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Background: The optimal sequence of microvascular clamping during free flap transfer is yet to be established. Many surgeons are reluctant to perform temporary declamping and subsequent reclamping during microvascular anastomosis; however, we generally anastomose the artery first and temporarily declamp it before performing venous anastomosis to confirm arterial patency and ensure proper alignment of the flap veins. Herein, we aimed to retrospectively investigate the efficacy and safety of this temporary revascularization method in 126 patients who underwent microvascular head and neck reconstruction., Methods: A total of 127 free flaps were transferred, with the anterolateral thigh flap (49 flaps) being the most frequently used. The internal jugular vein was the most frequently used recipient vein and end-to-side anastomoses to it were performed in 112 patients., Results: Intraoperative reanastomosis was required because of arterial thrombosis in 5 cases (4.0%), arterial and venous thrombosis in 1 case (0.8%), injury to the flap artery distal to the anastomotic site in 1 case (0.8%), and venous twisting in 1 case (0.8%). Postoperatively, all the flaps survived without microvascular compromise., Conclusions: Vascular kinking or twisting of the vascular pedicle is a major cause of free flap failure. However, it is difficult to place empty vessels accurately during clamping. Nonetheless, temporary revascularization engorges the flap vein before venous anastomosis and minimizes the risk of venous kinking and twisting. According to our results, reclamping did not increase the risk of arterial thrombosis., (Copyright © 2024 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: The Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT) series, which includes ChatGPT, is an artificial large language model that provides human-like text dialogue. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of artificial intelligence chatbots in answering clinical questions based on practical rhinoplasty guidelines., Methods: Clinical questions (CQs) developed from the guidelines were used as question sources. For each question, we asked GPT-4 and GPT-3.5 (ChatGPT), developed by OpenAI, to provide answers for the CQs, Policy Level, Aggregate Evidence Quality, Level of Confidence in Evidence, and References. We compared the performance of the two types of artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots., Results: A total of 10 questions were included in the final analysis, and the AI chatbots correctly answered 90.0% of these. GPT-4 demonstrated a lower accuracy rate than GPT-3.5 in answering CQs, although without statistically significant difference (86.0% vs. 94.0%; p = 0.05), whereas GPT-4 showed significantly higher accuracy for the level of confidence in Evidence than GPT-3.5 (52.0% vs. 28.0%; p < 0.01). No statistical differences were observed in Policy Level, Aggregate Evidence Quality, and Reference Match. In addition, GPT-4 rated significantly higher in presenting existing references than GPT-3.5 (36.9% vs. 24.1%; p = 0.01)., Conclusions: The overall performance of GPT-4 was similar to that of GPT-3.5. However, GPT-4 provided existing references at a higher rate than GPT-3.5. GPT-4 has the potential to provide a more accurate reference in professional fields, including rhinoplasty., Level of Evidence V: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 ., (© 2024. Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature and International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.)

Background: Lasting scars such as keloids and hypertrophic scars adversely affect a patient's quality of life. However, these scars are frequently underdiagnosed because of the complexity of the current diagnostic criteria and classification systems. This study aimed to explore the application of Large Language Models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT in diagnosing scar conditions and to propose a more accessible and straightforward diagnostic approach., Methods: In this study, five artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots, including ChatGPT-4 (GPT-4), Bing Chat (Precise, Balanced, and Creative modes), and Bard, were evaluated for their ability to interpret clinical scar images using a standardized set of prompts. Thirty mock images of various scar types were analyzed, and each chatbot was queried five times to assess the diagnostic accuracy., Results: GPT-4 had a significantly higher accuracy rate in diagnosing scars than Bing Chat. The overall accuracy rates of GPT-4 and Bing Chat were 36.0% and 22.0%, respectively (P = 0.027), with GPT-4 showing better performance in terms of specificity for keloids (0.6 vs. 0.006) and hypertrophic scars (0.72 vs. 0.0) than Bing Chat., Conclusions: Although currently available LLMs show potential for use in scar diagnostics, the current technology is still under development and is not yet sufficient for clinical application standards, highlighting the need for further advancements in AI for more accurate medical diagnostics., Level of Evidence Iv: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online instructions to authors www.springer.com/00266 ., (© 2024. Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature and International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.)

Background: ChatGPT is a free artificial intelligence (AI) language model developed and released by OpenAI in late 2022. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of ChatGPT to accurately answer clinical questions (CQs) on the Guideline for the Management of Blepharoptosis published by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) in 2022., Methods: CQs in the guideline were used as question sources in both English and Japanese. For each question, ChatGPT provided answers for CQs, evidence quality, recommendation strength, reference match, and answered word counts. We compared the performance of ChatGPT in each component between English and Japanese queries., Results: A total of 11 questions were included in the final analysis, and ChatGPT answered 61.3% of these correctly. ChatGPT demonstrated a higher accuracy rate in English answers for CQs compared to Japanese answers for CQs (76.4% versus 46.4%; p = 0.004) and word counts (123 words versus 35.9 words; p = 0.004). No statistical differences were noted for evidence quality, recommendation strength, and reference match. A total of 697 references were proposed, but only 216 of them (31.0%) existed., Conclusions: ChatGPT demonstrates potential as an adjunctive tool in the management of blepharoptosis. However, it is crucial to recognize that the existing AI model has distinct limitations, and its primary role should be to complement the expertise of medical professionals., Level of Evidence V: Observational study under respected authorities. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 ., (© 2024. Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature and International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.)

