Dentoalveolar distraction osteogenesis for rapid orthodontic canine retraction.

PURPOSE: We present a technique to reduce the overall orthodontic treatment time by means of dentoalveolar distraction osteogenesis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eleven patients who were planned to undergo orthodontic treatment with bilateral first premolar extractions and subsequent bilateral canine tooth distalization underwent osteotomy around the canine tooth. The first premolar was extracted, and the buccal bone was carefully removed. After wound closure, a special orthopedic device was mounted and cemented to the first molar and canine teeth. Distraction was started the same day at the rate of 0.4 mm twice a day and continued until adequate movement of the canine teeth was achieved. The device was then removed, and orthodontic therapy was continued with fixed appliances. RESULTS: The distraction rate and the device were well tolerated by all of patients. No anchorage loss in the second premolar and first molar teeth, root resorption, dental ankylosis, discoloration, or loss of vitality was detected. CONCLUSION: The concept of distraction osteogenesis for rapid orthodontic tooth movement is promising and feasible for clinical practice.     

Adjustable perineal male sling using tissue expander as an effective treatment of post-prostatectomy urinary incontinence

Purpose

To report our intermediate experience in treating patients with severe incontinence using an adjustable perineal male sling with a tissue expander.

Materials and Methods

An adjustable male sling procedure was performed on 21 patients with severe incontinence. The underlying etiology of urinary incontinence was radical prostatectomy in 13 patients, open prostatectomy in 5 patients and transurethral prostate resection in 3 patients. The difference between the classical and the adjustable sling is that in the latter there is a 25 mL tissue expander between the two layers of polypropylene mesh with an injection port. Adjustment of the sling was performed with saline via an inflation port, in case of recurrence or persistence of incontinence.

Results

The mean age of the patients was 66.2±7.3 (50-79) years and mean pad usage was 6.4±0.6 per day. The mean follow-up time was 40.1±23.2 (6-74) months. The balloon was postoperatively inflated on average with 11.6±5.7 (5-25) mL. After the mean 40.1 months of follow-up, 16 of the 21 patients (76.2%) were dry (11 patients, 0 pads; 5 patients using safety pads), 3 patients (14%) had mild and 2 (9.8%) had moderate degree post-prostatectomy urinary incontinence (PPI). The average maximum urine flow rate of the patients was 15.6±4.7 (10-31) mL/s. No residual urine was found. In 2 patients, all parts of the device were removed due to infection and discomfort, and in 3 patients only the inflation component was removed due to local scrotal infection.

Conclusions

Our results show that using an adjustable perineal male sling with a tissue expander seems to be an efficient, and safe surgical treatment option in patients with PPI.     

Immunohistochemical study on distribution of endocrine cells in gastrointestinal tract of flower fish （Pseudophoxinus antalyae）

INTRODUCTION Gastrointestinal hormones are secreted by endocrine cells which are distributed throughout the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract. They play important roles in the overall regulation of digestive processes such as nutrient absorption, gut m…     

Update on imaging techniques in oculoplastics

Imaging is a beneficial aid to the oculoplastic surgeon especially in orbital and lacrimal disorders when the pathology is not visible from outside. It is a powerful tool that may be benefited in not only diagnosis but also management and follow-up. The most common imaging modalities required are CT and MRI, with CT being more frequently ordered by oculoplastic surgeons. Improvements in technology enabled the acquisition times to shorten incredibly. Radiologists can now obtain images with superb resolution, and isolate the site and tissue of interest from other structures with special techniques. Better contrast agents and 3D imaging capabilities make complicated cases easier to identify. Color Doppler imaging is becoming more popular both for research and clinical purposes. Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) added so much to the vascular system imaging recently. Although angiography is still the gold standard, new software and techniques rendered MRA as valuable as angiography in most circumstances. Stereotactic navigation, although in use for a long time, recently became the focus of interest for the oculoplastic surgeon especially in orbital decompressions. Improvements in radiology and nuclear medicine techniques of lacrimal drainage system imaging provided more detailed analysis of the system.