Shoulder defect correction with the island latissimus dorsi flap

Reconstruction of normal shoulder contour is possible utilizing a latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap at the end of a long neurovascular pedicle. The thoracodorsal vessels and their lateral divisions form the basis of the pedicle. The nerve in the pedicle is left intact if maintenance of muscle bulk is desired and sectioned if atrophy is preferred. The amount of muscle taken in conjunction with the skin island is determined by the nature of the defect to be corrected. The twin goals of a single-stage reconstruction and a satisfactory aesthetic result are achieved with this method.     

Regulation of Lipid Droplet Size in Mammary Epithelial Cells by Remodeling of Membrane Lipid Composition—A Potential Mechanism

Milk fat globule size is determined by the size of its precursors—intracellular lipid droplets—and is tightly associated with its composition. We examined the relationship between phospholipid composition of mammary epithelial cells and the size of both intracellular and secreted milk fat globules. Primary culture of mammary epithelial cells was cultured in medium without free fatty acids (control) or with 0.1 mM free capric, palmitic or oleic acid for 24 h. The amount and composition of the cellular lipids and the size of the lipid droplets were determined in the cells and medium. Mitochondrial quantity and expression levels of genes associated with mitochondrial biogenesis and polar lipid composition were determined. Cells cultured with oleic and palmitic acids contained similar quantities of triglycerides, 3.1- and 3.8-fold higher than in controls, respectively (P < 0.0001). When cultured with oleic acid, 22% of the cells contained large lipid droplets (>3 μm) and phosphatidylethanolamine concentration was higher by 23 and 63% compared with that in the control and palmitic acid treatments, respectively (P < 0.0001). In the presence of palmitic acid, only 4% of the cells contained large lipid droplets and the membrane phosphatidylcholine concentration was 22% and 16% higher than that in the control and oleic acid treatments, respectively (P < 0.0001). In the oleic acid treatment, approximately 40% of the lipid droplets were larger than 5 μm whereas in that of the palmitic acid treatment, only 16% of the droplets were in this size range. Triglyceride secretion in the oleic acid treatment was 2- and 12-fold higher compared with that in the palmitic acid and control treatments, respectively. Results imply that membrane composition of bovine mammary epithelial cells plays a role in controlling intracellular and secreted lipid droplets size, and that this process is not associated with cellular triglyceride content.     

Transnational Migration in Rural Oaxaca, Mexico: Dependency, Development, and the Household

Contradictory models of dependency and development have dominated the discussion of migration between Mexico and the United States. Transnational models of migration resolve these contradictions by defining a series of interdependencies (economy and society, for example). Using data collected in a rural Zapotec community in Oaxaca, Mexico, this article focuses on three areas: the stage-specific development of transnational movement; the domestic cycle, household decision making, and migration/remittance outcomes; and the changing nature of community participation. Rooting the discussion in household decision making captures the important role local social variability and economic dynamism play in understanding transnational processes and advancing migration studies. [ households, migration, transnationalism, dependency and development, Oaxaca, Mexico ]     

A preliminary note on the use of milk substitutes in the early weaning of dromedary camels

The experiment was performed using two young male camels which weighed 24 and 36 kg respectively at birth. Each young camel was weighed and abruptly separated from its mother after 30 days of nursing (or at 1 month of age). The weaned calves were fed milk substitutes prepared commercially for lambs by Mabarot Chemical and Veterinary Products (Israel). The weanling camels averaged daily weight gains of 0.400 and 1.0 kg per day respectively during the 30 day initial period when the milk substitutes were used. Following the period when milk substitutes were used, the camels achieved normal growth to arrive at 135 and 145 kg respectively at 6 months of age.     

The effect of halothane on mitochondrial permeability to NADH

The effect of halothane on oxidation of exogenous NADH was evaluated in intact and disrupted rat liver mitochondria. A change in oxygen uptake was observed which represented an interplay between inhibition of NADH dehydrogenase (tending to decrease respiratory rate) and loss of impermeability to NADH (tending to increase respiratory rate).