NAFLD has alarmingly increased, yet FDA-approved drugs are still lacking. An excessive intake of fructose, especially in liquid form, is a dietary risk factor of NAFLD. While fructose metabolism has been studied for decades, it is still controversial how fructose intake can cause NAFLD. It has long been believed that fructose metabolism solely happens in the liver and accordingly, numerous studies have investigated liver fructose metabolism using primary hepatocytes or liver cell lines in culture. While cultured cells are useful for studying detailed signaling pathways and metabolism in a cell-autonomous manner, it is equally important to understand fructose metabolism at the whole-body level in live organisms. In this regard, recent in vivo studies using genetically modified mice and stable isotope tracing have tremendously expanded our understanding of the complex interaction between fructose-catabolizing organs and gut microbiota. Here, we discuss how the aberrant distribution of fructose metabolism between organs and gut microbiota can contribute to NAFLD. We also address potential therapeutic interventions of fructose-elicited NAFLD.

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Introduction: We present a novel abdominal contouring procedure, called the modified abdominal skin resection, designed to maximize elimination of skin redundancy while allowing for simultaneous high-definition liposuction of the entire abdominal skin flap. Technical details of the modified abdominal skin resection will be presented including inclusion and exclusion criteria, complications, and outcomes. Materials and Methods: Strategic limiting of abdominal skin undermining, preserving of any visible perforators, using ultrasound liposuction, and if necessary, administering Renuvion J plasma skin contraction are components of the presented high-definition abdominal contouring procedure. Limited undermining allows for high-definition liposuction of the abdomen to create muscle highlights and smooth contour junctions. Results: We present case studies demonstrating superior contour results when compared to traditional tummy tucks without muscle plication or liposuction alone. We present technical details of the modified abdominal skin resection, inclusion and exclusion criteria, complications, and outcomes. Discussion: The modified abdominal skin resection allows for high definition abdominoplasty outcomes. These results are superior to traditional abdominoplasties that are performed without muscle plication. This novel abdominoplasty procedure allows for aggressive removal of fat, as well as maximal elimination of skin redundancy and laxity. Inclusion and exclusion criteria established in this paper dicatate whether a patient is a good candidate for the modified abdominal skin resection. Conclusion: We present technical details required to complete the high definition abdominoplasty without muscle plication which allows for waistline snatching and creation of abdominal muscle highlights. High definition body contouring principles are applied to the modified abdominal skin resection to achieve superior body contouring results.

Superior displacement of implants is a common complication in the early postoperative period following breast augmentation surgery. Postoperative breast bands are used during the first 4 weeks to optimize breast implant position following breast augmentation and reconstructive procedures. Although currently available breast bands are effective in maintaining implants in an inferior position, they have been observed to irritate the armpit region. We hypothesized that a modified breast band geometry with cut outs to accommodate the armpit region would provide equal maintenance of desired implant position while providing improved postoperative comfort. Forty patients who underwent breast augmentation and/or reconstruction were randomly assigned to receive either the traditional breast band or the modified cut out designed breast band following surgery for 4 weeks. Patients rated their breast bands on a 1 to 10 scale regarding (1) comfort, (2) appearance, and (3) overall satisfaction at their routine postoperative visits at 1, 2, and 4 weeks following surgery. The modified breast band scored higher for all factors at 1, 2, and 4 weeks following surgery. The traditional band demonstrated decreasing scores for comfort and overall satisfaction when compared at 4 weeks versus 1 week. There was no change in the modified breast band scores for comfort, appearance, nor overall satisfaction over the same time period. This study of 40 patients found that the modified band provides equally effective maintenance of implants in a desired position without compromising comfort and appearance. Patients who used the modified band had a better experience with the band comfort, appearance, and overall satisfaction in comparison to the traditional band. The higher ratings for the cut out band for comfort, appearance, and overall satisfaction were consistent from week 1 to 4. In contrast, the traditional band not only scored lower in comfort, appearance, and overall satisfaction compared to the modified band but also demonstrated significant decrease in the patients’ ratings for comfort and overall satisfaction for the traditional band from week 1 to 4. This study supports the conclusion that a modified cut out breast band design provides an equally effective maintenance of implants in a desired position without compromising comfort, appearance, and overall satisfaction when compared to the traditional band.