Genetic Parameter Estimates of Growth Curve and Feed Efficiency Traits in Japanese Quail.

This study aimed to estimate heritabilities for weekly body weight traits, the Gompertz growth curve parameters, and feed efficiency characteristics, as well as genetic correlations among characteristics. A total of 700 Japanese quails with pedigree records were used in this study. Body weight and feed consumption were measured individually on a weekly basis. Using weekly body weight data, the growth model parameters were estimated for each bird using the Gompertz nonlinear regression model. Multi-trait variance-covariance matrices were obtained with Bayesian inference using the Gibbs sampler. While estimates of high heritability (0.59 to 0.61) were found for weekly body weight traits, estimates of moderate heritability (0.23 to 0.37) were determined for feed intake and feed conversion efficiency traits. The estimated heritabilities for the parameters of the Gompertz model and inflection point coordinates were moderate (0.37 to 0.47). While genetic correlations between feed intake and body weight characteristics were positive and moderate (0.28 to 0.49), the genetic correlations between feed conversion efficiency and body weight traits were positive and strong (0.52 to 0.83). It has been concluded that the moderate negative genetic relationship between feed conversion efficiency and body weight may constrain selection studies. Due to the weak genetic correlation between the asymptotic body weight parameter of the Gompertz model and the feed conversion efficiency, it is thought that the total genetic gain will be greater if the mature weight parameter is also used as a selection criterion in genetic improvement studies.

The effects of different surface treatments on the shear bond strengths of two dual-cure resincements to CAD/CAM restorative materials

. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of surface treatments on the bond strengths between polymer-containing restorative materials and two dual-cure resin cements. MATERIALS AND METHODS.In the present study, rectangular samples prepared from Lava Ultimate (LU) and Vita Enamic (VE) blocks were used. The specimen surfaces were treated using CoJet sandblasting, 50 μm Al2O3 sandblasting, % 9 HF (hydrofluoric) acid, ER,Cr:YSGG laser treatment, and Z-Prime. Dual-cure resin cements (TheraCem and 3M RelyX U 200) were applied on each specimen’s treated surface. A micro-tensile device was used to evaluate shear bond strength. Statistical analysis was performed using the SAS 9.4v3. RESULTS. While the bond strengthusing TheraCem with LU or VE was not statistically significant (P=.164), the bond strength using U200 with VE was statistically significant (P=.006). In the TheraCem applied VE groups, Z-Prime and HF acid were statistically different from CoJet, Laser, and Sandblast groups. In comparison of TheraCem used LU group, there was a statistically significant difference between HF acid and other surface treatments. CONCLUSION. The bondingperformance between the restorative materials and cements were material type-dependent and surface treatment had a large effect on the bond strength. Within the limitations of the study, the use of both U200 and TheraCem may be suggested if Z-prime was applied to intaglio surfaces of VE. The cementation of LU using TheraCem is suitable after HF acid conditioning of the restoration surfaces.

A New Objective Parameter in Hydroxychloroquine-Induced Retinal Toxicity Screening Test: Macular Retinal Ganglion Cell-Inner Plexiform Layer Thickness.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to detect hydroxychloroquine (HCQ)-induced retinal toxicity at an earlier stage through the use of spectral-domain optical coherence tomography device, especially by measuring macular retinal ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (RGC-IPL) thickness. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this study, 92 eyes of 46 Caucasian female patients (mean age 53.6±8.1 years; range 32 to 69 years) who were taking HCQ were assigned to group 1, while 80 eyes of 40 age-matched Caucasian female control subjects (mean age 56.1±10.7 years; range 34 to 71 years) were assigned to group 2. RGC-IPL thickness and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness were measured in all subjects by Cirrus high-definition optical coherence tomography model 5000 device using macular cube 512¥128 and optic disc cube 200¥200 protocols. We performed an evaluation to see if there was any difference between the measured values of the groups. The correlation between average RGC-IPL thickness measures and cumulative dose of HCQ and duration of use was analyzed. RESULTS: Retinal ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer of group 1 was found to be statistically thinner than that of group 2 both on average and in all segments (superior, superonasal, inferonasal, inferotemporal and superotemporal) except inferior segment when segmented (p<0.05). Additionally, a statistically significant negative correlation was found between the average RGC-IPL thickness and cumulative dose of HCQ (r= -0.371, p=0.001) as well as the duration of use (r= -0.308, p=0.006). CONCLUSION: Patients taking HCQ were found to have decreased RGC-IPL thickness at an early stage due to retinal toxicity induced by the drug. We think that measuring the RGC-IPL thickness may become an important objective in HCQ screening tests.

