OBJECTIVE To study drug resistance status of infected bacteria in abdominal surgical wound for their countermeasures. METHODS The abdominal surgical infection of a hospital was investigated from Jan 2000 to Dec 2004.Bacterial isolation and identification were carried out complying with National Operation Procedure of The Clinical Laboratory.Drug sensitivity test was performed with KB method. RESULTS The infection rate was 4.1%.The species were predominated by Gram-negative bacilli(71.1%),especially Escherichia coli(17.2%),Pseudomonas aeruginosa(16.7%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae(12.7%),and they all beared high antibiotics resistance. CONCLUSIONS Special attention should be paid to abdominal surgical wound infection.

Objective:Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are resistant to chemotherapy. Our study aimed to investigate the stem cell-like proper-ties of doxorubicin-resistant osteosarcoma cell line 143B and its correlation with Notch signaling. Methods:We generated doxorubicin-resistant osteosarcoma cells by treating them with 2μm doxorubicin. Stem cell-like properties such as morphology change, Stro-1/CD117 double positive ratio, stem cell-related gene expression, sphere formation efficiency, and EMT character were assessed on day 5 after doxorubicin withdrawal. Notch receptor and its target genes were examined using qPCR and Western blot analysis. The stem cell-like properties of doxorubicin-resistant osteosarcoma cells were assessed when pretreated with Notch inhibitor or vehicle. The an-ti-tumor effect of Notch inhibitor was tested using a xenograft model. Results:Doxorubicin-resistant osteosarcoma cells were enriched in Stro-1+/CD117+cells, which showed obvious increased expression of stem cell-related genes, and exhibited enhanced spheroid for-mation and evident mesenchymal characteristics unlike doxorubicin-sensitive cells. qPCR and Western blot assays showed that Notch intracellular domain 1 (NICD1) and target genes Hes1 and Hey1 were upregulated in doxorubicin-resistant osteosarcoma stem cells compared with those in vehicle cells. Furthermore, pretreatment with a γ-secretase inhibitor (GSI) to prevent Notch signaling en-hanced chemo-sensitivity and inhibited doxorubicin-enriched osteosarcoma stem cell activity in vitro. Finally, the Notch inhibitor pre-vented tumor growth in mice xenograft models. Conclusion: Doxorubicin induced the enrichment of osteosarcoma stem-like cells through Notch signaling, and inactivation of Notch could be useful for overcoming drug resistance and eliminating osteosarcoma.

Objective To analyze the role of a key intracellular signaling molecule GSK3β in hepatocyte apoptosis induced by endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS).Methods Using mouse hepatoma cell lines(Hepa 1) as cell apoptosis model triggered by tunicamycin,an endoplasmic reticulum stress inducer.One hour before Hepa 1 apoptosis induced by tunicamycin,SB216763 specifically inhibited the activity of GSK3β.Living cells/apoptotic cells were detected using acetoxymethyl (AM)/propidium iodide (PI) staining; Furthermore,the measurement of lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) of cell culture supernatant to evaluate the apoptosis.We detect p-GSK3β,GSK3β,the ERS-related protein(GRP78,CHOP and caspase-12) and caspase-3,cleaved caspase-3 protein expression using Western blot.Results Endoplasmic reticulum stress induced by tunicamycin promotes GSK3β activity; Inhibition of GSK3β activity alleviates endoplasmic reticulum stress:the expression of GRP78,CHOP and caspase-12 expression are inhibited.At the same time,GSK3β activity inhibition significantly reduced the endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced apoptosis:compared to cell apoptosis model group,the intervention group of SB216763 showed that the level of LDH decreased significantly,and PI staining of apoptotic cells was also significant reduction.Western blot results showed that the inhibition of GSK 3 β activity reduced reactive cleaved caspase-3 protein.Conclusion GSK3β is an important signaling molecule in the apoptosis pathway induced by endoplasmic reticulum stress ;Endoplasmic reticulum stress promotes hepatocyte apoptosis by mediating GSK3β.

