1.Knowledge and adaptive behavior of food delivery riders during high temperature and heat wave
QIU Yidan ; GU Shaohua ; WANG Aihong ; LU Beibei ; SHI Bijun ; WANG Yong ; ZHANG Dandan
Journal of Preventive Medicine 2026;38(1):93-97
Objective:
To investigate the status of heat illness, knowledge awareness and adaptive behaviors of heat wave knowledge among food delivery riders, so as to provide a basis for optimizing heat wave response measures for food delivery riders.
Methods:
In November 2022, food delivery riders from a large food delivery platform in Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province were selected as survey subjects using a cluster sampling method. A self-designed electronic questionnaire was used to select demographic information, work status, lifestyle behaviors and disease history, heat illness status, knowledge awareness and adaptive behaviors of heatwave.
Results:
A total of 911 questionnaires were distributed, and 830 valid questionnaires were recovered, resulting in a valid response rate of 91.11%. Among the respondents, 796 (95.90%) were male, and 818 (98.55%) worked full-time. The mean age was (27.75±8.00) years. A total of 470 respondents (56.63%) had a work tenure of less than 1 year. The primary working hours were 8-<12 hours, with 504 people accounting for 60.72%. There were 108 cases of heatstroke, with an occurrence rate of 13.01%. And 286 people reported heat-related symptoms, with an occurrence rate of 34.46%. The overall awareness rate of heat wave knowledge was 73.22%, while the awareness rate of heat warning signal classification was relatively low at 9.04%. The heat wave cognition score was (5.86±1.31) points. There were statistically significant differences in heat wave cognition scores among food delivery riders of different ages, educational levels, family annual income, work tenures, and work durations (all P<0.05). Regarding positive adaptive behaviors, the number of riders paying attention to weather forecasts and actively learning about preventive measures was higher (734 people each, accounting for 88.43%). Regarding negative adaptive behaviors, the number of riders who often drank ice-cold beverages was higher (509 people, accounting for 61.33%). The heat wave adaptive behavior score was (6.88±1.77) points. There were statistically significant differences in adaptive behavior scores among riders with different educational levels, family annual income, work tenures, and smoking frequency (all P<0.05).
Conclusions
The occurrence rates of heatstroke and heat-related symptoms among food delivery riders are relatively high. The knowledge awareness and adaptive behaviors regarding heat wave are at a moderate level. It is suggested to strengthen health education, reinforce risk cognition of heat wave, and promote positive adaptive behaviors among food delivery riders.
2.Effects of Bushen Tiaojing Formula (补肾调经方) on Blastocyst Cell Apoptosis and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Repeated Controlled Ovarian Stimulation Model Mice
Wenyan XIONG ; Beibei SHI ; Lulu SHEN ; Huilan DU
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(15):1579-1587
ObjectiveTo explore the effects of Bushen Tiaojing Formula (补肾调经方) on the quality of early embryos in repeated controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) and its possible mechanism. MethodsA total of 150 ICR female mice were divided into a normal group, a model group, an inhibitor group, a low-dose and a high-dose Bushen Tiaojing Formula group. Mice in the normal group, inhibitor group and model group were gavaged with distilled water 0.25 ml a day, and mice in the low- and high-dose groups were given 25.6 and 51.2 g/(kg·d) of Bushen Tiaojing Formula, respectively. All groups were gavaged once a day for 13 days as a cycle. Mice in the normal group were injected intraperitoneally with 0.1 ml normal saline on the 11th day of gavage, while mice in the other four groups were used to establish COS models. The inhibitor group was injected with the endoplasmic reticulum stress inhibitor 4-phenylbutyric acid 0.2 ml one hour before modelling. All groups were injected by gavage and intraperitoneal injection for 3 consecutive cycles, with an interval of 4 days between cycles. Immediately after the third intraperitoneal injection, mice were grouped with male mice of the same strain in a ratio of 2∶1, and at 8AM of the second day, the mice were examined, and those with spermatozoa