Cytotoxic Effects of Castalin Nanoparticles Against Osteosarcoma.

The size-dependent bioactivities of castalin were analyzed by comparing the cytotoxic effects of native castalin and castalin nanoparticles on osteosarcoma in vitro and in vivo. In vitro experiments indicated that castalin nanoparticles induced apoptosis of an osteosarcoma cell line more efficiently than native castalin. The more potent effects of castalin nanoparticles, relative to native castalin, were confirmed in vivo using a xenograft osteosarcoma model. Caco-2 cell transport studies showed that permeation of castalin nanoparticles was higher than native castalin. The higher bioactivity and superior bioavailability of castalin nanoparticles could potentially be utilised to develop novel therapies for osteosarcoma.

Customizing Anterolateral Thigh Flap With Magnetic Resonance Angiography Differential Subsampling With Cartesian Ordering Imaging for Individualized Reconstruction of Extremity Defects.

INTRODUCTION: Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) with the differential subsampling with cartesian ordering (DISCO) imaging technique is rarely used in anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap. In our series, MRA DISCO imaging technique is used as a tool to customize ALT flaps. The aim of this study was to report the accuracy of cutaneous perforators identified by the MRA DISCO imaging. METHODS: Nineteen patients underwent the MRA DISCO imaging for perforator mapping before the ALT flap transfer. A total of 38 ALT regions were studied on the MRA DISCO images. Flap thinning was performed under the guidance of MRA DISCO imaging. RESULTS: The lateral circumflex femoral artery (LCFA) most commonly stems from the deep femoral artery (84.2%), followed by the common femoral artery (15.8%). The average number of perforator vessels per LCFA was 10.2 ± 1.7. The distinct oblique branch was observed in 16 out of the 38 ALT regions (42.1%). Among the 19 ALT flaps harvested, 5 were septocutaneous perforator flaps and 14 musculocutaneous perforator flaps. Ten were harvested based on the descending branch, and 3 used the oblique branch as the flap vascular pedicle. In addition, the displayed course and types of perforator vessels on the DISCO images of the 18 skin flaps were consistent with the intraoperative findings, with an accuracy of 94.7%. CONCLUSIONS: The state of the cutaneous perforators of LCFA can be identified on the MRA DISCO images. The 3D-CE-MRA DISCO imaging is a practical method, which can ameliorate the design and customization of ALT flap for an individualized reconstruction.

Mimical reconstruction and aesthetic repair of the nail after resection of subungual melanocytic nevus.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to report the outcomes of mimical reconstruction and aesthetic repair of the nail. METHODS: When the pigmented bands were more than 1/2 the width of the whole nail, mimical reconstruction of the nail was performed, with a lateral toe pulp island flap covering the wound via the subcutaneous channel. If the pigmented bands were 1/4 to 2/5 the width of the entire nail, aesthetic repair of the nail was carried out by split-thickness excision under a microscope. RESULTS: The average age of patients at the time of surgery was 14.5 years. Five patients had lesions on their toes, while three had lesions on their fingers. There were no post-operative complications. All toenails of the five patients who had undergone mimical reconstruction exhibited a well-settled flap. The nails of the three patients who underwent aesthetic repair displayed no nail malnutrition or deformity, and all nails had an aesthetic appearance. CONCLUSIONS: Both mimical reconstruction and aesthetic repair of the nail following resection of subungual melanocytic nevus are reliable and feasible. The "like tissue" repairs of complex nail defects appear to be satisfactory. All patients had excellent aesthetic outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: V.

