Spatial transcriptomics reveals that metabolic characteristics define the tumor immunosuppression microenvironment via iCAF transformation in oral squamous cell carcinoma / 国际口腔科学杂志·英文版

Tumor progression is closely related to tumor tissue metabolism and reshaping of the microenvironment. Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), a representative hypoxic tumor, has a heterogeneous internal metabolic environment. To clarify the relationship between different metabolic regions and the tumor immune microenvironment (TME) in OSCC, Single cell (SC) and spatial transcriptomics (ST) sequencing of OSCC tissues were performed. The proportion of TME in the ST data was obtained through SPOTlight deconvolution using SC and GSE103322 data. The metabolic activity of each spot was calculated using scMetabolism, and k-means clustering was used to classify all spots into hyper-, normal-, or hypometabolic regions. CD4T cell infiltration and TGF-β expression is higher in the hypermetabolic regions than in the others. Through CellPhoneDB and NicheNet cell-cell communication analysis, it was found that in the hypermetabolic region, fibroblasts can utilize the lactate produced by glycolysis of epithelial cells to transform into inflammatory cancer-associated fibroblasts (iCAFs), and the increased expression of HIF1A in iCAFs promotes the transcriptional expression of CXCL12. The secretion of CXCL12 recruits regulatory T cells (Tregs), leading to Treg infiltration and increased TGF-β secretion in the microenvironment and promotes the formation of a tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment. This study delineates the coordinate work axis of epithelial cells-iCAFs-Tregs in OSCC using SC, ST and TCGA bulk data, and highlights potential targets for therapy.

Current status and prospect of supermicrosurgery in maxillofacial reconstruction / 中华显微外科杂志

Supermicrosurgery is a hot topic in the field of microsurgery and reconstruction. The core concept of supermicrosurgery is precision and minimally invasive, which coincides with the concept of maxillofacial reconstruction. Oral and maxillofacial regions play an important role in aesthetics and function, and the structure of oral and maxillofacial tissues is complex. Various types of flaps, especially vascularised free flaps, are required for the repair of various complex maxillofacial defects. However, at present, conventional microsurgery does meet the requirement of mandibular reconstruction in special cases. Super microsurgical technique can further supplement the deficiency of conventional methods of repair and reconstruction in maxillofacial reconstruction. Under the guidance, many new methods of maxillofacial surgery have inevitably emerged. The application of supermicrosurgery in maxillofacial head and neck is still in its early stage, and there are still many difficulties to overcome and many technical issues to be furtherresolved. Supermicrosurgery is not only an advanced technique, but also an advanced concept in surgery. Supermicrosurgery is expected to show its clinical value in oral and maxillofacial reconstruction. In this paper, the application of supermicrosurgery in maxillofacial reconstruction is reviewed and its application prospect is prospected.

How to deal with the vessel of free flap: A retrospective study of 264 cases of anterolateral thigh flap / 中华显微外科杂志

Objective To compare the reliability and effectiveness of anterolateral thigh flap with double vein anastomosis or one vein anastomosis for reconstruction of head and neck defects.Methods Two hundred and sixty four cases of anterolateral thigh flap transfers for head and neck reconstruction from January,2013 to September,2013 in the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University were reviewed.260 patients were randomly divided into 2 groups.In the experimental group,there were 138 patients 140 cases of anterolateral thigh flap with one vein one artery anastomosis.In the control group,there were 122 patients 124 cases of anterolateral thigh flap with double vein one artery anastomosis.Results Among 264 anterolateral thigh flaps,the overall success rate of free flap was 98.1％ (259/264),5 free flaps were lost.In the experimental group,there were 6 free flaps occurred venous thrombosis,two of them were lost.In the control group,there were 5 cases occurred venous thrombosis,three of them were lost.No arterial thrombosis occurred in both groups.The time of micromanipulation was 18 to 101 min,with the average of 47 min in the experimental group.In the control group,the time was 45 to 133 min,with the average of 71 min.(P =0.0003).Conclusion Anterolateral thigh flap with one vein one artery anastomosis for head and neck reconstruction did not affect the survival rate but it can absolutely reduce the operation time.

