Masquelet technique in military practice:specificities and future directions for combat-related bone defect reconstruction

Because of its simplicity,reliability,and replicability,the Masquelet induced membrane technique(IMT)has become one of the preferred methods for critical bone defect reconstruction in extremities.Although it is now used worldwide,few studies have been published about IMT in military practice.Bone reconstruction is particularly challenging in this context of care due to extensive soft-tissue injury,early wound infection,and even delayed management in austere conditions.Based on our clinical expertise,recent research,and a literature analysis,this narrative review provides an overview of the IMT application to combat-related bone defects.It presents technical specificities and future developments aiming to optimize IMT outcomes,including for the management of massive multi-tissue defects or bone reconstruction performed in the field with limited resources.

Soft tissue coverage using pedicled flap in combat zone: A case series

Background:Soft tissue reconstruction is typically conducted after evacuation from theater of operations.If circumstances do not allow timely evacuation,however,defect site may need to be reconstructed in the combat zone.Case presentation:A total of 41 patients with extremity soft tissue defect were treated using pedicled flaps by a single orthopedic surgeon during four deployments in Chad,Afghanistan and Mali between 2010 and 2017.The mean age was 25.6 years.A total of 46 injury sites in extremities required flap coverage:19 combat-related injuries(CRIs)and 27 non-combat related injuries(NCRIs).Twenty of the injury sites were infected.Overall,63 pedicled flap transfers were carried out:15 muscle flaps,35 local fasciocutaneous flaps and 13 distant fasciocutaneous flaps.The flap types used did not differ for CRIs or NCRIs.Mean follow-up was 71 days.Complications included deep infection(n=6),flap failure(n=1)and partial flap necrosis(n=1).Limb salvage rate was 92.7%(38/41).Conclusions:Soft tissue defect can be managed with simple pedicled flaps in theatre of operations if needed.Basic reconstructive procedures should be part of the training for military orthopedic surgeons.Trial registration:Retrospectively registered in January 2019(2019-0901-001).

Preemptive targeted muscle reinnervation:the single incision approach should be avoided in trans‑tibial traumatic amputation

Dear Editor,Chronic pain is a significant concern after major lower limb amputations that often preclude prosthetic fitting,decrease ambulation,and impact the quality of life[1,2].In the last decade,targeted muscle reinnervation(TMR)has been proposed as a surgical strategy for treating or preventing symptomatic neuromas and phantomlimb phenomena in major amputees[1].This technique involves the transfer of an amputated mixed-motor and sensory nerve to a nearby recipient motor nerve[1,2].Unlike most surgical strategies that aim to hide or protect the neuroma,TMR gives the amputated nerves“somewhere to go and something to do”[2].In a randomized clinical trial on neuroma and phantom pain,Dumanian et al.[1]demonstrated that TMR reduces amputationrelated chronic pain at 1-year post-intervention when compared with the excision and muscle-burying technique,which remains the current gold standard.Valerio et al.[2]also proposed applying TMR at the time of major limb amputation for preventing chronic pain and found that TMR patients experienced less residual limb pain(RLP)and phantom limb pain(PLP)when compared with untreated amputee controls.

Deep Vein Thrombosis Revealing Prostate Cancer about a Case in the Cardiology Department of the Ignace Deen National Hospital in Conakry

Introduction: Deep vein thrombosis is a frequent disease, its origin is most often multifactorial. Venous thromboembolic disease (MVTE) and cancer are two frequently entangled pathologies. Here we report the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis that discovered prostate cancer in an 88-year-old Guinean man. On clinical examination, there was a painful and hot swelling of the right leg, an absence of sloshing of the calf, a positive sign of Homans. The digital rectal examination revealed an enlarged prostate with an irregular surface. Cardiopulmonary auscultation was normal. The electrocardiogram showed a regular sinus rhythm at 65 cycles/min, with no sign of enlarged cavities or conduction disturbance. Venous Doppler ultrasound of the lower limbs showed the presence of an extensive acute deep venous thrombosis of the right sural vein extended to the popliteal and to the homolateral deep femoral. The reino-vesico-prostatic ultrasound concluded in a heterogeneous prostatic hypertrophy with projection of a median lobe associated with a bladder of fight with an important post voiding residue evaluated at 170 ml;the rate of specific antigen of the prostate PSA was at 84.87 ng/ml. The pathology analysis made after a prostate biopsy puncture concluded with an adenocarcinoma with a Gleason score of 3. Conclusion: The association of venous thromboembolic disease (MVTE) and neoplasia is frequent. The existence of active cancer in a patient is a known risk factor for MVTE and, conversely, the discovery of a first episode of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE) may be the mode of revelation of cancer.

