BACKGROUND:Currently, there is no effective treatment for keloids that often recur. Its pathogenesis is stil entirely unclear, and fibroblast proliferation and apoptosis have become a research hotspot.
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the expression of Livin, Smac and Caspase-3 in keloids and to analyze their relationship so as to preliminarily explore the significance of Livin, Smac and Caspase-3 in the pathogenesis of keloids.
METHODS:RT-PCR and immunohistochemical methods were used to detect the mRNA and protein expressions of Livin, Smac and Caspase-3 in keloids (n=20) and normal skin tissues (n=20).
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the normal skin tissue, the mRNA and protein positive expressions of Livin were significantly higher in keloids (P < 0.05), while the mRNA and protein positive expressions of Smac and Caspase-3 were lower in keloids (P < 0.05). There was a negative association between Livin and Smac, Caspase-3 protein expression in keloids. These findings indicate that the high mRNA expression of Livin may cause the imbalance between proliferation and apoptosis of fibroblasts by inhibiting the mRNA expression of Smac and Caspase-3, and eventualy lead to the formation of keloid.

Objective: To explore the clinical effect of double blood supply composite tissue flap with peroneal artery perforator and sural nerve nutrient vessel carrying gastrocnemius muscle in repairing lacunar skin and soft tissue defect of ankle. Methods: From September 2015 to September 2017, 10 patients with lacunar skin and soft tissue defects of ankle were hospitalized in our unit, including 7 males and 3 females, aged 17-62 years, 8 traffic accident injuries and 2 heavy body pressure injuries. After debridement, the wound area ranged from 7 cm×4 cm to 15 cm×9 cm, and the lacunar area ranged from 3.0 cm×2.0 cm×1.0 cm to 7.0 cm×4.0 cm×2.0 cm. The defect was repaired with island composite tissue flap with peroneal artery perforator and sural nerve nutrient vessel and partial gastrocnemius muscle at stage Ⅰ. The area of flaps ranged from 8 cm×5 cm to 16 cm×10 cm, and the area of gastrocnemius muscle flaps ranged from 4 cm×3 cm to 8 cm×5 cm. The donor site was repaired with ipsilateral thigh intermediate split-thickness skin graft or sutured directly. The location of vascular pedicle, survival of tissue flap, follow-up, and occurrence of complications were recorded. Results: The vascular pedicle of this group of cases was located 5-15 cm above the lateral malleolus. The tissue flaps of 10 patients survived completely after operation at stage Ⅰ. Follow-up for 1-12 months showed that the area repaired with tissue flaps had good color, blood supply, and texture, without ulceration, and recovered different degrees of pain sensation and deep tactile sensation, and no short-term or long-term complications occurred. Conclusions The double blood supply composite tissue flap with peroneal artery perforator and sural nerve nutrient vessel carrying gastrocnemius muscle has good blood supply, which can effectively fill the invalid space in repairing lacunar skin and soft tissue defect of ankle, with good effect after operation, and it is worthy of clinical application.