Objective To discuss the prenatal ultrasound manifestations of Apert syndrome. Methods The prenatal ultrasound features of 4 fetuses identified as Apert syndrome after detailed antenatal ultrasound examinations between January, 2010 to Februry, 2014 in our hospital were analyzed. The ultrasound images and postnatal outcome or autopsy were compared to analysis the sonographic features of Apert syndrome in prenatal. Results The prenatal ultrasound characteristics and pregnant outcome of the 4 fetuses were showed as followings:(1) Skull deformity:4 fetuses were all appeared as acrocephaly, coronal suture premature close and frontal protrusion, while 3 cases (case 1-3) had“clover leaf skull deformity”features. (2) Midfacial malformation deformity:3 cases (case 1-3) were all with hypertelorism and mid-sagittal facial proifle abnormal and only 1 case (case 2) had nose hypoplasia. (3) Limbs abnormal:4 cases were all appeared as bilateral symmetry syndactyly of hands and 1 case (case 2) was diagnosed as bilateral symmetry syndactyly of feet. (4) Associated abnormality:persistent right umbilical vein in 1 case (case1), thoracic spine stenosis in 1 case (case 2), hyperechogenic renal parenchyma in 1 case (case 3) and left-diaphragmatic hernia in 1 case (case 4). (5) The pregnant outcome:3 cases underwent pregnancy termination and 1 case was labored at term. The 3 cases (case1-3) were diagnosed as bilateral symmetry syndactyly of feet after induced labor. The cleft palate and bilateral symmetry syndactyly of feet were misdiagnosed in the full-time infant (case 3), who was died two days after birth. Conclusions The Apert syndrome is a rare syndrome. It generally has typical characteristic of prenatal ultrasound, such as coronal suture premature close, acrocephaly, mid-sagittal facial profile abnormal and bilateral symmetry syndactyly of hands and feet. Prenatal diagnosis of Apert syndrome can play an important role in genetic counseling and postnatal treatment.

Objective To investigate the expression of IL-8 and CXCR2 on keratinocytes from psoriatic lesions and their roles on clinical and pathologic manifestations. Methods The chemotaxis of psoriatic lesional keratinocytes was detected by micropore loculus test. The concentration of IL-8 was determined in the cultured supernatants of psoriatic keratinocytes by ELISA. The expression of CXCR2 on keratinocytes from affected skin was tested by flow cytometry. Results The chemotaxis for neutrophils by the cultured supernatants of psoriatic lesional keratinocytes was significantly stronger than that by controls. The concentration of IL-8 in the cultured supernatants of psoriatic lesional keratinocytes was also increased. The expression of CXCR2 on psoriatic keratinocytes was significantly increased. Conclusions The psoriatic epidermal hyperproliferation may be correlated with up regulation of IL-8 production and CXCR2 expression on psoriatic keratinocytes. At the same time, the psoriatic inflammation may be partly related to the increase of secretion of IL-8, which has chemotactic capacity, by keratinocytes. IL-8 and CXCR2 may be involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.

ObjectiveTo introduce the application of slender narrow subcutaneous fascia pedicle flap in repairing the cavity of conchs wound in microtia plasty,and to investigate its survival mechanism.MethodsThe all 6 congenital microtia cases were repaired with the concha compound flap up rotation.The all microtia concha wounds were repaired with the slender narrow pedicle.The lateral maxillocevicai fasciotaneous flap with its slender subcutaneous fascia pedlcle located in front of auricle.The size of the flaps ranged from 3.0 cm × 3.0 cm to 4.0 cm × 4.5 cm,The width and length of the pedicle ranged 1.0-1.5 cm and 3.5-4.5 cm.Results6 cases of the slender narrow subcutaneous fascia pedlcle flaps all survived,with primary wound healing and ideal appearance.ConclusionsThis slender narrow subcutaneous fascia pedlcle flap does not contain any major blood vessel,which is dissected easily in the operation.Due to its slender narrow pedicle,the flap rotation is also easy and its coverage area is large,without cat ears.The postoperative appearance (color,lexture,cosmetic aspect)is satisfactory.The slender narrow flap is an extraordinary new design and is ideal for the cavity of concha wound repair in the microtia plasty.

