LncRNA RP11-818O24.3 regulates proliferation and differentiation of hair follicle stem cells by targeting FGF2/PI3K/AKT pathway

by Linlin Bao, Haibo Zhao, Haiyue Ren, Chong Wang, Su Fang

Hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) play critical roles in adult hair regeneration, owing to its self-renewal and multipotent differentiation properties. Emerging evidence has shown that long noncoding RNAs (LncRNAs) are implicated in biological processes such as proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. However, the specific role of LncRNA RP11-818O24.3 in regulating HFSCs remains unclear. To explore the effect of LncRNA RP11-818O24.3 on HFSCs, stable LncRNA RP11-818O24.3 overexpression and knockdown HFSCs were established using a lentivirus vector system. The effect of LncRNA RP11-818O24.3 on proliferation was evaluated by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8) and EdU incorporation experiments. The differentiation of HFSCs into neurons and keratinocyte stem cells was detected by immunofluorescence staining. We showed that LncRNA RP11-818O24.3 overexpression promoted the proliferation and inhibited cell apoptosis in HFSCs. High levels of LncRNA RP11-818O24.3 promoted the differentiation of HFSCs into CD34⁺K15⁺ keratinocyte progenitors and CD34⁺Nestin⁺neuron-specific enolase (NSE)⁺ neural stem cells. Additionally, LncRNA RP11-818O24.3 increased fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) expression and the subsequent activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. These data demonstrated that LncRNA RP11-818O24.3 promotes self-renewal, differentiation, and the capability to inhibit apoptosis of HFSCs via FGF2 mediated PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, highlighting its potential role as a therapeutic strategy for treating hair loss diseases.

Application of maple leaf‐shaped flap combined with negative pressure wound therapy in the perianal circular skin defect reconstruction

Abstract

We aimed to explore the efficacy of maple leaf-shaped flap in the repair of perianal circular skin defect. This study is a retrospective review of patients with perianal circular skin defect after skin tumour resection and repaired with maple leaf-shaped flap. Patients included in this study were admitted in our department between January 2010 and January 2023. A standardized data collection template was used to collect related variables. The design and surgical procedures of maple leaf-shaped flap are carefully described in this study. Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) was applied to assist wound healing postoperatively. Twenty-seven patients were included in this study. The average wound size after tumour resection measured 4 × 5 cm²–10 × 10 cm². The circular skin defect was repaired by maple leaf-shaped flap, and NPWT was used after surgery. Twenty-five patients achieved primary wound healing and flaps were well-survived. Slight infection occurred in two patients, and both were cured after dressing change. During the follow-up period of 6–24 months, no tumour recurrence occurred. The perianal morphology can be well-restored by maple leaf-shaped flap, and the defecation control function of anus was not impaired. The application of maple leaf-shaped flap and NPWT is a promising way in the repair of perianal circular skin defect with little complication and satisfying outcomes.

Simplified and modified Limberg flap plus vacuum‐assisted closure for treatment of sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus disease

Abstract

Background

Pilonidal sinus disease (PSD), a chronic inflammatory disease, affects the sacrococcygeal soft tissue, especially in young adults. The ideal treatment for PSD remains divergence. This study evaluated the application of a simplified modified Limberg flap combined with vacuum-assisted closure for treating PSD.

Methods

This prospective study was conducted from 1 June 2017 to 31 March 2022 in Changhai Hospital, Naval Military Medical University, Shanghai, China. The study included 88 male patients (91.7%) and 8 female patients (8.3%). The 96 patients ranged in age from 15 to 34 years (mean ± SD, 23 ± 4.4). Under general anaesthesia, all patients underwent simplified modified Limberg flap reconstruction with vacuum-assisted closure. The patient's weight, surgical time, extubation time, hospital stay, time to return to normal life or work, wound infection, wound dehiscence and recurrence rate were recorded. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score and the Vancouver scar score were used to score patients' pain and scars in the surgical area.

Results

The volume of resected diseased tissue was 13.5–120 (mean ± SD, 34.993 ± 24.406) cm². The average surgical time during the treatment period was 97.68 ± 18.72 min, and the average extubation time was (6.36 ± 1.55) days, the mean hospital stay was 19.4 days; no patients were lost to follow-up. None of the patients experienced post-operative recurrence, wound infection, seroma or hematoma. Six patients (6.3%) experienced wound dehiscence at the flap tip around the natal cleft. The mean time to the resumption of daily activities was 26.3 days. The average VAS pain score was (6.00 ± 1.53) points, and the average Vancouver scar score was (5.96 ± 1.51) points, 12 patients (12.5%) were dissatisfied with their aesthetic results, and the average beauty satisfaction score is (6.64 ± 1.28) points.

Conclusions

Simplified modified Limberg flap reconstruction with vacuum-assisted closure surgery is an effective and innovative method for the treatment of PSD, with a low recurrence rate and rapid recovery.