1.Bupleuri Radix Associated Prescriptions Against Depression: A Review
Congwei LI ; Mingliang QIAO ; Peiyuan ZHAO ; Bing LI ; Yi MENG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(10):295-304
In today's society, depression is a kind of highly prevalent chronic mental illness. It leads to a high disability rate and a heavy economic burden. Depression is defined by fundamental symptoms of low mood and diminished pleasure. Its causes and mechanisms remain unclear, and it presents a broad spectrum of symptoms and a persistent nature that significantly impacts both physical and mental well-being. Treatment in Western medicine primarily focuses on alleviating symptoms, yet it entails numerous adverse effects and contraindications. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment is based on resolving depression, which is often accompanied by soothing liver, and the key medicine is Bupleuri Radix. Bupleuri Radix associated prescriptions refer to a class of prescriptions using Bupleuri Radix as the sovereign medicinal or having a high dose of Bupleuri Radix, which are widely used in the field of anti-depression. Previous studies from animal experiments, clinical research, and modern pharmacological research have confirmed that Bupleuri Radix associated prescriptions have precise anti-depression efficacy in multiple ways and at multiple levels, but lack a comprehensive and systematic summarization. This paper summarized and analyzed the literature related to the clinical application and mechanism of action of Bupleuri Radix associated prescriptions in anti-depression treatment. The results showed that the anti-depression mechanism of the Bupleuri Radix associated prescriptions (such as Xiaochaihu Tang, Xiaoyao San, Sini San, Chaihu Shugan San, and Chaihu jia Longgu Muli San) was associated with the effects of regulating monoamine neurotransmitters, the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), intestinal flora, and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, inhibiting inflammatory responses, and modulating related signaling pathways. Applying them in clinical practice can effectively alleviate patient symptoms, lower the TCM syndrome score and the severity of depression, and also reduce adverse reactions. This underscores advantages of TCM in depression treatment, which offers patients a secure, effective, and more individualized alternative treatment regimen. On this basis, the shortcomings of current studies and the future trend were analyzed. This study aimed to provide an evidence-based medicine basis for the research and development of novel antidepressant medications.
2.Ameliorative effect of patchouli alcohol on mice with lung-heat syndrome based on PI3K/Akt/NF-κB pathway
Linze LI ; Yi LI ; Haoyi QIAO ; Jiakang JIAO ; Qi ZHANG ; Xiaofang WU ; Xingyu ZHAO ; Yinming ZHAO ; Chun WANG ; Jianjun ZHANG ; Linyuan WANG
Journal of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;48(4):459-470
Objective:
To investigate the therapeutic effect of patchouli alcohol on mice with lung-heat syndrome based on the phosphoinositide 3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(Akt)/nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB) signaling pathway.
Methods:
First, network pharmacology was used to predict the potential targets of patchouli alcohol in the treatment of lung-heat syndrome, and a "component-disease-key target" network was constructed for pathway analysis. Then, 40 BALB/c mice were assigned to the normal, lung-heat model, honeysuckle, and low-dose and high-dose patchouli alcohol groups. All groups, except the blank group, were intranasally infected with 50 μL (103 TCID50) of influenza virus solution. After two hours of infection, mice were treated once a day for seven consecutive days. The therapeutic mechanism of patchouli alcohol was explored by measuring pulmonary inflammatory factors, the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB pathway, hypothalamic fever markers (PGE2, cAMP, cGMP levels), rectal temperature, and tissue energy metabolism.
Results:
Network pharmacology identified 135 target genes related to patchouli alcohol and lung-heat syndrome, with the key targets being STAT3, H1F1A, and NF-κB1. In animal experiments, patchouli alcohol significantly alleviated influenza virus-induced lung inflammatory damage in mice with lung-heat syndrome, inhibited the expression of TNF-α and IL-6 in lung tissues(P<0.01), and suppressed the activation of the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB pathway. It also reduced hypothalamic levels of PGE2 and cAMP(P<0.01), suppressed the increase in rectal temperature, significantly decreased liver glycogen and pyruvate levels(P<0.01), and increased the activities of SDH, LDH, and Na+ -K+ -ATPase in the liver(P<0.01)
Conclusion
Patchouli alcohol improves the symptoms of lung-heat syndrome in mice by inhibiting the activation of the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB pathway, reducing proinflammatory cytokines and inflammatory damage, and regulating hypothalamic fever markers and energy metabolism.