An algorithmic approach for the management of hand deformities in dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa.

Treatment of hand deformities in epidermolysis bullosa patients represents a challenging field in hand surgery practice, thus a systematic approach by a team is mandatory for a successful result. A simple and practical algorithm for the surgical treatment of hand deformities in EB was employed by the authors where the deformities of each digit in EB patients was categorized according to pseudosyndactyly and interphalangeal joint contracture severity for guidance during the surgical treatment. The current study retrospectively reviewed the medical records and photographic data of 13 EB patients followed in our department, for whom a systematic approach to the management and treatment was used. Mild cases were treated by surgical release and secondary healing with non-adhesive dressing while moderate cases were treated with autologous dermal grafts harvested with a special technique that were fixed on denuded areas on the proximal interphalageal joints after release. The remaining areas were treated similarly to the mild group. Additional K-wires were applied for two weeks in severe cases. A total of 21 procedures were performed on 13 EB patients with hand deformities according to the proposed treatment strategy. Functional recovery was satisfactory for each patient and the outcomes were dependent upon the severity of deformity. A multidisciplinary and conscious approach followed by an algorithmic surgical treatment protocol described in the study has been beneficial in providing consistent and successful long-term results for these patients.

Comparison of Resorbable Mesh (Poly L-Lactide/Glycolic Acid) and Porous Polyethylene in Orbital Floor Fractures in an Experimental Model.

BACKGROUND: Resorbable mesh and porous polyethylene are frequently used alloplastic materials for the treatment of the orbital blowout fractures. The literature lacks reports comparing their long-term effects on experimental models. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to radiologically and histologically evaluate the effectiveness and safety of porous polyethylene and resorbable mesh in a rabbit orbital blowout fracture model. METHODS: Twelve New Zealand white rabbits (24 orbits) were randomized to 4 groups. In group 1, only orbital floor dissection was done. In group 2, following orbital floor dissection, a 10-mm defect was created without any extra procedure. In group 3, following a 10-mm defect creation, a 12-mm-round cut porous polyethylene was placed on the defect. In group 4, following a 10-mm defect creation, a 12-mm-round cut resorbable mesh was placed on the defect. Computed tomographic analysis was performed during follow-up period. Orbital floors were evaluated histologically at month 6. RESULTS: No clinical complications were observed during follow-up period. In radiological evaluation, there was no statistically significant difference between groups regarding bone formation. In histological evaluation, the connective tissue was denser, and organized and better bone formation was observed in group 3 and 4 when compared with other groups. CONCLUSION: Although no significant radiological changes were present, porous polyethylene and resorbable mesh performed better histologically. They were effective and well tolerated for reconstruction of the isolated orbital floor defects.

