Endonasal FLI Approach for Rhinoplasty with Modified Cottle Low Strip Septoplasty

To date, an endonasal approach has not been described that combines different incisions to provide exposure of all of the key anatomical structures, allowing for adequate, comprehensive visualization of the nasal architecture including the complete quadrangular cartilage and its extension with the upper lateral cartilages, including the caudal septal border from the ventral border and anterior nasal spine to the anterior septal angle, the scroll, and internal nasal valve.The endonasal approach that Fausto Lopez-Infante designed, the FLI technique, combines several basic known endonasal incisions that together allow excellent access and great visualization of the intranasal surgical field, enables extensive septal work, and preserves the natural anatomy of the dorsum as well as the tip support structures.This technique and approach to nasal surgery are based on an understanding of anatomy, allow standardization of the surgery, and make it reproducible. It is an outstanding option with excellent cosmetic and functional results.

Heart to spine measurements to detect left atrial enlargement in dogs with mitral insufficiency

Background Radiography is useful to determine left atrial (LA) size when echocardiography is not available. Recently, the authors have described Radiographic Left Atrial Dimension (RLAD) as a new radiographic measurement to assess LA size. The objective of this study was to assess the clinical usefulness of 2 new radiographic measurements to detect and quantify left atrial enlargement (LAE) compared to RLAD and using left atrium to aortic root (LA/Ao) ratio as gold standard. These new measurements, bronchus-to-spine (Br-Spine) and RLAD-to-spine (RLAD-Spine) may be more precise in cases were LA boundaries are not well defined. Fifty dogs, 25 with and 25 without LAE were recruited. Reference LA/Ao ratio was assessed by 2D echocardiography and LAE was considered if LA/Ao > 1.6. Br-spine was measured as a straight vertical line from the main stem bronchus to the ventral border of the vertebra situated immediately dorsal to the heart base. RLAD-Spine was measured from RLAD endpoint perpendicularly to spine. The correlation of RLAD, Br-Spine and RLAD-Spine methods with LA/Ao and their sensitivity and specificity for detecting LAE were calculated. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were used to estimate the optimal cut-off for each method. Results Correlations between Br-Spine, RLAD-Spine, RLAD and LA/Ao ratio were − 0.66, − 0.76 and 0.89 respectively (P < 0.001). Sensitivity at the optimal cut-off values for detecting LAE were 32.0, 64.0 and 96.0%, respectively. Specificity was 96.0% in all cases. Conclusion Br-Spine and RLAD-Spine were less sensitive radiographic measurements than RLAD in detecting LAE in dogs. Both Br-Spine and RLAD-Spine may not be good alternatives to RLAD.

Repair of Bilateral Comminuted Mandibular Fractures in a 12-Week-Old Puppy Using Locking and Nonlocking Maxillofacial Reconstruction Plates

A 12-week-old male intact French bulldog presented to a university teaching hospital for bilateral comminuted caudal mandibular fractures following an altercation with another dog. The fractures were stabilized using locking and standard maxillofacial miniplates. The 8-week and 14-week postoperative reexaminations and radiographs revealed eventual bony healing and remodeling of both mandibular rami, but multiple complications associated with the miniplates were encountered. These included intraoral wound dehiscence, implant fracture, implant loosening, sequestrum formation, and an impacted right mandibular fourth premolar. Implant failure on the alveolar border in this case report was associated with the resorption and new bone deposition of the rostral/caudal ramus, respectively, associated with mandibular growth. An alternate surgical option would have been use of a longer, larger bridging plate placed on the ventral border without use of a dorsal plate to minimize these complications.

A new oviraptorid (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Upper Cretaceous of southern China

This paper describes a new oviraptorid dinosaur taxon, Ganzhousaurus nankangensis gen. et sp. nov., based on a specimen collected from the Upper Cretaceous Nanxiong Formation of Nankang County, Ganzhou City, Jiangxi Province, southern China. This new taxon is distinguishable from other oviraptorids based on the following unique combination of primitive and derived features: relatively shallow dentary; absence of fossa or pneumatopore on lateral surface of dentary; weakly downturned anterior mandibular end; shallow depression immediately surrounding anterior margin of external mandibular fenestra; external mandibular fenestra subdivided by anterior process of surangular; dentary posteroventral process slight-ly twisted and positioned on mandibular ventrolateral surface; shallow longitudinal groove along medial surface of den-tary posteroventral process; angular anterior process wider transversely than deep dorsoventrally; sharp groove along ventrolateral surface of angular anterior process; ventral border of external mandibular fenestra formed mainly by angular; ventral flange along distal half of metatarsal II; and arctometatarsal condition absent. Phylogenetic analysis places Gan-zhousaurus nankangensis gen. et sp. nov. in the clade Oviraptoridae, together with Oviraptor, Citipati, Rinchenia and the unnamed Zamyn Khondt oviraptorid.

The larva of Neoneura ethela Williamson, 1917 (Odonata: Protoneuridae)

The last-instar larva of Neoneura ethela Williamson is described and illustrated based on one larva collected from a thermal water river in Brazil, State of Goiás and reared in the laboratory. The larva of N. ethela can be distinguished from all other South America Neoneura larvae by the following combination of characters: one pair of premental setae, S8–10 with a row of short spines along distal border, lateral gills a little longer than length of abdomen, ventral border of lateral gill armed with a row of about 24 spines. We provide a key to the species of known South American larvae of Neoneura.

