OBJECTIVETo search for a simple and effective surgical approach to the management of moderate to severe pediatric concealed penis in children.

METHODSWe used Devine's technique via incision between the penis and scrotum in the treatment of 68 cases of moderate to severe pediatric concealed penis. The patients were aged 3 -13 (mean 6.5) years, 30 with moderate and 38 with severe pediatric concealed penis.

RESULTSThis strategy achieved good near- and long-term effects and satisfactory appearance of the penis, which was similar to that of circumcision. At 3 months after surgery, the penile length was 3 - 5.2 cm, averaging (2.35 +/- 0.35) cm.

CONCLUSIONDevine's technique via incision between the penis and scrotum is a simple and effective surgical option for moderate to severe pediatric concealed penis in children.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Male ; Penis ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Scrotum ; surgery ; Urologic Surgical Procedures, Male ; methods

This study is to screen 23 blank O/W type microemulsion (ME) samples, that is 15 samples from our laboratory, and 8 samples from literature; compare the conductivity-water content curve (CWCC) method and visual method in determining the critical water content during O/W type MEs' formation, to analyze the deficiency and the feasibility of visual method and to exploxe scientific meanings of CWCC method in judging the critical water content of O/W type MEs during formation. The results show that there is a significant difference between the theoretical feasible CWCC method and visual method in determining the critical water content (P<0.001), and the results judged by conductivity is higher than that by eye-based water content. Therefore, this article firmly confirmed the shortcomings of visual method and suggested that the eye-base "critical water content" may falls into continuous ME stage during O/W MEs' formation. Further more, the CWCC method has theoretical feasibility and scientific meanings in determining the critical water content of O/W type MEs during formation.
Electric Conductivity ; Emulsions ; chemistry ; Water ; chemistry

Acrylic Resins ; adverse effects ; Adult ; Breast Implantation ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of comprehensive rehabilitation treatment on hand burn, and to make a cost-effectiveness analysis.

METHODSSixty-two patients with ninety-eight affected hands were divided into rehabilitation group (32 cases, 48 hands) and control group (30 cases, 50 hands). Patients in rehabilitation group received comprehensive rehabilitation treatment at early stage after burn; patients in control group were given instructions for function training at the same time. The functions of the hands to be restored including grasp, hold, pinch, nip, forearm pronation and supination, fetching, laying, and writing abilities of patients in both groups were quantitatively evaluated with Carroll's upper extremity function test before treatment and 5 months after. Direct medical costs of patients in both groups within 5 months were respectively added up to make a cost-effectiveness analysis.

RESULTSIn rehabilitation group, function of digital opposition, palmar opposition, holding, and pinching of 37 hands recovered well, with which patients could pick food, put on clothes, go to toilet, and self-care etc. independently. Function of digital opposition, palmar opposition, holding, pinching half recovered in 7 hands, accompanied with well recovered of metacarpophalangeal function, but recovery of function of interphalangeal joint was less satisfactory. Although patients could grasp and hold, they were still poor in fine and harmonized activities. Joint ranges of motion of 4 hands were poor with limited function, and this was resulted from not strictly following treatment for remaining granulation wound. In control group, 23 hands received reconstructive surgery, 14 of them recovered with good function, but were poor in most of fine and harmonized activities. Severe claw hands were found in 13 hands. The ratio between total mean cost value and total function increment value in rehabilitation group (181 +/- 11) was obviously lower than that in control group (298 +/- 30, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSComprehensive rehabilitation treatment at early stage after hand burn has a good effect on prevention and treatment of hand deformity, promoting recovery of hand function and improving hand appearance. It is also less costly.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Burns ; rehabilitation ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Female ; Hand Injuries ; rehabilitation ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rehabilitation ; economics ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDExposure to cigarette smoke stimulates the proliferation of human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (HPASMCs) in vivo and in vitro. However, the molecular mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed at investigating the role of signaling pathways involving protein kinase C alpha (PKCα) and cyclin D1 in the cigarette smoke extract (CSE)-induced HPASMCs proliferation.

