Jennifer Fairman, along with her colleagues at JHU, will have medical illustration exhibited at the University of Baltimore. The Department of Art as Applied to Medicine, part of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, was the first program of its kind in the world. It was begun with an endowment from Henry Walters, Baltimore art collector, financier, and philanthropist, and directed by Max Brödel (1870-1941). The fully accredited two-year program currently houses 12 full-time students, each with access to a state-of-the-art computer lab with multiple workstations, platforms, peripherals, and resources. To understand how something works, it helps to be able to see it. Since 1911 the department has trained medical illustrators to help physicians and the world do exactly that. The amazing and beautiful illustrations shown in this exhibit are a testimony to the talents of both the students and the faculty in the program. Exhibition dates: February 23, 2011 through May 9, 2011.
UB Student Center Gallery, 21 W. Mount Royal Ave.
Gallery Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-11 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Sunday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Opening reception: Saturday, March 5, 2011, 1-3 p.m. SC Lounge – 4th Floor. For more information: 410.837.6022 or scd@ubalt.edu

Fairman Studios created illustrations for the Greensboro North Carolina Health Science Center. In collaboration with Quatrafoil Associates, Fairman Studios created illustrations of various human anatomical systems to be used for display in the museum’s new Health Quest Exhibit. Quatrefoil Associates provides exhibit design and fabrication services to museums. This exhibit is set to open in June 2011!

The Spine Center at Beth Israel Deaconess has contacted Fairman Studios to illustrate an illustration to be used in various collateral materials for the center. The Beth Israel Deaconess Spine Center is a comprehensive spine center, quickly guiding patients to the right care at the right time in convenient locations. Their multi-specialty teamwork is unique in the Boston area. All of the Spine Center specialists are board-certified and faculty of Harvard Medical School, with advanced training and experience to deliver leading-edge care.

The American College of Rheumatology is an organization of physicians, health professionals, and scientists that advances rheumatology through programs of education, research, and advocacy that foster excellence in the care of people with arthritis and rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases.Supplemented with medical art created by Fairman Studios, the ACR and ARHP have prepared information for patients about 22 rheumatic diseases, about the caregivers who treat patients with arthritis, and about several common medications used to treat rheumatic diseases.

More illustrations are created for Kyphon, now a subsidiary of Medtronic. Balloon kyphoplasty has been shown to benefit patients with osteoporotic or cancer-induced VCF. Pain, functional and radiographic outcomes of care have been shown to be statistically superior to conventional non-surgical management. The procedure has been shown to significantly improve patient quality of life and ability to perform activities of daily living, as well as reduce the number of days lost to bedrest. Balloon kyphoplasty is a percutaneous procedure that can be performed inpatient or outpatient with little or no postoperative rehabilitation necessary. Patient satisfaction with the technique is excellent with little, if any, procedural discomfort. Balloon kyphoplasty has an excellent safety profile, with most studies demonstrating a very low rate of procedure-related adverse events. As of June 30, 2007 approximately 340,000 patients and 400,000 spinal fractures worldwide have been treated with balloon kyphoplasty.

Happy New Year and thanks again for yet another successful year!! Fairman Studios is currently entering it’s 12th year of business and is updating it’s “What’s New Section”. As can be seen by the entries already posted below, a lot of work has been done in 2010 is already geared up to be another year filled with many interesting and exciting projects. More to come on our 2011 page, also being updated.

Fairman Studios will be creating several illustrations for an article appearing in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery: Revision Arthroscopic Contracture Release in the Elbow Resulting in an Ulnar Nerve Transection
By David M. Gay, MD, Bradley S. Raphael, MD, and Andrew J. Weiland, MD
Investigation performed at the Department of Hand and Upper Extremity, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY

Background: The indications for elbow arthroscopy have expanded over the past several years. Currently, it is used for removal of loose bodies, treatment of lateral epicondylitis, synovectomy, contracture release, and management of osteochondritis dissecans. Although elbow arthroscopy is a relatively safe procedure, the reported complication rate is as high as 10%, which is higher than that seen with knee and shoulder arthroscopy. The rate of neurovascular complications is reported to range from 0% to 14%. In a review of a large series of patients treated with elbow arthroscopy, Kelly et al.5 reported a 2.5% rate of neurovascular complication, all of which were transient neurapraxias.

