OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of cycloheximide and TNF-alpha on melanocyte (MC).

METHODSMelanocyte apoptosis was studied with MTT, transmitting electron microscopy and fluorescence labeling of alive cells.

RESULTSWe added TNF-alpha and cycloheximide in melanocytes, and the typical apoptosis appeared 24 hours later, with chromatin condensation, nuclear pyknosis and apoptotic bodies formation. The results of cytometry showed the typical apoptotic peak.

CONCLUSIONTNF-alpha and cycloheximide together could inhibit MC proliferation and induce MC apoptosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; Cycloheximide ; pharmacology ; Drug Synergism ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Melanocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; Middle Aged ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; pharmacology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVEKeloids result from the abnormal repair of the tissues after skin injuries where the pathological overgrowth of large and active fibroblastic cells expands beyond the boundaries of the initiating wound. Imbalanced expression of genes with an as yet unknown regulatory mechanism seems to result in the hypertrophic development of fibroblastic cells and over-productions of collagen. To get information as to genes which function in the actively growing keloid fibroblasts, we have applied a gene expression DNA-microarray technique by analyzing broad range of genes at once in a systematic fashion.

METHODSDifferential gene expressions of keloid fibroblastic cell lines against a normal skin fibroblastic cell line, all of the cell lines had been propagated in our lab, were analyzed using a cDNA-microarray technique. mRNA was extracted from the control normal skin cells and the two lines of keloid fibroblastic cells, one from ear-lobe keloid tissue and the other from chest keloid tissue, was subjected to a DNA microarray analysis which includes 1 100 human genes (TaKaRa Intelli Gene Human CHIP 1K Set I) .

RESULTS8 genes were found to be expressed exclusively in ear-lobe keloid fibroblastic cell lines. Cells from chest keloid were detected to express 17 genes, specifically. Coagulation factor II (thrombin) receptor gene, KIAA0367 protein gene, and matrilin-2 gene were found to be the most commonly expressed genes in the keloid cells. Suppressor genes, like melanoma differentiation associated gene-7, Mda-7 (U16261), were expressed in normal skin fibroblasts but were not expressed in keloid fibroblasts may be implicated in the pathogenesis of the keloid lesions.

CONCLUSIONSGenes expressed specifically in keloid cells may be an adequate pathological diagnostic marker for keloids. Further, Identification of genes that cause cells to develop keloid lesions leads us to gene therapy and prevention of keloids.

Adult ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Fibroblasts ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Genomics ; Humans ; Keloid ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism

OBJECTIVENerve conduit, a new way to repair peripheral nerve, has good prospect. Now, the main obstacle of the conduit's clinical using is the absence of material with both ideal physical property and good biocompatibility. In this study, the PLA is added to chitosan to form a novel material used to make a new nerve conduit. And the rat modal is used to get the data of the nerve conduit made of new material to repair the defect of peripheral nerve in vivo.

METHODSChitosan-PLA Composite Biodegradable material was used to produce a nerve conduit with depth of 200 um, diameter of 1.5 mm. This new conduit was used to repair the sciatic nerve's defect of 5 mm long. The other two groups as control groups repairs the same defects using silicon conduit or nerve's autograft respectively. 12 weeks after operation, normal assessments were performed including movement of hindlimb, hindlimb's retraction after being pricked by needle and ulcer in claw's palm. Special assessment was performed including histology, ECG, image analysis and weighing of triceps muscle of calf. The data of three groups was statistically analyzed by group t test.

RESULTSAs the normal observation showing: after 12 weeks, the regenerating nerve succeeded to path through the gap and dominated the muscle. Special assessment including ECG, image analysis and weighing of triceps muscle of calf showed that the group using Chitosan-PLA Composite conduit had the nervous regeneration better than silicon conduit group both in the nerve's quality and in axon's quantity. And the nervous regeneration of Chitosan-PLA Composite conduit group was as good as that of nervous autograft's group.

CONCLUSIONSChitosan-PLA Composite Biodegradable conduit could repair the defect of peripheral nerves successfully. It is an ideal material for nerve conduit.

Absorbable Implants ; Animals ; Biocompatible Materials ; Chitosan ; Male ; Nerve Regeneration ; Neural Conduction ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries ; Peripheral Nerves ; surgery ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; surgery ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes of acetylcholine receptor (AChR) distribution at the neuromuscular junction (i.e. motor end-plate) following the free neurovascular muscle transfer.