μ-Opioid modulation in the rostral solitary nucleus and reticular formation alters taste reactivity: evidence for a suppressive effect on consummatory behavior

The neural control of feeding involves many neuromodulators, including the endogenous opioids that bind μ-opioid receptors (MORs). Injections of the MOR agonist, Damgo, into limbic and hypothalamic forebrain sites increase intake, particularly of palatable foods. Indeed, forebrain Damgo injections increase sucrose-elicited licking but reduce aversive responding (gaping) to quinine, suggesting that MOR activation may enhance taste palatability. A μ-opioid influence on taste reactivity has not been assessed in the brain stem. However, MORs are present in the first-order taste relay, the rostral nucleus of the solitary tract (rNST), and in the immediately subjacent reticular formation (RF), a region known to be essential for consummatory responses. Thus, to evaluate the consequences of rNST/dorsal RF Damgo in this region, we implanted rats with intraoral cannulas, electromyographic electrodes, and brain cannulas aimed at the ventral border of the rNST. Licking and gaping elicited with sucrose, water, and quinine were assessed before and after intramedullary Damgo and saline infusions. Damgo slowed the rate, increased the amplitude, and decreased the size of fluid-induced lick and gape bouts. In addition, the neutral stimulus water, which typically elicits licks, began to evoke gapes. Thus, the current results demonstrate that μ-opioid activation in the rNST/dorsal RF exerts complex effects on oromotor responding that contrast with forebrain effects and are more indicative of a suppressive, rather than a facilitatory effect on ingestion.

New semionotiform (Neopterygii) from the Tlayúa Quarry (Early Cretaceous, Albian), Mexico

We describe a new semionotiform fish, Tlayuamichin itztli gen. et sp. nov. from the Early Cretaceous (Albian) of Mexico, which constitutes one of the youngest semionotid articulated remains. The new taxon is represented by five well-preserved specimens from the Tlayúa Quarry near Tepexi de Rodríguez in Puebla State, central Mexico. A series of paraethmoid bones anterior to the supraorbital series, supraorbital bones extending beyond the anterior rim of the orbit, the presence of a large pentagonal supraorbital closing the anterior rim of the orbit, seven anterior infraorbitals, dorsally expanded infraorbitals at the ventral border of the orbit, and the most dorsal suborbital separating the preoperculum from the dermopterotic are potential autapomorphic features of the new taxon. The very long frontals, a dermopterotic that does not contact the anterodorsal corner of the operculum and the presence of a modified pectoral scale are additional features that help to diagnose the taxon. Tlayuamichin itztli gen. et sp. nov. resembles most closely “Lepidotes” minor from the Middle Purbeck Beds (early Berriasian), England. These two taxa share similarity with other species of Semionotus from the Early Jurassic of North America and the Triassic of Europe, suggesting interesting biogeographic relationships.

Microstimulation-induced inhibition as a tool to aid targeting the ventral border of the subthalamic nucleus

Object The aim of the current study was to examine and compare the aftereffects of local high-frequency microstimulation through the recording electrode on the firing of neurons in the subthalamic nucleus (STN) and the substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr) in patients undergoing surgery for deep brain stimulation. Deep brain stimulation has been playing an increasing role in the treatment of Parkinson disease, with the subthalamic nucleus (STN) being the preferred implantation target. Changes in cellular activity indicative of the borders of the STN are typically used during surgery to determine the extent of the STN and locate the optimal target, but in some cases borders may be difficult to identify. In this study the authors compared the effects of microstimulation in the SNr and STN. In previous studies they have shown that microstimulation in the internal globus pallidus, which is functionally similar to the SNr, inhibits firing, whereas similar microstimulation in the STN has minimal effect. The presence of inhibition in the SNr but not in the STN could be used as an additional criterion to help identify the location of the border between the STN and SNr. Methods Dual microelectrode recordings were performed during stereotactic surgery in 4 patients. Well-isolated high-amplitude units were stimulated extracellularly through the recording microelectrode with 0.5-second trains of high frequency (200 Hz) and low current (≤ 5 μA). Results In the majority (92%) of SNr neurons, this type of stimulation led to a period of inhibition lasting several hundreds of milliseconds following the end of the train. In contrast, only 1 neuron of 70 judged to be in the STN by other criteria was inhibited by this type of microstimulation, and this neuron was located at the ventral border of the STN. Conclusions These findings indicate that prolonged inhibition of firing following low-amplitude high-frequency microstimulation via the recording electrode is a consistent feature of almost all SNr neurons and rarely if ever occurs in STN neurons. This feature therefore provides a useful additional finding that can be used to help identify the border between the STN and SNr.

Localization of the Mandibular Canal in Brachycephalic Dogs Using Computed Tomography

For some surgical procedures in veterinary dentistry including exodontia, orthognathic surgery, orthopedic surgery, oncologic surgery, and for the placement of dental implants, it is important to know the accurate location of the neurovascular structures within the mandibular canal. The aim of this research was to determine the course of the mandibular canal in the mandible and its relationship with other anatomical structures in brachycephalic dogs using computerized tomography. Mandibles from 10 brachycephalic cadaver dogs were evaluated. Measurements were taken in relation to the lingual, vestibular, alveolar crest, and ventral surfaces. These measurements indicated that the mandibular canal descends slightly from the mandibular foramen to the molar area, decreasing the distance of the mandibular canal from the mandibular ventral border. The mandibular canal is slightly closer to the lingual surface than the vestibular surface except in the molar tooth region. The mandibular canal continues in a rostral direction occupying the ventral region of the mandibular body, reaching its maximum distance from the alveolar crest at the level of the first molar and fourth premolar teeth. In the third and fourth premolar tooth region, the mandibular canal maintains a similar distance between the vestibular and lingual borders; then, at the level of the second premolar tooth, the distance of the mandibular canal from the lingual and ventral border increases before its termination at the mental foramen. The study reported here documents the feasibility of using CT to determine the location of the mandibular canal in relation to bony and dental parameters. Although the difference in mandible size of the group of brachycephalic dogs reported here resulted in broad ranges of measurements, it is clear that the MC course may vary between individual dogs.