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Biomedical subjects

A Amir

Publications and source records attributed to A Amir.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

"Apron" flap and re-creation of the inframammary fold following TRAM flap breast reconstruction.

To the best of our knowledge, the recreation of an inframammary fold after TRAM flap breast reconstruction has not yet been described. This article offers a technique for the creation of an inframammary fold as a secondary procedure. The technique has been performed thus far in two patients with good aesthetic outcomes and no postoperative complications. It may also be suitable for adding bulk to the TRAM flap, especially in bilateral breast reconstruction, and for other minor chest deformities.

Adult↗

Profile of the pediatric burn patient at the Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel.

BACKGROUND: Burn trauma occurs mostly in young children. Burn injury in the pediatric age group has multiple-aspect sequelae. OBJECTIVES: To characterize the profile of the injured pediatric burn patient, thus targeting the most vulnerable pediatric group. METHODS: Between 1 January and 31 December 1996, a total of 9,235 pediatric patients were admitted for various traumatic injuries (burns, lacerations, fractures, etc.) to the Emergency Medicine Department of Schneider Children's Medical Center. We conducted a retrospective study of the patients' charts, including demographic data, which were stored in a computerized database, for statistical evaluation. The characteristics of pediatric burn patients were examined and compared with other pediatric trauma patients. RESULTS: Of the total patient population, 282 (3.1%) suffered from burns (37% females, 63% males). The most frequent burn injury was scald burn (58%). The pediatric group that was most exposed to burns was 13-18 month old males. CONCLUSIONS: Having identified the high risk group among the pediatric burn patients, we suggest that prevention programs be directed towards this group in order to reduce further risk of burn injury.

Accidents, Home↗

[The subcranial approach to the anterior skull base. Retrospective study of 75 cases].

We reviewed the cases of 75 patients who underwent an extended subcranial approach to the anterior skull base for treatment of various tumors (35 patients), repair of craniofacial trauma injury (33 patients), or cerebrospinal fluid leakage (10 patients). Preoperative evaluation and surgical procedures were reassessed. Significant complications in the oncology group consisted of one hematoma requiring aspiration, 2 cases of transient pneumocephalus, 2 osteocutaneous fistulae and 2 epiphoras. In the trauma group, one patient died from intracerebral damage, 2 presented with transient pneumocephalus, 5 with telecanthus and 5 with enophthalmy. The most frequent late complication in all three groups was anosmia. Based on this review, we feel that this technique is a safe and effective procedure for the surgical treatment of various pathological conditions involving the anterior skull base.

Adolescent↗

Harvesting large fascia lata sheaths: a rational approach.

This article describes an "S"-shaped incision for the open approach of harvesting wide sheets of fascia lata with reference to the important anatomical landmarks. Forty-three patients required dural replacement in cases of tumors, trauma, or cerebrospinal fluid leak involving the anterior skull base. The extended anterior suberanial approach to the skull base was used for all patients. Early functional status of the operated limb in seven of the patients treated first was assessed by physical examination and then by means of the computerized Kinetic Communicator (Kin-Com; Medex Diagnostics, Canada) dynamometer. None of these patients suffered any significant immediate complications and had good results at the preliminary functional assessment. All other patients were evaluated clinically for functional deficits of the operated lower limb to further assess its morbidity. The technique described herein was shown to enhance the case and control of fascia lata harvesting. It affords low complication rate and donor limb morbidity. Donor limb morbidity did not have any deleterious effect on the patients' normal daily activities and only became apparent during strenuous physical activity.

Journal Article↗

[Treatment of velopharyngeal insufficiency--a 10 year experience].

Weak and hypernasal speech, along with nasal escape of air, are the main characteristics of velo-pharyngeal incompetence (VPI). We describe 10 years of experience (1989-1998) with surgical treatment of VPI. 51 patients underwent pharyngeal flap elevation. 37 had cleft palate (8 of them submucous), 7 had neuromuscular disorders and another 7 were idiopathic. All underwent evaluation by a speech therapist before and after operation. 25 had further nasal endoscopy and/or videofluroscopy. There was significant speech improvement in volume and clarity in 35 (73%), mild improvement in 13 (27%) and none in 3. The complication rate was 15% and included sleep apnea, wound infection and dehiscence, stridor and bleeding. Complications were correlated with advanced age. VPI should be diagnosed as early as possible to achieve good results and to prevent social problems.