METHODSSynchronized HPASMCs were treated with different concentrations of CSE. Cell proliferation was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and cell counting. Cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry with propidium iodide staining. Activation of PKCα was measured by detecting the expression of PKCα protein in the cytosolic and membrane fractions using Western blotting analysis. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) was used to knockdown PKCα and cyclin D1. The cyclin D1 mRNA was assessed by real-time RT-PCR. The PKCα and cyclin D1 protein levels were detected by Western blotting.

RESULTSLow concentrations of CSE (1% - 10%) stimulated proliferation of HPASMCs, with its maximal effect at 5%. CSE (5%) led to PKCα activation. Inhibition of PKCα activity using Gö 6976 or siRNA-mediated knockdown of PKCα significantly attenuated CSE-induced cell proliferation and G1/S transition. Cyclin D1, one of key regulators of G1/S transition, was found to be upregulated by 5% CSE at both the mRNA and protein levels. CSE-stimulated cell proliferation and G1/S transition was abolished by cyclin D1 siRNA. Moreover, Gö 6976 or PKCα siRNA significantly suppressed CSE-induced upregulation of cyclin D1 at both the mRNA and protein levels.

CONCLUSIONPKCα-cyclin D1 pathway at least partially mediates the CSE-induced proliferation in HPASMCs.

Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Cyclin D1 ; physiology ; G1 Phase ; Humans ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; pathology ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; pathology ; Protein Kinase C-alpha ; physiology ; Pulmonary Artery ; pathology ; S Phase ; Signal Transduction ; Smoke ; adverse effects ; Tobacco ; adverse effects

The present study was aimed to investigate the role of cyclin D1 in human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (HPASMCs) proliferation and migration induced by cigarette smoke extract (CSE). The eukaryotic expression vector of antisense cyclin D1 gene (pIRES2-EGFP-ascyclin D1) was recombinated. The recombinant and empty vector were separately transfected into normal HPASMCs using liposome. Then the cells were treated with or without 5% CSE. The cells were randomly divided into six groups: control group, vector group, antisense cyclin D1 group, 5% CSE group, vector+5% CSE group and antisense cyclin D1+5% CSE group. The expressions of cyclin D1 mRNA and protein were detected by real-time fluorescence RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. The proliferation of HPASMCs was examined by cell cycle analysis, MTT assay and proliferation cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunocytochemical staining. The migration of HPASMCs was measured by Transwell cell test. The results showed that the eukaryotic expression vector of antisense cyclin D1 gene was constructed and transfected into HPASMCs successfully. The cyclin D1 mRNA and protein levels in antisense cyclin D1 group were significantly lower than those in control group (P<0.05). In 5% CSE group, the cyclin D1 mRNA and protein levels were elevated significantly compared with those in control group (P<0.05), and the indicators of cell and migration in antisense cyclin D1+5% CSE group were remarkably lower than those in 5% CSE group (P<0.05). These results suggest that CSE could promote HPASMCs proliferation and migration through up-regulation of cyclin D1 expression. PIRES2-EGFP-ascyclin D1 could attenuate CSE-induced proliferation and migration of HPASMCs by suppressing the expression of cyclin D1, which implicates that cyclin D1 might be involved in the process of HPASMCs proliferation and migration stimulated by CSE.
Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Cyclin D1 ; physiology ; Humans ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; pathology ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; cytology ; pathology ; Pulmonary Artery ; cytology ; pathology ; Smoke ; adverse effects ; Tobacco ; adverse effects