Whether free anterolateral thigh flaps are suitable for the elderly patients with oral cancer / 中华口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To identify the factors that were predictive of outcome and to determine the effect of age on perioperative complications.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Reviewed the records of 1 100 consecutive patients who underwent anterolateral thigh flap free flap transfers for oral and maxillofacial cancer surgery defects between February 2002 and March 2013. All patients were divided into two groups: A group (< 60 years old) and B group (≥ 60 years old). Postoperative complications were analyzed from all patients.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were 781 cases in A group and 319 in B group. The overall success rate was 97.2% (1 100/1 132) [97.3% (781/803) in A group, 97.0% (319/329) in B group, P > 0.05]. The overall complication rate was 27.5% (302/1 100) [25.9% (202/781) in A group, 31.3% (100/319) in B group, P = 0.064]. Multivariate Cox regression analyses revealed that American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) status (P < 0.001), operation time (P = 0.021) and comorbidity (P = 0.002) were the independent factor for the complication of patients. However, age (P > 0.05) was not an independent factor for the complication of patients.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Oral and maxillofacial reconstruction using anterolateral thigh flap free flaps in elderly patients can achieve similar outcomes as in younger patients. Controlling operative time is very important in reducing post-operative complications and improving the results of surgery.</p>

Application of 909 anterolateral thigh myocutaneous flaps in the reconstruction of oral and maxillofacial defects / 中华口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To summarize the application of 909 anterolateral thigh myocutaneous flaps in the repair of oral and maxillofacial defects and to examine their benefits in maxillofacial reconstruction of these defects.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Patients were recruited from January 2004 to December 2012 in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University. All patients underwent reconstructive surgery with anterolateral thigh myocutaneous flaps, and patient age ranged from 19 to 81 years with a mean of 51.2 years. There were 761 flaps showing single lobe and 148 flaps showing a multi-island pedicle. The largest area among the single flaps was 28 cm × 12 cm, and the smallest was 4 cm × 2 cm.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among the 909 transferred flaps, 882 survived and 27 showed necrosis, with a survival rate of about 97.0%. The common complications at flap donor site were poor wound healing 9.6% (87/909), localized paresthesia 61.0% (500/820), and altered quadriceps force 15.0% (123/820). No case was presented with local serious complications, and 90% of the patients achieved good functional recovery and aesthetically acceptable results after the reconstruction by anterolateral thigh myocutaneous flaps.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The anterolateral thigh myocutaneous free flaps are more suitable for oral and maxillofacial defects than other flaps and should be preferred.</p>

Clinical significance of perineural invasion among patients with early squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue / 中国肿瘤临床

Objective:To investigate the effect of perineural invasion (PNI) on patients with early squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue (ESCCT) and the controversial issues related to PNI's effect on loco-regional recurrence, cervical lymph node metastases, and prognosis. Methods:Data of 156 patients with ESCCT were analyzed. Two subgroups comprising 40 patients each were investigated. One was PNI-positive subgroup, and the other subgroup was consisted of patients with PNI-negative carcinomas. These patients had similar histopathological characteristics and were randomly selected from the total number of cases. The relationship among the prevalence of PNI, loco-regional recurrence, cervical lymph node metastases, and prognosis was analyzed. Results:PNI was significantly correlated with high cervical lymph node metastases and poor 5-year survival rates (P=0.045 and P=0.034, respectively) but not with local recurrence (P=0.531). Elective neck dissection was considerably associated with a low risk of regional recurrence among the PNI-positive ESCCT patients (P=0.001). Conclusion:PNI should be considered as a predictor for high cervical lymph node metastases and poor 5-year survival of early tongue squamous cell carcinoma. Elective neck lymph node dissection should be performed among patients with PNI-positive early tongue squamous cell carcinoma.

