Dynamic expression of cathepsin L in the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) gut during Escherichia coli challenge.

The black soldier fly (BSF), Hermetia illucens, has the potential to serve as a valuable resource for waste bioconversion due to the ability of the larvae to thrive in a microbial-rich environment. Being an ecological decomposer, the survival of BSF larvae (BSFL) relies on developing an efficient defense system. Cathepsin L (CTSL) is a cysteine protease that plays roles in physiological and pathological processes. In this study, the full-length of CTSL was obtained from BSF. The 1,020-bp open reading frame encoded a preprotein of 339 amino acids with a predicted molecular weight of 32 kDa. The pro-domain contained the conserved ERFNIN, GNYD, and GCNGG motifs, which are all characteristic of CTSL. Homology revealed that the deduced amino acid sequence of BSF CTSL shared 74.22-72.99% identity with Diptera flies. Immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis showed the CTSL was predominantly localized in the gut, especially in the midgut. The mRNA expression of CTSL in different larval stages was analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR), which revealed that CTSL was expressed in the second to sixth instar, with the highest expression in the fifth instar. Following an immune challenge in vivo using Escherichia coli (E. coli), CTSL mRNA was significantly up-regulated at 6 h post-stimulation. The Z-Phe-Arg-AMC was gradually cleaved by the BSFL extract after 3 h post-stimulation. These results shed light on the potential role of CTSL in the defense mechanism that helps BSFL to survive against pathogens in a microbial-rich environment.

Turbocharging as a strategy to boost extended perforator flap vascularity in head and neck reconstruction-A report of two cases.

Perforator flap has been applied as the most common flap for soft tissue defect reconstruction. Here, we presented two cases using turbocharging procedure of perforator to perforator as a salvage strategy. The first case was a 54-year-old male with recurrent squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in the left buccal area and mouth floor. A 6 × 22 cm posteromedial thigh (PMT) flap was designed for reconstruction. The two eccentric perforators of the PMT flap could not conjoin together during dissection nearby the main pedicle of profunda femoral artery (PFA) resulting in inadequate perfusion. Side branched stump before clipped the branch of distal perforator was preserved, then the proximal perforator was divided and end-to-end anastomosis of side branch of distal perforator was done successfully. The second case was a 52-year-old male underwent wide composite excision of right tongue SCC. After excision, anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap around 7 × 15 cm was harvested from left thigh and two perforators were included which one tiny perforator supplied by the descending branch (DB) and the other major perforator originated from oblique branch (OB) of lateral circumflex femoral artery (LCFA). However, the OB main perforator injury showed inadequate perfusion of flap. We trimmed the injury zone of OB perforator, and shift to re-anastomosis of OB perforators to side branch of DB of LCFA directly. The flap demonstrated excellent perfusion immediately after the operation, and it exhibited complete survival 2 weeks postoperatively. These results indicated that the turbocharging procedure, from perforator to perforator, could serve as a strategy for salvaging perfusion-compromised flaps, especially in cases of eccentric perforators or perforator injury resulting in inadequate perfusion.

The synergistic effect of full-spectrum light therapy and transient immunosuppressants prolonged allotransplant survival.

