Identification of Key Genes and Signaling Pathways in Microtia by the Analysis of Transcriptomics.

Microtia is a common, complex congenital birth defect in the world. According to the degree of deformity, microtia can be divided into several types. However, it is unclear whether the different degrees of microtia share a common underlying mechanism.

A Feasibility Study of HoloLens Ear Image Guidance for Ear Reconstruction.

Background: An ideal 3D cartilage framework and accurate anatomical location are the most important factors to carry out a satisfactory reconstruction of the ear. To streamline this process, we developed an augmented reality assistance system, HoloLens Ear Image Guidance, which is based on computed tomography (CT) data, tailor-made navigation kits to guide reconstruction, data processing software, and HoloLens hardware. The objective of this study is to verify its feasibility in a clinical setting.

The Experience in Lower Eyelid Blepharoplasty: Improvement of Surgical Procedures Based on Anatomical Basis.

Objective: This study characterizes the appearance changes associated with aging of the human lower eyelid, grounded in its anatomical basis. Tailored approaches to lower eyelid bag are performed by these anatomical manifestations.

Methods: From January 2017 to January 2023, lower eyelid blepharoplasty was performed on 137 patients, aged 20 to 60 years.

The role of altered fatty acid in pathological scars and their dermal fibroblasts.

Purpose: The proposed pathological mechanism for scar formation is controversial, and increased attention has been paid to the fatty acids (FAs) in the formation of pathological scars. Notably, FAs are known to be important in inflammation and mechanotransduction, which is closely related to scar formation. Therefore, it is necessary to clarify the roles of FA in scar formation.

A Single Dose of Local Injection of Adipose Stem Cells Promotes Ectopic Cartilage Regeneration by Modulating Inflammatory Response and Enhancing Cartilage Extracellular Matrix Synthesis in a Porcine Model.

Background: Uncontrollable inflammatory response following ectopic engineered cartilage implantation is devastating to the aesthetic and functional outcomes of the recipients. Adipose stem cells (ASCs) have a good immunomodulatory capacity via a paracrine mechanism. However, works of literature are scarce regarding ASC modulation in ectopic engineered cartilage regeneration in vivo.

Revision Operation of the Unsatisfactory Microtia Reconstruction With Autologous Costal Cartilage.

Background: Revision operation of the unsatisfactory microtia reconstruction is 1 of the most difficult revision operations in plastic surgery. This study discussed the cases about revision operation of the unsatisfactory or failed ear reconstruction using autologous costal cartilage and residual.

Methods: A prospectively maintained database of all consecutive patients who underwent secondary total ear reconstruction from 2013 to 2020 was reviewed.

Secondary surgery for the unsatisfactory auricle after auricular reconstruction.

Objectives: Complications, including framework exposure, infections, and reconstructed auricle deformation, may occur after auricular reconstruction. However, reports on surgical methods for cases with unsatisfactory outcomes after auricular reconstruction using an autologous costal cartilage are insufficient. Herein, we summarized retreatment casesfor poor ear morphology in patients who had undergone auricular reconstruction in our department for 5 years and discussed other techniques.

To Explore Ideas From the Altered Metabolites: The Metabolomics of Pathological Scar.

Background: Pathological scars are dermal fibroproliferative disorders due to rapid inflammatory response after dermal injury. The altered metabolites could reflect pathophysiological changes directly. However, it has not cleared how the metabolites change scars.

Adipose-derived stem cells inhibit dermal fibroblast growth and induce apoptosis in keloids through the arachidonic acid-derived cyclooxygenase-2/prostaglandin E2 cascade by paracrine.

Background: The clinical features of keloids consist of aberrant proliferation, secretion, differentiation and apoptosis of keloid dermis-derived fibroblasts (KFBs). Notably, the apoptosis rate of KFBs is lower than the proliferation rate. Though the anti-fibrotic effect of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) on keloids has become a hot topic of research, the exact anti-fibrotic mechanism of the paracrine effect remains unclear.

Changes in the Transcriptome and Proteome of Cartilage in Microtia.

Congenital microtia is a severe physiological defect and is among the most common craniofacial defects. It is characterized by severe auricle dysplasia, external auditory canal atresia or stenosis, and middle ear malformation, though inner ear development is mostly normal with some hearing occurring through bone conduction. Auricular reconstruction is the only treatment for congenital microtia.

Congenital heart defects in patients with isolated microtia: evaluation using colour Doppler echocardiographic image.

Background: The objective of this study was to delineate the characteristics and incidence of congenital heart disease (CHD) in patients with isolated microtia and to determine whether the prevalence of CHD among patients with isolated microtia increases with the severity of microtia.

Methods: A total of 804 consecutive patients had a pre-operative colour Doppler echocardiographic examination. A retrospective study was performed with the clinical and imaging data from November, 2017 to January, 2019.

Application of the Expanded Neck Flap for Face and Ear Reconstruction in Burn Patients: A Report on 2 Cases.