Coevolutionary insights between promoters and transcription factors in the plant and animal kingdoms

The divergence and continuous evolution of plants and animals contribute to ecological diversity.Promoters and transcription factors(TFs) are key determinants of gene regulation and transcription throughoutlife.However,theevolutionary trajectories and relationships of promoters and TFs are still poorly understood. Here, we conducted extensive analysis of large-scale multi-omics sequences in 420 animal species and 223 plant species spanning nearly a billion years of evolutionary history. Results showed that promoter GC-contentandTFisoelectricpoints,as features/signatures that accompany long biological evolution, exhibited increasing growth in animal cells but a decreasing trend in plant cells. Furthermore, the evolutionary trajectories of promoter and TF signatures in the animal kingdom provided further evidence that Mammalia as well as Aves evolved directly from the ancestor Reptilia. The strong correlation between promoter and TF signatures indicates that promoters and TFs formed antagonistic coevolution in the animal kingdom, but mutualistic coevolution in the plant kingdom. The distinct coevolutionary patterns potentially drive the plant-animal divergence, divergent evolution and ecological diversity.

HIV Genetic Diversity, Virological Failure, and Drug Resistance in Libreville, Capital of Gabon, before a Total Dolutegravir-Based Regimen Transition

Context: The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) continues to be the main public health challenge in Gabon. The latest studies highlight a high rate of virological failure and HIV drug resistance in semi-rural Gabon. In Libreville, virological failure data is sparse, data on HIV drug resistance for the former first line and new first-line regimen is lacking. Methods: Between January 28th, 2019, and January 31st, 2020, we received patient living with HIV (PLWHA) for CD4 counts, HIV-1 viral load, and/or genotyping of HIV-1 mutation drug resistance. We used the BD FACSPresto for CD4 count, the Biocentric Generic HIV viral load test for HIV-1 quantification, and the HIV-1 drug resistance mutation genotyping (ARNS protocol). Results: A total of 1129 HIV-1 patients have been enrolled for this study. The median age was 46 years old and the median of CD4 was 386 cells per cubic millimeter. The virological suppression success was observed at 62.7% of patients on the former first line regimen and 70.6% of the patient on DBR. We successfully amplified and analyzed 76 sequences and noticed the presence of the nineteen different subtypes with the predominance of the subtypes CRF02-AG (37.95%), followed by subtype A (22.3%). For HIV drug resistance analyses, 108 (65.1%) had resistance mutation to nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs);of these, 91 (84%) present M184V/I. When looking for NNRTI mutations, 119 (71.7%) sequences had at least one mutation. Of these, 82 had K103N (68.9%), representing the main NNRTI mutations. The pattern showing the high level of resistance (HLR) in all molecules of NRTIs and NNRTIs, except for the TDF (intermediate resistance) was M41L-E44DL74I-M184-L210W-T215Y-K101P-K103N-V106I. Conclusion: This report paints a picture of a relatively female-dominated HIV-infected Gabonese population with a low level of immunity. The level of drug resistance with the former first-line regimen suggests the need to monitor the drug Dolutegravir resistance.

Relationship between Prognosis and Time Interval from Cholecystectomy to Reoperation in Postoperative Incidental Gallbladder Carcinoma

To the Editor： Gallbladder cancer （GBC）, a rare entity with poor prognosis, is often discovered incidentally during or after cholecystectomy.It tends to disseminate early through lymphatic, peritoneal, endobiliary, and hematogenous pathways. Patients usually present with metastatic diseases. If GBC is suspected during cholecystectomy, conversion to open surgery to perform radical resection after confirmation of cancer by intraoperative frozen biopsy is considered. When GBC is diagnosed after cholecystectomy, reoperation for radical resection according to depth of invasion of cancer （T stage） is inevitable. However, reoperation with radical surgery is not performed in all patients for several reasons including refusal to undergo radical surgery, poor medical condition, or cancer progression suggesting unresectability.