Effect of Relaxin Expressing Adenovirus for Rat Skin Flap Viability

PURPOSE: Of various effects of relaxin, we assumed that anti-fibrotic effects, neovascularization effects and vasodilatation effects of relaxin might enhance the survival rate of skin flap. In the current study, we used adenovirus expressing relaxin genes to examine whether these genes could enhance the survival rate of a skin flap. METHODS: A total of 30 Sprangue-Dawley rats were divided into three groups: RLX group (10; relaxin virus injected group), CTR group (10; no gene coded virus injection group), and PBS group (10; PBS injected group). Each group was intradermally injected with the virus (107 PFU) and PBS 48 hours before and immediately before the flap elevation. A distally based flap 3 x 9 cm in size was elevated on the dorsal aspect of each rat. Following this, a flap was placed in the original location and then sutured using a #4-0 Nylon. A surviving area of the flap was measured and then compared on postoperative days 3, 7 and 10. Using a laser Doppler, the amount of blood flow was measured. On postoperative day 10, tissues were harvested for histologic examination and the number of blood vessels was counted. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in the area of the flap survival in the RLX group on postoperative days 3 and 7. The Doppler measurement also showed significantly increased blood flow immediately after the operation and on postoperative days 7 and 10. The number of blood vessels was significantly greater in the RLX group in the tissue harvested on postoperative day 10. The VEGF concentration was significantly higher in the RLX group than others in the tissues harvested on postoperative day 10. CONCLUSION: Following an analysis of the effects of relaxin-secreting adenovirus on the survival of a flap, the surviving area of the flap and the blood flow also increased. A histopathology also showed an increase in the number of blood vessels and the concentration of VEGF.

Finger Tip Reconstruction Using 2nd Toe Pulp Free Flap: A Case Report

PURPOSE: First introduced by Buncke and Rose in 1979, the neurovascular partial 2nd toe pulp free tissue transfer has been attempted to reconstruct posttraumatic finger tip injuries. Although some surgeons prefer other reconstructive methods such as skin graft and local flap, we chose the partial 2nd toe pulp flap owing to its many advantages. We report three successful surgical cases in which the patients had undergone this particular method of reconstruction. METHODS: We retrospectively examined three cases of fingertip injury patients due to mechanical injury. Bone exposure was seen in all three cases, All had undergone partial toe pulp free flap for soft tissue defect coverage. RESULTS: All flaps survived without any complications such as partial necrosis, hematoma or dehiscence. Although tingling sensation has returned in both cases, two-point discrimination has not returned yet. Currently no patient is complaining of any pain which gradually improved during their course of recuperation. All stitches were removed on postoperative 2 weeks. Patients are satisfied with the final surgical result and there are no signs of any edema or hematoma. CONCLUSION: The homodigital reconstruction of finger tip injury using the partial 2nd toe pulp flap has numerous advantages compared to other reconstructive modalities such as its resistance to wear and tear and in that it provides a non-slip palmar digital surface. However it requires microsurgery which may not be preferred by surgeons. Advanced age of the patient can be a relative contraindication to this approach since atheromatous plaque from the donor toe can compromise flap circulation after surgery. We report three successful cases which patient age was considered appropriate. Further investigation with a larger number of cases and long term follow-up is deemed necessary.

Concentrations of Blood Vitamin A, C, E, Coenzyme Q10 and Urine Cotinine Related to Cigarette Smoking Exposure / 대한진단검사의학회지

BACKGROUND: In smokers, smoking causes many disease entities including cancers, chronic pulmonary diseases and cardiovascular diseases. Passive smoking is also accepted as a carcinogen and its adverse health effects are emphasized. We measured blood vitamin A, C, E (alpha-, beta- and gamma-tocopherol), coenzyme Q10 and urine cotinine concentrations in nonsmokers and smokers. METHODS: Twenty-one healthy nonsmokers and 24 healthy smokers were included in this study. Smoking status was assessed with a self-reported questionnaire. Plasma was analyzed for coenzyme Q10 and serum for vitamin A, C, E using HPLC (Agilent Technologies Inc., USA) and random urine for cotinine using LC/tandem mass spectrometry (Applied Biosystems Inc., Canada). RESULTS: Smokers had significantly lower serum concentrations of vitamin C than nonsmokers (P=0.0005). No significant differences in concentrations of serum vitamin A, E, and plasma coenzyme Q10 were observed. Smokers had highly elevated urine cotinine levels (1,454+/-903 ng/mL). In 16 (76.2%) of 21 nonsmokers, urine cotinine was detected (3.25+/-4.08 ng/mL). The correlations between urine cotinine and blood antioxidants levels were not found. Neither, the correlation between smoking status and blood antioxidants & urine cotinine was found. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that smokers had significantly lower vitamin C levels among nonenzymatic antioxidants, namely, vitamin A, C, E and coenzyme Q10. High detection rate of urine cotinine in nonsmokers show the seriousness of passive smoking exposure, therefore more social efforts should be directed to reduce passive smoking exposure.