or spermatozoa in the vaginal smears were recorded as pregnant. The mice were executed in the afternoon of the 4th day of pregnancy, and the blastocysts were obtained under an inverted microscope. The morphology of the blastocysts was observed, and the total number of blastocysts and the number of high-quality blastocysts were recorded to calculate the rate of high-quality blastocysts; the apoptosis of blastocyst cells was detected by the Tunel method, and the apoptosis rate was calculated; the endoplasmic reticulum molecular chaperone protein glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), B-lymphoblastoma 2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), cystathionin 3 (Caspase-3) and cystathionin 12 (Caspase-12) protein levels and their mRNA expression were detected by immunofluorescent assay and RT-qPCR assay, respectively. ResultsIn the normal group, blastocysts had regular morphology, good morphological development and low fragmentation rate; in the model group, blastocysts were poorly developed, cell morphology was irregular, fragmentation rate was high, and there was some stagnation; in the inhibitor group and high-dose, low-dose Bushen Tiaojing Formula groups, cell morphology could be seen to be better developed, with regular morphology and less fragmentation rate. Compared with the normal group, the rate of high-quality blastocysts in the model group reduced, the rate of apoptosis of blastocyst cells increased, the levels of GRP78, CHOP, Caspase-12, Caspase-3, Bax protein and its mRNA expression in blastocysts increased, while the level of Bcl-2 protein and its mRNA reduced (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the rate of high-quality blastocysts increased, the rate of apoptosis of blastocysts decreased, the levels of GRP78, CHOP, Caspase-12, Caspase-3, Bax protein and their mRNA expression decreased, and the levels of Bcl-2 protein and its mRNA expression increased in the blastocysts in the inhibitor group and the high-dose and low-dose Bushen Tiaojing Formula groups (P<0.01). Compared with the inhibitor group, GRP78, CHOP, Caspase-12, Bax protein levels and their mRNA expressions increased in the high-dose Bushen Tiaojing Formula group, and Caspase-12, Caspase-3, Bax protein levels and their mRNA expressions increased in the low-dose formula group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). ConclusionBushen Tiaojing Formula can inhibit the apoptosis of blastocyst cells caused by repeated controlled ovarian stimulation by improving endoplasmic reticulum stress, which plays a role in improving the quality of early embryos.
3.Autonomous drug delivery and scar microenvironment remodeling using micromotor-driven microneedles for hypertrophic scars therapy.
Ting WEN ; Yanping FU ; Xiangting YI ; Ying SUN ; Wanchen ZHAO ; Chaonan SHI ; Ziyao CHANG ; Beibei YANG ; Shuling LI ; Chao LU ; Tingting PENG ; Chuanbin WU ; Xin PAN ; Guilan QUAN
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(7):3738-3755
Hypertrophic scar is a fibrous hyperplastic disorder that arises from skin injuries. The current therapeutic modalities are constrained by the dense and rigid scar tissue which impedes effective drug delivery. Additionally, insufficient autophagic activity in fibroblasts hinders their apoptosis, leading to excessive matrix deposition. Here, we developed an active microneedle (MN) system to overcome these challenges by integrating micromotor-driven drug delivery with autophagy regulation to remodel the scar microenvironment. Specifically, sodium bicarbonate and citric acid were introduced into the MNs as a built-in engine to generate CO2 bubbles, thereby enabling enhanced lateral and vertical drug diffusion into dense scar tissue. The system concurrently encapsulated curcumin (Cur), an autophagy activator, and triamcinolone acetonide (TA), synergistically inducing fibroblast apoptosis by upregulating autophagic activity. In vitro studies demonstrated that active MNs achieved efficient drug penetration within isolated scar tissue. The rabbit hypertrophic scar model revealed that TA-Cur MNs significantly reduced the scar elevation index, suppressed collagen I and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) expression, and elevated LC3 protein levels. These findings highlight the potential of the active MN system as an efficacious platform for autonomous augmented drug delivery and autophagy-targeted therapy in fibrotic disorder treatments.
