Transposition Flaps for Reconstruction of Perianal Skin Defects After Tumor Resection

Objective To investigate the application of transposition flaps in the reconstruction of perianal skin defects after tumor resection.Methods From September 2018 to December 2019,16 cases of perianal skin defects were repaired with unilateral or bilateral transposition flaps.The wound size before closure ranged from 4 cm×8 cm to 7 cm×10 cm.Fourteen patients achieved primary healing.Wound dehiscence occurred in one patient at the flap tip,whereas a slight infection occurred in another patient,which healed after a dressing change.During the follow-up period of 3–6 months,all patients were satisfied with the perianal area both aesthetically and functionally.Conclusion Transposition flaps are a promising option for the repair of perianal skin defects after tumor removal.Owing to the simplicity of the flap design,the wide popularity of this flap type among surgeons is anticipated.

Is there a great unconformity between Xiamaling and Longshan formations in the North China Craton?

The existence of a 0.3 Ga"great unconformity"between the Mesoproterozoic"Undefined System"Xiamaling Formation and the"Neoproterozoic"Longshan Formation has long been controversial.In this study,stratigraphy,sedimentology,detrital zircon dating,lithium isotope,and major and trace elements were applied to systematically analyze their relationship.Results demonstrate that coarse to fine sandstone-mudstone normal cycles with different grades and thicknesses exist from the Xiamaling to the Longshan formations.Sedimentary succession formed from a restricted platform with lagoon-shallow marine shelf-tidal flat-beach and tidal shoal developing in ascending order.The pebbly sandstone at the bottom of the Long shan Formation does not have the properties of basal conglomerate with tectonic significance.The youngest detrital zircon is older than 1.6 Ga for the Long shan Formation and overlying Jing'eryu Formation sandstones.In addition,no(zircon)provenance has been found from the large igneous province of 1.32-1.2 Ga in Xiamaling Formation.Theδ^(7)Li isotope values exhibit a gradually increasing trend.The Li content and CIA(Chemical index of alteration)gradually decreases from the top of the Xiamaling Formation to the lower part of the Long shan Formation.Simultaneously,as K_(2)O/Al_(2)O_(3)and FeO/Fe_(2)O_(3)decreases,Na_(2)O/Al_(2)O_(3)increases,and Li/Al,V/Cr,and V/(V+Ni)fluctuates slightly.At the boundary,the Ce/Ce^(*)and Eu/Eu^(*)show positive and negative anomalies,respectively.Further,the Rb/Sr and Al/Si values decrease,and U/Th values increase.This indicates that the geochemistry of the weathering crust at the interface of the Xiamaling Formation-Long shan Formation is not characteristic.However,it indicates a weakening of continental weathering intensity from the bottom to the top of the interface.These results do not support the existence of a large unconformity between the Xiamaling and the Longshan formations.Therefore,it is suggested that the Long shan Formation-Jing'eryu Formation should be moved to the lower level in the stratigraphic chart,where it should form part of the Mesoproterozoic"Undefined System"along with the Xiamaling Formation.On this basis,the paleogeography of the Xiamaling Formation-Longshan Formation-Jing'eryu Formation sedimentary period in the Yanliao area of North China has been reclassified.

Metformin promotes angiogenesis by enhancing VEGFa secretion by adipose-derived stem cells via the autophagy pathway

Human adipose tissue-derived stem cell(ADSC)derivatives are cell-free,with low immunogenicity and no potential tumourigenicity,making them ideal for aiding wound healing.However,variable quality has impeded their clinical application.Metformin(MET)is a 5′adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase activator associated with autophagic activation.In this study,we assessed the potential applicability and underlying mechanisms of MET-treated ADSC derivatives in enhancing angiogenesis.We employed various scientific techniques to evaluate the influence of MET on ADSC,assess angiogenesis and autophagy in MET-treated ADSC in vitro,and examine whether MET-treated ADSC increase angiogenesis.We found that low MET concentrations exerted no appreciable effect on ADSC proliferation.However,MET was observed to enhance the angiogenic capacity and autophagy of ADSC.MET-induced autophagy was associated with increased vascular endothelial growth factor A production and release,which contributed to promoting the therapeutic efficacy of ADSC.In vivo experiments confirmed that in contrast to untreated ADSC,MET-treated ADSC promoted angiogenesis.Our findings thus indicate that the application of MET-treated ADSC would be an effective approach to accelerate wound healing by promoting angiogenesis at wound sites.

Pathogenic roles of long noncoding RNAs in melanoma: Implications in diagnosis and therapies

Melanoma is one of the most dangerous types of cutaneous neoplasms,which are pigment-producing cells of neuroectodermal origin found all over the body.A great deal of research is focused on the mechanisms of melanoma to promote better diagnostic and treatment options for melanoma in its advanced stages.The progression of melanoma involves alteration in different levels of gene expression.With the successful implementation of next-generation sequencing technology,an increasing number of long noncoding RNAs(lncRNAs)sequences have been discovered,and a significant number of them have phenotypic effects in both in vitro and in vivo studies,implying that they play an important role in the occurrence and progression of human cancers,particularly melanoma.A number of evidence indicated that lncRNAs are important regulators in tumor cell proliferation,invasion,apoptosis,immune escape,energy metabolism,drug resistance,epigenetic regulation.To better understand the role of lncRNAs in melanoma tumorigenesis,we categorize melanomaassociated lncRNAs according to their cellular functions and associations with gene expression and signaling pathways in this review.Based on the mechanisms of lncRNA,we discuss the possibility of lncRNA-target treatments,and the application of liquid biopsies to detect lncRNAs in melanomadiagnosisandprognosis.