Acne Scars

Head Neck. 2009 Jun 17; Chang YT, Lee JY, Wang JY, Chiou CSBACKGROUND.: Surgical intervention for internal jugular phlebectasia is occasionally necessary in cases of phlebitis, thrombus formation, rupture of the lesion, and some cosmetic deformity. However, the resultant neck scar can be of suboptimal cosmesis, with consequent psychological distress, particularly for children. METHODS.: We described a 3-port transaxillary endoscopic technique performed under the fascia of the pectoralis major for excision of the dilated right internal jugular vein in an 8-year-old girl. RESULTS.: The preservation of the upper tributaries of the right internal jugular vein was helpful in draining the cerebral blood to the collaterals and in preventing postoperative craniofacial swelling immediately. Six months later, there were no signs of recurrence of other jugular veins, and the patient showed a correct hemodynamic compensation. CONCLUSION.: This technique offered an effective way to surgically manage internal jugular phlebectasia while avoiding the potential for poor cosmesis from any neck scar. (c) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2009.

EMBO Rep. 2009 Jul 31; Gildor B, Massarwa R, Shilo BZ, Schejter EDThe actin nucleation-promoting factors SCAR/WAVE and WASp, together with associated elements, mediate the formation of muscle fibres through myoblast fusion during Drosophila embryogenesis. Our phenotypic analysis, following the disruption of these two pathways, suggests that they function in a sequential manner. Suppressor of cyclic AMP receptor (SCAR) activity is required before the formation of pores in the membranes of fusing cells, whereas Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASp) promotes the expansion of nascent pores and completion of the fusion process. Genetic epistasis experiments are consistent with this step-wise temporal progression. Our observations further imply a separate, Rac-dependent role for the SCAR complex in promoting myoblast migration. In keeping with the sequential utilization of the two systems, we observe abnormal accumulations of filamentous actin at the fusion sites when both pathways are disrupted, resembling those present when only SCAR-complex function is impaired. This observation further suggests that actin-filament accumulation at the fusion sites might not depend on Arp2/3 activity altogether.