4.Incidence of osteoporosis in maintenance hemodialysis patients at Gaochun district blood purification center and its influencing factors
Beibei WU ; Qiuping WANG ; Yao CHEN ; Xiao ZHONG ; Tingting SHI
Chinese Journal of Postgraduates of Medicine 2025;48(2):97-101
Objective:To investigate the incidence of osteoporosis (OP) in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients at the blood purification center in Gaochun district, and analyze its influencing factors.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted on 3 622 patients who received regular MHD treatment at Nanjing Gaochun People′s Hospital and Nanjing Gaochun Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital from January 2019 to December 2023. The demographic characteristics, comorbidities, and clinical data such as blood calcium and creatinine of patients were collected. The ultivariate Logistic regression model was applied to analyze the influencing factors of OP in MHD patients.Results:The survey revealed that 33.63% of MHD patients had decreased bone mass, and 37.24% of MHD patients experienced osteoporosis. According to the occurrence of OP, 3 622 patients were separated into the OP group (1 349 cases) and the non-OP group (2 273 cases). Univariate analysis showed that compared with the non-OP group, the albumin (ALB) level in the OP group was lower: (38.95 ± 5.17) g/L vs. (40.32 ± 5.84) g/L, there was statistical difference( P<0.05). Compared with the non-OP group, the levels of immunoreactive parathyroid hormone (iPTH) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in the OP group were higher: (262.29 ± 36.76) ng/L vs. (249.55 ± 32.73) ng/L, (114.74 ± 18.01) U/L vs. (109.63 ± 17.25) U/L, the proportion of patients aged≥60 years old, female and dialysis duration≥5 years was higher: 61.75%(833/1 349) vs. 47.87%(1 088/2 273), 66.35%(895/1 349) vs. 54.86%(1 247/2 273), 52.34%(706/1 349) vs. 34.36%(781/2 273), there were statistical differences( P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression revealed ALB ( OR = 0.724, 95% CI 0.568 - 0.920), iPTH ( OR = 1.374, 95% CI 1.095 - 1.725), ALP ( OR = 1.325, 95% CI 1.070 - 1.641), age ( OR = 2.753, 95% CI 1.664 - 4.556), gender ( OR = 2.993, 95% CI 1.611 - 5.560), and dialysis time ( OR = 4.216, 95% CI 2.365 - 7.516) were all influencing factors for the occurrence of OP in MHD patients ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The incidence of OP in MHD patients in Gaochun district is high, and its occurrence is closely related to ALB, iPTH, ALP, age, gender and dialysis time. Clinical attention should be focused on this.
5.Influence of peripheral alpha 1-adrenergic receptors on the toxicity of dexmedetomidine
Beibei SHI ; Zhen WANG ; Xiaoxuan WANG ; Peilan ZHOU ; Ruibin SU
Chinese Journal of Pharmacology and Toxicology 2025;39(3):216-223
OBJECTIVE To investigate α1-adrenergic receptors(α1-AR)distribution in mouse tissues and its function on dexmetomidine(DMED)induced toxic effects.METHODS ① Real-time fluorescence quantita-tive PCR was used to detect the relative expression of α1A-AR,α1B-AR,α1D-AR,α2A-AR,α2B-AR and α2C-AR mRNAs in the heart,apical potion of heart,lungs,apical potion of lung,liver,kidneys,abdominal aorta,prefrontal cortex,hippocampus,striatum,brainstem,thalamus,olfactory bulb,and the rest of the brain tissues of the mouse.The relative expression of mRNA were analyzed.② C57BL/6J mice were pretreated with α2 adrenergic receptor antagonist atipamezole ATI(0.005,0.010,0.020,0.025,0.040,0.050 mg·kg-1,im),orα1-adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin(1 mg·kg-1,im)for 15 min,and then DMED(0.20 mg·kg-1,iv)was given to observe the rate of the loss of righting reflex and the immobilization time in mice.③ C57BL/6J mice were treated with DMED(16.38,20.48,25.60,32.00,40.00,and 50.00 mg·kg-1,iv)to observe the lethality of the mice in 24 h.The dose-effect relationship curves of the lethality rate and the half lethal-dose(LD50)were detected.ATI(1,2,4,and 8 mg·kg-1,im)or prazosin(1 mg·kg-1,im)were pretreated 15 min followed by the administration of DMED(25.60 mg·kg-1,iv).The lethality of the mice were recorded for 24 h.HE staining to observe the lung tissue damage in the mice.RESULTS ① The mRNA expression levels of three α1-AR subtype were higher than those of α2-AR subtype.α2A-AR and α2C-AR were highly expressed in the central nervous system.α2B-AR was highly expressed in the brainstem and peripheral tissues.The mRNA expres-sion levels of α1-AR subtypes were higher than those of α2-AR subtypes in heart,apical potion of heart or lung(P<0.05).② ATI(0.005 to 0.05 mg·kg-1,im)dose dependently antagonized the loss of righting reflex and decreased the immobilization time induced by DMED(0.20 mg·kg-1,iv).In contrast,prazosin(1 mg·kg-1,im)had no effect on the loss of righting reflex induced by DMED(0.20 mg·kg-1,iv).③ The LD50 of DMED in mice was 26.734 mg·kg-1(iv)with a 95%Cl of 23.606-30.000 mg·kg-1.DMED(25.6 mg·kg-1)was selected for subsequent toxicity.ATI(1,2,4,and 8 mg·kg-1,im)did not antagonize the lethality induced by DMED(25.6 mg·kg-1,iv).The high dose of ATI resulted in elevated death rate and accelerated mortality induced by DMED(25.6 mg·kg-1,iv)in the mice.However,prazosin(1 mg·kg-1,im)reduced the lethality of DMED(25.6 mg·kg-1,iv)(P<0.01).After administration of DMED(25.6 mg·kg-1),the mice lungs showed significant congestion.HE staining of lung tissues revealed obvious vascular hemorrhage,alveolar rupture,and erythrocyte spillage.Prazosin(1 mg·kg-1,im)effectively attenuated the tissue damage in the lungs,but ATI(1 mg·kg-1,im)aggravated the pulmonary hemorrhage.CONCLU-SIONS In cardiopulmonary tissues,the high expression levels of α1 adrenoceptor overactivation,might related with the lethality induced by DMED.
