from the irradiated tissue. The authors are presenting their experience in treating a case of radionecrosis in the lower lumbar region with exposed vertebrae by a latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous free flap with exposed vertebrae by a latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous free flap with the lengthening of its'pedicle by two 30 cm interposition saphenous vein grafts.

Microsurgical lip replantation: evaluation of functional and aesthetic results of three cases.

Lip amputations are rare, and microsurgical replantation must be systematically tried to restore form and function in one step. The authors present a series of three cases. Revascularization of the amputated segment was obtained by arterial anastomosis with the corresponding labial coronary artery. No venous anastomosis was carried out, because no vein could be identified. Venous drainage was obtained by inducing bleeding and by postoperative application of leeches for 6 days. Anticoagulant therapy and antibiotherapy were used for 10 days. With this approach, two lip amputations were completely saved, and a third amputation only suffered partial necrosis. Aesthetic and functional results were evaluated as being good, with reestablishment of labial continence and recovery of protective sensitivity.

Unicoronal suture immobilization in the fetal rabbit.

Pre-clinical evaluation of surgical procedures aimed to correct craniosynostosis is ideally performed in species of small animals characterized by perinatal brain development, early skeletal maturation, and genuine synostosis in all newborns. It would be nearly impossible to breed such a colony to homozygosity, so most researchers have resorted to artificial postnatal suture immobilization. Our aim was to test the hypothesis that artificial immobilization of a unicoronal suture in the fetal rabbit (25 days of gestation) would result in neurocranial growth alterations similar to those seen in the 9-day postnatally immobilized or congenital synostotic rabbit models. The advantages of prenatal immobilization are that rabbits can undergo the tested corrective procedure at postnatal day 9. This age corresponds to a human age of 6 months and allows the deformity and the effects of its correction to be more readily detected. The heads of 25-day-old fetuses of five time-dated pregnant New Zealand white rabbits were exposed by hysterotomy. The left unicoronal suture of 4 fetuses in each litter was immobilized with a polyglactin suture piercing the frontal and parietal bone plates. The remaining two fetuses were sham-operated. Nine days after spontaneous delivery, all rabbits were marked with four titanium screws close to the sagittal and coronal sutures. Growth was recorded with dorsoventral cephalograms at 9 and 90 days. The group with the immobilized suture showed a small increase in growth across the sagittal sutures. However, the decreases in growth at the unicoronal suture in both the immobilized (5.41-mm difference with sham-treated group) and nonimmobilized (1.17-mm difference with sham-treated group) were significant. Fetal immobilization results in growth alterations similar to those observed after postnatal immobilization.

[Post-orthodontic rehabilitation of the sequellae of alveolar clefts: implantation or periodontal plastic surgery?]. / Réhabilitation post-orthodontique des séquelles de fente alvéolaire: implantation ou chirurgie plastique parodontale?

Just as they do for many cranio-facial deformities, the treatment team begins the care of cleft palate patients early and continues treatment over a long period. Throughout the growth period, they perform well-timed interventions and re-evaluations according to the individual plan they have prepared. When growth is completed and the orthopedic and orthodontic corrections have contributed as much as possible to an esthetic and functional equilibrium, a final prosthetic replacement will frequently be required. When the correct edentulous space between the teeth on each side of the defect has been created, or maintained, practitioners can choose between two alternatives: implants or traditional fixed bridges. They should analyze any secondary anatomic discrepancies, severe or superficial, that may have developed, and prepare the best therapeutic pathway for a reconstruction of crestal gingival morphology by means of periodontal surgery.

[Principles of treatment of total unilateral cleft lip and palate. Suggested protocol]. / Principes de prise en charge des fentes labio-maxillo-palatines unilatérales totales. Propositions de protocole.

Complete uni-lateral cleft palates resulting from failed union between internal and external nasal buds cause an imbalance of both superficial and deep nasal structures. After summarizing the principles that should guide the care of these anomalies, the authors present their therapeutic procedure, in which orthopaedic and surgical treatments are intimately associated. They conclude their presentation by emphasizing the difficulty of predicting the definitive result because of the extreme diversity of the sequellae that always accompany the treatment of cleft palates.

Diagnosis and treatment of vascular lesions of the lip.

Many vascular lesions involve the lip. We present the clinical and imaging findings of vascular lesions, including haemangiomas and vascular malformations. We review the changing role of surgery and other treatments in the management of each type of lesion. Haemangiomas are treated surgically only when lip function is substantially impaired. Superselective embolisation is the treatment of choice for arteriovenous malformations, whereas capillary-venous malformations are best treated by operation together with intralesional injection of fibrosing agents. Capillary malformations are usually treated with laser.

[Morphologic disequilibrium of the lips]. / Les déséquilibres morphologiques des lèvres.

The aetiologies of the labial desequilibrium are multiple. They respond to the anomalies of the position and the dimension. The authors will enumerate the different variety and their etiology.