Fairman Studios will be creating several illustrations for an article appearing in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery: Internal Fixation of Type-C Distal Femoral Fractures in Osteoporotic Bone
By Dirk Wahnert, MD, Konrad L. Hoffmeier, Dipl-Ing, Geert von Oldenburg, Dipl-Ing, Rosemarie Frober, MD, Gunther O. Hofmann, MD, Dr rer nat, and Thomas Muckley, MD
Investigation performed at the Department of Traumatology, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany

Background: Fixation of distal femoral fractures remains a challenge, especially in osteoporotic bone. This study was performed to investigate the biomechanical stability of four different fixation devices for the treatment of comminuted distal femoral fractures in osteoporotic bone.

• The Global Cubicle ­ Any group of people anywhere in the world can interact on a personal level as though they were in the same cubicle.
• Democratization of Technology ­ Anybody in the organization can purchase, configure, and use any technology appropriate for their job.
• Deep Interoperability ­ Disparate pieces of technology work together dynamically. Standard interfaces are necessary but not sufficient.
• Complex Systems Engineering ­ Designing systems to exhibit emergent properties like business agility.
• Location Independence ‹ The physical location of technology is hidden from view and irrelevant to the user.

At the 65th Annual Conference of the Association of Medical Illustrators, held in Portland, OR, an Award of Merit in the Instructional Tone category was awarded for Thoracoscopic Diverticulectomy Repair from the Hunter Atlas for Minimally Invasive Surgery.

At the 65th Annual Conference of the Association of Medical Illustrators, held in Portland, OR, an Award of Merit in the Editorial category was awarded for Branched Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle (TCA) in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum.

Fairman Studios will be creating several illustrations for 4 collections of the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery: “Rotator Cuff Repair Collection” showing the shoulder, “ACL Collection”, showing the anterior knee, “Scoliosis Collection”, showing the posterior spine, and “Metal-on-metal Hip Replacement Collection”, showing the hip with implant in place.

Alnylam commisioned Fairman Studios to create a general illustration delivering siRNA LNPs to the cell. siRNA LNP delivery is absorbed through the cell by creating a “vehicle” to carry it through the cell. As it enters and travels within the cell, the vehicle grows, helping siRNA to be carried through. Eventually the liposomes activate and fuse to the bottom of the “vehicle” membrane and then release the siRNAs-then it goes through the regular process-RISC and mRNA.

Fairman Studios has created a cover illustration of the Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle (TCA) in the malaria parasite The lifecycle of P. falciparum is incredibly diverse and involves complex developmental stages in three vastly different hosts: the mosquito, the human liver, and human red blood cells. The developmental progression of the parasite through these stages is, in part, controlled through regulation of gene expression. The Llinas Lab has found that there is a cascade of gene expression during the red blood cell stage of development with most genes expressed in a highly periodic manner. While at many levels, regulation of gene expression in P. falciparum resembles that of other eukaryotes, there are unique features, which indicate that regulation may be quite unique. Research in the lab is focused on understanding the mechanisms of gene regulation in Plasmodium. Princeton plans to capitalize on the unique features of Plasmodium gene regulation to design ways to disrupt parasite development and ultimately contribute to a cure for malaria. To dissect these mechanisms they are applying functional genomics approaches incorporating bioinformatics, whole-genome technologies, biochemistry, and molecular biology. PubMed

Fairman Studios has created patient education illustrations of the The HeartWare’s Ventricular Assist System, which is designed to help a patient’s weakened heart pump blood throughout his or her body by removing blood from the left side of the heart and pumping the blood into the aorta. The pump is designed to rest inside the patient’s chest. Two small motor stators inside the pump housing cause an impeller within the device to rotate, pumping blood through the system. A driveline (cable) exits the patient’s skin and connects the implanted pump to an externally worn controller. The controller is powered by a battery pack, which incorporates two batteries or one battery plus an adaptor connecting to a wall or vehicle electricity outlet. The controller operates the pump and is designed to provide the patient with signals and alarms concerning the operation of the system. The controller and batteries are contained in a carrying case that is designed to be worn either on the patient’s belt or over the shoulder.