METHODSAChR in the gracilis muscle of the Wistar rat following free neurovascular transfer were labeled by fluorescent alpha-bungarotoxin and radioiodinated alpha-bungarotoxin. Then confocal microscope and gamma-counting were estimated to ACHR, qualitatively and quantitatively.

RESULTSThe junctional AChR numbers decreased to a minimum at the fourth week postoperatively, whereas the extrajunctional receptor numbers increased. From the fifth week postoperatively, the number of junctional AChR's increased. Even at 30 weeks after transfer, the morphology of the neuromuscular junction failed to return to the preoperative style. The number of acetylcholine receptors at the reinnervated neuromuscular junction also remained lower than the control.

CONCLUSIONThe persistent weakness following free neurovascular muscle transfer may be attributed to these qualitative and quantitative changes at the neuromuscular junction.

Animals ; Female ; Motor Endplate ; metabolism ; Muscle, Skeletal ; transplantation ; Nerve Regeneration ; Postoperative Period ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptors, Cholinergic ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the hair-removal effect of intense pulsed light (IPL).

METHODSThe unwanted hairs were removed with ELITE plus IPL. The treatment took 3 - 5 procedures, with an interval of over 2 months. 341 patients underwent the treatment.

RESULTSAll the patients were well tolerant without anesthesia. The unwanted hairs were wholly removed after 3 - 5 procedures. After operation, routine cleaning and make-up were allowed and bandaging was not necessary. There were blister in 3 cases and infection in 1 case. No pigmentation and scarring happened. Following-up of 3 - 6 months showed steady results with less regeneration of very thin and soft hair.

CONCLUSIONSIPL is an ideal hair-removal method because of the credible effect, simple operation, rapid treatment and no serious complications.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Female ; Hair Removal ; methods ; Humans ; Light ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe and analyse the dissection of the tunnels in traditional blind operation of augmentation rhinoplasty.

METHODS11 Cases of augmentation rhinoplasty were collected and be observed by an endoscope as soon as the tunnels were formed during the operations.

RESULTS(1) Some of the tunnels did not go through one layer. (2) The bilateral cartilage separated in the mid-line. (3) There were two blood vessels in the surface of alar cartilage. There were perforating blood vessels in the edge of pyriform aperture. (4) In some cases whose incision were in unilateral alar margin, the tunnel were asymmetric.

CONCLUSIONIn some cases of traditional blind operation of augmentation rhinoplasty, tunnels were not suitable, they were asymmetric; and there were desmo and septa in the tunnels. Those might be the causes of complications post-op of augmentation rhinoplasty.

Endoscopes ; Humans ; Nose ; anatomy & histology ; Rhinoplasty ; methods

OBJECTIVETo Construct tissue engineered epidermal membrane for promoting healing of clinical skin graft donor site wound.

METHODSEpidermal cells /Chitosan-Gelatin (CG) membrane was constructed with cultured human epidermal cells(EC) and CG membrane, at the donor site of split skin graft, the wound was divided into three groups: the control group was covered with CG membrane without KC, KC/CG membrane was grafted on the treatment part of the wound area, and blank group was covered with traditional vaseline gauze. The engineered epidermal membrane and its effect on wound were evaluated with gross observation, HE, immunohistochemistry, collagen type I/III ratio by picrosirius polarization method and RT - PCR test at various time points before and after operation.

RESULTSThe result showed that human tissue engineered epidermis could be constructed with cultured human EC and CG membrane, and this artificial epidermal membrane could be used for promoting the healing of skin graft donor site wound successfully (16 cases with 3 months' oberservation). The average healing time is (16.2 +/- 3.8) days for control group, (8.1 +/- 1.3) days for experimental group and (23.0 +/- 5.7) days for blank group. The artificial epidermis was well survived with normal structure. In addition, less hypertrophic scar development was observed in treated wound at 90 days (3 in 16 cases, 20.0%) than in the blank sites (11 in 16 cases, 74.4%). The difference is statistically significant (chi2 = 8.127, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe constructed EC-CG membrane can be constructed in vitro, survived in vivo and has good clinical application in promoting healing of skin graft donor site wound and inhibiting hypertrophic scar formation.

