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The anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap is now considered a workhorse for head and neck reconstruction in many centers. However, designing and raising the ALT flap has been traditionally recognized as being difficult, tedious, and technically demanding due to its variation in perforator anatomy. Designing the ALT flap on data gained solely using the handheld Doppler can be misleading, as its specificity and sensitivity varies greatly depending on amount of subcutaneous fat and the Doppler itself. Authors have investigated multiple imaging modalities in the search of the best way to predict and map the site and size of perforators before dissecting a flap. In this article, we describe a simplified technique for the ALT flap design and dissection without the use of preoperative imaging or vascular studies. Utilizing anatomic landmarks, the location of the three perforators (A, B, and C) can be anticipated and safely dissected. We conclude that accurate use of the ABC system is one approach in consistently dissecting the ALT flap.

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The preliminary results suggest that surgical reconstruction of the middle ear floor under local anesthesia offers valuable treatment for patients with incapacitating tinnitus due to dehiscent middle ear floor. However, the risk of sigmoid sinus thrombosis should be considered. To our knowledge, this is the first trial of multilayer reconstruction of the middle ear floor dehiscence to manage high jugular bulb causing tinnitus.

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The synthesis and characterization of different series of methyl methacrylate/hydroxyethyl methacrylate (MMA/HEMA) copolymeric nanoparticles with different monomer feed compositions and utilization of them in entrapment and controlling the release of hydrophilic drug (sodium warfarin) and hydrophobic drugs (ibuprofen and praziquantel) were investigated. The polymeric nanoparticles and their entrapment with drugs were prepared using oil‐in‐water (O/W) differential microemulsion polymerization technique in the presence of polyvinyl pyrrolidone and polyethylene glycol as biocompatible emulsifiers as well as ammonium persulfate as an initiator. The effect of HEMA content in the monomer feed composition on the colloidal properties was studied, and it is found that the particle size Dv, turbidity, and the negative charge increase with increasing of HEMA content but the surface tension decrease. Moreover, the entrapment efficiency (EE) is affected by the content of HEMA in the monomer feed composition, the drug hydrophobicity, and the monomer to drug ratio. It is concluded that, EE into MMA/HEMA in monomer feed composition as 90/10, 70/30, and 50/50 is found to be (95.3–98)%, (84–96.9)%, and (69.5–94.6)% for sodium warfarin (with high hydrophilicity) as well as, ibuprofen and praziquantel (with high hydrophobicity), respectively. The entrapment of drugs in polymeric nanoparticles is confirmed by IR‐spectroscopy and transmission electronic microscopy. In vitro drug release experiments show that controlled release of drugs from copolymeric nanoparticles depend on HEMA content, the monomer to drug ratio, and the physiological pH. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013

Ultrafine structures of low, medium, and highly oxidized starches, symbolized as LOS, MOS, and HOS, respectively, were thoroughly investigated. These oxidized starches were obtained by treatment of native starch (NS) with three different concentrations of sodium perborate (SPB). Thus, obtained products were studied with respect to major chemical and fine physical characteristics vis-a-vis these of NS (a) acidic and reduced groups creation along with mode of association, (b) significant increase in solubility, and (c) outstanding decrease in apparent viscosity. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) revealed thermal stability of the said substrates follows order: HOS > MOS > LOS > NS. Scanning electron micrographs (SEM) showed polygonal or irregular shape with particle size ranging from 2 to 20 l. After oxidation, the starch surface became rough and the edges lost their definiteness completely. In conclusion, SPB is an efficient oxidant to produce oxidized starches with useful characteristics, which advocate them to wide applications in textile sizing and medicinal domains.