OBJECTIVETo investigate the emergency treatment for large amputated ear defect.

METHODSFrom Feb. 2010 to Oct. 2013, 5 cases with large unilateral amputated ear defects were treated. The amputated auricular cartilage was replanted subcutaneously in mastoid area at the first stage. Cranioauricular sulcus was reconstructed and skin grafting was performed at the second stage.

RESULTSAll cases were followed up for 3-6 months with satisfactory result. The reconstructed helix, scapha and cavity of auricular concha had similar color and elasticity as the ear at healthy side. Scar at donor sites, such as inguinal region and armpit, was inconspicuous.

CONCLUSIONSThe method of auricular cartilage replantation is an effective way for emergency treatment of large amputated auricular defect with less morbidity at donor site.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Ear Cartilage ; transplantation ; Ear, External ; injuries ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Replantation ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVEA simple and effective therapy for single side constricted ear.

METHODSTransplanting normal side free composite auricular grafts to constricted ear (15 patients and 15 sides), then lengthening the helix, exposing the scapha, correcting deformity.

RESULTSThe 15 patients composite grafts all survived. The helix has been lengthened, the scapha exposed, the normal ear reduced, the constricted ear augmented and two sides ear have become symmetry.

CONCLUSIONThis method is simple and results are satisfied.

Adolescent ; Child ; Ear, External ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Transplants ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVEBased on the different physiological characteristics of the mastoid skin and soft tissue of Chinese congenital microtia malformation, the Nagata two-stage method was respectively applied for ear reconstruction, and the clinic experience were investigated in this study.

METHODAccording to the mastoid skin and soft tissue difference in the thickness and tightness, 280 patients diagnosed with congenital microtia were divided into four types: thin and tight, thin and loose, thick and tight, thick and loose type. 90 cases of thin and loose type accepted the Nagata method of ear reconstruction surgery.

RESULTSWith average 7.8 months follow up, 84.4% (76/90) cases using Nagata two-stage method were satisfied with the outcome of the reconstructed ear including three dimensional position and subunit appearance. There were no postoperative complication related to chest wall deformity or affected normal physical function.

CONCLUSIONSThe Nagata two-stage method is appropriate management choice for Chinese congenital microtia. Based on the different physiological characteristics of the mastoid skin and soft tissue, the selection of different operational should be beneficial to the ear reconstruction of Chinese congenital microtia malformation.

China ; Congenital Microtia ; surgery ; Ear, External ; surgery ; Humans ; Mastoid ; Otologic Surgical Procedures ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Skin ; Thoracic Wall

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility of Brent I methods for total auricular reconstruction when expanded flap ulceration happened.

METHODSThe expanded flaps in the retroauricular region ulcerated during total auricular reconstruction in 8 patients with microtia. Then the expanders were removed and autologous rib cartilage frameworks were implanted. Brent I techniques for the total auricular reconstruction were employed.

RESULTSAll the wounds in 8 patients with microtia healed primarily. The expanded flaps survived completely. The reconstructed ears had good shape and appearance with little hair. The size, shape and position of reconstructed ears were coordinated with the face.

CONCLUSIONSBrent I technique is an alternative method for total auricular reconstruction when the expanded flap ulceration occurs during total ear reconstruction.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Ear Auricle ; surgery ; Ear, External ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Skin Transplantation ; Surgical Flaps ; Tissue Expansion ; methods ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVEDespite substantial research efforts worldwide, the role of inflammatory cytokine IL-1β in the onset of febrile seizures (FS) remains controversial. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between rs16944 polymorphism of the IL-1β-511T gene and occurrence of simple FS in a sample of Han children in northern China.

METHODSThe IL-1β-511T gene rs16944 was genotyped by SNaPshot SNP technique in 141 FS children and 130 healthy control subjects. The genotypic and allelic frequencies in the two groups were comparatively analyzed.

RESULTSThere were no significant differences in genotypic and allelic frequencies of rs16944 polymorphism of the IL-1β-511T gene between FS patients and control subjects (P>0.05).When the clinical data on A/A, A/G and G/G genotypes of the rs16944 polymorphism in FS patients, there was statistically significant difference in age of first onset (χ(2)=19.491, P<0.01), temperature of first onset (χ(2)=9.317, P<0.05) and family history of FS (χ(2)=26.798, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThere is no association between rs16944 polymorphism of the IL-1β-511T gene and the incidence of FS in Han children in Northern China. However, the differences in genotypes of this polymorphism might be associated with pathogenesis and prognosis of simple FS in the population studied.

