Objective To develop an in vitro model for cranial suture of neonatal SD rat. Methods The parietal hones with the sagittal suture were removed from SD rats (19-days old) for organ culture. In the experimental group, tensile force 3.92×10~(-3) N (0.4 g) was applied by helical springs, whereas no tension (0 N) was set in control group. These explants were observed under inverted microscope. At the end of the incubation period for 24 hours, general conditions were observed under inverted microscope and histological conditions were observed after hematoxylin and eosin stain. Results Under inverted micro-scope, sutures had no obvious changes in control group, whereas sutures were enlarged gradually in the experimental group. With histological observation, sutures developed normally in control group, but in experimental group, osteohlasts and capillary vessels proliferated actively in the suture. Conclusions In vitro model of cranial suture can be cultured and grown successively.

Objective To evaluate the STR profiling availability of formalin-fixed tissues and the detectable time limit of intact STR profile.Methods The different human tissues were fixed with 10-fold diluted commercial 40%formalin fixative for different duration under 15～20℃,and then DNA was extracted using the method of QIAamp~(R)DNA and IQ~(TM) DNA System.The extracted DNA was quantified with QuantifilerTM kit and amplified by both AmpFSTR identifiler kit and AmpFSTR MiniFiler kit.The STR profile was analyzed by GeneMapper ID v3.2 on 3100-Avant.Resuls The STR profiling availability of formalin-fixed tissues was relevant to the formalin fixing duration mainly.as well as the type of tissues and the template concentration and protocol of DNA extracting.The optimal ranges of template concentration is 1～3ng/μL and the QIAamp extracting method was preferable.There are differences in the degradation rate between various types of tissues in the unbuffered formalin fixative,and the lung tissue showed the slowest rate and liver and intestine tissues the fastest.Intact miniSTR profile of all the tissues detected could be obtained within 15 days duration of formalin fixing while intact STR profile could be obtained within 4 days.Conclusion The major factor that impact the availability of STR profiling of formalin-fixed tissues is the fixing duration in unbuffered formalin,as well as the type of tissues,method of extraction,concentration of PCR template and the kinds of STR loci.

OBJECTIVETo explore an effective method to diagnose and treat the congenital recessive cleft palate.

METHODSFor the treatment of congenital recessive cleft palate, an operation was designed to recover the anatomic length and function mobility of the soft palate. The operation procedure includes incising vertically the midline mucous membrane of the soft palate, creating and pushing back the mucosal flap of the hard palate, making Z-plasty on the nasal mucosa, reconstructing the sling of the levator veli palatini muscle and repairing the palatal defects with the buccinator muscularis mucosae flap. 12 cases of congenital recessive cleft palate have treated with this method.

RESULTSAll of the 12 cases obtained good results. Their pronunciation improved obviously.

CONCLUSIONThe method is effective for diagnosis and treatment of congenital recessive palate, which is worthy of further application.

Adolescent ; Child ; Cleft Palate ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male

OBJECTIVETo classify the patients with cleft lip and palate who need orthognathic surgery and to propose the corresponding operations.

METHODSFrom January 2005 to May 2015, 121 patients with cleft lip and palate diagnosed as maxillary retrusion were treated by orthognathic surgery. Inclusion criteriar: (1) male aged over 16, female aged over 14; (2) diagnosed as non-syndromic cleft lip and palate without systemic disease and other genetic diseases; (3) without previous orthodontic and orthognathic treatment; (4) having no other craniofacial malformation. Maxillary features and repaired types were recorded.

RESULTS93 patients were included and divided into two categories depended on the dental crowding. Class I: the teeth quantity and bone quantity is coordinated, space analysis ≤ 4 mm (mild dental crowding). The forward distance of maxillary less than 6 mm was defined as Class I a (36 cases) more than 6 mm as Class I b (28 cases). Class II: the teeth quantity and bone quantity is not coordinated, space analysis > 4 mm ( moderate or severe dental crowding). After the simulation of distraction osteogenesis, the anterior crossbite was corrected defined as Class II a (23 cases), not corrected defined as Class II b (6 cases). Class I a were corrected by conventional orthognathic surgery. While Class I b were corrected by Le Fort I maxillary advancement using distraction osteogenesis. Class II a were repaired just by anterior maxillary distraction. While Class II b need to combine conventional orthognathic surgery with anterior maxillary distraction. All the patients were satisfied with the treatment effect.

CONCLUSIONSThe patients of cleft lip and palate with maxillary retrusion who need orthognathic surgery can be classified as the method mentioned above, and then choose the appropriate operations.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Cleft Lip ; complications ; Cleft Palate ; complications ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Maxilla ; Osteogenesis, Distraction ; Osteotomy, Le Fort ; Retrognathia ; classification ; surgery

Objective To detect differentially expressed genes between human normal skin and photoaging skin, and to investigate the molecular and biological mechanisms of human skin photoaging at transcriptional level. Methods Full-thickness skin specimens were obtained during full-face rhytidectomy from sun-exposed (anterior ear skin) and sun-protected (retroauricular skin) sites of 6 patients with facial photoaging from 2007 to 2008. Genomic microarray analysis was conducted to identify differentially expressed genes between the two groups of specimens followed by gene-cluster analysis. Results The normalization of microarray data showed that the number of differentially expressed genes was 2163 between skin samples from sun-exposed and sun-protected sites in one patient, significantly higher than that in the other 5 patients (less than 200);therefore, the data from the patient with 2163 differentially expressed genes were excluded from further analysis.Totally, 172 differentially expressed genes were identified with Beadarray chip, including 99 up-regulated genes and 73 down-regulated genes. Based on Genebank research, 118 functionally classified genes werefound, which were associated with a series of biological processes, including cell adhesion, receptor regulation,signal transduction, metabolism, and so on. Conclusions There are a lot of differentially expressed genes between human photoaging skin and normal skin. Rhytidectomy may be associated with the differential expression of skin photoaging-related genes.

