Faculty Bibliography

Health disparities that affect whole communities may involve factors like housing quality that lie at least partly within planners' realm of policy influence. This article demonstrates a link between housing and childhood asthma. The magnitude of the childhood asthma epidemic in Harlem in New York City and the commitment of engaged community partners led to an interdisciplinary, participatory, and multifaceted approach to the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the Harlem Children's Zone Asthma Initiative. Here we present the first year's data on environmental triggers in the homes of program participants, showing that intensive, community-based programs can reduce both home environmental triggers and adverse childhood asthma outcomes. This provides an ex ample of a community-wide public health intervention that informs public policy and planning, and may provide a sustainable model for reducing childhood asthma in impoverished communities.

Within the context of Levine's conceptual framework, this study evaluated fatigue and protein calorie malnutrition affecting adult, long-term ventilated patients during the weaning process. Levine's principles of energy and structural integrity provided the basis for an evaluation of the fatigue and prealbumin levels for 11 patients. During the weaning process (1 to 4 weeks), fatigue data were collected at multiple points while prealbumin levels were collected weekly. Statistically significant findings revealed that long-term ventilated patients had distinctive fatigue trends in addition to trends associated with low prealbumin levels, which can affect the patient's weaning ability.

Different reconstruction techniques of the anterior and middle skull base as consequence of a defect after surgical treatment of neoplastic pathologies are described in the literature. The aim of the present study is to present our experience regarding the use of microvascular free flaps for reconstruction of the anterior or middle skull base after large defects caused by removal of malignant neoplasms. From 2000 to 2004, in the Department of Maxillo-Facial Surgery of the University of Rome "La Sapienza" and "Tor Vergata," 13 surgical procedures for reconstruction of anterior and middle skull base defects by free flaps were performed in 11 patients. Data on patient demographics, histopathology, location and size of defect, type of reconstruction, and postoperative complications were obtained from medical record charts. A safe soft tissue closure of the intracranial space was achieved in all patients. Defect repair was accomplished by revascularized transfer of rectus abdominis flaps in seven cases, latissimus dorsi muscle flaps in two patients, radial forearm flap in one case, and fibula flap in one case. There were two total flap losses; the secondary defect repair was accomplished in both cases by revascularized transfer of latissimus dorsi muscle flap. No donor site complications were observed in all the flaps. The mean operation time was 85 hours; patients were hospitalized for a mean period of 14 days. The method of choice for the reconstruction of anterior or middle skull base defect should be based upon careful evaluation of the single case and, particularly, the localization and entity of the residual defect. For defects that require large amounts of soft tissue, the latissimus dorsi free flap and the rectus abdominis free flap are the best appropriate choices for reconstructive procedures for anterior and middle skull base tumors.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess the quality of reports of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing manual and powered toothbrushes and provide advice on how future trials might be improved. METHODS: Studies were identified in the Cochrane systematic review of RCTs comparing powered versus manual toothbrushes. Reports were assessed against predefined criteria on the design of the studies to determine the effectiveness of the brushes in everyday home use and on their methodological quality. RESULTS: Only 42 of 297 identified studies satisfied the inclusion criteria and were eligible for inclusion in the review. Many studies were excluded for more than one reason. Fifteen studies employed split-mouth designs that may have changed toothbrushing behavior. Of 42 included RCTs, the generation of randomization sequence was adequate in 15 trials and concealment of allocation was adequate in 16 trials. Intention-to-treat analysis was reported in only five studies. Plaque data were reported using 10 different indices and gingivitis with nine indices. Only 12 trials lasted 3 months or longer, and there were no data on the benefits of powered toothbrushes for periodontal attachment. CONCLUSIONS: Some designs created an artificial research environment that may have undermined the findings. Authors of toothbrush trials should consider the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials statement. Greater standardization of the indices used is required. Trials of longer duration would enhance the evaluation of powered toothbrushes. Data on thresholds for clinically significant differences in plaque and gingivitis levels would help to determine whether oral hygiene aids provide important health benefits.

