Surgical stabilization of the flail chest is challenging and has no established guidelines. Chest wall integrity and stability are the main factors that ensure the protection of intrathoracic organs and an adequate respiratory function. Here, we report a novel chest wall reconstruction technique in a 45-year-old man with a traumatic left flail chest and open pneumothorax diagnosed both clinically and radiographically. Rib approximation and chest wall reconstruction was done using intercostal figure-of-eight suture and polypropylene mesh with vascularized musculofascial flap. The patient improved gradually and was discharged after three weeks of total hospital stay. He returned to regular working after a month with no evidence of respiratory distress or paradoxical chest movement. Follow-up visit at one year revealed no lung hernia or paradoxical chest movement. This is a novel, feasible and cost-effective modification of chest wall reconstruction that can be adopted for thoracic wall repair in case of open flail chest, which needs emergency surgical interventions even in resource constraint settings.
Flail Chest/surgery* ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polypropylenes ; Surgical Mesh ; Sutures ; Thoracic Wall/surgery*

In the current study, schisandrin B(SchB)-loaded F127 modified lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles(SchB-F-LPNs) were developed to improve the inhibition of breast cancer lung metastasis. Modified nanoprecipitation method was used to prepare SchB-F-LPNs. The nanoparticles were spherical in shape with shell-core structure by TEM observation. SchB-F-LPNs showed a mean particle size of(234.60±6.11) nm with zeta potential of(-5.88±0.49) mV. XRD results indicated that SchB existed in the nanoparticles in an amorphous state. The apparent permeability coefficient through porcine mucus of F-LPNs was 1.43-fold of that of LPNs as shown in the in vitro mucus penetration study. The pharmacokinetics study showed that the C_(max) of SchB was(369.06±146.94) μg·L~(-1),(1 121.34±91.65) μg·L~(-1) and(2 951.91±360.53) μg·L~(-1) respectively in SchB suspensions group, SchB-LPNs group and SchB-F-LPNs group after oral administration in rats. With SchB suspensions as the reference formulation, the relative bioavailability of SchB-F-LPNs was 568.60%. SchB-F-LPNs inhibited the morphological change during transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1)-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition. In addition, SchB-F-LPNs significantly decreased the number of metastatic pulmonary nodules in 4 T1 tumor-bearing mice, suggesting that SchB-F-LPNs may inhibit the metastasis of breast cancer. These results reveal the promising potential of SchB-F-LPNs in treatment of breast cancer lung metastasis.
Animals ; Cyclooctanes ; Lignans ; Lipids ; Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Mice ; Nanoparticles ; Polycyclic Compounds ; Polyethylenes ; Polymers ; Polypropylenes ; Rats ; Swine

Biological Products ; Compliance ; Ice ; Incubators ; Methods ; Polyethylene ; Polypropylenes ; Polystyrenes ; Product Packaging ; Refrigeration ; Transportation ; Vaccines

Suture broken, knot slipping and tissue tearing are the main reasons of wound closure failure in clinical operation. Based on this, we simulated the suturing and healing operation by using a biological materials testing machine and investigated the tensile properties before and after knotting, relaxation property and friction property of three common sutures: silk, polyglactin 910 and polypropylene. Results show that the tensile property decreased after knotting. The tensile strength of polyglactin 910 and elongation of polypropylene were the largest. During the relaxation process, the sutures relaxed the most in the first 2 hours. The relaxation from less to more was: polyglactin 910, silk and polypropylene. Coating or monofilament could obviously reduce the surface roughness of sutures, and thus reduce the friction force of the suture-suture interface. The friction force of the suture-suture interface increased with the increasing load but did no change with the increasing velocity. The results can provide an important theoretical basis for the optimizations of suture design and knotting operation.
Friction ; Materials Testing ; Polyglactin 910 ; Polypropylenes ; Silk ; Suture Techniques ; Sutures ; Tensile Strength

No abstract available.
Intubation ; Lacerations ; Polypropylenes

Tibialis anterior muscle herniation is the most common type of skeletal muscle herniation of the lower legs. The treatment of muscle herniation relies on the patient's symptoms. For patients with chronic large fascial defects, fascial grafting with synthetic mesh can be considered. In this case of a patient who was exposed to excessive strain on his lower legs during a military training program, the use of a secure repair technique with synthetic mesh was required. This paper presents a case of tibialis anterior muscle herniation that was treated successfully with a monofilament knitted polypropylene mesh covered by the tibialis anterior fascia. The advantages of this technique include early rehabilitation and an early return to work. No significant difference in the clinical results compared to other methods were observed and there were no complications. The military training program appeared to have aggravated the patient's symptoms of tibialis anterior muscle herniation. On the other hand, larger scale study will be needed to determine if this program actually affects the clinical outcomes.
Education ; Fascia ; Hand ; Humans ; Leg ; Military Personnel ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Polypropylenes ; Rehabilitation ; Return to Work ; Transplants

