[Clinical effect of free posterior interosseous artery perforator flap carrying superficial vein for reconstructing severe perioral scar hyperplasia and contracture].

Objective: To observe the clinical effect of free posterior interosseous artery perforator flap carrying superficial vein for reconstructing severe perioral scar hyperplasia and contracture. Methods: The retrospective observational study method was used. From August 2019 to March 2023, 11 patients with severe perioral scar hyperplasia and contracture after severe facial burns who met the inclusion criteria were admitted to General Hospital of TISCO (the Sixth Hospital of Shanxi Medical University). All patients were male and aged 23 to 56 years, with an average age of 31.3 years. After the perioral scar was removed and released, the wound area was 3.0 cm×2.0 cm to 10.5 cm×2.0 cm. The free posterior interosseous artery perforator flap carrying superficial vein was used to repair the wound, and the flap incision area was 3.5 cm×2.5 cm to 11.0 cm×2.5 cm. Among them, 6 patients required repair of wounds after resecting scar around ipsilateral upper and lower lips, and the lobular treatment of the flap was conducted. The wound in the flap donor area was directly sutured. After surgery, the survival of the flap and the occurrence of vascular crisis were observed. During follow-up after surgery, the appearance, texture, and color of the flap, the appearance of the flap donor area, and improvements of crooked mouth, drooling, limited mouth opening, and lip valgus in patients were observed. Results: All the flaps in patients completely survived after surgery, with no occurrence of vascular crisis. During follow-up of 6 to 36 months after surgery, the flap was not significantly bloated, was soft in texture, and had a similar color to that of the normal facial skin. Only linear scars were left in the flap donor area, and crooked mouth, drooling, limited mouth opening, and lip valgus in patients were significantly improved. Conclusions: The free posterior interosseous artery perforator flap carrying superficial vein can reconstruct severe perioral scar hyperplasia and contracture, with low incidence of postoperative flap vascular crisis, and the lobular treatment of flaps can repair wounds around unilateral upper and lower lips at the same time. After surgery, the appearance and function of the perioral area are significantly improved. The flap is a good choice for repairing small area of severe perioral scar hyperplasia and contracture.

[Effects of low position lateral supramalleolar flap carrying periosteum and proximal leg propeller flap in relay repair of electric burn wounds of forefoot].

Objective: To explore the effects of low position lateral supramalleolar flap carrying periosteum and proximal leg propeller flap in relay repair of electric burn wounds of forefoot. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted. From January 2019 to January 2022, 12 patients with electric burn wounds of forefoot meeting the inclusion criteria were admitted to the Sixth Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, including 10 males and 2 females, aged 23-65 years. After debridement, the wound with an area of 6.0 cm×3.0 cm to 15.0 cm×7.0 cm was repaired with the lateral supramalleolar flap carrying part of the periosteum of the distal tibia and fibula with the rotation point moved down to the front of the ankle joint. The area of the cutted flap was 6.5 cm×3.5 cm-15.5 cm×7.5 cm. At the same stage, the donor site wound of lateral supramalleolar flap was repaired with peroneal artery or superficial peroneal artery perforator propeller flap in relay, with the relay flap area of 3.0 cm×1.5 cm-15.0 cm×4.0 cm. After operation, the survival of the lateral supramalleolar flap and relay flap, and the wound healing of the relay flap donor site were observed. During follow-up, the shapes of the lateral supramalleolar flap and its donor site were observed. Results: After operation, one patient developed secondary blisters in the superficial skin distal to the lateral supramalleolar flap, which healed after dressing change, and the lateral supramalleolar flap and relay flaps survived well in the other patients; the donor site wound of the relay flap healed well. During follow-up of 12-18 months, the lateral supramalleolar flaps were in good shape and not bloated, with only linear scar left in the donor site of the flap. Conclusions: The low position lateral supramalleolar flap carrying periosteum can repair electric burn wounds of forefoot with advantages including reliable blood supply, low rotation point, and better repair effects. The use of relay flap to repair the donor site of lateral supramalleolar flap can reduce the damage to the appearance and function of the donor site.