HISTORIQUE: Le treillis résorbable et le polyéthylène poreux sont des matériaux alloplastiques souvent utilisés pour traiter les fractures isolées du plancher de l'orbite. Les publications ne contiennent pas de rapports sur les effets à long terme de ces matériaux dans des modèles expérimentaux. OBJECTIF: Les chercheurs visaient à évaluer l'efficacité et la sécurité du polyéthylène poreux et du treillis résorbable sur le plan radiologique et histologique dans un modèle de fracture isolée du plancher de l'orbite chez un lapin. MÉTHODOLOGIE: Douze lapins blancs néo-zélandais (24 orbites) ont été répartis au hasard en quatre groupes. Le groupe 1 a seulement subi la dissection du plancher de l'orbite. Dans le groupe 2, après cette dissection, une anomalie de 10 mm a été créée sans intervention supplémentaire. Dans le groupe 3, après la création d'une anomalie de 10 mm, une coupe ronde de polyéthylène poreux de 12 mm a été placée sur l'anomalie. Dans le groupe 4, après la création d'une anomalie de 10 mm, une coupe ronde de treillis résorbable de 12 mm a été placée sur l'anomalie. Les chercheurs ont effectué une analyse tomodensitométrique pendant la période de suivi. Au sixième mois, ils ont évalué les planchers orbitaux à l'histologie. RÉSULTATS: Les chercheurs n'ont observé aucune complication clinique pendant la période de suivi. À l'évaluation radiologique, la formation osseuse ne présentait aucune différence statistiquement significative entre les groupes. À l'évaluation histologique, les tissus conjonctifs étaient plus denses et la formation osseuse était organisée et de meilleure qualité dans les groupes 3 et 4 que dans les autres groupes. CONCLUSION: Malgré l'absence de modification significative à la radiologie, le polyéthylène poreux et le treillis résorbable donnaient de meilleurs résultats sur le plan histologique. Ces matériaux étaient efficaces et bien tolérés pour la reconstruction des anomalies isolées du plancher orbital.

Choroidal Thickness in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Type Dementia.

Aim. To asses both choroidal thickness differences among Alzheimer's type dementia (ATD) patients, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients, and healthy control (C) subjects and choroidal thickness relationships with cognitive performance. Methods. A total of 246 eyes of 123 people (41 ATD, 38 MCI, and 44 healthy C subjects) were included in this study. Complete ophthalmological and neurological examination was performed in all subjects. Choroidal thicknesses (CT) were measured at seven locations: the fovea, 500-1500-3000 µm temporal and 500-1500-3000 µm nasal to the fovea by enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT). Detailed neurological examination including mini mental state examination (MMSE) test which evaluates the cognitive function was applied to all participants. Results. The ages and genders of all participants were similar in all groups. Compared with healthy C subjects, the CT measurements at all regions were significantly thinner both in patients with ATD and in patients with MCI than in healthy C subjects (p < 0.05). The MMSE scores were significantly different among ATD patients, MCI patients, and healthy C subjects. They were 19.3 ± 1.8, 24.8 ± 0.9, and 27.6 ± 1.2 in ATD, MCI, and healthy controls, respectively (p < 0.001). There were also significant correlation between MMSE score and choroidal thickness at each location (p < 0.05). Conclusions. CT was reduced in ATD patients and MCI patients. Since vascular structures were affected in ATD patients and MCI patients, they had thin CT. Besides CT was correlated with degree of cognitive impairment. Therefore CT may be a new biomarker in diagnosis and follow-up of MCI and ATD patients.

Use of previously divided latissimus dorsi muscle for bronchopleural fistula.

Management of postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistula remains a major challenge for thoracic surgeons. Successful closure of a postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistula was performed in a 60-year-old man, using a flap made by a combination of serratus anterior and latissimus dorsi muscle which had been divided during the pneumonectomy operation. The flap was prepared on the presence of a dependable collateral serratus anterior branch to the lateral thoracic artery, which provides retrograde flow to the latissimus dorsi muscle.

The effect of regional block over pain levels during vacuum-assisted wound closure.

Despite being a wound treatment method with a broad spectrum of indications, vacuum-assisted wound closure (VAWC) can be a painful treatment modality which may even result with patient unwillingness for the continuation of treatment. A prospective study was undertaken to determine the effect of regional pain blocks (RPB) for patients who wanted to abandon treatment due to pain after the first application. Patients were asked to score their pain using a visual analogue scale for two different time frames (i) during dressing changes and (ii) while daytime treatment. This evaluation was carried out for conventional wound dressings, VAWC before RPB and finally for VAWC after RPB. The pain experienced with blocks was significantly lesser than conventional and VAWC dressing changes that were applied without pain blocks. Also, the pain was significantly lesser under pain blocks for daytime treatment. For patients with refractory pain where VAWC would prove to be of most benefit, RPB can be discussed with the patient and used. This study has shown that effective pain control can be obtained through regional blocks for patients with excruciating pain undergoing VAWC treatment.

