Rapid increase in the height and width of the upper chest in adolescents with primary spontaneous pneumothorax.

BACKGROUND: We determined the chest height in a cohort of patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) who had received chest radiographic examinations prior to the attack. The aim of this study was to determine when their chest height began to change and how this was related to the PSP. METHODS: From June 2009 to February 2012, the chest posteroanterior radiographs of 156 patients with PSP (Group 1) were reviewed. Among another 3134 patients with PSP, we identified 52 patients who had a chest posteroanterior radiograph prior to the attack (Group 2). We also recruited 196 controls for comparison (Group 3). The chest height and chest width at different levels were measured and analyzed. RESULTS: Before 14 years of age, the chest height of patients in Group 2 was no different from that of patients in Group 3. By the age of 14 years, however, the chest height and upper chest width of patients with PSP was significantly higher than that of the normal controls. The difference from normal chest height did not increase at adulthood. CONCLUSION: The rapid increase in chest height and upper chest width is a unique finding in patients with PSP. It might be attributable to the occurrence of PSP. This finding may also help to identify patients who are at risk of PSP.

Late-onset vital complication after the Nuss procedure for pectus excavatum.

The Nuss procedure is the most popular technique for correction of pectus excavatum recently. Life-threatening complications associated with the procedure are very rare. We report a 13-year-old boy who developed late-onset bilateral hemothorax with hypovolemic shock 5 months after the Nuss procedure. In literature review, this is the first case of the late-onset life-threatening bilateral hemothorax with hypovolemic shock ever reported.

Human single-donor composite skin substitutes based on collagen and polycaprolactone copolymer.

The development and characterization of an enhanced composite skin substitute based on collagen and poly(epsilon-caprolactone) are reported. Considering the features of excellent biocompatibility, easy-manipulated property and exempt from cross-linking related toxicity observed in the 1:20 biocomposites, skin substitutes were developed by seeding human single-donor keratinocytes and fibroblasts alone on both sides of the 1:20 biocomposite to allow for separation of two cell types and preserving cell signals transmission via micro-pores with a porosity of 28.8 +/- 16.1 microm. The bi-layered skin substitute exhibited both differentiated epidermis and fibrous dermis in vitro. Less Keratinocyte Growth Factor production was measured in the co-cultured skin model compared to fibroblast alone condition indicating a favorable microenvironment for epidermal homeostasis. Moreover, fast wound closure, epidermal differentiation, and abundant dermal collagen deposition were observed in composite skin in vivo. In summary, the beneficial characteristics of the new skin substitutes exploited the potential for pharmaceutical screening and clinical application.

Preputial flaps to correct buried penis.

The authors developed a preputial skin flap technique to correct the buried penis which was simple and practical. This simple procedure can be applied to most boys with buried penis. In the last 3 years, we have seen 12 boys with buried penis and have been treated by using preputial flaps. The mean age is about 5.1 (from 3 to 12). By making a longitudinal incision on the ventral side of penis, the tightness of the foreskin is released and leave a diamond-shaped skin defect. It allows the penile shaft to extend out. A circumferential incision is made about 5 mm proximal to the coronal sulcus. Pedicled preputial flaps are obtained leaving optimal penile skin on the dorsal side. The preputial skin flaps are rotated onto the ventral side and tailored to cover the defect. All patients are followed for at least 3 months. Edema and swelling on the flaps are common, but improves with time. None of our patients need a second operation. The preputial flaps technique is a simple technique which allows surgeons to deal with most cases of buried penis by tailoring the flaps providing good cosmetic and functional results.

Malignant transformation of a well-organized sacrococcygeal fetiform teratoma in a newborn male.

We report herein a case of a male newborn with a sacrococcygeal fetiform teratoma (FT). The baby presented with a large coccygeal teratoma. The preoperative diagnosis of FT was made by plain radiography, ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging. The baby was successfully treated by complete excision and pelvic floor reconstruction. Postoperative follow-up was uneventful until the teratoma recurred 11 months later as a malignancy. After undergoing a second operative procedure accompanied by chemotherapy, he has been doing well for 18 months.

Unusual epithelium in a subpubic sinus.

A 5-year-old male presented with the history of whitish discharge from a midline sinus opening just above the pubis for 2 months. Attempted radiography of the sinus revealed a blind fistula and voiding cystourethrography was normal. The fistula was excised deep to the subpubic space without any evidence of connection to the lower urinary tract. Pathologic evaluation of the lesion revealed a ciliated-columnar lining with stratified-squamous and transitional epithelium. To our knowledge, a subpubic sinus with this unique presentation of epithelium has not been reported previously.