Fairman Studios will be creating several illustrations for an article appearing in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery: Long-Term Outcome After Surgical Treatment of Unresolved Osgood-Schlatter Disease in Young Men
By Harri K. Pihlajamaki, MD, PhD, Ville M.Mattila, MD, PhD, Mickael Parviainen, MD, Martti J. Kiuru, MD, PhD, MSc, and Tuomo I. Visuri, MD, PhD
Investigation performed at the Research Department, Centre for Military Medicine; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Central Military Hospital; and Department of Radiology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland

Background: Surgical treatment of Osgood-Schlatter disease is occasionally warranted, but its long-term prognosis remains poorly investigated. We studied the rate of occurrence of surgical treatment of unresolved Osgood-Schlatter disease as well as the clinical course, radiographic characteristics, and long-term outcomes after that treatment in a large population of military recruits.

Fairman Studios will be creating several illustrations for an article appearing in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery: Determination of Correct Implant Size in Radial Head Arthroplasty to Avoid Overlengthening
By Simon G. Frank, Ruby Grewal, MD, MSc, FRCSC, James Johnson, PhD, Kenneth J. Faber, MD, MHPE, FRCSC, Graham J.W. King, MD, MSc, FRCSC, and George S. Athwal, MD, FRCSC
Investigation performed at the Hand and Upper Limb Centre, St. Joseph’s Health Care, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canad

Background: Insertion of a radial head implant that results in radial overlengthening has been associated with altered elbow kinematics, increased radiocapitellar joint forces, capitellar erosions, early-onset arthritis, and loss of elbow flexion. The purpose of this study was to identify clinical and radiographic features that may be used to diagnose overlengthening of the radius intraoperatively and on postoperative radiographs.

The May issue of JAAPA (Richard G. Winters, MSPAS, PA-C; Donald A. Reiff, MD, MAY 2010, 21(12), JAAPA 1) will feature an article entitled, “A practical guide for mechanical ventilation in adult patients” The first mention of artificial respiration was made in 1555 by Andreas Vesalius, who described inserting a reed through an opening made in the trachea and blowing into it, causing the lung to rise again. Not until 1928 did Vesalius’ vision become a reality, when the first iron lung, developed by Philip Drinker, was used to assist patients who were paralyzed as a result of poliomyelitis. Advances in science and technology since the days of the iron lung have led to the modern era of mechanical ventilation and, with it, the era of ICUs and critical care medicine.

Fairman Studios has created the illustrations for a new chapter at Scitable, a free science library and personal learning tool brought to you by Nature Publishing Group, the world’s leading publisher of science. Cell Biology for Seminars introduces cell biology concepts and follows them with selected readings from the Nature archive that deepen the learning experience. The book begins with a discussion of the fundamental properties of cells: the origin of the cell, how cells are organized, how they reproduce, and how they use energy. Other subjects include the cellular structures responsible for cell function, the signals that cells use to communicate with one another, and the intricate controls on cell division. At the end of each unit in this eBook there is the option to test your knowledge with 25 multiple-choice questions. This seminar edition of the Cell Biology eBook is meant for advanced students or seminar settings.

Fairman Studios has created the illustrations for a new chapter at Scitable, a free science library and personal learning tool brought to you by Nature Publishing Group, the world’s leading publisher of science. Essentials of Cell Biology introduces readers to the core concepts of cell biology. It provides an introduction for students of all ages and can be a springboard to more specialized topics for advanced students. It begins with a discussion of the fundamental properties of cells: the origin of the cell, how cells are organized, how they reproduce, and how they use energy. Other subjects include the cellular structures responsible for cell function, the signals that cells use to communicate with one another, and the intricate controls on cell division. At the end of each unit in this eBook there is the option to test your knowledge with twenty multiple-choice questions

Alnylam commisioned Fairman Studios to update illustration delivering RNAi to the cell.

