Objective:To compare the clinical effects between the homodigital radial flap of the dorsal cutaneous branch of radial palmar proper digital artery (PPDA) and the homodigital reverse island flap of the ulnar dorsal digital artery (DDA) on reconstruction of defects in thumb-tip or thumb-pulp.Methods:The retrospective case-control study method was used. From January 2016 to August 2022, a total of 65 thumb-tip or thumb-pulp defects were treated in the Department of Hand Surgery of the Second Hospital of Tangshan. Thirty-five defects of thumbs were reconstructed with the homodigital radial flap pedicled with dorsal cutaneous branch of radial PPDA (PPDA group) and the other 30 thumbs were treated by the homodigital ulnar reverse island flap pedicled with ulnar DDA (DDA group). Sizes of the wounds and flaps in PPDA group were 1.9 cm×1.5 cm to 2.9 cm×2.4 cm and 2.1 cm× 1.7 cm to 3.1 cm×2.6 cm, respectively, and the dimensions of the wounds and flaps in DDA group were 2.0 cm× 1.7 cm to 2.9 cm×2.5 cm and 2.2 cm×1.9 cm to 3.2 cm×2.8 cm, respectively. The wounds of donor site in both groups were all directly closed. Survival of the flaps and wound healing of donor sites were observed in both groups. The time of surgery and duration of follow-up of the 2 groups were recorded. Postoperative follow-up included outpatient clinic visits, telephone reviews and WeChat video-clips. At the final follow-up, record of total active motion (TAM) of the injured thumbs, angle of first web of the affected hands, static TPD of the flaps, patient satisfaction of the appearance of flaps and donor sites were taken. According to the Michigan Hand Function Questionnaire (MHQ) evaluation criteria, the patient satisfaction of the appearance of flaps and donor sites were evaluated. The measurement and count data acquired from both groups were compared by independent sample t-test and χ2 tests or Fisher's exact test, respectively. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results:All 35 flaps in PPDA group and 26 flaps in DDA group survived primarily, except 4 flaps in the DDA group that showed blisters and healed with dressing changes. The primary survival rate of flap in PPDA group (100%) was higher than that of DDA group (87%), and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). Donor sites of both groups healed primary. The time of surgery and duration of follow-up in PPDA and DDA groups were 59.11 minutes±5.42 minutes and 15.37 months±3.32 months, and 61.27 minutes±5.96 minutes and 16.17 months±3.60 months, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups ( P>0.05). At the final follow-up, the thumb TAM and angle of thumb web in PPDA and DDA groups were 135.14°±10.04° and 90.29°±4.36° and 132.17°±11.04° and 89.00°±4.81°, respectively. There was no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups ( P>0.05). The static TPD, patient satisfaction of the appearance of flaps and donor sites in PPDA group were 7.11 mm±1.21 mm, 4.69 point±0.47 point and 4.43 point±0.50 point, which were better than DDA group [8.20 mm±1.47 mm, 4.40 point±0.50 point and 4.13 point±0.57 point, respectively] with a statistically significant difference ( P<0.05). Conclusion:The homodigital radial flap of the dorsal cutaneous branch of radial PPDA and the homodigital ulnar reverse island flap of the ulnar DDA are both suitable for reconstruction of defects in thumb-tip or thumb-pulp. Compared with the homodigital reverse island flap with the DDA, a homodigital radial flap with the dorsal cutaneous branch of PPDA has advantages in higher primary survival rate, better flap sensation and appearance at both of recipient and donor sites.

Objective:To explore the clinical outcome and applicability of the comb flap technique and stepwise design concept in plastic aesthetic and reconstructive surgery.Methods:The clinical data of patients who underwent plastic aesthetic and reconstructive surgery with the comb flap technique in Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from January 2018 to December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The application of the comb flap technique follows the concept of stepwise design, that was, preoperative and intraoperative design and adjustment were carried out step by step and in sequence, and the design was combined with the surgical procedure. Its main operations included: an incision was designed along the edge of the target area, the tissue flap was widely separated at the base of the target area. The tissue flap was cut in sequence perpendicular to the cutting edge and temporarily sutured and fixed, the edge was cut and fixed. During the operation, the tension of the incision and the local appearance could be adjusted. The incisal edge was finely sutured, and the temporary suture was finally removed. The healing of surgical incision and complications were observed after the operation, and the facial recovery and surgical effect were followed up.Results:Six patients were enrolled, including 3 males and 3 females, aged from 2 to 58 years. One patient underwent upper eyelid tightening and lower eyelid blepharoplasty through subeyebrow incision. One patient underwent middle and lower face rhytidectomy. One patient underwent thick lip thinning and right facial liposuction. One patient underwent facial congenital melanocytic nevi resection. One patient underwent eyebrow congenital melanocytic nevus resection. One patient underwent facial flap repair. All patients had primary healing of incision, and no surgery-related complications occurred. All patients were followed up for 3 to 18 months, and all patients were satisfied with the surgical effect.Conclusion:The application of comb flap technique and stepwise design concept in plastic aesthetic and reconstructive surgery can delicately adjust the alignment of the incision margin, make the tension evenly distributed, and reduce the risk of scar formation and deformity after the operation. It has a wide range of clinical applications and good applicability.

The hyperactivation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signal pathway caused by PIK3CA mutation is associated with a category of overgrowth syndromes that are defined as PIK3CA-related overgrowth spectrum (PROS). The clinical features of PROS are highly heterogeneous and typically present with vascular malformations, bone and soft tissue overgrowth, neurological and visceral abnormalities. Detection of gene mutation are necessary for diagnosis and provide the basis for the genetic targeted therapy of PROS. Drugs that inhibits PI3K pathway have offered an alternative choice to conventional therapies. This article reviews the current knowledge of PROS and summarizes the latest progress for precise treatment.

Objective:To explore the clinical outcome and applicability of the comb flap technique and stepwise design concept in plastic aesthetic and reconstructive surgery.Methods:The clinical data of patients who underwent plastic aesthetic and reconstructive surgery with the comb flap technique in Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from January 2018 to December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The application of the comb flap technique follows the concept of stepwise design, that was, preoperative and intraoperative design and adjustment were carried out step by step and in sequence, and the design was combined with the surgical procedure. Its main operations included: an incision was designed along the edge of the target area, the tissue flap was widely separated at the base of the target area. The tissue flap was cut in sequence perpendicular to the cutting edge and temporarily sutured and fixed, the edge was cut and fixed. During the operation, the tension of the incision and the local appearance could be adjusted. The incisal edge was finely sutured, and the temporary suture was finally removed. The healing of surgical incision and complications were observed after the operation, and the facial recovery and surgical effect were followed up.Results:Six patients were enrolled, including 3 males and 3 females, aged from 2 to 58 years. One patient underwent upper eyelid tightening and lower eyelid blepharoplasty through subeyebrow incision. One patient underwent middle and lower face rhytidectomy. One patient underwent thick lip thinning and right facial liposuction. One patient underwent facial congenital melanocytic nevi resection. One patient underwent eyebrow congenital melanocytic nevus resection. One patient underwent facial flap repair. All patients had primary healing of incision, and no surgery-related complications occurred. All patients were followed up for 3 to 18 months, and all patients were satisfied with the surgical effect.Conclusion:The application of comb flap technique and stepwise design concept in plastic aesthetic and reconstructive surgery can delicately adjust the alignment of the incision margin, make the tension evenly distributed, and reduce the risk of scar formation and deformity after the operation. It has a wide range of clinical applications and good applicability.

The hyperactivation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signal pathway caused by PIK3CA mutation is associated with a category of overgrowth syndromes that are defined as PIK3CA-related overgrowth spectrum (PROS). The clinical features of PROS are highly heterogeneous and typically present with vascular malformations, bone and soft tissue overgrowth, neurological and visceral abnormalities. Detection of gene mutation are necessary for diagnosis and provide the basis for the genetic targeted therapy of PROS. Drugs that inhibits PI3K pathway have offered an alternative choice to conventional therapies. This article reviews the current knowledge of PROS and summarizes the latest progress for precise treatment.