BACKGROUND: Face-lifting procedures are often performed to hide the effects of aging. Thread-lifting, a minimally invasive technique for the correction of facial aging, has become increasingly popular, and various materials for the procedure have been developed. OBJECTIVE: This study compared tissue responses to two types of threading sutures placed under rat skin: polypropylene (PP) monofilament mesh suspension thread (a novel face-lifting material) and polydioxanone (PDO) barbed thread. METHODS: Eight rats each were assigned to the PP monofilament mesh suspension, PDO barbed thread, and control groups. Tissue reactions were evaluated 28 days after subcutaneous loading of the materials. RESULTS: Significant increases in tensile strength and the mean area occupied by collagen fibers were evident in skin loaded with PDO barbed thread and PP monofilament mesh suspension thread compared to control skin (p<0.05). Compared to sites loaded with PDO barbed thread, those loaded with PP monofilament mesh suspension thread showed a significant increase in the number of collagen fibers and a lower grade of inflammation (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: PP monofilament mesh suspension thread has skin-rejuvenating effects comparable to those of PDO barbed thread, but induces a less severe inflammatory response. This indicates that it is a safe and effective material for use in thread-lifting procedures on aging skin.
Aging ; Animals ; Collagen ; Inflammation ; Polydioxanone ; Polypropylenes ; Rats ; Skin ; Sutures ; Tensile Strength

PURPOSE: Transvaginal mesh (TVM) results in a greater anatomic cure but more complications. We aimed to compare laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy (LSC) plus colporrhaphy with the small intestine submucosa (SIS) graft versus TVM for advanced pelvic organ prolapse (POP).
Cohort Studies ; Humans ; Intestine, Small ; Pelvic Floor ; Pelvic Organ Prolapse ; Polypropylenes ; Prolapse ; Retrospective Studies ; Transplants

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a surgical polypropylene mesh for correction of anterior vaginal prolapse, with or without apical defects, by providing simultaneous reinforcement at the anterior and apical aspects of the vagina with a single-incision approach. METHODS: This was a prospective, multicenter, single-arm study involving women with baseline stage ≥2 anterior and/or apical vaginal wall prolapse according to the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) system. The primary endpoint was defined as achievement of POP-Q stage ≤1 status. Additionally, patient-reported outcomes were assessed using the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Vaginal Symptoms (ICIQ-VS). The device under evaluation was Calistar A, which is fixed posteriorly to the sacrospinous ligaments with a novel tissue-anchoring system (TAS) and anteriorly to the obturator internus muscles. Postoperative follow-ups were scheduled at 7 days and at 6, 12, and 24 months. RESULTS: Ninety-seven women were treated and assessed for the primary outcome. They were followed for up to 2 years (n=43), with a median of 12 months. Objective cure was achieved in 86 of the 97 patients (88.7%) (P < 0.0005). The mean reduction in the ICIQ-VS scores was in the range of 70%–90% for every time point (P < 0.05). No bleeding or surgical revision was reported. Mesh exposure occurred in 7 patients (7.2%), urinary retention in 5 (5.2%), de novo dyspareunia in 3 (3.1%), and urinary tract infections in 7 (7.2%). CONCLUSIONS: This midterm follow-up showed that apical and anterior vaginal reinforcement with a polypropylene implant fixed with a TAS provided good anatomical correction, with no major complications.
Cystocele ; Dyspareunia ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Ligaments ; Muscles ; Pelvic Floor ; Pelvic Organ Prolapse ; Polypropylenes ; Prolapse* ; Prospective Studies* ; Reoperation ; Surgical Mesh ; Urinary Incontinence ; Urinary Retention ; Urinary Tract Infections ; Uterine Prolapse ; Vagina

PURPOSE: Although numerous procedures have been proposed for the treatment of patients with a rectal prolapse, the most effective operation has not yet been established. Minimal rectal mobilization can prevent constipation; however, it is associated with increased recurrence rates. We describe our novel method for a laparoscopic posterolateral rectopexy, which includes rectal mobilization with a posterior-right unilateral dissection, suture fixation to the sacral promontory with a polypropylene mesh (Optilene), and a mesorectal fascia propria that is as wide as possible. The present report describes our novel method and assesses the short-term outcomes of patients. METHODS: Between June 2014 and June 2017, 63 patients (28 males and 35 females) with a full-thickness rectal prolapse underwent a laparoscopic posterolateral (LPL) rectopexy. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical characteristics and postoperative complications in those patients. The outcome of surgery was determined by evaluating the answers on fecal incontinence questionnaires, the results of anal manometry preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively, the patients’ satisfaction scores (0–10), and the occurrence of constipation. RESULTS: No recurrence was reported during follow-up (3.26 months), and 3 patients reported postoperative complications (wound infection, postoperative sepsis, which was successfully treated with conservative management, and retrograde ejaculation). Compared to the preoperative baseline, fecal incontinence at three months postoperatively showed an overall improvement. The mean patient satisfaction score was 9.55 ± 0.10, and 8 patients complained of persistent constipation. CONCLUSION: LPL rectopexy is a safe, effective method showing good functional outcomes by providing firm, solid fixation for patients with a full-thickness rectal prolapse.
Constipation ; Fascia ; Fecal Incontinence ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Manometry ; Methods ; Patient Satisfaction ; Polypropylenes ; Postoperative Complications ; Rectal Prolapse* ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Sepsis ; Sutures