James Gatherwright

Patients with MCI and N400 or P600 abnormalities are at very high risk for conversion to dementia.

Objective: We sought cognitive event-related potential (ERP) biomarkers of disease progression and subsequent conversion to dementia in mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Background: Two ERP components, the P600 and N400, are sensitive to abnormal episodic/declarative memory and semantic processing. When congruous category-exemplars are repeated, smaller P600s (relative to initial presentation) are normally elicited. Repetitions of semantically incongruous words yield smaller N400 amplitude. In mild Alzheimer disease (AD), abnormalities of both the N400 and P600 repetition effects are present, suggesting a widespread failure of synaptic plasticity. Methods: Patients with amnestic MCI (n = 32) were longitudinally studied annually with an ERP paradigm in which semantically congruous (50%) and incongruous target words are repeated 10 to 140 seconds after initial presentation. ERP data were analyzed to contrast MCI-to-AD converters (within 3 years) vs nonconverters, using split-plot analyses of variance. Results: A statistically significant P600 congruous word repetition effect was found only in the nonconverter group (F = 9.9, p = 0.005 vs MCI converters). This effect correlated with verbal memory measures. Repetition of incongruous words produced a significant N400 amplitude attenuation (across right-hemisphere sites) in nonconverters, but not in converters. Patients with MCI with abnormal/reduced N400 or P600 word repetition effects had an 87 to 88% likelihood of dementia within 3 years while those with normal/spared N400 and P600 repetition effects had only an 11 to 27% likelihood. Conclusions: Abnormalities of the P600 or N400 in mild cognitive impairment are associated with an increased risk of subsequent conversion to Alzheimer disease (AD). These event-related potential components may offer useful biomarkers for the detection and staging of very early AD.

An anatomical study of the lesser occipital nerve and its potential compression points: implications for surgical treatment of migraine headaches.

Background: This study maps the course of the lesser occipital nerve and its potential compression sites in the posterior scalp. Methods: Twenty sides of 10 fresh cadaveric heads were dissected. Two fixed anatomical landmarks were used: the y axis was the vertical midline in the posterior scalp through the midline of the cervical spine. The x axis was a horizontal line drawn between the most anterosuperior points of the external auditory meatus. A topographic map of the lesser occipital nerve and its potential compression points was created. Results: The lesser occipital nerve emerged from the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle at an average of 6.4 ± 1.4 cm lateral to the y axis and 7.5 ± 0.9 cm caudal to the x axis. Branches of the occipital artery were found to interact with the lesser occipital nerve in 11 of the 20 hemiheads (55 percent). The mean location of the artery-nerve interaction was 5.1 ± 0.9 cm lateral to the y axis and 2 ± 1.45 cm caudal to the x axis. Two patterns of artery-nerve interaction were seen: a single site of artery crossing over the nerve in nine of 20 hemiheads (45 percent) and a helical intertwining relationship in two of 20 of hemiheads (10 percent). A fascial band was identified to compress the lesser occipital nerve in four of 20 hemiheads (20 percent). Conclusion: This anatomical study traced the lesser occipital nerve as it courses through the posterior scalp and mapped its potential decompression sites.

The contribution of endogenous and exogenous factors to male alopecia: a study of identical twins.

Background: In this study, the authors investigated the potential contribution of environmental factors and testosterone levels on androgenic alopecia in women. Methods: Ninety-eight identical female twins were recruited from 2009 to 2011. Subjects were asked to complete a comprehensive questionnaire, provide a sputum sample for testosterone analysis, and pose for standardized digital photography. Frontal, temporal, and vertex hair loss were assessed from the photographs using Adobe Photoshop. Hair loss measures were then correlated with survey responses and testosterone levels between twin pairs. Two independent, blinded observers also rated the photographs for hair thinning. Results: Factors associated with increased frontal hair loss included multiple marriages (p = 0.043); longer sleep duration (p = 0.011); higher severity of stress (p = 0.034); positive smoking history (p = 0.021); higher income (p = 0.023); absence of hat use (p = 0.017); and history of diabetes mellitus (p = 0.023), polycystic ovarian syndrome (p = 0.002), and hypertension (p = 0.001). Factors associated with increased temporal hair loss included divorce or separation (p = 0.034), multiple marriages (p = 0.040), more children (p = 0.005), longer sleep duration (p = 0.006), and history of diabetes mellitus (p = 0.008) and hypertension (p = 0.027). Lack of sun protection (p = 0.020), consuming less caffeine (p = 0.040), history of skin disease (p = 0.048), and lack of exercise (p = 0.012) were associated with increased vertex hair loss. Higher testosterone levels were associated with increased temporal and vertex hair loss patterns (p < 0.039). Increased stress, increased smoking, having more children, and having a history of hypertension and cancer were all associated with increased hair thinning (p < 0.05). Conclusion: This study implicates several environmental risk factors in the pathophysiology of female alopecia.