Child, Preschool ; China ; ethnology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Interleukin-1beta ; genetics ; Male ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Seizures, Febrile ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the alternation of biological characteristics of residual ear chondrocytes when proliferating in vitro, and study the effects of CDMP-1 on proliferation and differentiation of residual ear chondrocytes.

METHODSResidual ear chondrocytes were cultured in vitro. Then we observed the effect of CDMP-1 on differentiation by immunohistochemistry of collagen type II and dyeing with toluidine blue, investigated proliferation effects of CDMP-1 by method of MIT, and analysis cell cycle changes by flow cytometry.

RESULTSThe quantity of GAG gradually decreased along with the increase of the doubling time of chondrocytes in vitro. The quantity of chondrocytes with positive expression of collagen type II were significantly more in the experimental group used with CDMP-1 than the contrast. And the most efficient concentration of CDMP-1 was 100 ng/ml.

CONCLUSIONSCDMP-1 had a good effect on proliferating and could maintain morphology of the residual ear chondrocytes of microtia cultured in vitro.

Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Chondrocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; Ear Deformities, Acquired ; Female ; Growth Differentiation Factor 5 ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Male

Objective To explore the influence of antenatal taurine supplementation on the expression of key signaling molecule of Ras homolog gene-Rho associated coiled-coil forming protein kinase-proliferating cell nuclear antigen(Rho-ROCK-PCNAR) pathway in fetal rat brain with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR),and to understand whether or not taurine can improve neuron regeneration in IUGR fetal rats by this signaling pathway.Methods Thirty pregnant rats were randomly divided into 3 groups:control group,IUGR model(IUGR group) and IUGR + antenatal taufine supplements group(IUGR + taurine group).Taurine was added to the diet of IUGR + taurine group at a dose of 300 mg/(kg · d) from 12 days after conception until natural delivery.The level of mRNA expressions of Ras homolog gene A(RhoA),Rho-associated coiled coil-forming protein kinase 2 gene (ROCK2 gene) and PCNA gene were detected by Real time-PCR.The PCNA positive cell counts were detected by immunohistochemistry.Results 1.The level of RhoA,ROCK2 and PCNA mRNA in the IUGR group,IUGR + taurine group and control group were respectively:RhoA mRNA 1.757±0.041,1.498 ±0.011 and 1.000 ±0.000(P＜0.05);ROCK2 mRNA 1.548 ±0.231,1.094 ±0.049 and 1.000 ± 0.000 (P ＜ 0.05) ; PCNA mRNA 2.007 ± 0.800,3.034 ± 0.670 and 1.000 ± 0.000 (P ＜ 0.05).2.The PCNA positive cell counts in control group,IUGR group and IUGR + taurine group were respectively 11.30 ± 3.18,22.24 ± 6.17 and 77.80 ± 14.60 (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Antenatal supplementation of taurine can inhibit the expression of key signaling molecule of Rho-ROCK pathway and improve the expression of PCNA in IUGR fetal brain,which provides a further theoretical basis for the application of antenatal taurine to improve IUGR fetal brain development.

Objective To explore whether single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP) of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit α-4(CHRNA4) or synapsin Ⅱ (SYN2) gene can be used as markers of susceptibility to simple febrile seizure(FS) in the Han children of North China.Methods The CHRNA4 gene rs1044396 and SYN2 gene rs3773364 were genotyped by adopting SNaPshot SNP technique in 141 simple FS children and 130 healthy normal controls.The genotype and allele gene frequency in the 2 groups were compared.Results There were no significant differences in the genotype and allele gene in CHRNA4 gene rs1044396 and SYN2 gene rs3773364 between FS children and healthy controls(all P ＞ 0.05) ; As compared with the FS's clinical data of A/A,A/G,G/G genotypes of the CHRNA4 gene rs1044396 polymorphism and C/C,C/T,T/T genotypes of SYN2 gene rs3773364 polymorphism,there was statistically significant difference in age of first onset in rs 1044396 polymorphism (x2 =17.206,P ＜ 0.001),and there were statistically significant differences in ages and temperature of first onset and gender(x2 =21.458,8.717,10.424,all P ＜0.05) in rs3773364.Conclusions There is no association of CHRNA4 gene rs1044396 polymorphism or SYN2 gene rs3773364 polymorphism with the incidence of simple FS in the Han children of North China,but they may be associated with the age and temperature of first onset.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Angiotensin(1-7) [Ang(1-7)] on left ventricular dysfunction and myocardial apoptosis on rat model of adriamycin-induced dilated cardiomyopathy (ADR-DCM).

