Partial Flap Loss in Gender Affirming Phalloplasty.

Background:  Flaps used in phalloplasty are larger than described for other indications, with a design that is tubularized up to two times. While the incidence of partial flap loss (PFL) is well described, current literature lacks granularity comparing donor sites and techniques with minimal discussion of etiology and management. The purpose of this study was to review our experience with PFL in phalloplasty.

An Option for Shaft-Only Gender-Affirming Phalloplasty: Vaginal Preservation and Vulvoscrotoplasty. A Technical Description.

Genital masculinizing gender-affirming surgery is a growing field. Because of a spectrum of gender identity, gender expression, sexual expression, patient desires, and patient tolerance for complications, options for surgery vary accordingly. Shaft-only phalloplasty avoids urethral lengthening, but may still be accompanied by hysterectomy, vaginectomy, scrotoplasty, clitoroplasty (burying of the clitoris), glansplasty, and placement of erectile devices and testicular implants.

Technical Description and Microsurgical Outcomes in Phalloplasty Using the Deep Inferior Epigastric Artery and Locoregional Veins.

Background: Phalloplasty often requires free tissue transfer. There is ample literature describing flap-related outcomes, but the microsurgical technique used, including choice of recipient vessels, has been an overlooked yet important topic. In this study, the authors review the outcomes of their experience with the deep inferior epigastric artery and locoregional veins and outline technical modifications that occurred during the study period.

Trimer Enhancement Mutation Effects on HIV-1 Matrix Protein Binding Activities.

Unlabelled: The HIV-1 matrix (MA) protein is the amino-terminal domain of the HIV-1 precursor Gag (Pr55Gag) protein. MA binds to membranes and RNAs, helps transport Pr55Gag proteins to virus assembly sites at the plasma membranes of infected cells, and facilitates the incorporation of HIV-1 envelope (Env) proteins into virions by virtue of an interaction with the Env protein cytoplasmic tails (CTs). MA has been shown to crystallize as a trimer and to organize on membranes in hexamer lattices.

Analysis of HIV-1 Gag protein interactions via biotin ligase tagging.

Unlabelled: We have examined the interactions of wild-type (WT) and matrix protein-deleted (ΔMA) HIV-1 precursor Gag (PrGag) proteins in virus-producing cells using a biotin ligase-tagging approach. To do so, WT and ΔMA PrGag proteins were tagged with the Escherichia coli promiscuous biotin ligase (BirA*), expressed in cells, and examined. Localization patterns of PrGag proteins and biotinylated proteins overlapped, consistent with observations that BirA*-tagged proteins biotinylate neighbor proteins that are in close proximity.

RRE-dependent HIV-1 Env RNA effects on Gag protein expression, assembly and release.

The HIV-1 Gag proteins are translated from the full-length HIV-1 viral RNA (vRNA), whereas the envelope (Env) protein is translated from incompletely spliced Env mRNAs. Nuclear export of vRNAs and Env mRNAs is mediated by the Rev accessory protein which binds to the rev-responsive element (RRE) present on these RNAs. Evidence has shown there is a direct or indirect interaction between the Gag protein, and the cytoplasmic tail (CT) of the Env protein.