[Clinical effects of free perforator propeller myocutaneous flap from buttock in repairing complex wounds in the buttock with deep dead cavity]

Objective: To investigate the feasibility and clinical effects of using free perforator propeller myocutaneous flap from buttock in repairing complex wounds in the buttock with deep dead cavity. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted. From June 2020 to June 2022, 9 patients with complex wounds in the buttock with deep dead cavity who met the inclusion criteria were admitted to Lanzhou University Second Hospital, including 6 males and 3 females, aged 26 to 62 years, with original wound area ranging from 4.0 cm×3.0 cm to 8.0 cm×7.0 cm and dead cavity depth of 7 to 11 cm. All the wounds were repaired with free perforator propeller myocutaneous flap from buttock, with flap area of 6.0 cm×2.5 cm to 13.0 cm×7.0 cm and muscle flap length of 6 to 11 cm. All the wounds in the donor area were closed and sutured directly. Postoperative myocutaneous flap survival, complications, as well as donor and recipient wound healing were observed, and the shape of donor and recipient areas were followed up. Results: Congestion occurred under the myocutaneous flap of one patient due to poor drainage on post surgery day 2, which was healed after 15 days of drainage and dressing change. The myocutaneous flaps of other patients survived successfully after surgery. The wounds in the donor and recipient areas were all well healed. During the follow-up of 3 to 10 months, the donor and recipient areas were full in shape, with little difference from the healthy side, and were able to bear pressure. Conclusions: The free perforator propeller myocutaneous flap from buttock can repair the deep dead cavity and surface wounds at the same time. The use of this myocutaneous flap in repairing complex wounds in the buttock with deep dead cavity results in minimal damage to the donor area, allows pressure-bearing of the donor and recipient areas after surgery, and ensures a full buttock shape.

[Immunogenicity and safety of a boost dose of measles, mumps, and rubella combined vaccine for 4-6 years old children]

Objective: To investigate the immunogenicity and safety of a boost dose of measles, mumps, and rubella combined vaccine (MMR) for children 4 to 6 years old. Methods: Children, aged 4 to 6 years old, had vaccinated with 1 dose of measles and rubella combined vaccine(MR) at the age of 8 months and 1 dose of MMR vaccine at 18-months, were recruited in Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, and Beijing, respectively. All children were assigned into 4, 5 and 6-year-old group. The children who met inclusion and exclusion criteria were vaccinated with 1 dose MMR vaccine, and were collected blood samples before vaccination and 35 to 42 d after the vaccination. During the study period, adverse events were collected at 30 min, 1 d, 2 d, 3 d, 4-12 d, and 13 to 42 days after vaccination. Serum was tested for IgG antibodies against measles, mumps and rubella. Geometric mean concentrations (GMC) of measles, mumps, and rubella antibodies were compared among groups by analysis of variance or non-parametric test. Seropositive rates and adverse event rates were compared among groups by Chi-square test or Fisher exact test. Results: A total of 500 children were included in immunogenicity analysis and 535 children were included in safety analysis. The overall adverse event rate was 20.37%, the most of severity for adverse events was mild. The rates of local and systemic adverse events were 0.37% and 20.00%, respectively. Symptoms of local adverse events were redness. The main systemic adverse events were fever, followed by cough, rash and runny nose. Received a dose of MMR vaccine for booster immunization, the seropositive rates of measles antibody, mumps antibody and rubella antibody were above 99% for all 3 age groups, and there was no significant difference between groups. There were significant differences in mumps antibody GMC among groups (P=0.042), but no significant differences in measles and rubella antibodies GMC. Conclusion: The immunogenicity and safety of a boosted MMR vaccintion in children aged 4, 5 and 6 years were all similar good.

Age-, sex- and glucose-dependent correlation of plasma soluble vascular adhesion protein-1 concentration with cardiovascular risk factors and subclinical atherosclerosis

OBJECTIVE

Soluble vascular adhesion protein-1 (sVAP-1) may act as a biomarker for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. The associations of sVAP-1 concentration with cardiovascular risk factors and subclinical atherosclerosis at the population level have not been reported.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 834 asymptomatic subjects (49.1 ± 9.3 years). sVAP-1 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Subclinical atherosclerosis was assessed by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT).

RESULTS

sVAP-1 increased with age. Women had a higher concentration than men in age > 40 years. In women, sVAP-1 was negatively associated with estradiol (p < 0.01) and body mass index (BMI) (p < 0.05). In men, sVAP-1 was negatively associated with apolipoprotein A (ApoA) (p < 0.01), alcohol intake (p < 0.01) and uric acid (p < 0.05), but positively associated with ApoB/ApoA (p < 0.05). In hyperglycemia subjects, sVAP-1 positively correlated with fasting plasma glucose (p < 0.05) and hemoglobin A1c (p < 0.05), but in normoglycemic subjects, sVAP-1 negatively correlated with BMI (p < 0.01), triglyceride (p < 0.05), alcohol intake (p < 0.05). sVAP-1 independently influenced CIMT (β = 0.001, p = 0.040) and carotid plaques [odds ratio 1.380 (95% confidence interval 1.051-1.813, p = 0.021)] in hyperglycemia, and baPWV (β = 31.605, p = 0.014) in age > 55 years.

CONCLUSIONS

sVAP-1 concentration correlates with cardiovascular risk factors and subclinical atherosclerosis in an age-, sex- and glucose-dependent manner.

Knockdown of PRAME enhances adriamycin-induced apoptosis in chronic myeloid leukemia cells

OBJECTIVE

Leukemia is resistant to currently available chemotherapy, and new strategies have been proposed to improve its efficacy. Such an approach requires know of the mechanisms involved in the resistance and survival of leukemia cells. Previous studied has found that Preferentially Expressed Antigen of Melanoma (PRAME) is overexpressed in the leukemia cells, and knockdown of PRAME promoted apoptosis in leukemia K562 cells. In the present study, we investigated whether inhibition of PRAME could sensitize K562 cells to chemotherapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

K562 cells were treated with PRAME siRNA, and/or adriamycin (ADR), and cell viability and apoptosis, mRNA and protein expression levels were, then, evaluated. Furthermore, the efficacy of PRAME siRNA combined with ADR was further examined in established xenograft models.

RESULTS

PRAME suppression was sufficient to induce spontaneous apoptosis of K562 cells. PRAME knockdown showed antiproliferative effects and induced tumor regression in established K562 xenograft models. ADR showed antitumor activity against K562 cells, co-treatment with PRAME siRNA induced an increased apoptosis rate than the sum of the single-treatment rates and promoted tumor regression without enhanced body weight loss in the K562 xenograft models.

CONCLUSIONS

PRAME is responsible for the inherent low levels of spontaneous apoptosis in K562 cells. The combination of PRAME siRNA with ADR induced more intense apoptosis compared with each single treatment. PRAME siRNA in combination with ADR is well tolerated and shows greater efficacy than either agent alone in mouse xenograft models.