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Hyakusoku et al. [1] presented a propeller flap for reconstruction of axilla and cubitus in 1991. The original propeller flap has been used for intact fossa and was elevated as a subcutaneous pedicled island flap. Nowadays, this propeller flap has been refined and various types of propeller flaps have been reported [2–11]. The represented one is the perforator pedicled propeller (PPP) flap [5], and this procedure is now considered to be another option for use of perforator flaps. Acentric perforator pedicle (Fig. 49.1a) enables the flap to rotate 180° [6, 7], and this flap can cover a long-distance defect (Fig. 49.1b).

Today, iris recognition is reported as one of the most reliable biometric approaches. With the strength of contactless, the hygienic issue is therefore minimized and the possibility of disease infection through the device as a medium is low. In this paper, a MMU2 iris database with such consideration is created for this study. Moreover, the proposed iris segmentation method has shown its robustness with intelligent fuzzy supports. Furthermore, it has been tested with 18414 iris images across different databases available in the public without changing any threshold values and parameters. The experiment results show a total of 17915 or 97.30%.of correct iris segmentation.

An anatomically realistic three-dimensional (3D) finite element (FE) model of L4–L5 motion segment was created. The intact model was further modified to simulate two different disc degeneration grades, slight and moderate, at the L4–L5 segment. The implanted models were accordingly developed by incorporating a pair of 6mm diameter straight longitudinal rods position bilaterally into the degenerated models. In order to study the effect of implant stiffness on disc loading under compression, the stiffness of the longitudinal rod was varied between 1 and 83,000 N/mm in discrete steps. The intact, degenerated and implanted models were then exercised by applying 3,000N compressive force on the superior surface of L4 vertebra to investigate the load transmission characteristics of different implants. The results showed that the side effect of a degenerated disc is obvious for the lumbar segment load bearing capacity. The stiffness of the segment was increased due to the stiffer disc, which is caused by the severity of disc degeneration. The implant stiffness of lower than 2,000N/m has greater effect on disc loading and segment behavior. For an implanted model, the predicted annulus stress is close to the intact model when the implant stiffness is around 2000N/m. In addition, the effect of stiffness became less significant beyond this value. For dynamic stabilization purpose, the stiffness implant is suggested to be lower than 2000N/m

A comprehensive, geometrically accurate, nonlinear FE model of thoracolumbar spine multisegment (T12-L5) was developed to simulate the response of thoracolumbar spine under the mine blast condition with two initial postures. The vertical accelerations along the Y-axis of the T12-L5 FE model were applied on the inferior surface of L5 based on the simulated sitting postures. For both postures, the L5 inferior surface was constrained to move only in vertical direction. The predicted responses of each motion segment during the first 100ms were computed and compared under the two conditions. The results showed that the motion segments oscillate during and after the sudden impact. The maximum compressive deformation of the discs and segmental rotations occurred at around 36ms which also corresponds to the ending of the impact force. After that, the discs expand in the opposite direction. During the expansion phase, the disc heights exceeded their original position. The predicted frequency of the vibration of the motion segments was around 15Hz, which implied that a number of oscillations occur in less than one second before dying out (with the larger amplitudes of these oscillations occurring during the first hundredths of a second). Compared against sitting posture, although the resultant magnitude of disc deformations and segmental rotations were higher due to the relative anterior position of the mass point for the napping posture, the basic trends of segmental motions and predicted injury location were similar. Under such a rapid high axial impact (up to nearly 30G within 30ms), a slight difference between the position of centre of body gravity will not produce any differences in response of the thoracolumber spine.

There are many controversial issues surrounding endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) in the treatment of non-communicating hydrocephalus. To help clarify some of these issues, 121 consecutive patients who underwent ETV were reviewed.

Various types of aberrant wound healing are encountered in surgical practice. Examples include hypertrophic scarring, keloid formation and a range of conditions collectively called the fibromatoses. All these conditions pose problems clinically, and drug treatments for them have yet to be found. It is to the fibromatoses and their possible drug treatment that this study is addressed.