METHODSWeight-matched adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: (1) the ADR-DCM group (n = 25), in which 2.5 mg/kg of ADR was weekly intravenously injected for 10 weeks. (2) Ang(1-7) group (n = 25), in which ADR rats were simultaneously treated with angiotensin-(1-7) (24 µg×kg(-1)×h(-1), ip.) for 12 weeks. (3) normal control group (n = 10). Hemodynamics and echocardiography examination were performed at 12 weeks. The malondialdehyde (MDA) was measured by TBA methods. The plasma concentration of AngII was determined by immunoradiometric assay. The pathological change was analyzed by histological hematoxylin-eosin staining. Myocardial apoptosis was assessed by TUNEL method. The protein expression of pro-apoptotic protein caspase-3, Bax and anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-xl in cardiomyocytes were detected by Western blot.

RESULTSMortality was significantly lower in Ang(1-7) group than in ADR-DCM group (16% vs. 40%, P < 0.01). Compared to the control group, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), left ventricular end systolic diameter (LVESD) and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) were significantly increased in ADR-DCM group (all P < 0.01) while fractional shorting (FS), +dp/dtmax and -dp/dtmax were significantly reduced in ADR-DCM group (all P < 0.01). LVEDD, LVESD and LVEDP were significantly reduced while FS, +dp/dtmax and -dp/dtmax were significantly higher in Ang(1-7) group compared to the ADR-DCM group, but still higher than the control group (all P < 0.01). The concentrations of AngII and MDA were higher in the ADR-DCM group than in the control group (P < 0.01), which were significantly reduced by Ang(1-7) treatment (P < 0.01). The TUNEL-positive cells and apoptosis index, the expression of pro-apoptotic protein caspase-3 and Bax were significantly higher while the expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-xl was significantly lower in the ADR-DCM group than in the control group (all P < 0.01) which could all be partially reversed by Ang(1-7) treatment (all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONAng(1-7) could significantly attenuate left ventricular dysfunction and myocardial apoptosis in this model by downregulating pro-apoptotic protein caspase-3 and Bax and upregulating anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-xl expression.

Angiotensin I ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated ; chemically induced ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Doxorubicin ; adverse effects ; Heart ; drug effects ; Male ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; pathology ; Peptide Fragments ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left ; drug therapy ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism ; bcl-X Protein ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of tirofiban use immediately after successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with moderate to high risk non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACS).

METHODSNSTE-ACS patients undergoing successful PCI (n = 246) were randomized by the envelope method to tirofiban group (n = 122, 10 µg/kg bolus within 3 min followed by 0.10-0.15 µg×kg(-1)×min(-1) for 36 h i.v.) or control group (n = 124, saline i.v. for 36 h). The primary efficacy composite end point was death, myocardial infarction, target vascular revascularization or ischemic stroke at 30 days. The second end point was the occurrence of composite end point at 7 days or 6 months. Key safety end points were bleeding and thrombocytopenia 3 days after PCI.

RESULTSBaseline characteristics were well-balanced between the two groups (P > 0.05). The primary end point occurred in 0.9% (1/117) patients in the tirofiban group and 3.3% (4/123) patients of those in the control group (P = 0.40). There was no significant difference in the composite end point at 7 days [0.8% (1/122) vs. 3.2% (4/124), P = 0.38] between the groups, however, there was a trend towards lower composite efficacy end points at 6 months in tirofiban group compared to control group [0.9% (1/117) vs. 5.9% (7/118), P = 0.07]. The probability of survival free of composite end point was significantly higher in the tirofiban group than that in the control group (99.2% vs. 94.2%, log-rank test, P = 0.03). There was no GUSTO severe or moderate bleeding or severe thrombocytopenia within 3 days post-PCI. There was no significant difference in mild bleeding [13.1% (16/122) vs. 7.3% (9/124), P = 0.13] or mild thrombocytopenia [0.8% (1/122) vs. 0.8% (1/124), P = 1.00] between the groups.

CONCLUSIONTirofiban use after successful PCI can improve 6-month event-free survival without increasing the risk of bleeding for patients with moderate to high risk NSTE-ACS.

Acute Coronary Syndrome ; therapy ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Prognosis ; Treatment Outcome ; Tyrosine ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use