fMRI congruous word repetition effects reflect memory variability in normal elderly

Neural circuits mediating repetition effect for semantically congruous words on functional MRI were investigated in seventeen normal elderly (mean age=70). Participants determined if written words were semantically congruent (50% probability) with spoken statements. Subsequent cued-recall revealed robust explicit memory only for congruous items (83% versus 8% for incongruous). Event-related BOLD responses to New>Old congruous words were found in the left>right cingulate and fusiform gyri, left parahippocampal cortex, middle and inferior frontal gyri (IFG). A group with above-median subsequent recall had markedly more widespread BOLD responses than a Low-Recall subgroup, with larger responses in the left medial temporal lobe (LMTL), IFG, and bilateral cingulate gyri. The magnitude of LMTL activation (New-Old) correlated with subsequent cued-recall, while the spatial extent of LMTL activation (New>Old) correlated with recall and recognition. Both magnitude and spatial extent of left fusiform activation correlated with subsequent recall/recognition. A neural circuit of left-hemisphere brain regions, many identified as P600 generators by invasive electrophysiological studies, was activated by New>Old congruous words, likely mediating successful verbal encoding.

Cessation of hairline recession following open forehead rejuvenation.

Background: The senior author (B.G.) observed that patients who underwent forehead rejuvenation using a pretrichial incision did not experience hairline recession. The aim of this study was to objectively measure the effects of forehead rejuvenation on hairline recession. Methods: A 15-year retrospective review was performed in 31 forehead rejuvenation patients [17 endoscopic and 14 open (pretrichial incision) with adequate early (within 1 year) and late (≥8 years) postoperative photographs] and 11 age- and follow-up–matched cosmetic surgery patients who did not have forehead rejuvenation. Hair recession was measured using the Mirror program for Windows by averaging two successive perpendicular distances from bilateral medial canthi to the hairline and dividing by the intercanthal distance. In pretrichial incision patients, the distance from the incision to the anterior hairline was recorded. Results: The difference in short-term postoperative hairline measurements among groups was not significant (p = 0.445). Only the pretrichial group demonstrated significant stability between short-term and long-term hairline positions (p = 0.005). The pretrichial group demonstrated a stable or improved hairline position compared with either the endoscopic (p = 0.017) or control group (p = 0.006), whereas these patients demonstrated significant recession over time. Hairline measurements between early and late postoperative photographs in the endoscopic and control groups were not significant (p = 0.621). Conclusions: The pretrichial incision results in a stable hairline position over time compared with the endoscopic technique or matched controls. Pretrichial incision patients did not demonstrate separation between the scar and hairline, indicating no hair loss in this site. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, III.

Three-Dimensional Changes in the Midface Following Malar Calcium Hydroxyapatite Injection in a Cadaver Model

BACKGROUND Three-dimensional (3D) changes in the midface following malar calcium hydroxyapatite (CaHa) injection have not been systematically analyzed. OBJECTIVES The authors analyzed 3D volume changes in midface and naso-labial fold (NLF) volume, as well as lateral movement in the NLF/naso-labial crease (NLC) junction following malar injection of CaHa in a cadaver model. METHODS A single surgeon injected CaHa in the supraperiosteal plane. Sequential images were obtained with the VECTRA 3D system pre- and post-1.5- and 3-cc CaHa injections. All measurements were performed by a single examiner. Injection location was verified anatomically. RESULTS Injections were performed in 16 fresh cadaver hemi-faces. Maximal increases in projection were centered on the malar injection site, with associated decreases in projection and volume in the infero-medial locations. Relative mean increases in volume of 3.16 cc and 4.94 cc were observed following the 1.5-cc and 3-cc injections, respectively. There was a relative decrease in the volume of the NLF of -0.3 cc and -0.4 cc following the 1.5- and 3-cc injections, respectively. Injection of CaHa was associated with lateral movements of the NLF-NLC junction at the level of the nasal sill, philtral columns, and oral commissure, measuring 2.7, 2.5, and 1.9 mm and 2.8, 2.9, and 2.4 mm following the 1.5- and 3-cc injections, respectively. Anatomical dissection verified the location in the supraperiosteal space and within the middle malar fat pad. CONCLUSIONS Following malar CaHa injection, 3D photographic analysis showed a measureable lifting effect with recruitment of ptotic tissue and lateral movement of the NLF-NLC junction in a cadaver model.

