Bioinformatics analysis of microRNA comprehensive regulatory network in congenital microtia.

PURPOSE: This study was aimed to reveal the involvement of miRNAs in the progression of microtia by bioinformatics analyses. METHODS: The data in this study came from the paper of Li et al. who analyzed the microRNA (miRNA) expression profiling between congenital microtia and normal controls. Based on the 11 identified differentially expressed miRNAs, we predicted the target genes, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) and transcription factors (TFs). Then we constructed the miRNAs-centered comprehensive regulatory network. In addition, we performed functional enrichment analysis to analyze the functions of target genes. RESULTS: From the miRNAs comprehensive regulatory network, we found that has-miR-203 regulated a large number of target genes and lncRNAs, including suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) and metastasis associated in lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1). The has-miR-185, has-miR-451 and has-miR-200c were regulated by a host of TFs including signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) and STAT2. Additionally, the target genes of hsa-miR-486-5p were mainly enriched in 17 Gene Ontology terms and target genes of has-miRNA-203 were enriched in 6 pathways. CONCLUSIONS: The expression of has-miR-203, has-miR-200c and has-miR-451 were significantly different in microtia. Target gene of SOCS3, TFs of STAT1 and STAT2, and lncRNA of MALAT1 may play important roles in the development of the external ear.

[Effect of botulinum toxin type A on excessive expansion of myocutaneous flap].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of botulinum toxin type A (BTXA) on the excessive expansion speed and blood supply of myocutaneous flap. METHODS: Seven adult Guizhou minipigs of clean grade were included, female or male and weighing 16-20 kg. The 2.4 mL BTXA solution (96 U) was injected in cutaneous muscle (24 points) of one side as experimental group (n = 7), the 2.4 mL saline in the other side as control group (n = 7). Two expanders (200 mL) were implanted beneath the cutaneous muscle on the bilateral flank of each pig symmetrically at 3 days after injection. One week later, the expanders were filled with saline every 4 days with an intracapsular pressure of 11.97 kPa, and accumulative total amounted to 400 mL for 3 weeks in control group and 5 weeks in experimental group. Then the expanders were taken out; the myocutaneous flaps formed and were sutured in situ. The myocutaneous flaps were cut for histological examination and capillary count. The expansion speed of the myocutaneous flap were recorded. The blood supply of the myocutaneous flap were observed by infrared thermography at 1 week after implantation expanders, before removing the expanders, and at 5 days after myocutaneous flap suture in situ. RESULTS: All the animals survived to the end of the experiment. The total expansion time was (54.0 +/- 3.1) days in experimental group and (67.0 +/- 3.9) days in control group, showing significant difference (t = -8.107, P = 0.000). All myocutaneous flaps survived after being sutured in situ. Infrared thermograph revealed that the temperature of the distal myocutaneous flap in experimental group was significantly higher than that in control group at 1 week after implantation of expanders (P < 0.05); at 5 days after myocutaneous flap suture in situ, the temperature of the central flap in experimental group was significantly higher than that in control group (P < 0.05); and there was no significant difference between 2 groups at the other time points (P > 0.05). The histological observation showed that the blood vessel density of the dermal layer and tissue between the capsule and the muscle layer in experimental group was significantly higher than those in control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: When excessive expansion is performed, BTXA can accelerate the expansion rate and improve the blood supply of expanded myocutaneous flaps.