Subcutaneous pedicled propeller flap for reconstructing the large eyelid defect due to excision of malignancies or trauma.

Large eyelid defect after excision of malignancies or trauma is difficult to reconstruct due to special structure and function of the eyelid. In this study, we aimed to present the outcomes of subcutaneous pedicled propeller flap for reconstructing the large eyelid defect after excision of malignancies or trauma. A retrospective review of patients diagnosed with eyelid defect due to excision of malignancies or trauma, and undergoing subcutaneous pedicled propeller flap for reconstructing the large eyelid defect, was conducted at our hospital. The clinical data were collected and analyzed. A total of 15 patients were included in the cases series. Nine patients were diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma, 3 patients with epidermoid carcinoma, and 3 patients with trauma. All the defects were successfully covered with this designed flap. There was no flap necrosis in all the cases. No functional problems were observed in all of the cases. At long-term postoperative follow-up, the average score of patients' satisfaction was good. This subcutaneous pedicled propeller flap is a feasible alternative technique for reconstructing the large eyelid defect after excision of malignancies or trauma. This flap option could avoid the use of free flaps for large defect.

Exosomes derived from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells improve myocardial repair via upregulation of Smad7.

It has been previously reported that exosomes derived from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hucMSC)­exosomes exhibit cardioprotective effects on the rat acute myocardial infarction (AMI) models and cardiomyocyte hypoxia injury models in vitro, however the exact mechanisms involved require further investigation. The present study aimed to investigate the repair effects of hucMSC­exosomes on myocardial injury via the regulation of mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 7 (Smad7) expression. Compared with sham or normoxia groups (in vivo and in vitro, respectively), western blotting demonstrated that Smad7 expression was significantly decreased in the borderline area of infraction myocardium and in H9C2(2­1) cells following hypoxia­induced injury. Additionally, microRNA (miR)­125b­5p expression was markedly increased using reverse transcription­quantitative polymerase chain reaction, but was reversed by hucMSC­exosomes. Trypan blue staining and lactate dehydrogenase release detection demonstrated that cell injury was significantly increased in the AMI + PBS and hypoxia group compared with in the sham and normoxia groups and was inhibited by hucMSC­exosomes. A dual luciferase reporter gene assay confirmed that Smad7 is a target gene of miR­125b­5p. In addition, miR­125b­5p mimics promoted H9C2(2­1) cell injury following 48 h exposure to hypoxia. Downregulation of Smad7 expression under hypoxia was increased by miR­125b­5p mimics compared with the mimic negative control, and hucMSC­exosomes partially alleviated this phenomenon. In conclusion, hucMSC­exosomes may promote Smad7 expression by inhibiting miR­125b­5p to increase myocardial repair. The present study may provide a potential therapeutic approach to improve myocardial repair following AMI.

Gastric cancer tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells impact peripheral blood mononuclear cells via disruption of Treg/Th17 balance to promote gastric cancer progression.

Gastric cancer tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (GC-MSCs) are important resident stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and have been shown to play a key role in gastric cancer progression. Whether GC-MSCs exert a tumor-promoting function by affecting anti-tumor immunity is still unclear. In this study, we used GC-MSC conditioned medium (GC-MSC-CM) to pretreat peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy donors. We found that GC-MSC-CM pretreatment markedly reversed the inhibitory effect of PBMCs on gastric cancer growth in vivo, but did not affect functions of PBMCs on gastric cancer cell proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis in vitro. PBMCs pretreated with GC-MSC-CM significantly promoted gastric cancer migration and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in vitro and liver metastases in vivo. Flow cytometry analysis showed that GC-MSC-CM pretreatment increased the proportion of Treg cells and reduced that of Th17 cells in PBMCs. CFSE labeling and naïve CD4+ T cells differentiation analysis revealed that GC-MSC-CM disrupted the Treg/Th17 balance in PBMCs by suppressing Th17 cell proliferation and inducing differentiation of Treg cells. Overall, our collective results indicate that GC-MSCs impair the anti-tumor immune response of PBMCs through disruption of Treg/Th17 balance, thus providing new evidence that gastric cancer tissue-derived MSCs contribute to the immunosuppressive TME.

[Simulation Study of Dynamic Color Modulation Based on Tunable Micro/Nano-Structure Array].

