The minimally-invasive thyroidectomy incision: a histological analysis.

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive thyroidectomy (MIT) has gained popularity in the surgical management of benign and malignant pathology of the thyroid. One of the main benefits of utilizing this technique is the use of smaller incisions resulting in increased cosmetic satisfaction. Unfortunately, the retraction required for adequate exposure during MIT may lead to skin damage, impaired wound healing and poor cosmetic outcomes. Some have proposed that excising incision edges prior to closure may improve cosmesis. A review of the literature does not reveal any histologic evidence to support this technique. MATERIAL/METHODS: In this prospective observational study, nine subjects undergoing MIT were identified. Both the superior and inferior skin edges were excised and labeled for orientation. Specimens were sent for hematoxylin and eosin staining and histologic analysis by a staff pathologist. RESULTS: All specimens showed no significant findings such as damage to the architecture of the dermis, acute inflammation, edema or evidence of hemorrhage. Focal blood vessel ectasia within the dermis was identified in three of nine subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings do not yield a histological basis supporting the routine trimming of incisions during MIT. Although no significant findings were noted histologically, further studies are warranted to investigate the long-term cosmetic outcome of MIT incisions

Tendinosis develops from age- and oxygen tension-dependent modulation of Rac1 activity.

Age-related tendon degeneration (tendinosis) is characterized by a phenotypic change in which tenocytes display characteristics of fibrochondrocytes and mineralized fibrochondrocytes. As tendon degeneration has been noted in vivo in areas of decreased tendon vascularity, we hypothesized that hypoxia is responsible for the development of the tendinosis phenotype, and that these effects are more pronounced in aged tenocytes. Hypoxic (1% O2 ) culture of aged, tendinotic, and young human tenocytes resulted in a mineralized fibrochondrocyte phenotype in aged tenocytes, and a fibrochondrocyte phenotype in young and tendinotic tenocytes. Investigation of the molecular mechanism responsible for this phenotype change revealed that the fibrochondrocyte phenotype in aged tenocytes occurs with decreased Rac1 activity in response to hypoxia. In young hypoxic tenocytes, however, the fibrochondrocyte phenotype occurs with concomitant decreased Rac1 activity coupled with increased RhoA activity. Using pharmacologic and adenoviral manipulation, we confirmed that these hypoxic effects on the tenocyte phenotype are linked directly to the activity of RhoA/Rac1 GTPase in in vitro human cell culture and tendon explants. These results demonstrate that hypoxia drives tenocyte phenotypic changes, and provide a molecular insight into the development of human tendinosis that occurs with aging

A Preliminary Report of Percutaneous Craniofacial Osteoplasty in a Rat Calvarium

Objective: To evaluate the potential for injectable, permanent bone augmentation by assessing the biocompatibility and bioactivity of subperiosteal hydroxylapatite (Radiesse) deposition in a rat model. Methods: Fourteen adult Sprague Dawley rats were injected in the parietal skull with hydroxylapatite (n=10) or a carrier gel control (n=4), using a subperiosteal injection technique on the right and a subcutaneous injection technique on the left. At 1, 3, and 6 months, 3 rats (1 negative control, 2 variables) were sacrificed. At 12 months, the remaining 5 rats were sacrificed. After each harvest, the calvaria were examined under both light and polarized microscopy. Results: The inflammatory response was limited in all specimens. Injectables were still present 12 months after the injection. New bone formation was only seen when the injection was located deep to a disrupted periosteum The odd of new bone formation was 48.949 times higher (95% CI (2.637, 3759.961), p = 0.002) with subperiosteal hydroxylapatite injections compared to all other combinations of injection plane and injectable. Conclusion: This preliminary report of subperiosteal hydroxylapatite (Radiesse) injection in a rat model has verified the biocompatibility of injectable hydroxylapatite at the bony interface and suggests the potential for new bone formation

