OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effectiveness of posterior lateral perforator flap in lower limb combined with free fibula for maxillary tissue defect repair. METHODS: Between December 2018 and December 2023, 16 patients with the maxillary malignant tumors were admitted. There were 10 males and 6 females, with an average age of 64.3 years (range, 54-75 years). There were 7 cases of maxillary gingival cancer, 5 cases of hard palate cancer, and 4 cases of maxillary sinus cancer. According to the 2017 American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) TNM stage, there were 8 cases of stage Ⅲ, 6 cases of stage Ⅳa, and 2 cases of stage Ⅳb. After resection of the lesion, the remaining maxillary defects were classified into class Ⅱa in 3 cases, class Ⅱb in 5 cases, and class Ⅲb in 8 cases according to Brown's classification. The size of soft tissue defects ranged from 4 cm×3 cm to 8 cm×6 cm. The posterior lateral perforator flap in lower limb in size of 5 cm×4 cm-9 cm×7 cm were harvested to repair soft tissue defects, and free fibula in length of 6-11 cm were used to repair bone defects. The donor sites of the lower limb were sutured directly (6 cases) or repaired with free skin grafting (10 cases). Six patients with positive lymph node pathology were treated with radiotherapy after operation. At 6 and 12 months after operation, the self-assessment was performed by the University of Washington Quality of Survival Questionnaire Form (QUW-4) in five dimensions (facial appearance, swallowing function, chewing function, speech function, and mouth opening), and swallowing function was evaluated by using the Kubota water swallowing test. RESULTS: Postoperative pathological examination showed that all patients were squamous cell carcinoma. One patient who was treated with radiotherapy developed osteomyelitis and 1 patient developed venous crisis of skin flap. The rest of the flaps and all skin grafts survived, and the wounds healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 1-5 years (mean, 2.8 years). Two patients died of local recurrence of the tumor at the 4th and 5th years after operation, respectively. Except for the chewing function score and total score at 6 months after operation, which showed significant differences compared to preoperative scores ( P<0.05), there was no significant difference in other QUW-4 scale scores between different time points ( P>0.05). The patients' swallowing function evaluated by Kubota water swallowing test reached normal in 4 cases, suspicious in 9 cases, and abnormal in 3 cases at 6 months after operation, and 10, 6, and 0 cases at 12 months after operation, respectively. The swallowing function at 12 months was significantly better than that at 6 months ( Z=-2.382, P=0.017). CONCLUSION The posterior lateral perforator flap in the lower limb combined with free fibula to repair maxillary tissue defects can repair soft and hard tissue defects at the same time, so that the patient's facial appearance, swallowing function, chewing function, speech function, and mouth opening are satisfactorily restored and the mid-term effectiveness is good.
Humans ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Female ; Fibula/surgery* ; Aged ; Perforator Flap ; Plastic Surgery Procedures/methods* ; Maxilla/surgery* ; Maxillary Neoplasms/surgery* ; Free Tissue Flaps/transplantation* ; Lower Extremity/surgery* ; Bone Transplantation/methods* ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of functional perforator flaps utilizing the superficial circumflex iliac artery as a vascular pedicle, as well as chimeric iliac bone flaps, in the reconstruction of composite tissue defects in the hand and foot. METHODS: A retrospective review of the clinical data from 13 patients suffering from severe hand or foot injuries, treated between May 2019 and January 2025, was conducted. The cohort comprised 8 males and 5 females, with ages ranging from 31 to 67 years (mean, 48.5 years). The injuries caused by mechanical crush incidents (n=9) and traffic accidents (n=4). The distribution of injury sites included 8 cases involving the hand and 5 cases involving the foot. Preoperatively, all patients exhibited bone defects ranging from 2.0 to 6.5 cm and soft tissue defects ranging from 10 to 210 cm². Reconstruction was performed using functional perforator flaps based on the superficial circumflex iliac artery and chimeric iliac bone flaps. The size of iliac bone flaps ranged from 2.5 cm×1.0 cm×1.0 cm to 7.0 cm×2.0 cm×1.5 cm, while the size of the soft tissue flaps ranged from 4 cm×3 cm to 15 cm×8 cm. In 1 case with a significant hand defect, a posterior interosseous artery perforator flap measuring 10.0 cm×4.5 cm was utilized as an adjunct. Likewise, an anterolateral thigh perforator flap measuring 25 cm×7 cm was combined in 1 case involving a foot defect. All donor sites were primarily closed. Postoperative flap survival was monitored, and bone healing was evaluated through imaging examination. Functional outcomes were assessed based on the location of the defects: for hand injuries, grip strength, pinch strength, and flap two-point discrimination were measured; for foot injuries, the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, Maryland Foot Score, plantar pressure distribution and gait symmetry index (GSI) were evaluated. RESULTS: All flaps survived completely, with primary healing observed at both donor and recipient sites. All patients were followed up 6-18 months (mean, 12.2 months). No significant flap swelling or deformity was observed. Imaging examination showed a bone callus crossing rate of 92.3% (12/13) at 3 months after operation, and bone density recovered to more than 80% of the healthy side at 6 months. The time required for bone flap integration ranged from 2 to 6 months (mean, 3.2 months). One patient with a foot injury exhibited hypertrophic scarring at the donor site; however, no major complication, such as infection or bone nonunion, was noted. At 6 months after operation, grip strength in 8 patients involving the hand recovered to 75%-90% of the healthy side (mean, 83.2%), while pinch strength recovered to 70%-85% (mean, 80%). Flap two-point discrimination ranged from 8 to 12 mm, approaching the sensory capacity of the healthy side (5-8 mm). Among the 5 patients involving the foot, the AOFAS score at 8 months was 80.5±7.3, VAS score was 5.2±1.6. According to the Maryland Foot Score, 2 cases were rated as excellent and 3 as good. Gait analysis at 6 months after operation showed GSI above 90%, with plantar pressure distribution closely resembling that of the contralateral foot. CONCLUSION The use of functional perforator flaps based on the superficial circumflex iliac artery, combined with chimeric iliac bone flaps, provides a reliable vascular supply and effective functional restoration for the simultaneous repair of composite bone and soft tissue defects in the hand or foot. This technique represents a viable and effective reconstructive option for composite tissue defects in these anatomical regions.
Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Female ; Perforator Flap/transplantation* ; Adult ; Plastic Surgery Procedures/methods* ; Hand Injuries/surgery* ; Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Foot Injuries/surgery* ; Ilium/transplantation* ; Iliac Artery/surgery* ; Soft Tissue Injuries/surgery* ; Bone Transplantation/methods* ; Treatment Outcome

