Ultrahigh-Resolution Computed Tomography Improves Preoperative Computed Tomography Angiography for Deep Inferior Epigastric Artery Perforator Flap Reconstruction.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to compare computed tomography (CT) angiography (CTA) imaging of deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) using the ultrahigh-resolution CT (UHRCT) and conventional multidetector CT (MDCT). METHODS: This retrospective study enrolled 20 patients who underwent CTA of DIEP flap with UHRCT and MDCT. Computed tomography values were measured at 4 large vessels (thoracic aorta, abdominal aorta, common iliac artery, and external iliac artery) and 5 peripheral vessels (proximal and distal internal thoracic artery, proximal and distal deep inferior epigastric artery, and DIEP). RESULTS: There were no significant differences in mean CT values of the major vessel between UHRCT and MDCT. Ultrahigh-resolution CT shows higher CT values of the peripheral vessels than MDCT (P < 0.05 for all). The median CT values of the DIEP in UHRCT were approximately 3 times higher than those in MDCT (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Ultrahigh-resolution CT provides higher-quality CTA of DIEP compared with MDCT.

Highly enantioselective and efficient synthesis of methyl (R)-o-chloromandelate with recombinant E. coli: toward practical and green access to clopidogrel.

Methyl (R)-o-chloromandelate ((R)-), which is an intermediate for a platelet aggregation inhibitor named clopidogrel, was obtained in >99% ee by the asymmetric reduction of methyl o-chlorobenzoylformate (2) (up to 1.0 M) with recombinant E. coli overproducing a versatile carbonyl reductase.