Objective To investigate the application and survival mechanism of a long and narrow pedicle flap which was used to repair the tissue defects after removal of tumor in aged patients.Methods The long and narrow pedicle flap was designed with its pedicle located beside wound surface along the pathway of well-known or perforating branch blood vessel to repair the defect caused by removing the tumor in aged patients.The size of the flaps ranged from 3 cm × 4 cm to 10 cm × 12 cm.The length and width of the pedicle ranged 2 - 8 cm and 1.0 - 1.5 cm.Results This flap was used in 17 cases.The flap was survived well in 14 patients,and healed later in other 3 patients because of wrong bandaging in earlier period.Conclusions The capability of bearing ischemia and hypoxia of the flap tissue is stronger after transfer owing to low metabolic rate in the skin tissue in aged patients.The flap is easily survived by repairing the tissue defects after removal of tumors in aged patients with the long and narrow pedicle flap.The pedicle of flap is narrow and long,and the transposition of the narrow pedicle flap is easy.The postoperative appearance is satisfactory.It is an ideal choice for repairing the defect caused by removal of tumor in aged patients.

Objective To observe the effect of recombinant human growth hormone on flap survival and angiogenesis through preoperative local subcutaneous continuous injection of rhGH in narrow pedicle flap.Methods 40 rats were divided into two groups at random,named as groups Ⅰ and Ⅱ,20 rats each.A narrow pedicle flap was designed on the left back of rat in groups Ⅰ and Ⅱ.Then group Ⅰ was subcutaneously injected with rhGH [0.4 IU/(kg · d)] for 3 days.Another group did not have any injection.After 3 days,we established a model of narrow pedicle flaps in the left back of animals.After operation,the flaps of groups Ⅰ and Ⅱ were injected with rhGH [0.4 IU/(kg · d)]for 7 days.The survival percentage of the flap was calculated at 7'th day.Specimens were collected at the diffent point of time.Expression of VEGF,CD34 was detected by immunohistochemistry and ELISA.The MVD of the flaps was also calculated.Results According to the 7 days' observation after the surgery,the percentage of flap survival area for groups Ⅰ and Ⅱ was (100.00±0.00)％,and (94.00±1.10)％ (P＜0.05).The expression of VEGF,CD34 and the MVD values of group Ⅰ was higher than that of group Ⅱ at the same point of time (P＜0.05),especially on the day of surgery.Conclusions Preoperative and local subcutaneaous continuous injection of rhGH on flaps can enhance the expression of VEGF and CD34 and microvascular formation,mitigate the damage of ischemia and hypoxia to flap during the postoperative period,and therefore improve the survival of narrow pedicle flap.

Objective To study the value of free-style perforator flap in repairing nasal defects after tumor resection.Methods On the basis of the guidance of free-style perforator flap design concept and the foundation of vascular localization by Doppler based on the ultrasonic echo intensity,combined with nasal beauty subunits,we designed free-style perforator flap in different forms such as V-Y advancing flap,rotating flap,and propeller flap,which had with free-style perforator in pedicle all.We transplanted the flaps to repair nasal defects after tumor resection.The area of the flaps was between 2 cm x 1.0 cm and 8.0 cm x 5.0 cm,and the diameter of the perforate vessel in the pedicle of flap was between 0.3 mm-3 mm,and some of the pedicles were composed of perforate vessel tube bundle.In order to reduce recurrence rate,the radiotherapy was performed according to the pathology in 1 month after surgery.Results In 31 cases of this group,29 cases were performed and the postoperative shape was good.1 case appeared postoperative hemorrhage,and the epidermis of flap formed blister because of greater tension,and the patient healed 10 days later after extraction the bubble fluid and changing medicine.The flap of 1 case was silted because the venous was blocked,and the acupuncture was treated,and then the flap got delayed union.23 cases received adjuvant radio therapy after surgery and fellowed up from 6 months to 5 years,showing that local profile and color were satisfacfory without tumor recurrence.Conclusions It is worthy of clinical promotion to designing freetype perforator flap and to repair defect after extensive nasal tumor resection on the basis of beauty subunits in nasal and vascular anatomy,which can not only reduce the recurrence rate by postoperative radiotherapy in time,but also realize better cosmetic requirements.