[Clinical effects of in situ perforation of preserved split scar matrix in combination with scalp transplantation and vacuum sealing drainage in the treatment of hypertrophic scar in non-functional sites after burns].

Objective: To investigate the clinical effects of in situ perforation of preserved split scar matrix in combination with scalp transplantation and vacuum sealing drainage in the treatment of hypertrophic scar in non-functional sites after burns. Methods: A retrospective observational study was used. From June 2017 to June 2019, 33 patients (24 males and 9 females, aged 8-50 years) who met the inclusion criteria with hypertrophic scars in non-functional sites outside the face after burns were treated in General Hospital of TISCO (the Sixth Hospital of Shanxi Medical University). All patients underwent scalp transplantation after perforation of retained split scar matrix in situ (with scar thinning area of 90-500 cm2), and then the vacuum sealing drainage was performed. The hematoma and infection of wounds were observed on the 7th day after operation. At the same time, the survival rate of skin grafting was observed and calculated. The flatness and thickness of the scar in the operative area were observed in 12 months after operation, and the itching and pain of the patients were recorded. Vancouver Scar Scale was used to score the scar of patients before operation and at 3, 6 and 12 months after operation. The healing time and hair growth of donor site were observed. Data were statistically analyzed with repeated analysis of variance, paired sample t test and bonferroni correction. Results: On the 7th day after operation, local subcutaneous hematoma appeared in the wound of 2 patients, which healed after dressing change; no infection occurred. On the 7th day after operation, the survival rate of skin grafting of patients was 94.6%-99.0%(96.8±1.2)%. Scar flatness was well, the thickness of scar was not significantly higher than that of normal skin in 12 months after operation, and the symptoms of itching pain of patients disappeared or significantly relieved. Vancouver Scar Scale scores of patients before operation and at 3, 6, and 12 months after operation were 12.1±2.8, 8.5±1.5, 7.6±1.6, 6.7±1.3, respectively, and the scores of 3, 6, and 12 months after operation were all significantly lower than that before operation (with t values of 4.48, 4.06, and 3.97, respectively, P<0.01). All the donor sites of the head healed well in 4-7 days after operation. By 3-6 months after operation, all patients had good hair growth in the donor site and achieved no scar healing. Conclusions: The treatment of hypertrophic scar in non-functional sites outside the face after burns by in situ perforation of preserved split scar matrix in combination with scalp transplantation and vacuum sealing drainage can effectively improve the appearance of hypertrophic scar in non-functional areas after burn and reduce its degree of hyperplasia, with scar-free donor site healing.

Circular RNA CircMTO1 suppressed proliferation and metastasis of osteosarcoma through miR-630/KLF6 axis.

OBJECTIVE: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) could regulate gene expression which may induce tumor occurrence and progression. In the current study, we first investigated the expression of circMTO1 in osteosarcoma, and the underlying mechanism was further elucidated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Circular RNA microarrays were used to identify the differential expression of circRNAs in osteosarcoma tissues and the corresponding normal tissues. qRT-PCR was used to examine the level of circMTO1 in osteosarcoma tissues and cell lines. In addition, circMTO1 overexpression was constructed using lentiviral transfection in cell lines. Subsequently, the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8), cell migration and invasion, and flow cytometry were used to investigate the effect of circMTO1 on the biological functions of cells. The Western Blot and the recovery experiments were used to explore the potential mechanism. RESULTS: Here, we measured 20 circRNAs which were downregulated in osteosarcoma tissues using circRNA microarray. CircMTO1 expression was decreased in osteosarcoma cell lines. Besides, circMTO1 could inhibit cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and induced apoptosis in osteosarcoma cells. Bioinformatics analysis showed that circMTO1 serves as a sponge for miR-630 and KLF6 is a direct target of miR-630. Furthermore, circMTO1 functions through regulation of miR-630/KLF6 axis. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests circMTO1 could suppress osteosarcoma progression by regulating miR-630/KLF6 axis, which may highlight the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of these molecules in osteosarcoma treatment.

The Drosophila l(2)35Ba/nocA gene encodes a putative Zn finger protein involved in the development of the embryonic brain and the adult ocellar structures.