Jugular vein reconstruction by longitudinal constriction suture venoplasty and microvascular anastomosis / 华西口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To seek a new method for reconstructing bilateral intemrnal jugular vein invaded by metastasis lymph node in advanced oral cancer patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A combination of microvascular anastomosis and longitudinal constriction suture venoplasty was performed to reconstruct internal jugular vein. We resected the part of the bilateral internal jugular vein of advanced oral cancer patients invaded by metastasis lymph node and used the external carotid vein to reconstruct the internal jugular vein. A part of the vessel wall of the internal jugular vein could also be resected to reconstruct the vein. Longitudinal constriction suture venoplasty could slowly narrow the lumen diameter of the internal jugular vein. Thus, difference in anastomosis diameter should be avoided because it generates eddy currents and subsequently causes blood clots. A total of five advanced cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma were involved in this study. We performed bilateral radical neck dissection on all patients to reconstruct the internal jugular vein and observed their postoperative conditions.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Postopera-tive follow-up of 5 months to 19 months was performed on all patients. Doppler or CT angiography and related tests showed no internal jugular vein thrombosis. No patient with facial edema, throat swelling, cerebral edema, and high intracranial pressure or other serious complications caused by blocked venous blood was observed. The one-year survival rate of five patients was 60% (3/5).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Microvascular anastomosis combined with longitudinal constriction suture venoplasty is a new method for reconstructing internal jugular vein. This method was proved successful and clinically feasible.</p>

The clinical classification of sigle pedicled double island free anterolateral thigh flaps / 中华口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To summarize the anatomic characteristic of sigle pedicled double island free anterolateral thigh flaps and to evaluate its application and classification.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Between January 2010 and March 2013, 76 patients underwent free femoral anterolateral double island flap reconstruction of the defects in oral and maxillofacial region. Summarized the anatomic features of perforators, such as the number and origin of the perforators.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>According to the anatomic features and regularity of perforators, 76 cases of femoral anterolateral double island flaps were divided into 3 types: trunk type (type I), 15 cases (20%), in which the perforators of two flaps originated in descending branch and transverse branch of lateral femoral circumflex artery respectively; branch type (type II), 55 cases (72%), in which both the perforators originated in lateral femoral circumflex artery descending branch or lateral femoral circumflex artery transverse branch; bifurcation type (type III), 6 cases (8% ), in which two perforators originated in the two bifurcation of one perforator. Among the 76 cases, 75 survived and 1 showed partial necrosis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>According to the anatomic features and regularity of perforators, femoral anterolateral double island flaps can be divided into 3 types: trunk type (I type), branch type (II type), bifurcation type (III type).</p>

Preliminary study of cervical lymph node extracapsular spread direction of oral squamous cell carcinoma / 实用口腔医学杂志

Objective:To study the direction of cervical node extracapsular spread(ECS)of oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC). Methods:57 cases of OSCC were treated by combined radical operation.The relationship between ECS and T stage,tumor thick-ness,differentiation degree of OSCC,lymph node size and the ECS direction in each lymph node level were statistically analysed. Results:ECS was found in 30 of the 57 cases,and in 78 of the 174 metastasis positive lymph nodes.29 ECS nodes in levelⅠ,the frequency of the shallow side was 26,the deep side 13(P=0.000 3).But the difference in other levels was not statistically signifi-cant(P>0.05).It was not statistically significant between the incidence of ECS and T stage;it was statistically significant between the incidence of ECS and tumor thickness(P<0.05),tumor differentiation degree(P<0.05)and the lymph node size(P<0.01). Conclusion:ECS of OSCC on the shallow side is more than that in the deep side of lymph nodes in levelⅠ.ECS is positively corre-lated with the tumor thickness of OSCC,metastasied lymph node size;negatively related to the differentiation degree of OSCC.