6.Research progress on the role of butyrylation modification in malignant tumors
Dongxue SHI ; Ruihan WANG ; Beibei LYU ; Xiaoyan LIN
Basic & Clinical Medicine 2025;45(11):1496-1500
Butyrylation(Kbu),as an important post-translational modification(PTM)of proteins,precisely regu-lates various biological behaviors of tumor cells by modulating the structure and function of proteins.Abnormal bu-tyrylation promotes tumor cell proliferation and migration by regulating protein stability,enzyme activity,cell signa-ling pathways,chromatin structure and gene expression,and further participates in tumor occurrence and develop-ment.This review focuses on the role of butyrylation modification in the occurrence and development of various hu-man tumors,aiming to summarize the research progress of butyrylation modification in the field of tumors,and to provide new directions for tumor treatment through the intervention strategies of butyrylation modification.
7.Influence of peripheral alpha 1-adrenergic receptors on the toxicity of dexmedetomidine
Beibei SHI ; Zhen WANG ; Xiaoxuan WANG ; Peilan ZHOU ; Ruibin SU
Chinese Journal of Pharmacology and Toxicology 2025;39(3):216-223
OBJECTIVE To investigate α1-adrenergic receptors(α1-AR)distribution in mouse tissues and its function on dexmetomidine(DMED)induced toxic effects.METHODS ① Real-time fluorescence quantita-tive PCR was used to detect the relative expression of α1A-AR,α1B-AR,α1D-AR,α2A-AR,α2B-AR and α2C-AR mRNAs in the heart,apical potion of heart,lungs,apical potion of lung,liver,kidneys,abdominal aorta,prefrontal cortex,hippocampus,striatum,brainstem,thalamus,olfactory bulb,and the rest of the brain tissues of the mouse.The relative expression of mRNA were analyzed.② C57BL/6J mice were pretreated with α2 adrenergic receptor antagonist atipamezole ATI(0.005,0.010,0.020,0.025,0.040,0.050 mg·kg-1,im),orα1-adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin(1 mg·kg-1,im)for 15 min,and then DMED(0.20 mg·kg-1,iv)was given to observe the rate of the loss of righting reflex and the immobilization time in mice.③ C57BL/6J mice were treated with DMED(16.38,20.48,25.60,32.00,40.00,and 50.00 mg·kg-1,iv)to observe the lethality of the mice in 24 h.The dose-effect relationship curves of the lethality rate and the half lethal-dose(LD50)were detected.ATI(1,2,4,and 8 mg·kg-1,im)or prazosin(1 mg·kg-1,im)were pretreated 15 min followed by the administration of DMED(25.60 mg·kg-1,iv).The lethality of the mice were recorded for 24 h.HE staining to observe the lung tissue damage in the mice.RESULTS ① The mRNA expression levels of three α1-AR subtype were higher than those of α2-AR subtype.α2A-AR and α2C-AR were highly expressed in the central nervous system.α2B-AR was highly expressed in the brainstem and peripheral tissues.The mRNA expres-sion levels of α1-AR subtypes were higher than those of α2-AR subtypes in heart,apical potion of heart or lung(P<0.05).② ATI(0.005 to 0.05 mg·kg-1,im)dose dependently antagonized the loss of righting reflex and decreased the immobilization time induced by DMED(0.20 mg·kg-1,iv).In contrast,prazosin(1 mg·kg-1,im)had no effect on the loss of righting reflex induced by DMED(0.20 mg·kg-1,iv).③ The LD50 of DMED in mice was 26.734 mg·kg-1(iv)with a 95%Cl of 23.606-30.000 mg·kg-1.DMED(25.6 mg·kg-1)was selected for subsequent toxicity.ATI(1,2,4,and 8 mg·kg-1,im)did not antagonize the lethality induced by DMED(25.6 mg·kg-1,iv).The high dose of ATI resulted in elevated death rate and accelerated mortality induced by DMED(25.6 mg·kg-1,iv)in the mice.However,prazosin(1 mg·kg-1,im)reduced the lethality of DMED(25.6 mg·kg-1,iv)(P<0.01).After administration of DMED(25.6 mg·kg-1),the mice lungs showed significant congestion.HE staining of lung tissues revealed obvious vascular hemorrhage,alveolar rupture,and erythrocyte spillage.Prazosin(1 mg·kg-1,im)effectively attenuated the tissue damage in the lungs,but ATI(1 mg·kg-1,im)aggravated the pulmonary hemorrhage.CONCLU-SIONS In cardiopulmonary tissues,the high expression levels of α1 adrenoceptor overactivation,might related with the lethality induced by DMED.