3.Myocardial patch:cell sources,improvement strategies,and optimal production methods
Wei HU ; Jian XING ; Guangxin CHEN ; Zee CHEN ; Yi ZHAO ; Dan QIAO ; Kunfu OUYANG ; Wenhua HUANG
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2024;28(17):2723-2730
BACKGROUND:Myocardial patches are used as an effective way to repair damaged myocardium,and there is controversy over which cells to use to make myocardial patches and how to maximize the therapeutic effect of myocardial patches in vivo. OBJECTIVE:To find out the best way to make myocardial patches by overviewing the cellular sources of myocardial patches and strategies for perfecting them. METHODS:The first author searched PubMed and Web of Science databases by using"cell sheet,cell patch,cardiomyocytes,cardiac progenitor cells,fibroblasts,embryonic stem cell,mesenchymal stem cells"as English search terms,and searched CNKI and Wanfang databases by using"myocardial patch,biological 3D printing,myocardial"as Chinese search terms.After enrollment screening,94 articles were ultimately included in the result analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The cellular sources of myocardial patches are mainly divided into three categories:somatic cells,monoenergetic stem cells,and pluripotent stem cells,respectively.There are rich sources of cells for myocardial patches,but not all of them are suitable for making myocardial patches,e.g.,myocardial patches made from fibroblasts and skeletal myoblasts carry a risk of arrhythmogenicity,and mesenchymal stem cells have a short in vivo duration of action and ethical concerns.With the discovery of induced multifunctional stem cells,a reliable source of cells for making myocardial patches is available.(2)There are two methods of making myocardial patches.One is using cell sheet technology.The other is using biological 3D printing technology.Cell sheet technology can preserve the extracellular matrix components intact and can maximally mimic the cell growth ring in vivo.However,it is still difficult to obtain myocardial patches with three-dimensional structure by cell sheet technology.Biologicasl 3D printing technology,however,can be used to obtain myocardial patches with three-dimensional structures through computerized personalized design.(3)The strategies for perfecting myocardial patches mainly include:making myocardial patches after co-cultivation of multiple cells,improving the ink formulation and scaffold composition in biological 3D printing technology,improving the therapeutic effect of myocardial patches,suppressing immune rejection after transplantation,and perfecting the differentiation and cultivation protocols of stem cells.(4)There is no optimal cell source or method for making myocardial patches,and myocardial patches obtained from a particular cell or technique alone often do not achieve the desired therapeutic effect.Therefore,researchers need to choose the appropriate strategy for making myocardial patches based on the desired therapeutic effect before making them.
4.Licorice-saponin A3 is a broad-spectrum inhibitor for COVID-19 by targeting viral spike and anti-inflammation
Yang YI ; Wenzhe LI ; Kefang LIU ; Heng XUE ; Rong YU ; Meng ZHANG ; Yang-Oujie BAO ; Xinyuan LAI ; Jingjing FAN ; Yuxi HUANG ; Jing WANG ; Xiaomeng SHI ; Junhua LI ; Hongping WEI ; Kuanhui XIANG ; Linjie LI ; Rong ZHANG ; Xin ZHAO ; Xue QIAO ; Hang YANG ; Min YE
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2024;14(1):115-127
Currently,human health due to corona virus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic has been seriously threatened.The coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2)spike(S)protein plays a crucial role in virus transmission and several S-based therapeutic approaches have been approved for the treatment of COVID-19.However,the efficacy is compromised by the SARS-CoV-2 evolvement and mutation.Here we report the SARS-CoV-2 S protein receptor-binding domain(RBD)inhibitor licorice-saponin A3(A3)could widely inhibit RBD of SARS-CoV-2 variants,including Beta,Delta,and Omicron BA.1,XBB and BQ1.1.Furthermore,A3 could potently inhibit SARS-CoV-2 Omicron virus in Vero E6 cells,with EC50 of 1.016 pM.The mechanism was related to binding with Y453 of RBD deter-mined by hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry(HDX-MS)analysis combined with quan-tum mechanics/molecular mechanics(QM/MM)simulations.Interestingly,phosphoproteomics analysis and multi fluorescent immunohistochemistry(mIHC)respectively indicated that A3 also inhibits host inflammation by directly modulating the JNK and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)path-ways and rebalancing the corresponding immune dysregulation.This work supports A3 as a promising broad-spectrum small molecule drug candidate for COVID-19.