TRY plant trait database – enhanced coverage and open access

Plant traits - the morphological, anatomical, physiological, biochemical and phenological characteristics of plants - determine how plants respond to environmental factors, affect other trophic levels, and influence ecosystem properties and their benefits and detriments to people. Plant trait data thus represent the basis for a vast area of research spanning from evolutionary biology, community and functional ecology, to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and landscape management, restoration, biogeography and earth system modelling. Since its foundation in 2007, the TRY database of plant traits has grown continuously. It now provides unprecedented data coverage under an open access data policy and is the main plant trait database used by the research community worldwide. Increasingly, the TRY database also supports new frontiers of trait‐based plant research, including the identification of data gaps and the subsequent mobilization or measurement of new data. To support this development, in this article we evaluate the extent of the trait data compiled in TRY and analyse emerging patterns of data coverage and representativeness. Best species coverage is achieved for categorical traits - almost complete coverage for ‘plant growth form’. However, most traits relevant for ecology and vegetation modelling are characterized by continuous intraspecific variation and trait–environmental relationships. These traits have to be measured on individual plants in their respective environment. Despite unprecedented data coverage, we observe a humbling lack of completeness and representativeness of these continuous traits in many aspects. We, therefore, conclude that reducing data gaps and biases in the TRY database remains a key challenge and requires a coordinated approach to data mobilization and trait measurements. This can only be achieved in collaboration with other initiatives

Giant Cell Tumor of Soft Tissue: A Case Study

BACKGROUND Giant cell tumors of soft tissue are relatively uncommon tumors. They are considered to be the soft tissue counterpart to giant cell tumors of bone. Both tumors consist of multi-nucleated giant cells evenly distributed throughout a background of epithelioid mononuclear cells, and are usually benign, but can be locally invasive. Giant cell tumors of soft tissue typically occur in patients over age 40, and show no gender or racial predilection. They present as firm, well demarcated masses, which are not connected to the underlying muscle, tendon, or bone. Giant cell tumors of soft tissue are generally small, and tend to be less than 10 centimeters. They occur most frequently in the superficial soft tissue of the lower extremities, but may also occur in the in the deep soft-tissue as well as in other locations including the upper extremities, abdomen, and pelvis

Value Based Analysis of Nasal Septum and Inferior Turbinate Specimens

Objectives: To determine the frequency and clinical relevance of unanticipated histopathologic results in routine sinonasal surgery and evaluate the necessity for histopathologic processing of septal cartilage, bone, and inferior turbinate specimens. AAO-HNSF 2012 Annual Meeting Washington DC. James Daniero is a fifth year resident at the Thomas Jefferson University Department of Otolaryngology. He attended Eastern Virginia Medical School. Presentation: 30 minute

Coffee Break, Poster, and Interactive Session

Presenters: Megan Davis: Improving Administrative Data Quality at the Initial Stages of the Data Life Cycle Sandra Clark: Using Administrative Records in the American Community Survey Kara Bonneau: North Carolina Education Research Data Center David Bleckley: DataLumos and Beyond: ICPSR\u27s Tool for Crowdsourced Sharing of Administrative and Other Government Data and Ways to Address its Limitations Brian J. Goode: Classifying Families and Households for VA Government Stakeholders using Existing Administrative Records Misty Heggeness: Linking Administrative Data across Federal Agencies: Outcome Evaluations for NIH Training Programs Jordan Butz; Annie Streetman: Predicting Spatial Risk of Opioid Overdoses in Providence, RI Kathryn Shantz: Using SNAP and TANF Administrative Records and the Transfer Income Model to Evaluate Poverty Measurement Adela Luque: The Nonemployer Statistics by Demographics: Leveraging Administrative Data to Meet Stakeholder Needs Susan Jekielek: Higher Education Administrative Data Elements: Potential for Analysis Amy O\u27Hara: \u27I Need That!\u27 Interactive Sessio

Coffee Break, Poster, and Interactive Session

Presenters: Megan Davis: Improving Administrative Data Quality at the Initial Stages of the Data Life Cycle Sandra Clark: Using Administrative Records in the American Community Survey Kara Bonneau: North Carolina Education Research Data Center David Bleckley: DataLumos and Beyond: ICPSR\u27s Tool for Crowdsourced Sharing of Administrative and Other Government Data and Ways to Address its Limitations Brian J. Goode: Classifying Families and Households for VA Government Stakeholders using Existing Administrative Records Misty Heggeness: Linking Administrative Data across Federal Agencies: Outcome Evaluations for NIH Training Programs Jordan Butz; Annie Streetman: Predicting Spatial Risk of Opioid Overdoses in Providence, RI Kathryn Shantz: Using SNAP and TANF Administrative Records and the Transfer Income Model to Evaluate Poverty Measurement Adela Luque: The Nonemployer Statistics by Demographics: Leveraging Administrative Data to Meet Stakeholder Needs Susan Jekielek: Higher Education Administrative Data Elements: Potential for Analysis Amy O\u27Hara: \u27I Need That!\u27 Interactive Sessio