8.Incidence of osteoporosis in maintenance hemodialysis patients at Gaochun district blood purification center and its influencing factors
Beibei WU ; Qiuping WANG ; Yao CHEN ; Xiao ZHONG ; Tingting SHI
Chinese Journal of Postgraduates of Medicine 2025;48(2):97-101
Objective:To investigate the incidence of osteoporosis (OP) in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients at the blood purification center in Gaochun district, and analyze its influencing factors.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted on 3 622 patients who received regular MHD treatment at Nanjing Gaochun People′s Hospital and Nanjing Gaochun Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital from January 2019 to December 2023. The demographic characteristics, comorbidities, and clinical data such as blood calcium and creatinine of patients were collected. The ultivariate Logistic regression model was applied to analyze the influencing factors of OP in MHD patients.Results:The survey revealed that 33.63% of MHD patients had decreased bone mass, and 37.24% of MHD patients experienced osteoporosis. According to the occurrence of OP, 3 622 patients were separated into the OP group (1 349 cases) and the non-OP group (2 273 cases). Univariate analysis showed that compared with the non-OP group, the albumin (ALB) level in the OP group was lower: (38.95 ± 5.17) g/L vs. (40.32 ± 5.84) g/L, there was statistical difference( P<0.05). Compared with the non-OP group, the levels of immunoreactive parathyroid hormone (iPTH) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in the OP group were higher: (262.29 ± 36.76) ng/L vs. (249.55 ± 32.73) ng/L, (114.74 ± 18.01) U/L vs. (109.63 ± 17.25) U/L, the proportion of patients aged≥60 years old, female and dialysis duration≥5 years was higher: 61.75%(833/1 349) vs. 47.87%(1 088/2 273), 66.35%(895/1 349) vs. 54.86%(1 247/2 273), 52.34%(706/1 349) vs. 34.36%(781/2 273), there were statistical differences( P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression revealed ALB ( OR = 0.724, 95% CI 0.568 - 0.920), iPTH ( OR = 1.374, 95% CI 1.095 - 1.725), ALP ( OR = 1.325, 95% CI 1.070 - 1.641), age ( OR = 2.753, 95% CI 1.664 - 4.556), gender ( OR = 2.993, 95% CI 1.611 - 5.560), and dialysis time ( OR = 4.216, 95% CI 2.365 - 7.516) were all influencing factors for the occurrence of OP in MHD patients ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The incidence of OP in MHD patients in Gaochun district is high, and its occurrence is closely related to ALB, iPTH, ALP, age, gender and dialysis time. Clinical attention should be focused on this.