Objective:To investigate the knowledge of Sixth Chinese national consensus report on the management of Helicobacter pylori infection ( treatment excluded) (hereinafter referred to as sixth national consensus) and 2022 Chinese national clinical practice guideline on Helicobacter pylori eradication treatment (hereinafter referred to as the guideline)among medical staff from general hospitals in Hainan. Methods:From February 20 to May 7, 2023, a questionnaire survey on the diagnosis and treatment of Helicobacter pylori ( H. pylori) infection was conducted among 1 463 medical staff from 15 general hospitals in Hainan Province. The questionnaire was drawn up according to the sixth national consensus and the guideline, covering knowledge of 6 sections, induding H. pylori related diseases, detection of H. pylori, eradication, prevention and influence factors of eradication of H. pylori, etc. Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis. Results:A total of 1 463 valid questionnaires were collected with the effective responsive rate of 100.00%.The 1 463 subjects included 225 gastroenterologists and 1 238 other medical staff(including 503 physicians from other departments, 264 surgeons and 471 medical technologists and pharmacists). About 78.67%(177/225)of gastroenterologists agreed that the overall infection rate of H. pylori in China was more than 20%, the awareness rate was higher than that of other medical staff (physicians from other departments 65.41%(329/503), surgeons 61.74%(163/264), medical technologists and pharmacists 60.30%(284/471); the following datas were sorted by this position), and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=30.97, P<0.001). About 51.11%(115/225) of gastroenterologists considered that H. pylori serological antibody test could not be used as a diagnostic method for current infection, the awareness rate was higher than that of other medical staff(22.07%(111/503), 14.02%(37/264), 12.31%(58/471)), and the difference was statistically significant( χ2 =152.66, P<0.001). Proton pump inhibitor and potassium-competitive acid blocker should be discontinued for 2 weeks, and antibiotics and bismuth should be discontinued for 4 weeks before urea breath test, and the awareness rates of gastroenterologists were higher than those of other medical staff (38.67%(87/225) vs. 23.26%(117/503), 19.70%(52/264), 18.47%(87/471); 60.89%(137/225) vs. 26.64%(134/503), 25.76%(68/264), 23.78%(112/471)), and the differences were statistically significant ( χ2 =133.70 and 165.51, both P<0.001). For refractory H. pylori infection, 98.67%(222/225)of gastroenterologists agreed with the individualized diagnosis and treatment of H. pylori infection should be guided by bacterial culture, antibiotic susceptibility test or drug resistance gene test, and the awareness rate was higher than that of other medical staff (91.85%(462/503), 93.56%(247/264), 93.21%(439/471)), and the difference was statistically significant( χ2=20.55, P=0.002). About 70.67% (159/225) of gastroenterologists recommended a bismuth containing quadruple regimen, 80.44% (181/225) supported a 10 to 14 day H. pylori eradication course, and the awareness rates were higher than other medical staff (46.92%(236/503), 33.33%(88/264), 32.91%(155/471); 67.20%(338/503), 59.09%(156/264), 53.93%(254/471)), and the differences were statistically significant ( χ2=111.25 and 59.99, both P<0.001). The understanding rates of the sixth national consensus and the guideline in gastroenterologists was 85.33% (192/225), which was higher than that of other medical staff (64.21%(323/503), 66.67%(176/264), 57.96%(273/471)), and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=85.47, P<0.001). Conclusions:Gastroenterologists from general hospitals in Hainan Province have a better understanding of the sixth national consensus and the guideline than other medical staff. However, there is still a lack of deep understanding of the sixth national consensus and the guideline, and it is necessary to further strengthen the learning and application of the sixth national consensus and the guideline.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the roles of interleukin (IL)-17A in risk stratification and prognosis of patients with sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (SAKI). Methods: We enrolled 146 sepsis patients (84 non-SAKI and 62 SAKI patients) admitted to the emergency department from November 2020 to November 2021. Patients with SAKI were differentiated based on the severity of acute kidney injury. All clinical parameters were evaluated upon admission before administering antibiotic treatment. Inflammatory cytokines were assessed using flow cytometry and the Pylon 3D automated immunoassay system (ET Healthcare). In addition, a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was utilized to determine the prognostic values of IL-17A in SAKI. Results: The levels of creatinine, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-17A, tumor necrosis factor alpha, C-reactive protein, and procalcitonin (PCT) were significantly higher in the SAKI group than in the non-SAKI group (p < 0.05). The level of IL-17A revealed significant differences among stages 1, 2, and 3 in SAKI patients (p < 0.05). The mean levels of PCT, IL-4, and IL-17A were significantly higher in the non-survival group than in the survival group in SAKI patients (p < 0.05). In addition, the area under the ROC curve of IL-17A was 0.811. Moreover, the IL-17A cutoff for differentiating survivors from non-survivors was 4.7 pg/mL, of which the sensitivity and specificity were 77.4% and 71.0%, respectively. Conclusion: Elevated levels of IL-17A could predict that SAKI patients are significantly prone to worsening kidney injury with higher mortality. The usefulness of IL-17A in treating SAKI requires further research.

This paper summarizes the latest research on hemangioma and vascular malformation from 2020 to 2021. The main advances include new concepts and understanding of diseases: benign neonatal hemangiomatosis, tardive expansion congenital hemangioma, and PIK3CA-related overgrowth spectrum; comparison of therapeutic effects of drugs, including traditional oral, topical medication and targeted therapy which has attracted much attention in recent years; therapeutic effects of physical therapy including photodynamic and "bleomycin-polidocanol foam" therapy. With the deepening of research in the field of hemangioma and vascular malformation, there are more problems and challenges. It is more necessary to grasp the main research direction and carry out more beneficial exploration.

Thanks to the development of computer science, display technology and tracking technology in recent years, virtual reality and augmented reality catch more and more people’s eyes. At the same time, this new technology has been applied to many different industries, and it has huge practical value and broad prospect in healthcare, especially in plastic surgery. In this article we review the basic concept of virtual reality and augmented reality and introduce their practical applications in plastic surgery (preoperative planning, intraoperative guiding and surgical training), providing an outlook for further development in this field.

Arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is a congenital high-flow vascular malformation. It is the most aggressive and difficult type of vascular malformation. At present, conventional treatment methods based on interventional embolization and surgical resection have limited efficacy, and the lesions are very likely to recur. Moreover, conventional treatments are extremely difficult to treat complex and diffuse lesions, with a high complication rate. Therefore, based on the research basis of genetics and pathogenesis, accelerating the research of precision targeted therapy is a top priority in this field. In this article, the causative genes of AVM and its related syndromes were examined. The functional effects, pathophysiology changes and potential therapeutic targets of KRAS, EphB4, MAP2K1, RASA-1 and related pathways RAS/RAF/MAPK were summarized, and the clinical application of the existing targeted drug trametinib was analyzed, hoping to provide a theoretical basis and reference for the precise targeted therapy of AVM.