5.A retrospective study of pedicled upper lip mucosal flap in repairing nasal septal mucosa defect after rhinoplasty
Yiwen DENG ; Xiancheng WANG ; Hongli ZHAO ; Zhihua QIAO ; Yi TIAN ; Weiliang ZENG ; Kai YANG ; Chunjie LI ; Quanding YAN ; Yang SUN
Chinese Journal of Plastic Surgery 2024;40(8):838-845
Objective:To investigate the surgical effect of pedicled upper lip mucosal flap in repairing nasal septal mucosal defects after rhinoplasty.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed from January 2016 to October 2022, the clinical data of patients with nasal septal mucosal defects after rhinoplasty were collected in the Department of Plastic and Aesthetic (Burn) Surgery at the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University. The pedicled upper lip mucosal flap was utilized for repair based on the patient’s medical history and wound condition. The pedicle of the flap was designed 1 cm adjacent to the frenulum of the upper lip, and an appropriate flap was incised based on the size of the wound, with dissection performed up to the superficial layer of the orbicularis oris muscle. The dissection establishes an upper lip tunnel that connects the gingival-buccal groove to the nasal cavity. The pedicled upper lip mucosal flap was elevated and transposed into the nasal cavity via the upper lip tunnel. The position of the flap was adjusted to ensure complete coverage and fixation of the nasal septal defect wound using 5-0 absorbable suture. The visual analogue scale (VAS) and the nasal obstruction symptom evaluation (NOSE) scale were utilized to facilitate patients’ satisfaction evaluation and assessment of nasal obstruction symptoms before surgery and at 6 months post-surgery. The VAS total score was 10 points, with higher scores indicating greater levels of patient satisfaction. The NOSE scale comprises of 5 items, each assigned a score ranging from 0 to 4, denoting absence of symptoms, very mild presence, moderate intensity, relatively severe manifestation, and highly severe indication respectively. The measurement data of VAS and NOSE scores before surgery and at 6 months post-surgery was expressed by Mean±SD, using paired t-test. The score distribution of the NOSE scale was represented by the number of cases, using Mann-Whitney U test. Results:The study included a total of 15 female patients, with an average age of (27.6±2.9) years (ranging from 23 to 33 years). Eleven cases presented with preoperative cartilage exposure, and the size of tissue defect ranged from 0.9 cm×0.5 cm to 1.5 cm×0.7 cm. Nine patients had a history of smoking. Skin grafting was performed in 9 patients, while nasal mucosal metastasis was observed in 8 patients. The dimensions of the flap varied from 4.0 cm×1.2 cm to 7.0 cm×1.5 cm. The postoperative recovery was satisfactory, with successful survival of the skin flaps and no occurrences of infection, hematoma, wound dehiscence, or flap necrosis. The average duration of follow-up was (8.2±2.1) months (ranging from 6 to 12 months). The postoperative VAS score (7.73±0.88) was significantly higher compared to the preoperative score (1.86±0.74) ( P<0.01). Additionally, the postoperative NOSE score (4.66±1.71) showed a significant decrease from the preoperative score (10.73±2.68), with a statistically significant difference ( P<0.01). Among them, after surgery items of stuffy or unbreathable nose (2 cases vs. 15 cases), nasal obstruction (1 case vs. 14 cases), and feeling that the nose was not enough to breathe during exercise or exertion (4 cases vs. 14 cases) scored≥2 points were significantly less than those before operation (all P<0.01). Conclusion:The utilization of pedicled upper lip mucosal flap in the reconstruction of severe nasal septal mucosal defects following rhinoplasty has proven to be highly effective. The postoperative satisfaction of patients is remarkably high, the ventilation function exhibits significant improvement, and no severe complications are observed.