Dieckol exerts anticancer activity in human osteosarcoma (MG-63) cells through the inhibition of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common malignant bone cancer with more metastasis and increased occurrence in children and teen-agers and being responsible for more number of morbidity and mortality worldwide. OBJECTIVE: The current exploration was planned study the in vitro anticancer actions of dieckol against human OS MG-63 cells via PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling inhibition. METHODOLOGY: The cytotoxicity of dieckol was scrutinized by MTT assay. Effects of dieckol on the ROS accumulation, apoptotic cell death, and MMP level in the MG-63 cells were studied by respective fluorescence staining assays. The levels of proliferative, inflammatory, and apoptotic markers in the dieckol treated MG-63 cells were scrutinized by marker specific kits. The expressions of PI3K, AKT, and mTOR was assayed by RT-PCR. RESULTS: The MTT assay revealed that the dieckol dose dependently prevented MG-63 cells viability and the IC50 was found at 15 µM. Dieckol treatment effectively reduced the MMP level and improved the ROS generation and apoptosis in MG-63 cells. Dieckol also regulated the proliferative (cyclin D1), inflammatory (COX-2, IL-6, TNF-α, and NF-κB), and apoptotic (caspase-3, Bax, Bcl-2) markers in the MG-63 cells. The PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling in the MG-63 cells were effectively inhibited by the dieckol treatment. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, our findings from this study recommends that the dieckol could be a talented anticancer candidate for the OS management in the future.

Stair-shaped Achilles tendon lengthening in continuity - A new method to treat equinus deformity in patients with spastic cerebral palsy.

BACKGROUND: Equinus of the ankle is a common deformity in spastic cerebral palsy. Achilles tendon lengthening is one of the effective options for the treatment of equinus deformity. METHODS: In the study, a new stair-shaped Achilles tendon lengthening (ATL) procedure that preserves of the tendon continuity was performed in 28 tendons with equinus deformity (20 patients, mean age=10.5±2.6 years). The results were compared with a group of patients treated with the Z-lengthening procedure. During the latest follow-up visit, the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) Ankle-Hindfoot scale score was much higher in the stair-shaped ATL group than in the Z-lengthening group (p<0.05). RESULTS: The two groups showed similar surgical correction angle after ATL(37.2±3.5° for stair-shaped ATL and 36.1±4.5° for Z-lengthening). During the latest follow-up visit, the correction angle in the Z-lengthening group decreased to 21.6±4.3°, which was lower than in the stair-shaped ATL group (29.0±3.1°; p<0.05). In addition, the data regarding the time required by each patient before being able to start rehabilitation and walking as well as gaining better stability for running indicated that the stair-shaped ATL group recovered significantly quicker than the Z-lengthening group. CONCLUSIONS: The stair-shaped ATL procedure resulted in a successful correction of the equinus deformity in spastic cerebral palsy, with the advantage of preserving a degree of continuity without a complete section of the tendon. This confers greater antigravity stability and quicker recovery in patients.

[Surgical treatment of ingrown toenail and paronychia with lateral toe incision].

Objective: To investigate and compare the advantages of surgical treatment of ingrown toenail with the traditional Winograd method. Methods: From Aug.2013 to Jun.2015,77 cases (89 toes) with 15-58 years were involved in the study.37 cases (42 toes) were treated with Winograd method and other 40 cases (47 toes) were treated with a method using lateral incision without cutting the nail fold. The time of returning to normal activities, infection rate, recurrence rate, pain VAS score and shape satisfaction VAS score were evaluated to display the aesthetic and functional result of the both methods. Results: All patients were followed up with an average of 8.6 months. The patients treated with the novel method returned to normal activities after (5.3 ± 0.5) d post-surgery, which was much shorter than that (7.3 ± 0.6) d in patients with the Winograd method (P ＜ 0.05).And the infection rate in the lateral incision group was also lower than that in the Winograd method group (P ＜ 0.05).At 3 days post-surgery, the pain VAS score in Winograd method group was higher (P ＜ 0.05),but the difference of pain VAS score disappeared after 1 and 6 months post-surgery (P ＞ 0.05).The shape satisfaction VAS score were 9.2 ± 0.6 in the lateral incision group and 7.1 ± 0.7 in the Winograd group, showing significant difference (P ＜ 0.05). Conclusions: The lateral incision method without incising the nail fold reserves the nail groove and brings faster recovery to normal activities with less pain, lower infection rate and more satisfactory toenail shape.