High-throughput screening and clinical importance of autophagy-associated genes in basal cell carcinoma.

Autophagy is a type II programmed cell death mechanism that plays a critical role in preserving cellular homeostasis through the regulation of protein, lipid, and organelle quality control. It has become gradually evident that autophagy plays a fundamental role in the initiation and progression of various types of human cancers. Nevertheless, its significance in non-melanoma skin cancers, particularly in basal cell carcinoma, has not been well documented and remains largely elusive.

Reading Man Flap: A Nasal Reconstruction Technique.

Background: Closure of the nasal skin defects that resulted from excision of the skin neoplasms represents a challenging problem in reconstructive surgery. Here, the use of the reading man procedure as a new alternative in reconstruction of the skin defects of the nose is presented.

Materials And Methods: In this procedure, 2 local flaps designed in an unequal Z-plasty manner are used.

A New Cartilage-Sparing Procedure for Correction of the Prominent Ear Deformity: Dermal Anchor Technique.

Background: Although the literature is replete with surgical techniques described for correction of the prominent ears, new techniques are still needed to minimize the recurrence rates and postoperative complications.

Objective: Here, the author presents a new and simple otoplasty procedure, namely, the dermal anchor technique (DAT), in which a wide planar adhesion between the opposing dermal surfaces of the deepithelized antihelical groove is used as a biological anchor for long-term maintenance of the antihelical fold without any cartilage manipulation.

Materials And Methods: For 12 years, this new procedure was used for correction of 76 prominent ears in 44 patients, with 17 being female and 27 being male.

A New Surgical Technique for Closure of Pilonidal Sinus Defects: Triangular Closure Technique.

BACKGROUND We present a clinical experience with a new local flap procedure, namely the triangular closure technique, for reconstruction of sacrococcygeal skin defects resulting from excision of the pilonidal sinus. MATERIAL AND METHODS In this technique, the defect is surgically converted to a triangle in shape. Then, the triangular defect is closed by transposition of 2 skin flaps designed in an unequal z-plasty manner.

A New Technique for Total Reconstruction of the Lower Lid.

Background: Although several methods have been described for total lower eyelid reconstruction, it remains as a major challenge in reconstructive surgery. Here, we present a new technique, the Mutaf unequal Z-plasty procedure for reconstruction of defects of the lower eyelid.

Methods: In this technique, 2 skin flaps designed in an unequal Z-plasty manner are used to provide skin coverage.

The Effect of Coenzyme Q10 (Ubiquinone) on Random Pattern Skin Flap Survival in Rat Model.

Background: In this study, the effect of coenzyme Q10 (CQ10) on flap survival was investigated.

Methods: Fifty Wistar Albino rats were divided into 5 groups. The survival rates of the skin flaps were assessed 10 days after complete elevation of the flaps.

A novel tumor suppressor gene in basal cell carcinoma: inhibition of growth factor-2.

In loss of heterozygosity (LOH) studies at the chromosome 4q22-35 region, it was shown that the amount of deletion was high in basal cell carcinoma (BCC). It has been proposed that genes located in this chromosomal region could be tumor suppressor genes in BCC. It has been thought that deletions in the ING2 gene located in the same region can play a role in the pathophysiology of BCC and that deletions occurring in this region may influence the level of ING2 expression in BCC.

Surgical treatment of extensive sacrococcygeal hidradenitis suppurativa with triangular closure technique.

Background: Recurrence of the sacrococcygeal hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) can significantly be reduced by invasive local excision of all the abscess, sinuses, and scars which often result in large defects on this region. Although a number of surgical procedures have been described, closure of large sacrococcygeal defects resulting from excision of extensive HS still remains a challenge.

Purpose: Here, we present the use of triangular closure technique as a new alternative in surgical treatment of extensive HS of sacrococcygeal region.

The reading man flap for closure of large meningomyelocele defects.

Background: Closure of the skin defect in myelomeningocele repair is an essential step that determines the quality of the surgical result. In large myelomeningoceles, however, adequate skin coverage may not be accomplished by direct closure or skin undermining. In such cases, the skin defect is best repaired using flaps.

A new alternative for reconstruction of the inferior medial canthal and nasal sidewall defects.

Background: Reconstruction of the inferior medial canthal and nasal sidewall defects presents some particular problems resulting from the unique anatomy of this region such as the multiple contours and sigmoidal relaxed skin tension lines, differences in skin color and texture, and the anatomic limitations presented by the adjacent structures including lower eyelids, eyebrows, and lacrimal drainage system.

Purpose: In this study, the authors represent a new local flap as a new alternative for reconstruction of the defects of the inferior medial canthal region and nasal sidewalls.

Methods: In this technique, defect closure is achieved by using 2 cutaneous flaps designed in an unequal z-plasty manner.

The spider procedure: a new Z-plasty-based local flap procedure.

Background: Using neighboring similar skin, local flap procedures provide optimal aesthetic and functional results in reconstruction of skin defects. Therefore, a number of local flap procedures have been described. However, as skin defects present limitless variations in size and shape, new flap procedures are still needed.

A new technique for closure of infraorbital defects.

Background: The infraorbital region is a unique facial subunit surrounded with several important structures, such as the lower eyelids, oral commissure, ala nasi, and the sideburns. The potential for distortion of these neighboring anatomic landmarks and the absence of natural creases where incisional scars can be camouflaged make reconstruction of large infraorbital defects a challenge.

Purpose: A new local flap procedure for reconstruction of large infraorbital skin defects, named Mutaf triangular closure technique, is described.

Island volar advancement flap for reconstruction of thumb defects.

Background: The volar advancement flap of the thumb described by Moberg has been used for pulp defects up to 1 to 1.5 cm since its mobility is quite limited due to the stiff nature and fibrous connections of the regional skin with underlying structures. There have been several attempts to increase the mobility of this useful flap by adding V-Y and Z-plasty concepts into the technique.

Correction of tethered upper lip deformity following bilateral cleft lip repair.

Background: Shallow upper buccal sulcus, vertical shortness (whistling deformity), and limited mobility of the median part of the upper lip are among the most common secondary deformities following surgical repair of wide bilateral cleft lip. They are often encountered together as a triad of postoperative deformities with a common etiology. To date, there has been no surgical procedure to correct these 3 associated deformities in 1 stage.

Closure of defects of the malar region.

Background: Reconstruction of the skin defects of malar region poses some challenging problems including obvious scar formation, dog-ear formation, trapdoor deformity and displacement of surrounding anatomic landmarks such as the lower eyelid, oral commissure, ala nasi, and sideburn.

Purpose: Here, a new local flap procedure, namely the reading man procedure, for reconstruction of large malar skin defects is described.

Materials And Methods: In this technique, 2 flaps designed in an unequal Z-plasty manner are used.

A new technique for reconstruction of a congenital isolated alar defect.

Congenital isolated alar defect (CIAD) is an extremely rare anomaly causing a remarkable aesthetic deformity. Up to today, only 6 previous cases have been reported, and there has been no technique approved as a criterion standard for the reconstruction of this anomaly yet. Here, we present a patient with a wide unilateral CIAD reconstructed with a new procedure, namely Mutaf's triangular closure technique.

The anatomic replication technique (ART): a new approach in saddle nose correction.

Correction of major saddle nose deformities is one of the greatest challenges in nasal surgery. Here, a new approach for the correction of major saddle nose deformities in which the missing parts of the nasal skeleton are replaced with their anatomic replicas sculptured from an autogenous osteocartilagineous rib graft is presented. Since 1998, this new technique has been used in 17 patients (11 females and 6 males) with major saddle nose deformities.

The "reading man" procedure: a new technique for the closure of circular skin defects.

Background: As most of the skin lesions tend to grow in a circular pattern, the resultant defects after surgical removal of these lesions are often circular. Although a number of local flap procedures have been described, alternative techniques are still needed for the closure of circular defects.

Purpose: Here, a new surgical technique for the closure of circular skin defects is presented.

Skin perforators of back region: anatomical study and clinical applications.

Background: Despite widespread studies that have been commonly performed recently on skin perforators and perforator flaps of various regions of the body, investigations on the back region of the body are still insufficient. This study investigates the anatomical characteristics and clinical applications of perforating vessels in the back region.

Materials And Methods: The skin on the back region between the right and left, 7th to 11th thoracic vertebrae of 10 fresh cadavers were raised as flaps.

Bilateral musculocutaneous unequal-Z procedure: a new technique for reconstruction of total lower-lip defects.

Background: Although several techniques have been described for total lower-lip reconstruction, it is still a major reconstructive challenge, which often requires lengthy and risky microsurgical procedures.

Purpose: Here, we present a new local procedure, namely, bilateral musculocutaneous unequal-Z procedure for functional reconstruction of total lower-lip defects.

Material And Methods: In this technique, 2 musculocutaneous flaps including the depressor anguli oris and platysma muscles, respectively, are used in an unequal Z-plasty manner on each side of the defect.

A new technique for closure of large meningomyelocele defects.

Background: Although small meningomyeloceles may be amenable to direct closure by undermining of the surrounding skin, the closure of large meningomyelocele defects is a challenging reconstructive problem.

Purpose: Here, we present a new surgical procedure for the closure of large meningomyelocele defects.

Material And Methods: In this procedure, after neurosurgical repair and closure of the placode, the defect is surgically converted to a triangle in shape.

A new surgical technique for the correction of pincer nail deformity.

Background: Pincer nail is a rare deformity characterized by transverse overcurvature of the nail that increases distally. Many conservative and surgical treatment modalities have been recommended, but there is not a worldwide accepted technique for long lasting treatment of this deformity yet.

Purpose: A new surgical technique for the treatment of pincer nail deformity is described.

A new technique for correction of congenital constriction rings.

Background: Congenital constriction ring (CCR) is among the most common congenital anomaly of the extremities. However, few techniques have been described for correction of this anomaly, and none of these techniques could provide a complete elimination of the deformity. Therefore, new surgical techniques are needed for correction of this challenging deformity.