Therapeutic potential of human minor salivary gland epithelial progenitor cells in liver regeneration.

Liver disease is a serious problem affecting millions of people with continually increasing prevalence. Stem cell therapy has become a promising treatment for liver dysfunction. We previously reported on human minor salivary gland mesenchymal stem cells (hMSGMSCs), which are highly self-renewable with multi-potent differentiation capability.

Anatomic study of the musculus longus capitis flap.

Purpose: To clearly delineate the anatomy of the musculus longus capitis, determine its clinical applications for reconstruction surgery, and provide a safer surgical method of developing the longus capitis muscle flap.

Methods: Anatomical investigations were performed in seven adult cadavers (five cadavers for gross anatomy and two for transparent specimen preparation) with respect to the location, morphology, arterial supply, and innervation of the musculus longus capitis, as well as its spatial relationship with the cervical sympathetic trunk, superior cervical ganglion, carotid sheath, and other surrounding structures.

Results: The musculus longus capitis is located anterior to the C1-6 vertebrae, segmentally supplied by branches of the ascending cervical artery, innervated by the C1-5 nerve, and spatially close to the cervical sympathetic trunk, superior cervical ganglion, and carotid sheath.

Transcriptome analysis of skin photoaging in chinese females reveals the involvement of skin homeostasis and metabolic changes.

Background: Photoaging is cumulative damage to skin, caused by chronic, repeated solar radiation exposure. Its molecular mechanisms are poorly understood at the level of global gene expression.

Objective: This study set out to uncover genes and functional modules involved in photoaging at the level of transcription, with the use of skin samples from Chinese women.

[Muscles reposition in correction of nasal deformity after unilateral cleft lip].

Objective: To investigate the effective method for correction of nasal deformity after unilateral cleft lip.

Methods: 50 cases with secondary nasal deformity after unilateral cleft lip were retrospectively analyzed. All the patients underwent nasal and lip muscle reposition operation to restore the symmetry of nasal alar.

A new modified forked flap and a reverse V shaped flap for secondary correction of bilateral cleft lip nasal deformities.

Background: The columella, nasal tip, lip relationship in the bilateral cleft lip nasal deformity remains a great challenge for plastic surgeon. An esthetically satisfying result is difficult to obtain. A subset of patients with bilateral cleft lip nasal deformity still require columellar lengthening and nasal correction and philtrial construction.

Identification of estrogen-associated intrinsic aging genes in Chinese Han female skin by cDNA microarray technology.

Objective: Estrogens play an important role in intrinsic skin aging. The associated changes in global gene expression are poorly understood.

Methods: We used the Illumina microarray platform to obtain comprehensive gene expression profiles in female Chinese Han skin, and confirmed the data by quantitative real-time PCR (Q-RT-PCR).

Correction of secondary bilateral complete cleft lip and whistling deformities: the advance and rearrangement of the bilateral lip tissues.

Background: This report introduces a new method for correcting secondary deformities of bilateral complete cleft lip (BCCL) and assesses its short-term results.

Methods: In this series, 30 patients (21 males and 9 females) ages 4-27 years (mean age 14 years, 2 months) who had previously undergone surgery to correct BCCL using the lateral columellar flap method or the straight-line method were treated using the authors' new curved-line method. Points were marked, and curved lines were used to link the points, with subsequent rearrangement of the lip tissues.

Alar cartilage used as tip grafts in secondary silicone augmentation rhinoplasty in Chinese patients.

Objectives: To introduce the use of alar cartilage as tip grafts in secondary silicone augmentation rhinoplasty in Chinese patients and to assess its short-term results in nasal tip modification.

Methods: Eight Chinese patients who were not satisfied with a primary silicone augmentation rhinoplasty because of unimproved short nose, less projection, and bad nasal tip definition were treated with this method. The lateral crura were transected from the caudal ends, turned over, placed on the implanted silicone, and sutured together.

[Correction of secondary deformity of unilateral cleft lip with refined anatomic repair in orbicularis oris muscle].

Objective: To investigate the functional repair of secondary deformity of unilateral cleft lip.

Methods: The nasal branch, nasolabial branch, and labial branch of orbicularis oris muscle were dissected and repositioned precisely to correct the secondary deformity of unilateral cleft lip.

Results: 96 patients were treated successfully with this method during Jan.

[Trilobate technique, a new principal to repair cleft lip].

Objective: To develop a new method for reparation of cleft lip, and to evoke more colleagues for advance practices and study, in order to determine her indication and contraindication as soon as possible.

Methods: 48 cases were included into this study. Trilobate flap were designed in floor of nose and lip area in cleft side, rotate two of the three flaps upwards, respectively to elevate the tip of nose, and to reconstruct the floor of nose.

[Buccal musculomucosal flap for reconstruction of wide vermilion and orbicularis oils muscle defect].

Objective: To investigate the reconstruction of wide vermilion and orbicularis oris muscle defect with satisfactory outcome of aesthetics, sensation, and function.

Methods: The buccal musculomucosal flap based on the anterior buccal branches of the facial artery was used to reconstruct wide defect of vermilion and orbicularis oris muscle on upper or lower lip.

Results: 7 patients were treated.

[Unilateral buccinator myomucosal island flap with double opposing Z-plasty for wider palatal cleft repair].

Objective: To explore a method to repair larger cleft palate and lengthen soft palate without oral palate raw surface and scar formation, reduce the effect on maxilla and dental arch development.

Methods: A modified double opposing Z-plasty was used to lengthen soft palate and the nasal palate was closed by using large turn-over mucoperiosteal flaps on the oral surface of the junction of the hard palate and soft palate, oral raw surface on the palate was closed by a buccal myomucosal island flap.

Results: Thirty-six palates have been repaired by this procedure, all of which had satisfactory results without flap necrosis, infection, difficulties in opening mouth and facial nerve injury except two post-operative fistulas.

[Role of MR imaging on the diagnosis of velopharyngeal insufficiency preoperatively].

Objective: To assess the feasibility and actuality of MR imaging on diagnosis and evaluation of velopharyngeal insufficiency preoperatively.

Methods: Since 2002, six patients with velopharyngeal insufficiency were examined with MRI using midsagittal, coronal, and axial images, contrast with radiography, to affirm configuration and movements of soft palate, posterior and lateral pharyngeal walls, and velopharyngeal opening for the choices of following surgeries.

Results: MRI visualizes directly and measures objectively the shorter soft palate, confined movements of soft palate, lateral or/and posterior pharyngeal wall, and deeper and enlarged velopharyngeal opening, which were coincided with clinical symptoms and affirmed by observations in the following operations, surpassing radiography.

[Bone regeneration on hard palate after palatal surgery on cleft palate and the relative factors].

Objective: Attending to observe the bony healing on hard palate after palatal repair, and to discuss the factors affecting on it.

Methods: 52 patients with repaired cleft palate over 5 years postoperatively were examined, the CT scan of head was taken. The incidence of the bone regeneration among the patients examined was calculated, the position and quality of bone tissue were measured according to the CT images.

[The influence of the osteogenesis in cleft palate after palatal surgery to the transverse growth of dental occlusion].

Objective: To compare the transverse growth of the dental cast following palatal surgery with or without osteogenesis in palatal gap.

Methods: 31 patients at 13 - 28 years old with repaired palate were selected to take the dental cast, the width of the dental arch, alveolar base and the matching degree between arches were measured and the average was calculated. After the length of the bone bridge in palate was measured through CT scan, the relationship between the osteogenesis in palatal gap and the transfers growth of dental cast was studied.