Free-flap reconstitutions of head and neck defects after oncologic ablation

Background: Head and neck cancers are the sixth most common cancers worldwide. The primary treatment modality for most head and neck cancers is surgery with reconstruction of resultant defects. Reconstruction of these defects is a unique challenge as it has to not only restore integrity but also function and often cosmesis. The objective of this study was to assess the utility of free flaps in the reconstruction of these defects, done in a tertiary care centre in a three-tier city in India. Methodology: We analyzed the computerized medical records of the last 3 years in this retrospective study carried out in the department of head and neck oncology at the cancer centre. The study included cases that had undergone surgery for head and neck cancer and underwent free flap reconstruction. Results: Out of the 1061 cases requiring reconstruction after an oncologic ablation, 201 cases underwent free flap reconstruction. For defects requiring Facio cutaneous reconstruction, the radial forearm was the preferred donor free flap site, while the fibula was the preferred donor site for mandibular reconstructions survival rate was 94.5%, with factors like age and comorbidities like diabetes and hypertension or habits like cigarette smoking or tobacco chewing not affecting survival rates. Twenty cases of minor flap complications were observed. Conclusions: Free flap reconstructions for head and neck defects after oncologic ablation have been a boon with good survival rates and immense flexibility of use, giving good cosmetic and functional outcomes. Our study shows that a significant number of free flap reconstructions can be done in a tertiary care centre in a three-tier city in India with an internationally comparable survival rate

Free-flap reconstitutions of head and neck defects after oncologic ablation

Background: Head and neck cancers are the sixth most common cancers worldwide. The primary treatment modality for most head and neck cancers is surgery with reconstruction of resultant defects. Reconstruction of these defects is a unique challenge as it has to not only restore integrity but also function and often cosmesis. The objective of this study was to assess the utility of free flaps in the reconstruction of these defects, done in a tertiary care centre in a three-tier city in India. Methodology: We analyzed the computerized medical records of the last 3 years in this retrospective study carried out in the department of head and neck oncology at the cancer centre. The study included cases that had undergone surgery for head and neck cancer and underwent free flap reconstruction. Results: Out of the 1061 cases requiring reconstruction after an oncologic ablation, 201 cases underwent free flap reconstruction. For defects requiring Facio cutaneous reconstruction, the radial forearm was the preferred donor free flap site, while the fibula was the preferred donor site for mandibular reconstructions survival rate was 94.5%, with factors like age and comorbidities like diabetes and hypertension or habits like cigarette smoking or tobacco chewing not affecting survival rates. Twenty cases of minor flap complications were observed. Conclusions: Free flap reconstructions for head and neck defects after oncologic ablation have been a boon with good survival rates and immense flexibility of use, giving good cosmetic and functional outcomes. Our study shows that a significant number of free flap reconstructions can be done in a tertiary care centre in a three-tier city in India with an internationally comparable survival rate

Capturing Nano‐Scale Inhomogeneity of the Electrode Electrolyte Interface in Sodium‐Ion Batteries Through Tip‐Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

A prime challenge in the development of new battery chemistries is the fundamental understanding of the generation of the electrode–electrolyte interface (EEI) and its evolution upon cycling. Tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) under an inert gas atmosphere is employed to study the chemical components of the anode/cathode electrolyte interface in a sodium-ion battery. After the first cycle, TERS reveals that the EEI mostly consists of organic carbonate/dicarbonate, oligoethylene oxides, α,β-unsaturated vinyl ketones/acetates, and inorganic species ClO$_4$$^−$, ClO$_3$$^−$, and Na$_2$CO$_3$. Whereas after 5× cycling, the EEI composition has evolved to contain long chain monodentate or bridging/bidentate carboxylates and alkoxides. The TERS map reveals the nano-scale heterogeneity present in the EEI layers and elucidates a multilayered nano-mosaic coating structure. The sheer volume of Raman signature present in the TERS signal can completely unravel the mysteries regarding the chemical composition and may shed light to the physicochemical behavior of the EEI

EFFECTS OF THEAFLAVINS ON GASTRIC CANCER CELL LINE

  Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the anticarcinogenic effects of theaflavins (TFs), component of black tea, on human gastric cancer cell line.Materials and Methods: Cell viability was assessed by WST-1 reagent. Acridine orange (AO) and ethidium bromide (EB) fluorescence staining method were used to detect apoptotic cells, if any, followed by flow cytometric detection. To evaluate the molecular basis for understanding the apoptotic pathway, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were measured. Pro- and anti-apoptotic protein and gene expressions were detected by western blot and real-time techniques.Results: TFs-treated AGS cell indicated apoptosis-mediated cell death. The presence of TFs induced the generation of ROS and which in turn changes the MMP with the elevated level of cyt c, activation of caspase-9, caspase-3, and PARP cleavage. Our study also showed that TFs treatment altered the Bax/Bcl2 ratio and upregulated the expression of p53.Conclusion: All these observations lead to the fact that TFs developed potential chemopreventive effects through the induction of apoptosis through mitochondria-mediated death cascade in the human gastric cancer cell

Mixed type I and type II superconductivity due to intrinsic electronic inhomogeneities in the type II Dirac semimetal PdTe2

The type 11 Dirac semimetal PdTe2 is unique in the family of topological parent materials because it displays a superconducting ground state below 1.7 K. Despite wide speculation on the possibility of an unconventional topological superconducting phase, tunneling and heat capacity measurements revealed that the superconducting phase of PdTe2 follows predictions of the microscopic theory of Bardeen, Cooper and Schrieffer for conventional superconductors. The superconducting phase in PdTe2 is further interesting because it also displays properties that are characteristic of type-I superconductors and are generally unexpected for binary compounds. Here, from scanning tunneling spectroscopic measurements we show that the surface of PdTe2 displays intrinsic electronic inhomogeneities in the normal state which leads to a mixed type I and type II superconducting behaviour along with a spatial distribution of critical fields in the superconducting state. Understanding of the origin of such inhomogeneities may be important for understanding the topological properties of PdTe2 in the normal state

Development of Mullite Based Refractory Pot for High Lead Containing Glass Melting

Radiation shielding window (RSW) glass for nuclear reactor is primarily required for protecting the operating personnel from harmful radioactive rays produced during nuclear energy generation in nuclear hot cells. In this respect, the production of high lead (>70% PbO) containing RSW glass is generally made using platinum pot through bottom pouring flow casting technique. However, owing to low capacity (40 L max.) of high cost platinum pot, the production of glass slab is limited to a maximum dimension of 400x400x100 mm(3). Therefore, an alternate cost effective technology is highly required for making higher dimension glass slabs. To fulfill the requirement, low cost and higher volume refractory pot based tilt casting technology can be adopted. In this regard, the refractory pot is to be developed with adequate thermal, chemical and mechanical stabilities towards sustaining high corrosive lead oxide containing molten glass at 1100 degrees-1200 degrees C. For this purpose, a clay based alumino-silicate pot material enriched with mullite has been developed and characterized systematically. The rectangular bars have been fabricated by slip casting technique and the fabricated bars have been fired between 1450 degrees and 1550 degrees C. The fired materials have been characterized in terms of bulk density, apparent porosity, cold and hot modulus of rupture, etc. The RSW glass with more than 70% lead oxide content has successfully been melted in the pot. The quality of RSW glass produced using the pot has also been studied. In an optimized composition of the pot, the formation of higher content of mullite phase having high thermal shock and corrosion resistance with the desired mechanical stability is the key factor behind the stability of the refractory pot for making defect free RSW glass slabs. This cost effective refractory pot technology can substitute the platinum pot technology for producing larger dimension RSW glass slabs