Fairman Studios has been creating illustrations for the Greensboro North Carolina Health Science Center. In collaboration with Quatrafoil Associates, Fairman Studios has been creating illustrations of various human anatomical systems to be used for display in the museum’s new Health Quest Exhibit. Quatrefoil Associates provides exhibit design and fabrication services to museums. Founded in 1989, Quatrefoil has extensive background in all areas of exhibit planning, development and design; multimedia production; engineering, fabrication, and installation. Our clients include science and technology museums, history and cultural museums, children’s museums and othersÐlocal and national, large and small.

Fairman Studios will be creating several illustrations for an article appearing in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery: Opening-Wedge High Tibial Osteotomy with a Locked Low-Profile Plate
By Werner Kolb, MD, Hanno Guhlmann, MD, Christoph Windisch, MD, Klaus Kolb, MD, Heiko Koller, MD, and Paul Grutzner, MD
Investigation performed at the Department of Trauma Surgery, Friedrich-Schiller-University, Jena, and Katharinenhospital, Stuttgart, Germany

Background: High tibial osteotomy has been recognized as a beneficial treatment for osteoarthritis of the medial compartment of the knee. The purpose of this prospective study was to assess the short-term results of opening-wedge high tibial osteotomies with locked plate fixation.

Fairman Studios will be creating several illustrations for an article appearing in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery: Autologous Osteochondral Mosaicplasty for Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Elbow in Teenage Athletes
By Norimasa Iwasaki, MD, PhD, Hiroyuki Kato, MD, PhD, Jyunichi Ishikawa, MD, PhD, Tatsuya Masuko, MD, PhD, Tadanao Funakoshi, MD, PhD, and Akio Minami, MD, PhD
Investigation performed at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Sapporo, and the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shinsyu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan

Background: Although autologous osteochondral mosaicplasty is widely used as a procedure for osteochondritis dissecans lesions, the effectiveness of this procedure in elbow lesions remains unclear. Our aim was to clarify the surgical efficacy of mosaicplasty for teenage athletes with advanced lesions of capitellar osteochondritis dissecans.

Fairman Studios collaborating with Ogilvy PR to create additional illustrations for a booklet for the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Since its creation by Congress in 1950, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) has grown to become the nation’s leading supporter of biomedical research on the brain and nervous system. Most research funded by the NINDS is conducted by scientists in public and private institutions such as universities, medical schools, and hospitals.Government scientists also conduct a wide array of neurological research in the more than 20 laboratories and branches of the NINDS itself. This research ranges from studies on the structure and function of single brain cells to tests of new diagnostic tools and treatments for those with neurological disorders. .

Asthmatx illustrations revised and updated.

Happy New Year and thanks again for yet another successful year!! Fairman Studios is currently entering it’s 11th year of business and is updating it’s “What’s New Section”. As can be seen by the entries already posted below, a lot of work has been done in 2009 is already geared up to be another year filled with many interesting and exciting projects. More to come on our 2010 page, also being updated.

Fairman Studios will be creating several illustrations for an article appearing in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery: The Role of Pantalar Arthrodesis in the Treatment of Paralytic Foot Deformities: A Long-Term Follow-up Study
By By Stefanos Provelengios, MD, Kyriakos A. Papavasiliou, MD, Margaritis J. Kyrkos, MD, John M. Kirkos, MD, and George A. Kapetanos, MD
Investigation performed at the 3rd Orthopaedic Department, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Medical School, “Papageorgiou” General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece

Background: Pantalar arthrodesis is considered by many to be the final operative option before amputation for the treatment of paralytic foot deformities. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the long-term results of pantalar arthrodesis with regard to its impact on the adjacent joints and the walking ability of patients with paralytic foot deformities.