Objective:To explore the experience of clinical nurses in implementing nutritional management for patients with cirrhosis based on the nutrition care process and model, so as to provide references for nutritional management of patients with cirrhosis.Methods:From March to May 2024, 14 nurses from the Taihe County People's Hospital were selected for face-to-face semi-structured interviews using purposive sampling method. The Colaizzi's 7-step analysis was used to analyze the interview data.Results:A total of four themes were ultimately summarized, namely, multidimensional factors affecting patients' acceptance of nutritional management, nurses' professional competence affecting the implementation of nutritional management, deficiencies in practice affecting the implementation of nutritional management, and collaborative relationships between nurses and patients affecting the successful implementation of nutritional management.Conclusions:From the nurses' perspective, this study identifies strengths and weaknesses in the management and implementation of nutrition for patients with cirrhosis, which can provide a basis for further improvement and development of targeted nutritional management programs for patients with cirrhosis.

Objective:To explore the experience of clinical nurses in implementing nutritional management for patients with cirrhosis based on the nutrition care process and model, so as to provide references for nutritional management of patients with cirrhosis.Methods:From March to May 2024, 14 nurses from the Taihe County People's Hospital were selected for face-to-face semi-structured interviews using purposive sampling method. The Colaizzi's 7-step analysis was used to analyze the interview data.Results:A total of four themes were ultimately summarized, namely, multidimensional factors affecting patients' acceptance of nutritional management, nurses' professional competence affecting the implementation of nutritional management, deficiencies in practice affecting the implementation of nutritional management, and collaborative relationships between nurses and patients affecting the successful implementation of nutritional management.Conclusions:From the nurses' perspective, this study identifies strengths and weaknesses in the management and implementation of nutrition for patients with cirrhosis, which can provide a basis for further improvement and development of targeted nutritional management programs for patients with cirrhosis.