BACKGROUND: The lifelong administration of immunosuppressants remains its largest drawback in vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA). Therefore, developing alternative strategies to minimize the long-term use of immunosuppressive agents is crucial. This study investigated whether full-spectrum bright light therapy (FBLT) combined with short-term immunosuppressant therapy could prolong VCA survival in a rodent hindlimb model. METHODS: Hindlimb allotransplantation was conducted from Brown-Norway to Lewis rats, and the rats were divided into 4 groups. Group 1 did not receive treatment as a rejection control. Group 2 received FBLT alone. Group 3 was treated with short-term anti-lymphocyte serum and cyclosporine-A. Group 4 was administered short-term ALS/CsA combined with FBLT for 8 weeks. Peripheral blood and transplanted tissues were collected for analysis. RESULTS: The results revealed median survival time of FBLT alone (group 2) did not increase allograft survival compared to the control (group 1). However, group 4 with FBLT combined with short-term ALS/CsA significantly prolonged median composite tissue allograft survival time (266 days) compared with groups 1 (11 days), 2 (10 days), and 3 (41 days) (p<0.01). Group 4 also showed a significant increase in Treg cells (p = 0.04) and TGF-ß1 levels (p = 0.02), and a trend toward a decrease in IL-1ß levels (p = 0.03) at 16 weeks after transplantation as compared to control Group 1. CONCLUSIONS: FBLT combined with short-term immunosuppressants prolonged allotransplant survival by modulating T-cell regulatory functions and anti-inflammatory cytokine expression. This approach could be a potential strategy to increase VCA survival.

An algorithmic approach of reconstruction for cranioplasty failure: A case series.

RATIONALE: Cranioplasty is a surgical procedure used to repair cranial defects for both cosmetic and functional reasons. The complication rate of cranioplasty is between 10% and 50%. The failure of cranioplasty is associated with various factors, including etiologies, types of material, and the timing of cranioplasty. In this study, a case series of managing cranioplasty complications at a single institution. PATIENT CONCERNS: Eighteen patients were identified who underwent craniofacial defect reconstruction due to the failure of their initial cranioplasty between January 2010 and May 2020. Five men (27.78%) and thirteen women (72.22%) were included. The mean age was 39.61 years old. The average follow-up duration was 5.94 years. DIAGNOSES: The indication for initial cranioplasty included previous decompressive craniectomy (77.78%, n = 14), traumatic cranial defects (16.67%, n = 3), and congenital cranial deformity (5.56%, n = 1). The reported complications were infection (50%, n = 9), implant exposure (50%, n = 9), wound dehiscence (22.22%, n = 4) and cranial deformity (11.11%, n = 2). INTERVENTIONS: More than half of the materials used for initial cranioplasty were synthetic [titanium mesh: 44.44%, n = 8; polymethyl metacrylate: 5.56%, n = 1; titanium mesh and polymethyl metacrylate: 5.56%, n = 1], while 44.44% of the patients received autologous bone graft. OUTCOMES: Of all reconstructive procedures for cranioplasty failure, 55.56% was local flap with or without skin graft (n = 10), 16.67% was free flap (n = 3), 11.11% was skin graft only (n = 2), 5.56% was regional flap (n = 1). The free flap survival rate was 100% (3/3), and implant removal with sebsquent second cranioplasty was performed on 27.78% (n = 5) of the patients. LESSONS: Management of cranioplasty failure can be challenging due to infection, refractory implant exposure, and wound dehiscence. The principles of management are based on adequate infection control and reconstructive ladder. Meanwhile, collaboration with plastic surgery and neurosurgery should be strengthened in order to achieve the best clinical outcomes.

Concurrence of Marjolin's Ulcer in the Lower Limb in a Patient with Idiopathic Multicentric Castleman Disease: A Case Report.

Idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease (iMCD) is characterized by the benign proliferation of lymphoid cells in multiple regions. However, the co-occurrence of epithelial malignancy and idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease (iMCD) is rarely reported. Herein, we present a case of iMCD mimicking lymph nodal metastasis of Marjolin's ulcer in the lower extremity. A 53-year-old male presented with an unhealed chronic ulcer on the left lower leg and foot accompanied by an enlarged mass in the left inguinal region. Intralesional biopsy was performed, and pathological examination showed squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Imaged studies revealed left calcaneus bone invasion, and lymph nodal metastasis was suspected by the cancer TNM staging of T4N2M0 pre-operatively. The patient received below-knee amputation and lymph node dissection; intraoperative histological examination showed no lymphatic nodal malignancy and diagnosed the patient as having iMCD with lymphadenopathy. The patient recovered uneventfully and was referred to a hematologist for further treatment.