Adolescent↗

A simple algorithm for detecting circular permutations in proteins.

MOTIVATION: Circular permutation of a protein is a genetic operation in which part of the C-terminal of the protein is moved to its N-terminal. Recently, it has been shown that proteins that undergo engineered circular permutations generally maintain their three dimensional structure and biological function. This observation raises the possibility that circular permutation has occurred in Nature during evolution. In this scenario a protein underwent circular permutation into another protein, thereafter both proteins further diverged by standard genetic operations. To study this possibility one needs an efficient algorithm that for a given pair of proteins can detect the underlying event of circular permutations. A possible formal description of the question is: given two sequences, find a circular permutation of one of them under which the edit distance between the proteins is minimal. A naive algorithm might take time proportional to N3 or even N4, which is prohibitively slow for a large-scale survey. A sophisticated algorithm that runs in asymptotic time of N2 was recently suggested, but it is not practical for a large-scale survey. RESULTS: A simple and efficient algorithm that runs in time N2 is presented. The algorithm is based on duplicating one of the two sequences, and then performing a modified version of the standard dynamic programming algorithm. While the algorithm is not guaranteed to find the optimal results, we present data that indicate that in practice the algorithm performs very well. AVAILABILITY: A Fortran program that calculates the optimal edit distance under circular permutation is available upon request from the authors. CONTACT: ron@biocom1.ls.biu.ac.il.

Algorithms↗

Early outcome and complications of the extended subcranial approach to the anterior skull base.

OBJECTIVES: To present the technique of the extended subcranial approach to the anterior skull base and to review the results in 55 patients who underwent the procedure. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review of the records of 55 patients who underwent the extended subcranial approach to the anterior skull base between 1994 and 1998 for the treatment of various neoplasms originating in the nasal cavity, nasopharynx, paranasal sinuses, orbit, or meninges, as well as for the repair of complex craniofacial trauma and/or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak. Preoperative patient evaluation and the surgical technique are also reviewed. METHODS: Patient records were retrospectively reviewed and tabulated for age, sex, and indications for procedure, with special focus on early outcome and complications. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients underwent oncologic resections, 22 patients had reduction of complex fronto-naso-orbital and skull base fractures, and seven patients had repair of CSF leak. Significant complications in the oncologic group consisted of one hematoma requiring needle aspiration and two cases of temporary nontension pneumocephalus. In the fracture group, one patient died because of extensive intracerebral damage and multiorgan failure, and one patient had nontension pneumocephalus coupled with CSF leakage and one patient had temporary nontension pneumocephalus. The most common late complication in all three groups was anosmia. CONCLUSIONS: Based on their review, the authors conclude that the extended subcranial approach to the anterior skull base is a safe, versatile, and effective procedure for the surgical treatment of various pathological conditions involving the anterior skull base.

Adolescent↗

Pharyngeal flap for velopharyngeal incompetence in patients with myotonic dystrophy.

Velopharyngeal incompetence (VPI) has been associated with neuromuscular disorders. Only 4 patients with myotonic dystrophy (MD) who underwent pharyngeal flap elevation for VPI have been reported in the literature. In 3 patients, surgery preceded the diagnosis of MD. Cardiorespiratory complications characterized the postoperative period of 3 patients. The authors present 3 patients with VPI and an established diagnosis of MD (by molecular genetics) who underwent pharyngeal flap elevation. The operation resulted in a major improvement in speech in all patients, although some relapse was noted later in 1 patient. Contrary to previous reports, none had peri- or postoperative cardiorespiratory complications. MD, although an uncommon etiology, should be considered in cases of late-onset VPI. Owing to differences between the authors' findings and previous reports, additional studies are needed before final conclusions can be reached regarding the benefit and safety of pharyngeal flap surgery in MD patients. At present, MD should not be considered a contraindication for this procedure, although close perioperative monitoring is indicated.

Adult↗

[Malignant eccrine poroma--a rare occurrence].

Malignant eccrine poroma (MEP) is rare and both clinical and histologic diagnosis is often difficult. Therefore, diagnosis is sometimes delayed or even incorrect. We report a case in a 70-year old man with MEP of the leg. He demonstrated typical MEP behavior and the problems of differential diagnosis.

Acrospiroma↗