Reconstructive Options of Abdominal Wounds in the Setting of Abdominal Wall Defects and Hernias

The abdominal wall is an integral, yet often ignored, functional unit that, while performing an important aesthetic role, is required to protect vital internal organs and allow for physical activity. Thus, the goals of abdominal wall reconstruction (AWR) are to restore these crucial functions. Understanding and appreciating the abdominal wall anatomy is critical for successful reconstruction. When surgical intervention is required, preoperative nutrition optimization and glucose control are imperative to permit desired wound healing. From a reconstructive standpoint, repair can be done via an open or closed approach. However, most defects that a plastic surgeon encounters are large, requiring an open approach, likely with mesh utilization. Numerous strategies for mesh placement are addressed in this chapter, and options for soft tissue coverage are addressed by location. Abdominal wall defects require a logical, multidisciplinary, individualized approach to permit successful reconstruction. However, with a solid foundation of anatomy and familiarity with options for soft tissue coverage, successful reconstruction can be achieved.

A literature review and meta-analysis of outcomes in microsurgical reconstruction using vasopressors

There is a hesitancy to utilize vasopressors in microsurgical reconstruction due to fear of vessel spasm and subsequent flap compromise. Although there are large literature reviews analyzing vasopressor usage in head and neck reconstruction, this has not been extrapolated to all regions of the body. The goal of this study was to perform a meta‐analysis examining vasopressor usage and risk of complications in microsurgical reconstruction for all recipient sites.

Treatment of dopplerable nummular headache with minimally invasive arterectomy under local anesthesia

OBJECTIVE The objective of the current study is to elucidate the potential role of surgery in the treatment of nummular headache (NH). BACKGROUND NH is a disorder in which pain is localized to a specific area. Treatment has traditionally been medical, with the recent addition of nerve blocks and botox injection with equivocal results. DESIGN Forty-nine patients were identified using the International Classification of Headache Disorders, third edition, beta version. Patients were asked to identify the area of maximal pain. Patients who had an associated Doppler signal within the area of pain underwent surgical arterectomy using local anesthesia. Preoperative and postoperative headache frequency, severity, duration, and headache-free days were analyzed. RESULTS There were a total of 49 patients included in the study (42F:7M) with an average age of 45 years (21-65 years). The average follow-up period was 16 months with a range of 8-33 months. There was a significant reduction in the frequency (-10.7 days; p < 0.001), severity (-3.5; p < 0.001), and duration (-0.3 hours; p = 0.4) of the headache. There was a significant increase in the number of headache-free days per month (10 vs. 21; p < 0.001). Headache index decreased by 39.6%, from an average of 378.6 to 228.4 (p < 0.05). Twelve patients (24.5%) were free from NH and able to discontinue their medications. There were no complications identified during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION NH, although rare, can be associated with significant disability despite current treatment modalities. In select patients, surgical arterectomy is a safe, minimally invasive, and effective treatment for NH.

Comparison of Liposomal Bupivacaine for Pain Management after Immediate and Delayed Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator Free Flap Reconstruction

Patient analgesia can be addressed pre, intra and post-operatively. The utilization of local anesthetics administered intra-operatively is limited by the medication’s short duration of action. However, an intraoperative transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block can be utilized to anesthetize the T6-L1 intercostal nerves that supply the anterior abdominal wall. This provides analgesia to the abdominal wall, which has been identified as the largest source of post-operative pain following abdominally-based autologous tissue breast reconstruction.