OBJECTIVETo evaluate a retro-grade auricular flap for repairing large alar defects.

METHODSTwenty-nine adult cadavers were anatomically used for vascular investigation of the frontal, nasal and temporal regions by injecting a dye into the main vessels. Based on the anatomical study in these regions, a retro-grade auricular flap was designed for repairing alar defects in 16 patients.

RESULTSThe blood supply of the auricle could be nourished by the inner carotid artery system from the supratrachlear artery and supraorbital artery through the frontal arterial anastomotical network into the frontal branch of the superficial temporal artery. It is then passing the main trunk of the superficial temporal artery into the ear area through the auricular branches of the superficial temporal artery. The retro-grade auricular island flap could be formed by basing the supratrachlear artery and the supraorbital artery through the vascular network between the superficial temporal artery and the supratrachlear artery or the supraorbital artery. Sixteen patients with large alar defects and half-sized nasal defects were successfully repaired by this technique.

CONCLUSIONSThe retro-grade auricular island flap, based on the inner carotid artery system, could be a good and safe flap for repairing a large alar defect or half-sized nasal reconstruction.

Adult ; Arteries ; Cadaver ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Ear Auricle ; blood supply ; Humans ; Nose Deformities, Acquired ; surgery ; Ophthalmic Artery ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Surgical Flaps ; blood supply ; transplantation ; Temporal Arteries

Objective To evaluate the long-term immunogencity and effectiveness of live attenuated hepatitis A (HA) vaccine (H2 strain) after one dose injection, through a 15 years' follow up observation. Methods A total of 220 children with negative anti-HAV antibody (aged 1-3 y)were involved and followed up in Jiaojiang district, Taizhou city, Zhejiang province. Indicators would include seroconversion and geometric meantiter(GMT) levels after inoculation the vaccine with single dose at 2 m, 12 m, 6 years, 10 years and 15 years. Epidemiological observation was carried out within the 15 years to evaluate the relationship between vaccine coverage, the incidence of HA and the overall effectiveness. In the studied population, serum was tested by ELISA(calibrated by WHO international reference) and ABBOTT Axsym HAVAB mEIA. Results Seroconversion rates were found to be 98.6% and 81.3% after 2 months and 15 years of inoculation and slowly decreased. GMT level was 128 mIU/ml after 15 years, significantly higher than the required protective level of 20 mIU/ml,recommended by WHO experts. Effectiveness through the 15-year follow up program showed a significant correlation between vaccine coverage and incidence of HA in 1-15 years aged group (Kendall-Rank test, t =-0.931, P＜0.01). There was no HA case seen among the observed accumulated 236 413 person-year vaccines, compared to 4 HA cases discovered in the 27 206 personyear of the non-vaccinees. The overall protective rate reached 100%. Through a mass vaccination program on children, the whole population established an immune-defence to enable the incidence of HA decreased by 96.7%. Conclusion The long-term immunogencity and effectiveness of live attenuated hepatitis A vaccine (H2 strain) after one dose injection could last as long as 15 years.

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether hyperthermia can enhance the killing effect of 5- fluorocytosine (5- FC) on human colorectal carcinoma cell lines SW480 transfected with carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) tissue- specific cytosine deaminase (CD) gene in vitro,and study its mechanism.

METHODSHuman colorectal carcinoma cell lines SW480 transfected with G1CEACDNa were cultured. The proliferated colonies were treated with the combined therapy of 5-FC and hyperthermia at a temperature of 43 degrees C for 30 min. After eight days, MTT was used to calculate the cellular survival rate,to analyze the killing effect of 5-FC combined with hyperthermia on SW480 cells transfected with CD gene. Flow cytometry was performed to analyze the cellular cycle and transmission electron microscope was used to observe the morphologic changes of SW480 cells after thermochemotherapy.

RESULTSHyperthermia combined with 5-FC had an enhanced killing effect on SW480-CEACD cells than 5-FC alone (P< 0.05, t =2.403, n=9). Flow cytometry revealed that the proportion of S stage cell increased in the group treated with hyperthermia and 5- FC (P< 0.001, t =7.158, n=6). Transmission electron microscope showed apoptosis after thermo- chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONSHyperthermia can improve the anti- tumor effect of 5- FC on human colorectal carcinoma cell lines SW480 transfected with CD gene, and the cells were blocked at S stage of cellular cycle and apoptosis was induced following thermochemotherapy.

Cell Line, Tumor ; Cytosine Deaminase ; genetics ; Flucytosine ; pharmacology ; Genes, Transgenic, Suicide ; Genetic Therapy ; methods ; Hot Temperature ; Humans

We evaluated the role of IL-10- in IL-33-mediated cholesterol reduction in macrophage-derived foam cells (MFCs) and the mechanism by which IL-33 upregulates IL-10. Serum IL-33 and IL-10 levels in coronary artery disease patients were measured. The effects of IL-33 on intra-MFC cholesterol level, IL-10, ABCA1 and CD36 expression, ERK 1/2, Sp1, STAT3 and STAT4 activation, and IL-10 promoter activity were determined. Core sequences were identified using bioinformatic analysis and site-specific mutagenesis. The serum IL-33 levels positively correlated with those of IL-10. IL-33 decreased cellular cholesterol level and upregulated IL-10 and ABCA1 but had no effect on CD36 expression. siRNA-IL-10 partially abolished cellular cholesterol reduction and ABCA1 elevation by IL-33 but did not reverse the decreased CD36 levels. IL-33 increased IL-10 mRNA production but had little effect on its stability. IL-33 induced ERK 1/2 phosphorylation and increased the luciferase expression driven by the IL-10 promoter, with the highest extent within the −2000 to −1752 bp segment of the 5′-flank of the transcription start site; these effects were counteracted by U0126. IL-33 activated Sp1, STAT3 and STAT4, but only the STAT3 binding site was predicted in the above segment. Site-directed mutagenesis of the predicted STAT3-binding sites (CTGCTTCCTGGCAGCAGAA→CTGCCTGGCAGCAGAA) reduced luciferase activity, and a STAT3 inhibitor blocked the regulatory effects of IL-33 on IL-10 expression. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (CHIP) confirmed the STAT3-binding sequences within the −1997 to −1700 and −1091 to −811 bp locus regions. IL-33 increased IL-10 expression in MFCs via activating ERK 1/2 and STAT3, which subsequently promoted IL-10 transcription and thus contributed to the beneficial effects of IL-33 on MFCs.
Binding Sites ; Cholesterol ; Chromatin Immunoprecipitation ; Computational Biology ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Foam Cells* ; Humans ; Interleukin-10* ; Interleukin-33* ; Luciferases ; Macrophages* ; Mutagenesis, Site-Directed ; Phosphorylation ; RNA, Messenger ; Transcription Initiation Site

·AIM: To evaluate a deep learning - assisted diagnostic system with an artificial intelligence for the detection of diabetic retinopathy (DR). ·METHODS:A total of 186 patients (372 eyes) with diabetes were recruited from January to July 2017. Discrepancies between manual grades and artificial intelligence results were sent to a reading center for arbitration. The sensitivity and specificity in the detection of DR were determined by comparison with artificial intelligence diagnostic system and experts human grading. ·RESULTS:Based on manual grades, the results as follows:non DR (NDR) in 42 eyes (11.3%), 330 eyes (88.7%) in different stages of DR. Among 330 DR eyes, there were mild non proliferative DR (NPDR) in 62 eyes (16.7%), moderate NPDR in 55 eyes (14.8%), severe NPDR in 155 eyes (41.7%), and proliferative DR (PDR) in 58 eyes (15. 6%). Based on artificial intelligence diagnostic system, the results were as follows: NDR in 38 eyes (10.2%),PDR in 44 eyes (11.8%), others were NPDR. The sensitivity and specificity of artificial intelligence diagnostic system, compared with human expert grading, for the detection of any DR were 0.82 and 0.91, and the kappa value was 0.77 (x2=20.39, P<0.05). ·CONCLUSION:This study shows that a deep learning-assisted diagnostic system with an artificial intelligence for grading diabetic retinopathy is a reliable alternative to diabetic retinopathy assessment, thus the use of this system may be a valuable tool in evaluating the DR.