Anatomical variant of the superficial temporal artery in temporoparietal fascia flap for microtia reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: Single-stage microtia auricular reconstruction is becoming more relevant. The determining factor is a temporoparietal fascia flap (TPF) with both branches of the superficial temporal artery (STA). There are not many studies regarding vascular branching in people with microtia. METHODS: We conducted an anatomical study on the TPF flap harvested during single-stage endoscopic-assisted microtia auricular reconstruction from May 2018 to July 2021. We observed the flaps under endoscopic and surgical microscopes to determine several variables (vascular size, number of frontal/parietal branches, distance from the branching location to the estimated external ear canal, distance from the frontal artery to projected course of facial nerve's frontal branch, etc.). RESULTS: The study included 55 flaps from 54 patients. Of the 55 flaps, 50 (90.9%) had a parietal branch, and all 55 (100%) had a frontal branch with a mean diameter of 0.98 and 0.91 mm, respectively. Regarding the frontal artery, 1.8%, 25.5%, 50.9%, 16.35% and 5.45% had 0-4 traverse frontal branch(es), respectively. The mean distance from the frontal artery to the estimated course of the frontal nerve was 10.56 mm. Parietal artery absence is more likely in patients with severe hemifacial microsomia or STA trunk go under the auricular cartilage remnants (p < 0.05). Either frontal or parietal artery absence or small diameter can cause necrosis. Frontal arteries travelling near the frontal nerve may result in post-operative nerve palsy. CONCLUSIONS: Microtia auricular reconstructive surgery is always a big challenge for plastic surgeons. Anatomical variants are common. A detailed anatomical description of the STA, with the help of microsurgery and endoscopy, allows arterial-based flap designing and harvest, which tremendously improves surgical success rate by diminishing flap necrosis and nerve damage. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, IV.

MOXAIC: A classification of major maxillofacial wounds, concerning 310 cases.

INTRODUCTION: Although classification for facial fractures have been extensively described in the literature, corresponding systems for major maxillofacial wounds (MMW) are few. We would like to present MOXAIC: a new classification system for MMW. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study of 310 patients with MMW who underwent emergency operation between January 2005 and December 2016. MMW was defined as a facial wound longer than 10 cm, which includes damage to the craniofacial bone or other important facial structures such as the carotid arteries, facial nerves, parotid gland, Stensen's duct, or the eye. All the patients were followed at least 36 months. RESULT: Based on the shape of the wound, the severity, and the mechanism of injury we were able to classify the MMW into five types: O, X, A, I, C. For each wound type we then looked at the treatment required and the outcome, objectively classified as good, satisfactory, or poor, concerning anatomical correction, aesthetics, and function. + Type OCircumferential wound: 81.6% result good. + Type X-Oblique wound: only 48.1% good, despite initial multidisciplinary approach. + Type A-Transverse facial wound: 78.1% good. + Type I-Direct wound: Immediate airway management and hemorrhage control are important. 48.8% good. + Type CCut wound: 88.1% good. The above classification was named MOXAIC which is a mnemonic of 'Maxillofacial' and the five wound types: O, X, A, I, C. CONCLUSION: This classification is highly reproducible, easy to use, and allows quick treatment work up and prognosis. However, this classification requires further specialist review and study.

Significant Vision Recovery from Filler-Induced Complete Blindness with Combined Intra-Arterial Injection of Hyaluronidase and Thrombolytic Agents.