The December issue of JAAPA (DECEMBER 2009, 22(12), JAAPA 1) will feature an article entitled, “H1N1 in perspective: The clinical impact of a novel influenza A virus” The H1N1 influenza virus burst onto the global media stage this year and brought to the foreground viruses that have caused human disease on a pandemic scale since 1918. Clinicians who encounter patients with influenzalike illness (ILI) are responsible for identifying those who are at risk for flu complications, judiciously ordering laboratory studies, and dispensing antiviral medications. The goals of this article are to provide a clinically based review of influenza and to place the current H1N1 flu outbreak in historical and clinical context with other influenza viruses.

Fairman Studios will be creating several illustrations for an article appearing in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery: Operative Management of Distal Radial Fractures with 2.4-Millimeter Locking Plates: A Multicenter Prospective Case Series
By By Jesse B. Jupiter, MD, M.Marent-Huber, and the LCP Study Group*
Investigation performed at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, and AO Clinical Investigation and Documentation, Dubendorf, Switzerland

Background: In the past decade, there has been a trend toward open reduction and internal fixation of unstable distal radial fractures. There are now more than thirty different implant designs specific for the fixation of distal radial fractures. A multicenter prospective study of a case series was conducted to determine the efficacy of the operative management of distal radial fractures stabilized with 2.4-mm locking plates.

Fairman Studios will be creating several illustrations for an article appearing in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery: Midtarsal Arthrodesis in the Treatment of Charcot Midfoot Arthropathy
By By V. James Sammarco, MD, G. James Sammarco, MD, Earl W.Walker Jr., MD, and Ronald P. Guiao, MD
Investigation performed at the Cincinnati SportsMedicine and Orthopaedic Center, Cincinnati, Ohio

Background: Fracture-dislocation of the midfoot with collapse of the longitudinal arch is common in patients with neuropathic arthropathy of the foot. In this study, we describe a technique of midfoot arthrodesis with use of intramedullary axial screw fixation and review the results and complications following use of this technique.

Fairman Studios is creating new surgical illustrations for the excision and repair of breast tissue. Xoft specializes in radiation oncology with the Axxent® Electronic Brachytherapy System® uses proprietary, miniaturized X-ray tube technology to apply radiation directly to the target. Without radioactive isotopes, heavy shielding, or major capital investment, the Axxent platform delivers cost-effective results for an expanding list of indications.

At the 64th Annual Conference of the Association of Medical Illustrators, held in Bozeman, MT, an Award of Excellence in the Instructional Tone category was awarded for Laparoscopic Gastric Band Placement from the Hunter Atlas for Minimally Invasive Surgery.

The AMI Annual Conference will be held in Richmond, VA in 2009. Here are a few things we will be involved in:Plenary: Vesalius Trust for Visual Communication in the Health Sciences, www.vesaliustrust.org
Jennifer E. Fairman, CMI, FAMI – Moderator
8:00am – 9:30am, Saturday Aug 1, 2009
(0.7 CEUs ARt, 0.7 CEUs Biomed. Science)

The Vesalius Trust for Visual Communication in the Health Sciences is proud to host this Vesalian Scholars’ Session devoted to student research in the areas of medical illustration and biomedical communication. The Trust is pleased to have awarded significant financial grants this year in support of these student projects, and we welcome each of the student presenters. In addition, we congratulate every Vesalius Trust grant applicant, and we wish all of this year’s biocommunication graduates success, five of whom will present the research done as part of their graduate studies:

These award recipients will describe their research goals, problem-solving techniques and general methodology, including the use of traditional and innovative, computer-based techniques. Attendees will gain keen insight into the clinical, biomedical, and instructional design research currently being undertaken by medical illustration students in North America.