Adult ; Cells, Cultured ; Chitosan ; Cicatrix ; surgery ; Culture Media, Conditioned ; Epidermis ; cytology ; Female ; Gelatin ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Skin Transplantation ; methods ; Surgical Flaps ; Tissue Engineering ; methods ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Transplantation, Homologous

OBJECTIVETo find anatomic basis for clinically modifying technique of harvesting superior and inferior gluteal artery perforator flap, in order to avoid muscle lossing in conventional superior and inferior myocutaneous flaps, keep the advantage such as large rich supplied volume soft tissue.

METHODS5 cases 10 sides adult cadaver were used to study the numbers, position, Course of superior and inferior gluteal artery perforators. The position of perforators was located by ultrasound Doppler in 6 cases and 12 sides in patient's superior and inferior gluteal area.

RESULTSSuperior and inferior gluteal artery originated from internal iliac artery. Several main perforators of large caliber were found in the paraischia and central portions of the gluteal muscle, its number was 10 - 15. The length of the vessels varies from 3 to 8 cm and their diameter from 1 - 1.5 mm. These significant perforators pass through the muscle itself and the fascial portion of the muscle to the overlying skin on the gluteal region. The dorsal branches of nervorum lumbalium perforate the deep fascia just above the iliac crest, lateral to the posterior superior iliac spine. If a nerve branch with a substantial diameter crosses the incision line, the nerve can be harvested within the flap. This nerve can be anastomosed to the anterior ramus of the lateral branch of the 4th intercostals nerve. In adult female, 3 - 5 perforators were located by ultrasound Doppler. They distributed in the triangle area among posterior superior iliac crest, the great trochanter and the coccyx.

CONCLUSIONSThe area and diameter of perforators of superior gluteal artery were relatively confirmed. It's possible to harvest the perforator flap without any muscle. It has the advantage of conventional myocutaneous flap with out of its disadvantages. It's easy to detect those perforator by ultrasound Doppler clinically. The nerve can be harvested and anastomosed simultaneously. Because the inferior gluteal area is a weight loading area, we suggested to use superior gluteal artery perforator flap. This flap can be transferred pedicled to treat sacral pressure sores or to be transferred freely for the breast reconstruction.

Adult ; Arteries ; anatomy & histology ; Buttocks ; blood supply ; innervation ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Skin Transplantation ; Surgical Flaps ; blood supply ; innervation

OBJECTIVETo investigate the anatomy of penis and its adjacent organ for phalloplasty.

METHODSAnatomic dissection of penis and perineum was performed on 30 adult male cadavers (60 sides). Observation and measurement were focused on the penile length of different parts, the morphological relationship of infundibular ligament and suspensory ligament with penile radix, and the feature of crus penis with relation to the deep penile artery.

RESULTSThe average length of the penile shaft was 8.13 cm, the penile radix was 7.67 cm and the crus penis was 5.96 - 5.98 cm. The deep penile artery penetrated into the crus penis at its middle 1/3. The infundibular ligament attached to superficial fascia of the penis and extended downward to the scrotal septum to constitute the suspensory structure for both of them. The suspensory ligament attached to the dorsal deep fascia of the penis. Becoming thicker, the rear part of the suspensory ligament connected firmly to the pubic arcuate ligament to constitute a part of suspensory mechanism for the urethra. There was a part of cavernous body, which was free from either ligament or bony attachment, between the penile radix and the crus penis, where the dorsal artery and nerve of penis turned around from the ventral to the dorsal aspect of the penis and the penile dorsal vain penetrated the urogenital septum, draining into intrapelvic venous plexus.

CONCLUSIONSThe divisional measurement of the penis length, the recognition of the suspensory ligaments and the anatomic feature of the crus penis with relation to the deep penile artery are all of significant importance to improve the operation of phalloplasty.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Penis ; anatomy & histology ; Perineum ; anatomy & histology ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVELower eyelid ectropion is one of the most severe complications following lower eyelid blepharoplasty. Combination of multiple procedures was used to repair this deformity and the results were observed.

METHODSSevere lower eyelid ectropion following blepharoplasty was repaired with the combination method of multiple procedures, including transferring the island forehead flap, buried guiding suture of the lower eyelid skin to orbital periosteum and horizontal lid-shortening. 10 patients (15 eyelids) with lower eyelid ectropion after blepharoplasty were treated with the above method from Mar 2001 to Mar 2004.

RESULTSThe lower eyelid ectropion was repaired effectively. All the patients were satisfied with the results.

CONCLUSIONSThe combination method of multiple procedures was an effective method for severe lower eyelid ectropion.

Adult ; Blepharoplasty ; adverse effects ; Ectropion ; etiology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; surgery ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods