OBJECTIVETo explore a new technique for the treatment of lower lip defect after carcinoectomy.

METHODSix lower lip defects (more than two third of the length of the lower lip) after the tumor resection were treated with an orbicular muscular-mucous advancement flap.

RESULTSAll of the patients had achieved good results functionally and cosmetically with the following-ups from 6 months to 3 years.

CONCLUSIONThe above mentioned techique could be a simple, safe and effective method for repairing lower lip defect.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Lip ; pathology ; surgery ; Lip Neoplasms ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; surgery ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Surgical Flaps

Tumor brings great threat to human public health. In recent years, incidence rate and mortality of tumor were rapidly increased in the world. Anti-tumor therapies have undergone the development of cytotoxic therapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. Among them, tumor immunotherapy is rapidly developed and becomes an important anti-tumor therapy in recent years, although it also brings some related side effects. Tumor microenvironment (TME) is composed of immune cells, vascular vessels, fibroblasts, the extracellular matrix, etc. TME significantly affects the efficacy of immunotherapy. Macrophages in the TME are named as tumor associated macrophages (TAMs). Recently, increasing studies have shown that TAMs play an important role in the regulation of tumor immunity, especially in tumor immune surveillance and immune escape. Currently, more and more anti-tumor immunotherapy strategies targeting TAMs are at the development stage. Based on the important role of TAMs in the TME and their potential as therapeutic targets in tumor immunotherapy, we first reviewed the subtypes and functions of TAMs, as well as the roles of TAMs in tumors. Furthermore, we summarized the research progress on anti-tumor strategies targeting TAMs and the current status of drug targeting TAMs. The current review will provide new ideas and novel insights for tumor immunotherapy.

Gene therapy has been considered as a promising method for treatment of many diseases, such as acquired and genetic diseases. At present, there are two major vehicles for gene delivery including viral vectors and nonviral vectors. Viral vectors appear as high gene transfection efficiency, but some deficiencies such as inflammatory responses, recombination and mutagenesis have limited their use. On account of low pathogenicity, safety and cost-effectiveness, nonviral vectors have been attracted much attention. Cationic polymers are one of the nonviral vectors which have been widely studied. This review focuses on the structure of the cationic polymers and the interaction mechanism between the vector and DNA. We try to provide a framework for the future design and synthesis of nonviral vectors with high transfection efficiency and low toxicity for gene therapy.
Cations ; chemistry ; DNA ; genetics ; Gene Transfer Techniques ; Genetic Therapy ; methods ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Polymers ; chemistry

BACKGROUNDCurrently, the most commonly used treatment methods for repairing alveolar furcation defects are periodontal guided tissue regeneration (GTR) and bone grafting. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of simvastatin/methylcellulose gel on bone regeneration in alveolar defects in miniature pigs.

METHODSAlveolar defects were produced in 32 teeth (the third and fourth premolars) of 4 miniature pigs. The 32 experimental teeth were divided into 5 groups comprising control (C) and treatment (T) teeth: (1) empty defects without gel (group C0, n = 4); (2) defects injected with methylcellulose gel (group C1, n = 4); (3) defects injected with 0.5 mg/50 µl simvastatin/methylcellulose gel (group T1, n = 8); (4) defects injected with 1.5 mg/50 µl simvastatin/methylcellulose gel (group T2, n = 8); and (5) defects injected with 2.2 mg/50 µl simvastatin/methylcellulose gel (group T3, n = 8). Every week after surgery, the furcation sites were injected once with gel. At the eighth week after surgery, the 4 pigs were sacrificed and underwent macroscopic observation, descriptive histologic examination, and regenerate bone quantitative histologic examination.

RESULTSAt 8 weeks after surgery, the defect sites in the treatment groups were completely filled in with new bone and fibrous tissue. There was little new bone in the C0 and C1 groups, and only a small number of osteoblasts and proliferative vessels could be seen on microscopic examination.

CONCLUSIONSMiniature pigs are an ideal experimental animal for establishing a model of alveolar defects using a surgical method. Local application of simvastatin/methylcellulose gel can stimulate the regeneration of alveolar bone in furcation defect sites, because it promotes the proliferation of osteoblasts. The best dose of simvastatin gel to stimulate bone regeneration is 0.5 mg.

Alveolar Bone Loss ; drug therapy ; surgery ; Animals ; Bone Regeneration ; drug effects ; Guided Tissue Regeneration, Periodontal ; methods ; Simvastatin ; therapeutic use ; Swine ; Swine, Miniature

OBJECTIVETo observe the occurrence and progression of liver fibrosis induced by pig serum exposure and bile duct ligation, and analyze the relationship between hepatic inflammation and liver fibrosis.

METHODSChronically immune-mediated liver fibrosis was induced in rats by weekly injection of pig serum (IPS) into the peritoneal cavity at 3 ml/kg for 12 weeks. Cholestatic fibrosis was induced by common bile duct ligation (BDL). The Knodell score was used to evaluate the histological changes in the liver, and immunohistochemistry was performed using anti-SMA, anti-ED1, anti-CK7, and anti-CD45 antibodies. Quantitative real time PCR (qPCR) analysis was employed to quantify the mRNA expression of the genes related to inflammation, including interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), IL-6, monocyte chemotactic protein-1, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, regulated upon activation normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), transforming growth factor-beta, platelet-derived growth factor A, as well as the genes associated with fibrogenesis, namely collagen 1, alphaSMA, MMP-9 and TIMP-1.

RESULTSKnodell scores for periportal necrosis, intralobular degeneration and focal necrosis, and portal inflammation were all significantly higher in the BDL group than in the IPS group (P<0.01), whereas the scores for fibrosis was higher in the IPS group (P<0.05). Immunohistochemistry showed obvious inflammation with numerous alphaSMA-positive cells in the liver of the rats in BDL group; the liver of the rats in IPS group showed numerous alphaSMA-positive myofibroblasts with limited inflammatory cell infiltration. qPCR demonstrated a significant up-regulation of the genes related to extracellular matrix remodeling such as collagen 1 (P<0.01), alphaSMA (P<0.01), MMP-9 (P<0.01) and TIMP-1 (P<0.01) in the rat liver in IPS group compared with those in the normal control group, and the mRNA expressions of the inflammation-related cytokines, except for RANTES, were comparable with those in the control. In contrast, the BDL group showed a significant up-regulation of all the pro-inflammatory genes examined with also increased expression of the fibrogenesis-related genes (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONLiver fibrosis induced by IPS is characterized by active ECM remodeling in the absence of obvious inflammation, indicating that chronic development of liver fibrosis can be independent of active hepatic inflammation. BDL-induced liver fibrosis highlights obvious inflammation and fibrous proliferation in the liver.

Animals ; Bile Ducts ; surgery ; Cholestasis ; complications ; physiopathology ; Ligation ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; etiology ; immunology ; pathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred F344 ; Serum ; immunology ; Swine

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical manifestations, genotypes, and genetic characteristics of two pedigrees with Kennedy disease.

METHODSThe clinical data of the patients from two Kennedy disease families were collected. The numbers of trinucleotide CAG repeats in exon 1 of the androgen receptor gene were determined by DNA sequencing and repeat fragment analysis.

RESULTSFamily A was composed of 58 individuals in 4 generations. The proband had onset at 39 years old. There were two Kennedy disease patients in family B which included 61 individuals in 5 generations. The two patients had onset at 39 and 41 years old, respectively. All the three patients displayed limbs and bulbar muscular weakness because of the damage of lower motor neurons. They had androgen insensitivity syndrome in common, and showed mild or moderate increase in serum creatine kinase level. The electromyogram showed wild damage in anterior horn of spinal cord. Muscle biopsy displayed neurogenic muscular atrophy. The numbers of the CAG repeat expansion in the androgen receptor gene of the three patients were 49, 48, and 47, respectively. X-linked recessive mode of inheritance was demonstrated by pedigree analysis in the two families.

CONCLUSIONKennedy disease usually occurs in mid-adulthood man. The clinical features are the weakness and wasting of limbs and bulbar muscles. Genetic analysis contributes to diagnosis and identification of carriers, and is beneficial to genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Base Sequence ; Biopsy ; Bulbo-Spinal Atrophy, X-Linked ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; genetics ; pathology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Electromyography ; Exons ; genetics ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Muscles ; pathology ; Pedigree ; Receptors, Androgen ; genetics ; Ultrasonography ; Young Adult

【Objective】To establish a cell model of radiation injury of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells（hBMMSC），and to provide experimental basis for further study on the pathogenesis of osteoradionecrosis of the jaws（ORNJ）.【Methods】After X-ray irradiation，the gene expression change of Beclin1，Sox2，Nanog，RUNX2 and OGN in hBMMSC were evaluated by Western blot and RT-qPCR. The apoptosis rate change was detected by Annexin- V/PI double staining method. The proliferation rate change was determined by clone formation experiment. The alkaline phosphatase activity change was detected by microplate method.【Results】The gene expressions of Beclin1 increased with the doses increased，while Sox2，Nanog，RUNX2 and OGN in hBMMSC were all down- regulated after irradiation. The apoptotic rate increased，the colony formation rate decreased and the alkaline phosphatase activity decreased also.【Conclusion】X-ray irradiation can cause ionizing radiation injury of hBMMSC. We successfully established a cell model of hBMMSC radiation injury，the model can be applied to the experimental study of the pathogenesis of ORNJ.

【Objective】 To investigate the efficacy and safety of ultrasound- guided above- knee and below- knee radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of saphenous varicose veins.【Methods】Patients who underwent ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation closure in our department from July 2019 to November 2019 were compared in operation time ， recovery time，volume of sclerosant foam，pain score，venous clinical severity score（VCSS），Aberdeen Varicose Veins Questionnaire （AVVQ）， and complications. 【Results】 Fifty- nine patients underwent above- knee radiofrequency ablation and 19 patients underwent below-knee radiofrequency ablation. The average operation time（69.75 vs. 78.95）min， time return to normal activity（2.93 vs. 3.58）min or the volume of foam（28.3 vs. 24.2）mL were similar in both groups. The pain score，VCSS，and AVVQ scores 24 h，1 week，or 4 w postoperative decreased significantly in the two groups. No deep vein thrombosis，pulmonary embolism，or infection occurred in the two groups after surgery. Other complications including phlebitis，pigmentation，bleeding，rash，or paresthesia，showed no difference in rates. And overall incidence of complications were similar between the two groups. 【Conclusions】 Both above-knee and below-knee radiofrequency ablation are safe and effective treatments for great saphenous varicose veins.

Over the years of exploration and development, the surgical techniques and prognosis of liver transplantation in China have been significantly improved, resulting in a notable decrease in the prevalence of postoperative complications. However, ischemic-type biliary lesion remain a non-negligible issue. The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University formulated and published the "Expert Consensus on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Ischemic-Type Biliary Lesions after Liver Transplantation in Mainland China" in 2015, which has now been updated into a guideline based on current conditions and literature reports. This guideline elaborates in detail on the definition, incidence, pathogenesis, diagnosis, prevention of high-risk factors, and treatment of ischemic-type biliary lesion, aiming to provide standardized and normative guidance for the diagnosis and treatment of ischemic-type biliary lesion after liver transplantation, thereby reducing the rate of re-transplantation and fatality, and to improve the overall quality of life of liver transplant recipients.

Pancreatic cancer is a highly malignant tumor with a poor prognosis. It is very hard to treat pancreatic cancers for their high heterogeneity, complex tumor microenvironment, and drug resistance. Currently, gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel, capecitabine and FOLFIRINOX are standard chemotherapy for resectable or advanced metastatic pancreatic cancer. Considering the limited efficacy and toxic side effects of chemotherapy, targeted and immune drugs have gradually attracted attention and made some progress. In this article, we systematically reviewed the chemotherapeutic drugs, targets and related targeted drugs, and immunotherapy drugs for pancreatic cancer.