9.Virulence and antibiotic resistance characteristics of Vibrio cholerae in the sewage environment of Hangzhou in 2023
WANG Lingbo ; SHI Guoxiang ; WU Beibei
China Tropical Medicine 2024;24(11):1306-
Objective To analyze the identification of pathogenic bacteria in municipal sewage of Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province from January to October 2023, to understand the serotype and drug resistance of Vibrio cholerae isolated from sewage, as well as to predict the virulence gene and drug resistance gene carrying situation. Methods From January to October 2023, urban sewage samples from various environments in Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, were continuously collected for bacterial isolation and culture. The serotypes of 27 Vibrio cholerae strains were identified by slide agglutination method, and the drug sensitivity test was conducted by micro broth dilution method. Whole genome sequence and bioinformatics software were used to predict drug resistance genes and virulence genes. Results The sewage identification results showed 26 bacteria genera, including Salmonella, Vibrio, Enterobacter, and Aeromonas, among 82 bacterial species. All 27 strains of Vibrio cholerae were non-O1 and non-O139 serogroups. The strains showed high resistance rates to ampicillin, ampicillin/sulbactam and cotrimoxazole at 59.26%, 14.81%, and 14.81%, respectively), exhibited high sensitivity to cefotaxime, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, meropenem, ertapenem, ceftazidime, ceftazidime/avibactam, amikacin, ciprofloxacin, tigecycline, and azithromycin. A total of 21 different drug resistance genes were detected in 11 strains of Vibrio cholerae, among which the highest carriage rate of β-lactam resistance genes reached 63.64%, and 1 strain carried 17 kinds of drug resistance genes. None of the 11 strains of Vibrio cholerae carried ctxA, ctxB, ace, zot, or chxA genes, but all the strains carried rtxB, rtxC, and rtxD genes; 90.91% of the strains carried hlyA, and 36.36% carried rtxA. Conclusions All Vibrio cholerae isolated from sewage in this study are non-O1 and non-O139 serogroups, showing good sensitivity to most antibiotics, but also they carry a certain number of drug-resistance genes and virulence genes. This suggests that future monitoring efforts should focus on these strains, providing certain data support for the study of the characteristics of Vibrio cholerae isolated from sewage.
10.Free anterolateral thigh perforator flap with cross-leg vessel bridging in reconstruction of infected wounds in lower leg with major vessel defects: a report of 7 cases
Feng NIU ; Zhao ZHANG ; Yongming GUO ; Jian JIAO ; Fang GAO ; Ning MA ; Beibei LIU ; Ping'an XU ; Zhong LIU ; Yu SHI
Chinese Journal of Microsurgery 2024;47(4):416-422
Objective:To explore the clinical effects of free anterolateral thigh perforator flap (ALTPF) with modified cross-leg vessel bridging in reconstruction of infected wounds in the lower leg combined with major vessel defects.Methods:A retrospective observational study was conducted on 7 patients who admitted to the Department of Trauma Orthopaedics, the 521 Hospital of Norinco Group from January 2020 to December 2021 for treatment of large infected wounds in lower leg with soft tissue defect by reconstructive surgery of flap transfer. The patients were 5 males and 2 females, aged 23-50 years old with an average age of 37 years old. The causes of injury were: 5 patients were of car accidents, 1 of machinery compression and 1 of heavy object crush. The wounds were reconstructed after debridement and infection control with sensitive antibiotics, where the soft tissue defects were found at 11.0 cm×15.0 cm to 20.0 cm×32.0 cm in size. All patients underwent vascular angiography or CDU examinations and it was confirmed that the affected calf had only an anterior tibial artery as the vessel left for blood supply in 6 patients and a posterior tibial artery as the blood supply vessel in one patient. Therefore application of vascular end-to-side anastomosis in free flap reconstruction of limb defects was impossible due to the damaged artery could not be salvaged as a blood supply artery for the transferred flap. Therefore, a modified cross-leg vessel bridging to the freed ALTPF in the affected lower leg was applied. The donor site of the pedicle was covered with VSD while the pedicle of the flap was anastomosed. It was remained until the posterior tibial artery and the tubular flap were ready for replantation after disconnection of the pedicle. The sizes of flap were 13.0 cm×17.0 cm to 22.0 cm×32.0 cm (unilateral ALTPFs for 6 patients and bilateral ALTPFs for 1 patient). Two donor sites in low tension were direct closed, and the rest of 5 donor sites that had great tensions and could not be directly sutured were reconstructed by skin grafting. The survival and complications of flaps were observed in the scheduled postoperative follow-ups at outpatient visits, WeChat reviews and home visits, etc.Results:All 7 patients were successfully treated and had 12-24 months postoperative follow-up, with an average of 16 months. All flaps survived, with primary healing in 6 patients and 1 patient had partial flap necrosis with surface infection, which healed after dressing changes. The wound healing time was 14-36 days with an average of 17.9 days. The time for disconnection of the cross-leg vessel bridging pedicle was 3-4 weeks with the flap transfer, with an average of 3.6 weeks. The donor sites of ALTPFs and vessel pedicles all healed well. CDU confirmed the patency of the contralateral posterior tibial artery. Satisfactory functional recovery was achieved in the affected lower limb and there was a good function of the contralateral healthy lower leg.Conclusion:Application of the transfer of a free ALTPF with modified cross-leg vessel bridging in reconstruction of infected wounds with major vessel defects in the lower leg has shown excellent clinical outcomes. It is a practical and effective method in treatment of large infective defect in lower leg.


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