To investigate the clinical efficacy, feasibility and safety of new "three tubes" method in the treatment of spontaneous esophageal rupture. A total of 22 patients with spontaneous esophageal rupture were retrospectively analyzed. Through the new "three tubes" method of treatment, patients achieved leak cured with reduced hospital stay, less medical expenses and early resumption of oral diet. The new "three tubes" method for spontaneous esophageal rupture has the advantages of easy handling, minimal invasion, few complication and exact curative effect.

Objective: To understand the epidemiological characteristics of product-related injuries among children in Changshan County from 2011 to 2017 and to provide evidence for targeted intervention. Methods: The surveillance data of product-related injuries among children aged below 18 years from 2011 to 2017 was collected from three sentinel hospitals in Changshan County. The characteristics of product-related injuries among children were analyzed,especially those injuries caused by furniture,stationery and sporting goods,commodities and toys. Results: A total of 5 111 product-related injury cases among children were reported,accounting for 13.49% of product-related injury cases of all age. There were 3 138 boys and 1 973 girls,accounting for 61.40% and 38.60%. There were 2 973 cases less than 10 years old,accounting for 58.17%. The main causes of product-related injuries were road traffic injury（49.46%）,blunt（16.02%）,stab/cut（12.39%）and fall（10.37%）. The main categories of products included transportation equipments（not including motor vehicles,36.83%）,motor vehicles（17.82%）,furniture（12.23%）,stationery and sporting goods（8.45%）,commodities（4.89%）and toys（3.25%）. Stab/cut（53.01%）was the main cause of commodities related injuries;blunt was the main cause of furniture,stationery and sporting goods and toys. The stationery and sporting goods related injuries occurred mainly in schools/public places（64.57%）and sports venues（18.48%）when engaging in sports（54.13%）;furniture,commodities and toys related injuries injured cases occurred at home when engaging in leisure activities. Commodities mainly resulted in sharp/bite/open wound（51.50%）;furniture,stationery and sporting goods and toys mainly resulted in bruises. Most cases were injured in head,slight and allowed home after treated. Conclusion The product-related injuries among children in Changshan County are more boys. The products mainly involve transportation equipments（not including motor vehicles）,motor vehicles,furniture,stationery and sporting goods,commodities and toys,with emphasis on the latter four categories in the prevention of product-related child injury.

Objective:To explore the clinical application effect of allogeneic acellular dermal matrix (ADM) in the repair of asymmetric nail fold deformity after complete syndactyly surgery in children.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of children with secondary asymmetric nail fold deformity after complete syndactyly surgery treated at the Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Children’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, from January 2022 to December 2023. The patients required a secondary surgical repair due to insufficient soft tissue capacity with or without scar contracture, causing asymmetry of the nail fold after finger separation at the distal end following syndactyly surgery. During the operation, continuous Z-plasty was designed along the original surgical scar axis and incised towards the proximal end of the lateral nail fold, followed by thorough scar release. Scar debulking surgery was performed if there was significant local scar hyperplasia. A tunnel was created from the incision site near the lateral nail fold to reach the fingertip subcutaneously. ADM was filled into this tunnel until a satisfactory appearance of the lateral nail fold was achieved. The flaps were then closed by cross-suturing. Regular follow-up observations were conducted on the incision healing, scar, and appearance of the finger, and aesthetic evaluation according to Bulic’s standards was performed, classifying them into four grades: excellent, good, fair, and poor.Results:The study enrolled 12 patients, and nail fold asymmetry appeared 3 to 6 months after surgery, with 8 males and 4 females, ranging from 1 to 9 years old (average age 4.6 years). Affected digits included both hands in 7 cases and one hand in 5 cases, totaling 38 fingers. All 12 cases including 25 fingers presented with insufficient distal capacity in their fingers; seven cases including 16 fingers also had scar contracture resulting in poor appearance. All procedures were successfully performed. Post-operatively, one case of necrosis at the tip of the scar flap was observed after 12 days of removing the dressing but healed after dressing changes, and no infections or flap necrosis occurred in the remaining patients, with the incisions healing primarily. Follow-up periods ranged from 1 to 24 months, with an average duration of 13.6 months. All patients achieved the restoration of soft tissue capacity in the finger lateral nail fold, varying degrees of correction for asymmetrical nail fold deformities, and complete release for scar contracture, with 7 fingers in 4 cases rated as excellent, 12 fingers in 5 cases as good, 4 fingers in 2 cases as fair, and 2 fingers in one case as poor in evaluation of fingertip appearance.Conclusion:The use of ADM for filling is effective in restoring soft tissue capacity and correcting asymmetrical deformities caused by secondary nail fold abnormalities after complete syndactyly repair surgery in children. It has shown good clinical outcomes with minimal complications.