Objective To investigate the mechanism and clinical significance of miR-18a-5p and retinoid acid receptor-related orphan receptor-α(RORA)in the proliferation and progression of colorectal cancer(CRC)cells.Methods The expressions of miR-18a-5p and RORA in CRC cells and tissues were detected via qRT-PCR,FISH,and IHC.Cell proliferation capability was detected through EdU and CFSE assay,cell apoptosis by flow cytometry assay,and cell migration and invasion abilities by cell scratch and Transwell invasion assays,respectively.The targeted regulation of miR-18a-5p on RORA was further verified via dual-luciferase reporter assay,cell function rescue test,RT-PCR,and Western blot assay.Finally,bioinformatics was used to explore the molecular mechanism of miR-18a-5p promoting malignant proliferation,invasion,and progression of CRC via regulating RORA.Results miR-18a-5p exhibited a high expression in CRC tissues and cells(P<0.05)and promoted the proliferation,migration,and invasion of CRC cells(P<0.05).In addition,RORA served as the target gene of miR-18a-5p,and its overexpression effectively reduced the promoting function of miR-18a-5p in the malignant biological phenotype of CRC cells(P<0.05).The expression of RORA in CRC tissues showed a significantly positively correlation with the infiltration of CD8+T cells and the expression of its surface marker protein CD8A.Conclusion The targeted regulation of RORA by miR-18a-5p promotes the proliferation and progression of CRC.The miR-18a-5p/RORA regulatory pathway possibly contributes to the immune microenvironment of CRC,which can be a potential therapeutic target for CRC.

As a new hypoglycemic drug,Dapagliflozin has attracted much attention because of its unique hypoglycemic mechanism. It has been used in many studies on type 2 diabetes mellitus,but the application of type 1 diabetes mellitus(T1DM)in the eastern population is rare. This article uses Dapagliflozin through a case of obese T1DM to provide new ideas for the treatment of T1DM.

Objective:To explore the effect of accurately localized mini anterolateral thigh perforator flap in repairing medium-sized skin and soft tissue defects in fingers.Methods:The study was a retrospective observational study. From December 2019 to September 2022, 15 patients with medium-sized skin and soft tissue defects who met the inclusion criteria in fingers were admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, including 12 males and 3 females, aged 23 to 62 years. After debridement, the wounds were all accompanied by exposed tendons, bones, vessels and nerves, with an area from 4.0 cm×3.0 cm to 8.0 cm×3.5 cm. Computed tomography angiography and color Doppler ultrasonography examinations were performed on both lower limbs of the patient before surgery to accurately locate the anterolateral thigh perforators. When the flap with area from 6.0 cm×3.0 cm to 11.0 cm×4.0 cm was harvested, the flap was thinned. The artery and vein perforators of the flap were anastomosed respectively with the digital artery and dorsal metacarpal vein. If there was avulsion injury, infection, or burn in the recipient area, the main arterial and veinous vessels carried by the skin flap was anastomosed with the radial artery and accompanying vein. The lateral thigh cutaneous nerve carried by the flap was anastomosed with the stump of the digital nerve. The types of perforators of the lateral thigh artery were observed during operation and compared with the location of the vessels before operation. After operation, the survival and adverse complication of the flap were closely observed. During follow-up, the skin flap color, texture, and shape were observed; the wound healing in donor area was observed. At the last follow-up, the two-point discriminative distance of the affected finger pulp was measured, and the function of the affected finger was evaluated using the trial standard for the evaluation of functions of upper limbs of Hand Surgery Society of Chinese Medical Association, and the interphalangeal joint movement of the affected finger was observed; the patients' complaints about the adverse effects of flap resection on lower limbs were recorded.Results:During the operation, it was observed that the perforators of the flaps in 11 patients were the descending branch of the lateral circumflex thigh artery, in two patients, the perforators of skin flaps were the oblique branch of the lateral thigh artery, and the perforators in another two patients were the transverse branch of the lateral circumflex thigh artery, which were consistent with the preoperative vascular localization. After operation, all flaps survived without vascular crisis and infection. The patients were followed up for 6-12 months, the flaps had excellent color, texture, and appearance; only linear scars remained on the donor wound. At the last follow-up, the two-point discrimination distance in the finger pulp was 7-11 mm; the affected finger function was rated as excellent in 6 cases, good in 6 cases, and fair in 3 cases; the flexion and extension function of the finger was not affected; two patients complained of numbness in the lateral thigh after excision of the skin flap, and the other 13 patients had no complain of adverse complaints.Conclusions:The perforating branch in lateral thigh region can be accurately located by computed tomography angiography and color Doppler ultrasonography, accurate positioning of perforators before operation can reduce the damage to the donor area during the incision of the flap, the appearance and function of the affected finger can be restored to the maximum extent by thinning the transplanted flap and rebuilding the finger sensation. Therefore, it is an effective and reliable way to repair the medium-sized skin and soft tissue defects of fingers with the mini thigh anterolateral perforator flap.