Concurrent: Vesalius Trust Poster Session
Jennifer E. Fairman, CMI, FAMI – Moderator
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm, Wednesday July 29, 2009
(0.05 CEUs Art, 0.05 CEUs Biomed Science)

This year the Vesalius Trust is expanding this opportunity so that participation by students isn’t limited to the time allotted to a concurrent session by adding a new Vesalius Trust Poster Session component to the program. The Vesalius Trust is excited to continue to bring to the AMI Continuing Education in the form of current an ongoing research, especially from those who are just entering the field, bringing with them the newest contributions to the disciplines of art, science, and technology. We look forward to giving students the opportunity to present in a formal professional setting, to share, collaborate, network, learn and contribute overall. ALL APPLICANTS are invited to participate in the poster session component. Applicants who would like to participate in this opportunity must be present at the meeting.

The December issue of JAAPA (DECEMBER 2008, 21(12), JAAPA 1) will feature an article entitled, “Use of drug-eluting stents for patients with coronary heart disease” Coronary atherosclerotic disease remains the leading cause of mortality in the industrialized world. One American dies from coronary heart disease (CHD) every minute, with an estimated 1.2 million MIs occurring annually in the United States. 1 With the epidemic of obesity in this country and Americans’ increasingly sedentary lifestyle, more patients are at risk of developing CHD than ever before. Additionally, more patients are developing abnormal lipid profiles at younger ages, including elevated LDL and decreased HDL cholesterol levels. Abnormal lipid profiles are a well-documented risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis. The coupling of abnormal lipid profiles with vascular injury promotes atherosclerosis, causing symptomatic CHD, including angina pectoris and MI. When symptoms can no longer be medically managed, more invasive options, including percutaneous intervention (PCI) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), may be advised. This article reviews the factors leading to development of CHD and the evolution of PCI technology, discusses how to identify which patients are the best candidates for drugeluting stent (DES) implantation, and explains how to maintain patient safety after PCI.

Fairman Studios created a stroke Illustration for Vital Sign: Tales from Intensive Care by Ken Hillma, a UNSW publication. This book is a gripping collection of stories about the experiences of intensive care patients, their families and carers, is about ordinary people facing terrible tragedies and the ways they cope with them. The majority of us now die in hospitals and many of us will end up in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for the last few days of our lives. Yet for most people, what happens in an ICU remains a mystery. This collection of stories about the experiences of intensive care patients, their families and carers, is about ordinary people facing terrible tragedies and the ways they cope with them. The author, a practicing intensive care clinician, takes the reader on a journey inside an ICU and reveals to the public, for the first time, what really happens inside ICU. The book traces the personal tragedies of ICU patients and their families and the struggles of staff providing care in this critical environment.

Fairman Studios will be creating several illustrations for an article appearing in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery: Surgical Treatment of Main Thoracic Scoliosis with Thoracoscopic Anterior Instrumentation. A Five-Year Follow-up Study
By Peter O. Newton, MD, Vidyadhar V. Upasani, MD, Juliano Lhamby, MD, Valerie L. Ugrinow, BA, Jeff B. Pawelek, BS, and Tracey P. Bastrom, MA
Investigation performed at Rady Children’s Hospital and Health Center, San Diego, California

Background: The surgical outcomes in patients with scoliosis at two years following anterior thoracoscopic spinal instrumentation and fusion have been reported. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results at five years.

BVGH is active in the area of incentives – developing and advocating for key funding models like the priority review vouchers (PRVs) and advanced market commitments (AMCs). BVGH is also working to develop new incentives that will spur industry to action.

McGraw Hill licenses FS brain illustrations for David Ropeik’s new book How Risky Is It Really. International risk expert David Ropeik takes an in-depth look at our perceptions of risk and explains the hidden factors that make us unnecessarily afraid of relatively small threats and not afraid enough of some really big ones. This read is a comprehensive, accessible, and entertaining mixture of what’s been discovered about how and why we fear‹too much or too little. It brings into focus the danger of The Perception Gap: when our fears don’t match the facts, and we make choices that create additional risks. This book will not decide for you what is really risky and what isn’t. That’s up to you. How Risky Is It Really will tell you how you make those decisions. Understanding how we perceive risk is the first step toward making wiser and healthier choices for ourselves as individuals and for society as a whole.

