Buccal Myomucosal Flap for Reconstruction of Red Lip Defects Close to Mouth Angle.

BACKGROUND: Owing to the special esthetic and functional role in the face, red lip reconstruction presents a challenge to plastic surgeons. Various reconstructive techniques can be employed to fix the red lip defects close to the mouth angle. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate that the buccal myomucosal flap could be an available option to repair red lip defects with preservation of its esthetics and function. METHODS: A single-center, retrospective study of 7 patients with red lip defects who were treated with buccal myomucosal flap was conducted between June 2017 and March 2022. All patients were followed up for at least 6 months including questionnaires and photography. RESULTS: Of these 7 patients, 2 were women, and 5 were men. The average age was 14.3 years (range, 1-32 y). All the buccal myomucosal flaps survived well. All the donor sites were closed directly without complications. The average follow-up time was 33.4 months (range, 6-57 mo). All patients were satisfied with the aesthetic and functional results. CONCLUSION: The buccal myomucosal flap is versatile and reliable, with the advantages of rich vascularity, flexible design, and easy access. This study was presented to highlight that the flap could be a good candidate to treat red lip defects close to the mouth angle.

Facial and Neck Reconstruction With Pre-expanded Medial Upper Arm Flap: An Alternative method and 20-Year Experience.

PURPOSE: To present our experience with pre-expanded medial upper arm flap in facial and neck reconstruction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study operated between January 1st, 2001 and January 1st, 2021, at the Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, and Peking Union Medical College. Staged face and/or neck reconstruction was performed. RESULTS: Forty-one patients were treated in our institution and thirty-eight patients (forty-three flaps) were included in this cohort as. They ranged from 6 to 44 years old. There was no total flap loss in the cohort. Partial flap necrosis was observed in the earlier patients (4 cases). CONCLUSION: Pre-expanded medial upper arm flap is well matched to the facial and neck skin in color, texture, and thickness. Considering the excellent aesthetic outcomes, this flap is a good alternative for selected patients with soft tissue defects of the head and neck.

Facial Animation With Free Functional Gracilis Transfer Innervated by the Cross-Facial Nerve Graft.

BACKGROUND: The treatment of long-standing facial paralysis has always been a challenge for plastic surgery. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate that the free functional gracilis transfer innervated by the cross-facial nerve graft (CFNG) is still an ideal option, even though there are many new surgical options available. METHODS: A retrospective survey was made on 12 patients who received free functional gracilis transfer innervated by the CFNG. A modified version of the House-Brackmann scale was used to evaluate the movement of the corners of mouth after surgery. Patients were also asked about their satisfaction with the operation. In addition, an objective test was performed to assess the postoperative angle improvement by measuring the angle formed between the horizontal line of both corners of the lips and the vertical midline. RESULTS: All grafts survived well. No severe complication occurred. Three patients received further surgical operations for aesthetic reasons. The movement of the corners of mouth was classified as excellent in 8 cases, good in three cases, and fair in one cases. The static angle and dynamic angle of postoperation improved and the range of dynamic angle improvement was larger than that of static angle. CONCLUSION: Free functional gracilis transfer innervated by the CFNG is an ideal technique for facial paralysis. It can effectively improve the facial dynamic of the affected side.

Human adipose-derived stem cells can optimize the filling material in rats.

BACKGROUND: Human adipose-derived stem cells have been identified as a promising candidate for cell-assisted therapy to improve graft survival. OBJECTIVE: To objective of the study was to add human adipose-derived stem cells into filling materials. METHODS: The filling materials were prepared and divided into 6 groups: fat particles with phosphate buffer saline or human adipose-derived stem cells; acellular dermal matrix particles with phosphate buffer saline or human adipose-derived stem cells; mixture of fat particles and acellular dermal matrix particles with phosphate buffer saline or human adipose-derived stem cells. The survival rate, vascular density and histological at 2, 6 and 12 weeks were investigated. RESULTS: Human adipose-derived stem cells significantly improved survival rate in each group at 6 and 12 weeks, and it significantly increased the vascular density in the fat particles and porcine acellular dermal matrix combined group and porcine acellular dermal matrix group at three time points, but human adipose-derived stem cells did not have a significant effect in the fat particles group. CONCLUSION: Human adipose-derived stem cells as assisted cells added into filling material can improve survival rate and vascular density in rats.

Gut Microbiota as a Novel Tool to Dissect the Complex Structures of Black Tea Polymers.

Thearubigins, polymers of tea catechins, account for more than 20% of the black tea polyphenols and have been reported to be the active components in black tea. However, the chemical structures and underlying mechanisms regarding how the thearubigins, being poorly bioavailable, generate in vivo health benefits are still largely unknown. Using germ-free and specific pathogen-free husbandry conditions combined with LC/MS-based nontargeted and targeted metabolomic analyses, we investigated the role of intestinal bacteria in thearubigin metabolism. Theaflavins and theasinensins were identified as the major microbial metabolites of thearubigins, suggesting that these molecules are the building units for the complex thearubigins. To further confirm this, thearubigin depolymerization was done using menthofuran in an acidic condition. Menthofuran-conjugated theaflavins, theasinensins, and catechins as well as their free forms were detected as the major degradation products of thearubigins. This indicated that theaflavins and theasinensins could be further polymerized through B-type proanthocyanidin linkages. Furthermore, four microbial degradation products were able to be detected in urine samples, suggesting that they can be absorbed into the circulatory system. Using the combination of microbial degradation, metabolomics, and chemical degradation, our results demonstrate that thearubigins are the complex polymers of theaflavins, theasinensins, and catechins and can be metabolized by gut microbiota to their corresponding bioactive and bioavailable smaller molecular metabolites.

Block copolymer mixtures as antimicrobial hydrogels for biofilm eradication.

Current antimicrobial strategies have mostly been developed to manage infections due to planktonic cells. However, microbes in their nature state will tend to exist by attaching to and growing on living and inanimate surfaces that result in the formation of biofilms. Conventional therapies for treating biofilm-related infections are likely to be insufficient due to the lower susceptibility of microbes that are embedded in the biofilm matrix. In this study, we report the development of biodegradable hydrogels from vitamin E-functionalized polycarbonates for antimicrobial applications. These hydrogels were formed by incorporating positively-charged polycarbonates containing propyl and benzyl side chains with vitamin E moiety into physically cross-linked networks of "ABA"-type polycarbonate and poly(ethylene glycol) triblock copolymers. Investigations of the mechanical properties of the hydrogels showed that the G' values ranged from 1400 to 1600 Pa and the presence of cationic polycarbonate did not affect the stiffness of the hydrogels. Shear-thinning behavior was observed as the hydrogels displayed high viscosity at low shear rates that dramatically decreased as the shear rate increased. In vitro antimicrobial studies revealed that the more hydrophobic VE/BnCl(1:30)-loaded hydrogels generally exhibited better antimicrobial/antifungal effects compared to the VE/PrBr(1:30) counterpart as lower minimum biocidal concentrations (MBC) were observed in Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive), Escherichia coli (Gram-negative) and Candida albicans (fungus) (156.2, 312.5, 312.5 mg/L for VE/BnCl(1:30) and 312.5, 2500 and 625 mg/L for VE/PrBr(1:30) respectively). Similar trends were observed for the treatment of biofilms where VE/BnCl(1:30)-loaded hydrogels displayed better efficiency with regards to eradication of biomass and reduction of microbe viability of the biofilms. Furthermore, a high degree of synergistic antimicrobial effects was also observed through the co-delivery of antimicrobial polycarbonates with a conventionally-used antifungal agent, fluconazole. These hydrogels also displayed excellent compatibility with human dermal fibroblasts with cell viability >80% after treatment with hydrogels loaded with cationic polymers and/or fluconazole at minimum biocidal concentrations (MBC).

[Effect of two different ring liner thickness on the precision of castings].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of two different ring liner thickness on the deformation of resulted castings. METHODS: GC No.2 casting rings (50 mm in height and 39.5 mm in diameter) were lined with two dry ceramic fiber liners with thickness of 0.70 mm and 0.45 mm. Plate-like wax patterns with pre-marked points were invested with a gypsum-bonded investment and the rings were cast with a silver-based dental alloy. The difference between the castings and the wax patterns at corresponding points was calculated to represent the dimensional change of the investment in the rings at different directions. RESULTS: The expansion of the investment in the ring was non-isotropic, with larger radial direction expansion than the axial direction expansion (P < 0.01). In the scope of this study, the effect of two different ring liner thickness on the casting precision was statistically non-significant (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The liners with two different thickness failed to eliminate non-isotropic deformation of the castings under the testing conditions of this study.

[Clinical evaluation of two temporary restoration materials: Composite and self-cured acrylic resin].

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical application and effect of two temporary restorations materials: composite and self-cured acrylic resin. METHODS: 153 composite temporary crowns (and bridges) placed in 44 patients and 144 self-cured acrylic resin temporary crowns (and bridges) placed in 49 patients were evaluated according to the California Dental Association's (CDA) criteria and questionnaire. RESULTS: It showed that composite temporary crowns (and bridges) had better surface smoothness, marginal integrity and anatomic form than self-cured acrylic resin temporary crowns (and bridges). In the 49 patients with self-cured acrylic resin temporary crowns (and bridges), 67% and 88% of them complained of food impaction and mouth odor, while only 2% and 30% in the 44 patients with composite temporary crowns (and bridges) had the same complaint. CONCLUSION: Between the two temporary restoration materials, composite is better than self-cured acrylic resin.