Objective To evaluate the short-term efficacy and safety of percutaneous liver puncture for local management of portal vein thrombosis(PVT).Methods Variations in thrombus,blood flow,and laboratory examination results were observed before and after percutaneous liver puncture in 197 patients with PVT,and the occurrence of comorbidities was recorded and followed up for one year after treatment.Results After treatment,the thrombus in the main portal vein vessels almostly disappeared in 119 patients(60.41％)with PVT,the thrombus had a significant reduction in 57 patients(28.93％),and the thrombus had a smaller change or an increase in 21 patients(10.66％);146 patients(74.11％)had smooth blood flow in the main portal vein vessels,29 patients(14.72％)showed significant improvement in blood flow,and 22 patients(11.17％)showed no significant improvement or worsening of blockage.The mean portal venous pressure was significantly lower than that before treatment(P＜0.001);thrombin time,activated partial thromboplastin time,and prothrombin time were prolonged compared to those before thrombolysis(P＜0.001),and fibrinogen were reduced compared to those before thrombolysis(P＜0.001).A total of 35 patients(17.77％)occured comorbidities during treatment.One year after treatment,196 patients(99.49％)with PVT survived,of which thrombus essentially disappeared in 141(71.94％),thrombus stabilized(or decreased)in 42(21.43％),and thrombus increased in 13(6.63％).Conclusion percutaneous liver puncture for local management of PVT is effective and reliable in the short-term and requires standardized management of the entire process.

Objective:To investigate the clinical effect of anterolateral thigh perforator flap (ALTPF) combined with transfer of fascia lata in reconstruction of complex tissue defects of hand and foot.Methods:From July 2021 to October 2023, 9 patients with complex tissue defects of hand and foot were treated with ALTPF combined with fascia lata in the Department of Orthopaedic Microsurgical Repair and Reconstruction of Fuyang People's Hospital Affiliated to Anhui Medical University. There were 2 males and 7 females with an average age of 28.1 (range, 4-65) years old. Three patients had extensor tendon defects in 6 digits of dorsal hands, 5 had extensor tendon defect in 10 toes of dorsal foot, 1 had a defect of anterior tibial tendon and 1 had Achilles tendon defect in posterior ankles. The sizes of soft tissue defect ranged from 8.0 cm×6.0 cm to 15.0 cm×10.0 cm, and the lengths of tendon defect ranged from 6.0 to 13.0 cm. Preoperative Doppler ultrasound was used to locate the distribution of perforating branches in the anterolateral thigh region. According to the characteristics of wound, ALTPFs and fascia lata were designed and harvested. Fascia lata with an appropriate size of 1.5 cm×8.0 cm-4.5 cm×15.0 cm were taken to bridge the defects of the tendon and the Achilles tendon. The wounds were reconstructed with flaps sized 9.0 cm×6.5 cm-18.0 cm×7.5 cm. Nine fascia lata donor sites and 8 flap donor sites were sutured directly. One donor site was treated with a skin graft of ipsilateral ilioinguinal region. The survival and complications of the flaps and donor sites were observed through outpatient follow-up visits, WeChat reviews and home visits, etc. The hand function was assessed according to the Evaluation Standard of Upper Limb Functional of Hand Surgery of Chinese Medical Association, and the foot and ankle function was assessed according to the Mazur score standard of joint range of motion and motor function.Results:All patients were included in follow-up for 4-24 (mean, 13.4) months with complete clinical data being collected. All 9 ALTPFs survived and healed primarily. A linear scar left in donor sites in 8 patients, and mild lamellar scar at skin graft in 1 patient. Texture and colour of the flaps were similar to the surrounding tissue without secondary flap thinning surgery. Combined with postoperative rehabilitation training, satisfactory function recoveries were achieved. Hand function of 3 patients were evaluated according to Evaluation Standard of Upper Limb Functional of Hand Surgery of Chinese Medical Association, 2 patients were excellent and 1 was good. Ankle and foot functions in 6 patients were evaluated according to the range of motion of ankle and foot and Mazur score standard for motor function, 4 patients were excellent and 2 were good.Conclusion:ALTPF combined with fascia lata transfer can reconstruct the complex tissue defects of hand and foot. Of which, 1 donor site can meet the requirements of 2 types of tissues reconstruction at the same time, and with minimal damage to the donor site as well as an precise reconstruction of the recipient site. It avoids staged surgery, shortens the treatment time and reduces the cost of treatment.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2021.07.006.].