Treatment Effectiveness and Recurrence of Extracranial Arteriovenous Malformations Following Surgical Operations: A 15-Year Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: At present, there is no golden standard for treatment of extracranial arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) and recurrence remains a major challenge with limited available evidence on the associated factors. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of surgical treatment options, in terms of size reduction, symptoms, and early recurrence in patients treated surgically for AVMs. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted to evaluate patients with AVMs following surgical treatment in 2 centers from 2005 to 2020. Posttreatment lesion size and symptoms, as well as recurrence, were assessed. Multiple regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with recurrence. RESULTS: Forty-four surgical treatment cases in 31 patients were assessed with a mean follow-up duration period of 67.9 ± 39.5 months. Treatment included total resection in 26 cases (59.1%) and partial resection 18 (40.9%), with free flap coverage used in 19 cases (43.2%). No acute exacerbation following treatment was observed in our cohort. Total resection significantly reduced posttreatment lesion size ( P < 0.001), symptoms ( P < 0.001), and recurrence (20.0%, P = 0.03). The recurrence rate was significantly higher after partial resection (73.7%, P = 0.03). Total resection was identified as an associated factor for significantly reduced AVM recurrence (odds ratio: 0.12; 95% confidence interval: 0.03, 0.52). However, the use of free flaps did not significantly reduce recurrence, post treatment size or improve AVM symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Total resection is the optimal treatment for AVMs. Free flaps are useful in covering large defects but the regulative effect of free flap remains controversial.

NanoSPECT imaging reveals the uptake of 123I-labelled oxidized low-density lipoprotein in the brown adipose tissue of mice via CD36.

AIMS: The liver is the major organ shown to remove oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) from the circulation. Given increased evidence that thermogenic adipose tissue has anti-effects, we used 123I-labelled oxLDL as a tracer to reveal oxLDL accumulation in the brown adipose tissue (BAT) of mice. We also explored the mechanisms of oxLDL accumulation in BAT. METHODS AND RESULTS: We used high-resolution nanoSPECT/CT to investigate the tissue distribution of 123I-oxLDL and 123I-LDL (control) following intravenous injection into conscious mice. 123I-oxLDL distribution was discovered in BAT at an intensity equivalent to that in the liver, whereas 123I-LDL was detected mostly in the liver. Consistent with the function of BAT related to sympathetic nerve activity, administering anaesthesia in mice almost completely eliminated the accumulation of 123I-oxLDL in BAT, and this effect was reversed by administering ß3-agonist. Furthermore, exposing mice to cold stress at 4°C enhanced 123I-oxLDL accumulation in BAT. Because in 123I-oxLDL, the protein of oxLDL was labelled, we performed additional experiments with DiI-oxLDL in which the lipid phase of oxLDL was fluorescently labelled and observed similar results, suggesting that the whole oxLDL particle was taken up by BAT. To identify the receptor responsible for oxLDL uptake in BAT, we analysed the expression of known oxLDL receptors (e.g. SR-A, CD36, and LOX-1) in cultured brown adipocyte cell line and primary brown adipocytes and found that CD36 was the major receptor expressed. Treatment of cells with CD36 siRNA or CD36 neutralizing antibody significantly inhibited DiI-oxLDL uptake. Finally, CD36 deletion in mice abolished the accumulation of 123I-oxLDL and DiI-oxLDL in BAT, indicating that CD36 is the major receptor for oxLDL in BAT. CONCLUSION: We show novel evidence for the CD36-mediated accumulation of oxLDL in BAT, suggesting that BAT may exert its anti-atherogenic effects by removing atherogenic LDL from the circulation.

Additional Relaxing Suturing Using Absorbable Symmetric Barbed Sutures to Help Close Scalp Defects.

Closing a scalp wound with skin defects is challenging because the scalp skin lacks extensibility and closing it tends to result in a remarkable, widespread, hairless scar. Absorbable symmetric barbed suture device (Stratafix Symmetric; Ethicon, USA) allows wound closure using a pulling motion alone and provides a strong and secure closure for the high-tension area. We used this device to close wide scalp defects easily without tension and with minimized sequential scalp alopecia. The aim of this study was to show our experiences with using this technique. From January 2017 to March 2019, our relaxing suture technique was performed in 7 pediatric patients with scalp alopecia due to various lesions that ranged 23.0 ± 6.5 mm. After resecting the lesions, the galea was sutured using the 3-0 absorbable symmetric barbed suture via a running subcutaneous suture technique. The widespread wound edges were approximated by pulling the suture device. Wound closure was completed with galeal suturing and a superficial suture. We evaluated the width of the postoperative hairless scar at the final follow-up. In all 7 patients, we could approximate the widespread wound edges by pulling alone. Subsequently, the wounds could be closed without tension or difficulty. The mean width of the postoperative hairless scar was 3.3 ± 0.8 mm (range: 1.9-4.3 mm), and no complication was detected during the follow-up period. Our new relaxing suture technique using an absorbable barbed suture with symmetric anchors is a supportive and additional way to help close scalp defects.

Gliding Tissue Reconstruction Using a Dorsal Digital Adipofascial Flap in Complex Extensor Injury.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative scar adhesions between tendons and phalanx bones cause persistent disability in complex injuries involving tendons and bones of the hand. Although gliding tissue reconstruction is effective in preventing peritendinous adhesion formation and a dorsal digital adipofascial flap is a reliable method to prevent scar adhesion between tendon and bone after extensor tendon repair, no comparative clinical reports exist. This study aimed to determine the usefulness of a gliding tissue reconstruction method by comparing postoperative range of motion between patients who underwent gliding tissue reconstruction and those who did not. METHODS: Medical records of patients with complex extensor tendon injury who underwent extensor repair between April 2005 and March 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Ten patients underwent extensor repair with gliding tissue reconstruction using a dorsal digital adipofascial flap and 13 underwent only extensor repair. A triangular flap was separated after zig-zag incision to expose the injured extensor tendon into dermal and adipofascial flaps. The adipofascial flap, based on a dorsal branch of the digital artery, was placed on the injured bone as the tendon gliding surface. The same extensor tendon suture method and rehabilitation protocol were used in both groups. All patients were followed up for 6 to 12 months. RESULTS: The mean ± SD % total active movements were 84.1% ± 12.4% and 57.6% ± 13.0% in the groups with and without gliding tissue reconstruction, respectively. Significant differences were found between the 2 groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with gliding tissue reconstruction had better functional recovery. This reconstruction is recommended to restore the extensor function in cases of complex extensor injury involving finger tendons and bones.

Two Cases of Radial Ray Deficiency With Absence of First Metacarpus and 2 Tiny Fingers.

We report 2 cases showing both radial ray deficiency and thumb duplication. The common features of these cases were absence of the first metacarpus and presence of 2 tiny fingers. The features of our cases may have been due to continuous abnormality of the mesenchymal cells before limb bud formation and apical ectodermal ridge at the established limb bud. In 1 case, we created a 5-finger hand using 2 tiny floating fingers. Two fingers as vascularized bones with growth potential were useful to make 1 thumb. Two tendon transfers at 2 years of age were effective to allow gripping and pinching of objects. At 6 years of age, the thumb was lengthened by an iliac bone graft and a reverse forearm flap. At 27 years of age, the patient showed grip power of 20 kg in the affected hand. The Quick-DASH (the Japanese Society for Surgery of the Hand version) score was 4.6. The patient was satisfied with the appearance and function of the hand, although size discrepancy between the thumbs remained.