6.Protective effects of Silybum thistle extract and related formulations on liver in mice with alcoholism
Ting-Qiao WANG ; Wu-Jiang REN ; Liang-Yu LÜ ; Rong WEI ; Yue-Yi GUO ; Jian ZHAO
The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2024;40(7):1009-1013
Objective To investigate the protective effect of silymarin extract(SME)and its complex preparation on ethanol liver injury.Methods An ethanol liver injury model was established by gavage of 12 mL·kg-1 50%ethanol.Male mice were divided into blank group(distilled water),model group(ethanol liver injury model),SME-L,-H groups(6,20 mg·mL-1 SME),SME+Ganoderma lucidum extract(GLE)-L,-H groups(10,30 mg·mL-1 SME+GLE,SME∶GLE=1∶1),Jian An Shi Silymarin Pueraria Mirifica and Tansy tablets(JAS)-L,-H groups(68,204 mg·mL-1 JAS),there were 12 mice in each group.The serum levels of glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase(GOT)in mice were measured by fully automated biochemical analyzer assay;the serum levels of interleukin-6(IL-6)and tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α)in mice were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELASA);the hepatic tissue of oxidative stress indexes[catalase(CAT)and total superoxide dismutase(T-SOD)]were measured by ultraviolet spectrophotometer.Results The T-SOD activity in the blank group,model group,SME-L,SME-H,SME+GLE-L,SME+GLE-H,JAS-L and JAS-H groups were(192.54±49.00),(141.65±34.72),(205.83±32.77),(191.68±25.83),(192.31±28.79),(177.82±32.61),(218.58±74.80)and(210.24±31.65)U·mg·prot-1;CAT activity were(37.78±5.73),(28.92±8.44),(44.12±11.52),(41.41±9.15),(47.01±10.48),(41.63±8.95),(47.14±8.91)and(48.29±10.06)U·mg-1;GPT levels were(47.61±13.00),(97.84±26.00),(62.33±18.92),(51.84±17.91),(70.77±28.00),(58.00±21.27),(52.28±18.78)and(45.55±9.27)U·L-1;IL-6 levels were(21.03±1.52),(28.43±5.75),(21.90±3.24),(21.23±1.55),(22.26±2.58),(21.24±2.91),(22.17±4.14)and(21.14±3.02)pg·mL-1.Comparing the above indexes in the model group with the blank group,and comparing the above indexes in the SME-L,SME-H,SME+GLE-L,SME+GLE-H,JAS-L,JAS-H groups with the model group,the differences were statistically significant(all P<0.01).The TNF-α levels in blank,model,SME-L,SME-H,SME+GLE-L,SME+GLE-H,JAS-L and JAS-H groups were were(28.07±7.72),(69.02±16.34),(40.29±8.94),(48.84±10.17),(41.91±14.96),(40.07±12.75),(50.72±11.44)and(45.05±11.34)pg·mL-1.Comparing the model group with the blank group,the SME,SME+GLE-L,-M and JAS,-M groups with the model group,the differences were statistically significant(all P<0.01).Conclusion Silybum marianum extract and its compound preparation can increase the antioxidant level and reduce the inflammation of mouse liver,and have a certain improvement effect on liver injury caused by acute ethanol poisoning.