With the development of nanotechnology, it has been accessible to display colors by artificial micro/nano-structure, and then the study of structure coloring has become a hot subject, opening a new space for inkless printing. In this paper, a dynamic color modulation method based on tunable micro/nano-structure array is proposed. To tune colors on the same device, a periodic micro/nano-structure array is designed with functional material inside, which could alter the height difference between up and bottom surface precisely by applying an external voltage. It is modeled, and simulated by the Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) method in this work. In simulations, perpendicular incident linearly polarized light source is applied, and parameters of surface height difference and period are swept. Series reflective spectra of the devices are obtained, and their corresponding colors are calculated and marked on the CIE 1931 chromaticity diagram. Simulation results demonstrate that when the period is in the range of 100-300 nm, full-color modulation could be realized by varying the height of functional material film via applied voltage, and the peak intensities of reflective spectra are at about 60%, having high energy efficiency. This method is innovative and provides a theoretical basis for the dynamic color modulation micro/nano device, which is quite promising in fields like inkless printing and display technology.

[The effect of catheter based renal synthetic denervation on renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in patients with resistant hypertension].

OBJECTIVE: to explore the effect of catheter based renal synthetic denervation on renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) and blood pressure reduction in patients with resistant hypertension. and assess the validity and security of the treatment. METHODS: Ten patients with resistant hypertension from June 2011 to December 2011 were retrospectively reviewed, and then all of 10 patients screened for eligibility were allocated to renal denervation. Primary endpoints were changes of office blood pressure at 1 week, 1, 3 and 6 months after procedure. We assessed the effectiveness of renal sympathetic denervation with heart rate (HR), renin activity (PRA), angiotensin II (AngII), aldosterone (Ald), and creatinine (Cr) before and 2 weeks after procedure. RESULTS: Office blood pressure after catheter-based renal denervation decreased by 22.8/9.1 mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa), 34.8/14.7 mm Hg, 42.6/20.7 mm Hg, 43.2/21.6 mm Hg, at 1 week, 1, 3 and 6 months, respectively (P < 0.001). Meanwhile, the level of PRA, AngII, Ald decreased by (1.11 ± 0.89) ng×ml(-1)×h(-1) (P = 0.003), (17.06 ± 13.82) ng/L (P = 0.004), (404.5 ± 285.8) ng/L (P = 0.002), respectively; and heart rate decreased by 5.1 bpm (P = 0.002). However, the Cr level and eGFR did not change significantly (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Catheter-based renal sympathetic denervation can reduce the level of renin activity, angiotensin II and aldosterone, and causes substantial and sustained blood-pressure reduction.

[Efficacy of catheter-based renal denervation in mongrel neurogenic hypertensive dogs].

OBJECTIVE: Hypertension is the most common risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and stroke. Renal sympathetic hyperactivity is associated with hypertension. The aim of this study was to explore the efficacy of renal denervation for hypertension. METHODS: Eighteen mongrel neurogenic hypertensive dogs were divided into intervention [mean arterial pressure: (150.6 ± 18.8) mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa) plus renal sympathetic denervation by percutaneous catheter-based radiofrequency, n = 10] and control [mean arterial pressure (147.4 ± 13.2) mm Hg, n = 8] group. Mean arterial pressure before and at 2, 4, 6 and 10 weeks after procedure was invasively measured. Renin activity (PRA), angiotensin II (AngII), aldosterone (Ald), and creatinine (Cr) were detected at 2, 6 and 10 weeks after procedure. RESULTS: Mean arterial pressure remained unchanged in control group. In intervention group, mean arterial pressure (MAP) decreased to (130.4 ± 14.1) mm Hg, (136.2 ± 17.1) mm Hg, (128.7 ± 14.7) mm Hg and (126.1 ± 12.7) mm Hg respectively at 2, 4, 6, and 10 weeks after procedure. Meanwhile, the level of PRA, AngII, Ald significantly reduced post procedure compared with pre-procedural level (P < 0.05) and the Cr level remained unchanged post procedure (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Sympathetic nervous system plays an important role in the progression of hypertension. Catheter-based renal denervation results in substantial and sustained blood-pressure reduction in this model.

[Surgical treatment of congenital heart diseases in pediatric patients with body weight less than 10 kg].

OBJECTIVE: To report the experience of the surgical treatment of congenital heart diseases (CHD) in pediatric patients with body weight less than 10 kg. METHODS: Between January 2000 and December 2007, 105 children with CHD, aged 2 months to 3 years and weighing between 3.5 to 10 kg, underwent surgical treatment. Of the 105 patients, 56 were concomitant with moderate to severe pulmonary hypertension or repeated pulmonary infections, and 35 with complex cardiac abnormalities. Operations were performed through median sternotomy with moderate hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass in 88 cases, with normothermic extracorporeal circulation on beating heart in 14 cases, and with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest in 3 cases. RESULTS: There were 5 early deaths (4.8%). During a follow-up of 2 month to 3 year, 97 survivors with corrective procedure had no late mortality or complications with NYHA class I of cardiac function, excepting 2 cases with little residual shunt. Three survivors with palliative procedure enjoyed higher quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: The surgical treatment of CHD in pediatric patients with body weight less than 10 kg seems to be feasible and safe, with satisfactory early and long-term results.