Objective:To explore the clinical application effect of allogeneic acellular dermal matrix (ADM) in the repair of asymmetric nail fold deformity after complete syndactyly surgery in children.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of children with secondary asymmetric nail fold deformity after complete syndactyly surgery treated at the Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Children’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, from January 2022 to December 2023. The patients required a secondary surgical repair due to insufficient soft tissue capacity with or without scar contracture, causing asymmetry of the nail fold after finger separation at the distal end following syndactyly surgery. During the operation, continuous Z-plasty was designed along the original surgical scar axis and incised towards the proximal end of the lateral nail fold, followed by thorough scar release. Scar debulking surgery was performed if there was significant local scar hyperplasia. A tunnel was created from the incision site near the lateral nail fold to reach the fingertip subcutaneously. ADM was filled into this tunnel until a satisfactory appearance of the lateral nail fold was achieved. The flaps were then closed by cross-suturing. Regular follow-up observations were conducted on the incision healing, scar, and appearance of the finger, and aesthetic evaluation according to Bulic’s standards was performed, classifying them into four grades: excellent, good, fair, and poor.Results:The study enrolled 12 patients, and nail fold asymmetry appeared 3 to 6 months after surgery, with 8 males and 4 females, ranging from 1 to 9 years old (average age 4.6 years). Affected digits included both hands in 7 cases and one hand in 5 cases, totaling 38 fingers. All 12 cases including 25 fingers presented with insufficient distal capacity in their fingers; seven cases including 16 fingers also had scar contracture resulting in poor appearance. All procedures were successfully performed. Post-operatively, one case of necrosis at the tip of the scar flap was observed after 12 days of removing the dressing but healed after dressing changes, and no infections or flap necrosis occurred in the remaining patients, with the incisions healing primarily. Follow-up periods ranged from 1 to 24 months, with an average duration of 13.6 months. All patients achieved the restoration of soft tissue capacity in the finger lateral nail fold, varying degrees of correction for asymmetrical nail fold deformities, and complete release for scar contracture, with 7 fingers in 4 cases rated as excellent, 12 fingers in 5 cases as good, 4 fingers in 2 cases as fair, and 2 fingers in one case as poor in evaluation of fingertip appearance.Conclusion:The use of ADM for filling is effective in restoring soft tissue capacity and correcting asymmetrical deformities caused by secondary nail fold abnormalities after complete syndactyly repair surgery in children. It has shown good clinical outcomes with minimal complications.

OBJECTIVETo study the role of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) in acute liver failure (ALF) using a mouse model of D-Galactosamine/lipopolysaccharide (D-GalN/LPS)-induced ALF.

METHODSThe ALF model was established by administering intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of D-Ga1N (700 mg/kg) and LPS (10 mug/kg) to six C57BL/6 mice. Three of the modeled mice were also administered 4-phenylbutyrate (4-PBA; 100 mg/kg i.p.) at 6 hours before the onset of ALF and served as the intervention group. Non-modeled mice served as controls. All mice were analyzed by western blotting and qRT-PCR to determine the expression levels of ERS-related proteins in liver tissue. Liver function was assessed by measuring levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in serum. Extent of injury to the liver tissue was assessed by hematoxylin-eosin staining and histological analysis. qRT-PCR was also used to detect differences in expression of inflammation-related genes, and western blotting was also used to detect differences in expression of the apoptosis related protein Caspase-3.The extent of apoptosis in liver tissue was assessed by TUNEL assay.

RESULTSThe ERS markers GRP78 and GRP94 showed increased expression at both the gene and protein levels which followed progression of ALF. The ERS effector proteins XBP-1, ATF-6 and IRE 1 a involved in the unfolded protein response were activated in the early stages of ALF, and the ERS-induced apoptosis regulators Caspase-12 and CHOP were activated in the late stage of ALF. Inhibition of ERS by 4-PBA intervention protected against injury to liver tissue and function, as evidenced by significantly lower levels of serum ALT and AST and a remarkably decreased extent of histological alterations. Furthermore, the inhibition of ERS suppressed expression of the proinflammatory cytokines TNFa, IL-6 and IL-1 β, and reduced the extent of hepatocyte apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONERS is activated in the mouse model of D-GalN/LPS-induced ALF. Inhibition of ERS may be protective against liver injury and the mechanism of action may involve reductions in inflammatory and apoptotic factors and/or signaling. Therefore, inhibiting ERS may represent a novel therapeutic approach for treating ALF.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Disease Models, Animal ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ; Galactosamine ; adverse effects ; Lipopolysaccharides ; adverse effects ; Liver Failure, Acute ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL

Objective: To investigate the treatment of nasal deformity in patients with unicoronal craniosynostosis. Methods: In patients over 6 months old, the nasal bones were wedge-removed without fixation. The management of all patients with unicoronal craniosynostosis was distraction osteogenesis of pedicled unilateral frontal bone flap. Results: Postoperative extended distance of the frontal bone was 28—41 mm (mean, 35.4 mm). After extension, three-dimensional reconstruction of cranial CT was carried out, which showed that CVAI was 0.8—1.2 (mean, 0.98), tending to normal. After discharge, dynamic cranial braces were put on for 1 year. Postoperatively, the children were followed up for 8—36 months (mean, 28 months). The shape and nasal deformity of all children were improved compared with those before surgery. Conclusions Nasal wedge resection should be used to correct nasal deformity in children over 6 months with unicoronal craniosynostosis.

Objective:To investigate the effect of continuous Z-flaps combined with scar debulking in correcting hyperplastic scar contracture deformity of children′s hand.Methods:From January 2016 to December 2018, 27 cases of children with scar contracture deformity after hand burn or scald were admitted to the Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery of Children′s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, involving a total of 36 joint parts. 12 male patients and 15 female patients aged 10 months to 12.5 years were divided into mild, moderate and severe types according to the contracture angle of metacarpophalangeal joints and interphalangeal joints, so as to make the treatment plan. The transposition of flaps for wound closure was designed for both mild and moderate cases after continuous Z-flaps to release contracture deformity with scar debulking. For severe deformity, the transposition of flaps should be conducted to cover the wound after the complete release by continuous Z-flaps and scar debulking, and the residual wound was covered by free skin grafts. The hand function and appearance were followed up after operation.Results:In this study, 12 of the 36 joints were mildly deformed, 15 were moderately deformed, and 9 were severely deformed. No skin grafting was performed for mild and moderate deformities, and the amount of skin grafting was selectively reduced for severe deformities. All contracture joint deformities were completely corrected, with the follow-up period of 0.8-2.0 years, and no contracture deformities were found again. The hand joint function, skin flap color, texture of mild and moderate types were close to the surrounding normal skin. Severe type had only a small degree of pigmentation at the skin graft site. One 12.5-year-old child received second procedure 2 years later because of the poor elasticity of the skin graft and the tensions. The tension resolved after operation, with satisfactory results.Conclusions:Continuous Z-flaps combined with scar debulking could maximize the retention of skin of the scar surface and reduce the amount of skin grafts, providing an excellent method for the treatment of hand contracture deformities in children, with stable long-term postoperative effects.