7.Surgical techniques for pollybeak deformity correction
Hongli ZHAO ; Xiancheng WANG ; Yang SUN ; Xiang XIONG ; Xianxi MENG ; Wenbo LI ; Zhihua QIAO ; Kai YANG ; Weiliang ZENG ; Yi TIAN
Chinese Journal of Plastic Surgery 2024;40(2):156-162
Objective:To evaluate the effectiveness of surgical methods for correcting pollybeak deformity in Chinese rhinoplasty.Methods:A retrospective chart review was conducted for patients who underwent pollybeak correction between January 2021 and December 2022 at the Department of Plastic and Aesthetic (Burn) Surgery, the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University. Individualized correction was tailored based on the etiology and severity of the nasal deformity of each patient, involving techniques such as resection of the anterior part of the nasal septum, reconstruction of nasal tip support, reconstruction of the middle part of the nasal vault, and excision of skin in the upper region of the nasal tip. A modified classification system for pollybeak deformity, the supratip fullness rating scale (SFRS), was developed to evaluate supratip fullness (0-3 points, with higher scores indicating more apparent deformity). The patients aesthetic outcomes were assessed by surgeons using the visual analogue scale (VAS) (0-10 points, with higher scores indicating more apparent deformity), and patient self-assessed using the rhinoplasty outcome evaluation (ROE) questionnaire (0-100 points, with higher scores indicating higher satisfaction). The measurement data of normal distribution was expressed as Mean±SD and analyzed by paired t-test; the measurement data of non-normal distribution was expressed as M( Q1, Q3) and analyzed by Wilcoxon signed rank test. Results:In a cohort study of 53 rhinoplasty patients (7 male, 46 female; age range 19-45 years, mean 29 years), comprising 15 primary and 38 secondary surgeries, nasal tip deformities were evaluated. Deformities were classified as mild (5 cases), moderate (25 cases), and severe (23 cases). Over a follow-up period of 6-17 months (mean 9.5 months), significant aesthetic improvements in the nasal tip region were observed. The SFRS scores decreased from 2(2, 3) preoperatively to 0(0, 0) postoperatively ( Z = -6.58, P < 0.001), and VAS scores decreased from 7.47±1.73 to 1.79±1.67 ( t = -25.61, P < 0.001). High patient satisfaction was indicated by a mean ROE score of 82.45±11.55. No significant complications, such as nasal tip ptosis, skin necrosis, or scar hyperplasia, were reported. Conclusion:Selecting an appropriate surgical method based on the severity and cause of pollybeak deformity can achieve satisfactory outcomes. Post-operative patients exhibit significant aesthetic improvement in the upper nasal tip area, resulting in high patient satisfaction.
8.Modified superomedial pedicle technique for reduction mammaplasty with inverted T-shaped incision
Kai YANG ; Xiancheng WANG ; Yang SUN ; Xiang XIONG ; Xianxi MENG ; Wenbo LI ; Zhongjie YI ; Hongli ZHAO ; Zhihua QIAO
Chinese Journal of Plastic Surgery 2024;40(5):491-498
Objective:To explore the clinical efficacy of modified superomedial pedicle technique using an inverted T-shaped incision for reduction mammaplasty and mastopexy.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical data of patients who underwent modified superomedial pedicle technique for breast reduction surgery with inverted T-shaped incision between March 2021 and March 2023 at the Department of Plastic and Aesthetic (Burn) Surgery, Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University. Preoperatively, a handheld Doppler ultrasound blood flow detector was used to detect and mark the exit points of the 2nd to 4th perforating vessels of the internal thoracic artery, and a superomedial pedicle containing at least two perforators was designed based on the perforator locations, with a pedicle width generally about 6 cm. Intraoperatively, the pedicle was rotated superolaterally, moving the nipple-areola complex (NAC) upwards to construct a fuller upper pole of the breast and removing excess skin in the lower fold to form a inverted T-shaped incision. Postoperatively, the blood supply of the NAC, breast morphology, and incidence of complications were observed and followed up. Canfield Mirror 7.1.1 software was utilized to measure pre- and post-operative breast morphology data from lateral photographs at 6 months, including total breast area, maximum breast protrusion, upper pole protrusion, lower pole height, and nipple elevation height. The BREAST-Q questionnaire was used to survey patient satisfaction with breast appearance, psychosocial well-being, sexual well-being, and physical health before surgery and 6-12 months after surgery, with each dimension scoring 0-100 points, where higher scores indicate greater satisfaction and health. SPSS 28.0 software was used for data analysis, with normally distributed measurement data expressed as Mean±SD, and paired t-test was applied for comparisons of pre- and post-operative breast morphology data (the first 4 indicators) and BREAST-Q scores, with