With the increase of cosmetic injectable hyaluronic acid (HA), there have been more cases with serious complications, including skin necrosis, blindness, and cerebral embolism. Patients who have recovered from HA filler-induced total vision loss are extremely rare. We report a case of a 27-year-old female who developed severe ocular pain on the right side and total vision loss following a 1.0 ml HA filler injection in the nasal dorsum. She arrived at our hospital 4 hours later. Her visual acuity was no light perception (NLP), and she exhibited eyelid ptosis, ophthalmoplegia, and frontal and nasal ecchymosis. She was promptly treated with subcutaneous and retrobulbar hyaluronidase injections, as well as intra-arterial 1500 IU hyaluronidase injections into the right ophthalmic artery with DSA assistance. Her vision improved from NLP to counting fingers at 1.0 meters. Unfortunately, 13 hours later, she felt an intense headache, and her vision again decreased to NLP. We immediately performed an injection of 1500 IU hyaluronidase combined with 8 mg alteplase for intra-arterial thrombolysis (IAT) into the right ophthalmic artery. Her vision improved immediately afterward. After 3 months, her visual acuity had significantly recovered from NLP (admission vision status) to 20/50 (Snellen chart with glasses). Similarly, skin, conjunctival, eye movement, and ptosis symptoms completely recovered. This case demonstrates that reversal of complete blindness due to embolism of the ophthalmic and central retinal arteries could be accomplished through multidisciplinary therapies, especially IAT using fibrinolytic agents combined with hyaluronidase followed by an anticoagulant regimen.Level of evidence VThis journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine Ratings, please refer to Table of Contents or online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Presence and regulation of insulin-regulated aminopeptidase in mouse macrophages.

INTRODUCTION: The insulin-regulated aminopeptidase (IRAP) is expressed in several cell types, where it is mainly located in specialized secretory endosomes that are quickly recruited to the cell surface upon cell type-specific activation. Here we describe for the first time the expression and subcellular distribution of IRAP in macrophages. METHODS: IRAP mRNA expression, protein expression and presence at the cell surface was investigated by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Western blot and [(3)H]IVDE77 binding, respectively. RESULTS: IRAP mRNA expression was increased by interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), but not by anti-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10, transforming growth factor ß (TGF-ß)). IFN-γ increased [(3)H]IVDE77 binding steadily over time, while LPS quickly and transiently recruited IRAP to the cell surface. Combined stimulations with IFN-γ and LPS showed the same pattern as LPS alone. Latex particles also induced a transient recruitment of IRAP to the cell surface, but no difference was observed in phagocytic uptake between wild-type and IRAP(-/-) macrophages, suggesting that the enzymatic activity of IRAP is not required for the ingestion of particles. CONCLUSION: IRAP is more highly expressed in pro-inflammatory M1-activated macrophages and its presence at the cell surface is modulated upon exposure to IFN-γ, LPS or exogenous particles.

Modulation of the complement system in monocytes contributes to tuberculosis-associated immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Tuberculosis-associated immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (TB-IRIS) is a common complication in HIV-TB co-infected patients receiving combined antiretroviral therapy (cART). This study investigated a putative contribution of monocytes to the development of TB-IRIS. DESIGN: A prospective study was designed to compare gene expression between patients who developed TB-IRIS with matched non-TB-IRIS controls. METHODS: We performed a hypothesis-generating transcriptome analysis on monocytes of HIV-TB co-infected patients. Identified pathways were subsequently analysed in patients' monocytes before and shortly after cART initiation, in a technically independent set-up (nCounter). Additionally, protein expression and enzymatic activities of specific factors were assessed at the systemic level. RESULTS: Pathway analysis of microarray datasets and focused gene expression study revealed that, even before initiation of cART, the complement system is dysregulated in HIV-TB co-infected patients who are predisposed to developing TB-IRIS. Detailed analysis revealed differences between TB-IRIS patients and matched non-TB-IRIS cases, at the level of the balance between the effector C1Q and the inhibitor C1-INH, both before and 2 weeks after cART initiation. These differences were mirrored by increases in the downstream pro-inflammatory complement factor C5 over the course of 2 weeks of cART. Our results suggest that inappropriate control of complement activation could be associated with the 'flaring up' of inflammation observed during TB-IRIS. CONCLUSION: The current study reveals a contribution of monocytes and the complement system to TB-IRIS development. An intriguing possibility is that the development of TB-IRIS may depend partially on the relative balance between C1Q and C1-INH.