Fairman Studios will be creating several illustrations for an article appearing in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery: Treatment of Scaphoid Waist Nonunions with an Avascular Proximal Pole and Carpal Collapse A Comparison of Two Vascularized Bone Grafts
By David B. Jones Jr., MD, Heinz Bürger, MD, Allen T. Bishop, MD, and Alexander Y. Shin, MD
Investigation performed at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, and Landeskrankenhaus Klagenfurt, Klagenfurt, Austria

Background: Surgically, it is difficult to achieve union of a scaphoid nonunion that is associated with osteonecrosis of the proximal pole, and those with carpal collapse are especially difficult to treat. A variety of vascularized bone grafts can be used. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of two types of vascularized bone graft‹a distal radial pedicle graft and a free vascularized medial femoral condyle graft‹in the treatment of scaphoid waist nonunions associated with proximal pole osteonecrosis and carpal collapse.

Fairman Studios will be creating several illustrations for an article appearing in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery: Avulsion of the Proximal Hamstring Origin
By David G. Wood, FRACS, Iain Packham, FRCS(Tr&Orth), S. Paul Trikha, FRCS(Tr&Orth), and James Linklater, FRANZCR
Investigation performed at the North Sydney Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Centre, Sydney, Australia

Background: The torn hamstring is a common athletic injury. The purpose of the present study was to review the clinical presentation of this injury, the diagnostic imaging findings, the surgical technique of reattachment, and the likely clinical outcome of surgery for the treatment of avulsion of the proximal hamstring origin.

Fairman Studios has been asked to create illustrations depicting innovative flavor approaches to enable consumer acceptance on sensorially challenging health care products: Improving efficacy of Health Care products often brings challenges in the form of actives and solvents/carrier systems that have a significant consumer trade-off of negative taste attributes such as bitterness, numbing, burning, harshness, and astringency. Innovative flavor approaches deliver taste-masking synergies across sensory channels to overcome significant taste challenges. FS has illustrated how sensory signals are processed in the brain — the thalamus, located in the center of the brain, receives all sensory inputs and then determines what signals to forward to the Cerebral Cortex. The Olfactory, Gustatory and Trigeminal sensory pathways are illustrated.

Kirkland and Ellis commisioned Fairman Studios to create a coronal view of the prostate, illustrating Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia for a legal presentation.

Illustrations depicting how a cell can change its shape are being created for University of Michigan Life Sciences Institute. As the cell changes its shape, it changes the organization of the nucleus by means of cytoskeletal fibers “tugging” on the nucleus. The cytoskeletal fibers ring the cell just inside the plasma membrane and run from the cell surface to the folded-up nucleus where they interact with a receptor called the Lamin/Nesprin/Sun Complex. In a round cell, the cytoskeletal fibers are loose like a rubber band without any tension on it. An elongated cell stretches and pulls on the “rubber bands” stretching them out and loading them with tension that pulls on the nucleus, causing it to unfold to the oval shape. This also changes the Chromatin within the nucleus from peripheral, dense clumps to a more dispersed distribution‹this can be depicted as an amorphous, fibrous material‹it is actually the DNA of the genome. It also changes the Nuclear Pore Complexes from being bunched together within the folds of the nuclear membrane to more widely dispersed embedded within the membrane of the stretched nucleus. These nuclear pores are large protein complexes that form a tube penetrating the nuclear envelope. The cell is embedded in a 3-D fibrous network of proteins‹just like in some of the previous work you did for us. As the cell changes its shape, it cuts up the 3-D fibrils encasing it, and deposits new fibers around itself that it synthesizes called Fibronectin Fibrils – these events are required for this shape change. .

Fairman Studios will be creating several illustrations for an article appearing in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery: Traumatic Valgus Instability of the Elbow: Pathoanatomy and Results of Direct Repair
By Marc J. Richard, MD, J. Mack Aldridge III, MD, Ethan R.Wiesler, MD, and David S. Ruch, MD
Investigation performed at Duke University Medical Center, Durham, and Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Background: The medial collateral ligament provides valgus stability to the elbow. The purpose of the present study was to describe the pathoanatomy of acute traumatic medial collateral ligament ruptures and to report the rationale and results of direct repair.