P<0.05 considered statistically significant. Results:A total of 56 female patients were included, with an age of (32.0±6.7) years and a body mass index of (29.1±5.7) kg/m 2. Preoperative Doppler ultrasound blood flow detection showed that none of the patients had missing or significantly variant perforators of the superomedial pedicle. The volume of breast tissue removed ranged from 890 to 1 800 ml, averaging 1 250 ml, with an average pedicle width of 5.4 cm (4.0-7.0 cm). The follow-up period was (13.3±2.5) months, during which all patients exhibited good blood supply to the NAC and favorable breast morphology, with universal high satisfaction with surgical outcomes. Postoperatively, one case developed incisional seroma, which resolved naturally within 3 months; two cases experienced minor incision dehiscence, which healed well after dressing changes; all other patients recovered well without any complications such as flap necrosis or hematoma. Comparison of breast morphology data showed significant reductions in postoperative left and right total breast area ( P<0.05 for both), and increases in maximum breast protrusion and lower pole height postoperatively ( P<0.05 for both), while the difference in upper pole protrusion was not statistically significant ( P>0.05 for both); postoperative left and right nipple elevation heights were (6.30±1.84) cm and (6.52±1.66) cm, respectively. Among the 44 patients who completed the BREAST-Q survey both before and after surgery, scores showed significant improvements in postoperative breast satisfaction [(50.30±10.30) points vs. (83.20±6.02) points] ( t=5.17, P=0.008) and psychosocial well-being [(56.20±17.20) points vs. (89.70±2.70) points] ( t=5.09, P=0.010), while sexual well-being and physical health scores did not differ significantly from preoperative scores ( P>0.05 for both). Conclusion:Preoperative identification of perforator locations using a handheld Doppler blood vessel detector, followed by the design of a modified superomedial pedicle technique for reduction mammaplasty with inverted T-shaped incision, can not only ensure NAC blood supply, avoiding ischemic necrosis due to vascular anomalies, but also maximally reduce pedicle width and increase pedicle rotation flexibility, achieving desirable breast shaping effects.
9.Surgical techniques for pollybeak deformity correction
Hongli ZHAO ; Xiancheng WANG ; Yang SUN ; Xiang XIONG ; Xianxi MENG ; Wenbo LI ; Zhihua QIAO ; Kai YANG ; Weiliang ZENG ; Yi TIAN
Chinese Journal of Plastic Surgery 2024;40(2):156-162
Objective:To evaluate the effectiveness of surgical methods for correcting pollybeak deformity in Chinese rhinoplasty.Methods:A retrospective chart review was conducted for patients who underwent pollybeak correction between January 2021 and December 2022 at the Department of Plastic and Aesthetic (Burn) Surgery, the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University. Individualized correction was tailored based on the etiology and severity of the nasal deformity of each patient, involving techniques such as resection of the anterior part of the nasal septum, reconstruction of nasal tip support, reconstruction of the middle part of the nasal vault, and excision of skin in the upper region of the nasal tip. A modified classification system for pollybeak deformity, the supratip fullness rating scale (SFRS), was developed to evaluate supratip fullness (0-3 points, with higher scores indicating more apparent deformity). The patients aesthetic outcomes were assessed by surgeons using the visual analogue scale (VAS) (0-10 points, with higher scores indicating more apparent deformity), and patient self-assessed using the rhinoplasty outcome evaluation (ROE) questionnaire (0-100 points, with higher scores indicating higher satisfaction). The measurement data of normal distribution was expressed as Mean±SD and analyzed by paired t-test; the measurement data of non-normal distribution was expressed as M( Q1, Q3) and analyzed by Wilcoxon signed rank test. Results:In a cohort study of 53 rhinoplasty patients (7 male, 46 female; age range 19-45 years, mean 29 years), comprising 15 primary and 38 secondary surgeries, nasal tip deformities were evaluated. Deformities were classified as mild (5 cases), moderate (25 cases), and severe (23 cases). Over a follow-up period of 6-17 months (mean 9.5 months), significant aesthetic improvements in the nasal tip region were observed. The SFRS scores decreased from 2(2, 3) preoperatively to 0(0, 0) postoperatively ( Z = -6.58, P < 0.001), and VAS scores decreased from 7.47±1.73 to 1.79±1.67 ( t = -25.61, P < 0.001). High patient satisfaction was indicated by a mean ROE score of 82.45±11.55. No significant complications, such as nasal tip ptosis, skin necrosis, or scar hyperplasia, were reported. Conclusion:Selecting an appropriate surgical method based on the severity and cause of pollybeak deformity can achieve satisfactory outcomes. Post-operative patients exhibit significant aesthetic improvement in the upper nasal tip area, resulting in high patient satisfaction.