Background: Direct browlift is useful but leaves a scar above the brow. We proposed a dual-plane browlift to avoid facial scarring while effectively resolving brow ptosis in young and young adult patients., Methods: Seven patients with facial palsy underwent dual-plane browlift between July 2018 and June 2022. The mean postoperative follow-up period was 31.9 months. Skin resection at the hairline was combined with subcutaneous dissection down to the inferior margin of the brow to "lift" the brow. Fascia lata strips were fixed to the dermis just inferior to the eyebrow to "hold" the brow, and the strips were suspended upward through the subperiosteal tunnel and fixed to the periosteum. Brow height was compared before and after the procedure and with the contralateral side., Results: The reported complications included slight hematoma at the recipient site, temporary difficulty in closing the eye, and seroma at the fascia donor site. The paralyzed side showed significant differences between the preoperative period and postoperative months (POM) 3, 6, and 12, but differences were not shown in the intervals between POM 3 and 6, 6 and 12, or 3 and 12. The difference in eyebrow height between the paralyzed and nonparalyzed sides was significant preoperatively but not at POM 3, 6, or 12. All scars matured well, and the fascia silhouette was not visible in the forehead region., Conclusions: Dual-plane browlift enables rigid suspension using the fascia lata and excises flaccid skin without leaving facial scars, yielding excellent cosmetic quality and stable long-term outcomes., (Copyright © 2024 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: We examined whether there were any differences in perioperative complications between patients who mobilized on the first postoperative day (early mobilization) and those who mobilized on the second postoperative day after head and neck reconstruction using free tissue transfer., Methods: In the control group (n = 74), patients were instructed to mobilize on the second postoperative day (April 2019-March 2020), while in the early mobilization group (n = 101), patients were instructed to mobilize on the first postoperative day (April 2020-March 2021). Mobilization was defined as maintaining a standing position or walking. Clinical data were collected from medical records and retrospectively analyzed., Results: There were no significant differences in clinical background factors, with the exception of intraoperative blood loss volume. The proportion of patients who successfully mobilized on the day of instruction was significantly lower in the early mobilization group (89.1% vs. 98.7%). One case of total flap loss and four cases of partial flap loss occurred in the control group, and three cases of partial flap loss occurred in the early mobilization group. There was no significant difference in partial or total flap loss between the two groups. There were no significant differences in other perioperative complications (wound infection, postoperative bleeding, and delirium) between the two groups. The median postoperative hospital stay was 24.5 and 25.0 days in the control and early mobilization groups, respectively., Conclusion: In this study, early mobilization on the first day after head and neck free flap reconstruction was safe and feasible., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Nanofibrillated bacterial cellulose (NFBC) is produced by culturing a cellulose-producing bacterium under agitated aerobic conditions in a carboxymethylcellulose (CMC)-supplemented medium. Detailed structural analyses revealed that NFBC fiber widths varied with the degree of substitution of the CMC used, and zeta potential values decreased with the increment of CMC concentration in the medium. Transmission electron microscopy observation after immunostaining demonstrated that CMC molecules were present on the NFBC microfibril surfaces. We tested NFBC for utility as a binder for a display device that uses electrochromic (EC) material. Introduction of a quaternary ammonium group into the EC molecules enhanced their interactions with the negatively charged NFBC microfibrils. A casting process homogeneously adsorbed the EC molecules onto the surface of a transparent electrode with NFBC. A homogeneous color change was successfully observed upon applying an electric field, suggesting that NFBC could be used as a binder material for uniform surface adsorption.

Background: Appropriate patient selection is very important when initiating mild therapeutic hypothermia (MTH) for patients following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, and the extent of unconsciousness at implementation must be defined in such cases. However, there are no clear standards regarding the level of unconsciousness at which MTH would be beneficial. The effects of MTH in patients with different degrees of unconsciousness according to the motor response score of the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) were investigated., Methods: The subjects consisted of witnessed non-traumatic adult out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients admitted to our institute from April 2002 to August 2011. The patients were divided into six groups according to the GCS motor response score: 1 (GCS M1), 2 (GCS M2), 3 (GCS M3), 4 (GCS M4), 5 (GCS M5), and 6 (GCS M6). The neurological outcome was evaluated at 30 days after hospital admission using the Cerebral Performance Category. Chi-squared Automatic Interaction Detection (CHAID) analysis was performed to estimate the threshold GCS M level where therapeutic hypothermia is indicated. Odds ratios were then calculated by multiple logistic-regression analysis using factors including GCS M5-6 and MTH., Results: A total of 289 patients were enrolled in this study. CHAID analysis demonstrated two points of significant increase in percentage of good recovery at 30 days after admission, dividing the GCS M categories into three groups. Patients classified with a GCS motor response score of 5 or higher had the highest percentage of good recovery. The odds ratio for good recovery (CPC1-2) was 2.901 (95 % CI 1.460-5.763, P = 0.002) for MTH, and that for GCS M5-6 was 159.835 (95 % CI 33.592-760.513, P < 0.001)., Conclusions: MTH may be unnecessary in patients with a GCS motor response score of 5 or higher. Consequently, because there are post cardiac arrest patients with a GCS motor response score of 4 or lower who benefit from MTH, MTH may be limited to patients with a GCS motor response score of 4 or lower.