Objective To investigate a new method which could not only avoid the extrusion of the silicon implant, but also be benefit for the reconstruction of nasal tip and alar during nasal augmen-tation procedure. Methods Folded lower lateral cartilage flap combined with silicon implant was ap-plied for nasal dorsal augmentation and reconstruction of nasal tip and alar with its unique character at the same time. Results 12 cases were all primary healing, without infection, extrusion of implant and other complications. One month after operation, the projection of nasal tip was increased, which had better delicate and definite shape, natural appearing tip adding contour and height to nasal tip, pleas-ant definition. Conclusions Folded lower lateral cartilage flap combined with silicon implant is an ef-fective method to decrease the incidence of extrusion, when we want to have a little over-projected na-sal tip with prosthesis. It is also helpful for reconstructing the nasal tip and alar with its unique char-acter.

OBJECTIVETo provide ideal materials for repair of penile wounds in penis lengthening.

METHODSA skin incision was made between the penis and mons pubis. Penis lengthening was performed by complete releasing of the superficial suspensory ligament and partial releasing of the deep suspensory ligament of the penis. Resurfacing of the defects at the penile base was accomplished by transferring a scrotal dartos musculocutaneous flap pedicled on the anterior scrotal vessels.

RESULTS16 patients with short penis were treated with the method. All scrotal dartos musculocutaneous flaps survived and 4-4.5 cm extra length of the penile shaft was achieved. Appearance and function of the penis were improved.

CONCLUSIONSThe scrotal dartos musculocutaneous flap is one of the best materials to repair the penile skin defects in penile lengthening operation. The advantages of the flap are: 1. good blood supply; 2. thin and lacking of subcutaneous fat; 3. extensibility with the scrotal dartos muscle.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Penis ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Scrotum ; Surgical Flaps ; Treatment Outcome ; Wounds and Injuries

OBJECTIVETo provide ideal materials for resurfacing penile ventral wounds.

METHODSFor hypospadias with scrotal fissure and penile-scrotal transposition, scrotal skin flaps based on lateral branches of posterior scrotal arteries were utilized to resurface penile ventral wounds when urethral reconstruction were finished.

RESULTS9 cases of hypospadias of different types have been treated with the method mentioned above. All flaps survived and good results achieved.

CONCLUSIONFor hypospadias with scrotal fissure and penile-scrotal transposition, scrotal skin flaps pedicled on lateral branches of posterior scrotal arteries can not only resurface penile ventral wounds, but also correct scrotal fissure and penile-scrotal transposition simultaneously.

Adolescent ; Arteries ; surgery ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Hypospadias ; surgery ; Male ; Penis ; blood supply ; surgery ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Scrotum ; blood supply ; surgery ; Skin Transplantation ; methods ; Surgical Flaps ; blood supply

OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this study was to provide the guidelines with respect to the location of the facial vessels, observe the potential reversed flow of the facial artery, and reemphasize the value of color Doppler ultrasound studies in flap planning.

METHODSA study was carried out to investigate the location and dynamics of the facial artery and vein using color Doppler ultrasonography in 12 adults.

RESULTSThe facial artery and the vein were located together at the lower border of the mandible. Around the oral commissure and under the nasal ala, they run apart from each other at variable distances. The reverse flow was observed in the 12 patients after the blood flow of the facial artery was blocked by applying pressure manually at the lower border of the mandible.

CONCLUSIONSThe divergence of the facial vein from the artery is important information in planning of axial pattern flaps. Observation of the reversed flow confirms the possibility of safe elevation of a retrograde flow-arterialized flap based on the distal portion of the facial artery.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Arteries ; diagnostic imaging ; Face ; blood supply ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color ; methods ; Veins ; diagnostic imaging

OBJECTIVEEstrogens play an important role in intrinsic skin aging. The associated changes in global gene expression are poorly understood.

METHODSWe used the Illumina microarray platform to obtain comprehensive gene expression profiles in female Chinese Han skin, and confirmed the data by quantitative real-time PCR (Q-RT-PCR).

RESULTSWe found 244 genes significantly related to estrogen-associated intrinsic skin aging, and some of these genes were confirmed by Q-RT-PCR. We also performed functional analysis by both Gene Ontology annotation and enrichment of the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways database. The functional analysis revealed 11 biological pathways (including the KEGG pathways, the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway and metabolic pathways), that were associated with multiple cellular functions which may be involved in intrinsic skin aging.

CONCLUSIONThis study suggests that estrogen-associated intrinsic skin aging is a complicated biological process involving many genes and pathways.

Aging ; physiology ; China ; ethnology ; Estrogens ; metabolism ; Female ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation ; physiology ; Humans ; Menopause ; Middle Aged ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; methods ; RNA ; genetics ; metabolism ; Skin ; metabolism