Objective To explore the clinical significance of protection "Choke vessel area" in the application of perforator flap to repair large defect of trunk after tumor resection.Methods A total of 62 patients (38 males and 24 females,aged from 19 to 79 years) from the Department of Plastic Surgery,Second Affiliated Hospital of Suzhou University underwent reconstructive surgery for large area defects of the trunk from March 2012 to January 2016.The perforator flap was designed according to the perforator location detected by Doppler before surgery.The flaps were harvested on the pedicle of perforators and dissected on the deep layer of deep fascia (including part of the myolemma).The areas of flap ranged from 5.0 cm × 10.0 cm to 19.0 cm × 22.0 cm.The donor site was sutured directly or local flap was transferred to repair.Results Flaps survived well in 59 of the 62 cases.The tip of flap was necrotic and healed after dressing change in 1 diabetic patient.The distal part of flap was necrotic on cuticular layer and healed after dressing change in another patient with scrotal defect.One patient had flap necrosis 10 days after operation and was repaired twice.The results were satisfied after following-up from 3 months to 2 years for 17 cases and from 6 months to 2 years for 25 cases.Fibrosarcoma protuberant and squamous cell carcinoma recurred in 1 case each,but the function and appearance were satisfactory after primary repair.Conclusions The procedure of preserving Choke vessel area can improve the blood supply of perforator flap and obtain larger survival area and survival quality.It is worthy of clinical application.

OBJECTIVETo detect structural changes in the brain in fetuses with agenesis of the corpus callosum (ACC) and holoprosencephaly (HPE) in the first trimester.

METHODSThe ultrasound data were analyzed retrospectively in 620 normal singleton fetuses between 11 and 13(+6) gestational weeks, 5 fetuses diagnosed to have ACC, and 13 fetuses with HPE. The midbrain diameter (MD) and falx diameter (FD) were measured and their ratio (MD/FD) was calculated for comparative analysis.

RESULTSNo significant difference was found in the MD, FD, and MD/FD ratio between fetuses with ACC and HPE (P>0.05). Compared to the normal fetuses, all the fetuses with ACC and HPE showed significantly increased mean MD and MD/FD ratio (P<0.05); 4 (80%) fetuses with ACC and 11 (84.6%) with HPE had a reduced FD. All the fetuses with ACC and HPE had MD/FD ratios greater than 1, which were below 1 in all the normal fetuses.

CONCLUSIONIn the first trimester, fetuses with ACC and HPE have measurable abnormalities in the midbrain and falx area of the brain, and these changes, represented by abnormal midsagittal MD, FD and their ratio, can be of value in detecting ACC or HPE in fetuses in the first trimester.

Agenesis of Corpus Callosum ; diagnosis ; Corpus Callosum ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Fetus ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, First ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography, Prenatal

Objective To investigate the calcification characteristics and biological activity of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis(HAE). Methods Retrospective analysis of 60 patients in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from June 2016 to April 2017 with hydatid positive or surgical pathology confirmed HAE.All patients underwent abdominal CT scan and double-phase enhanced PET-CT examination were confirmed with single lesion.The CT and PET-CT features were analysed,and the maximum standard uptake value (SUVmax) of the focal lesion on the PET-CT was measured. According to the calcification,HAE patients were divided into A,B,C type.Kruskal-Wallis H test was used to compare the difference of SUVmax between lesions of different HAE types. Results Sixty patients with hepatic alveolar echinococcosis were evenly divided into A,B and C by different calcifications.The median SUVmax of A,B and C were 3.41(2.17 to 3.75),7.45(6.77 to 9.01)and 6.67(6.28 to 9.01),respectively.The median SUVmax within three types was statistically significant (χ2=4.429, P<0.05). Conclusion The biological activity of different HAE calcifications is different.

Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) has been only reported to prevent type 1 diabetic nephropathy (DN) in the streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) mouse model. However, the FVB (Cg)-Tg (Cryaa-Tag, Ins2-CALM1) 26OVE/PneJ (OVE26) transgenic mouse is a widely recommended mouse model to recapture the most important features of T1DM nephropathy that often occurs in diabetic patients. In addition, most previous studies focused on exploring the preventive effect of FGF21 on the development of DN. However, in clinic, development of therapeutic strategy has much more realistic value compared with preventive strategy since the onset time of DN is difficult to be accurately predicted. Therefore, in the present study OVE26 mice were used to investigate the potential therapeutic effects of FGF21 on DN.

Four-month-old female OVE26 mice were intraperitoneally treated with recombinant FGF21 at a dose of 100 µg/kg/day for 3 months. The diabetic and non-diabetic control mice were treated with phosphate-buffered saline at the same volume. Renal functions, pathological changes, inflammation, apoptosis, oxidative stress and fibrosis were examined in mice of all groups.

The results showed that severe renal dysfunction, morphological changes, inflammation, apoptosis, and fibrosis were observed in OVE26 mice. However, all the renal abnormalities above in OVE26 mice were significantly attenuated by 3-month FGF21 treatment associated with improvement of renal adenosine 5′-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity and sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) expression.

Therefore, this study demonstrated that FGF21 might exert therapeutic effects on DN through AMPK-SIRT1 pathway.