Are grafts necessary in rhinoplasty? Cartilage flaps with cartilage-saving rhinoplasty concept.

BACKGROUND: Cartilage grafts are used routinely in rhinoplasty, but are they necessary? Can we support the normal anatomy by preserving and transposing the adjacent tissues? In this study we hypothesize that during rhinoplasty, cartilage flaps can give adequate support and may decrease the need for cartilage grafts. METHODS: Included in this study were 147 patients who underwent an open rhinoplasty technique under general anesthesia between January 2010 and May 2012. Mean operative time was 73 min (range=44-120 min). After dissection and septoplasty (if needed), we performed dorsal bone and septal reductions. Following reduction, upper lateral cartilage superior segments were preserved and turned inward as cartilage flaps to replace the spreader grafts. Lower lateral cartilage cranial parts were not excised and were slid over the caudal part to replace the alar strut grafts. Cartilage from the caudal nasal septum was not excised; instead, lower lateral cartilages were cephaloposteriorly displaced with a tongue-in-groove technique to support the nasal tip. RESULTS: Mean follow-up time was 19.6 months (6-30 months). All patients but 12 were satisfied or completely satisfied with the results. Among the 12 unsatisfied patients, four complained of a one-sided inverted-V deformity (secondary spreader grafts were added), three had supratip deformity (secondary additional dorsal septal excisions), two demanded extra tip definition (secondary tipoplasty), two were unhappy with the bone symmetry (secondary osteotomies), and one complained of hanging columella (secondary excision from the caudal septum). CONCLUSIONS: Cartilage flaps have some advantages over cartilage grafts. First, graft harvest is not needed in the former; second, because flaps are a part of the normal anatomy, they provide a good tissue match, making fixation easier. However, the tongue-in-groove technique cannot be used in patients who do not need caudal excision, and cartilage flaps can be inadequate in some patients who may need additional grafts. EBM LEVEL IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Reconstruction of the left thumb with a second toe transfer in a musician's hand.

The free microvascular transfer of toes for reconstruction of the thumb remains to be an area of interest in microsurgery. The goal of reconstruction is to restore the prehensile abilities of the thumb, while achieving acceptable appearance and minimizing morbidity at the donor site. We report the case of a 21-year-old man who had second toe-to-thumb reconstruction after post-traumatic amputation of his left thumb at the metacarpophalangeal level. Before the accident, he played a musical string instrument, the "Saz", regularly. The traditional method of playing the Saz is to pluck the strings with the fingers of the right hand and pick the strings with the thumb and fingers of the left hand. Three months after the operation, he was playing the saz again, proving that he had sufficient strength in opposition, adduction, and flexion force in the transferred toe.

Effects of different surgical techniques on cephalic index and intracranial volume in isolated bilateral coronal synostosis model.

BACKGROUND: Bilateral coronal synostosis (brachycephaly) is the most common single-suture synostosis that may lead to functional deficits such as mental retardation. This increases the importance of volume gain during surgery. This study was designed to understand the differences in volume gain, cranial index (CI), and aesthetic outcomes when additional osteotomies or rotations are applied on the frontoparietal segment. METHODS: Acrylic brachycephaly models were prepared. Frontoparietal osteotomy was standard in all models. Frontoparietal segment was fixed: to the same position in surgical control model, after 1.2-cm advancement in advancement model, after 180-degree rotation without advancement in rotation model, after 180-degree rotation plus a horizontal osteotomy and 1.2-cm advancement in rotation plus angled advancement model, and after a horizontal osteotomy without rotation and 1.2-cm advancement and in angled advancement model. RESULTS: Intracranial volume changes (in milliliters) and CIs were as follows between groups: control group, 828/94.1; surgical control group, 830/93.8; advancement model, 900/84.5; rotation model, 834/89.1; rotation plus angled advancement model, 897/82.7; angled advancement model, 902/81.8. CONCLUSIONS: Advancement of the frontoparietal segment is the keystone of surgery in brachycephaly treatment. Making an additional horizontal osteotomy can angle this segment and may supply additional volume gain. Rotation of the frontoparietal segment does not provide additional volume or CI gain but increase better aesthetic outcomes.