The Drosophila l(2)35Ba/nocA gene is involved in the development of the adult ocelli and the embryonic head. Mutations in this gene lead to at least two distinct phenotypes. Several larva lethal l(2)35Ba alleles cause both hypertrophy and mislocation of the embryonic supraesophageal ganglion (brain) to the dorsal surface of the embryo. A second class of mutant alleles (nocA) is homozygous viable, but the surviving adults either lack or have greatly reduced ocelli and associated bristles. The l(2)35Ba/nocA gene encodes an approximately 3.0-kb transcript doublet; all l(2)35Ba alleles which have been physically mapped delete or disrupt the transcribed region, whereas all of the viable nocA alleles are caused by gross chromosomal aberrations with breakpoints near the 3'-flanking region of the gene. Several nocA breakpoint alleles downregulate the level of l(2)35Ba/nocA transcripts in adults, and their defective ocellar phenotype also fails to be complemented by the lethal alleles, implying that l(2)35Ba and nocA are different phenotypic manifestations of mutations in the same gene. In the l(2)35Ba mutant embryos, cells from the procephalic lobe which normally migrate over and overlie the supraesophageal ganglion during head involution can become incorporated into the supraesophageal ganglion; many of these misplaced cells, which normally form the frontal sac, also adopt a neuronal fate. Sequence analysis of two full-length l(2)35Ba/nocA cDNAs with distinct polyadenylation sites shows that they encode the same deduced protein of 537 amino acids with a serine- and threonine-rich N-terminal region, two putative zinc finger motifs near the carboxyl terminus, and several alanine-rich domains. Consistent with the observed embryonic phenotype, l(2)35Ba/nocA shows a complex embryonic expression pattern which includes the procephalic lobe.

Regulatory elements involved in the tissue-specific expression of the yellow gene of Drosophila.

We have assessed the DNA sequence requirements for the correct spatial pattern and phenotypic expression of y in the late embryo/larvae. The wild-type larval phenotype requires both the regions between -294 bp and -92 bp and a portion of the intron; the sequence element(s) located within the intron can act in a position independent manner to effect the wild-type larval phenotype. The larval expression pattern was examined by tissue experiments in situ and by staining germline transformants derived from various y/lacZ fusion constructs. The larval expression of y is restricted to the mouthparts, microsetae and anal plates. While the -495 bp to +194 bp region alone cannot effect a wild-type larval expression pattern, this region in conjunction with the intron appears to be sufficient to drive beta-gal expression in an essentially wild-type pattern. Our data further suggest that the -294 bp to -92 bp region contains elements which specify the larval pattern and that the element(s) in the intron normally act to enhance the level of expression necessary for the wild-type larval phenotype. We also present a phenotypic analysis of the adult cuticle structures of germline transformants derived from a variety of deletion and rearrangement constructs of the y gene. This analysis has revealed several new features associated with the regulation of y expression.

Molecular analysis of the yellow locus of Drosophila.

The yellow (y) locus of Drosophila controls the pattern of pigmentation of the adult cuticle and larval mouth parts. Mutations of y belong to two phenotypic classes; type1 mutants exhibit a total loss of pigmentation from all parts of the cuticle and type 2 mutants show allele-specific mosaic pigmentation patterns. We have cloned y by P-element tagging followed by chromosome walking. We demonstrate that a 2.1-kb transcript which spans 4.6 kb of genomic sequence is the y transcript. The location of this transcript and the putative protein it encodes has been defined by nuclease protection, primer extension and DNA sequencing experiments. A 12-kb genomic fragment containing this transcript along with 2.8 kb of 5'-flanking sequence and 4.6 kb of 3'-flanking sequence is sufficient for the wild-type expression of the larval and adult cuticle phenotypes in germ-line transformants. The majority (12/14) of type1 mutants show structural lesions within exon coding portions of y. Most (6/7) of the type2 structural lesions map 5' to the start of y transcription. One type2 mutant which contains an insertion within the 5'-transcribed but non-translated region appears to have resulted from the internal deletion of a P-element associated with a type1 allele.