Comparison between Isokinetic Method and Electromyographic Method in Muscle Power Measurement of Lumbar Muscles

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between isokinetic measurement and electromyographic method in muscle power measurement of lumbar muscles. METHOD: The subjects were 23 chronic lower back pain patients and 17 normal adult. Isokinetic lumbar extensor strength test was performed at specific speeds (120degrees/sec, 180degrees/sec) with Cybex 770 and automatic turn/amplitude analysis of electromyogram (EMG) was performed with Viking EMG system. RESULTS: The relationship between the parameters of isokinetic test and turn/sec of EMG study was not significantly correlated. The relationship between the parameters of isokinetic test and amplitude of EMG study was significantly correlated. The relationship between the parameters of isokinetic test and ratio of turns to mean amplitude of EMG was not correlated significantly. The mean amplitude in 120degrees/sec speed test and the ratio of turns to mean amplitude in 120degrees/sec and 180degrees/sec speed test were significantly lower in chronic lower back pain patients than that of normal controls. CONCLUSION: Turn/amplitude analysis of EMG method if performed with isometric or isokinetic muscle test will be clinically useful in muscle power measurement of lumbar muscles.

Study On Mutation Of P53 And Expression Of Mdm-2 In Dmba Induced Carcinoma Of Hamster Buccal Pouch

Cellular proliferation is an intricately regulated process mediated by the coordinated interactions of critical growth control genes.Two of these factors in mammalian cells are the p53 and mdm-2 genes. A protein product of the mem-2 oncogene has been recentlyshown to associate with the protein encoded by the tumor suppressor gene p53.The p53 tumor suppressor protein is stabilized in response to DNA damage and other stress signals and causes the cell to undergo growth arrest or apoptosis, thus preventing the establishment of mutations in future cellular generations. Mutation or loss of p53 is a very common event in tumor progression. It occurs in about 50% of all tumors analysed including of colon, lung, breast and liver.The cellular mdm-2 gene, which has potential transforming activity that can be activated by overexpression, is amplified in a significant percentage of human sarcoma and in other mammalian tumors. Proteins encoded by the mdm-2 gene are able to bind to the p53 protein and, when overexpressed, can inhibit p53's transcriptional activation function, thus mdm-2 can act as a negative regulator of p53 function. Experimental study was performed to observe the relationship between p53 gene mutation and mdm-2 protein expression and apply the results to the clinical activity. 36 golden syrian hamster each weighing 60.80g were used and painted with 0.5% DMBA by 3 times weekly on the right buccalcheek(experimental side) for 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 weeks. Left buccal cheek(control side) was treated with mineral oil as the same manner to the right side. The hamsters were sacrificed on the 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 & 16 weeks.Normal and tumor tissues from paraffin block were examined for histology and immunohistochemistry observation, and were completely dissected by microdissection and DNA from both tissue were isolated by proteins K/phenol/chloroform extraction. Segments of the hamster p53 exons 5, 6, 7 and 8 were amplified by PCR using the oligonucleotide primers, and then confirmational change wasobserved by SSCP respectively. The results were as follows : 1. Dysplasia at 6 weeks, carcinoma in situ at 8 weeks and invasive carcinoma from 10 weeks could be observed in experimental groups. 2. p53 mutations were detected in 10 of the 36(28%) and the exons 6(6 of the 10 : 60%) was the most hot spot area among the highy conserved region(exons 5, 6, 7 & 8). 3. Immunohistochemical study confirmed 22 of the 36(61%) of p53 expression involving 10 of p53 mutations. 4. mdm-2 expression of was showed in 3 of the 36(8%) involving 1 of the 22 of p53 expression and 2 of the 14 of p53 non-expression. From the above results, mutation of p53 gene or expression of p53 protein may have the influence of the DMBA induced carcinoma of hamster buccal pouch but the expression of mdm-2 protein may not have relationship with tumorigenesis.