[Application of stereoscopic unequal S-plasty for reconstuction of the congenital hypoplastic ear lobe cleft associated with soft tissue deficiency].

Objective: To explore the ideal way of using the stereoscopic unequal S-plasty in reconstruction of the congenital hypoplastic ear lobe cleft with soft tissue deficiency. Methods: Data of 10 patients with the congenital hypoplastic ear lobe cleft associated with soft tissue deficiency who were treated using the stereoscopic unequal S-plasty in the plastic cosmetic surgery of Xuzhou Central Hospital from Aug 2018 to Aug 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Six patients were male, 4 were female. Their ages ranged from 6 years to 19 years old, with a mean age of 13 years. Lobe deficiency size ranged from 0.8 cm×0.5 cm to 1.2 cm×1.0 cm. Results: The post-operation flaps had no venous congestion, infection or necrosises. During 3 to 12 months of follow-up, the technique made the shape of the ear lobe smoother. The incisions left inconspicuous scars. The result was satisfactory in terms of matching the contralateral normal ear lobe in shape and symmetry. Doctors and patients were satisfied with the results. Conclusions: The stereoscopic unequal S-plasty is an effective way to correct the the severe congenital ear lobe deformity. The good result,simple manipulation and short operation time are the advantages of this method.

[Experimental study on bioglass application in extending alveolar bone crest in rabbit].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Bioglass guiding bone regeneration and forming normal new bone in extending alveolar bone crest by surgery. METHODS: Thirty-six rabbits were randomly divided into three groups. The first group was treated with Bioglass and the second with hudroxyapectite (HA). The third group was control group. At 4 8 12 weeks after surgery, the condition of bone regeneration was observed with radiological and pathological methods. RESULTS: Statistical analysis showed that there was a significant difference between the third group and the other two groups (P<0.05). In addition, Bioglass can guide bone regeneration faster than hydroxyapatite, and it can be substituted by new bone to form completely normal bone. CONCLUSION: Since Bioglass is more effective than HA in guiding bone regeneration, it is an ideal bone graft substitute.

An efficacy trial of a mammalian cell-derived recombinant DNA hepatitis B vaccine in infants born to mothers positive for HBsAg, in Shanghai, China.

We conducted a randomized, double-blind clinical trial of an experimental mammalian cell-derived DNA hepatitis B vaccine (Betagen, Connaught Laboratories Ltd, Toronto, Canada) to determine its efficacy in infants born to mothers who were carriers of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Four groups of 55 infants received injections as follows: (1) a licensed plasma-derived vaccine (Lanzhou, Lanzhou Institute for Biological Products, Lanzhou, People's Republic of China), 20 micrograms; (2) Betagen, 20 micrograms; (3) Betagen, 20 micrograms+hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG); and (4) Betagen, 10 micrograms+HBIG. Vaccine injections were given at birth and at 1 and 6 months and HBIG was given at birth. The vaccines were compared to a historical placebo control group. The efficacy of Betagen alone was 82.6% compared to 51.0% for the Lanzhou. Efficacy of Betagen increased with the concomitant use of HBIG. No infants who were HBsAg negative at birth and/or were born to hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) negative mothers became carriers. The rate of HBsAg in infants receiving Betagen alone, and born to mothers who were HBeAg positive, decreased from 60% at birth to 20% by the ninth month, compared to 62.5% and 50% (respectively) for Lanzhou. The percentage of infants with protective levels of antiHBs was significantly higher for Betagen alone than for Lanzhou, but the geometric mean titre of antiHBs for responders was not significantly different. We have shown that Betagen alone is highly efficacious in preventing the development of hepatitis B in infants born to mothers who are carriers of HBsAg and is also highly effective in reducing the carriage of HBsAg in infants who are HBsAg positive at birth and/or born to HBeAg positive mothers.

PIP: Researchers assigned 220 infants born at 5 participating hospitals in Shanghai, China to receive either a 20mcg of an experimental recombinant DNA hepatitis B vaccine (Betagen), a licensed plasma derived hepatitis B vaccine (Lanzhou), 20 mcg of Betagen and hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG), or 10mcg of Betagen and HBIG to determine the efficacy of Betagen in infants born to mothers with hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive. Since China is a hyperendemic hepatitis B carrier area (in Shanghai, for example, prevalence rate is 57%), China hopes to reduce the carrier state via a low cost, safe, immunogenic, and efficacious recombinant vaccine. 20mcg of Betagen resulted in 82.6% efficacy which was significantly higher than that of Lanzhou (51%). The efficacy increased when HBIG was administered with the 20mcg of Betagen (92%). None of the infants born HBsAg negative and/or born to hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) mothers later became carriers. Further the HBsAg positive fell from 60-2-% in 9 months whereas these corresponding figures for those who received only Lanzhou were 62.5% and 50%. Even though the percentage of infants with protective levels of antiHBs stood much higher in those who received only Betagen than for those who received Lanzhou in all the months of follow up, except the 1st, their geometric mean titre of antiHBs was not statistically significant. Since Betagen prompted a quick antibody response which probably helped decrease HBsAg in the serum of those infants already positive for HBsAg at birth, it had an advantage over Lanzhou. In conclusion, Betagen given alone proved to be very efficacious in preventing hepatitis B in infants born to carriers of HBsAg. Further it was effective in reducing carriage of HBsAg in infants born HBsAg positive and/or born to HBeAg positive mothers.

An epidemic of hepatitis A attributable to the ingestion of raw clams in Shanghai, China.

An epidemic of hepatitis A in 1988 in Shanghai had an overall attack rate of 4083/100,000 population (292,301 cases). The epidemic curve showed three peaks in January and February. A case-control study of 1208 matched pairs supported that clams were the vehicle for the virus (summary odds ratio, 9.47; P less than .001). Analysis of subsets who had eaten clams indicated that only 3.5% with hepatitis A had cooked their clams compared with 18.1% without hepatitis A, and those with the disease consumed more clams. A historical cohort study indicated that approximately 31.7% of the population had eaten clams one or more times between 9 December 1987 and 3 January 1988. The estimated attack rates in those who had and had not eaten clams were 11.93% and 0.52%, respectively (relative risk, 22.94; attributable risk, 11.41%). The three peaks in the consumption curve correlated with those in the epidemic curve. Hepatitis A virus was demonstrated in clams taken from the Shanghai markets and from the catching area.