We retrospectively analyzed the intensity of anticoagulant therapy in the 195 patients who underwent valve replacement surgery with mechanical valves. An optimal level or target range of prothrombin time-international normalized ratio (PT-INR) was sought. Previously, we employed a range of 10 to 25% of thrombotest value, which corresponded to the range of 1.5 to 3.5 of PT-INR value. In one patient who underwent mitral valve replacement, PT-INR valve was 1.72 when he developed an episode of cerebral thromboembolism. There was no tendency in PT-INR value in 51 patients who developed non-critical bleeding. As a while, PT-INR value was over 4.0 in 2 patients who required a in-hospital treatment for major bleeding complications. Based on our experience, we recommend a range of 2.0 to 3.0 of PT-INR value after valve replacement surgery with mechanical valves.

Evoked spinal cord potentials elicited by direct stimulation of the cord were used to monitor spinal cord ischemia in 68 patients undergoing temporary occlusion of the thoracic aorta (29 thoracic nondissecting aortic aneurysms, 9 nondissecting thoracoabdominal aneurysms, and 30 dissecting aneurysms). "Immediate" postoperative paraplegia developed in three patients and "immediate" paraparesis developed in one, whereas "delayed" paraplegia developed in two others. During aortic crossclamping, four response patterns of the spinal cord potentials were obtained: (1) no change (n = 53), (2) change with return (n = 10), (3) change with inconsistent return (n = 2), and (4) change without return (n = 3). Neurologic complications occurred in 2%, 0%, 100% of these groups, respectively. Delayed paraplegia developed on the second postoperative day in only one patient with a false-negative result, and the potentials correlated well with this patient's clinical neurologic recovery. The aortic crossclamp time was significantly longer in the patients with "change with inconsistent return" and "change without return" than in the other two groups (p < 0.01). Femoral artery pressure and the cardiopulmonary bypass flow rate were also significantly lower in these groups than in the other two groups (p < 0.02 and p < 0.01, respectively). We conclude that intraoperative monitoring of direct spinal cord responses is useful for the early detection of spinal cord ischemia for assessing the efficacy of surgical countermeasures.

We report 4 patients, 1 female and 3 males aged 26-74 years, who underwent surgical treatment for renal malignant tumors with supradiaphragmatic extension into the vena cava. All of their tumor thrombi extended to the right atrium as confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging. The distinctive symptom was liver dysfunction caused by disturbance of the hepatic vein drainage in two patients. However, there was no common symptom in these 4 patients. Preoperative metastasis was found only in the female, whose metastasis was solitary in the lung and seemed to be able to be removed easily after radical nephrectomy. All of these 4 patients had radical nephrectomy and removal of the tumor thrombi with the use of cardiopulmonary bypass and temporary exsanguination. In 3 of these patients, the liver was mobilized to expose the retrohepatic vena cava by incision of the falciform, triangular and coronary ligaments. Two patients with vena caval wall invasion had vena cavectomy and an artificial vascular graft was then sutured to replace the caval wall in one of them. Preoperative liver dysfunction was gradually improved after operation and completely recovered about 1 week later. A postoperative complication, wound infection, occurred in only one patient. Pathological examination revealed renal cell carcinoma in 3 patients and nephroblastoma in the remaining one. In renal cell carcinoma, both patients without distant metastasis were alive about 15 months postoperatively. However, the one with lung metastasis died with newly appeared multiple metastases 9 months postoperatively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

In order to investigate the effect of burnishing on the marginal closure of non-gamma2 amalgam restorations, a single-composition high-copper alloy (Indiloy), a conventional lathe-cut alloy (Lunargent Alloy), and a conventional spherical alloy (Shofu Spherical) were each mixed with mercury and filled in transparent plastic cavities. Half of the specimens were burnished along the cavity margins immediately after packing and again after carving. The remainder was unburnished. A dye was sprayed on their occlusal surfaces after 24 hr and leakage indicated by the dye penetration was observed through the plastic walls, and following facts were found: 1. Burnishing markedly decreased the leakage of all type alloy amalgams. 2. When burnished, the marginal leakage with the high-copper alloy was remarkably less than with the conventional spherical alloy but slightly more than that with the lathe-cut alloy. 3. The difference in the marginal leakage and in the effect of burnishing among the three amalgams was apparently related to their setting dimensional change curves.