To explore new measures for functional reconstruction of multiple severe deformities as a result of extensive deep burn (total burn surface area > or = 90% TBSA, including deep burn > or = 70%TBSA) in late stage. Twelve severe burn patients with above-mentioned deformities were hospitalized in our ward during 1960--2005, the scars resulted from burns were distributed from head to foot with 173 deformities, including 27 scar ulcers. All patients lacked of self-care ability, among them some could not stand. Due to inadequate skin source, deformities were corrected by skin from matured scars expanded with subcutaneous balloon at late postburn stage. Following our former clinical experience, anatomic investigation and experimental research, we chose the following methods to correct deformities and restore functions: application of split-thickness scar skin after expansion (88 wounds); use of scar skin flap/scar-Achilles tendon flaps (59 wounds); combination of thin split-thickness skin grafts from scar and allogeneic acellular dermal matrix (composite skin, 40 wounds). All grafts survived, the appearance and function were improved obviously without complications. Follow-up 1-40 years, all patients could take care themselves with satisfactory function and appearance, and among them 8 patients returned to work (one had worked for 40 years), 2 patients married and had children. The above-mentioned measures are safe, reliable and effective for functional reconstruction of deformities.
Adult ; Burns ; complications ; surgery ; Cicatrix ; etiology ; surgery ; Contracture ; etiology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Recovery of Function ; Skin Transplantation ; Skin, Artificial ; Surgical Flaps ; Wound Healing

OBJECTIVETo study the microsurgical method of repairing skin and soft tissue defects on head, face, and neck.

METHODSThirty-one patients with skin and soft tissue defects on the head, face, or neck were hospitalized from July 2007 to May 2010, including 10 cases of scalp defects, 4 cases of skin and soft tissue defects on face, and 17 cases of skin and soft tissue defects on neck. Among them, the cause in 20 cases was trauma, and in 11 cases they were secondary to release of cicatricial contraction. Free flaps were transplanted to repair the wounds, including 13 latissimus dorsi flaps, 3 lateral thoracic flaps, 5 scapular flaps, and 10 anterolateral thigh flaps. The area of flaps ranged from 8 cm × 5 cm to 25 cm × 18 cm.

RESULTSAll flaps survived, and all the wounds healed by first intention. The average length of hospital stay was 16.7 days. Twenty-eight patients were followed up for 2 months, and in all of them satisfactory function and appearance were restored.

CONCLUSIONSFree flap graft based on microsurgery can repair wound of skin and soft tissue defects on head, face and neck by a single operation, which eases suffering of patients, and shortens the length of hospital stay.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Head ; Humans ; Male ; Microsurgery ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Skin ; injuries ; Skin Transplantation ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; surgery ; Surgical Flaps ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo detect the stability of PEGylated puerarin (PEG-PUE), in order to provide experimental basis for storage conditions of PEGylated puerarin.

METHODFirst, a method for determining the content of PEG-PUE was established. Next, a system study was conducted for the stability of PEG-PUE affected by different factors such as temperature, humidity, light and light avoidance.

RESULTPEG-PUE was severely degraded under the conditions of high temperature, high humidity and light. It was also seriously degraded under high temperature.

CONCLUSIONPEG-PUE shall be stored under low temperature and in a dark and dry environment.

Drug Stability ; Drug Storage ; Isoflavones ; chemistry ; Light ; Polyethylene Glycols ; chemistry ; Temperature

OBJECTIVETo observe the protective effect of Yixinshu capsule on myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury (MIRI) in SD rats.

METHODSixty healthy SD rats were randomized into six groups: sham group, MIRI model group, Xinsuning capsule group, low, middle or high dose Yixinshu capsule. Acute MIRI rat models were created by reperfusion for 120 min after anterior interventricular branch of the left coronary artery for 30 min. The serum creatine kinase (CK), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and malondialdehyde(MDA), blood viscosity, and infarction area of myocardium were determined.

RESULTYixinshu capsule could reduce serum CK, LDH, AST and LDH activity, improve the blood viscosity, and reduced the myocardial infarct size.

CONCLUSIONYixinshu capsule can protect against MIRI in rats.

Animals ; Blood Viscosity ; drug effects ; Capsules ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Lipid Peroxidation ; drug effects ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; prevention & control ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley