Short Nose Lengthening in Primary and Revision Rhinoplasty in Asians.

BACKGROUND: Surgical techniques and graft materials are important factors for short nose lengthening in both primary and revision rhinoplasty in Asian patients. Other subunit of the nose need to be improved as well to achieve aesthetic perfection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cohort of 98 patients who underwent primary and revision rhinoplasty for moderate to severe short nose deformity from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2020, were enrolled. Nasal elongation was achieved via an open rhinoplasty approach using autologous costal cartilage exclusively for grafting. Aesthetic outcomes were evaluated by anthropometric measurement and satisfaction assessment from patients and physicians. RESULTS: The mean duration of follow-up was 10.6 months. In both primary and revision cases, nasal length relative to preoperative measurements increased significantly, while nasal tip projection did not differ significantly. Columellar-facial angle and nasofrontal angle decreased significantly in both groups. Both physicians and patients reported improvement in aesthetic outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Aesthetic satisfaction was reported from both patients and physicians. Autologous costal cartilage is an ideal graft material that offers strong structural support. Caudal septal extension graft using autologous costal cartilage sandwiched by extended spreader grafts achieve satisfactory lengthening of the central compartment and also increase nasal tip projection and rotation.

A Combination Method of Costal Cartilage Injection Techniques for Augmentation Rhinoplasty.

BACKGROUND: The multiple toothpick-shaped costal cartilage (MTCC) injection technique was introduced as an improvement based on the free diced costal cartilage (FDCC) injection technique for augmentation rhinoplasty. However, radix irregularities may occur when using the MTCC technique. Considering that the FDCC grafts are easier to shape at the nasal radix, we adopted a combination method of the 2 techniques to achieve natural and smooth contour. METHODS: Four patients accepted this method for augmentation rhinoplasty. Through a unilateral marginal incision, the costal cartilage grafts were injected for nasal augmentation at the subperiosteal plane. The FDCC grafts and the MTCC grafts were used for nasal radix and dorsum augmentation, respectively. Nasal contour was adjusted by external shaping. The follow-up ranged from 24 to 43 months. RESULTS: All patients were satisfied with the surgical outcome. There were no major complications occurred during the follow-up. One patient underwent rasping revision due to her own beauty-appreciation changes. CONCLUSIONS: The combination method can take advantages of the FDCC and MTCC injection techniques. It can effectively lower the incidence of contour irregularities and graft displacement. Meanwhile, it is easy to perform without special procedure, and is time-saving and cartilage-saving.

Comparison of Free Diced and Multiple Toothpick-Shaped Costal Cartilage Injection Techniques for Augmentation Rhinoplasty.

BACKGROUND: The free diced costal cartilage (FDCC) injection technique has been used in the augmentation rhinoplasty for a long time. In order to lower the incidence of nasal contour irregularities and graft displacement, we developed the multiple toothpick-shaped costal cartilage (MTCC) injection technique. This comparative study was conducted to introduce and assess this new technique. METHODS: This retrospective analysis included 51 patients who underwent augmentation rhinoplasty with either the FDCC or MTCC injection technique at the 17th Department of Plastic Surgery in the Plastic Surgery Hospital between July 2014 and May 2020. The patients were divided into the FDCC (n = 30, 58.82%) and MTCC (n = 21, 41.18%) groups. General data, postoperative patient satisfaction, complications and revision rate were compared between the groups. RESULTS: Except for the follow-up period, there were no significant differences in general data (age, sex, preoperative dorsum deformity, preoperative rhinoplasty history) between the groups. Postoperative patient satisfaction, complications and revision rate were similar between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The MTCC injection is a safe and effective technique for augmentation rhinoplasty. Like the FDCC injection technique, the new technique is relatively easy to perform and time-saving with concealed scarring and minimal postoperative edema. Most of its revision surgeries are also easy to perform by simple rasping and reinjection. According to our experience, the new technique may have wider indication as well as lower incidence of nasal contour irregularities and graft displacement. Therefore, we suggest that the MTCC injection technique is reliable and worthy of recommendation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Enhancement of Oral Bioavailability of Curcumin by a Novel Solid Dispersion System.

The objective of this study was to improve the solubility and bioavailability of curcumin by a new curcumin dripping pills (Cur-DPs) formulation using melt mixing methods. The optimal formulation consisted of Polyethoxylated 40 hydrogenated castor oil (Cremophor RH40), Poloxamer 188, and Polyethylene glycol 4000 (PEG 4000). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) were used to verify the forming of Cur-DPs. All the physical characterization information proved the formation of Cur-DPs, and the results demonstrated the superiority of the dripping pills in dissolution rates. The pharmacokinetic study of Cur-DPs was performed in rats compared to the pure curcumin suspension. The oral bioavailability of poorly water-soluble curcumin was successfully improved by CUR-DPs. And the stability of prepared Cur-DP was also in a good state in 3 months. These results identified the Cur-DPs was an effective new approach for pharmaceutical application.

Injectable OPF/graphene oxide hydrogels provide mechanical support and enhance cell electrical signaling after implantation into myocardial infarct.

After myocardial infarction (MI), the scar tissue contributes to ventricular dysfunction by electrically uncoupling viable cardiomyocytes in the infarct region. Injection of a conductive hydrogel could not only provide mechanical support to the infarcted region, but also synchronize contraction and restore ventricular function by electrically connecting isolated cardiomyocytes to intact tissue. Methods: We created a conductive hydrogel by introducing graphene oxide (GO) nanoparticles into oligo(poly(ethylene glycol) fumarate) (OPF) hydrogels. The hydrogels were characterized by AFM and electrochemistry workstation. A rat model of myocardial infarction was used to investigate the ability of OPF/GO to improve cardiac electrical propagation in the injured heart in vivo. Echocardiography (ECHO) was used to evaluate heart function 4 weeks after MI. Ca2+ imaging was used to visualize beating cardiomyocytes (CMs). Immunofluorescence staining was used to visualize the expression of cardiac-specific markers. Results: OPF/GO hydrogels had semiconductive properties that were lacking in pure OPF. In addition, the incorporation of GO into OPF hydrogels could improve cell attachment in vitro. Injection of OPF/GO 4 weeks after myocardial infarction in rats enhanced the Ca2+ signal conduction of cardiomyocytes in the infarcted region in comparison with PBS or OPF alone. Moreover, the injection of OPF/GO hydrogel into the infarct region enhanced the generation of cytoskeletal structure and intercalated disc assembly. Echocardiography analysis showed improvement in load-dependent ejection fraction/fractional shortening of heart function 4 weeks after injection. Conclusions: We prepared a conductive hydrogel (OPF/GO) that provide mechanical support and biological conduction in vitro and in vivo. We found that injected OPF/GO hydrogels can provide mechanical support and electric connection between healthy myocardium and the cardiomyocytes in the scar via activating the canonical Wnt signal pathway, thus upregulating the generation of Cx43 and gap junction associated proteins. Injection of OPF/GO hydrogel maintained better heart function after myocardial infarction than the injection of a nonconductive polymer.

Preparation and characterization of a photocatalytic antibacterial material: Graphene oxide/TiO2/bacterial cellulose nanocomposite.

In this study, bacterial cellulose (BC) was used as a matrix to synthesize graphene oxide/Titanium dioxide (GOTiO2)-based hybrid materials. It was indicated by X-ray diffraction and selected area electron diffraction that the crystal structure of GOTiO2 was a mixed phase containing anatase and rutile. TiO2 nanoparticles were of 10-30nm diameters and densely anchored on graphene oxide sheets. Superior photocatalytic performance of the GOTiO2 was achieved under near UV excitation. The photocatalytic efficiency was optimized through controlling an appropriate calcined temperature. The obtained GOTiO2 nanoparticles were filled into porous BC matrix (GOTiO2/BC), and the photocatalytic properties of GOTiO2 nanoparticles were well maintained. Consistent with photocatalytic performance of TiO2, GOTiO2/BC generated reactive oxygen species after near ultraviolet irradiation. No dark cytotoxicity was observed at the long incubation time. In parallel, following exposure of Staphylococcus aureus cells to GOTiO2 and irradiation, a significant decrease in cell viability, as well as an increased production of reactive oxygen species was observed, which induced cellular death. The results indicated that GOTiO2/BC possess an excellent photodynamic antibacterial activity.

Improvement of antimicrobial activity of graphene oxide/bacterial cellulose nanocomposites through the electrostatic modification.

Graphene oxide (GO) has an attracting and ever-growing interest in various research fields for its fascinating nanostructures. In this study, bacterial cellulose (BC) was used as a matrix to synthesize GO-based materials by a mechanical mixing method. The modification of GO with PEI significantly improved the bonding force between GO nanofillers and BC matrix. The morphology of the nanocomposites had a significant effect on the mechanical properties, hydrophilic properties as well as the antibacterial activity. After the modification, the GO-PEI/BC showed a strong antimicrobial effect on Saccharomyces cerevisiae due to the effective direct contacts between the nanofillers of the composites and the cell surfaces. This study demonstrates that the morphology of the nanocomposites has a great effect on physiochemical properties and the interactions between the microorganism and the nanocomposites.

[Experimental studies on the preparation techniques of Tongjingshu babu sticking plaster].

OBJECTIVE: to establish the optimum preparation procedure for Tongjingshu babu sticking plaster. METHOD: Orthogonal design was used to observe the adhesion power, cohesion by the multi-electronic experimental equipment. RESULT: The best formulation is composed of ointment, polypropylene acid, glycerin, bond and its proportion is 0.2:4:8:1.2, the final plaster contains 35% water with idea stability to the skin. CONCLUSION: The formulation of Tongjing-shu babu sticking plaster is resonable and its preparation is simple and rapid.

Prolonged small vessel vasculitis with colon mucosal inflammation as first manifestations of Behçet's disease.

Behçet's disease is a chronic, relapsing, systemic vasculitis of unknown aetiology. Patients present manifestations of gastrointestinal complications, including mouth lesions, small and large intestinal lesions, and vascular lesions in the abdomen. In some cases, the intestinal ulcers of patients with Behçet's disease are indistinguishable from those of Crohn's disease, tuberculosis, vasculitis and other diseases. In this article, we present a case of atypical Behçet's disease with a complicated medical history and multisystem damage, for the purpose of better management of this disease.

Revealing differences in metabolic flux distributions between a mutant strain and its parent strain Gluconacetobacter xylinus CGMCC 2955.

A better understanding of metabolic fluxes is important for manipulating microbial metabolism toward desired end products, or away from undesirable by-products. A mutant strain, Gluconacetobacter xylinus AX2-16, was obtained by combined chemical mutation of the parent strain (G. xylinus CGMCC 2955) using DEC (diethyl sulfate) and LiCl. The highest bacterial cellulose production for this mutant was obtained at about 11.75 g/L, which was an increase of 62% compared with that by the parent strain. In contrast, gluconic acid (the main byproduct) concentration was only 5.71 g/L for mutant strain, which was 55.7% lower than that of parent strain. Metabolic flux analysis indicated that 40.1% of the carbon source was transformed to bacterial cellulose in mutant strain, compared with 24.2% for parent strain. Only 32.7% and 4.0% of the carbon source were converted into gluconic acid and acetic acid in mutant strain, compared with 58.5% and 9.5% of that in parent strain. In addition, a higher flux of tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle was obtained in mutant strain (57.0%) compared with parent strain (17.0%). It was also indicated from the flux analysis that more ATP was produced in mutant strain from pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) and TCA cycle. The enzymatic activity of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), which is one of the key enzymes in TCA cycle, was 1.65-fold higher in mutant strain than that in parent strain at the end of culture. It was further validated by the measurement of ATPase that 3.53-6.41 fold higher enzymatic activity was obtained from mutant strain compared with parent strain.

Pyrolysis and dehalogenation of plastics from waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE): a review.

Plastics from waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) have been an important environmental problem because these plastics commonly contain toxic halogenated flame retardants which may cause serious environmental pollution, especially the formation of carcinogenic substances polybrominated dibenzo dioxins/furans (PBDD/Fs), during treat process of these plastics. Pyrolysis has been proposed as a viable processing route for recycling the organic compounds in WEEE plastics into fuels and chemical feedstock. However, dehalogenation procedures are also necessary during treat process, because the oils collected in single pyrolysis process may contain numerous halogenated organic compounds, which would detrimentally impact the reuse of these pyrolysis oils. Currently, dehalogenation has become a significant topic in recycling of WEEE plastics by pyrolysis. In order to fulfill the better resource utilization of the WEEE plastics, the compositions, characteristics and dehalogenation methods during the pyrolysis recycling process of WEEE plastics were reviewed in this paper. Dehalogenation and the decomposition or pyrolysis of WEEE plastics can be carried out simultaneously or successively. It could be 'dehalogenating prior to pyrolysing plastics', 'performing dehalogenation and pyrolysis at the same time' or 'pyrolysing plastics first then upgrading pyrolysis oils'. The first strategy essentially is the two-stage pyrolysis with the release of halogen hydrides at low pyrolysis temperature region which is separate from the decomposition of polymer matrixes, thus obtaining halogenated free oil products. The second strategy is the most common method. Zeolite or other type of catalyst can be used in the pyrolysis process for removing organohalogens. The third strategy separate pyrolysis and dehalogenation of WEEE plastics, which can, to some degree, avoid the problem of oil value decline due to the use of catalyst, but obviously, this strategy may increase the cost of whole recycling process.