BACKGROUND: Large nipples, disproportionate to the small areola and breast size, are an ethnic characteristic frequently encountered among Asian female patients. Patients seek correction to improve cosmesis and alleviate psychological and physical discomfort. The authors present a new technique of nipple reduction and describe its potential advantages over other techniques. METHODS: Between March of 2003 and April of 2005, 34 nipple reductions were performed in 19 female patients (mean age, 40.5 +/- 5.6 years) using the modified top hat flap. The neonipple is designed to reduce the nipple diameter at the superior pole of the nipple while preserving the subdermal plexus. A crescent-shaped section of nipple skin below the proposed neonipple is excised, maintaining the integrity of the neonipple and the central nipple core. Two lateral wing flaps are elevated and trimmed to reduce both nipple height and diameter at the lateral walls of the nipple. The flaps of the neonipple are then sutured to the areola. RESULTS: Postoperative recovery was rapid and uneventful and no complications were encountered. The mean diameter of the hypertrophic nipple was 16.3 +/- 2.6 mm (range, 16 to 30 mm). The mean diameter of the neonipple was 7.9 +/- 1.7 mm (range, 5 to 11 mm), with an average reduction of 8.4 +/- 1.6 mm (range, 5 to 20 mm). At 17.2 +/- 2.9 months of follow-up, the neonipple had a natural appearance, with less projection and an inconspicuous scar. There was no statistically significant difference on monofilament sensation testing (p = 0.5829) between reduction nipple and areola in 11 nipples of seven patients. CONCLUSIONS: The modified top hat flap requires minimal preoperative planning, is easy to perform, and yields reproducible results. This technique decreases both the diameter and height of any size nipple and can be modified to meet patient preferences. Because the continuity of the neonipple with the subdermal arterial plexus is maintained and the majority of the parenchymal elements are preserved, nipple sensation and circulation remain largely unaffected.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the impact of damage control laparotomy on long term morbidity and survival. METHODS: Prospective data were collected on 56 consecutive trauma patients over a 20-month period (May 2000-January 2002). Patients were stratified by mechanism of injury, age, Injury Severity Score, and type of injury, temperature at admission, initial blood transfusion volume and pH. Initial outcome data included major complications, intensive care unit and hospital length of stay, and mortality. Readmission data including number of admissions, surgical procedures, and hospital length of stay were then analyzed over the subsequent follow-up years (2001-2003). RESULTS: The mean age of the study group was 31 +/- 11 years with a mean Injury Severity Score of 33 +/- 13. The majority of the patients were male (73%) with a relatively equal number of blunt (n = 30) and penetrating injuries (n = 26). Liver injuries (34 [61%]) were the most common solid organ injury followed by 22 bowel (39%), 19 spleen (34%), 11 major vessel (20%), and 7 pancreas (13%) injuries. The mean number of initial abdominal surgical procedures was 4.4 +/- 2.2 per patient. The overall mortality during the first admission was 27%. Time spent in the intensive care unit and hospital length of stay was 17 +/- 13 and 30 +/- 19 days, respectively. There were a total of 74 readmissions and 58 subsequent surgical procedures in the 41 patients who were readmitted. Thirty-one (76%) patients were re-admitted at least one time. Infection (n = 19) was the most common reason for readmission followed by ventral hernia repair (n = 17) and fistula management (n = 14). There was 0% mortality for patients who survived the preliminary hospitalization but required readmission. CONCLUSION: Although damage control laparotomy is associated with a significant complication and readmission rate, its long term survival and benefit is indisputable.

Traumatic maxillary bone loss, if not treated acutely, is accompanied by contracture of the overlying soft tissue envelope and loss of facial projection in three dimensions. Reconstruction aimed at replacing the bony architecture, expanding the soft tissue envelope and establishing a platform for dental rehabilitation can be accomplished in a staged approach. We present two patients who underwent replacement of missing maxillary segments with a free fibula flap, followed by distraction of the free fibula in three dimensions and eventual dental rehabilitation with osseo-integrated implants.