Hydrothermal degradation of seaweed polysaccharide: Characterization and biological activities.

Fucoidan is a marine sulfated polysaccharide that possesses various biological activities. To enhance the functional properties of fucoidan, it was depolymerized using a green technique viz. subcritical water treatment (SCW) to produce a low molecular weight fucoidan. In this study, response surface methodology (RSM) was used to study the influence of different influences for instance temperature, pressure, liquid to solid ratio, and agitation speed to depolymerize fucoidan. RSM was used to focus on the antioxidant activity and chemical composition of SCW-treated fucoidan. Further, resulting SCW-treated fucoidan was investigated by UV-Vis, FT-IR, Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), DSC, Elemental analysis, and ESI-MS. Moreover, the optimized SCW-treated fucoidan was checked for cytotoxicity, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, and anticoagulant activity compared with the untreated fucoidan. The obtained values displayed that SCW treatment breakdowns polymer chain and so it produces low molecular weight fucoidan. Biological activities were improved as the molecular weight was reduced.

Minimally invasive mandible reduction using Lee's Rasp & Saw.

Mandible reduction is one of the most well-known facial contouring procedures used to reduce the size of the face for Asian patients, and many studies have been conducted. However, these studies have largely included only exposure by the intraoral incision, which can be accompanied by serious emergency situations and complications. Difficulties in mandible reduction can be encountered during the process of maintaining visual sight for the approaching saw. In maintaining the visual field, the patient's mouth should be widely stretched while the incision and periosteal elevation is extended largely around the entire mandible. This occasionally has been related to serious emergency situations such as airway obstruction caused by edema and massive bleeding. The authors have tried to solve these difficulties with the help of new surgical equipment, which includes a bone dust-collecting rasp with simultaneous suction and irrigation known as Lee's Rasp & Saw. The "minimally invasive" surgical technique can be used with this new rasp and saw. Rasping is performed through a 4- to 6-mm stab incision like other endoscope-assisted techniques so soft tissue injury is minimized and the operation procedures are simplified. The authors have applied this new surgical method to more than 260 male and female patients, and their experience has been satisfying in terms of decreased complications and reduced operation times. This report describes the external approach only. The authors are evaluating this new method using an intraoral approach as well, and the results are as good as those for the external approach.

Minimally invasive zygoma reduction.

BACKGROUND: It is universally accepted that zygoma reduction is one of the best strategies for facial contouring for Asian patients, and many studies have been conducted regarding this subject. However, these studies have continued to perform the zygoma reduction by sectioning the complete malar eminence to fix it into a new location, which requires a wide range of periosteum dissection to expose the bone sufficiently for correct osteotomy. METHODS: In this study, with the help of a new instrument, the authors have applied a new minimally invasive, blind technique to zygoma reduction with multiple scoring and molding. The minimally invasive zygoma reduction was performed through a 5-mm intraoral stab incision, and the authors have operated on over 271 male and female patients. RESULTS: As a result, the authors could reduce the operation time and the postoperative swelling and have achieved greater cosmetic effects and enlarged indications compared with those of conventional methods. The well-known complications of cheek drooping, facial nerve injury, temporomandibular joint injury, and malunion were absent. In particular, because of the relatively reduced swelling, most of the patients could resume activities of daily life within 3 days after the operation. CONCLUSION: Therefore, the authors recommend this new minimally invasive zygoma reduction as another option for zygoma reduction.