Reconstruction of auricular deformities and facial scars after burns is a challenging undertaking for surgeons. Excessive scar tissue, a poor blood supply and the paucity of available skin are all substantial difficulties that should be considered before the operation. Expanded neck flaps provide comparatively larger and thinner flaps for the simultaneous treatment of auricular deformities and facial scars in burn patients.

Protein profile of ear auricle cartilage and the important role of ITGB1/PTK2 in microtia.

Background: Microtia is a congenital malformation of the external ear that involves anything from a small reduction in size to a complete absence. The external ear is composed of elastic cartilage which is also the important skeleton of the outer ear. However no previous study explored the difference between abnormal elastic cartilage and normal cartilage in the molecular level.

Burned Ear Reconstruction Using a Superficial Temporal Fascia Flap.

Objectives: Ear deformity caused by burns is one of the most difficult types of deformity to treat with plastic surgery, and the reconstruction of burned ears undoubtedly remains a substantial challenge. This study aims to report the therapeutic regime of using a superficial temporal fascial flap to cover the framework in burned ear reconstruction.

Methods: Autologous costal cartilage was used to form the ear framework in all of the reconstruction cases.

Prevention methods for Treacher Collins syndrome: A systematic review.

Objectives: Treacher Collins syndrome (TCS) is a severe congenital mandibulofacial dysostosis that occurs one in every 50,000 births. The main clinical treatment of this rare disorder is reconstruction surgery. However, the high invasion, low security and long period of surgical intervention make it essential to explore prevention methods to decrease morbidity.

Two-stage surgical treatment of giant congenital melanocytic nevus around the auricle.

Background: This study presents the results of complete excision of giant congenital melanocytic nevi (GCMN) on the auricle, forehead, or periorbital area combined with tissue expansion, and skin graft transplantation performed in two stages based on 10 years of experience.

Aims: To solve the giant congenital melanocytic nevi on the auricle, forehead, or periorbital area with two-stage operation.

Patients/methods: A total of 21 patients with GCMN were included in this study.

[Anthropometric measurements of moderate concha-type microtia after auricular cartilage unfolding].

Objective: To explore the anthropometric changes of the auricle after auricular cartilage unfolding in moderate concha-type microtia patients, so as to provide the basis to help evaluate surgical timing and prognostic.

Methods: A total of 33 children with moderate concha-type microtia, who were treated with auricular cartilage unfolding between October 2016 and September 2018 and met the inclusive criteria, were included in the study. There were 24 boys and 9 girls with an average age of 1.

Method of Reducing Thoracic Deformity in Auricular Reconstruction.

Autologous costal cartilage graft is an important material in orthopedic surgery. However, postoperative deformity of costal cartilage in donors is also a matter of concern. In our clinical experience, the preservation of the intercostal perichondrium, the replantation of part of the costal cartilage, and wearing an elastic chest strap for half a year are all ways to avoid thoracic deformity.

Mass Spectrometric Characterization of Metabolites in Ear Cartilage: Congenital Microtia and Normal Auricle.

Objective: The aims of the study were to perform mass spectrometric characterization of metabolites in microtic and healthy ear auricular cartilage tissue, to screen the differential metabolites and pathways in these tissues, and to find a connection between the changes in the metabolic pathways and the biochemical properties of the cartilage tissue.

Methods: According to the inclusion criteria, patients with simple microtia admitted to the hospital between June 2017 and January 2018 were selected upon admission. During ear reconstruction surgery, residual auricle cartilage tissues of the patients were harvested as the case group (18 cases), and normal auricle cartilage tissues (18 cases) were taken as the control group.

Classification of the concha-type microtia and their new suitable treatment strategies without autogenous costal cartilage grafting.

Objective: Numerous corrective methods have been successfully applied in concha-type microtia reconstruction over the past several decades, and autogenous rib cartilage grafting has become a routine technique in a two or three-stage operation. However, it still remains a challenge due to the effective use of the large volume of the remnant cartilage and skin involved. The objective of this study was to clarify how this remnant cartilage and skin could be manipulated for new suitable treatment strategies without autogenous costal cartilage grafting.

Standardized measurement of auricle: A method of high-precision and reliability based on 3D scanning and Mimics software.

Objective measurement is important for diagnosing congenital or acquired auricular abnormalities and the evaluation of therapeutic efficacy. However, methods applied in the past were mostly inaccurate and unreliable. The present study aimed to introduce five standardized indices for auricle measurement and present a highly precise and reliable methodology combining three-dimensional (3D) scanning techniques and the Materialise Mimics software for the evaluation of auricle sizes.

Non-surgical correction of cryptotia and the analysis of treatment time and other influence factors.

Objective: To explore correlations between post-treatment outcomes of non-surgical correction for cryptotia and treatment time and other influence factors.

Methods: Forty-seven consecutive patients with 64 cryptotias were treated with the adjusted external stretching device and followed up over 12 months. A subjective evaluation scale was designed for patients to collect clinical data.