Professor and Chair William Bentley reported on the progress of the Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices. The Institute’s Formative Committee has been laying the groundwork for the Institute’s major goals and services: to connect inventors and engineers with clinical practices, to serve as an accelerator for biomedical device creation, and to provide internships for students. “The overarching purpose of the Institute is to get devices out of the labs and into practice,” Bentley explained, “using the ‘Fischell Factors’‹the same development criteria Dr. Fischell uses for his own devices and business ventures.” Bentley also offered guests his vision of bioengineering’s future, in which ever-smarter medical devices would not just be implanted, but capable of monitoring their status and the status of the patient, and reporting back to doctors.

The December issue of JAAPA (DECEMBER 2008, 21(12), JAAPA 1) will feature an article entitled, “The evaluation of liver dysfunction: When to suspect portal hypertension” A 58-year-old man presented to the emergency department in 1997 with an upper GI hemorrhage and was acutely treated for the bleeding. He was found to have esophageal varices caused by cirrhosis-related portal hypertension. Within 3 months, the patient underwent a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) placement; he was also evaluated and placed on the list to receive a liver transplant. Throughout the years, the shunt was revised seven times because of occlusion; endoscopic banding was performed to treat recurrent variceal hemorrhages on 18 occasions; and the patient developed encephalopathy. Medical management of his condition consisted of propranolol, isosorbide, lactulose, fluid restriction, and dietary changes. A portal vein thrombosis caused by TIPS occlusion removed him from the liver transplant list. Despite this complicated course, however, the patient was 69 years old at the time this article was written and has survived for 11 years with this condition. An understanding of portal hypertension, as well as knowing how to diagnose and adequately manage its complications, can allow PAs to extend the survival of their affected patients.

Fairman Studios is finishing illustrations of the cell’s method of cutting through the basement membrane using a specialized cell extension called an ‘invadopodium’. Several features of the invadopodium should be highlighted — the actin fibers driving its formation and protrusion thru the BM and underlying extracellular matrix molecules, the main ‘molecular scissor’ used by cells (called MT1-MMP) to cut thru the BM, and different sets of cell surface adhesion molecules (called ‘integrins’) used to bind the BM as well as the underlying ‘interstitial’ matrix.

The editors have chosen Fairman Studios submitted cover artwork to be featured on our January issue of Cell Host & Microbe. The cover depicts the feature article which describes the durable protection from Herpes Simplex Virus-2 transmission following intravaginal application of siRNAs targeting both a viral and host gene. Fairman Studios’ depiction illustrates the idea of knocking down both viral and host gene to achieve durable protection from viral infection in mice. Illustration by Jennifer E. Fairman, Fairman Studios, LLC.

Fairman Studios will be creating several illustrations for an article appearing in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery: Combined Intra-Articular and Varus Opening Wedge Osteotomy for Lateral Depression and Valgus Malunion of the Proximal Part of the Tibia
By By Gino M.M.J. Kerkhoffs, MD, PhD, Maarten V. Rademakers, MD, Mark Altena, MD, and Ren’e K.Marti, MD, PhD
Investigation performed at the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedic Research Center Amsterdam, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Background: Reconstructive surgical measures for treatment of posttraumatic deformities of the lateral tibial plateau are seldom reported on in the literature. We report the long-term follow-up results of a consecutive series of reconstructive osteotomies performed to treat depression and valgus malunions of the proximal part of the tibia.

Happy New Year and thanks again for yet another successful year!! Fairman Studios is currently entering it’s 10th year of business and is updating it’s “What’s New Section”. As can be seen by the entries already posted below, a lot of work has been done in 2008, and 2009 is already geared up to be another year filled with many interesting and exciting projects. More to come on our 2009 page, also being updated.