Mirror on the wall: a study of women's perception of facial features as they age.

BACKGROUND: Facial aesthetic treatments are among the most popular cosmetic procedures worldwide, but the factors that motivate women to change their facial appearance are not fully understood. OBJECTIVES: The authors examine the relationships among the facial areas on which women focus most as they age, women's general self-perception, and the effect of their personal focus on "beauty points" on their perception of other women's faces. METHODS: In this prospective study, 200 women who presented to a cosmetic surgery outpatient clinic for consultation between December 2009 and February 2010 completed a questionnaire. The 200 participants were grouped by age: 20-29 years, 30-39, 40-49, and 50 or older (50 women in each group). They were asked which part of their face they focus on most when looking in the mirror, which part they notice most in other women (of different age groups), what they like/dislike most about their own face, and whether they wished to change any facial feature. RESULTS: A positive correlation was found between women's focal points and the areas they dislike or desire to change. Younger women focused mainly on their nose and skin, while older women focused on their periorbital area and jawline. Women focus on their personal focal points when looking at other women in their 20s and 30s, but not when looking at older women. CONCLUSIONS: Women presenting for cosmetic surgery consultation focus on the areas that they dislike most, which leads to a desire to change those features. The plastic surgeon must fully understand patients' expectations to select appropriate candidates and maximize satisfaction with the outcomes.

Evaluation of the nose profile after maxillary advancement with impaction surgeries.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify and quantify nasal profile changes following maxillary advancement (MA) and maxillary advancement with impaction (MAI) with Le Fort I osteotomies. METHODS: The study consisted of preoperative and postoperative lateral cephalograms of 42 class III adult patients. The study sample was divided into 2 groups, with the first group composed of 22 patients who underwent MA surgery and the second group composed of 20 patients who underwent MAI surgery. In total, 7 skeletal parameters and 17 soft-tissue parameters related to nasal projection, hump, dorsal convexity, and the nasolabial region were evaluated on the cephalograms, and hard- and soft-tissue relationships were assessed. RESULTS: Nasal length, hump, nasal depths, distance from the most convex point of the Alar curvature to the most inferior point of the nostril, alar curvature-subnasale, and subnasale-pronasale measurements decreased postoperatively. In the MAI group, MA correlated with significant decreases in nasal length and hump. In the MA group, MA correlated with pronasale position (P < 0.05); significant decreases in nasal depth, columella convexity, and subnasale-pronasale length; and significant changes in subnasale position. CONCLUSIONS: There is little difference in the effects of the 2 different maxillary surgeries on the postoperative nasal profile.

Giant temporalis muscle metastasis of esophageal carcinoma.

Temporalis muscle metastasis of a tumor is a rare condition. Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma is an uncommon variant of squamous cell carcinoma, which often occurs in the aerodigestive tract. To the best of our knowledge, there have been no previous reports dealing with temporalis muscle metastasis from esophageal carcinoma in the literature.

Suction-assisted lipectomy for treatment of lower-extremity lymphedema.

Lymphedema typically occurs on the extremities and affects millions of people throughout the world. Although currently there is no single treatment proven effective for lymphedema in every patient, suction-assisted lipectomy has been shown to be effective in some patients. Suction-assisted lipectomy offers patients with lower-extremity lymphedema a less invasive, less morbid surgical option compared with traditional excisional techniques. In this article we present a case of lymphedema reduction with suction-assisted lipectomy in a patient with bilateral lower-extremity lymphedema.