Psoriasis Patients Face Increased Risk of Heart Attacks and Death

People with psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory disease, may be more likely than others to experience heart attacks and strokes at least in part because inflammation damages their vascular system, a recent study suggests.
Reuters Health Information

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Three-Dimensional Printing: A Novel Approach to the Creation of Obturator Prostheses Following Palatal Resection for Malignant Palate Tumors.

Background: A subgroup of patients who have an oronasal fistula live in areas that have limited access to oral prosthetics. For these individuals, a temporary prosthesis, such as a palatal obturator, may be necessary in order to speak, eat, and breath properly. The creation of an obturator, which requires a highly trained prosthodontist, can take time and can be expensive. Through the current proof-of-concept study, there is an attempt to create a patient-specific palatal obturator through use of free and publicly available software, and a low-cost desktop 3-dimensional printer. The ascribed study may provide a means to increase global access to oral prosthetics if suitable biomaterials are developed. Methods: Computerized tomography data were acquired from a patient who had an oronasal fistula. Through use of free software, these data were converted into a 3-dimensional image. The image was manipulated in order to isolate the patient's maxilla and was subsequently printed. The palatal obturator models were designed, and reformed, in correspondence with the maxilla model design. A final suitable obturator was determined and printed with 2 differing materials in order to better simulate a patient obturator. Results: Creating a suitable palatal obturator for the specified patient model was possible with a low-cost printer and free software. Conclusions: With further development in biomaterials, it may be possible to design and create an oral prosthesis through use of low-cost 3-dimensional printing technology and freeware. This can empower individuals to attain good healthcare, even if they live in rural, developing, or underserviced areas. (C) 2017 by Mutaz B. Habal, MD.

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Management of a Brain Abscess Presumably Caused by Radiation Osteomyelitis of the Mandible.

In this clinical report, we present the management of a brain abscess that was presumed to be caused by radiation osteomyelitis of the mandible. The patient underwent chemoradiotherapy for oropharyngeal carcinoma on the left side at the Department of Otolaryngology of our hospital in 2000. Local recurrence or metastasis did not occur post-treatment. In January 2009, the patient was diagnosed with radiation osteomyelitis of the mandible on the left side, complicated by a pathologic fracture. In July 2011, numbness occurred in the left upper extremity and the patient was transferred to the emergency center of our hospital. A computed tomography scan showed a tumor lesion in the brain that was diagnosed as a brain abscess by magnetic resonance imaging. Neurosurgeons performed burr hole drainage of the abscess, followed by administration of antibiotics. Although impaired fine movements of the left hand remain, progress has been relatively favorable with no recurrence of osteomyelitis or brain abscess post-surgery. (C) 2017 by Mutaz B. Habal, MD.

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Efficacy of Surgery in the Treatment of Moyamoya Disease Compared With Medical Treatment.

No abstract available

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Melanotic Neuroectodermal Tumor of Infancy in the Maxilla.

Melanotic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy is uncommon and has rapid expansile growth. Melanotic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy is a very rare and benign but locally aggressive neoplasm that originates from neural crest and is composed of relatively primitive pigment-producing cells. The lesion commonly affects the maxilla of infants during the first year of life. Common treatment methods include surgical excision and resection of the tumor. The aim of this article is to present the diagnosis and treatment of a patient with melanotic neuroectodermal tumor that occurred in the anterior maxilla of a 6-month-old male baby. (C) 2017 by Mutaz B. Habal, MD.

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A Novel Reverse Periauricular Flap Reconstruction Method That Uses Additional Anastomosis to Avoid Venous Congestion for Periorbital Defects.

The aim of this study was to introduce and evaluate a method to prevent venous congestion in periauricular flap pedicled on the frontal branch of the superficial temporal artery (STA). Flaps based on the STA are therefore extremely versatile in reconstruction of the face and scalp. The literature on reconstructive possibilities provided by temporal flaps describes venous congestion, but there are currently no methods for preventing this problem. In this brief report, we describe a method to anastomose the parietal branch of superficial temporal vein and the middle temporal vein to ensure venous flow when a concomitant vein of the frontal branch of the STA is unavailable. The flap survived without venous congestion and donor sites healed with satisfactory outcomes. Color and texture match of the flap were excellent and morbidity at the donor site was usually minimal. Level of Evidence: IV (C) 2017 by Mutaz B. Habal, MD.

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Intraoral Excision of a Huge Cheek Lipoma.

Lipomas are benign tumors of mature adipocytes unusual in the oral and maxillofacial region. The average size of cheek lipomas in the literature ranges from 1.5 to 2.5 cm, with the maximum size of 5 cm. Their etiology remains unclear. Lipomas present, clinically, as well circumscribed, slow growing, painless masses, usually treated by complete excision. The aim of this paper is to present a 78-year-old Caucasian male patient with a huge cheek lipoma compromising facial esthetics and treated through an intraoral excision. Postoperative period was uneventful with no signs of recurrence. Concluding, the intraoral approach is a relatively simple technique that should be taken into account when considering the surgical removal of cheek lipomas. (C) 2017 by Mutaz B. Habal, MD.

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