10.Modified superomedial pedicle technique for reduction mammaplasty with inverted T-shaped incision
Kai YANG ; Xiancheng WANG ; Yang SUN ; Xiang XIONG ; Xianxi MENG ; Wenbo LI ; Zhongjie YI ; Hongli ZHAO ; Zhihua QIAO
Chinese Journal of Plastic Surgery 2024;40(5):491-498
Objective:To explore the clinical efficacy of modified superomedial pedicle technique using an inverted T-shaped incision for reduction mammaplasty and mastopexy.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical data of patients who underwent modified superomedial pedicle technique for breast reduction surgery with inverted T-shaped incision between March 2021 and March 2023 at the Department of Plastic and Aesthetic (Burn) Surgery, Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University. Preoperatively, a handheld Doppler ultrasound blood flow detector was used to detect and mark the exit points of the 2nd to 4th perforating vessels of the internal thoracic artery, and a superomedial pedicle containing at least two perforators was designed based on the perforator locations, with a pedicle width generally about 6 cm. Intraoperatively, the pedicle was rotated superolaterally, moving the nipple-areola complex (NAC) upwards to construct a fuller upper pole of the breast and removing excess skin in the lower fold to form a inverted T-shaped incision. Postoperatively, the blood supply of the NAC, breast morphology, and incidence of complications were observed and followed up. Canfield Mirror 7.1.1 software was utilized to measure pre- and post-operative breast morphology data from lateral photographs at 6 months, including total breast area, maximum breast protrusion, upper pole protrusion, lower pole height, and nipple elevation height. The BREAST-Q questionnaire was used to survey patient satisfaction with breast appearance, psychosocial well-being, sexual well-being, and physical health before surgery and 6-12 months after surgery, with each dimension scoring 0-100 points, where higher scores indicate greater satisfaction and health. SPSS 28.0 software was used for data analysis, with normally distributed measurement data expressed as Mean±SD, and paired t-test was applied for comparisons of pre- and post-operative breast morphology data (the first 4 indicators) and BREAST-Q scores, with P<0.05 considered statistically significant. Results:A total of 56 female patients were included, with an age of (32.0±6.7) years and a body mass index of (29.1±5.7) kg/m 2. Preoperative Doppler ultrasound blood flow detection showed that none of the patients had missing or significantly variant perforators of the superomedial pedicle. The volume of breast tissue removed ranged from 890 to 1 800 ml, averaging 1 250 ml, with an average pedicle width of 5.4 cm (4.0-7.0 cm). The follow-up period was (13.3±2.5) months, during which all patients exhibited good blood supply to the NAC and favorable breast morphology, with universal high satisfaction with surgical outcomes. Postoperatively, one case developed incisional seroma, which resolved naturally within 3 months; two cases experienced minor incision dehiscence, which healed well after dressing changes; all other patients recovered well without any complications such as flap necrosis or hematoma. Comparison of breast morphology data showed significant reductions in postoperative left and right total breast area ( P<0.05 for both), and increases in maximum breast protrusion and lower pole height postoperatively ( P<0.05 for both), while the difference in upper pole protrusion was not statistically significant ( P>0.05 for both); postoperative left and right nipple elevation heights were (6.30±1.84) cm and (6.52±1.66) cm, respectively. Among the 44 patients who completed the BREAST-Q survey both before and after surgery, scores showed significant improvements in postoperative breast satisfaction [(50.30±10.30) points vs. (83.20±6.02) points] ( t=5.17, P=0.008) and psychosocial well-being [(56.20±17.20) points vs. (89.70±2.70) points] ( t=5.09, P=0.010), while sexual well-being and physical health scores did not differ significantly from preoperative scores ( P>0.05 for both). Conclusion:Preoperative identification of perforator locations using a handheld Doppler blood vessel detector, followed by the design of a modified superomedial pedicle technique for reduction mammaplasty with inverted T-shaped incision, can not only ensure NAC blood supply, avoiding ischemic necrosis due to vascular anomalies, but also maximally reduce pedicle width and increase pedicle rotation flexibility, achieving desirable breast shaping effects.


Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail